Cards let Shelton pursue a trade

[BACH]

Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 5, 2005 12:00 AM

The Cardinals granted the agent for offensive tackle L.J. Shelton permission to pursue a trade, just 15 months after the team re-signed Shelton to a lucrative contract extension.

"A number of teams have expressed interest," said Eric Metz, an agent based in Phoenix. "We look forward to starting anew someplace else."

Rod Graves, Cardinals vice president of football operations, declined comment, as did Shelton. advertisement

If Shelton leaves, the Cardinals will have paid heavily for his services. In November 2003, he signed a five-year extension that included a $2 million raise in 2003 and a $5 million signing bonus.

Combine that with the $3 million Shelton earned in salary this year, and the Cardinals have paid him $10 million in just more than a year.

When he signed the deal, Shelton expected to be the team's left tackle for years to come. But that changed when Dennis Green became head coach last year. Shelton, who underwent ankle surgery last off-season, showed up to minicamp overweight, putting him on Green's bad side.

Shelton, who had started at left tackle for most of the previous four seasons, was replaced in the starting lineup by Leonard Davis, then earned the starting right tackle's job a month into the season. He finished the season on injured reserve because of a sprained knee.

Shelton has recovered from the injury, and at 29 should draw interest from other teams. He is due to make a salary of $3 million in each of the next four seasons.

Shelton isn't going to be picky about where he plays next, said Metz, whose agency, Lock, Metz and Malinovic, represents Shelton, as does Vance Larimer, who is based in Colorado.

"He has no preference where he lives. He just wants to play football," Metz said. "He's on the right side of 30, and he's proven he can excel in the offensive line at this level."

Metz didn't rule out the possibility of returning to the Cardinals, saying Shelton would handle this off-season "professionally, regardless of the outcome."

If the Cardinals trade Shelton, they would absorb a salary-cap cost of about $3.34 million, the portion of Shelton's signing bonus not accounted for in previous years. The Cardinals should have considerable room under the cap this spring, so they could afford the cap cost of trading Shelton.

If the Cardinals trade Shelton, they would absorb a salary-cap cost of about $3.34 million, the portion of Shelton's signing bonus not accounted for in previous years. The Cardinals should have considerable room under the cap this spring, so they could afford the cap cost of trading Shelton.
I'm pretty sure Somers is wrong on this. The team used the available cap room last year on his signing bonus, hence not giving him a bonus but a $5M base salary raise. That's probable also the reason, why it's Shelton and not Clement, who's on the trading block, since trading Clement would result in a cap hit. Trading Shelton will NOT result in a cap hit IMO.

 

[Harry]

He'll find one.

 

[bratwurst]

I'm pretty sure Somers is wrong on this. The team used the available cap room last year on his signing bonus, hence not giving him a bonus but a $5M base salary raise. That's probable also the reason, why it's Shelton and not Clement, who's on the trading block, since trading Clement would result in a cap hit. Trading Shelton will NOT result in a cap hit IMO.

I would think the reason Shelton is on the block and Clement isn't, is the fact that there is probably a realistic market for Shelton. I doubt there would be many callers for Clement.

Just my opinion though. I'd have wished that Shelton could have stayed to be our RT next year, but oh well.

 

[Reddog]

Wonder if the Titans make sense? Mac drafted him and seemed to love him and they are in desperate need of an OT.

 

[azdad1978]

I rather trade Clement but who would want him.

 

[red desert]

I'd hate to see Shelton leave, but a trade for Henry - straight up - makes sense for both teams.

 

[JeffGollin]

You gotta do what you gotta do, but it frustrates the bleep out of me that guys we draft - whom we feel at the time are great prospects - get whipped out of our revolving door faster than just about any other team in the league.

 

[Pariah]

You gotta do what you gotta do, but it frustrates the bleep out of me that guys we draft - whom we feel at the time are great prospects - get whipped out of our revolving door faster than just about any other team in the league.

I still think Shelton is a very good player (and with our luck will turn into a great player). I'm perplexed as to why a team that has such problems along the oline encourage the second best lineman to leave.

 

[Renz]

You gotta do what you gotta do, but it frustrates the bleep out of me that guys we draft - whom we feel at the time are great prospects - get whipped out of our revolving door faster than just about any other team in the league.

He's played here six years. I wouldn't exactly call that a revolving door.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

This could be a sign as to how DG is thinking come draft time.Don't be surprised to see Alex Barron as our pick.One thing you can count on the guy we draft will come from a big time college program as Green usualy thinks those players are ready for the NFL.

 

[Cards Czar]

Wonder if the Titans make sense? Mac drafted him and seemed to love him and they are in desperate need of an OT.

Shelton received a 5 yr 15 mil contract extension in 2003 he received the bonus before the deadline for extensions so the 5 mil counted in 2003. we will be saving only around 600k but it 600k. There are alot of teams that need a LT. Look at Miami or Seattle or Tenn. You could trade for either S. Rolle he has a cap hit for Tenn at 5.5 or for Miami's S. Madison who has a cap hit of 3.42. Walter Jones migh not be signed by Seattle but his cost would be high.

 

[Cards Czar]

NinerFanatic.com have some good info on Potential Cap Cuts for 2005.


Link:

 

[ajcardfan]

Wonder if the Titans make sense? Mac drafted him and seemed to love him and they are in desperate need of an OT.

He was drafted in the first round with Boston back in 99, Tobin was the coach.

As for the cap hit, Somers is probably correct. Remember, we shoved 3-4 million dollars of Davis' contract onto last years cap so there could not have been room to absorb Shelton's bonus.

 

[spanky1]

Walter Jones at LT (FA)......Leonard Davis at OG.....Stephanovich at C........Cosey Coleman at RG (FA) and one of Clement/Wakefield at RT= O-Line problems solved.

As someone said earlier.....Shelton for Travis Henry = good trade for both teams

 

[SeattleCard]

NinerFanatic.com have some good info on Potential Cap Cuts for 2005.


Link:

That info is completely useless. Like Leonard Davis and Bert Berry are potential cuts! Yeah right!!!

 

[Red Air Force]

Walter Jones at LT (FA)......Leonard Davis at OG.....Stephanovich at C........Cosey Coleman at RG (FA) and one of Clement/Wakefield at RT= O-Line problems solved.

As someone said earlier.....Shelton for Travis Henry = good trade for both teams

Cement/Wakefield solves our problem at RT? wtf?

Cement sux soooo bad, and who knows how Wakefield will perform. I'm sorry, but if Shelton leaves RT becomes a severe need.

 

[Cards Czar]

That info is completely useless. Like Leonard Davis and Bert Berry are potential cuts! Yeah right!!!

I agree you you but it just gives you a view of there high priced players who might be let go. teams that I look at are the teams that are in cap hell.


Shelton signed a extension on Nov 2 2003 so his bonus I think was paid in 2003 with not cap intrusion of the rest of his contract but i might be wrong.

1st link is for his signing 2nd for the 2003 US Today Team Salary Database:



Navy Mike

 

[jefftheshark]

Shelton for Patrick Surtain?

The Shark

 

[Snakester]

I don't understand why in the world the Cardinals would want to trade Shelton in the first place unless Dennis Green is just being an A$$ about it. It's not like our offensive line is so strong that we can afford to get rid of him. Outside of signing a Walter Jones type player in free agency who in the world are we going to get to replace him that is as good or better. There is not one offensive lineman in this years draft that is better than Shelton is right now.

It just doesn't make any sense to get rid of one of our best players just for the hell of it. If we trade him, we should get a first round pick or a player that is of equal value or greater.

 

[Toro]

Ninerfanatic's "potential" cuts for the Cards is a joke.

His list includes Berry (our only pro bowler) , Player (extended in dec), Darling (a good 2004 season), and Macklin.

He has no clue.

 

[ajcardfan]

It just doesn't make any sense to get rid of one of our best players just for the hell of it.

That's right, and there are two statements in the story that show that this is not the case.

1. The Cardinals granted the agent for offensive tackle L.J. Shelton permission to pursue a trade, just 15 months after the team re-signed Shelton to a lucrative contract extension.

So, the push for a trade has come from Shelton. We all know he got in Green's doghouse last year. But, I see nothing in this story that indicates Green went to the front office saying "Get rid of LJ".

2, Metz didn't rule out the possibility of returning to the Cardinals, saying Shelton would handle this off-season "professionally, regardless of the outcome."

This would indicate the Cards would take him back if they did not get good value for him. I see no reason why Metz would try to get the Cards leverage in a trade. If Shelton wants out at all cost, and the Cards feel the same, they really wouldn't care if it was via trade or by cutting him.

 

[Syracusecards]

I don't understand why in the world the Cardinals would want to trade Shelton in the first place unless Dennis Green is just being an A$$ about it. It's not like our offensive line is so strong that we can afford to get rid of him. Outside of signing a Walter Jones type player in free agency who in the world are we going to get to replace him that is as good or better. There is not one offensive lineman in this years draft that is better than Shelton is right now.

It just doesn't make any sense to get rid of one of our best players just for the hell of it. If we trade him, we should get a first round pick or a player that is of equal value or greater.

I agree. Shelton has been the only somewhat consistent performer on our OL for 6 years. There's no way anyone is giving us a first round pick for him. Probably not even a second rounder. I think any trade we make, we'll get screwed.
However, and this is just speculation, if Shelton is one of the guys that isn't buying into the program and going through the offseason workout, that's probably why Denny doesn't care if he stays or goes.
Personally, I'd like to see him back because as you said, there's no one out there that we're going to bring in that would be as good or better.(we're not going to get Walter Jones).

 

[joeshmo]

First of all it is Shelton wanting the trade not Green, and it sounds like he wants to be playing LT somewhere else but he doesnt care if he comes back to play RT next year.

Second, we will not trade him him for crap, there is a market for him as he will only count 3 mill against the team we trade him to cap space which is really low for a LT and average for a RT. Plus there are a lot of teams looking to get a OT or upgrade:

Bills - And looking to move Henry
Browns
Bucs
Chargers
Dolphins - Looking to get rid of some very good high base salary guys, becuase they are over the cap.
Falcons
Giants
Panthers
Rams
Seahawks
Steelers
Texans
Titans - Looking for some nice priced help after they cut both of their starters this offseason.

Third there are a lot of FA OT this year that are either just as good or better then Shelton.

Name, Team, Age

Walter Jones Seahawks 31
Orlando Pace Rams 29
Kareem McKenzie Jets 26
Victor Riley Saints 30
Ryan Diem Colts 26
Jonas Jennings Bills 27
Stockar McDougle Lions 28
Oliver Ross Steelers 30

 

[Skkorpion]

Only ajcardfan caught the nuances

Shelton initiated this. Denny Green pushed hard on LJ. Now LJ is pushing back. LJ knows he can play LOT in this league and is tired of being yanked around.

This is a win/win for us, not for LJ. Cards still own his rights. If a good trade offer comes out of this, greeat. If not, LJ plays ROT for us and he'll play hard because he's a classy guy and a true pro.

Meanwhile, Denny Green has been put on notice that LJ is tired of being abused as a whipping boy. That's good too. And if Denny truly wants LJ gone, at least we'll get some return on him.

I hope LJ stays.

 

[Skkorpion]

Third there are a lot of FA OT this year that are either just as good or better then Shelton.

Name, Team, Age

Walter Jones Seahawks 31
Orlando Pace Rams 29
Kareem McKenzie Jets 26
Victor Riley Saints 30
Ryan Diem Colts 26
Jonas Jennings Bills 27
Stockar McDougle Lions 28
Oliver Ross Steelers 30

You got it right joeschmo until that last part. Of your list, only Walter jones and Orlando Pace are better than LJ (when LJ plays LOT, not ROT).