Interesting Joyner ESPN Insider Article about Orton

[JeffGollin]

According to local reporters there is ZERO chance that McNabb becomes a Cardinal. The Cards don't like/want him.

I'm wondering (a) Why? and (b) What was the original source of this info - was it deliberately leaked or, conversely, could it be misinformation that's been repeated so often that's it's morphed into accepted conventional wisdom?

The reason I ask is that the more I hear about the available QB's out there (i.e. Kolb, Orton, Bulger etc.) the more I feel the best we'll end up some guy who'll make decent reads, call OK audibles, complete 50 - 57% of his passes and not throw more picks than TD.

In short, a kind of mediocre Robo-Man to call the plays and take the snaps.

Bummer.

I think it's this sinking feeling that causes some of us to hope that (a) McNabb still has something left and that (b) the reports we don't want him are inaccurate.

To me the issue boils down to: "Whomever we bring in - how much better (if at all) will he perform compared to Skelton's second year?"

 

[desertdawg]

I'm wondering (a) Why? and (b) What was the original source of this info - was it deliberately leaked or, conversely, could it be misinformation that's been repeated so often that's it's morphed into accepted conventional wisdom?

The reason I ask is that the more I hear about the available QB's out there (i.e. Kolb, Orton, Bulger etc.) the more I feel the best we'll end up some guy who'll make decent reads, call OK audibles, complete 50 - 57% of his passes and not throw more picks than TD.

In short, a kind of mediocre Robo-Man to call the plays and take the snaps.

Bummer.

I think it's this sinking feeling that causes some of us to hope that (a) McNabb still has something left and that (b) the reports we don't want him are inaccurate.

To me the issue boils down to: "Whomever we bring in - how much better (if at all) will he perform compared to Skelton's second year?"

Only 3 days left, then I can post about Kolb. Again it's obvious why we aren't going after the other QBs, we already know.

 

[Duckjake]

Denver's issue the last 2 years has not been QB, but defense and running game. Orton plays within himself and knows what he is capable of. That alone makes him a good QB, give him some actual receiving talent and you will be surprised.

Sadly, even if we get Kolb or Orton we'll still have those same problems.

But at least, as is Cardinal tradition, we do have actual receiving talent.

 

[vinnymac]

I'm wondering (a) Why? and (b) What was the original source of this info - was it deliberately leaked or, conversely, could it be misinformation that's been repeated so often that's it's morphed into accepted conventional wisdom?

The reason I ask is that the more I hear about the available QB's out there (i.e. Kolb, Orton, Bulger etc.) the more I feel the best we'll end up some guy who'll make decent reads, call OK audibles, complete 50 - 57% of his passes and not throw more picks than TD.

In short, a kind of mediocre Robo-Man to call the plays and take the snaps.

Bummer.

I think it's this sinking feeling that causes some of us to hope that (a) McNabb still has something left and that (b) the reports we don't want him are inaccurate.

To me the issue boils down to: "Whomever we bring in - how much better (if at all) will he perform compared to Skelton's second year?"

The "hope" was caused by the Cardinals winning & the division sucking as much as it did last season. All the Cardinals need is a qb that has a little bit left in the tank to win this division. With Mcnabb practicing with the Cardinals players gives people a little bit of hope that McNabb is the best avaible.

Like you I am curious to see what Skeleton can do.

 

[Longcolts]

Read the Darren Urban chat this afternoon and once again McNabb's name came up and once again Urban stated that the Cards are not at all interested in McNabb.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Read the Darren Urban chat this afternoon and once again McNabb's name came up and once again Urban stated that the Cards are not at all interested in McNabb.

He also continues to reiterate that Kolb will be priority one, which Somers said as well. Like it or not, looks like we're going after Kolb, the Cards as an organization have the worst poker face.

 

[JeffGollin]

Read the Darren Urban chat this afternoon and once again McNabb's name came up and once again Urban stated that the Cards are not at all interested in McNabb.

We keep hearing "no interest." What we don't hear is "Why."

Usually, when a team is said to have no interest about acquiring a player, the news is accompanied by an explanatory sentence or two referring to such things as "injury risk", "no gas left in the tank", "character issues", "poor system-fit" etc. etc.

We're not getting any of this - just a terse: "Cards aren't at all interested."

Even if we were told: "We just think Donovan is no longer willing or able to get into football shape", I could live with that. But, given the deafening silence, the only thing I can guess at is that the Cards and the local media must hold Donovan in high regard and are trying to keep something damaging out of the news.

 

[Duckjake]

I don't think Urban knows anymore about what the Cards are doing than most of us on ASFN.

That's what I got from reading that Chat.

He is simply a medium through which the Cards channel information they want out. If they don't want it out Urban doesn't know anything about it. If they want to get out some disinformation he's the channel.

On the other hand he was really good while working for the East Valley Tribune or whatever than group of papers was.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

What a reporter with access to decision-makers knows and what he reports are two different things.

 

[Cardiac]

We keep hearing "no interest." What we don't hear is "Why."

Usually, when a team is said to have no interest about acquiring a player, the news is accompanied by an explanatory sentence or two referring to such things as "injury risk", "no gas left in the tank", "character issues", "poor system-fit" etc. etc.

We're not getting any of this - just a terse: "Cards aren't at all interested."

Even if we were told: "We just think Donovan is no longer willing or able to get into football shape", I could live with that. But, given the deafening silence, the only thing I can guess at is that the Cards and the local media must hold Donovan in high regard and are trying to keep something damaging out of the news.

I don't agree with your premise Jeff. When was the last time the Cards made a "negative" statement about a player not on their team? At most you get a "not a good fit" for our team or system or "we have other options we are exploring".

Can anyone find me a quote from anyone in the Cards front office using any of these phrases? "injury risk", "no gas left in the tank", "character issues", or no longer willing or able to get into football shape"

Urban and Wolfley both have inside knowledge (albeit limited) due to their working relationships with the Cards. Wolfley has gone on record as saying he loves McNabb but his personality and work ethic aren't what the Cards need at QB. Urban not only says the Cards have NO interest in McNabb he does so with the attitude that implies that the idea is silly at best.

Major smoke screen? I highly doubt it.

Word is that the Eagles traded McNabb because many of the youngins on their offense had more faith in Kolb then McNabb. Reid traded McNabb within the division which indicates that he wasn't worried that McNabb would be a threat to take the Redskins anywhere.

I do believe McNabb would be an upgrade over DA, who wouldn't be? If ML was cut due to leadership issues why would the Cards go after another player who doesn't fit what Whiz is looking for leadership wise as his QB? I also don't believe Whiz would come out and say that McNabb doesn't have the work ethic or leadership skills the Cards are looking for, it doesn't serve a purpose except to ease curios fans minds.

 

[Krangodnzr]

My brother once was taking a flight to or from Arizona and Donovan McNabb was on the flight. I asked him how he looked in person, and my brother was surprised by how out of shape and fat he looked. Even though it was the offseason, he looked like a guy that didn't take conditioning all that seriously.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

My brother once was taking a flight to or from Arizona and Donovan McNabb was on the flight. I asked him how he looked in person, and my brother was surprised by how out of shape and fat he looked. Even though it was the offseason, he looked like a guy that didn't take conditioning all that seriously.

Thats been the knock the past couple years.

 

[Longcolts]

^^ If what Shanahan said about him is true and I have no reason to doubt it, there were questions about his cardiovascular conditioning anyway. McNabb as far as I know has never been a workout warrior.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Thats been the knock the past couple years.

Heh, it's been the knock on McNabb most of his career. He's one of those guys who doesn't take the offseason seriously, and it's one of the valid complaints that TO had about him, though he shouldn't have voiced it publicly and in the manner that he did.