Cards' Berry takes high road on contract issue

[Crazy Canuck]

Easy for you to say. Most of these athletes have been catered to for years and have inflated egos. Berry would have likely been given a shot somewhere, not to say the re-structuring of his contract wasn't a necessity but for him to address the situation without any drama speaks volumes about his character. To dismiss this is a slight against a great guy.

My point was hardly a slight, providing you understood.

 

[Skkorpion]

Not many players are smart enough to figure that out though

I disagree. Many are smart enough and make good choices but don't get much notice precisely because they didn't cause a fuss.

In this case, Berry went to Notre Dame and is not represented by Rosenhaus. Dockett and Boldin went where and are represented by whom?

Arrogant? Sure. But true. Think of all the players right now, who are moaning about their valid contracts and not showing up for OTAs and/or threatening to sit out the season.

What schools did they attend and who are their agents? There are definite patterns there.

Off the top of my head and maybe I'm missing some instances, I can't think of any recent players from Penn St., Oklahoma, Nebraska, Texas or Michigan who have been contract whiners or self-indulgent pouters.

Those are all big time football programs and NFL talent feeders. The problems originate elsewhere.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

FYI... Drew's clients

http://www.rosenhaussports.com/athletes.php

 

[Skkorpion]

FYI... Drew's clients

http://www.rosenhaussports.com/athletes.php

Thanks, Canuck. Very interesting.

 

[PJ1]

Not true. He would have been cut, yes, but he would have been picked up by someone, and for more then he makes here, you can bet on that. Someone would have taken a chance on a former pro bowl end just sitting there without a job.

Berry took the reduction to stay here, and he deserves props for that.

I like the guy but he has been injured quite a bit the last two years and isn't getting any younger.

He is making as much with the Cards as he would anywhere else. His pro bowl days are well behind him.

Bet he is hurt before midseason......

 

[cardsfanmd]

FYI... Drew's clients

http://www.rosenhaussports.com/athletes.php

Thanks, Canuck. Very interesting.

Extremely. Look how the smartest plyers on the field (QBs) stay away from him, while the typical loudmouths and primadonas (WRs/CBs) flock to him.

 

[john h]

I dont get why people are concerned about Dockett or Boldin.

Regardless of the posturing, missing voluntary work and the like -- both have no choice but to show up when they need to and be productive.

Both have too many years left on present deals to loaf through next season and expect to be paid. If they want big money -- they need to have highly productive seasons next year.

They may bitch and moan -- but at the end of the day -- they only way they get what they want is to be productive football players.

Until one or the other skips days of training camp -- I am not going to waste any mental energy on the issue.

The Cards are somewhat in the midst of converting from a system where Mr B never renegotiated a contract to a system of do overs on contracts. I bet he still has a little input and still has the same old time position on contracts. Once you sign it that is it. These do overs must really hurt him. The good teams today try to sign their good guys to long term contracts as soon as possible. In most cases it pays off as salaries continue to go to the moon.

 

[Darth Llama]

I like the guy but he has been injured quite a bit the last two years and isn't getting any younger.

He is making as much with the Cards as he would anywhere else. His pro bowl days are well behind him.

Bet he is hurt before midseason......

Maybe, but he still had a pro bowl year where he had what? 16 sacks?

Someone would gamble on him. Berry could have just taken a release and gone for more money with another team. He volunteered to take a cut, they didn't come to him, and he did it because he wanted to be here. B-Train believes in the program coach Whiz is putting in place and he's proud to wear that red bird on his helmet. That speaks volumes to me, and I respect Berry for it.

I think now that we have depth enough that we don't have to play him every single down, he will be a lot more durable. He will easily be worth the next to nothing we are paying for him this year. Look for Berry to have a good season this year, it's gonna happen for him. Just a gut feeling, I hope I'm right.

 

[vinnymac]

IMO, players should be released or traded if they are not happy with their contracts & threaten to hold out. I don't care who they are. I know a lot of you are going to say "it is Boldin & Dockett." Who cares is what I say to them. If they are not going to be in camp & hold out for 10 games, then they are not doing the team any good. Especially when the team had a turn around season for the better. Get players in here that want to be here.

As far as Berry is concerned, He should have been released along with Okeafor.

 

[vinnymac]

The Cards are somewhat in the midst of converting from a system where Mr B never renegotiated a contract to a system of do overs on contracts. I bet he still has a little input and still has the same old time position on contracts. Once you sign it that is it. These do overs must really hurt him. The good teams today try to sign their good guys to long term contracts as soon as possible. In most cases it pays off as salaries continue to go to the moon.

The Cardinals re-did Boldin Rookie contract 2 years ago. They re-done Docketts as well. To say that the Cardinals are not willing to resign their core players to long term deals is a lie or you havn't been paying much attention to these players the past couple of years.

 

[Darth Llama]

IMO, players should be released or traded if they are not happy with their contracts & threaten to hold out. I don't care who they are. I know a lot of you are going to say "it is Boldin & Dockett." Who cares is what I say to them. If they are not going to be in camp & hold out for 10 games, then they are not doing the team any good. Especially when the team had a turn around season for the better. Get players in here that want to be here.

As far as Berry is concerned, He should have been released along with Okeafor.

The problem is that type of policy acts as encouragement for the bad behavior, not as a deterrent. If that was how things went, then players would be rewarded for their bad behavior, as their hold outs would allow them to be released and they could then play for whoever they want.

What reason do you have for saying Chike and Bert should have been released anyway? You just not a fan of depth on the defensive front? Those are 2 of our best linemen.

 

[joeshmo]

What reason do you have for saying Chike and Bert should have been released anyway? You just not a fan of depth on the defensive front? Those are 2 of our best linemen.

Its been his mantra for two years now, why stop now. Even though minus one injury season Okeafer has been in the 90th percentile of all front seven starters since he has been on the Cardinals in sacks and tackles for loss combined, yet is only ranked in the 20's when it comes to LB salaries which are on the low end compared to other positions to start with. Dude has been a well worth his salary since he has been here and the stats and production compared to the rest of the front 7 starters in the league prove that to be so. Some people only like to look that he doesnt have double digit sacks and completly ignore the fact that he was top 10 in TFL which is just as good as a sack in 05 and 06. Played his best ball when they stood him up after the two Berry injuries. Most of his stats came when he was standing up and the focus of attention after Berry went down, now that he will be standing up full time I see no reason to see why he wont be in the 90th percentile of sacks and TFL combine again this year.

 

[joeshmo]

IMO, players should be released or traded if they are not happy with their contracts & threaten to hold out. I don't care who they are. I know a lot of you are going to say "it is Boldin & Dockett." Who cares is what I say to them. If they are not going to be in camp & hold out for 10 games, then they are not doing the team any good. Especially when the team had a turn around season for the better. Get players in here that want to be here.

So you are just going to give in to all players that whine about their contracts? They are under contract so why wold you give them so much power like that. Also a player has never heldout for 10 games or much of training since the 90's. that isnt an issue. Training camp is mandatory, Owens tried it and got fined for it for a lot of money.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Berry could have just taken a release and gone for more money with another team. He volunteered to take a cut, they didn't come to him, and he did it because he wanted to be here. B-Train believes in the program coach Whiz is putting in place and he's proud to wear that red bird on his helmet. That speaks volumes to me, and I respect Berry for it.

Very well put DL ... hopefully other players take notice of the way he is handling his situation.

 

[vinnymac]

The problem is that type of policy acts as encouragement for the bad behavior, not as a deterrent. If that was how things went, then players would be rewarded for their bad behavior, as their hold outs would allow them to be released and they could then play for whoever they want.

What reason do you have for saying Chike and Bert should have been released anyway? You just not a fan of depth on the defensive front? Those are 2 of our best linemen.

Look at the production vs salary. Berry earned his 1st season salary. Last season was a waste of 10 million againist the salary cap. They both were on IR & the cardinals had to find replacement for them. They could have got a jump on it early last off season. This off season is a little different since Berry took a major salary cut. Okeafor, I think is just overrated on this board.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

IMO, players should be released or traded if they are not happy with their contracts & threaten to hold out. I don't care who they are. I know a lot of you are going to say "it is Boldin & Dockett." Who cares is what I say to them. If they are not going to be in camp & hold out for 10 games, then they are not doing the team any good. Especially when the team had a turn around season for the better. Get players in here that want to be here.

As far as Berry is concerned, He should have been released along with Okeafor.

Well, I can be only thankful that none of these approaches and decisions are within your purview.

 

[vinnymac]

Well, I can be only be thankful that none of these approaches and decisions are within your purview.

The Cardinals decisions have been working well for them also. That's right. Last season was the first non losing season since the 97 playoffs.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

The Cardinals decisions have been working well for them also. That's right. Last season was the first non losing season since the 97 playoffs.

BIM: too

Really! Thanks for the info.

(but - do you think there's anyone on this board who doesn't know this?)

 

[vinnymac]

BIM: too

Really! Thanks for the info.

(but - do you think there's anyone on this board who doesn't know this?)

My point is that the cardinals are cap strapped & they are still losing. Dockett & Boldin both had their rookie contract redone. From what I gather Dockett is threatning to hold out. It is time to quit babysitting. The Cardinal's organzation finally gets it right by showing that you don't have to play out your rookie contract If you produce on the field. Now these players that just got thier deal redone want a new deal. Screw them. It is time to get some players in here that want to play. I am tired of whinning players.