Cards not planning go after big names FA

[az1965]

So much for the Alexander vs. Edge arguments...


Big names don't interest Cardinals

Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 24, 2006 12:00 AM

[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]
INDIANAPOLIS - If there is a big-name free agent about to hit the open market, chances are the Cardinals have been linked to him by reports and rumors.

Seattle running back Shaun Alexander and Indianapolis running back Edgerrin James are just two examples of players the team supposedly is interested in signing.

Don't hold your breath waiting for that to happen, however.

Coach Dennis Green's philosophy the past two years has been to use the team's money and cap space to acquire several players, not just one or two. Rod Graves, the team's vice president for football operations, said Thursday that the philosophy won't change this year.

"Dennis has maintained that he likes for our attention and our efforts to be directed on guys who feel they still have a lot to prove," Graves said.

Graves declined to address specific players expected to hit the free-agent market on March 3, such as Alexander or James.

But, he said, the chance of the Cardinals signing a free agent "at the very top" of the market is unlikely.

Playing time for Bush

Houston is expected to take Southern California running back Reggie Bush with the No. 1 pick in the draft, but Bush still faces questions about his ability to play every down.

He's only 200 pounds, and some people wonder whether he could withstand carrying the ball 25 times a game.

"That's something that I feel like I want to emphasize to the teams," Bush said, "that I can be an every-down back . . . that I can still carry the load and be in there when the game is on the line."

Carrying the load might mean rushing the ball 15 times and catching 10 passes, however.

"Whichever team takes Reggie at the top of the draft, if they utilize him in the right way he can still be a Heisman Trophy winner at the pro level, even if he's only touching the ball 10 or 15 times a game," Browns General Manager Phil Savage said.

[/FONT]

 

[az1965]

It's clear at least who is calling the shots...

Coach Dennis Green's philosophy the past two years has been to use the team's money and cap space to acquire several players, not just one or two. Rod Graves, the team's vice president for football operations, said Thursday that the philosophy won't change this year.

 

[Shane]

Coach Dennis Green's philosophy the past two years has been to use the team's money and cap space to acquire several players, not just one or two. Rod Graves, the team's vice president for football operations, said Thursday that the philosophy won't change this year.

"Dennis has maintained that he likes for our attention and our efforts to be directed on guys who feel they still have a lot to prove," Graves said.

Typical Cards. No shock there.

Wow we can go out and grab some more of the Oliver Ross', and Orlando Huff's of the NFL like last year. WOO HOO!

 

[Redsz]

Dissapointing. We should of seen it coming, though. This has been G&G's M.O over the last two years. And it has worked for the most part.

Does this count out Jamal Lewis? And what about Bentley? Would these two be considered at 'the very top of the market'?

 

[AzWins23]

This is why we are never going to win anything...This pisses me off!!!

 

[AzWins23]

It's not like that we are that far away like in the past. We need some stars in some position. RB, O-Line. We can fill the other problem spots through the draft. This drives me crazy!!

 

[Red Dawn]

I would think this is a logical year to open up the purse strings and sign some notable FA's to make sure the team has a great year.

Maybe we can lure Emmitt out of retirement to help fill the new stadium.

 

[Stout]

First of all, this article is purely speculation by the media. It's poker time for GMs, so this guy is just throwing poop at the wall and hoping it sticks.

But, if Graves doesn't like our chances of signing a guy at the top of the free agent market, then we're screwed and he and the rest of the front office are bumbling incompetents. Because, gee, what guys will help us most. We could really use a good RB...or how about a top O-lineman. Yeah, they're at the TOP OF THE FA MARKET. I know we can't read anything into this, but I am sooooo paranoid heading into this FA period, of all of them.

 

[imaCafan]

If we don't sign at least one of Hutch, Bentley, James, Alexander, or Lewis, this off-season will be a bust IMO. Knowing the Cards, we might hope for Lewis at best and forget the rest. I hope during FA when we sign someone, I'm not asking "Who?"!!!!!!!!

 

[English on tour]

smoke screen and edge backs up SA, i think that time will prove me right.


now have i told you about my alien friends......

 

[az jam]

This is the same philosophy that Denny has always used and has been successful for the most part. He will go after and get perhaps 3 or 4 more (note we already resigned Warner) solid starters to fill needs. He will then go and get BPA in the draft. So called solid starters could include:
DT Kemoeatu Ravens
OG Neal Patriots
FS Demps Ravens
OG Reyes Panthers or OT Ashworth Patriots
RB Wells Texans or RB Davenport Packers

Then how about a draft that has us taking:
1st Round Lendale White RB USC
2nd Round Best OL Available (Scott, Lutui, etc.)
3rd Round Best QB available ( Whitehurst, Jacobs, etc.)

IMO this would give us an excellent off season.

 

[Scott MS]

Unfortuntely 2nd tier guys don't fill seats or give a franchise credibility. They also don't attract the national media.

You need to win off the field as well as on the field. Off the field, meaning in public and media perception.

On Sunday's when I'm going to be the Cardinals game, sometimes I see other guys with their Packers or Vikings or Eagles or Broncos uniform driving to their local sports bar to cheer on their team. How do you get the thousands of NFL fans sitting in Arizona to go to the Cardinals games instead of the sports bar? Fix the perception problem.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I, for one - completely agree with the GREEN - GRAVES philosophy in dealing with Free Agency. I want the Cards to buy-in to the present and future potential of a player, not his past. And... as in the case of the "draft"... I leave it to Green - Graves and the scouting department to make solid assessements as to who best can meet our needs in the third year of a 5 year plan.

 

[Shane]

First of all, this article is purely speculation by the media. It's poker time for GMs, so this guy is just throwing poop at the wall and hoping it sticks.

But, if Graves doesn't like our chances of signing a guy at the top of the free agent market, then we're screwed and he and the rest of the front office are bumbling incompetents. Because, gee, what guys will help us most. We could really use a good RB...or how about a top O-lineman. Yeah, they're at the TOP OF THE FA MARKET. I know we can't read anything into this, but I am sooooo paranoid heading into this FA period, of all of them.

This is in no way pure speculation by Kent Somers. He has a direct quote form Graves stating that this will be the route they are taking. Thats not throwing poop at the wall stout.

We could say it is is all one big smokescreen but we have the last two years of history saying it isnt. Thats how Green and Graves have operated and seems to be the SOP.

If it turns out this way and is true(which we have no reason to believe it isnt) I will be extremely pissed atthis franchise. We have some damn talent. Now is the damn time to go out and get a big name or two at OL and RB and maybe even S. Thats what the Bidwills promised with the new stadium. WE SHALL SEE!

 

[Shane]

I, for one - completely agree with the GREEN - GRAVES philosophy in dealing with Free Agency. I want the Cards to buy-in to the present and future potential of a player, not his past. And... as in the case of the "draft"... I leave it to Green - Graves and the scouting department to make solid assessements as to who best can meet our needs in the third year of a 5 year plan.

So your saying you want more production out of a FA in year 3 than year 1? Much like Ross and Huff right?

That seems rather strange to me especially for a team that isnt supposed to be that far off.

We were promised we would compete with the big boys. Lets stop posturing and go get it done.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

It's all speculation right now bit where's Michale Bidwill and his wanting to compete with Snyder for the best FA's?

 

[Shane]

It's all speculation right now bit where's Michale Bidwill and his wanting to compete with Snyder for the best FA's?

Ill repost and bold it:

This is in no way pure speculation by Kent Somers. He has a direct quote form Graves stating that this will be the route they are taking. Thats not throwing poop at the wall stout/cbus.

We could say it is is all one big smokescreen but we have the last two years of history saying it isnt. Thats how Green and Graves have operated and seems to be the SOP.

If it turns out this way and is true(which we have no reason to believe it isnt) I will be extremely pissed atthis franchise. We have some damn talent. Now is the damn time to go out and get a big name or two at OL and RB and maybe even S. Thats what the Bidwills promised with the new stadium. WE SHALL SEE!

 

[Duckjake]

Ill repost and bold it:

This is in no way pure speculation by Kent Somers. He has a direct quote form Graves stating that this will be the route they are taking. Thats not throwing poop at the wall stout/cbus.

We could say it is is all one big smokescreen but we have the last two years of history saying it isnt. Thats how Green and Graves have operated and seems to be the SOP.

If it turns out this way and is true(which we have no reason to believe it isnt) I will be extremely pissed atthis franchise. We have some damn talent. Now is the damn time to go out and get a big name or two at OL and RB and maybe even S. Thats what the Bidwills promised with the new stadium. WE SHALL SEE!

 

[JeffGollin]

This is in no way pure speculation by Kent Somers. He has a direct quote form Graves
You're assuming, of course, that Rod wouldn't dream of blowing a little smoke...

But if Rod is leveling, consider this:

When you decide to sign a high profile free agent (particularly at RB) you are in most cases throwing a lot of money at a guy with a certain amount of tread worn from the tire.

You can't rely on being able to prorate your investment over several years and, in fact, run the risk that an injury in Year One could wipe out everything (i.e. at least when rookies or young players get injured, they'll still be relatively young by the time they are ready to play again).

Signing a expensive high-profile guy like Alexander, Lewis or James is scary business. Last year, I frankly thought they'd all bomb, but all three wound up with good years. But it would be just our luck that we'd sign one of them and it would turn out that "last year" was his last good year.

It's obviously frustrating to fans when the Cardinals seem to shy away from the top guys, but, in my opinion, they make the most sense for teams who feel they're only one player away from a championship. For us, the updside/downside ratio is likely to be too risky.

 

[Shane]

This is in no way pure speculation by Kent Somers. He has a direct quote form Graves
You're assuming, of course, that Rod wouldn't dream of blowing a little smoke...

But if Rod is leveling, consider this:

When you decide to sign a high profile free agent (particularly at RB) you are in most cases throwing a lot of money at a guy with a certain amount of tread worn from the tire.

You can't rely on being able to prorate your investment over several years and, in fact, run the risk that an injury in Year One could wipe out everything (i.e. at least when rookies or young players get injured, they'll still be relatively young by the time they are ready to play again).

Signing a expensive high-profile guy like Alexander or James is scary business. Last year, I thought they'd both bomb, but they both wound up with excellent years. But it would be just our luck that we'd sign one of them and it would turn out that "last year" was his last good year.

It's obviously frustrating to fans when the Cardinals seem to shy away from the top guys, but, in my opinion, they make the most sense for teams who feel they're only one player away from a championship. For us, the updside/downside ratio is likely to be too risky.

Jeff we have been hearing for years that the Cards will go after the high profile FA's once they get the new stadium. We have been hearing that they will have the cash flow to compete with other teams for better players. We have been promised by the Bidwills that we will go after those type of players.

It is widely agreed upon by fans and experts alike that this team is just a few players away from being really good.

The excuses really need to stop. Im fed up with going after the Orlando Huff and Oliver Rosses of teh world!

 

[Azlen]

At some point they have to take a look at their record and decide that they way they have always done things isn't working out all that well for them and try something different. Only a fool can think they can do what they have always done and get better results.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I've never realistically thought they'd sign Edge or Alexander. I figured they would go after OL,like Bentley, and draft LenDale White/DeAngelo Williams. So, i guess Graves is correct in saying they won't go the TOP free agents but they wil definitely look at Bentley. At least, they better.

 

[football karma]

you know, I can appreciate the "build it smartly, dont overpay" approach as it would stink to finally put together a winning team, and then have to do a Jets like purge due to cap issues ----

however-- this team right now lacks any serious credibility with its fans and local market. We have been told for 5+ years, and Michael is quoted again in the paper (Star Telegram article posted today in another thread) about how this building will allow them to compete.

I think if nothing else, the team needs to step up and sign ONE big name if nothing else to make a statement to its fans that its serious about winning.

 

[ajcardfan]

Historically, the top names in free agency disappoint their new teams almost every single year. Remember how hyped everyone was about Jevon Kearse, Hugh Douglas, Vonnie Holliday, etc, etc, and how we should splurge big dollars on them? But, if the market drives down prices, like it will with the RBs, we should be able to make a move.

All I care about is how well they play this coming season.

 

[spanky1]

Unfortuntely 2nd tier guys don't fill seats or give a franchise credibility. They also don't attract the national media.

You need to win off the field as well as on the field. Off the field, meaning in public and media perception.

On Sunday's when I'm going to be the Cardinals game, sometimes I see other guys with their Packers or Vikings or Eagles or Broncos uniform driving to their local sports bar to cheer on their team. How do you get the thousands of NFL fans sitting in Arizona to go to the Cardinals games instead of the sports bar? Fix the perception problem.

Just win baby