Cardinals Sign Garcia, Jones, Roundtree

[earthsci]

Originally posted by Cardinals.Ken
I hate to sound picky, but we still need a legit CENTER! Free agent or draftee...

It's not picky at all. If we don't I think that it will be a huge mistake. These signings were excellent because they provided us depth but, the strenght of our team is our oline and we need to keep it that way. A center in the second round.

 

[Mike Olbinski]

Originally posted by Alan
Umm, gee, glad you guys had to confirm it.

No kidding...guys, we're on the Cards press release list...

Mike

 

[ajcardfan]

Originally posted by earthsci
It's not picky at all. If we don't I think that it will be a huge mistake. These signings were excellent because they provided us depth but, the strenght of our team is our oline and we need to keep it that way. A center in the second round.

Get ready for a huge mistake then, because I seriously doubt it's going to happen. This staff likes Starkey and I'm 99.9% sure that they are comfortable with him and Garcia competing for that job. Garcia was a starter in Carolina. We've poured so much money into the line. Davis' salary takes a big jump next season, and they might want to resign Shelton. There's only so much money you can put into one part of the team without hurting some other part of the team.

 

[JeffGollin]

This staff likes Starkey and I'm 99.9% sure that they are comfortable with him and Garcia competing for that job. Garcia was a starter in Carolina.
He was a backup for the Rams. (An excellent backup but listed behind McCollum).

I think this is one of those instances where the best guy winds up with the job and the runnerup represents much needed quality depth. (And, given the way the injury gods have treated us during the past several years, we're damned lucky to have 2 centers capable of starting).

We could use either Fina or the kid that's coming in next week to give us additional depth at OT.

The nice thing after that is - we don't have to spend one single extra minute between now and training camp worrying about the O-Line. We can concentrate on more pressing issues (like CB and the D-Line).

 

[earthsci]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
Garcia was a starter in Carolina. We've poured so much money into the line. Davis' salary takes a big jump next season, and they might want to resign Shelton. There's only so much money you can put into one part of the team without hurting some other part of the team.

Garcia was a starter there, Dishman was a starter here. I want Dishman on the team but, if he's starting there's trouble. Same goes with Garcia. If he ends up starting at center then I support him 100%. I understand what you say about the money but, if we can draft a high quality center and have a cap hit of around $750,000 do it. Yeah we've spent money on the line. Are we going to screw up that investment now by putting a subpar center in the middle? I don't know if Garcia or Starkey will be subpar this year, maybe one will step up and everything will be great. If our pick in the second round comes up and Jeff Faine or Al Johnson are there we're are talking about HUGE potential. Our starting center for many years. If they aren't, pick something else. We won't be going to the Super Bowl next year. We are building a team now for maybe two or three years. Faine or Johnson would help us get there.

 

[Skkorpion]

From my Rams contact about Frank Garcia:

He has only been with the Rams for the past two years. He was with Carolina since their first year in the league and I remember him being a very solid center. I don't think he ever made it to the Pro Bowl, but I remember he was always one of the guys that was mentioned. He was their starting center the whole time he was in Carolina, but since he has been in St. Louis he has only started in the case of an injury, but has played in almost all of the other games. I think he would be a good guy to have as a top reserve who can play both guard spots and the center position, but would only be average as a starter.

One more thing...I think he is pretty much in the same mold as a Gruttadoria and the other Rams interior linemen in that he is not terribly overpowering, but he is a very smart player, has the experience to make all of the line calls, and is a solid pull blocker.

I trust this man's opinion. This is a very nice signing for us, strengthening the underbelly of the team.

 

[Northern Card]

Question re: the signing of JONES....

Wondering whether this means that we won't be re-signing Frederickson, and that it's likely that LEVAR FISHER will get first crack at filling that position?

 

[ajcardfan]

Originally posted by Northern Card
Question re: the signing of JONES....

Wondering whether this means that we won't be re-signing Frederickson, and that it's likely that LEVAR FISHER will get first crack at filling that position?

I can't remember where I heard it, but Fredrickson won't be back. The competition will be between Darling and Fisher for the spot opposite Thompson. Jones will be a backup, and special teamer, if he even winds up making the squad.

 

[Northern Card]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
I can't remember where I heard it, but Fredrickson won't be back. The competition will be between Darling and Fisher for the spot opposite Thompson. Jones will be a backup, and special teamer, if he even winds up making the squad.

Thanx...

off of what I saw at the tail end of ast year, I think JONES will stick....