DJ,
The Cardinals main problems is that they have had A LOT of dead money against the cap, and have given out some big contracts......just big contracts to the wrong people.
Dead Money:
Seattle - $8,475,008
SF - $3,524,120
Arz - $13,107,578
And last year the Cardinals had over $18 million in dead money.
That is why Seattle, and SF seem to be able to offer contracts.
It is also why Keim keeps talking about 2015 when the dead money figure will be down to a more "normal" level. Next season the Cardinals are currently looking at about $3 million in dead money, so they gain $10 million just by managing the cap better.
How do we get in these situations ? Rod Graves puts us in this type of situation. Top Dead Money players for 2014 ?
Levi Brown - $6,514,191
Adam Snyder - $3,000,000
Daryn Colledge - $2,275,000
What is worse ? 2 out of those 3 players were utterly worthless. Adam Snyder was maybe the worse signing that I can remember in a long, long time.
Going back to next year and dead money. As stated above, the Cardinals will have Daryn College's contract still on the books, a little easier to swallow since College actually did something while here. He is going to be about 2.5 million against the cap.
The sore subject that will come up is, what in the blazes do the Cardinals do with DWaste ? I don't know how this will all work out with the legal issues, suspension issues, etc., etc. But based strictly on the numbers it is going to really hurt the Cardinals cap wise to cut Washington before 2016.
If they cut Washington next year, and there is no relief gained by the effects of Washington's suspension and off-field issues, then by cutting Washington his contract would still count 5.5 million against the 2015 cap, and cost 11.5 million in dead money, which if they do a June 1st cut they can divide over two seasons at about 5.75 million each.
Thus if Washington is cut next season, and the numbers stay what they are then the Cardinals will at least have $9 million in dead money next season. Yes, the team gains 4 million just by having less money, but that is 5.5 million that cannot be used, and that is good chunk of money in the NFL, IMHO.
Thus why Washington's situation is so damaging. Hurts on the field, off the field, and against the cap.
It is also the reason why the Cardinals don't have money to pay Karlos Dansby.
So while some select posters bash Steve Keim for not resigning Dansby, it is truly Rod Graves that prevented that from happening.