Long holdout for Dan Williams???

[Crazy Canuck]

1. Schofield is a fifth-round pick, right? Is it really going to be worth it to piss off a player over saving some $75,000 on a signing bonus? What a terrible idea. Also, if Schofield isn't under contract, I don't think that your medical/rehab/training team is working with him. It's probably worth the $148,000 (or whatever) to ensure that he's getting the training and rehab that you want.

2. This isn't an important issue for our draft picks. Really, it's not. There isn't even a "rookie cap" this season, so teams are being disingenuous if they say that 2nd year option bonuses are what's holding up the deal here. The option bonus is meant to circumvent the rookie cap. None of our draft picks should be eligible for option bonuses, so it doesn't matter. That being said, I'm not sure why an agent would accept a series of one-year deals for their player. Draft picks after the second round are essentially playing on one-year deals anyway, but the problem with your idea is that there may not be a RFA or EFA system in the new CBA (although there probably will be), so if you sign Daryl Washington to a one-year contract and he's defensive rookie of the year, why would he sign a new deal with us?

3. Rod Woodson was on NFL Live last night and essentially said that whether a guy gets into camp on time has little to nothing to do with the player's desire to get with the team. Remember two years ago when DRC was asking his agent if it would be all right if he just went up to Flagstaff and watched practices? The agent is not going to let his player report until he gets a market-value contract.

4. If Williams is "slotted" and a holdout continues, I'll be more angry. But I really don't expect there to be much holdouts this season. Maybe (probably?) among the Top 15, but the option bonus issue doesn't exist for the vast majority of draft picks. It's the annual deadline mentality.

Schofield is a fourth round pick.

 

[JC_AZ]

Just to elaborate a little more on those two interviews. Dockett said that they went outside to do about 30 minutes worth of shuttles, sprints and stuff like that. Dockett stated that Watson was sticking with him speed wise the whole time. Talked about how he has changed his body. Also talked about taking Dan Williams under his wing, both in the weight room and the mental aspect. He is telling our Interior OLmen to get their minds right for training camp or else Watson and Williams are going to quote "Beat their asses".

Jurecki stated he thought Watson has so far had the best offseason of any player on the team. I have heard Lott gush about Watson this offseason but this is the first time someone has collaborated that thought from Lott.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SyItpU13Nw

Maybe send this clip to Williams...

 

[kerouac9]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SyItpU13Nw

Maybe send this clip to Williams...

Do we really want Gabe Watson coming out of training camp at 310 lbs?

 

[devilfan02]

Just to elaborate a little more on those two interviews. Dockett said that they went outside to do about 30 minutes worth of shuttles, sprints and stuff like that. Dockett stated that Watson was sticking with him speed wise the whole time. Talked about how he has changed his body. Also talked about taking Dan Williams under his wing, both in the weight room and the mental aspect. He is telling our Interior OLmen to get their minds right for training camp or else Watson and Williams are going to quote "Beat their asses".

Jurecki stated he thought Watson has so far had the best offseason of any player on the team. I have heard Lott gush about Watson this offseason but this is the first time someone has collaborated that thought from Lott.

I work out at Lions Den in Scottsdale 3-4 nights a week and Watson has been in nearly every night I'm there. He's been doing the MMA workouts which are very difficult and up tempo. Not saying he'll be a pro bowler next season but he's definitely been working his ass off. He's in very good shape and looks solid

 

[Buckybird]

Big Gabe's body definately looks differant & you can really tell in his face. I guess Spongebob squareback is no more.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Do we really want Gabe Watson coming out of training camp at 310 lbs?

You don't have to be 330/40/50 to play the nose in a rotation.

Jay Ratliff: 303

 

[Buckybird]

You don't have to be 330/40/50 to play the nose in a rotation.

Jay Ratliff: 303

and he's maybe the best all around in the game, I agree CC

 

[anks106]

and he's maybe the best all around in the game, I agree CC

and his ends are over 310 each, he's the penetrator in that system, not the space eater. It's completely different from what we run.

I say if Watson can keep up his strength and play at 310, sure why not, if he can anchor and increase his conditioning that is a good thing; heck we have had b-rob who is even lighter play a lot of nose for us. Plus, if he comes in at 310 with speed closer to docketts, he could be great for us in passing situations with big Dan handling more obvious rushing situations.

 

[82CardsGrad]

I work out at Lions Den in Scottsdale 3-4 nights a week and Watson has been in nearly every night I'm there. He's been doing the MMA workouts which are very difficult and up tempo. Not saying he'll be a pro bowler next season but he's definitely been working his ass off. He's in very good shape and looks solid

Just read about his MMA training over at Lions Den. Sounds awesome! I personally would LOVE to see Gabe come in at 310-315! He's got incredible athletic skills, and with that added speed??? Oh man.... could be amazing to see!

 

[kerouac9]

You don't have to be 330/40/50 to play the nose in a rotation.

Jay Ratliff: 303

What Anks said, and you've had this discussion before--I think with me.

B-Rob sucked last season, which was the whole reason we brought in Dan Williams. Watson looks like he wants to audition for the swing DT position his boy Branch played at last season, which only continues to hurt our depth.

I think it's fair to say that you don't have to be 370 like Ted Washington to play the nose, but you need that weight to anchor at the point of attack. Arubyo Franklin in San Francisco apparently plays at 317, but he's 6'1". At 6'4", I think you want Watson playing at no less than 320. He's too tall and needs the weight to make up for the lack of leverage that guys like Franklin, Kelly Gregg (6'0"), and Ryan Pickett (6'2") have.

 

[Duckjake]

Let him rape another team, as long as he plays out of his mind his final season with us. Id like to actually get something from our 2nd round pick from 2007.

Branch was playing much better last season and it wasn't a contract year. Branch has done nothing that I've seen to indicate he'll only play hard when a contract is on the line and I've read no reports from any source stating that either. Sounds like something somebody pulled out of thin air based on what was going on two years ago.

Sure you'd like more production from a 2nd round pick but he's sharing a spot with two of our best defensive linemen and looks to be a perfect rotation guy who can fill in capably if CC goes down. It's not really Branch's fault he was better suited to 3-4 DE than NT is it? Credit Whisenhunt and staff for seeing that and making good use of him.

 

[Shane]

Branch was playing much better last season and it wasn't a contract year. Branch has done nothing that I've seen to indicate he'll only play hard when a contract is on the line and I've read no reports from any source stating that either. Sounds like something somebody pulled out of thin air based on what was going on two years ago.

Sure you'd like more production from a 2nd round pick but he's sharing a spot with two of our best defensive linemen and looks to be a perfect rotation guy who can fill in capably if CC goes down. It's not really Branch's fault he was better suited to 3-4 DE than NT is it? Credit Whisenhunt and staff for seeing that and making good use of him.

Nice post!

 

[Mulli]

What Anks said, and you've had this discussion before--I think with me.

B-Rob sucked last season, which was the whole reason we brought in Dan Williams. Watson looks like he wants to audition for the swing DT position his boy Branch played at last season, which only continues to hurt our depth.

I think it's fair to say that you don't have to be 370 like Ted Washington to play the nose, but you need that weight to anchor at the point of attack. Arubyo Franklin in San Francisco apparently plays at 317, but he's 6'1". At 6'4", I think you want Watson playing at no less than 320. He's too tall and needs the weight to make up for the lack of leverage that guys like Franklin, Kelly Gregg (6'0"), and Ryan Pickett (6'2") have.

If gaining 5-7 pounds is all Watson needs, I volunteer to pay for one trip to Pancho's (or the buffet of his choice) so he can add the weight before the weigh in.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

From Sando:

... the Cardinals do not appear close to signing either of their top two draft choices, but there's little reason for alarm. The deals should be relatively straightforward. Somers: "Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves has been traveling and [unavailable] for comment this week, but I'm hearing the Cardinals aren't far along in contract talks with (Dan) Williams or linebacker Daryl (Washington), their second-round pick. That's not unusual, however. Camp is still a week away, and the two deals should not be complicated ones."

 

[mjb21aztd]

Come on Cardinals we need Wasington, and Williams signed before training camp, we will be counting on these guys this season to come out and perform after losing Dansby. Get it done Cards!!!!!

 

[Stout]

From Sando:

... the Cardinals do not appear close to signing either of their top two draft choices, but there's little reason for alarm. The deals should be relatively straightforward. Somers: "Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves has been traveling and [unavailable] for comment this week, but I'm hearing the Cardinals aren't far along in contract talks with (Dan) Williams or linebacker Daryl (Washington), their second-round pick. That's not unusual, however. Camp is still a week away, and the two deals should not be complicated ones."

So, with camp two weeks away, our top 2 picks unsigned, and a situation beyond a crisis at LBer, RG goes on the road for a week and doesn't engage in negotiations? What kind of idiocy is that?

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

When I read that line Stout I was a little taken aback all things considered.

Its funny, Dockett was semi bashing on Rhodes taking a vaca 4 weeks before camp and then to read that about Graves was interesting to say the least.

Graves is certainly entitled to enjoy his personal life, its just the timing seems quite odd...

Dallas now has every pick signed...

 

[Solar7]

I feel like we're a little too tough on NFL executives, as we kind of expect them to operate almost endlessly to make our favorite team work. While I'd sure as hell wish that these players' contracts were done so everything could work seamlessly, I'm sure Graves has a good reason for traveling at this point in the year. Everyone deserves a break, and there's certainly a possibility that this isn't a vacation on his part anyways.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Watson says he wants to be at 315 for camp. Players typically put on weight after camp, and throughout the season anyhow. If he says he wants to be 315 for camp I anticipate him aiming to play at 325/330 this year as opposed to the 350/360 he was at last year.

If you guys are right though and he plans to continue dropping pound then maybe he can get down to the 250-260 range and take care of our huge gap at SILB

 

[Crazy Canuck]

So, with camp two weeks away, our top 2 picks unsigned, and a situation beyond a crisis at LBer, RG goes on the road for a week and doesn't engage in negotiations? What kind of idiocy is that?

Year after year, the same BS every time Graves is away or takes a holiday. I hear things are tough south of the border, but I'm sure the Cards FO still has access to telephone, fax and emails.

http://blog.azcardinals.com/2010/07/23/graves-talks-contracts/

 

[Duckjake]

I feel like we're a little too tough on NFL executives, as we kind of expect them to operate almost endlessly to make our favorite team work. While I'd sure as hell wish that these players' contracts were done so everything could work seamlessly, I'm sure Graves has a good reason for traveling at this point in the year. Everyone deserves a break, and there's certainly a possibility that this isn't a vacation on his part anyways.

Excellent point. It applies to the players as well. Look at the tirade against Latui in another thread and the bashing of Leinart for actually having a life away from football. We do tend to get carried away sometimes.