Dansby - The Latest...

[ajcardfan]

It is not just made up. He is notorious for missing camps, practices, and in some cases not able to finish games becuase of nagging and sometimes mysterious injuries. Goes all the way back to his college days.

I'm aware of his history. I think it's a grossly overblown concern. When you are on the field more than the players CBus listed that we gave fat deals to, you must be doing something right.

 

[DaisyCutter]

It is not just made up. He is notorious for missing camps, practices, and in some cases not able to finish games becuase of nagging and sometimes mysterious injuries. Goes all the way back to his college days.

He doesnt miss a lot of games but it is also why coaches get so frustrated with him and why he has that tag on him. They all feel he could be all world if he just put in the effort and time in practice instead of just settling for being good. Its like any coach who is hardest on the player they feel can be the best. But that shouldnt be an excuse to not have already re-signed him becuase he is still good.

I don't think anyone's saying that it's "made up". But should it be a primary concern when dealing with the contract? It's one thing for someone on this board to say that Dansby should sign an "incentive laden deal" (name one high-profile FA who has settled for such a thing on a second contract, BTW). It's another for the General Manager to make it seem like playing time triggers are going to be a major feature of the contract.

Honestly, I think that it would be great to give Dansby playing time incentives. He'll meet them all, because his missing games is pretty overstated. If you want to give him extra bonuses for attending camp and offseason work, I even think that's great. But they should be bonuses, not the primary concerns when dealing with the contract.

At least, that's what I think.

 

[Harry]

Graves has the right idea, but Dansby is showing maturity and it would be ashamed to waste the tag when you've got such a clear concept of his value.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Graves has the right idea, but Dansby is showing maturity and it would be ashamed to waste the tag when you've got such a clear concept of his value.

I think this is where most of us are regarding Dansby... I mean, is it me or is the though of him not a Cardinal after the '08 season virtually impossible to fathom??
We know his value to this team. We know how critical he is to the long-term success of this team. Screw the whole Franchise Tag and do the right thing - lock him up now!

 

[Cheesebeef]

RG is right to be concerned about Dansby's durability...it's been a question mark about him since he's been here. The fact that he's stepped up big-time in his contract year shows what Dansby is capable of when he is highly motivated, which is why it would make perfect sense for RG to sign Dansby to an incentive-laden contract.

While on the one hand it is nice to know that Dansby would not balk at being franchise tagged, let's not forget that Dansby could then miss most of training camp and then collect a cool $7.2M for the season as a late reportee. And let's not forget how Dansby was basically a no-show for training camp the year before when he cited mystery ailments.

One of the major reasons why Dansby has had such a good year is the unprecedented commitment he made during the off-season. If his commitment this off-season isn't as avid, one has to wonder what kind of production the team will get from Dansby, especially if he misses a large portion of training camp.

No one can deny Dansby's talent, particularly when he's in shape, motivated and focussed. Perhaps Dansby has turned the corner and has evolved into a committed professional. That's basically what the Cardinals will be counting on if they re-sign him for mega-millions...

It might be wisest to tag Dansby for one year and see how the year goes...if Dansby stacks back-to-back good years (which he hasn't yet as a Cardinal), then the lucrative long-term deal would make more sense.

there's not a lot this post that makes sense to me. you talk about his new found durability this year, in a contract year... when in reality, he's going to have played in the same amount of games he played in last year, which was 14. Dude misses an average of 1.5 games a year. That's not a guy who's got "injury problems". Q is a guy who has injury problems, hayes was a guy who had injury problems before he signed, Dansby isn't one of those guys in comparison.

as far as him playing his best in a contract year and that he's never put up back to back good seasons, this is completely and utterly untrue.

in his first year as a rookie, he put up 61 tackles, 5 sacks, 1 int and 1 ff. Promising numbers for a second round pick splitting time, no? he played in 15 games.

In year two, he put 89 tackles, 4 sacks, 3 int., 2 ff. now as a full time starter, his numbers went up and what do you know? he played in 15 games.

in year three, he was dinged up, but still came to play, and even though he was in denny's doghouse at the beginning of the season and wrongly on the benhc behind pace, he still ended up playing 14 games, putting up 82 tackles, 8 sacks, and 2 ff.

Then you have his play this year, his fourth in the league, again, playing his average number of games and putting his full package together and you know why that is? because he keeps getting better. it's not as if he never did anything his first three years and then was a revelation this year. he's ALWAYS been the main playmaker on this defense and the fact that he's gotten better as he's gotten more years in the league is what YOU WANT TO SEE FROM YOUR PLAYERS. Especially if it's a gradual thing, as opposed to a one year wonder like Pace, who never did anything and has all of a sudden started playing well.

the above thinking and rod graves comments about incentive clauses is what concerns me. the cardinals started a negative pr campaign against this kid last season and people i can't believe people are buying it hook line and sinker. the fact that they're still talking about his durability leads me to believe this will get ugly.

 

[Skkorpion]

There is nothing new in this story and the lack of negotiations is better explained in Kent Somers' article this morning.

The Cards have about $1.5 mill left in this year's cap and they plan to use that to pay the $1.5 mill Kurt Warner is about to earn in incentive bonuses, if he has another superior game against the Rams.

Dansby's deal can wait until after the season because there isn't a single good reason to do it now.

If I'm not mistaken, it would be impossible to do now because NFL contract rules require new contract bonuses to be paid within a certain number of days from the signing of the agreement, making a Dansby bonus partially pro-rated into this year.

Anybody know? Joeschmo?

 

[DaisyCutter]

But that doesn't mean that they couldn't agree to terms, and then the contract would be done whenever the NFL Calendar turns over, right?

The sooner that Dansby's contract is done, the sooner the Cards will know the flexibility they have to get Fitz renegotiated, and get Pace under contract, etc. There are tons of good reasons to get the contract done now.

What's the good reason to wait?

 

[Jetstream Green]

Hey Ouchie, yes we seldom agree but I appreciate your posts just the same. Nothing wrong with another giving an opposite opinion, what that does is force you then to justify your opinion and in the end both sides get a better understanding of the question at hand and why they believe as they do.

 

[GreenCard]

I wish we still had dizzy issy or whomever he was backing up Graves on contracts. I felt safe with two heads talking contracts over instead of just Graves. We should buy him back from the Seahags but I would bet they would never let him go.

 

[ajcardfan]

I wish we still had dizzy issy or whomever he was backing up Graves on contracts. I felt safe with two heads talking contracts over instead of just Graves. We should buy him back from the Seahags but I would bet they would never let him go.

It's not really that hard. A good grasp on basic math, and knowing the rules of the CBA, is all you need. I'm sure Graves has the mental capacity to handle it, we just might not agree with how he does it. He knew exactly what he was doing with those bonuses last season.

 

[ajcardfan]

Dansby's deal can wait until after the season because there isn't a single good reason to do it now.

I actually think it's far more important that they try to extend Fitz and slice his cap number for next year. Once that is taken care of, then you have a better idea of what parameters you can handle on Dansby's deal.

Fitz should be priority #1.

 

[joeshmo]

I actually think it's far more important that they try to extend Fitz and slice his cap number for next year. Once that is taken care of, then you have a better idea of what parameters you can handle on Dansby's deal.

Fitz should be priority #1.

Not sure we need a priority list. We have 2 full months to negotiate and get a deal done with Dansby, Pace, Fitz, any other restructure/extension and any other soon to be free agent. 2 Months before free agency, Or as I like to call those 2 months, "boring".

 

[ajcardfan]

Not sure we need a priority list. We have 2 full months to negotiate and get a deal done with Dansby, Pace, Fitz, any other restructure/extension and any other soon to be free agent. 2 Months before free agency, Or as I like to call those 2 months, "boring".

Well, you are right of course. We have plenty of room to get started with whoever wants to sign first. It would just make me very happy for Fitz to be locked up, and his number dropped, pronto.

 

[Evil Ash]

It wasnt just Green who had that opinion of Dansby. It was many of the sports writters and radio show people as well. The issues Green and his staff had with Dansby go all the way back to his college days and a reason why Dansby left early, he was wearing thin on his coaches in college as well. It is why he fell in the draft despite having good combine and production in college. It is why Graves who has a history of getting guys re-signed waited on him.

It was those concerns combined with the concern of getting him in on time considering he was represented by the Poston Brothers (well known for encouraging clients to hold out). I believe has hired new agents since that point

 

[Duckjake]

a reason why Dansby left early, he was wearing thin on his coaches in college as well.

in 36 games for the Tigers, recorded 218 tackles (128 solos) with ten quarterback sacks for minus 70 yards, 31 stops for losses of 123 yards, seven forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 15 pass deflections, and eight interceptions for 107 yards in returns. All-America first-team selection by the American Football Coaches Association, the 23rd Auburn player to earn that honor … unanimous all-Southeastern Conference first-team pick.

I wish Texas had some linebackers that would wear on their coaches like that.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I actually thought DJ that Texas would have some good LBs this year, then injuries...suspensions for stupidty and well, guess they where not that good

 

[Duckjake]

I actually thought DJ that Texas would have some good LBs this year, then injuries...suspensions for stupidty and well, guess they where not that good

If you look back at Brown's tenure at Texas they've only produced one really good linebacker, Derrick Johnson. I've always wondered why a lot of university programs seem to produce more NFL players certain positions and not at others.

Texas and defensive backs for instance. No matter who was coaching, Texas was producing really good DBs.

 

[abomb]

Graves to meet with Dansby's agent
Kent Somers
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 10, 2008 09:57 AM

Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves is expected to meet soon with the agent for inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, Kirk Wood. Details are not available, but the meeting could happen as soon as today.

Graves has not returned messages this week, while Wood said via e-mail that the two sides were tying to schedule a meeting. He did not provide any details.

It's not clear if the expected meeting means there is progress in negotiations, or if the two sides are just checking in to see if the other has moved off its position.

The Cardinals would like to re-sign Dansby before he hits the unrestricted free-agent market at the first of March. Wood is believed to be seeking a deal that would pay Dansby in excess of $15 million in guaranteed money.

The Cardinals made Dansby an offer about a month ago. Wood didn't make a counter offer because he deemed the Cardinals proposal as far too low.

Looming over negotiations is the possibility of the Cardinals placing the franchise tag on Dansby, guaranteeing him about $7.3 million for 2008. Players and agents dislike the franchise tag, preferring a multi-year deal that includes considerably more guaranteed money. A day after the season ended, Dansby expressed optimism that he would have a new contract soon.

"I don't think we're going to come to that," Dansby said of the franchise tag. "I think we're going to get something done. My agent and organization did a great job of not making it a distraction for me during the season."

 

[CorporalCardinal]

resign him to a deal that has incentives. This guy, coupled with Wilson, is the heart of the defense, they just don't play the same without him in there. Want to show these aren't the same old Cards, sign him

 

[Duckjake]

"I don't think we're going to come to that," Dansby said of the franchise tag. "I think we're going to get something done. My agent and organization did a great job of not making it a distraction for me during the season."

This is really good to hear. It is in complete contrast from what we heard from Davis last year who was openly upset that the Cards didn't get his contract redone before the end of the season in '06.