Dansby wants Free Agency

[Redheart]

http://www.azcardinals.com/news/detail.php?PRKey=3059

Urban says Dansby and Cardinals are too far apart.

Does this affect your grade for our GM this year? Dansby may be asking for too much...

 

[joeshmo]

Does this affect your grade for our GM this year? Dansby may be asking for too much...

Normally I would, but I cant in this situation. If the reports were correct that we offered over 40 mill total, and over 20 mill in gauranteed before Dansby fired his agent, then we were never low balling him, thus negotitating the whole time in very good faith. Combine that with Dansbys quotes and I think Graves was always in a no win situation here.

There is only one thing I will nit-pick. I think we should have made more of an effort to bring in a possible heir for 2010. Not sure who was left but if there was a similarly graded ILB prospect, even a slightly lower grade when we picked our two 7th rounders this year I would have given the nod to the ILB instead. I say its a nit pick becuase I am not sure how I would change the other picks in rounds 1 through 6.

As to what it means for the future, it makes WILB easily the biggest need at this point in time for 2010. Maybe Cody Brown proves his worth taking Haggans left OLB spot and we can move Haggans to the WILB spot, because he is pretty good in coverage and pretty stout at the point of attack for the inside.

 

[Goldfield]

We have always known Dansby wanted the BIG bucks. Not a big deal, you cant keep everyone...

While I think Dansby is good. I dont think he will ever be as great. He is getting paid like he is great.

 

[Go Devils]

[
Urban says Dansby and Cardinals are too far apart.

Does this affect your grade for our GM this year? Dansby may be asking for too much...[/quote]

the Sun also rises in the east. I always disliked the fact they tagged him. Bottom line, he is a good linebacker and nothing more. He is and will be way overpaid. That money could have been used on other TEAM players. I just can't see him getting the $$$ he thinks but I also thought of Pace as a ST player and he made bank?

 

[Goldfield]

Yup someone will overpay like crazy, they always do. Its the winning teams that dont usually overpay too much.

 

[PoolBoy]

as long as he plays his ass off this year, which he will being as it is a contract year, i won't care when he leaves.

 

[TigToad]

I agree.

There wasn't much Graves could do. He offered more than I would have and Dansby wants free agency that bad. Sometimes this works out great for the player and sometimes it does not. Either way, we'll free up 10 million off our cap next year.

I'm already bracing myself for the work stopage next year if the owners and players don't come to terms with the new cap #s and a rookie structure.

 

[joeshmo]

I agree.

There wasn't much Graves could do. He offered more than I would have and Dansby wants free agency that bad. Sometimes this works out great for the player and sometimes it does not. Either way, we'll free up 10 million off our cap next year.

I'm already bracing myself for the work stopage next year if the owners and players don't come to terms with the new cap #s and a rookie structure.

Owners cant legally do a lock out until 2011, according to the CBA agreement.

 

[Redheart]

...and now Sando weighs in on the "offer"; his point, with the Franchise Tag value of near $10 M already banked, Cardinals can't really offer Danbsy an incentive not to test Free Agency.

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nfcwest/0-9-345/Why-Dansby-has-little-incentive-to-take-extension.html

Didn't our GM steer this ship? Sounds like the rocky waters he put us in with Fitz's incentives...I know this is hindsight, but the second franchise tag for Dansby was not an alternative to a long-term deal, it was a mistake if we really wanted to keep him.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

you have to put it on Graves. Not so much this year,but he should've had Dansby doen 2 years ago. Instead he was making commments about wanting to see if KD would stay healthy. Well, guess what, he did and now the Cards are going to lose their best defensive player. I don't blame Dansby at all now. He'd be stupid not to take full advantage of the situation right now.

 

[TJ]

Graves gets a pardon on this one. Dansby is asking for far more than he's worth. I'm sure his agent knows that too. He needs to have a pro bowl season and stay healthy to even sniff what he is asking for. IIRC, we offered him somewhere between $22-$24 mil in guaranteed money over 5 years and he declined it and subsequently fired his first agent. More accomplished linebackers, like James Harrison, took less money this season.

With the uncapped year looming in 2010 and Danby's greed, he could be committing career suicide.

 

[Redheart]

Graves gets a pardon on this one. Dansby is asking for far more than he's worth. I'm sure his agent knows that too. He needs to have a pro bowl season and stay healthy to even sniff what he is asking for. IIRC, we offered him somewhere between $22-$24 mil in guaranteed money over 5 years and he declined it and subsequently fired his first agent. More accomplished linebackers, like James Harrison, took less money this season.

With the uncapped year looming in 2010 and Danby's greed, he could be committing career suicide.

If it works out the way you suggest, then Graves would be a flippin' genius; particularly if they end up signing Dansby to a cheaper long-term contract than what they orginally offered, but...I don't think it is going to work out that way.

Karlos may be the biggest name on the FA list next year, cap or no cap.

 

[TigToad]

Didn't that get taken care of, when the owners backed out of the CBA effective after this season? I am not the expert in anyway on this, so I'm asking for enlightenment, not arguing... but wasn't that the main reason they backed out of the CBA creating this uncapped year for next season?

Owners cant legally do a lock out until 2011, according to the CBA agreement.

 

[ajcardfan]

Graves gets a pardon on this one. Dansby is asking for far more than he's worth. I'm sure his agent knows that too. He needs to have a pro bowl season and stay healthy to even sniff what he is asking for. IIRC, we offered him somewhere between $22-$24 mil in guaranteed money over 5 years and he declined it and subsequently fired his first agent. More accomplished linebackers, like James Harrison, took less money this season.

With the uncapped year looming in 2010 and Danby's greed, he could be committing career suicide.

i doubt it. He's already been wildly successful in the NFL if he blows out both knees, hips and ankles five seconds from now. He's already banked over 20 mil dollars, and it's pretty reasonable gamble that he can get plenty more than the additional 10 mil, or so (and who really knows, with how loosely the term 'guaranteed' is used) that the Cardinals were offering him to give them the next five years.

I can't blame either Dansby or Graves for how they handled this. Unlike others, I've never took Dansby's stance to mean he doesn't want to be a Cardinal.


That said, this stuff really has no effect on my enjoyment of the team or players anymore. That was the attitude Skkorp came around to, and i highly recommend it to everyone.

 

[joeshmo]

Didn't that get taken care of, when the owners backed out of the CBA effective after this season? I am not the expert in anyway on this, so I'm asking for enlightenment, not arguing... but wasn't that the main reason they backed out of the CBA creating this uncapped year for next season?

They didnt back of the CBA deal they took advantage of a clause that made the CBA two years shorter. Original deal lasted through 2013, they invoked the clause and now it only lasts through the 2011 season.

 

[Unsterblich856]

ILB/MLB is a position where you don't need to pay players $10mil a year to get impact players. There was a link posted here showing that ILB/MLB is actually one of the lowest paid positions. If he wants to "make a splash", let him. Replacing greedy players with loyal players who will take less money just to play for an organization is a mark of great franchises like the Steelers, Patriots, etc.

 

[Dan H]

you have to put it on Graves. Not so much this year,but he should've had Dansby doen 2 years ago. Instead he was making commments about wanting to see if KD would stay healthy. Well, guess what, he did and now the Cards are going to lose their best defensive player. I don't blame Dansby at all now. He'd be stupid not to take full advantage of the situation right now.

I'd argue that AW is our best defensive player.

Linebackers are replaceable; look at how the Colts have churned through them the past few years.

 

[joeshmo]

Karlos may be the biggest name on the FA list next year, cap or no cap.

Big name in a small market maybe. No cap also means teams dont have to spend to a certian amount and you better beleive the damage done from this economy and the economy in the future will mean at minimum half of the teams next year without being forced to spend money will cut payroll big time. Right now they are forced to spend next year they are not, meaning far fewer dollars available in the market. And the teams that are willing to spend better not be in the top 8 teams of 2009 because the top 8 teams will be severely limited in what they can do in free agency. Players are going to lose big money next year from top to bottom.

 

[Buckybird]

you have to put it on Graves. Not so much this year,but he should've had Dansby doen 2 years ago. Instead he was making commments about wanting to see if KD would stay healthy. Well, guess what, he did and now the Cards are going to lose their best defensive player. I don't blame Dansby at all now. He'd be stupid not to take full advantage of the situation right now.

:notworthyAmen brother!!! This deal is 2 years overdue. If Graves can't forsee beyond or know when a players contract is due to expire/exceed incentives he has no business being a GM. Other potential problems are around the corner, Rolle and Leinart though I think Rashad Johnson will be a better FS than Antrel. I have a feeling this LB core will be way below average after this season and could spell doom because we can't sack the QB. Hope I'm wrong.

 

[Duckjake]

ILB/MLB is a position where you don't need to pay players $10mil a year to get impact players. There was a link posted here showing that ILB/MLB is actually one of the lowest paid positions. If he wants to "make a splash", let him. Replacing greedy players with loyal players who will take less money just to play for an organization is a mark of great franchises like the Steelers, Patriots, etc.

I think the Steelers had the 5th or 6th highest payroll in the NFL last year. The Patriots are also not a good example because nobody else in the league does what they do in any area. The ironic thing about using those two teams as an example is that they both have a reputation for outstanding linebacker play.

One reason the Colts have only made one Super Bowl despite their prolific offense imo is that they have been relatively weak at LB. Although Gary Brackett has done very well for them.

If you only signed loyal players who will take less money your entire roster would be comprised of guys on their first contract and guys in their 30's.

 

[Faithful]

[
Urban says Dansby and Cardinals are too far apart.

Does this affect your grade for our GM this year? Dansby may be asking for too much...

That money could have been used on other TEAM players.

like Antonio Smith . i know it's a different position but none the less...

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

I've resigned myself to the fact this is dansby's last year as a Cardinal...I will cheer him this year, then I will not care a lick about him once he is gone...

 

[WildBB]

Normally I would, but I cant in this situation. If the reports were correct that we offered over 40 mill total, and over 20 mill in gauranteed before Dansby fired his agent, then we were never low balling him, thus negotitating the whole time in very good faith. Combine that with Dansbys quotes and I think Graves was always in a no win situation here.

There is only one thing I will nit-pick. I think we should have made more of an effort to bring in a possible heir for 2010. Not sure who was left but if there was a similarly graded ILB prospect, even a slightly lower grade when we picked our two 7th rounders this year I would have given the nod to the ILB instead. I say its a nit pick becuase I am not sure how I would change the other picks in rounds 1 through 6.

As to what it means for the future, it makes WILB easily the biggest need at this point in time for 2010. Maybe Cody Brown proves his worth taking Haggans left OLB spot and we can move Haggans to the WILB spot, because he is pretty good in coverage and pretty stout at the point of attack for the inside.

I think that 40M/20G is probably too much for someone who basically doesn't have to take on the interior lineman or FB and just has to wrap the runner up. He's replaceable. I'd rather have Anquan longer term, and if this helps guarantee that, I'd be more than OK with it.

 

[Duckjake]

I think that 40M/20G is probably too much for someone who basically doesn't have to take on the interior lineman or FB and just has to wrap the runner up. He's replaceable. I'd rather have Anquan longer term, and if this helps guarantee that, I'd be more than OK with it.

Replaceable with what player? Who do the Cardinals have a realistic chance of signing who can bring a skillset similar to or better than Dansby's to the position?

If it is that easy to replace Dansby then you really have to fault the front office for paying him franchise tag2 money.

I don't believe Dansby's deal has any impact on Boldin's. If money for a Boldin extension were an issue the Cards wouldn't have structured Wilson's contract the way they did.

the long-term deal they recently signed with Adrian Wilson went out of its way to eat cap space.

Of course now that all this has been discussed Dansby will sign a new deal Tuesday.

 

[Dan H]

I think the Steelers had the 5th or 6th highest payroll in the NFL last year. The Patriots are also not a good example because nobody else in the league does what they do in any area. The ironic thing about using those two teams as an example is that they both have a reputation for outstanding linebacker play.

One reason the Colts have only made one Super Bowl despite their prolific offense imo is that they have been relatively weak at LB. Although Gary Brackett has done very well for them.

If you only signed loyal players who will take less money your entire roster would be comprised of guys on their first contract and guys in their 30's.

Eh, I'd disagree with that. Not sure how many Colts games you've watched the past 6-7 years but that's pretty much my only option most Sundays. The Colts have had a pretty solid linebacking corps. They've let a lot of them go for big money elsewhere . . . Mike Peterson, Cato June, David Thornton, etc. They've done well developing solid replacements to plug in whenever guys leave. Honestly their biggest problem on defense was defensive line. They've been throwing undersized scrubs out in the interior for years. It's no coincedence that the year they won the SB was the year they had Booger McFarland at NT. He was able to dominate the line and let Freeney and Mathis rush the passer while the LB's played coverage.