Josh Mauro re-signed 2 year deal

[WisconsinCard]

Enough has been said about JM so I'll just say I love his lunch pail attitude and he is the kind of players every team needs. Love this news.

 

[Harry]

Mauro started 13 games and held up very well versus the run which is what the base 34 is designed to do. Was subbed in for in passing situations. To call him marginal as a starter is unfair, imo.

Mauro was credited with zero sacks, caused no fumbles and had 32 combined tackles, less than TM & even Sio Moore. Campbell, for example, had 53. Mauro's numbers certainly look more like a rotational player to me. It's not that I think he's a bad player, but with the Cards' scheme I would have expected more impact plays from a starter.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I like the re-signing but mentioning Mauro as a viable alternative to this year's #2 ranked DT strikes me as silly.

He is not going to make plays like Campbell.

But Mauro can play the position, keep blockers off the linebackers, play the run well, and brings it every down.

Not to mention he is vastly less expensive then Campbell. You cannot have All-Pros at every position. If you can sign solid depth/role guys on the defensive line and rotate them, you can take that money and put it elsewhere.

Viable alternative, is not saying he would replace Campbell, it is saying you can put him in the same place and he will hold up, and do the basics of the job.

Personally, I would rather put the money into the outside linebacker position, rather than the front three.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Mauro was credited with zero sacks, caused no fumbles and had 32 combined tackles, less than TM & even Sio Moore. Campbell, for example, had 53. Mauro's numbers certainly look more like a rotational player to me. It's not that I think he's a bad player, but with the Cards' scheme I would have expected more impact plays from a starter.

You are comparing a 3-4 defensive end against, a Nickel back, and an inside linebacker. Not too many teams where the 3-4 DE is going to have more tackles than the inside linebacker, or nickel back on the team. Just sayin'

He is not Calias Campbell, that is 100% fact. He is also not going to cost $15 million a year.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Obviously, I think this is a great signing, and the kind you need to make to keep a balanced roster. Campbell is good and all, but I have seen countless 3-4 defenses use a bunch of lunch pail guys on the defensive front three, and put the money into the back and thrive. Just my philosophy on the defense, so grain of salt.

 

[GuernseyCard]

You are comparing a 3-4 defensive end against, a Nickel back, and an inside linebacker. Not too many teams where the 3-4 DE is going to have more tackles than the inside linebacker, or nickel back on the team. Just sayin'

He is not Calias Campbell, that is 100% fact. He is also not going to cost $15 million a year.

I repeat my earlier point, which simply put is that I like the signing of a serviceable backup DT/DE and believe this agreement has nothing to do with negotiations for CC's services. And, we don't know what CC will cost, so flashing $15m (his CAP hit in 2016) is premature to say the least.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I repeat my earlier point, which simply put is that I like the signing of a serviceable backup DT/DE and believe this agreement has nothing to do with negotiations for CC's services. And, we don't know what CC will cost, so flashing $15m (his CAP hit in 2016) is premature to say the least.

It is premature, but what more would you have to say on the matter past that remark ?

http://overthecap.com/player/calais-campbell/385/

$15 million against the cap, that's what he made last year.

I understand you can get a discount, or try to pay the man less, but this is a business, the man is going to cost some money to be re-signed. His last three years in the NFL his cap hit has been 11 million, 14 million, and 15 million.

To think a guy is going to take 5 million a year and be happy, is not probable and take a 6 to 10 million dollar pay cut with a chance to hit free agency one more time before retirement, with teams dying to get his kind of talent on their team. It could happen, but I would not count on it.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Cards getting ready for life without CC.

Getting ready. They are ready.

Why else would they hoard defensive linemen like they did last year ? Olson Pierre, and Ed Stinson hardly played last season and the Cardinals kept them and sacrificed at other positions to just keep them on the roster.

Yes, none of the players they have on the roster are as good as Campbell, no doubt. But, they are prepared, and have a lot of options at the position.

As many have said, it also gives the Cardinals some leverage in talking to Campbell, but Campbell still has the leverage, he can just walk away from the table, and make millions elsewhere.

We will see.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I like Mauro as a rotational player. He adds nice depth to the DL.

 

[juza76]

good player, not a star but give always 100%, u need this guys on the field

 

[GuernseyCard]

It is premature, but what more would you have to say on the matter past that remark ?

http://overthecap.com/player/calais-campbell/385/

$15 million against the cap, that's what he made last year.

I understand you can get a discount, or try to pay the man less, but this is a business, the man is going to cost some money to be re-signed. His last three years in the NFL his cap hit has been 11 million, 14 million, and 15 million.

To think a guy is going to take 5 million a year and be happy, is not probable and take a 6 to 10 million dollar pay cut with a chance to hit free agency one more time before retirement, with teams dying to get his kind of talent on their team. It could happen, but I would not count on it.

That's not what he made last year. That's his CAP hit; what the team had to account for, as you well know.

No, he won't be taking his salary to $5m and I doubt that will be the Cards offer. Take a look at the Bennett contract in Seattle and one has a sense of the vicinity.

 

[kerouac9]

Obviously, I think this is a great signing, and the kind you need to make to keep a balanced roster. Campbell is good and all, but I have seen countless 3-4 defenses use a bunch of lunch pail guys on the defensive front three, and put the money into the back and thrive. Just my philosophy on the defense, so grain of salt.

Your bar for a "great signing" is pretty low. He was an RFA; he wasn't going anywhere.

What are these "countless 3-4 defenses that use a bunch of lunch pail guys on the defensive front three", because I can't identify them. Maybe Denver, except Derek Wolfe is a former 2nd round pick and Sylvester Williams is a former 1st round pick.

 

[Mitch]

Mauro was credited with zero sacks, caused no fumbles and had 32 combined tackles, less than TM & even Sio Moore. Campbell, for example, had 53. Mauro's numbers certainly look more like a rotational player to me. It's not that I think he's a bad player, but with the Cards' scheme I would have expected more impact plays from a starter.

I think we were getting tripped up on the nomenclature---even though Mauro is a starter, he's a rotational player because he plays primarily when the defense loads up to stop the run.

But for doing his job stuffing the run, 32 tackles and 7 tackles for loss (tied for 2nd on the defense with Jones, Campbell and Golden) is what got him the new contract and it's likely that he will remain a starter in the base 34.

 

[Bert]

Mauro is a key to our front seven IMO. You can basically take to the bank he will make at least one or two really good plays per game even as he is rotated in and out of the game.

This is a solid move, but I wasn't sure Mauro would be given priority over Jefferson and/or Swearinger.

My guess would be they made tenders to all these players, and Mauro took his deal as opposed to Jefferson and Swearinger who I'm sure are shopping.

Mauro was a solid guy all season. I'm happy he was re signed he is quality depth.

 

[Chopper0080]

NIce to keep Mauro around for another two years. good player to have in a rotation. Shouldn't keep us form re-signing any of the higher profile players.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Your bar for a "great signing" is pretty low. He was an RFA; he wasn't going anywhere.

- They could have let him walk.
- They could have just signed him to a low tender.
- They signed him to a 2 year contract, and put him in the plans for the next 2 years.

The bar is low cause that is what you see, and I understand that and respect it.

I say its a great signing because he is the type of player that can get the job done at the position. Something I would think many of a fan would not take for granted after last season. Didn't seem like letting Jerraud Powers was a big deal, or Rashad Johnson, turned out to be tho.

Again, based on my philosophy of the 3-4 defense, you can get by with role players in the front 3, as long as your sure up the back end. JMHO.

Great signing, stand by it, and feel my bar level is just fine.

As for the front three in a 3-4 defense.

Number one defense in the league send Vince Wilfork, Christian Covington, and Antonio Smith out as there front 3 on a regular basis.

Chiefs have Dontai Poe, Chris Jones, and Rakeem Nunez-Roches.

Steelers Ricardo Matthews, Javon Hargrave, Stephen Tuitt.

As for the rest, well I guess you will just have to take my word for it, cause I am not spending the time looking through the countless 3-4 defenses to make my point. Its happens, it works, I have seen it work. JMHO.

And to be fair, if and when the Cardinals re-sign Stepfan Taylor......will that not be a great signing? #unfairandloadedquestions

 

[kerouac9]

Number one defense in the league send Vince Wilfork, Christian Covington, and Antonio Smith out as there front 3 on a regular basis.

Chiefs have Dontai Poe, Chris Jones, and Rakeem Nunez-Roches.

Steelers Ricardo Matthews, Javon Hargrave, Stephen Tuitt.

Houston was only 7th in DVOA, and 17th against the rush. But let's go:

Obviously, they were missing their best player in J.J. Watt, or Covington doesn't play. Wilfork is a former 1st round pick. Covington only started 5 games, and Antonio Smith started 0. Clowney is their other DE, and he's not exactly chopped liver (and is a former #1 overall pick).

Poe was a Top 15 pick, Chris Jones is a rookie 2nd rounder.

Former 1st rounder Cam Heyward was Pittsburgh's starter before going on IR, Tuitt and Hargrave are 2nd and 3rd round picks, respectively.

I think you can have one guy like Josh Mauro playing a lot of snaps for you, but saying you can run a bunch of late-round picks and undrafted free agents out there and still have a Top 10 defense is unsupported by reality.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Houston was only 7th in DVOA, and 17th against the rush. But let's go:

Obviously, they were missing their best player in J.J. Watt, or Covington doesn't play. Wilfork is a former 1st round pick. Covington only started 5 games, and Antonio Smith started 0. Clowney is their other DE, and he's not exactly chopped liver (and is a former #1 overall pick).

Poe was a Top 15 pick, Chris Jones is a rookie 2nd rounder.

Former 1st rounder Cam Heyward was Pittsburgh's starter before going on IR, Tuitt and Hargrave are 2nd and 3rd round picks, respectively.

I think you can have one guy like Josh Mauro playing a lot of snaps for you, but saying you can run a bunch of late-round picks and undrafted free agents out there and still have a Top 10 defense is unsupported by reality.

Well, I am not going to spend all day finding examples. I found three. If you want to find more go ahead. I do not have time for Steve Smith debates (sadly). But, I can at least throw a little more of an argument your way.


As for rankings, those are the NFL.com rankings, not going to go around checking every variation of ranking for defense. Texans are #1 according to the sports talk and the general NFL. Whether #1 or just one of the better defenses it is what it is, and it talked about among the NFL-sphere as a great defense in the year 2016.


You speak of all these top players on IR. Yet, there teams still success with their back ups.

But point taken. You may not get by with 3 UDFA from East Mississippi State, but you do not need three $15 million dollar players either. ....... let me take that back. You can definitely get three beasts put them as your 3 down lineman, have sub-par/average outside linebackers, and be effective to a point. The Jets did it for 3 or 4 years and had great defenses, and I really liked watching that defense too as strange as that sounds.

I guess it is just preference.

BTW, in the case of the Chiefs they are not going to keep that front three. Poe is a free agent, Jones is making 1.1 million right now. Those guys are going to be too pricey to keep AND keep Justin Houston, AND keep Eric Berry AND keep Marcus Peters. Good problem to have tho.

ANd yes, Clowney is a 3-4DE but I have seen him plenty on the outside with the three I mention. But, point taken.

Furthermore, after Heyward on the Steelers, the next guy costs 1.1 million and it goes down from there.

I am all for getting top talent in the draft and putting it on the defensive line while they are making respectively low salaries.

When it comes to paying the big money? I would rather pay the OLBers and see what I can find on the cheap on the DL. I guess that is a better way to phrase what I am saying.

But point taken.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Gotta hand it to K9, he has always been able to get me thinking.

1. Concession. He is 100% right. You cannot send out 3 UDFA's and expect a 3-4 defensive line to hold up. Think D'Anthony Batiste, and Bobby Massie (rookie version) but on defense.

2. As K9 does, he listed out the credentials of the three example I put out there. Again, he is 100% right. Those have high salary players, they are hurt, but the team signed them to that money. Yet, where it gets interesting is the other part of it. He then listed the rounds that some of these players were drafted.

That point, about drafting defensive linemen in a 3-4, that got me thinking.

To be fair to the Cardinals, if they sent out: Josh Mauro, Cory Peters, and Robert Nkimdiche. You could tout that is a well paid free agent acquisition, a 1st round pick, and a re-signed UDFA that the Cardinals are putting out there. When looking at the rest of the league that holds up.

The key here is the draft. That is the key to where K9's check on my philosophy came together.

Its not that a player like Mauro can replace Campbell, and its not that Campbell is not talented to warrant being paid big money.

The situation is that defensive linemen can be found in the draft that can play the 3-4 scheme and do so at a rookie contract price, aka cheap/team friendly.

Your GM needs to have this system locked down or you will not be able to field a 3-4 defense. A GM needs to hit on defensive linemen or you run out of money to field a balanced defense.

I can make an argument that the Cardinals already know this, and stock their roster accordingly. The Cardinals hold onto defensive line talent to the point of what seem like lunacy. Yet, looking at it, finding talent at rookie wages is a needed part of fielding that 3-4 defense.

And again, that is not to say you cannot have a big defensive lineman, but it does take away from the ability of getting talent in other areas, at least expense talent.

When there is a big money defensive linemen, usually it results in the inside linebackers being paid less, or safties. At least that is what it seems.

Funny. Thinking about this, re-signing Campbell to a 2 or 3 year contract may not be a bad idea after all. It is not critical, in my humble opinion, but it can be done. Yet, if it is done, there is a good chance Cory Peters is cut, and Xiaver Williams and Rodney Gunter are going to rotate at NT. Why ? Again, money.

With all this realization, and thinking (I may be busy at work, but the work is boring/easy, gotta think of something) I still think it is wise to pay big money to your outside linebackers if you run a 3-4, and then figure out the rest around it, but how that is done is different then what I thought about it a few days ago.

Interesting how the NFL roster works, and how it works when it comes to trying to see the future and the changing parts that will eventually move and change in regards to age, salary, need, injury, depth, and planning for the future.

Its why injury to certain players is devastating. Just when you think you have stability in one place in your roster, you have a season like the Cardinals at the wide receiver position that has to have blown the Cardinals plans at that position out of the water and changed the whole dynamic and flow of the offensive side of the roster.

 

[WisconsinCard]

Way to go Rugby. Now...

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[Ronin]

Mike Jurecki ‏@mikejurecki 2m2 minutes ago
Last week the #AZCardinals re-signed Josh Mauro two-year contract extension his base salaries for the next two years 2017 $750K, 2018 $1.3M.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Way to go Rugby. Now...

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LOL!

That is great.