Cardinals Ownership blamed for QB Mess

[az jam]

Cardinals ownership now getting blamed for quarterback mess
From Profootballtalk.com
The Cardinals quarterback situation has been a disaster since training camp started through Friday’s announcement that John Skelton would start Sunday against the Broncos.

Ken Whisenhunt has rightfully taken a lot of blame for the situation, but an article in the Arizona Republic Friday tried to re-direct some of the mess to Cardinals ownership. Whisenhunt reportedly wanted Marc Bulger brought aboard.

“According to some whispers, the pleading took place over several days,” Dan Bickley writes. “But Whisenhunt simply couldn’t convince the hierarchy to purchase another quarterback, no matter how hard he tried.”
Bulger appeared to be a nice fit for the Cardinals system, but it’s hardly a guarantee he would have helped much. (The ’09 Rams agree.) The interest in Bulger is hardly a newsflash, but the timing of this story is eyebrow-raising.
“These are the sorts of stories that trickle out when teams lose and people in power scramble to protect their reputations,” ESPN’s Mike Sando wrote Friday.
Bingo. Bickley, who once caddied for Whisenhunt at a celebrity golf event, basically provides cover for the Cardinals coach. It’s a timeless Cardinals story: The Bidwells didn’t provide the coach everything he needed.
It’s the type of story that is probably better off kept in-house; the type of story this Cardinals organization had avoided since Whisenhunt took over.

 

[az jam]

Here is the Bickley article:
http://www.azcentral.com/sports/car...als-getting-what-they-paid.html#ixzz17l8SK3EH

 

[az jam]

Amazing the payroll was $117 million in 2009 and only $85.3 million in 2010.
The fans certainly paid for this.

 

[desertdawg]

This is how it all starts/ends. Bulger is just as big of a long shot as DA was, so I don't see what his trip is. I smell drama brewing, rumors cooking, and it sucks, just like this season, it sucks. Whiz needs to piss off the owners like he needs a hole in the head. But maybe he is setting the Bidwills up for throwing big cash at a QB in the draft.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Haven't we gone down this road before...?

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=159611

 

[az jam]

Haven't we gone down this road before...?

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/showthread.php?t=159611

No, The article is not old it was in this morning's Arizona Republic newspaper. I think the interesting thing is that the Cardinals spent $32 million less in 2010 than in 2009. That is a big number. Why ignore the cheapness of the organization?? They have the 3rd smallest payroll in the NFL. They are no longer in Sun Devils Stadium but in UOP which has sold out for 52 straight games.

 

[Duckjake]

This is how it all starts/ends. Bulger is just as big of a long shot as DA was, so I don't see what his trip is. I smell drama brewing, rumors cooking, and it sucks, just like this season, it sucks. Whiz needs to piss off the owners like he needs a hole in the head. But maybe he is setting the Bidwills up for throwing big cash at a QB in the draft.

No way. DeWreck was horrendous last season. And not much better the year before. Like many of us who criticized the move in September what part of a 44% completion rate, 3 TDs to 10 INTs, and a 42 QB rating did the Cards scouts not understand?

Or his two year numbers of 48% completion rate and 56.9 QB rating?

 

[Brian in Mesa]

No, The article is not old it was in this morning's Arizona Republic newspaper. I think the interesting thing is that the Cardinals spent $32 million less in 2010 than in 2009. That is a big number. Why ignore the cheapness of the organization?? They have the 3rd smallest payroll in the NFL. They are no longer in Sun Devils Stadium but in UOP which has sold out for 52 straight games.

az jam, I wasn't ripping you for pushing old news. Just pointing out that this has already been covered by the press before. I love how they act like they've uncovered a story. Uh, it was on ASFN a month ago. LOLZ

 

[az jam]

az jam, I wasn't ripping you for pushing old news. Just pointing out that this has already been covered by the press before. I love how they act like they've uncovered a story. Uh, it was on ASFN a month ago. LOLZ

Sorry for over-reacting, your right this is ongoing old news. Just frustrated
with the Cards this year. They will address this in the off season.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Sorry for over-reacting, your right this is ongoing old news. Just frustrated
with the Cards this year. They will address this in the off season.

I hope for a time when people will talk about how fresh and creative Cards' management is with players, contracts, etc. but I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Catfish]

Passing on Bulger was one of the few more intelligent things this team did during this off season. Allowing Whiz to jettison Leinart was not. That move only insured two things. 1. Leinart would not be in the way to prove immediately how bad Whiz's decision to go with DA was. 2. The ownership NEVER got to see what Leinart could bring to the table at a reasonable cost, like the plan initially was.

Remember, there were precious few gems on the FA wire this off season who were not immediately gobbled up, mostly by their own teams. The biggest difference is that we didn't keep our biggest names, Dansby and Boldin. It was clear to me that both wanted out badly, as did Warner. I believe they all saw this coming. It is my belief that Rolle was clueless then, and still is now.

Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh retreads have brought nothing but soft and slow and old to our lineup. The article was correct in that we have not produced players in their prime. That has been the biggest failing of this coaching staff. We won't play youngsters until they pay their dues, and by then, they are ususally playing for someone else. We have done a horrendous job of developing our talent and putting it in a position to succeed on the field. That IS on Whiz.

 

[earthsci]

Honestly, anyone who is pissed about this...I've got nothing to say. No comebacks, no defense. Maybe it's a genius financial plan but I haven't ever seen that happen in the 22 years that I've been a fan.

 

[NJCardFan]

I think it's a lot of blame to be put on both. The ownership probably expected Leinart to be the QB this season and even going forward even though Whiz hated Leinart from jump street. So, in looking for a veteran back up, they pushed for the cheaper option in Anderson, who was signed before Bulger was released I might add. Then Whiz cuts Leinart and the rest in history.

 

[Timm Rosenbach]

I think it's a lot of blame to be put on both. The ownership probably expected Leinart to be the QB this season and even going forward even though Whiz hated Leinart from jump street. So, in looking for a veteran back up, they pushed for the cheaper option in Anderson, who was signed before Bulger was released I might add. Then Whiz cuts Leinart and the rest in history.

Bingo. The fault lies equally on all of them.

 

[earthsci]

Bingo. The fault lies equally on all of them.

Yeah...but...no......yeah.

 

[titan]

well i think this is nothing but a diversion to take some of the blame off of coach whiz. because there is allot of it going straight at whiz and it's making him look like a real ********. if the cards play this Sunday like they did last week, whiz will be booed out of the stadium. this will help deflect some of the anger the fans will be dishing out. i don't think Michael Bidwill is that dumb and if you look at his track record he's been pretty good since he took over and proved he wants to win. i think this is all whiz's doings.

 

[Seandonic]

No, The article is not old it was in this morning's Arizona Republic newspaper. I think the interesting thing is that the Cardinals spent $32 million less in 2010 than in 2009. That is a big number. Why ignore the cheapness of the organization?? They have the 3rd smallest payroll in the NFL. They are no longer in Sun Devils Stadium but in UOP which has sold out for 52 straight games.

The Cardinals ownership (or lack there of) IS to blame for EVERYTHING!

Why ignore the cheapness indeed. I don't understand how so many on this board are not saying this. It has been THE reason for the Cardinals dismal history. I've watched people dance around this issue many times.

It's as if people want to put the blame anywhere but where it truly belongs because to do so would mean that there would not be much reason to root for this ultra-poorly run organization otherwise. Well I'm here to tell you that a once every 5 to 10 years decent team is the best you can expect from the Bid-won'ts.

I am a fan of this team but with eyes wide open. I know what to expect and am still a fan and am happy for what I get. Call me crazy but that's what I chose at a very young age and am fine being stuck with that.

I truly hope that sometime in my lifetime the Bidwills lose this team and competent owners take over and give the EXTREMELY loyal fans of this team the product we so mightily deserve.

Anything positive that is achieved by anyone involved with this organization is achieved despite the ownership. So with that in mind I say GO CARDINALS! Forget what your owner doesn't do for you and win anyway! Do it for yourself and us, the long suffering, most loyal fans in the NFL.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Bulger is garbage. Great move by ownership if true and further proof that Whisenhunt is clueless.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Bulger is garbage. Great move by ownership if true and further proof that Whisenhunt is clueless.

He's no third string qb in Houston. Your anti-Whiz posts are somewhere beyond tiresome at this point.

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[Seandonic]

Bulger is garbage. Great move by ownership if true and further proof that Whisenhunt is clueless.

Even if Bulger is garbage, that would still mean he is head and shoulders better than anyone the Cardinals ownership left Whiz to start at QB this season.

As far as Whiz being clueless I have to say the jury is still out on that. Anyone who dragged this team to a super bowl deserves a long leash IMHO.

 

[desertdawg]

No way. DeWreck was horrendous last season. And not much better the year before. Like many of us who criticized the move in September what part of a 44% completion rate, 3 TDs to 10 INTs, and a 42 QB rating did the Cards scouts not understand?

Or his two year numbers of 48% completion rate and 56.9 QB rating?

You know how I meant that. I wouldn't say anybody is as bad as DA, you gotta know me by now. No need to get statistical hombre (I concede). The ***************** ( by far my favorite new name for this bum, kudos to who ever) has far surpassed any QBs level of suckyness, any one could have done better.
The Leeen-eart > Bulger

I can't hang my hat on Bulg could of having made this season better. I definitely don't count it as a good excuse. I like Whiz and will talk a bunch of crap while waiting for him to fix it. My short term memory aint that bad, which probably explains my patience.

Its not give me life or give me death, its give me Luck or give me Newton.

 

[Catfish]

The Cardinals ownership (or lack there of) IS to blame for EVERYTHING!

Why ignore the cheapness indeed. I don't understand how so many on this board are not saying this. It has been THE reason for the Cardinals dismal history. I've watched people dance around this issue many times.

It's as if people want to put the blame anywhere but where it truly belongs because to do so would mean that there would not be much reason to root for this ultra-poorly run organization otherwise. Well I'm here to tell you that a once every 5 to 10 years decent team is the best you can expect from the Bid-won'ts.

I am a fan of this team but with eyes wide open. I know what to expect and am still a fan and am happy for what I get. Call me crazy but that's what I chose at a very young age and am fine being stuck with that.

I truly hope that sometime in my lifetime the Bidwills lose this team and competent owners take over and give the EXTREMELY loyal fans of this team the product we so mightily deserve.

Anything positive that is achieved by anyone involved with this organization is achieved despite the ownership. So with that in mind I say GO CARDINALS! Forget what your owner doesn't do for you and win anyway! Do it for yourself and us, the long suffering, most loyal fans in the NFL.

I call BS on this. The ownership and FO recognied Q's value to this team immediately, and gave him a contract extension VERY quickly. It was not the FO or Ownership that drove Q out of here, but Whiz's demands that he wait his turn to get FItz money. Anybody who spoke out against Whiz's preachings on this matter were overlooked until the last minute, and by that time, the feelings were so bad between these players and the organization, that offering equal money to what others offered to them was fruitless by our FO. THis includes Dansby and Rolle, (though Rolle was of no real consequence). Remember, Whiz was not that big a Warner fan either, because he started Leinart ahead of him for two different seasons before giving in to Warner.

It is true that Whiz did not initially like either Leinart or Warner. He only settled in on Wrner when it became clear that it gave him the best opportunity to win between the two. Warner produced records of 9-7 with three playoff wins and a SB loss in '08 He produced a 10-7 record with one playoff win in and a loss to NO in '09. Warner saw that Whiz had no intent to keep either Gandy or Wells in '10, and realizing that he would have a poorer O-line than last year, AND a weaker Defense than last year, opted for retirement, a very prudent move by him.

Both Rolle and Dansby turned down the same money that they signed for in NY and Miami, when our FO offered it to them. THis waiting for the payday thing has been a persistent thing with Whiz since his arrival, just as has the paying dues thing been for any youngsters who hoped to, (or even deserved to), break into the starting lineup. It seems to be a personal rule, and not one dictated by the FO or by ownership.

I too, feel that this article is an attempt to take blame somewhat away from Whiz, but Whiz has far more to answer for than all other sources put together when this problem is truly analyzed. Had Whiz treated these players with the same loyalty he demanded of them, they might have stayed to play for us when offered the big money, instead of opting out. I suspect that they tired quickly of his public criticisms,and his attempts to chastise them publicly.

 

[DoTheDew]

QB situation or not, we didn't spend the money this year. You get what you pay for. We easily could have afforded some more good players and had the money to pay them more than what I'm sure they ended up getting. Maybe we couldn't have been good at QB this year. We had the money to be good everywhere else. We didn't spend it because clearly Bill Bidwill wanted to pocket as much cash as he could in case of a lockout.

The Dansby situation is a prime example. We probably went in there low-balling him constantly and he went on his visit to Miami. He was probably so insulted by our low-balling that when we finally found out what Miami was offering and agreed to basically match it, he was to the point of saying "screw you guys." I don't blame him anymore. If he had no desire to come back here to begin with he wouldn't have even negotiated with us.

So what big deal, that's only one player you say? Well sure, but take the Minnesota or TB game where a few good defensive plays and we would have won. How many times have we seen Lenon get run by because he's just not that physically gifted? Sure we got Washington, but Dansby is better right now, and we either still would have Washington or we would have filled another hole with that pick.

 

[Seandonic]

I call Bull ____ on this. The ownership and FO recognied Q's value to this team immediately, and gave him a contract extension VERY quickly. It was not the FO or Ownership that drove Q out of here, but Whiz's demands that he wait his turn to get FItz money. Anybody who spoke out against Whiz's preachings on this matter were overlooked until the last minute, and by that time, the feelings were so bad between these players and the organization, that offering equal money to what others offered to them was fruitless by our FO. THis includes Dansby and Rolle, (though Rolle was of no real consequence). Remember, Whiz was not that big a Warner fan either, because he started Leinart ahead of him for two different seasons before giving in to Warner.

It is true that Whiz did not initially like either Leinart or Warner. He only settled in on Wrner when it became clear that it gave him the best opportunity to win between the two. Warner produced records of 9-7 with three playoff wins and a SB loss in '08 He produced a 10-7 record with one playoff win in and a loss to NO in '09. Warner saw that Whiz had no intent to keep either Gandy or Wells in '10, and realizing that he would have a poorer O-line than last year, AND a weaker Defense than last year, opted for retirement, a very prudent move by him.

Both Rolle and Dansby turned down the same money that they signed for in NY and Miami, when our FO offered it to them. THis waiting for the payday thing has been a persistent thing with Whiz since his arrival, just as has the paying dues thing been for any youngsters who hoped to, (or even deserved to), break into the starting lineup. It seems to be a personal rule, and not one dictated by the FO or by ownership.

I too, feel that this article is an attempt to take blame somewhat away from Whiz, but Whiz has far more to answer for than all other sources put together when this problem is truly analyzed. Had Whiz treated these players with the same loyalty he demanded of them, they might have stayed to play for us when offered the big money, instead of opting out. I suspect that they tired quickly of his public criticisms,and his attempts to chastise them publicly.

Whiz does not set the policy when it comes to contracts on the Cardinals, the ownership does and its them who players walk away from when they choose to play elsewhere. History is on my side here. Why do you think so many players have wanted out of Arizona over the years despite who the coach is?

Your thoughts on Warner and his retirement are laughable. Do you really think that not having Gandy and Wells on the O-line played any roll in him leaving! First of all Wells was not even close to gone when Warner retired and secondly those guys were on the line that got him nearly killed on a weekly basis. He should have been ecstatic that they were gone. Plus you speak of his decisions as if you spoke with him personally. I saw many interviews with him concerning his retirement and not once did he mention anything you said.

As far as a "payday" in Arizona, that concept only seems to have come into existence since M. Bidwill has apparently been in more control than pops (right around the time Whiz showed up). Before that a "payday" NEVER happened for a Cards player no matter his performance.

As far as Leinart is concerned, it wasn't even Whiz who drafted him. The only reason he was kept around all this time IMHO was because the FO wanted him to be THE guy. They pushed Whiz to start him and he failed on every occasion. Whiz even went as far as to start Leinart and take him out in hurry up situations to prove that Warner could do a better job.

As far as Boldin or any other player that should be resigned, it is the Bidwills who ultimately decide how much money will be spent. All you have to do is look at the money spent on the roster to figure out how much they truly care about winning. The Cardinals are at the bottom of the league (3rd smallest payroll) and that is where the BIDWILLS put them.

 

[thephoenixson28]

This board called me dumb an saying I had no football knowledge cuz it was all whiz fault. Check on whiz honeymoon done in Arizona thread, and you know what I'm talking about. SMH