Mortenson is a Jackass

[CaptTurbo]

Im still wrapping my head around Gabe Watson and his manlove on this board. I have never witnessed him do anything...at all....ever.

 

[TheHopToad]

Also Gruden mentioned that the 9ers have defeated the Cardinals 3 straight gams.

Maybe Gruden was including the next meeting. He's been called a visionary before...

 

[az1965]

If the team wanted Dansby, they would have resigned him already.

They did and apparently gave a very good offer that Dansby rejected by firing his agent. Cards are not be faulted here at all. Dansby has been salivating to taste the uncapped free agency.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

The same Mort who predicted this morning on Mike and Mike that Jacksonville may take Tebow with a mid-first round pick. The reason being that it isn't an early pick where you have to lay out a lot of money.

In other words, they might take a Third Round prospect (at best) in the first round, because they won't have to pay him a lot. How'd the last first round QB-who-wasn't-an-NFL QB turn out for Jacksonville - Matt Jones?

Just listen to that man speak, it sounds something like this: "um, er um er, listen, uh, ah uh, you know, um er um, (insert stupid reaching comment here)"

Here is the irony of your post. Check out this article from March 2005 before the draft. This one is a true gem and everytime I hear Mort talk I think back to this article.

http://proxy.espn.go.com/nfl/draft05/columns/story?columnist=mortensen_chris&id=2025109

My favorite line -

Matt Jones won't be among the top 10 players selected in the April 23-24 draft, but I will venture to say that he'll play in more Pro Bowls than almost any of those guys.

And I will laugh, knowing I told you so.

LMAO

 

[Derm]

ESPN has morphed into the worst soap opera based reporting outlets just above to NBC's Football in America and "ProFootball Talk".

The NFL used to be a sport talked about by sport enthusiasts - it's becoming a circle jerk anchored by "Entertainment Tonight" styled gonzo non-credentialed journalists with specific player / team "man-love" agendas.

 

[PJ1]

Hopefully they will sign him to a Dockett like contract. Not the one he wants, the one he resigned. A bit overpaid for his production at the time, but now it looks like an absolute steal. I feel he will blossom into something special.

I think Watson is getting worse not better. Not sure if his injury did it or not but he was better a couple of years ago.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

ESPN has morphed into the worst soap opera based reporting outlets just above to NBC's Football in America and "ProFootball Talk".

The NFL used to be a sport talked about by sport enthusiasts - it's becoming a circle jerk anchored by "Entertainment Tonight" styled gonzo non-credentialed journalists with specific player / team "man-love" agendas.

i never watch the pre game shows anymore. They're all terrible. Sad thing is i used to plan on watching them.Now i'm usually on the computer until just before kickoff.

 

[joeshmo]

The same Mort who predicted this morning on Mike and Mike that Jacksonville may take Tebow with a mid-first round pick. The reason being that it isn't an early pick where you have to lay out a lot of money.

In other words, they might take a Third Round prospect (at best) in the first round, because they won't have to pay him a lot. How'd the last first round QB-who-wasn't-an-NFL QB turn out for Jacksonville - Matt Jones?

Just listen to that man speak, it sounds something like this: "um, er um er, listen, uh, ah uh, you know, um er um, (insert stupid reaching comment here)"

I dont like Mort that much either but in your example you cant blame Mort for that talk at all. It is legit talk out of the rumor mill talked about by many other people besides just Mort. It was spawned by actual comments from the Jags owner himself, talking about wanting to pick the home town boy to play in his home town stadium. Reportedly to raise their horrible ticket sells. The Jags owner made his comment about a month ago and his been talked about ad nausum since.

 

[joeshmo]

Since we are on the topic of the offseason this seems like a good place to add some Random 2010 Offseason thoughts –

1. Don’t quote me on this but I was thinking of something the other day. There may be a loop hole in keeping Dansby without having to pay the astronomical price that is in the rule of a 3rd year franchise tag player. What if they transition tag him instead, does the 3rd year franchise tag rule still apply. If it doesn’t Dansby would only cost 11.6 mill instead of the 3rd year franchise rule tender of over 15+ mill. Again they may have already closed this loop hole I am just wondering out loud here.
2. I think Cards are fully planning on franchising Rackers in order to hold off on him to concentrate on other issues. At a cost of 2.5 mill it isn’t a very hard thing to do. Especially in an uncapped year where you are allowed to use 1 franchise tag and 1 transition tag.
3. Not worried about Wiz getting an extension even in the slightest. Wiz doesn’t even want to talk about it during the season.
4. I am afraid during the uncapped year the Cards will play cheap, but so will 95% of the rest of the NFL. For one how would it look for teams to spend willy nilly when they are in a labor dispute with players all the while telling them they don’t have any more money to give to the players. Add into the equation the uncertainty for 2011 and it being a lockout, a lot of teams don’t want to spend money (guaranteed money) for a product that may not be on the field. Also lets say there is a new deal by 2011, no one knows what the rules will be, therefore most teams will be conservative with the 2010 contracts so they don’t get into to much trouble in 2011 when the cap starts again.
5. Just a few months ago I thought there would be no deal by 2010. I may be starting to change that stance for a few reasons. First, they are having a lot of meetings early in the process, that’s a good sign. Second, both sides have issued a media black out on negotiations, that to is a good sign. Three, players and agents wont say it but they are scared to death of the 2010 uncapped rules, for one see item #4 add in the stifling rules and the ability for teams to spend way below the normal limit and secretly they are scared.
6. Rolle being extended very well may be decided over the next two months. Just like the cards drafted Levi to replace Ross after one year, just like Cards drafted DRC to replace Hood/Green after on year, just like Cards drafted Campbell to replace Smith after one year, I think they drafted Rashad Johnson to replace Rolle after one year. Johnson has not seen the field and isn’t developing as fast as I think the coaches planned. So if Johnson doesn’t show something over the next 3 games and the playoffs, it may force their hands to extend Rolle. But and this is a big If at this point in time, if Johnson shows the ability to start next year, Rolle is trade bait IMO.
7. I am most curious to see what the Cards do on the OL. We will know very fast if the coaches talk about Herman and Keith was just talk or if it was for real, with not only our starting LT being a free agent, but our backup LT as well.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

They did and apparently gave a very good offer that Dansby rejected by firing his agent. Cards are not be faulted here at all. Dansby has been salivating to taste the uncapped free agency.

This year, maybe more Dansby than the Cards at fault. But this is at least year 3 of this fiasco.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I think Watson is getting worse not better. Not sure if his injury did it or not but he was better a couple of years ago.

It is hard to find players that size and that potential. He was playing at an allstar level before his injuries started.

 

[MadCardDisease]

I think they drafted Rashad Johnson to replace Rolle after one year. Johnson has not seen the field and isn’t developing as fast as I think the coaches planned. So if Johnson doesn’t show something over the next 3 games and the playoffs, it may force their hands to extend Rolle. But and this is a big If at this point in time, if Johnson shows the ability to start next year, Rolle is trade bait IMO.

Didn't Johnson whiff on Crabtree last Monday? The play where Crabtree fell after catching the ball then got back up and ran for the 1st down. Wasn't that Johnson in coverage or was that someone else?

 

[ajcardfan]

I dont like Mort that much either but in your example you cant blame Mort for that talk at all. It is legit talk out of the rumor mill talked about by many other people besides just Mort. It was spawned by actual comments from the Jags owner himself, talking about wanting to pick the home town boy to play in his home town stadium. Reportedly to raise their horrible ticket sells. The Jags owner made his comment about a month ago and his been talked about ad nausum since.

I had more of a problem with him blowing basic facts. Like, saying Dockett is being forced to play out his "bad, 6 year rookie contract". And, the Cards had just extended the assistants a few days before hand which obviously means the Cards have every intent of extending Whis soon. Personally, I'm 99% sure Mortensen wasn't even aware of those deals.

 

[ajcardfan]

I also would hope the Bidwill Jr.-Graves-Whisenhunt Cardinals wouldn't do with Rolle what the franchise used to do with a lot of players. That is, develop them, and watch them leave when they get good. I don't see getting diddly squat for Rolle in trade. Free safties just aren't that high of a value.

 

[lauraw]

PAULW, what is the address you sent the letters to at ESPN? I'd also like to send them a letter or two? thank you in advance!!

 

[nooch]

Since we are on the topic of the offseason this seems like a good place to add some Random 2010 Offseason thoughts –

1. Don’t quote me on this but I was thinking of something the other day. There may be a loop hole in keeping Dansby without having to pay the astronomical price that is in the rule of a 3rd year franchise tag player. What if they transition tag him instead, does the 3rd year franchise tag rule still apply. If it doesn’t Dansby would only cost 11.6 mill instead of the 3rd year franchise rule tender of over 15+ mill. Again they may have already closed this loop hole I am just wondering out loud here.
2. I think Cards are fully planning on franchising Rackers in order to hold off on him to concentrate on other issues. At a cost of 2.5 mill it isn’t a very hard thing to do. Especially in an uncapped year where you are allowed to use 1 franchise tag and 1 transition tag.
3. Not worried about Wiz getting an extension even in the slightest. Wiz doesn’t even want to talk about it during the season.
4. I am afraid during the uncapped year the Cards will play cheap, but so will 95% of the rest of the NFL. For one how would it look for teams to spend willy nilly when they are in a labor dispute with players all the while telling them they don’t have any more money to give to the players. Add into the equation the uncertainty for 2011 and it being a lockout, a lot of teams don’t want to spend money (guaranteed money) for a product that may not be on the field. Also lets say there is a new deal by 2011, no one knows what the rules will be, therefore most teams will be conservative with the 2010 contracts so they don’t get into to much trouble in 2011 when the cap starts again.
5. Just a few months ago I thought there would be no deal by 2010. I may be starting to change that stance for a few reasons. First, they are having a lot of meetings early in the process, that’s a good sign. Second, both sides have issued a media black out on negotiations, that to is a good sign. Three, players and agents wont say it but they are scared to death of the 2010 uncapped rules, for one see item #4 add in the stifling rules and the ability for teams to spend way below the normal limit and secretly they are scared.
6. Rolle being extended very well may be decided over the next two months. Just like the cards drafted Levi to replace Ross after one year, just like Cards drafted DRC to replace Hood/Green after on year, just like Cards drafted Campbell to replace Smith after one year, I think they drafted Rashad Johnson to replace Rolle after one year. Johnson has not seen the field and isn’t developing as fast as I think the coaches planned. So if Johnson doesn’t show something over the next 3 games and the playoffs, it may force their hands to extend Rolle. But and this is a big If at this point in time, if Johnson shows the ability to start next year, Rolle is trade bait IMO.
7. I am most curious to see what the Cards do on the OL. We will know very fast if the coaches talk about Herman and Keith was just talk or if it was for real, with not only our starting LT being a free agent, but our backup LT as well.

Great write up. I think your spot on with them grooming Johnson to take over for Rolle. I think though you find a way to keep a player like Rolle on your team.