Kevin Johnson released from the Browns!!

[TheCardFan]

Originally posted by WizardOfAz
Johnson, 27, is subject to league waivers.

If he is claimed by another team, he must report, since the trade deadline has passed. But because he is a "vested" veteran, he has the right to declare himself an unrestricted free agent after the 2004 season. If he is unclaimed by Wednesday, which is anticipated, then Johnson becomes free to sign with any team.

His base salary for 2003 is $950,000, which means any team assuming his current deal will owe him a pro-rated portion based on remaining games, or about $391,000. Johnson was under contract through 2006, with scheduled base salaries of $1.45 million (2004), $1.4 million (2005) and $2.65 million. There were annual workout bonuses of $100,000.

But he is also due a $2 million options bonus in 2005 and that almost certainly will preclude any club from claiming him on waivers.

The Cardinals should put a claim in on him. The question is whether or not any team with a worse record would claim him first.

1) 391k is a no brainer and we have the money.
2) He can then opt out of his contract after the season and become a free agent...can he get 3yrs/7.2m on the open market?
3) If not, is he worth 1.4m/yr for the next two years for us?
4) Either way, he is not worth 4.65 in 2005 and would get cut by us too.

Bottom line...do it.

You become a better team by upgrading each position. He is clearly an upgrade and we need to do more of it.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Originally posted by TheCardFan

Originally posted by WizardOfAz
Johnson, 27, is subject to league waivers.

If he is claimed by another team, he must report, since the trade deadline has passed. But because he is a "vested" veteran, he has the right to declare himself an unrestricted free agent after the 2004 season. If he is unclaimed by Wednesday, which is anticipated, then Johnson becomes free to sign with any team.

His base salary for 2003 is $950,000, which means any team assuming his current deal will owe him a pro-rated portion based on remaining games, or about $391,000. Johnson was under contract through 2006, with scheduled base salaries of $1.45 million (2004), $1.4 million (2005) and $2.65 million. There were annual workout bonuses of $100,000.

But he is also due a $2 million options bonus in 2005 and that almost certainly will preclude any club from claiming him on waivers.

The Cardinals should put a claim in on him. The question is whether or not any team with a worse record would claim him first.

1) 391k is a no brainer and we have the money.
2) He can then opt out of his contract after the season and become a free agent...can he get 3yrs/7.2m on the open market?
3) If not, is he worth 1.4m/yr for the next two years for us?
4) Either way, he is not worth 4.65 in 2005 and would get cut by us too.

Bottom line...do it.

You become a better team by upgrading each position. He is clearly an upgrade and we need to do more of it.

I was under the impression that if you signed him off waivers you would be responsible for the 2 million even if he doesn't play next year. That is why teams are not going to sign him off waivers.

 

[TheCardFan]

I was under the impression that if you signed him off waivers you would be responsible for the 2 million even if he doesn't play next year. That is why teams are not going to sign him off waivers. [/B]

No...I really don't think so. It's a bonus due in 2005 and the Cards would only have to pay that if he is on the roster in 2005.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Originally posted by TheCardFan
No...I really don't think so. It's a bonus due in 2005 and the Cards would only have to pay that if he is on the roster in 2005.

Then why would Len Pasquarelli say teams won't pick him off waivers because of his remaining bonus. It just doesn't make sense. If teams didn't have to worry about that money then I definately think he gets picked up off waiver by some team.

 

[DieHardCardFan]

Bring him in at the least!!! At least make it look like we are trying to upgrade whenever the opp comes our way!!! We have the cash and I think the guy would be a great fit, he would pull some of the double teams off Quan on 3rd down!!

 

[CaptTurbo]

JESUS SIGN HIM NOW!!!!!

 

[ajcardfan]

Originally posted by MadCardDisease
Then why would Len Pasquarelli say teams won't pick him off waivers because of his remaining bonus. It just doesn't make sense. If teams didn't have to worry about that money then I definately think he gets picked up off waiver by some team.

Pasquarelli screwed the pooch on that one. When someone is claimed off of wiavers, you pick up the contract as is. That means he can be cut before the roster bonus kicks in. Also, if you really want him, there is nothing to preclude redoing his deal this offseason. Or, saying, "We think you should test the market", and getting off the hook that way.

If we really want him, then claiming him off of waivers would be the way to go. Whether he panned out or not, just the mere attempt by the Cardinals to aggressively upgrade over Nate Poole (for God's sakes, Nate ****** Poole cut twice without even a sniff from another team!) would be every bit as positive as the extensions were last week. Maybe even more so.

 

[ThunderCard]

After reading the entire browns board about Kevin Johnson the one thing that sticks out everytime is the rift between Butch and KJ. His ( KJ ) attitude does not even really look bad as he accepted the back up role and took it like a man. All I keep hearing is that he does not have great speed, however I would rather have a sure handed receiver over speed any day. He was by far the best Browns receiver over the past 4 years and would be a great compliment to Quan on the other side of the ball. Hopefully we pick him up !

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Kevin Johnson.

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS I have seen him on Sportscenter/NFL Primetime etc etc catching a deep ball for a substantial game.

BRING HIM IN. We need someone to stretch the field. That would emensily? help this offense, and give Blake a vet to throw too.

And Gilmore stinks. I can't believe we even put him out there anymore.

 

[imaCafan]

Not only put him out there, but re-signed him for 2 more years!!!

 

[Renz]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
If we really want him, then claiming him off of waivers would be the way to go. Whether he panned out or not, just the mere attempt by the Cardinals to aggressively upgrade over Nate Poole (for God's sakes, Nate ****** Poole cut twice without even a sniff from another team!) would be every bit as positive as the extensions were last week. Maybe even more so.

Damn, ajcardfan! That avatar makes me laugh!

 

[Red Air Force]

Originally posted by ThunderCard
All I keep hearing is that he does not have great speed, however I would rather have a sure handed receiver over speed any day.

But hey it's not like we actually thorw down field anyway, so who cares if he's not a "burner". In reality though I would rather take a guy with slightly less speed who can GET OPEN, then a track star with no moves.

SIGN HIM!

 

[Red Air Force]

BTW exactly how long is the waiver period, and when will we know if someone has claimed him?

 

[Jttsaz]

Wednsday night from what I hear..or read in Lee's article..

 

[dmoney]

Pick him up! There is always room for a fellow Orangeman

 

[red desert]

Originally posted by Renz
Damn, ajcardfan! That avatar makes me laugh!

Hadn't noticed it, but yeah, that makes me laugh, too.

 

[jon_nyaz]

Weighing in late on this, but I can't think of a single reason not to get this guy if we can get him. Even with the $2million roster bonus or whatever it is, who are we planning to get into next season with at the WR position? Why wouldn't we want a guy like KJ on our squad? GET HIM NOW!

 

[SECTION 11]

Originally posted by CaliforniaCard
BTW exactly how long is the waiver period, and when will we know if someone has claimed him?

I think it's 24 hours.

 

[CardLogic]

Earth to Rod Graves!!!

Get off the dime! Take a freakin' chance! There is no downside to bring Kevin Johnson in here... NONE!!!

1) KJ is an upgrade over what we have... unquestionably proven!

2) Money is not an issue! I am by no means a capologist but
looking at what has been posted, even at the worst case, he
would still be worth it to this team. RG you have shown the
ability to be proactive and creative with contract situations.
You CAN make this work!

3) It will re-affirm to the team, fans, and media a committment to
improving the team and to eliminating the "Same Ol' Cardinals"
stigma.

4) Re: concerns about character due to problems in Cleveland.
See and judge for yourself! When someone fails in one
particular situation they should not be marked as an
"untouchable". Sometimes it is nothing more than a clash of
personalities in the current environment. Again see and judge
for yourself!


SIGN KEVIN JOHNSON!!!!

 

[AntSports Steve]

The Cards were what? 7th or 10th in the draft before they traded down. So for waiver claims, those other teams get to claim first. Does anyone know the actual order? If you claim someone, do go to the bottom of the waiver claim list, or do you get your place back when the next guy is cut?

I don't think the cards claimed anyone off waivers this year.

Anyone know?

 

[Cheesebeef]

I'm not really all that surprised or upset by this - Bringing in KJ can only do one thing, give us a chance at one or two more meaningless wins that will not only keep pushing us further from Eli Manning, but might also put public pressure on the Bidwills to keep coach Mac - both of those are bad things - in addition to that - I think Graves does realize that this is one long training camp - he has to see what he has in BJ in order to know how aggressivley he needs to go after a WR next offseason and if that reciever needs to be a #1 or below. I still don't get the Bryan Gilmore signing though - that guy doesn't belong on a CFL roster, much less ebing on one in the big show. If we were 4-5 or 5-4 and had a shot at the playoffs then I would be fuming right now - but this team has no shot so improving it right now when options could be better in the offseason only will hurt us short term and long term.

Now if we continue to stink at WR for the remainder of the season and do not address is adequately in the offseason - everything said above is taken back and it will be sadly be apparent that in house Rod can move mountains, but with FA and improving the team from the outside, he's still got a lot of work to do.

I'm really trying hard here to give the benefit of the doubt - although it's pretty obvious this kid has more talent than Kasper, Poole or Gilmore and is relatively young to boot.