Cardinals Do Not Have a Plan (or Clue)

[Mitch]

So much for the so-called plan...

Same old inept Cardinals...in a year where there should have been plenty of reasons to believe that they would be major players in free agency...they have a new exciting HC and coaching staff, the gorgeous new stadium, a warm climate to go with a very attractive city and surrounding communities, a QBOP&F in Matt Leinart, etc., etc.

How do we know the Cardinals do not have a plan? Ponder these thoughts:

1. They decide to let Leonard Davis walk...ok, fine...except, free agency is now six days old and NOT ONE true OT has been brought in...NOT ONE.

2. There are no SLBers on this roster...and to date, NOT ONE SLB candidate has been brought in.

3. The Cardinals safety coverage has been brutal the past few years...and, the Cardinals do bring in a FS with the range and ballhawking skills (Kevin Kaesviharn) for one of their perfunctory visits and stadium tours and he leaves town telling the media that he has not been offered a contract and that the Cardinals must be thinking over their options...WOW...now that's a plan, huh?

4. They easily have a golden opportunity to offer TE Reggie Kelly a contract he cannot refuse...and they whiff, so badly that he returns to Cincinnati. Like not having a true free safety for a few years, the Cardinals have not had a true blocking TE either. Kelly would have been a huge addition.

5. How about a true blocking FB? Anyone seen one in Arizona in recent years? We hear about RFA Vonta Leach on the first day...it's five days later and NO word on Leach. What, are the Cardinals waiting for the Patriots or Dolphins to fatten their signing lists?

6. How about this one...??? The one UFA they do sign...a center...is signed a week after the Cardinals offered their current center (who played well last year and helped solidify the interior of the line) a $1.3M tender....and now they are paying the free agent $4.2M a year...that's $5.5M next year on the center position...now THAT's a plan!

This franchise's management remains inept...we keep hearing about "a plan"...and then, "we won't make a big splash"...yeah, how about another embarrassing belly flop?

 

[BullheadCardFan]

4. They easily have a golden opportunity to offer TE Reggie Kelly a contract he cannot refuse...and they whiff, so badly that he returns to Cincinnati. Like not having a true free safety for a few years, the Cardinals have not had a true blocking TE either. Kelly would have been a huge addition.

And they out bid us with only $3 mil in cap space .. whats up with that .. ??

Must have been one heck of a home town discount ...

 

[TheCardFan]

 

[clif]

Name one FA tackle you would have given 50 mil to or for our resident capologists... guaranteed 18-24 mil to?

I too am dissappointed in the way things have gone, but at the same time none of these guys out there were worth much.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

1. Joe Thomas
2. Jon Beason
3. I'll reserve judgement until Kaesviharn signs with us or another team.
4. His boy Carson Palmer went to bat for him calling him the best teammate ever etc. No way he was going to leave Cincy.
5. See number 3

 

[TheCardFan]

Name one FA tackle you would have given 50 mil to or for our resident capologists... guaranteed 18-24 mil to?

I too am dissappointed in the way things have gone, but at the same time none of these guys out there were worth much.

LD for 50m.

But I would have easily given Pashos the 24m over 5yrs...easily!

 

[Mitch]

Name one FA tackle you would have given 50 mil to or for our resident capologists... guaranteed 18-24 mil to?

I too am dissappointed in the way things have gone, but at the same time none of these guys out there were worth much.

You know what Clif...how about Luke Pettigout, who just signed with Tampa Bay today...or Damien McIntosh who signed with the Chiefs (neither received the money you are talking about...and it would give the Cardinals a chance to groom a draft pick tackle for a year or two such as Joe Staley or James Marten)...at least they are true tackles. Could the Cardinals have wooed Jonathan Stinchcomb away from New Orleans? I bet they easily could have. But...what's the plan?

 

[john h]

So much for the so-called plan...

Same old inept Cardinals...in a year where there should have been plenty of reasons to believe that they would be major players in free agency...they have a new exciting HC and coaching staff, the gorgeous new stadium, a warm climate to go with a very attractive city and surrounding communities, a QBOP&F in Matt Leinart, etc., etc.

How do we know the Cardinals do not have a plan? Ponder these thoughts:

1. They decide to let Leonard Davis walk...ok, fine...except, free agency is now six days old and NOT ONE true OT has been brought in...NOT ONE.

2. There are no SLBers on this roster...and to date, NOT ONE SLB candidate has been brought in.

3. The Cardinals safety coverage has been brutal the past few years...and, the Cardinals do bring in a FS with the range and ballhawking skills (Kevin Kaesviharn) for one of their perfunctory visits and stadium tours and he leaves town telling the media that he has not been offered a contract and that the Cardinals must be thinking over their options...WOW...now that's a plan, huh?

4. They easily have a golden opportunity to offer TE Reggie Kelly a contract he cannot refuse...and they whiff, so badly that he returns to Cincinnati. Like not having a true free safety for a few years, the Cardinals have not had a true blocking TE either. Kelly would have been a huge addition.

5. How about a true blocking FB? Anyone seen one in Arizona in recent years? We hear about RFA Vonta Leach on the first day...it's five days later and NO word on Leach. What, are the Cardinals waiting for the Patriots or Dolphins to fatten their signing lists?

6. How about this one...??? The one UFA they do sign...a center...is signed a week after the Cardinals offered their current center (who played well last year and helped solidify the interior of the line) a $1.3M tender....and now they are paying the free agent $4.2M a year...that's $5.5M next year on the center position...now THAT's a plan!

This franchise's management remains inept...we keep hearing about "a plan"...and then, "we won't make a big splash"...yeah, how about another embarrassing belly flop?

How about adding this: The Colts and Super Bowl Winners sign one of the better impact players available coming out of the gate. We are the 5th worst team in the NFL and we have???????????????

 

[clif]

LD for 50m.

But I would have easily given Pashos the 24m over 5yrs...easily!

Knowing what we know about LD do you really think the Cards would have been in their right minds to sign him for 50 mil? I would have been ok with him back, but nowhere near that price.

Had you even heard of Pashos before the past few months? Did the guy ever make it out of Jacksonville? Hell did he even leave Baltimore before he had a deal in place with the Jags?

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

You know what Clif...how about Luke Pettigout, who just signed with Tampa Bay today...or Damien McIntosh who signed with the Chiefs (neither received the money you are talking about...and it would give the Cardinals a chance to groom a draft pick tackle for a year or two such as Joe Staley or James Marten)...at least they are true tackles. Could the Cardinals have wooed Jonathan Stinchcomb away from New Orleans? I bet they easily could have. But...what's the plan?

Luke Petitgout is Leonard Davis with an injury history and Damien McIntosh is just as bad as Oliver Ross. Both of them would be nice signings for depth, but I wouldn't rely on either of them to start.

 

[Zeno]

How about adding this: The Colts and Super Bowl Winners sign one of the better impact players available coming out of the gate. We are the 5th worst team in the NFL and we have???????????????

Who did the Colts sign? I know they franchised Freeney but have they signed anyone?

 

[clif]

You know what Clif...how about Luke Pettigout, who just signed with Tampa Bay today...or Damien McIntosh who signed with the Chiefs (neither received the money you are talking about...and it would give the Cardinals a chance to groom a draft pick tackle for a year or two such as Joe Staley or James Marten)...at least they are true tackles. Could the Cardinals have wooed Jonathan Stinchcomb away from New Orleans? I bet they easily could have. But...what's the plan?

Again Mitch I am dissappointed as well and I really am not arguing the point as much on the Offensive linemen. Most of these guys I have never heard of. I believe Mcintosh was on the Dolphins line like last year or two years ago and I do believe they had one of the worst rushing attacks in the league as well.

I know the Pettigout name, but I don't recall hi, specifically. I thought he was the guy that Bertrand torched Kurt's last game in NY.


My point is more along the lines that most of these guys are all after thoughts IMO. Sure it would have been nice to at least get these guys out for a looksee, but none of them really seem like a great signing.

 

[ajcardfan]

This really shouldn't be too stunning. This is exactly how free agency was during the McGinnis and Tobin years. It's just how Rod Graves does business. Bring in a few guys, don't have any offers ready, "read the market" let them leave.....

I have to think Green had a lot more impact on getting deals done than I thought. I really thought Mike Bidwill was behind the "don't-let-them-leave-without-signing" deals of the last few years. Or, maybe he was and he's stepped back again.

 

[Ryanwb]

You know what Clif...how about Luke Pettigout, who just signed with Tampa Bay today...or Damien McIntosh who signed with the Chiefs (neither received the money you are talking about...and it would give the Cardinals a chance to groom a draft pick tackle for a year or two such as Joe Staley or James Marten)...at least they are true tackles. Could the Cardinals have wooed Jonathan Stinchcomb away from New Orleans? I bet they easily could have. But...what's the plan?

Good lord... you want us to sign crap just for the sake of signing someone? There are roughly 15 teams who haven't signed ANYONE. Mitch, i can't even begin to think where you have gotten your football acumen, but thankfully you aren't running this team if you think Luke Pettigout or Damien McIntosh would have cured the woes of this team

 

[TheCardFan]

Who did the Colts sign? I know they franchised Freeney but have they signed anyone?

They won the SB and haven't lost anyone...

 

[TheCardFan]

Knowing what we know about LD do you really think the Cards would have been in their right minds to sign him for 50 mil? I would have been ok with him back, but nowhere near that price.

Had you even heard of Pashos before the past few months? Did the guy ever make it out of Jacksonville? Hell did he even leave Baltimore before he had a deal in place with the Jags?

So many questions!

You asked me what T we could have signed...I gave you two!

 

[Mitch]

Good lord... you want us to sign crap just for the sake of signing someone? There are roughly 15 teams who haven't signed ANYONE. Mitch, i can't even begin to think where you have gotten your football acumen, but thankfully you aren't running this team if you think Luke Pettigout or Damien McIntosh would have cured the woes of this team

Luke Pettigout is looking better and better every minute...the market is drying up...and I would take him right now at $4M a year than Mike Gandy or a 2nd round draft pick...or Oliver Ross???

There comes a time when you have to sign players of need for insurance.

But..I will reiterate...how is is fr---ing possible that we have not brought in ONE true tackle six days into free agency?

 

[Mitch]

This really shouldn't be too stunning. This is exactly how free agency was during the McGinnis and Tobin years. It's just how Rod Graves does business. Bring in a few guys, don't have any offers ready, "read the market" let them leave.....

I have to think Green had a lot more impact on getting deals done than I thought. I really thought Mike Bidwill was behind the "don't-let-them-leave-without-signing" deals of the last few years. Or, maybe he was and he's stepped back again.

Perfectly said, A.J. You nailed it on the head.

 

[clif]

So many questions!

You asked me what T we could have signed...I gave you two!

Do you think we had a legit shot at Pashos? He signed on the first day of FA.

 

[TheCardFan]

Do you think we had a legit shot at Pashos? He signed on the first day of FA.

Nope...we apparantly don't contact agents early.

Only the good teams do.

Hello 5-11.

 

[Mr.Dibbs]

Good lord... you want us to sign crap just for the sake of signing someone? There are roughly 15 teams who haven't signed ANYONE. Mitch, i can't even begin to think where you have gotten your football acumen, but thankfully you aren't running this team if you think Luke Pettigout or Damien McIntosh would have cured the woes of this team

Everyone is upset because signing free agents to big contracts has been successful for the Cardinals in the past. Starks solidified our backfield, and Freddie Jones was a great blocker as well as scored many touchdowns in the redzone. Jackson proved to everyone that his Superbowl performance was not plain luck. Jeff Blake provided the leadership this team needed. James Hodgins blew up holes for our running game. Mike Gruttadauria proved to be made of steel. Troy Hambrick was a monster.

 

[PACardsFan]

Good lord... you want us to sign crap just for the sake of signing someone? There are roughly 15 teams who haven't signed ANYONE. Mitch, i can't even begin to think where you have gotten your football acumen, but thankfully you aren't running this team if you think Luke Pettigout or Damien McIntosh would have cured the woes of this team

Finally someone who makes sense!!!!!!!! I am so sick of the whining & gnashing of teeth from people on this board. This has been the WORST FA group the NFL has ever put out & yet everyone wants to rush out & sign this garbage. We spent a lot of money in free agency the past couple of years & where did it get us??? 5-11, 6-10, 5-11. This team needs SOME depth & PLENTY of real NFL coaching. Whisenhunt & Grimm have experienced what it takes to win during the free agency area, so let them do their jobs. Free Agency does not build strong organizations, the DRAFT does. Spend more time at work or with your kids, but please stop the whining.

 

[Mitch]

There comes a point where you have to do what's best for the football team...you can't expect to sign a "perfect player" or fit at every postion.

When the Cardinals decided to let LD walk...which is fine becuase he wasn't, IMO, anywhere near deserving of the salary he was asking for...the whole organization has to sit down and decide: Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, and Plan D...

The fact that NO free agent tackles at all have been brought in, means there was NO PLAN...maybe it was to go after Derrick Dockery? OK, but he signed with Buffalo, so what was Plan B? Plan C? Plan D?

Is it reasonable to assume that (1) Joe Thomas will slide to #5??? Too risky to assume that; (2) that the #38 pick, be it Joe Staley or Tony Ugoh, is ready to step in and be a decent NLF starter at a position that is so critical to the Cardinals' success?

This is why a Luke Pettigout, warts and all, makes sense. He has performed at a solid level in the past...Yes, he has false start problems...but with good coaching and a change of scenery maybe he comes in and plays solidly enough to take you to the playoffs...and what is he going to cost the team? Probably less than half of what LD was going to command. Meanwhile...you groom a Joe Staley or Tony Ugoh.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Do you think we had a legit shot at Pashos? He signed on the first day of FA.

Of course not. Our team's "master plan" called for Kevin Kasidnvaharn to come in on the first day. Because he is just that damn good.

 

[OldDirtMcGirt]

All of this complaining should be put on hold until after the draft. If we draft Jon Beason and Joe Thomas then all of this becomes a moot point, so I'll bite my tongue.