Cards not planning go after big names FA

[joeshmo]

better than average? c'mon. average at best. i can't recall any big plays and even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.

Well then you recall wrong.

A blind squirrell that occasionaly finds nuts doesnt lead the team in TFL with the likes of Okeafer, Dansby, the ever blitzing Wilson and even had more TFL compared to Berry before he went down as well.

 

[azsouthendzone]

This article is typical Cardinals bashing, which is what Kent Somers sets out to do every time he opens up his lap top. It is designed to get people like Shane H to start ripping the team, which is Shane's favorite pastime. It feeds the whole Mike Jurecki/ Dan Bickley stir the pot theory that negative, slanted, non-news is great news. Then when people like Shane start whining, it reassures themselves that they are great journalists so they repeat.

What do you guys expect Graves to say? Did you expect him to say, "We are gonna blow everyone out of the water by giving Shawn alexander the biggest deal in NFL history because we got more bank to throw around than anyone else. Print that Somers!" No GM would ever tip their hat to what they are gonna do. Fact is, we don't know. But it doesn't take a genius to figure out that a team that ranked top 10 in offense and defense and has money to spend, will probably bring in a a running back to solidify that side of the ball.

 

[joeshmo]

There are no more excuses. The team need to put butts in the seat and win games. Not just putting buts in the seats because teh stadium is a first year novelty that everyone wants to see. But because they are serious about winning and show it!

And that I think we can all agree on.

 

[Sandan]

Shane, the chat with M Bidwill was at Jilly's anybody in the valley could have done the same thing. I was just trying to at what little factual information we have instead of rampant speculation that some prefer.

As for not saying negative stuff you have a very selective memory. I rarely wtote articles but at the end ofthe season prior to Green being hired I was slamming the DL coaching in the one article I did write.

As for Rod Graves, is it bad I happen to like the guy ?

As for the rest, I see all the same problems you do, the difference is I don't think the solutions are, quick easy or big name free agents [necessarily]

I do think the solution is a consistant approach by G&G and that is what I see. IMO last year could have easily gone much better had we not been so devasted by injuries.

I believe they have a straegy, I doubt it really exludes any options but I suspect if favours using DG talent evaluation skills to find FAs like Berry.

You don't agree fine but we are not one player away frm the Superbowl, so overpaying for that one Name won't cut it for us. We might however be a 2-3 players away from consistently making the playoffs.

 

[seesred]

Rumer has it that the Cards want to talk with Shaun Alexander..What tier is he at. This comes from the NFL network...End of thread.

GBR
40

 

[Shane]

Rumer has it that the Cards want to talk with Shaun Alexander..What tier is he at. This comes from the NFL network...End of thread.

GBR
40

Key here is "rumor"

Thread back open!

 

[Duckjake]

You don't agree fine but we are not one player away frm the Superbowl, so overpaying for that one Name won't cut it for us.

I don't know Nidan. We had the #7 Offense and #8 Defense in terms of yards allowed. In spite of having more players on IR than just about every other team in the league and playing 7 games against teams that did make the playoffs.

If the Cards had one guy on offense who could have made a difference when it was crunch time in the redzone the Cards could very well have been 11-5 instead of 5-11 and in the thick of the run to Extra Large.

 

[Shane]

This article is typical Cardinals bashing, which is what Kent Somers sets out to do every time he opens up his lap top. It is designed to get people like Shane H to start ripping the team, which is Shane's favorite pastime. It feeds the whole Mike Jurecki/ Dan Bickley stir the pot theory that negative, slanted, non-news is great news. Then when people like Shane start whining, it reassures themselves that they are great journalists so they repeat.

What do you guys expect Graves to say? Did you expect him to say, "We are gonna blow everyone out of the water by giving Shawn alexander the biggest deal in NFL history because we got more bank to throw around than anyone else. Print that Somers!" No GM would ever tip their hat to what they are gonna do. Fact is, we don't know. But it doesn't take a genius to figure out that a team that ranked top 10 in offense and defense and has money to spend, will probably bring in a a running back to solidify that side of the ball.

Oh yea azsouthendzone the ultimate Cards optimist. Can never say anything bad about an organization that has been to the playoffs one time in 19 years in the valley. You go boy!

 

[Shane]

Shane,

Can you name me any team that spent big on multiple big name free agents and went from 5-11, or so, to the playoffs? I honestly can't think of an example like that. It's much easier to think of big name signings that didn't pan out.

There's no doubt in my mind we'll sign a handful of players this year. Frankly, I don't care what the contracts are, I just want to win. If we don't, Green is gone and we start over. Again.

Off the top of my head no aj. But that doesnt mean it cant happen.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Shane H, the eternal negative, sky is falling Cards basher. Must have spent one too many late nights patrolling Fremont St. You go Farva!

 

[seesred]

I used the word Rumor, the reporter said that this is a known fact. I don't know where he got his info or how but that is what he stated that the Cardinals will go after Shaun. We will see.

GBR
40

 

[Sandan]

I don't know Nidan. We had the #7 Offense and #8 Defense in terms of yards allowed. In spite of having more players on IR than just about every other team in the league and playing 7 games against teams that did make the playoffs.

If the Cards had one guy on offense who could have made a difference when it was crunch time in the redzone the Cards could very well have been 11-5 instead of 5-11 and in the thick of the run to Extra Large.

I'd love to go there with you but I can't quite drink that much Koolaid .... yet

Playoffs, sure

 

[CardinalChris]

Hack job. We are interested in talking to Alexander by many published reports but we won't go after any big names. This contradicts EVERYTHING we have been reading for a month. BTW, we have also had some very good FA signings the past two years, not just oliver Ross.

 

[CardinalChris]

Hack job. We are interested in talking to Alexander by many published reports but we won't go after any big names. This contradicts EVERYTHING we have been reading for a month. BTW, we have also had some very good FA signings the past two years, not just oliver Ross.

 

[Stout]

Well, I certainly seem to get pumped up about this every year. It's about my yearly fear or ultimate failure. Because, like it or not, without a solid draft and a solid FA, we will ALWAYS FAIL. We do not have a team that can suffer a bad offseason and recover in the regular season. We MUST add solid pieces in the offseason. Last year in FA we most certainly did not do that well enough. The year before we did pretty well. The whole chip away with mid-tier free agents will work sometimes, but it will fail just as often, because the players you're chasing have definite ceilings, just as the high-profile guys have definite risks.

I'm scared out of my wits that we'll fail to do enough in FA, and will look to the draft and rely too much on rookies to help us. Relying on the draft to immediately change your team is suicide. If they do, then great, but those guys usually take time to develope. If you want instant impact, you want FA, and I'm desperately scared it will be business as usual this year.

 

[red desert]

Well then you dont recall correctly.

No big plays, he lead the team in tackles for loss. On a team with a blitz on every down Wilson, Dansby, Okeafer, that is a pretty big accomplishment that is more then just a blind squirrel finding a nut once in a while, he also lead Berry in TFL before he was injured as well.

Okeafer was the beneficiary of the attention other teams put on Berry. And later on Wilson and Dansby. While he wasn't quite a squirrel finding a nut every once in a while, I wouldn't call his accomplishments "BIG" either. For what he was getting paid he did okay, that's all.

I wasn't thrilled about his signing last year and I'm still not too passionate about the guy.

 

[red desert]

Ian I like you a lot. But to the point you havent said one negative thing about this team or what it does since you were given you press passes two seasons ago for ASFN to have free roam at training camp and at closed practices at their facility. It seems since then you have been able to rub elbows of sorts with the upper echelon of Cards management/ownership and been given little perks your judgemnet has been clouded. Its like you truly believe them to be nice people and wont make any sort of comment that is negative towards them. Thats all well and good but I can distinctly remember you being more critical of this organization prior to that. So I really dont put a lot of weight into what you say anymore when it comes to your opinions about how they operate.

Now back on topic. That quote by Mike Bidwill is all well and good. But that family has openly in the public and in the papers outright stated that they will spend more money and openly compete with the big boys of the NFL when they get the new stadium. They stated they will be able to attract bigger name FA's with better revenue. You can try to spin that anyway you want but its a fact.

The only contract they have really been creative with have been rookie contracts. They havent done that because of the stadium. But IMO because they had no choice. Salaries have gotten to high for the rooks. They had to come into this century at somepoint or players would just refuse to play for them. The contracts that we have been giving our FA player are hardly full of bells and whistles or all that tricky as you say we have been doing. They are base salaries with base bonuses spread out over the length of the deal. The only thing thats good about them is that they seem to be cap friendly for the team in later years.

Guys tooting Greens horn for bringing guys in here like Griffith, Huff, Femi, and Ross lose all cedibility IMO. Okeafor is far from a Top Tier FA like Ouchie has already stated. He is a slightly above average DE in the NFL. Nothing more and nothing less he will never sniffa pro bowl or be an alternate. He was a good signing but singing the teams praises saying he was a top flight FA is just plain and simply incorrect. The same goes for Macklin. He is a better CB than we have had but he is merely average at the position.

Its time for this team to go out and spend like they promised they would. They need to spend to the caps limit and bring in a guy like Edge, a guy like Bentley, and a guy like Julian Peterson and a few more depth guys. This team has the cap room to do it. Especially if they do finally get creative with a contact or two. Aquistions like that would put this team in immediate contention for the playoffs and make it the most talented team we have seen in AZ. It would also create a fan buzz that has never been seen.

There are no more excuses. The team need to put butts in the seat and win games. Not just putting buts in the seats because teh stadium is a first year novelty that everyone wants to see. But because they are serious about winning and show it!

Good post, Shane.

 

[AzWins23]

Cardinals | Team wants to talk with Alexander
Fri, 24 Feb 2006 19:53:40 -0800

Adam Schefter, of the NFL Network, reports the Arizona Cardinals want to talk to RB Shaun Alexander when free agency opens, if he does not re-sign with the Seattle Seahawks. An earlier report said the Cardinals would not pursue Alexander.

 

[overseascardfan]

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'?

I think it means names like Jeff Mitchell, Jeff Hartings, Terrence Metcalf, Vnce Manuwai, Tonotou Fonoti, and possibly the freshly cut Mike Willams are some O line guys we may look at, Jonathan Wells and Michael Bennett, and possibly Ahman Green at RB, Gerrard Warren, Kendrick Clancy, Chris Hovan at DT. Marlon McCree at FS.

 

[Duckjake]

Okeafer was the beneficiary of the attention other teams put on Berry. And later on Wilson and Dansby. While he wasn't quite a squirrel finding a nut every once in a while, I wouldn't call his accomplishments "BIG" either. For what he was getting paid he did okay, that's all.

I wasn't thrilled about his signing last year and I'm still not too passionate about the guy.

If that were true wouldn't Zellner and the assorted others who played that DE have done as well (or better since Berry was in all year and Dockett was without the nagging injuries) last year?

 

[red desert]

If that were true wouldn't Zellner and the assorted others who played that DE have done as well (or better since Berry was in all year and Dockett was without the nagging injuries) last year?

Dansby and Wilson had better years this season. But in any case, Zellner is no Okeafer. But that doesn't make Okeafer an elite DE.

 

[Shane]

Dansby and Wilson had better years this season. But in any case, Zellner is no Okeafer. But that doesn't make Okeafer an elite DE.

 

[Shane]

Shane, the chat with M Bidwill was at Jilly's anybody in the valley could have done the same thing. I was just trying to at what little factual information we have instead of rampant speculation that some prefer.

As for not saying negative stuff you have a very selective memory. I rarely wtote articles but at the end ofthe season prior to Green being hired I was slamming the DL coaching in the one article I did write.

As for Rod Graves, is it bad I happen to like the guy ?

As for the rest, I see all the same problems you do, the difference is I don't think the solutions are, quick easy or big name free agents [necessarily]

I do think the solution is a consistant approach by G&G and that is what I see. IMO last year could have easily gone much better had we not been so devasted by injuries.

I believe they have a straegy, I doubt it really exludes any options but I suspect if favours using DG talent evaluation skills to find FAs like Berry.

You don't agree fine but we are not one player away frm the Superbowl, so overpaying for that one Name won't cut it for us. We might however be a 2-3 players away from consistently making the playoffs.

Yes anyone may have been able to have that conversation. Regardless of that convo the team has publicly stated they would compete with the big boys in FA.

But none of that changes the fact that you have shmoozed with these guys on a personal level. Ever since then you have not said one negative thing towards management/ownership that I have ever read which is what I meant. I dont think being critical of one line coach is much criticism of the Cardinals and how they have operated. I distincltly remember you being more critical of them prior to you doing that. Hey its not just you Ian. Jim has been much less critical since them days as well. He used to be very vocal towards management prior to those days of being given access.

 

[joeshmo]

Okeafer was the beneficiary of the attention other teams put on Berry. And later on Wilson and Dansby. While he wasn't quite a squirrel finding a nut every once in a while, I wouldn't call his accomplishments "BIG" either. For what he was getting paid he did okay, that's all.

I wasn't thrilled about his signing last year and I'm still not too passionate about the guy.

The post was about Huff. He was the team leader in TFL. not Okeafer. On a top 10 D with guys such as Dansby, Berry, Wilson, Okeafer I dont care how much more attention those other guys got leading the team in that category is big, there isnt an arguement you can make against it. Pendy system is based on making plays in the backfield, and Huff was his leader in that and 4th in tackles. I know for a fact that Pendy likes the guy a lot. He is very approachable and will honestly answer your questions if you ever get a chance to. Huff wasnt asked to blitz much not nearly as much as the other LB's or Wilson yet he still had so many TFL, along with the fact that he and Dansby were the main reasons why we were the best team in the league in holding TE's to the least amount of Catches and Yards in the league. He and Dansby dont get nearly enough credit for the job they did in coverage. I am not going to call the guy great or Good, but he did do a solid job for us last year, better then most give him credit for and he certianly did not suck which is were the whole Huff debate started in the first place if someone called him only average I never would said anything about the subject. Anywayss, he still did have his share of missed tackles that the whole D was in on, and yes I would like to upgrade if the opportunity comes around but I would rather upgrade MLB first.

And Okeafer isnt getting paid top level DE money, he is at the average, Went over that with Russ a while ago, so for what he is getting paid, having as many Sacks and TFL he is getting paid just right.

Okeafer was 2nd in sacks on the team, 2nd in TFL on the team, 1st in QB pressures on the team, 1st in QB hits on the team, the most tackles of our DL, the most forced fumbles out of the whole D, playing with inferior talent next to him on the DL getting all of the DL attention doing it all on a top 10 D and people still want to call him into question.

 

[joeshmo]

Dansby and Wilson had better years this season. But in any case, Zellner is no Okeafer. But that doesn't make Okeafer an elite DE.

No but it makes him a good one.

And no one ever called him elite in the first place.