Arizona
Overview: An ugly eight-game losing streak following a season-opening victory over the Niners proved to be the last straw for Dennis Green, whose disappointing 16-32 record in three seasons as the Cardinals’ head coach led to his dismissal the day after the regular season ended. With the league’s top-ranked passing offense entering the season, a coveted free-agent addition in RB Edgerrin James and a brand-new, state-of-the-art stadium, the team fell far short of expectations in 2006.
Turning point: For all intents and purposes, the Cardinals' 22-9 road loss to the lowly Raiders in Week Seven sealed the fate of Green, who had a classic postgame meltdown the previous week after the team blew a 20-point second-half lead to the Bears in a Monday-night home game. The embarrassing loss to a previously winless Oakland team — the Raiders won despite five turnovers — was Arizona's sixth straight, and the prevailing feeling after that game was that, even if the Cardinals were to stage a turnaround down the stretch, it was only a matter of time before the Bidwill family would bid Green adieu.
Rookie/free-agent recap: Ex-Colts RB Edgerrin James, widely considered the top free agent available last offseason, was a major disappointment until settling into a much-improved groove the final seven games behind an offensive line that finally managed to develop some cohesiveness. As for other free-agent additions, OG Milford Brown was serviceable, while DT Kendrick Clancy was a decent run defender when healthy. The future looks bright for first-round QB Matt Leinart, who has quickly become the face of the franchise. Fellow Trojan OG Deuce Lutui, drafted one round behind Leinart, also looks like a long-term keeper.
Offseason outlook: The Cardinals are hoping 44-year-old Ken Whisenhunt, the former Steelers offensive coordinator who has been hired as the seventh full-time head coach since the team’s move to Arizona in 1988, can trigger the jump into playoff contention in 2007 that the team had hoped for this season with the same quality core (Leinart, Wilson, James and WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald) intact. Deciding on whether or not to retain free-agent OLT Leonard Davis and improving the team’s situation at cornerback are Whi­senhunt’s top player-personnel priorities.
Recap of free-agent moves
UFAs — C Bill Conaty, OT Adam Haayer, RB James Jackson, FB Harold Morrow, RB J.R. Redmond, WR-KR Reggie Swinton, DE R-Kal Truluck, CB Raymond Walls.
RFAs — None unsigned.
Re-signings — RFA LB Gerald Hayes, April 19; RFA DT Kenny King, April 4; RFA OG Reggie Wells, March 21 (five years, $17.6 million, $3 million SB, $2 million guaranteed roster bonus; Cardinals matched Bills' March 17 offer sheet); potential UFAs RB Damien Anderson, FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo and DE Anton Palepoi, March 6 (one year each); potential UFA QB Kurt Warner, Feb. 15 (three years, $15 million); potential UFA CB Robert Tate, Feb. 14 (one year, $670,000).
Key arrivals — UFA WR-RS Troy Walters/ex-Colt, April 28; UFA S Jack Brewer/ex-Eagle, April 28; UFA RB Edgerrin James/ex-Colt, March 12 (four years, $30 million, $11.5 million in first-year bonuses); UFA DT Kendrick Clancy/ex-Giant, March 11 (four years, $8.1 million, $2 million SB); UFA OG Milford Brown/ex-Texan, March 11 (four years, $12 million).
Key departures — UFA DT Ross Kolodziej, June 8 (to Vikings); UFA OL Ian Allen, May 10 (to Chiefs); UFA DT Russell Davis, March 24 (to Seahawks); UFA QB Josh McCown, March 16 (to Lions); UFA S Quentin Harris, March 13 (to Giants).
Overview: An ugly eight-game losing streak following a season-opening victory over the Niners proved to be the last straw for Dennis Green, whose disappointing 16-32 record in three seasons as the Cardinals’ head coach led to his dismissal the day after the regular season ended. With the league’s top-ranked passing offense entering the season, a coveted free-agent addition in RB Edgerrin James and a brand-new, state-of-the-art stadium, the team fell far short of expectations in 2006.
Turning point: For all intents and purposes, the Cardinals' 22-9 road loss to the lowly Raiders in Week Seven sealed the fate of Green, who had a classic postgame meltdown the previous week after the team blew a 20-point second-half lead to the Bears in a Monday-night home game. The embarrassing loss to a previously winless Oakland team — the Raiders won despite five turnovers — was Arizona's sixth straight, and the prevailing feeling after that game was that, even if the Cardinals were to stage a turnaround down the stretch, it was only a matter of time before the Bidwill family would bid Green adieu.
Rookie/free-agent recap: Ex-Colts RB Edgerrin James, widely considered the top free agent available last offseason, was a major disappointment until settling into a much-improved groove the final seven games behind an offensive line that finally managed to develop some cohesiveness. As for other free-agent additions, OG Milford Brown was serviceable, while DT Kendrick Clancy was a decent run defender when healthy. The future looks bright for first-round QB Matt Leinart, who has quickly become the face of the franchise. Fellow Trojan OG Deuce Lutui, drafted one round behind Leinart, also looks like a long-term keeper.
Offseason outlook: The Cardinals are hoping 44-year-old Ken Whisenhunt, the former Steelers offensive coordinator who has been hired as the seventh full-time head coach since the team’s move to Arizona in 1988, can trigger the jump into playoff contention in 2007 that the team had hoped for this season with the same quality core (Leinart, Wilson, James and WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald) intact. Deciding on whether or not to retain free-agent OLT Leonard Davis and improving the team’s situation at cornerback are Whi­senhunt’s top player-personnel priorities.
Recap of free-agent moves
UFAs — C Bill Conaty, OT Adam Haayer, RB James Jackson, FB Harold Morrow, RB J.R. Redmond, WR-KR Reggie Swinton, DE R-Kal Truluck, CB Raymond Walls.
RFAs — None unsigned.
Re-signings — RFA LB Gerald Hayes, April 19; RFA DT Kenny King, April 4; RFA OG Reggie Wells, March 21 (five years, $17.6 million, $3 million SB, $2 million guaranteed roster bonus; Cardinals matched Bills' March 17 offer sheet); potential UFAs RB Damien Anderson, FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo and DE Anton Palepoi, March 6 (one year each); potential UFA QB Kurt Warner, Feb. 15 (three years, $15 million); potential UFA CB Robert Tate, Feb. 14 (one year, $670,000).
Key arrivals — UFA WR-RS Troy Walters/ex-Colt, April 28; UFA S Jack Brewer/ex-Eagle, April 28; UFA RB Edgerrin James/ex-Colt, March 12 (four years, $30 million, $11.5 million in first-year bonuses); UFA DT Kendrick Clancy/ex-Giant, March 11 (four years, $8.1 million, $2 million SB); UFA OG Milford Brown/ex-Texan, March 11 (four years, $12 million).
Key departures — UFA DT Ross Kolodziej, June 8 (to Vikings); UFA OL Ian Allen, May 10 (to Chiefs); UFA DT Russell Davis, March 24 (to Seahawks); UFA QB Josh McCown, March 16 (to Lions); UFA S Quentin Harris, March 13 (to Giants).
