Letter #3 to Michael Bidwill

[Mitch]

Dear Michael:

Here is a proposal---one that I believe would get the Cardinals back on a Super Bowl track.

Step #1: Hire Lake Dawson (VP Director of Player Personnel of the Tennessee Titans) as your new GM. Dawson is one of the real up and coming young execs.

Step #2: Hire Jeff Fisher as your new Head Coach. Dawson and Fisher would be an outstanding combination and would work hand in hand. Fisher would have more input on personnel than he did in Tennessee---which is what frustrated him most throughout his tenure there. Put it this way: there is no way Fisher would have ever drafted QB Vince Young. Young was not a good fit for what Fisher wants.

From there---let Dawson and Fisher evaluate the current roster---and develop the blueprint for bringing in the best and toughest players. We all could put our trust in them.

I was convinced that once the stadium was built, and that the players and fans no longer had to suffer through the sweltering heat on game days, that Arizona would become the hottest and most popular team for free agents and draftees.

Sadly this hasn't happened under the current leadership---in fact, one could argue that the top free agents want little or nothing to do with Arizona and even worse, many of the past and current top players would rather leave Arizona than stay. Something is dreadfully wrong about that.

I still believe that Arizona could be the dream franchise for free agents and draftees---provided we get a GM and Head Coach who will generate confidence and excitement amongst the players who are looking to take a yearly run at the Lombardi Trophy...and provided, of course, that you are willing to back your leadership team 100%.

Moreover, I believe that players and fans will be excited more than ever to have you as their owner, especially when they see how committed you are in putting the team in the right hands.

You have taken many positive steps in recent years---I hope the best and wisest steps are yet to come.

Sincerely yours,

Mitch

 

[CtCardinals78]

Another one?

 

[Buckybird]

How about Reggie McKenzie from the Pack as GM? Someone from the Ravens? Somehow, someway ownership needs some outside advice on how to build a winner from top to bottom...like Ron Wolf, Parcells or someone else.

Mitch something tells me that even IF the Cards got rid of Graves when Wiz is eventually shown the door that either Kiem or McCreight will be the new GM. I wouldnt be totally opposed to Kiem, but the logical move to see our faults & changing old ways is going outside. I still don't understand how hiring McCreight from a bad team (like Graves) helps in any way. Crazy Cards

 

[Mulli]

*

 

[Buckybird]

BTW Mitch, if the Redbirds want to purse a OLB who can get to the QB I would be all over the Cowboys Victor Butler. He's been pretty impressive in spot duty...watch him if you ever get a chance.

 

[Mitch]

How about Reggie McKenzie from the Pack as GM? Someone from the Ravens? Somehow, someway ownership needs some outside advice on how to build a winner from top to bottom...like Ron Wolf, Parcells or someone else.

Mitch something tells me that even IF the Cards got rid of Graves when Wiz is eventually shown the door that either Kiem or McCreight will be the new GM. I wouldnt be totally opposed to Kiem, but the logical move to see our faults & changing old ways is going outside. I still don't understand how hiring McCreight from a bad team (like Graves) helps in any way. Crazy Cards

Bucky---I picked Dawson because of his affinity for Jeff Fisher. Fisher is, imo, one of the elite coaches. His defenses are super aggressive and his offenses run the ball---in other words, he preaches toughness on both sides of the ball.

The Baltimore situation is a little cloudy because the most qualified hire there would be George Kokinis, their long-time Senior Personnel guy---save a 6 month gig he recently did as GM of the Browns (where he was mysteriously fired in mid-season for reportedly not being very visible around the team adn then HC Eric Mangini). His draft with Cleveland was pretty solid---first three picks are starters: C Alex Mack, WR Mohamed Massaquoi and WR Brian Robiske.

I like your endorsement of the Packers' Reggie McKenzie---imagine if Andy Reid is fired and the GM/HC combo becomes McKenzie/Reid. Not sure if any of the current Packers' assistants are good fits as HC candidates. Joe Philbin is the OC---but clearly Mike McCarthy is the architect and chief of the offense. Dom Capers could turn around the defense---but wasn't that great of a HC previously.

 

[Mitch]

BTW Mitch, if the Redbirds want to purse a OLB who can get to the QB I would be all over the Cowboys Victor Butler. He's been pretty impressive in spot duty...watch him if you ever get a chance.

I totally agree, Bucky. If Butler was in his 4th year, maybe he would be available...but he's just in his 3rd and so it's hard to imagine the Cowboys dealing him at this point.

 

[Buckybird]

Bucky---I picked Dawson because of his affinity for Jeff Fisher. Fisher is, imo, one of the elite coaches. His defenses are super aggressive and his offenses run the ball---in other words, he preaches toughness on both sides of the ball.



I like your endorsement of the Packers' Reggie McKenzie---imagine if Andy Reid is fired and the GM/HC combo becomes McKenzie/Reid. Not sure if any of the current Packers' assistants are good fits as HC candidates. Joe Philbin is the OC---but clearly Mike McCarthy is the architect and chief of the offense. Dom Capers could turn around the defense---but wasn't that great of a HC previously.

Fisher would probably be a good hire & diffantly bring toughness to this team, but as you say he might have to clean house to get those tough guys in AZ.

While Reid has had a great track record, wouldn't that be similar to having Wiz coach the Cards? Pass, pass, pass...suspect D. Seems just as stubborn at times in changing what he believes works, just like CKW...but a long period od winning.

I don't really like the fact of hiring Gruden, Cowher or another SB winning coach, because it's never been repeated & all i care about is winning that elusive trophy.

 

[Buckybird]

I totally agree, Bucky. If Butler was in his 4th year, maybe he would be available...but he's just in his 3rd and so it's hard to imagine the Cowboys dealing him at this point.

trade next years #3 before the deadline

 

[Mitch]

trade next years #3 before the deadline

That's a steep price for a guy who hasn't yet been a starter. But---as desperate as we are to get someone to rush the edge, i would be tempted---yet I would rather give a #3 for DE Robert Mathis, a proven game changer, assuming he would agree to a contract extension.

I also am thinking in the Jeff Fisher 43 mode for next year!

 

[az jam]

I could buy into this but it won't happen at least for another year. Whisenhunt has two more years on his contract with a team option for a 3rd year. He is getting paid about $6 million per year. No way will the Bidwills eat 2 years of that. Whisenhunt will be back in 2012 and have to turn it around. However, they could eat the 2 years that would be left on Graves contract but for some reason he has escaped any responsibility for his tenure of incompetence.

 

[Zeno]

Fisher is so overrated, can't understand the attraction to him. 5 playoff wins in his career, Whisenhunt has 4 by comparison. His teams consistently choked when the going got tough. He would be like signing up for average...sure we might see 8-8 a lot more Than we see 6-10 but he isn't going to bring us a championship.

 

[MoeIsBetter]

Much rather have Bill Cowher lol

 

[desertdawg]

My letter to Mikey...

Yo Mikey,
You need to tell your boy to run the ball more, at least 40-43% for each half of football played, and tell him if he has them line up shotgun on first down ever again (while the game is still close and the clock is not an issue) he is done.
Thanks bro, hope you enjoyed them brownies I sent you
Desertdawg

 

[Buckybird]

Much rather have Bill Cowher lol

That would sooo be like the Cards...ex-Steelers...SB Champion coach...receipe for failure.

 

[TRW]

Bill Cowher will NOT come here...

Much rather have Bill Cowher lol

even if the Bidwills gave him total control. He would not come to this losing organization, period. Not going to happen.

I don't think Fisher would ruin his reputation by coming here either. But, he would be more likely than Cowher I think.

I wouldn't mind Mitch's proposal at all.

 

[artp]

even if the Bidwills gave him total control. He would not come to this losing organization, period. Not going to happen.

I don't think Fisher would ruin his reputation by coming here either. But, he would be more likely than Cowher I think.

I wouldn't mind Mitch's proposal at all.

So, GM R Graves and HC K Whiz are fired at the end of the year? I missed that.

 

[TRW]

So, GM R Graves and HC K Whiz are fired at the end of the year? I missed that.

Nope, wouldn't hold my breath on that. I believe that status quo will be the thing next season at least.

Plus, Whisenhunt may get canned but I doubt that Graves will ever be. Graves will be here as long as Bill Bidwill is alive and he (Graves) wants to be.

I was just responding to Mitch's post as to who might be good to replace them.

Not sure what your post was implying and if I read too much into it I apologize.

 

[LarryStalling]

Totally thinking outside the box, but I propose hiriing Theo Epstien the lame duck gm of the Red Sox. Not saying that he can spot football talent like a football person can but he can certainly turn around the lousy culture of the Cardinals. If he can take the RSox to a world series then think what he can do for us.

 

[Shaun M Church]

Yeah. Everyone's gotta just chill out with the "fire Whiz" junk. It's really not his fault Stuckey fumbled in Washington. Or that Kolb threw a pick in Seattle. Or that the ref called Cruz down at home. Or that the defense forgot to start playing until the second quarter in Minnesota. Everything will be just fine. Just give it time....I've said that a lot over the past week.

 

[Duckjake]

Yeah. Everyone's gotta just chill out with the "fire Whiz" junk. It's really not his fault Stuckey fumbled in Washington. Or that Kolb threw a pick in Seattle. Or that the ref called Cruz down at home. Or that the defense forgot to start playing until the second quarter in Minnesota. Everything will be just fine. Just give it time....I've said that a lot over the past week.

The Cardinals don't have any talent. It's 2003 all over again. That's why you keep having to say give them time, everything will be fine, after they lose every week.

They'll be lucky to get to 5-11 this season.

 

[Buckybird]

The Cardinals don't have any talent. It's 2003 all over again. That's why you keep having to say give them time, everything will be fine, after they lose every week.

They'll be lucky to get to 5-11 this season.

You obviously forget what everyone said what the problem was around here Duck...Clancy...then Davis...then DA. Now it's Wiz!!!

I finally accepted this offseason that the talent just isn't good enough. We as fans usually overate how good many of the players on our own team are because we don't want to accept the fact that it's just not good enough. I use too & thats why you see peeps on this board predicting 11, 12 or 13 victories & it's NEVER happened in franchise history if I'm not mistaken.

We can't even suck bad enough to have that #1 pick...ever!!!

 

[Mitch]

The Cardinals don't have any talent. It's 2003 all over again. That's why you keep having to say give them time, everything will be fine, after they lose every week.

They'll be lucky to get to 5-11 this season.

Duck---the Cardinals do have talent, albeit not roster balanced and appropriately positioned talent---but we won't see the true value of that talent until they are coached properly---that is, if they haven't already been ruined by the current coaching staff. These Cardinals are tremendous under-achievers.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Duck---the Cardinals do have talent, albeit not roster balanced and appropriately positioned talent---but we won't see the true value of that talent until they are coached properly---that is, if they haven't already been ruined by the current coaching staff. These Cardinals are tremendous under-achievers.

they have virtually no LBers, no OT, no CBs and suspects WRs and QB. No team can win in this league with that lack of talent... although no team should be down 28-0 in the first quarter to an otherwise winless team... so coaching is definitely a major problem as well.

lots of stink on this pile of crap we got here.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

So, GM R Graves and HC K Whiz are fired at the end of the year? I missed that.

CKW would be brought back as a tight end coach.. Because his job with ours has been outstanding.