Rod Graves Apr 3 Interview on KDUS

[JeffGollin]

Here's the BRS recap of today's Graves interview:
Thurs. Apr. 3 - Graves Updates Fans on KDUS

There was no news of note revealed by Rod Graves during his weekly appearance on KDUS.

What activities will move to the forefront between now and the Draft?
- Cards are still poised to take advantage of free agent opportunities, but emphasis is beginning to zero in on the Draft. Rod expects FA activities, therefore, to tail off somewhat til after the draft.

Status of Vonnie Holliday?
- We're very much "in it." He's been on the horn to Holliday's agent (Levy) today. Holliday is still exploring the KC option. They've promised to talk to the Cards prior to any final decision.

Status of Frankie Sanders?
- He recently met with Mac, Sully, Rod and others. Everyone expressed to Frank the desire to have him back. Rod says he "feels good" about Frank re-signing with the Cardinals. He's waiting to hear back from Frank's agent Eugene Parker.

Draft Activities?
- The scouts are all in town and will remain here til the Draft. The Cardinal brass is putting in 10 - 12 hour (translation: 16 - 18] days evaluating positions and players in conjunction with the criteria of character, medical status and on the field talent.

Cardinal Draft Board?
- Rod agreed that there probably will be more trade activity by various teams this year (including us). And yes, we could trade down if none of the guys we like at #6 are still there. But how far we trade down depends on where the drop-off from top line players to the next echelon of talent takes place. He says this could occur somewhere around the #10 - #12 hole. I depends on our needs compared to where we might be willing to make sacrifices. But it isn't definite we'll trade down. We may get what we want at #6.

The draft is particularly deep at DT, O-Line and WR and not so hot at LB.

Jurecki's take after the interview was that (1) if Suggs isn't available at #6, the Cards will try to trade down - but no longer than the #12 - #15 hole and (2) the Cards would very much like to have the Holliday and Sanders situations resolved (preferably positively) by Draft Day to simplify decision-making during the Draft.

 

[40yearfan]

Thanks Jeff. I didn't get to hear the interview today. With the synopsis you've provide, I get the whole gist of the interview however.<p>Did you ever consider being a sports reporter? You're better than 90% of our current crop.

 

[Tangodnzr]

I agree, great job Jeff, and thank you very much!

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by JeffGollin
Draft Activities?
- The scouts are all in town and will remain here til the Draft. The Cardinal brass is putting in 10 - 12 hour (translation: 16 - 18] days evaluating positions and players in conjunction with the criteria of character, medical status and on the field talent.

Does this mean we're not sending anyone to Leftwich's workout next week?

 

[JeffGollin]

Does this mean we're not sending anyone to Leftwich's workout next week?
Great question. Too bad there's no way to pose this as a follow up to Graves' answers.

Logical answer - If we're interested in Leftwich, we'll send somebody. If we're not, everyone stays in the Valley.

We should station somebody at Sky Harbor. If we see no Cardinal staffer passing through, we'll know whether or not the team is serious about Leftwich.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Good job - Thanks Jeff!

 

[Lomax to Green 84]

Jeff,

Good post. I mention in another post that the Cards have a history of being rather "stealthy" when it comes to draft stuff. In 1996 they didn't even speak to Simeon Rice before the draft, yet Vince Tobin who was a good friend of then Illinois head coach Lou Tepper had spent a great deal of time behind the scenes talking to Tepper about Rice. In 1999 the Cards sent very very representatives to Edgerrin James workout, but were spotted in early April snooping around the campus trying to find out stuff about James and coming to find out later that he would have been the guy if he would have fallen to #8.