ESPN - Clayton: Emmitt in no rush to join Cardinals

[SeattleCard]

ESPN.com
March 19, 2003

Emmitt in no rush to join Cardinals

Former Cowboys halfback Emmitt Smith isn't in any hurry to react to the initial offer by the Arizona Cardinals. Smith didn't have any problems with the Cardinals' first offers. He's waiting to see other teams that might be interested. Some teams have made phone calls expressing interest.

 

[Pariah]

For those of you who aren't interested in having Emmitt as a RedBird, you should prepare yourselves. Smith won't get offers from a contender, nor will he likely get a better deal from anyone else. I think the only question remaining is "will he pry #22 away from Starks?"

Personally, I'm fairly neutral of the Great Emmitt Debate, so this isn't meant to be a barb at anyone.

 

[ajcardfan]

I think it'll be at least two weeks before Emmitt signs. He said he wanted to get something done in three weeks when he was here, I don't think that will change.

 

[Ed B]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
I think it'll be at least two weeks before Emmitt signs. He said he wanted to get something done in three weeks when he was here, I don't think that will change.

I don't blame the man for evaluating his options. I mean, Tampa is a super bowl team, if they can be an option for him, I'd check it out too.

 

[Mrospi]

I agree, I think he will test the waters and see what's out there for him....but I can't see any team giving him a better situation with opportunity of playing time and money..... most teams don't have the $$$$ under the cap.... I think the deal should be close to what we have offered him already.... maybe $2.5/year if we have to sweeten the deal.... anything above $3 and he's not worth it because that hurts any other signings

 

[ajcardfan]

Originally posted by Ed B
I don't blame the man for evaluating his options. I mean, Tampa is a super bowl team, if they can be an option for him, I'd check it out too.

What's good for Emmitt isn't good for Holliday?

 

[pinnacle]

I think he will eventually end up in tampa. the bucs have restructured like 8 players contracts so that they have some room under the cap. I personally think gruden will give emmitt the impression that he will have the chance to get more carries than either pittman or alscott..I read some reports near the end of the regular season that gruden was disappointed in pittman..but then pittman had a good game in the super bowl and all of the negative comments went away. With the florida thing, playing for a winner and possibly getting his carries.. I do not see how emmit could turn it down. Even if it is $1 mil less than the cards are giving emmitt..he obviously has enough dough - so a mil or two is not going to make any difference..

 

[Ed B]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
What's good for Emmitt isn't good for Holliday?

Good point to some extent, but Holliday has flat-out said he doesn't want to play here according to media reports. Emmitt hasn't even made another visit yet. Holliday has been around, his agent has admitted our offer is financially superior, and he's still trying to find somewhere other than here to play.

 

[ajcardfan]

Originally posted by Ed B
Good point to some extent, but Holliday has flat-out said he doesn't want to play here according to media reports. Emmitt hasn't even made another visit yet. Holliday has been around, his agent has admitted our offer is financially superior, and he's still trying to find somewhere other than here to play.

The media has speculated that Holliday doesn't want to be here, but there has never been a quote from his agent, or from Holliday himself, to that affect. In fact, the only direct quotes are from his agent saying the Cardinals are deep into negotiations with them and are in contention. Jurecki, the Republic, Pasch, all of those guys made that "doesn't want to be here" statement as an opinion. Maybe it's true.....it's happened before. But, with the market so thin for DE's this year, it's not like he has to rush to sign either.

 

[JeffGollin]

Whatever.

 

[red desert]

Originally posted by JeffGollin
Whatever.

Your a hard man.

 

[red desert]

Of course I meant to say "you're a hard man."

 

[az643dp]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
What's good for Emmitt isn't good for Holliday?

Yeah...but I don't think Emmitt is using the Cards to drive up his price like Holliday is doing.

 

[AZCardsWin]

Originally posted by Mrospi
I agree, I think he will test the waters and see what's out there for him....but I can't see any team giving him a better situation with opportunity of playing time and money..... most teams don't have the $$$$ under the cap.... I think the deal should be close to what we have offered him already.... maybe $2.5/year if we have to sweeten the deal.... anything above $3 and he's not worth it because that hurts any other signings

I agree with you 100%. I would also add the Cardinals current offer probably isn't their "best" potential offer as they too are waiting to see if another team steps up to bid for Emmitt's services. No reason to overpay if you are only bidding against yourself. Hopefully this deal gets done by the weekend. Emmitt did say he wanted to be signed within 3-4 weeks and that was over 1 week ago so this might drag on to around April 1st. The key thing is the Cardinals finish the deal here as Emmitt brings so much more to the Cardinals franchise then he will to most other franchises.

Go Cards/ America!
Tim