LB Matt Stewart coming to AZ?

[ajcardfan]

Foxsports:

Sources: Cards pursuing LB Stewartby Alex Marvez
Alex Marvez is a Senior NFL Writer for FOXSports.com. He's covered the NFL for 13 seasons as a beat writer and is the president of the Pro Football Writers of America.

With wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald's recent contract extension clearing salary cap space, the Arizona Cardinals are once again dipping into the free-agent market.


FOXSports.com has learned that linebacker Matt Stewart is en route to a visit with the Cardinals.

A seven-year NFL veteran, Stewart missed all of the 2007 campaign in Cleveland because of a shoulder injury. Stewart, 28, had 16 combined starts for the Browns in the previous two seasons and was a core special teams player. Stewart played his first four years in Atlanta, starting 44 of 48 games between 2002 and 2004.

Arizona had expressed strong interest in free-agent linebacker Brandon Chillar but he instead signed with Green Bay.

The Cardinals were hamstrung from making many free-agent moves until finalizing a new deal with Fitzgerald, the NFC's leading receiver last season with 100 catches. The four-year, $40 million extension reportedly lowered Fitzgerald's 2008 cap number from $14.6 million to $8.8 million.

 

[DaisyCutter]

He's pretty terrible. Probably not as good as Brandon Johnson or Daryl Blackstock.

 

[overseascardfan]

I know both these guys have issues but what about Kendrell Bell, Roosevelt Colvin or Clark Haggans? At least they have a history of production and could at least help.

 

[Duckjake]

It would only be fair if one of these days we picked up some guy who had done nothing for his original team and he suddenly played to an all-pro level for us.

 

[O]

It would only be fair if one of these days we picked up some guy who had done nothing for his original team and he suddenly played to an all-pro level for us.

Kind of like Bertrand Berry?

 

[ajcardfan]

Well, he has started a lot of games. And, Atlanta had some good defenses while he was there. I remember the arguments here about whether Vick or the defense was responsible for their success.

I have no expectations for him. I'd be surprised if he gets much of a contract.

 

[SuperSpck]

Kind of like Bertrand Berry?

Close, but Bert had a breakout year before leaving the Broncos.

I agree we're due.

I'm thinking KVB would be closer, but he had tremendous flashes before quickly destroying his body.

I'm thinking Roderick Hood would be a timely example, but he too had some success with the Eagles as a backup before arriving here.

Nope, I'm stumped, have we ever had a FA unknown become an acclaimed starter?

 

[nurnay]

If nothing else, maybe he'll help special teams.

 

[PoolBoy]

Close, but Bert had a breakout year before leaving the Broncos.

I agree we're due.

I'm thinking KVB would be closer, but he had tremendous flashes before quickly destroying his body.

I'm thinking Roderick Hood would be a timely example, but he too had some success with the Eagles as a backup before arriving here.

Nope, I'm stumped, have we ever had a FA unknown become complete cancer to a defense?

ftfy

yes, terrence holt

 

[O]

Close, but Bert had a breakout year before leaving the Broncos.

Yeah, but not pro bowl level.

 

[Duckjake]

Close, but Bert had a breakout year before leaving the Broncos.

Correct. You can't count a guy who had 11.5 sacks the year before as having done nothing. And now Berry has missed 21 games over the last 3 seasons becoming more like most former Cardinal free agent signees.

EDIT: By the way my OP was really an exaggeration for entertainment purposes because other than Thomas Jones there have been few if any players who performed poorly for the Cards and then went on to great things elsewhere.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

He's pretty terrible. Probably not as good as Brandon Johnson or Daryl Blackstock.

I disagree.

He was a solid guy for Atlanta, and then got hurt in Cleveland.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/stats?playerId=2651

He is not going to be all-pro material but I know he is better than Brandon Johnson, and Daryl Blackstock.

He actually has experience playing in a 3-4 from back when Atlanta used to play a 3-4.

 

[football karma]

my guess is a vet minimum contract for the guy

if that is the case, bring in 10 more like him and let camp figure out if one or two of them can play

 

[lobo]

my guess is a vet minimum contract for the guy

if that is the case, bring in 10 more like him and let camp figure out if one or two of them can play

Not only a sensible approach, but based on the roster situation...even if we sign those who have been mentioned, this is what is going to happen.
I think Graves will pick the best of the lot before he has to commit serious money to (say) a Colvin.

 

[DaisyCutter]

I disagree.

He was a solid guy for Atlanta, and then got hurt in Cleveland.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/stats?playerId=2651

He is not going to be all-pro material but I know he is better than Brandon Johnson, and Daryl Blackstock.

He actually has experience playing in a 3-4 from back when Atlanta used to play a 3-4.

I don't think whether or not he was a "solid guy" four years ago on a defense that couldn't stop anyone on the ground is much of an endorsement. Also, the fact that you would say, "Well, he's no Brandon Chillar," isn't much of an endorsement, either.

He played in a 3-4, but he's never had more than 59 tackles in a season. I believe that Chillar would actually have pushed Chike Okeafor (and maybe Gerald Hayes) at the SOLB and SILB positions. Stewart would simply mean that we have a guy to play the position with the 2nd team in training camp.

 

[Shogun]

Camp body. If he checks out, depth and special teams.