Letting Breaston go?

[Mitch]

The Cardinals have more than enough money to re-sign Breaston and sign a good FA TE.

Breaston would be highly coveted by the Chiefs and the Rams.

Amazingly...if the team does not re-sign Breaston or Fitz, by 2012 the Super Bowl trio of 11, 81 and 15 will be long gone.

The thing I have wondered about Breaston is just how much of his success could have been attributed to the uncanny chemistry Kurt Warner developed with him...but Breaston did have a couple of big games this year starting with the Rams game (which is why the Rams would be all over him).

It should be interesting to see what teams will do to try to keep their core players over the next two months...and...with the delay in free agency expected with a lockout on March 5th, some players would just as soon sign contracts that they feel are respectable...while other will risk trying to get theirs if and when the free agency frenzy starts.

 

[Krangodnzr]

I'm kind of the fence about Breaston.

While I do agree he should've been extended awhile ago (thanks again for another in a long line of failures of this front office), if he's asking for more than around 5 million per season I don't think he'd be worth more than the alternatives (starting Roberts, Doucet, Williams, or a vet free agent).

He's a flawed player; a bit injury prone, body catches a lot, isn't suited for really anything other than the slot.

Yep, definitely on the fence. I'd be sad to see him go, but it's not a franchise breaker.

 

[TJ]

The Cardinals have more than enough money to re-sign Breaston and sign a good FA TE.

Yes. And I hope they do this. How often have we seen Skelton throw to Spach the last couple of games only to see him drop a pass or not progress through his route.

Spach and Patrick suck and Dray is more of a fill in than anything.

 

[desertdawg]

I like the Fitz, Breaston, and Roberts look. Great options for what ever QB we roll with. All of our receivers got jacked up this year. I at one point almost thought DA was on some kind of sick mission.

Doucet was no surprise, homie is always gimped out, if you want to save some money, cut him. Fitz had the task of healing while trying to catch DA's crazy throws, streching him out, a sitting duck/Card. But he still had a good year. We need this QB problem solved because Fitz is amazing with a good QB.

Losing Breaston would leave a mark, he picked up a lot of Q's game and has done well. Roberts might get there but Breaston already is. Pay the man.

 

[Mitch]

Yes. And I hope they do this. How often have we seen Skelton throw to Spach the last couple of games only to see him drop a pass or not progress through his route.

Spach and Patrick suck and Dray is more of a fill in than anything.

It's been hard to undertsand the coaches' love for Spach, TJ. While the knee injury set him back, he's not shown one iota of improvement since his first year where he was hardly mediocre as a #2/#3 TE.

As for Patrick...this is where the coaching staff has failed, imo. Patrick has the physical tools to be a better than average TE. But...the TE coaching has been as awful as the play of the TEs...which is so odd considering Whiz was a TE (even though he has had his hands full running the team and calling the plays).

It's been very tantalizing watching Gronkowski and Hernandez dazzle as rookies for the Patriots---an organization that places strong emphasis on having good TE play.

In AZ---TE is a wasted position---at least Becht offered solid blocking last year.

 

[Russ Smith]

I just don't think that Breaston is a game-changer. Cheese is right that Breaston should have been extended last offseason. This year he's been hurt constantly, and I think that muddies his value. We could have signed him last season to Boldin's old contract, and everything would've been fine.

I think they didn't extend him then because he was coming off knee issues then too, and because he hadn't been the #2 WR for a full season yet. I would argue he showed enough when Anquan was hurt to prove he could be the #2 WR but I guess is that was the thinking.

Urban is right about the knee issue, if he's going to be having constant issues with that a big deal would be a mistake.

I'm on the fence, I like guys like Breaston who earn their paycheck, when we drafted him I said repeatedly he's just a kick returner, can't catch, isn't as fast as you would think etc. I was stunned he became a viable Wr let alone a starter. So I don't begrudge him looking for long term stability in a contract.

I hope there's a way to keep him, there are far too few players like Steve Breaston these days that just play and don't complain.

 

[kerouac9]

Im not so sure the Top 5 is quite $10 mil. $8.5 or $9. I know we're splitting hairs on salary but did you see who else we have after Stevie in my statement? Unless we sign a top-tier FA or a first day draft pick, one of our biggest strengths seemingly overnight becomes one of our biggest liabilities. Andre Roberts has not done much to tell me he's our future #2 and Doucet cant play more than 6 games a season.

I also do research. Enough to know that if we expose Stevie to the open market, he's gone. This season has been hell in a hand basket for wide outs and I can almost guarantee that the ones who have the capability to leave for greener pastures would leave. Hell, I wouldnt blame Fitz if he bailed had he been a FA this offseason.

So in conclusion. Yes, you tag him. There wont be much else out there and we are a much better team w/ Breaston on the field. When Q was out 2008 and 2009, he filled in very well. And yes, that was with Kurt at the helm, but if we have an impact QB next season, his numbers that you reference will go up. He has that potential. Dont be so short sighted. This season does not really amount to much in terms of offensive production as our passing game is THAT bad, thanks to two rookies and an epic fail veteran. Moreover, use the tag as leverage in negotiations. You may have to pay more than you wish, but in the life and times of professional sports, a player is worth what he gets paid. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Do your research, AZF, and find out what the 2010 Franchise number for WRs was, and then find out what Andre Johnson got. You don't think that number is going to go up a couple hundred grand? You think it's going to go DOWN?

I'll elevate Stephen Williams, who didn't look out of place as a #2 when Breaston was playing in the slot last year, rather than pay Steve Breaston $7million or more to be injured for 25% of every season (people who are saying that Early Doucet is made of glass certainly have short memories). As DJ has said, guys like Steve Breaston are great values on their rookie contracts, but WRs like him are a dime a dozen.

 

[rode kardinaal]

I agree, as much as I would hate to see the little big man go, that a big contract would be way to dangerous for an injury prone guy. What bugs me is not that the FO might let him go into free agency, but that they didn't get some value out of him.

They knew this was gonna happen, they knew they probably wouldn't be signing him to a big contract, a season all but lost at the halfway point, they could have gotten a 5th rounder in a trade.

Once again we'll be losing a valuable player in free agency without getting anything in return. And I'm sure that once again we'll be signing the Jason Wrights and Paris Lenons to screw us out of a potential high compensatory pick.

 

[TJ]

Do your research, AZF, and find out what the 2010 Franchise number for WRs was, and then find out what Andre Johnson got. You don't think that number is going to go up a couple hundred grand? You think it's going to go DOWN?

I'll elevate Stephen Williams, who didn't look out of place as a #2 when Breaston was playing in the slot last year, rather than pay Steve Breaston $7million or more to be injured for 25% of every season (people who are saying that Early Doucet is made of glass certainly have short memories). As DJ has said, guys like Steve Breaston are great values on their rookie contracts, but WRs like him are a dime a dozen.

Ill meet you in the middle here.

Re-sign Fitz long-term and I wont be upset about a potential Breaston departure

 

[Seandonic]

We can't hire a real GM IMO.

If you hire a GM then you can't save a ton of money at will and bank it.

The GM will tell on you after he gets fired.

Breaston is exactly the kind of guy I would try to keep, he's a warrior, great team mate, all around great roster addition.

Players need to be evaluated, after that they cost what they cost, we're so far under the cap it's ridiculous to worry about if he's worth his market value, he is.

This is so on the money.

 

[Dayman]

It's tough to make a judgment on Breaston without knowing what kind of money he's looking to get. Oddly enough, Fitz and Breaston are the same age (Breaston is actually a couple weeks older). If you give both of them open market value on long term deals, you would be looking at two high priced receivers in their thirties in a couple of years, which probably isn't a good idea. But Breaston is our only semblance of a deep threat, and his leadership shouldn't be understated. We've seen what happens when you lose too many leaders in the locker room.

I think the most disturbing part of these reports is the FO's lack of interest in getting something done. Part of this team's success during their Super Bowl run can be attributed to getting guys like Dockett re-signed before they demanded huge money. We haven't seen much of that over the past few years, and it's bleeding a lot of talent out of this roster.

 

[john h]

Breaston? What the H is going on?

This is a scary report. Graves has no comment when called. Fire Graves is my solution. All we need is to lose Breaston after this year along with Fitz. Who is running this show?

"It's difficult to say which was the bigger surprise from the Cardinals on Christmas night: that rookie Andre Roberts was such a big part of the offense, or that Steve Breaston was not.

Breaston started at receiver opposite of Larry Fitzgerald, but it was Roberts, the third-round pick, who played in most of the two-receiver sets. And it was Roberts who caught five passes for 110 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown.

It was Breaston who played 27 of the 47 offensive plays and had zero catches. That happens when the ball isn't thrown to you.

Breaston entered the game leading the team's receivers in yards per catch (16.1) and receptions of at least 20 yards (15), so Roberts' ascension brings into question the Cardinals' plan for Breaston beyond this season.

In his fourth season, Breaston played this year under a one-year tender offer of $2.4 million. Depending upon the outcome of labor negotiations between the NFL and players union, Breaston could become a free agent after the season. Yet the Cardinals have shown little interest in re-signing him.

Why? It's not a subject people involved care to discuss.

Messages to Breaston were not returned. His agent, Eric Metz, declined comment, as did Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves."

 

[earthsci]

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb/f4/letting-breaston-go-161839.html

 

[Cheesebeef]

What a bunch of conjecture and conspiracy schlock these two posts are.

I am pretty sure it came down to this....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pC1T1tAbA4s

Kurt has alot of love for the organization as heard in EVERYTHING he has said since then on TV and in print, and had nearly his entire offense coming back and for a guy who valued continuity that says alot right there. Don't give me he left because of Boldin because he played a good amount of the time without him anyway and was always a Fitz guy in terms of targets too.

I think Kurt always valued the money less and the life outside of football more then most can believe, and put his money where his mouth is. And I am pretty sure after that hit, that was all she wrote.

Sometimes its that simple.

so, your theory is what is and my theory is schlock and garbage? Good way to communicate there. no one knows for sure why he left, but I don't slam the above as stupid or whatever else you want to say about mine. to each his own i guess.

 

[PJ1]

We can't hire a real GM IMO.

If you hire a GM then you can't save a ton of money at will and bank it.

The GM will tell on you after he gets fired.

Breaston is exactly the kind of guy I would try to keep, he's a warrior, great team mate, all around great roster addition.

Players need to be evaluated, after that they cost what they cost, we're so far under the cap it's ridiculous to worry about if he's worth his market value, he is.

Couldn't have said it better. Letting Breaston go would be another mistake. Not to mention he will likely end up with the Rams.

 

[Stout]

Too many times have I read that we shouldn't overpay to re-sign players, for whatever recycled reasons, only to watch them move on to greener pastures and make us pay more than a big contract ever could. I'm sick and tired of it. This needs done. Do it, Graves, or once again uphold your reputation for ineptitude and FO stupidity.

 

[Buckybird]

It's tough to make a judgment on Breaston without knowing what kind of money he's looking to get. Oddly enough, Fitz and Breaston are the same age (Breaston is actually a couple weeks older). If you give both of them open market value on long term deals, you would be looking at two high priced receivers in their thirties in a couple of years, which probably isn't a good idea. But Breaston is our only semblance of a deep threat, and his leadership shouldn't be understated. We've seen what happens when you lose too many leaders in the locker room.
demanded huge money. We haven't seen much of that over the past few years, and it's bleeding a lot of talent out of this roster.

Spot on Dayman!!! This team is setting itself up for a monumental failure by letting 95% of it's most talented players walk along with high draft picks. It's sets a bad tone for potential FA's signees & future FA's of their own. Anyone who thinks the "same old Cardinals" doesn't still exist is absolutely blind. I really believe things will never change until Mr B is gone from this earth.

 

[TJ]

It's tough to make a judgment on Breaston without knowing what kind of money he's looking to get. Oddly enough, Fitz and Breaston are the same age (Breaston is actually a couple weeks older). If you give both of them open market value on long term deals, you would be looking at two high priced receivers in their thirties in a couple of years, which probably isn't a good idea. But Breaston is our only semblance of a deep threat, and his leadership shouldn't be understated. We've seen what happens when you lose too many leaders in the locker room.

I think the most disturbing part of these reports is the FO's lack of interest in getting something done. Part of this team's success during their Super Bowl run can be attributed to getting guys like Dockett re-signed before they demanded huge money. We haven't seen much of that over the past few years, and it's bleeding a lot of talent out of this roster.

100% agree

The FO and their propensity to sit on their collective thumbs with regards to re-signing players only costs them in the long run. Rod Graves has come out in the past and stated he does not renegotiate contracts during the season. There has to be some flexibility and risk taking involved to a) keep impact players and b) sign them at a lower rate

In 2008, when Kurt Warner was playing at an MVP level, the FO had the opportunity to re-sign him during the middle of the season at $8 mil per year +/- IIRC. The FO took the stance they usually take; wait until the offseason. Look what happened. They were faced with a dilemma that went above and beyond numbers. Not only was the FO forced to pay substantially more to retain him, but the collective fan base was pissed and getting anxious about possibly losing Kurt because of the extended time it took to get the contract worked.

If our team is to be a top-tier organization past this season, we need top-tier personnel. Graves is not one of those guys.

 

[Buckybird]

If our team is to be a top-tier organization past this season, we need top-tier personnel. Graves is not one of those guys.

Graves will not be gone anytime soon TJ because he does just what Mr B wants, saves & protects his $$$.

 

[DeAnna]

It's been hard to undertsand the coaches' love for Spach, TJ.

Because he's got that all-important "moxie" and "spunk" that the coaches love so much.

Never mind that he hasn't caught a pass since the Eagles NFC championship game. But then again, when you have good WRs they only need a good blocking TE.

 

[mojorizen7]

Good discussion and a difficult decision to be sure.
Question: Is Breaston's ceiling a solid,true #2 WR?
Or do you all feel that he's a guy who could carry the load in a WCO?
Would he even want to be the #1 guy if he was ever sepearated from Fitz?

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I think a new deal with Breaston will get done. Graves is decent at re-signing lower round picks to a 2nd contract. It's the high paid 1st rounders he never gets done. If they would go out and sign LB's like Harris and Woodley at the expense of Breaston, I'd be fine with it. But you know that won't happen. It's more likely they let Breaston go and re-sign a Travis LaBoy-type to the OLB position. In the end, I think Breaston gets done, barring a bad health report, for about 4 years/ 23 million. That's nothing exorbinant and seems to be fair on both sides. Why create another potential hole in the offense by letting him walk. A WR corp of Fitz, Breaston, Doucet, Roberts, and Williams is a pretty good,and still young, corp.

 

[Buckybird]

I think a new deal with Breaston will get done. Graves is decent at re-signing lower round picks to a 2nd contract. It's the high paid 1st rounders he never gets done. If they would go out and sign LB's like Harris and Woodley at the expense of Breaston, I'd be fine with it. But you know that won't happen. It's more likely they let Breaston go and re-sign a Travis LaBoy-type to the OLB position. In the end, I think Breaston gets done, barring a bad health report, for about 4 years/ 23 million. That's nothing exorbinant and seems to be fair on both sides. Why create another potential hole in the offense by letting him walk. A WR corp of Fitz, Breaston, Doucet, Roberts, and Williams is a pretty good,and still young, corp.

I still believe Breaston is good as gone Cbus. The Cards drafted Roberts in the 3rd rd & they many times spend picks on covering holes. When Stevie leaves we better get a WR to stretch the field next year.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I still believe Breaston is good as gone Cbus. The Cards drafted Roberts in the 3rd rd & they many times spend picks on covering holes. When Stevie leaves we better get a WR to stretch the field next year.

You may be right but I think he should be pretty easy(minus the Rod Graves factor) to re-sign if the Cards want him. I can't see where any team would have him pegged as a #1 WR and he won't command a big money deal like Dansby and Rolle did. Boldin's extension was for 3 years 25 mill with 10 mill guaranteed and I can't see Breaston commanding that kind of contract.

 

[Proteus]

We could be going from Fitz Boldin Breaston in 2008 & 2009 to Fitz Roberts Doucet in 2011 to Roberts Doucet Komar in 2012. Ugh.