Larry Centers

[BleedRed]

I heard on the ASR tonight that Larry Centers wants to come back and finish his career as a Card. Makes sense with our local dealer being released. But anywayz I think it would be cool to see him in a Cards uniform again. Anythings better then Mackovica. LOL!! But anywayz Go Cards!!!

 

[Alan]

Gambo reported it. He almost has a streak going of reporting accurate rumors.

I hope it is true, though. I'd like to see Larry back in a Cardinals uniform. It would only cost them $450,000 against the cap. So it seems to make sense.

 

[KZahniser]

Larry is a great player (or at least was) and he brings an overall "presences" to the game, but to say he only will cost the team $450,000 is a mistake. It is a roster spot for a young, up-in-coming potential...not a past former great which everyone likes, if not loves.

Is it worth it? Perhaps...money is not the issue as far as I can see...a roster spot for a former great vs. young potential is the issue.

2 cents, Kale

 

[Ryanwb]

Originally posted by KZahniser
Larry is a great player (or at least was) and he brings an overall "presences" to the game, but to say he only will cost the team $450,000 is a mistake. It is a roster spot for a young, up-in-coming potential...not a past former great which everyone likes, if not loves.

Is it worth it? Perhaps...money is not the issue as far as I can see...a roster spot for a former great vs. young potential is the issue.

2 cents, Kale

He would take the roster spot that would have been occupied by Dennis McKinley......

 

[Metal Militia]

Larry!! Larry!! Larry!!

I can hear it now!

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I would love to have Larry come back. What a leader he could be. He has always been a leader by example. That is why us as fans have always loved him. He goes all out all the time.

However, for this to work, I think that he would have to accept a limited role. Do you think he would? It is obvious that we will have Hodgins as the true FB.

I have heard that Hodgins can catch the ball very well and that Shipp will be the third down back. The only role that I would see for Larry would be a special teamer, a FB in a two-minute passing offense, or a third and long FB with Shipp at RB.

What do ya'll think?

 

[Metal Militia]

Originally posted by KZahniser
a roster spot for a former great vs. young potential is the issue.

I can see where you are coming from. I would agree with you if we had drafted a FB this year, but we didn't. So who would you rather have, an UDFA who you could place on the practice squad for a year or Larry Centers, one of the most popular players the Arizona Cardinals have had and who I believe could still play a role for this team?

 

[seesred]

I would love for us to make room for Larry. If anyonegets hurt he will work hard. Larry on third downs with Shipp or with Emmitt to mix things up. No one ever played harder for us every down than Larry Centers.

Bring him back.

GBR

 

[Goldfield]

Originally posted by Metal Militia
Larry!! Larry!! Larry!!

I can hear it now!

You must be registered for see images

I would love to have Larry come back. What a leader he could be. He has always been a leader by example. That is why us as fans have always loved him. He goes all out all the time.

However, for this to work, I think that he would have to accept a limited role. Do you think he would? It is obvious that we will have Hodgins as the true FB.

I have heard that Hodgins can catch the ball very well and that Shipp will be the third down back. The only role that I would see for Larry would be a special teamer, a FB in a two-minute passing offense, or a third and long FB with Shipp at RB.

What do ya'll think?

Those are the situations I see him playing in... Maybe only a few plays a game but still worth the spark he will give the fans(us)...

It will be mostly a PR move but who knows if the WR's do struggle alot, then we may have to rely on Jones & Centers to be our main pass catchers... It cant hurt!

 

[ajcardfan]

I've been against this idea before, but now it does make some sense for both sides. I think Centers does have some value still as a blocker and pass catcher on third down. I also think we need to use this cap space somehow, and this would bring a lot of good press to the Cards. I know guys who still complain about Centers being released.

If Centers retires as a Card, I hope Williams does as well. The parting with Centers was far more bitter than the one with Williams was.

 

[Metal Militia]

Originally posted by ajcardfan
The parting with Centers was far more bitter than the one with Williams was.

Bitter from a fans standpoint or from the players standpoint?

I agree with you if you mean from a fans standpoint. I was pissed when Larry said he wanted to renegotiate to stay in Arizona and the Cardinals didn't do it. In Aeneas' case, he said he would retire if he was not traded. The writing was on the wall.

 

[KZahniser]

I am in favor of Larry, but I try and think "business" first before "love" of the game.

He would take

Larry is not a "spring chicken" like Dennis and I have a hard time seeing Larry on special teams like Dennis. I am sure he would work his butt off for the organization, but I don't see him making the special teams. That was the main role of Dennis...not his ability to be on the field normally, right?

Larry is also not known for blocking like Hodgins so I have a hard time seeing him replacing him on the field during 1st or 2nd downs.

3rd down and passing might work, but wouldn't the opposing team figure this out...a pass-catching back used for only 3rd down pass-catching situations?

So I ask again...a well-loved former great Cardinal taking the spot for a young potential? What potential player...I don't know. I would like to see Larry help us out, but in what role and the real question is what is best for the team? Short term-he might help out perhaps...it is like licking wounds to forget the present(licking the wounds of a 2nd tier player on special teams...Dennis, that is)

Is our roster set already as implied by Ryanwb? Do we already have our roster etched in stone...except for the Dennis replacement? I sure hope not!


Metal Militia said it best..."accept a limited role". Does the Cardinal organization and team have room for a "limited role" player? Are the fans happy with another 3-13 season? 6-10 season? 7-9 season? I don't see anything better than 7-9, but I would love to be totally wrong. I have a hard time seeing Larry helping us in the long run; let alone in the short run. There is a fine line between taking rejects from other teams and making a feel good story for the fans...to "make a winning season".

What does "finish his career" (Bleedred) mean to you when you hear it regardless of the player?

I don't think great thoughts, but I hope I am wrong..."Larry, Larry, Larry!!!"

Do we really need another fullback on the roster? In the past recent seasons do we utilize them to justify another roster spot?

I don't have the answers, but I like to hear your thoughts,
Kale

 

[Goldfield]

Centers would mearly take a negative in McKinley, and replacing it with a positive in Centers...

 

[Metal Militia]

Originally posted by KZahniser
3rd down and passing might work, but wouldn't the opposing team figure this out...a pass-catching back used for only 3rd down pass-catching situations?

Based on his numbers, opposing teams have not figured him out for 14 years!

 

[Wild Card]

Originally posted by KZahniser
Does the Cardinal organization and team have room for a "limited role" player?... I have a hard time seeing Larry helping us in the long run; let alone in the short run. There is a fine line between taking rejects from other teams and making a feel good story for the fans... Do we really need another fullback on the roster?

KZ:

Not "another fullback." Larry Centers is one of the Top 10 receivers (number of receptions) in NFL history. Back-to-back 80 catch seasons--with two different teams--in 2000-01. Dropped off to only 43 catches last year, as Bledsoe threw to his WRs more often, but still averaged 9.0 yards-per-reception out of the backfield.
The Cardinals have plenty of young receiving talent to develop. What they don't have is a veteran who ranks among the great pass-catchers, and is a high work-ethic/ character guy as well. If Centers is available, interested, and willing to play for the veteran minimum plus incentives, this should be a slam-dunk.

WC

 

[Shane]

Ok Ill put a stop to this fricken love fest going on. Oh and trust me i am one of Larrys biggest fans!

 

[Shane]

Originally posted by BleedRed
I heard on the ASR tonight that Larry Centers wants to come back and finish his career as a Card. Makes sense with our local dealer being released. But anywayz I think it would be cool to see him in a Cards uniform again. Anythings better then Mackovica. LOL!! But anywayz Go Cards!!!

Like I said in the previous post I am one of Larrys biggest fans I happen to have an autoed 8by10 hanging on my wall as I type this! Sign him only if it is merely a PR thing to sign and immediately retire as a card much like Eric Hill. Otherwise it would be a HUGE mistake! Here is AZCB34 post in another thread it explains my position perfectly!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by AZCB34
Great post. I was worried reading through the first few posts of the Larry lovefest that I was going to have to be a "bad" guy and put the kibosh on this talk.

Shane is 100% right on this. Centers doesn't fill any type of need at this point and quite frankly it doesn;t matter if he has anything left in the tank. Use it as a PR move? Sure only if he is then going to immediately retire so he can retire as a Cardinal. This team already has it's PR player. If you cannot win with all chior boys then I fail to see how anyone can expect to win games with nearly washed up PR players.

As for Shipp and Centers being 3rd down backs together, unless it is relatively short yardage, I imagine most teams actually run 3rd down sets with a single back since that is normally a passing down.

It is time for the Cards to develop players. One of the negatives of signing Emmitt is that it will take away developmental time from Shipp (I don't buy into Shipp learning from Smith through osmosis). Adding Centers will only hinder that development more.

I like Larry and thought he played well while here but I see little value in bringing him back. End of Quote!


CB has it dead on bringing in Emmitt has already hindered Shipp who is currently going to be our 3rd down back. Bringing Centers in would only further hinder Shipp and most likely piss him off! I really dont see nay posotives in that whatsoever!

 

[Shane]

Originally posted by Metal Militia
I'm just curious as to why you be against bringing LC back? Do you not think he is better than any other candidate out there?

I would rather have LC than Makovicka.

Read my post above bro 1st one on page 2!

 

[Metal Militia]

Originally posted by Shane H
Read my post above bro 1st one on page 2!

I was posting my question to you as you were making your second post on this thread. I saw your first post and I was like...that's it? Hahahaha! I ended up deleting my question to you because you addressed your point.

You make a decent point although I don't think that it would be all that bad. Larry is and always has been a team player and I don't think he would do anything to impede Shipp's progress for his own benefit.

If anything, I would sign him to a one year deal to take pressure of the young WR's. On some obvious passing 3rd downs, you could have Larry and Shipp in there at the same time. Maybe even line Larry up in the slot or have him chip the end and go out for a pass like he did so well for so long. That would give Blake two great targets in addition to the WR's and TE. Plus, it could take the pressure off the young WR's as they develop.

 

[cardpa]

I wouldn't mind having Centers back for a year or two as insurance for Hodgkins should he get hurt. Centers would give depth at FB.

 

[Northern Card]

Hodgins is a classic run-blocking FB - Centers is a pass catching FB... two different animals. Hodgins could only dream of catching the ball like Centers... and Larry "Mr. Chip Blocker" is not the giuy you want leading your tail-back into a hole... We've seem it... he can't do it...

 

[Tangodnzr]

I agree with cubby and Ken

Larry Centers just about my all time favorite Card player.
I would love nothing better than to see him retire as a Card.
But he really doesn't fit well with the team needs right now.
They still have Bush as a back up, who I think could realistically better fit.

Sign Larry at the end of the year, just before he retires, (or if he already isn't playing anywhere else) as a formality. Not now.

 

[JeffGollin]

To feed the fire -

CONS

- Can Larry still play?

- Dennis Mckinley (Well, a "future con" anyway)

- In terms of leadership, Emmitt is our Larry Centers; do we need two?

- Can Larry lead block? We need more depth there, and LC would take up a roster-slot that normally would go to a backup lead blocker.

PROS

- He'd only cost us $400 - 500K against the cap, so why not bring him in?

- Let the issue of if he's still any good or whether he'd squeeze out another deserving younger player be settled on the field in preseason (i.e. may the best dudes survive).

- In terms of character, he's a "plus" trade off (Centers for McKinley).

BOTTOM LINE -

You can never have too many good players on your roster. The risk/benefit ratio here has a nice upside.

 

[Jim O]

I agree with Metal Militia on this one. I think Larry would have to accept a limited role.

Steve Bush is a good blocker and went in games more often than McKinley did. He looks like he could be the the #2 at both TE and FB as it stands right now.

The Cards are also high on lots of their RB's. Prentice has showed well in camp and Scobey can play special teams. Plus, they have not forgotten that Damien Anderson played a huge role in the win at Carolina last year.

I think that it is a possibility that we keep four RB's and one FB.

 

[Stronso]

I think we should sign Larry - especially due to the inexperience of our WR's. He would give Blake another "out" to drop off to.

I really do not see any downside to getting LC back here if he accepts a limited role.

The idea of keeping 4 rb's and 1 fb does concern me and that is more the reason to sign him

 

[WizardOfAz]

I asked a question on a previous thread, but, at this point in his career, would Centers be willing to play on Special Teams? If we are looking at him now because of the loss of McKinley, wouldn't he have to?