It's Saturday. The Suns don't play until Monday and the D'Baks play in three hours. A few things have been deserving mention and now I have the time.
1. Rodd Newhouse's firing. Rodd was a friend and a nice man but Oliver Ross, Orlando Huff and our failed FA kick returners got him fired, methinks. Rodd's job was to scout the other NFL teams for talent and tendencies. We have not chosen free agents very well since we stole Bert Berry so I'm not surprised Rodd was fired. I wish him well.
2. Rod Graves. Another friend and as fine a person as I've ever known. His contract expires in 11 days and I'm wondering if he'll be back. Rod was hired by Bill Bidwill years ago as his personal assistant and worked his way up to VP of Football or whatever term they are using these days. He spent over 20 years in scouting, starting with the Philly USFL team and then working for various NFL franchises, including KC and Chicago.
Rod is a consensus builder, a good organizer, and had Bill's trust enough to talk the old man into start giving bells and whistles in contracts and into changing the Cards antiquated rookie insurance policy.
As Michael Bidwill has assumed most of the power within the organization, he used Rod Graves as his de facto GM but remember that Graves wasn't Michael's hire. Graves may be too smooth and measured for Michael.
Michael's reputation is not only that he's hands-on, but that he tends to interfere or micromanage many things. If Mike wants to assume a Jerry Jones role, he may not need Rod Graves, especially if super-scout Steve Kiem is ready to become head of player personnel.
Newhouse's failure reflects badly on Graves but the last few drafts reflect well, because Graves revamped the whole scouting department and built the boards that Denny Green has mined so well.
If I had to guess, I'd say Graves will get kicked all the way up to GM where he can smooth Mike's rough edges, or he'll be let go. Michael ruffles many feathers, if what I hear is true.
3. I think the Cards made a mistake allowing current season ticket holders to buy extra tickets. That shut out a lot of new fans and many of those tickets will end up in the enemies' hands.
4. Most of the improvement in our offensive line will come from guys who have already been here, not from the rookies. Pittsburgh regularly drafts olinemen, lets them learn for two or three years, then moves them up when they are ready. We haven't had that luxury but may have it now.
5. The trees planted around the grassy area of the Cards parking are very small and won't throw much shade for years to come.
6. I'm a little worried about the lack of a successful tray move into the stadium yet. And the freeway overpass has been built but the access ramps are many moons from being completed. We may have severe traffic problems this first season.
7. I banned nazaquad because he was a troll. Trolls will always be banned. We have a smack board and trolls can go there. That rule will never change.
8. Leinart may be a holdout because he'll want a QB premium and his agent is Tom Condon, if I'm not mistaken. It matters not. I'd rather he not play at all this year.
9. The off-seaon doldrums start now and will be worse than ever because there isn't even the usual Cards worry about signing draft picks.
10. As we begin our fith ASFN year, a special thanks to Mike Olbinski and Bob (jw7) for holding things together in 2004. A further thanks to all the moderators, past and future.
11. The posters make this site. The knowledge, humor, and shared misery have brightened many of my days. If you still lurk, don't be shy. Join us.
12. 10-6 and a wild card spot in 06.
1. Rodd Newhouse's firing. Rodd was a friend and a nice man but Oliver Ross, Orlando Huff and our failed FA kick returners got him fired, methinks. Rodd's job was to scout the other NFL teams for talent and tendencies. We have not chosen free agents very well since we stole Bert Berry so I'm not surprised Rodd was fired. I wish him well.
2. Rod Graves. Another friend and as fine a person as I've ever known. His contract expires in 11 days and I'm wondering if he'll be back. Rod was hired by Bill Bidwill years ago as his personal assistant and worked his way up to VP of Football or whatever term they are using these days. He spent over 20 years in scouting, starting with the Philly USFL team and then working for various NFL franchises, including KC and Chicago.
Rod is a consensus builder, a good organizer, and had Bill's trust enough to talk the old man into start giving bells and whistles in contracts and into changing the Cards antiquated rookie insurance policy.
As Michael Bidwill has assumed most of the power within the organization, he used Rod Graves as his de facto GM but remember that Graves wasn't Michael's hire. Graves may be too smooth and measured for Michael.
Michael's reputation is not only that he's hands-on, but that he tends to interfere or micromanage many things. If Mike wants to assume a Jerry Jones role, he may not need Rod Graves, especially if super-scout Steve Kiem is ready to become head of player personnel.
Newhouse's failure reflects badly on Graves but the last few drafts reflect well, because Graves revamped the whole scouting department and built the boards that Denny Green has mined so well.
If I had to guess, I'd say Graves will get kicked all the way up to GM where he can smooth Mike's rough edges, or he'll be let go. Michael ruffles many feathers, if what I hear is true.
3. I think the Cards made a mistake allowing current season ticket holders to buy extra tickets. That shut out a lot of new fans and many of those tickets will end up in the enemies' hands.
4. Most of the improvement in our offensive line will come from guys who have already been here, not from the rookies. Pittsburgh regularly drafts olinemen, lets them learn for two or three years, then moves them up when they are ready. We haven't had that luxury but may have it now.
5. The trees planted around the grassy area of the Cards parking are very small and won't throw much shade for years to come.
6. I'm a little worried about the lack of a successful tray move into the stadium yet. And the freeway overpass has been built but the access ramps are many moons from being completed. We may have severe traffic problems this first season.
7. I banned nazaquad because he was a troll. Trolls will always be banned. We have a smack board and trolls can go there. That rule will never change.
8. Leinart may be a holdout because he'll want a QB premium and his agent is Tom Condon, if I'm not mistaken. It matters not. I'd rather he not play at all this year.
9. The off-seaon doldrums start now and will be worse than ever because there isn't even the usual Cards worry about signing draft picks.
10. As we begin our fith ASFN year, a special thanks to Mike Olbinski and Bob (jw7) for holding things together in 2004. A further thanks to all the moderators, past and future.
11. The posters make this site. The knowledge, humor, and shared misery have brightened many of my days. If you still lurk, don't be shy. Join us.
12. 10-6 and a wild card spot in 06.
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