Well, isn't it better to get Alex Smith at 27 on the cheap than Alex Smith at 34 for $20m per? Pretty sure that thought is going through the minds of Arians and Keim.
Is Alex Smith a possible QB for the Cardinals?
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what is in the minds of BASK is lets try out the guy with potential for the veteran minimum because his career has been bad enough he will take that money and we will have a year to see if he can at least be a quality backup to replace stanton.
Gabbert is gambling on himself. He would have gotten more money per season on a longer term deal. With the Cards or elsewhere. He sees the opportunity to START. That is everything in the league. Even crapholes like Osweiler who luck into a few starts on a loaded team cash in big time. Gabbert is better than that guy in his sleep. Not to mention Foles, Glennon, and a few others, who've hit the jackpot based on a few good games on a good team.
He has no opportunity to start here until Palmer retires dude.
Solar7
Go Suns
Alex Smith is not making $20m per next year. Anywhere. Not even in the lottery.
Gabbert has zero chance of unseating Palmer for the starting job. He barely has a chance of beating out Stanton for the #2. Come on dude. Your boy is legitimately staring the end of his NFL career in the face. I want him to succeed, but let's be honest.
Smith is due a tad over $20m in 2018. He's in his prime as far as QBs are concerned. Same age as Drew Stanton. Unless he craps the bed or suffers a serious injury, it's not unreasonable to expect he would make that, or at least in the neighborhood. Cap goes up every year, so do starter salaries.
As for Gabbert, I guess there's no point in arguing any longer. Nothing that's said here will affect what plays out on the field one iota. Wait and see.
Solar7
Go Suns
I'm not sure what your obsession with age is. Smith isn't "in his prime," but is a solid-ish quarterback that will probably find a starting job on a reasonable deal.
AZ Native
Living is Easy with Eyes Closed
I've always liked Alex Smith. I think he is solid but will never be great. He played well in systems that did not go deep. He did what was asked of him. But I don't know that he has the arm BA is looking for. As far as our starter, it will be Palmer, no doubt. The only way he will not start every game is if he gets injured 
or he has 2-3 atrocious games in a row, which is highly unlikely. I would like to see all the other QBs compete for the #2 job and not just hand it to anyone. That seems to be BA's M.O., except Stanton, we shall see. Very few QBs can play all 16 games anymore so the number 2 spot is crucial.
or he has 2-3 atrocious games in a row, which is highly unlikely. I would like to see all the other QBs compete for the #2 job and not just hand it to anyone. That seems to be BA's M.O., except Stanton, we shall see. Very few QBs can play all 16 games anymore so the number 2 spot is crucial.
Jetstream Green
Kool Aid with a touch of vodka
That sir is just a mindless conjecture. I understand you are on full tilt Gabber mode 24/7 but what the hell made you question his personalty or his passion. I have seen Smith run the ball, get hit and then get up in a defender's grill. I have seen him fist pump after scores and seen him elated coming off the field after a win
TJ
Frank Kaminsky is my Hero.
Every team he's played with has had top-notch defenses and running games to help control the flow of the entire game. Literally, all coaches ask of Smith is to not lose the ball game. In any other circumstance, Smith would be dog meat. Put Smith on the Colts and I guarantee they wouldn't win more than four games.
Garthshort
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When CP retires, I would think that most/all Az fans would want Smith over Stanton, Gabbert and Dysart. Though it's probably too soon to evaluate Gabbert.
JeffGollin
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Could we change the title of this thread to "Woulda Coulda...?"
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Maybe he got run out of S F because Harbaugh was a college coach disguised as an NFL coach.
" Indeed, Smith’s seven-year tenure with the 49ers was riddled with changes — new offensive coordinators every year over four head coaches. It didn’t help that the final of those four, Jim Harbaugh, selected Kaepernick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
For those who don’t recall, Kaepernick replaced Smith after the latter got injured following his famed 18-for-19 passing performance in a Monday Night Football blowout over the Cardinals.
By comparison, Chiefs coach Andy Reid recruited Smith and general manager John Dorsey signed him."
http://www.mercurynews.com/2017/05/...tion-different-than-the-case-with-kaepernick/
JeffGollin
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I was thinking along a different but parallel line -
When evaluating veteran QB's, how many effective years do you expect to get out of them? (for sake of argument, I'd guess 5 - 6).
Whether those 5 to 6 years comes from Age 27 - 33 or Age 30 - 36 is not IMO all that relevent (i.e. either could bomb/either could do well).
Solar7
Go Suns
I think every case is different. At age 30, I'd really only expect them to last four years or so. At 27? Likely they still have 7 or 8 years in them.
But a lot of this is contingent on arm strength and play style. I think a Brett Favre or Carson Palmer has a longer shelf life because they sit in the pocket mostly and their arms at 70% are better than most arms at 100%. For example, I don't think Russel Wilson will be able to play into his late 30s, barring a shift in his style.
Jetstream Green
Kool Aid with a touch of vodka
Depends, Wilson is small in stature but then you have a guy like Drew Brees playing well into this thirties with still great arm power
Solar7
Go Suns
Yeah, Brees is a guy I was going to include with Favre and Carson in that he has a strong arm and stays in the pocket.
Wilson is going to take too much damage running and such to play as late as the others.
Smith had injuries and some rough seasons before Harbaugh and Kaepernick came along. He was pretty much in same boat as Gabbert is now. But he kept getting chances and eventually delivered.
Reign Blood
Tattooed Hundredaire
It's like good advise you just can't take.
He threw 18 TDs that year. None of which was to a WR. All went to RBs and TEs. Andy's scheme?????
His career stats ain't all that bad. Check 'em out.
http://www.nfl.com/player/alexsmith/2506340/profile
TJ
Frank Kaminsky is my Hero.
Most fans, maybe. But it would be up to whomever is coach. If it's Bruce, he won't take an aging Smith.
But history has shown that in order to have a game manager be a contender, the defense and run game have to be no worse than elite. The elite QBs, such as A-Rodg, Brees, Brady, Ben, etc. can overcome deficiencies because they can push the ball downfield and win by simply outscoring opponents on their own.
but..... Gabby started 44 games for crap teams. That counts for something. He isn't David Carr yet in that maybe his psyche has not been destroyed. He has survived.
Smith could start for the Jets/Browns/Bears/Jags/49ers/Bills/ Texans/ Rams et al based on history and ability.
Solar7
Go Suns
No, I know he still threw 18 TDs, but the point is that he doesn't push the ball down the field and therefore isn't really a fit for Arians' offense.
As I mentioned, yeah, he will get a comfortable amount of money to start for some team out there. That was just a reply to Robert Ethan, who is the leader of the Gabbert defense force.
I don't think Smith is a terrible QB. I don't think he has what it takes to win a championship, but he can be a bandaid. But as a fit for a Bruce Arians offense, I'm not seeing it.
