http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/0723cards0723.html
Cards say they're trying but picks still unsigned
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Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 23, 2004 12:00 AM
The Cardinals' seven draft picks remain unsigned, but not because of lack of effort by team management.
That's according to team management.
"It's not like we just started (negotiating)," said Rod Graves, vice president of football operations.
Agents are waiting for other deals to be made to establish the market, Graves said.
There should be considerable movement next week as the start of training camp approaches. The Cardinals report to Flagstaff on Aug. 1.
Graves is handling negotiations for receiver Larry Fitzgerald, the third overall pick, and he has talked several times to Fitzgerald's agent, Eugene Parker, with whom he is familiar.
Parker's agency represented defensive ends Andre Wadsworth and Simeon Rice, former top picks of the Cardinals.
Both had protracted contract negotiations and missed significant camp time their rookie years.
Parker, who rarely talks to the media, did not return phone calls.
Graves, however, isn't anticipating problems.
"I think there is a lot to be said for the experience he (Parker) has with our organization," Graves said, "so we are not trying to break new ground."
Fitzgerald and his father, Larry Sr., are close friends with Cardinals coach Dennis Green, but Graves doesn't expect that to affect negotiations.
"Eugene is not going to slap me on the back because I'm Rod Graves," Graves said, "and he's not going to put a little bit more effort into it because it's Larry Fitzgerald."
The Cardinals are accustomed to having high draft picks. Since 1996, they've had six top-10 picks. In the past few years, the team has been more willing to agree to contract devices, such as escalator clauses, which other teams have used for years.
Carl Poston, the agent for outside linebacker Karlos Dansby, did not return calls. Dansby will compete with Levar Fisher and Gerald Hayes for a starting job, but the third-round pick, defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, already is in the starting lineup.
Dockett's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he has had preliminary discussions with John Idzik, the team's senior director of football operations.
Cards say they're trying but picks still unsigned
advertisement
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 23, 2004 12:00 AM
The Cardinals' seven draft picks remain unsigned, but not because of lack of effort by team management.
That's according to team management.
"It's not like we just started (negotiating)," said Rod Graves, vice president of football operations.
Agents are waiting for other deals to be made to establish the market, Graves said.
There should be considerable movement next week as the start of training camp approaches. The Cardinals report to Flagstaff on Aug. 1.
Graves is handling negotiations for receiver Larry Fitzgerald, the third overall pick, and he has talked several times to Fitzgerald's agent, Eugene Parker, with whom he is familiar.
Parker's agency represented defensive ends Andre Wadsworth and Simeon Rice, former top picks of the Cardinals.
Both had protracted contract negotiations and missed significant camp time their rookie years.
Parker, who rarely talks to the media, did not return phone calls.
Graves, however, isn't anticipating problems.
"I think there is a lot to be said for the experience he (Parker) has with our organization," Graves said, "so we are not trying to break new ground."
Fitzgerald and his father, Larry Sr., are close friends with Cardinals coach Dennis Green, but Graves doesn't expect that to affect negotiations.
"Eugene is not going to slap me on the back because I'm Rod Graves," Graves said, "and he's not going to put a little bit more effort into it because it's Larry Fitzgerald."
The Cardinals are accustomed to having high draft picks. Since 1996, they've had six top-10 picks. In the past few years, the team has been more willing to agree to contract devices, such as escalator clauses, which other teams have used for years.
Carl Poston, the agent for outside linebacker Karlos Dansby, did not return calls. Dansby will compete with Levar Fisher and Gerald Hayes for a starting job, but the third-round pick, defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, already is in the starting lineup.
Dockett's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he has had preliminary discussions with John Idzik, the team's senior director of football operations.
