Cards let Shelton pursue a trade

Pariah

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Skkorpion said:
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).
I think Riley is better (granted, older too), and Mcdougal is about equal...jmho.
 

Snakester

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Skkorpion said:
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).
I agree with you Skkorp. We are not going to put out the money it would take to bring Jones or Pace here either.
 

Snakester

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Skkorpion said:
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.

I hope LJ stays as well. I must have read the article wrong. I thought LJ was being given the okay to seek a trade because the Cardinals didn't want him anymore.
 

Snakester

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ajcardfan said:
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.
My bad.
I thought LJ was being shown the door and was given the chance to go to a team of his choosing.
 

joeshmo

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Pariah said:
I think Riley is better (granted, older too), and Mcdougal is about equal...jmho.

I also think that Diem is better and McKenzie is equal to Shelton.
 

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This is one of the moves I didn't understand from Green is how LJ ended up being on Greens bad list. He was always solid and played hurt. I think the O-line will not be better with Clement playing RT instead of LJ. The guards is where we have to see a big improvement.
 

Crimson Warrior

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Snakester said:
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.


This is where I'm at. What RT out there is measurably better than Shelton except for Jones, who will want a boat load of money? Clement is not the worst RT in the NFL, but Shelton is way better (sorry Tony!)

And its not like Shelton was stinking it up on the field this past year. He wasn't as good as big, but he sure wasn't a turnstile on pass blocking, and did ok run blocking.

Tough to follow Denny on this one. I guess that he's got something up his sleeve.
 

Rats

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Crimson Warrior said:
This is where I'm at. What RT out there is measurably better than Shelton except for Jones, who will want a boat load of money? Clement is not the worst RT in the NFL, but Shelton is way better (sorry Tony!)

And its not like Shelton was stinking it up on the field this past year. He wasn't as good as big, but he sure wasn't a turnstile on pass blocking, and did ok run blocking.

Tough to follow Denny on this one. I guess that he's got something up his sleeve.
I like LJ but he did not do a good job at all this season. He was replaced repeatedly in an attempt to find someone on the right side that could run block. He failed miserably at that. DG is not the one wanting LJ out. LJ just got permission because he wants to play LT and he won't be doing that for the Cardinals. It is a win win if we can get something for him and save a little cap money. In the long run we will be better off. We have to have new guys on the rightside or move Wells to RT and get new gaurds.
 

black

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The whole Offensive line needs an overhaul, I just wish this season would end and March 2nd was here already. Meanwhile I hope our 0-linemen are lifting weights as I type.



If the Cards can get a RB for LJ, fine but I don't want draft picks for him. Henry would be a great trade for LJ.
 

slinslin

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I'd probably do Shelton and a 3rd for Surtain if I was the Cards. Shelton and a 2nd seems too much considering that Surtain wants big bucks.
 

conraddobler

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slinslin said:
I'd probably do Shelton and a 3rd for Surtain if I was the Cards. Shelton and a 2nd seems too much considering that Surtain wants big bucks.


I don't like it.

I don't like any talk about trading picks unless we can get a stud RB, that's the only position I'd consider losing picks for.

We need all the picks we can get with our roster needing talent everywhere we should be trying to gain picks not lose them.

Just my opinion.
 

Cards Czar

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I have been researching on LJ Sheltons contract and somthing does not add up. He signed a extension for 15 mil for 5 yr with a 5 mil bonus. He signed it in 2003 be for the cut off date. See below from US TODAY.
LJ Shelton, LJ $ 4,337,778 $ 5,000,000 $ 400 $ 9,338,178 $ 3,993,733

Lets say he only got 1 mil for 2003 and 1 mil for the next 4 yrs. we would only owe him after 2004 is 3 mil. His base would of been 2 mil. but the below reflects differently. How would we have to take a 3.3 mil cap hit??

Year Team Base Salary Sign Bonus Other Bonus Total Saly Cap Val Position
2003 Cardinals $ 4,337,778 $ 5,000,000 $ 400 $ 9,338,178 $ 3,993,733
2002 Cardinals $ 490,000 $ 0 $ 720 $ 490,720 $ 1,090,720
2001 Cardinals $ 420,000 $ 0 $ 320 $ 1,020,320 $ 1,020,320
2000 Cardinals $ 350,000 $ 600,000 $ 300 $ 950,300 $ 950,300
 

Russ Smith

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conraddobler said:
I don't like it.

I don't like any talk about trading picks unless we can get a stud RB, that's the only position I'd consider losing picks for.

We need all the picks we can get with our roster needing talent everywhere we should be trying to gain picks not lose them.

Just my opinion.

Hard to say, this is such a weak draft that I'm not certain it makes sense to stockpile picks if you can get a good player like Surtain in his prime.

For examle the NFL draft countdown mock now has us taking Ronnie Brown at 8 and DeMarcus Ware in round 2. Ware is a 245 pound(bulked up from 232) DE from Troy State who they have us moving to OLB. Anybody here think Shelton and Ware for Surtain is a bad deal? shelton wants out, Green doesn't like him, and Ware is a rookie to be from a small school moving to a new position, for a pro bowl CB. I'd do it even though I don't think CB is a huge need.

That trade frees us up to take a RB in round one, OR to make a deal if someone wants say Rolle or Pacman and we already have Surtain. Plus if we go after Jordan in FA and get him, then the draft we wouldn't have to worry about positions at all. I usually treasure picks, but in a weak draft I would take the proven player.
 

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Russ Smith said:
Hard to say, this is such a weak draft that I'm not certain it makes sense to stockpile picks if you can get a good player like Surtain in his prime.

For examle the NFL draft countdown mock now has us taking Ronnie Brown at 8 and DeMarcus Ware in round 2. Ware is a 245 pound(bulked up from 232) DE from Troy State who they have us moving to OLB. Anybody here think Shelton and Ware for Surtain is a bad deal? shelton wants out, Green doesn't like him, and Ware is a rookie to be from a small school moving to a new position, for a pro bowl CB. I'd do it even though I don't think CB is a huge need.

That trade frees us up to take a RB in round one, OR to make a deal if someone wants say Rolle or Pacman and we already have Surtain. Plus if we go after Jordan in FA and get him, then the draft we wouldn't have to worry about positions at all. I usually treasure picks, but in a weak draft I would take the proven player.
The question is would you do Shelton and Arrington or Fason in that trade. If we go best player at 8 we won't be taking Brown. More likely Johnson which is what we want anyway or a TE. I would not make this trade because of the big contract Surtain has.
 

Russ Smith

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Rats said:
The question is would you do Shelton and Arrington or Fason in that trade. If we go best player at 8 we won't be taking Brown. More likely Johnson which is what we want anyway or a TE. I would not make this trade because of the big contract Surtain has.

Yes I would. First everything I read has Arrington there in round 3. Also I want to sign jordan, if we don't that changes things. I'm also not that high on Fason, I think he's interesting but he only had more than 100 carries his junior year, he played in a spread offense that gives him big gaps to run through, he only averaged 7.3 Yards per catch this year. I think he's taller and maybe faster than Arrington but doesn't run that well between the tackles and is apparently a really notoriously bad blocker, something that really kept him on the bench most of his first 2 years.

There is upside, he's 21-22, married with 2 kids so he may be hungrier than most rookies since he needs to feed his family, and he's very explosive which Green likes, but I think he's a 3rd rounder in a normal draft that's moving up because this draft is so thin.

I just think there's no guarantee that 2nd rounder is going to be anywhere near as good as Dansby this year, but I know Surtain would be a valuable addition.
 

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Russ Smith said:
Yes I would. First everything I read has Arrington there in round 3. Also I want to sign jordan, if we don't that changes things. I'm also not that high on Fason, I think he's interesting but he only had more than 100 carries his junior year, he played in a spread offense that gives him big gaps to run through, he only averaged 7.3 Yards per catch this year. I think he's taller and maybe faster than Arrington but doesn't run that well between the tackles and is apparently a really notoriously bad blocker, something that really kept him on the bench most of his first 2 years.

There is upside, he's 21-22, married with 2 kids so he may be hungrier than most rookies since he needs to feed his family, and he's very explosive which Green likes, but I think he's a 3rd rounder in a normal draft that's moving up because this draft is so thin.

I just think there's no guarantee that 2nd rounder is going to be anywhere near as good as Dansby this year, but I know Surtain would be a valuable addition.
I can see that there are no guarantees in the later rounds but even if this is a weak draft if there was a Dockett( who I had us taking in the second round rather than the 3rd last year) available and we had to take him earlier than we got him last year I would have to think twice. There may be some character issues or injury concerns that might push a 1st round talent down like it did Dockett. I would want to have that pick unless I got a huge upgrade (Like a Moss and Bennett) on offense. Surtain is not a huge need as you said. I would rather find a guy at 44 that will help the offensive side of the ball or DT.
 

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Pariah said:
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.

:thumbup:
 

MadCardDisease

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The only reason why you trade a good player for draft picks is to reduce the hit on your Salary cap. The Cardinals don't have a problem with their salary cap so they should go after a proven player instead of a draft pick.
 

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MadCardDisease said:
The only reason why you trade a good player for draft picks is to reduce the hit on your Salary cap. The Cardinals don't have a problem with their salary cap so they should go after a proven player instead of a draft pick.

Unless you are Jimmy Johnson.
 
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