Rod Graves

[Totally_Red]

I know it's very easy to blame Rod Graves for the DRC situation, but in this particular case, it may be beyond his control. See this brief note on Kent Somers' blog...

The pace has slowed, Graves told Dan Bickley and Mike Jurecki, because DRC's agent, Eugene Parker, has been traveling. Parker has four first-round picks, so his time has been divided among those players, Graves said.
Parker has represented numerous Cardinals first-round picks over the years (Simeon Rice, Andre Wadsworth, Larry Fitzgerald). One Cardinal GM told me that Parker works with his own, private deadline in mind. That's the point in which he becomes serious about negotiations.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers

 

[English on tour]

I know it's very easy to blame Rod Graves for the DRC situation, but in this particular case, it may be beyond his control. See this brief note on Kent Somers' blog...

The pace has slowed, Graves told Dan Bickley and Mike Jurecki, because DRC's agent, Eugene Parker, has been traveling. Parker has four first-round picks, so his time has been divided among those players, Graves said.
Parker has represented numerous Cardinals first-round picks over the years (Simeon Rice, Andre Wadsworth, Larry Fitzgerald). One Cardinal GM told me that Parker works with his own, private deadline in mind. That's the point in which he becomes serious about negotiations.
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers

sounds a like prick to me

who else do this agent have who is unsigned - ie what is he doing that is more important?

 

[cardsfanmd]

I know it's very easy to blame Rod Graves for the DRC situation, but in this particular case, it may be beyond his control. See this brief note on Kent Somers' blog...

The pace has slowed, Graves told Dan Bickley and Mike Jurecki, because DRC's agent, Eugene Parker, has been traveling. Parker has four first-round picks, so his time has been divided among those players, Graves said.
Parker has represented numerous Cardinals first-round picks over the years (Simeon Rice, Andre Wadsworth, Larry Fitzgerald). One Cardinal GM told me that Parker works with his own, private deadline in mind. That's the point in which he becomes serious about negotiations.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers

Ever heard the story about the boy who cried wolf?

 

[joeshmo]

Do you think that Wendell Bryant level of play was a direct result of missing most of training camp or do you think that he was a bum prior to camp and just held out so he could get enough for early retirement?

Bryant was a bum who looked only as far as his first pay day. Then he smartly invested it and checked out, never having to work again a day in his life. He was a investment major in college and knew exactly what he was doing.

As for DRC, I think him missing camp will hurt him more then most other rookies. DRC comes from a small school playing against small competition. No questioning his athletic ability but there are huge questions about his technique and toughness, he needs to be in camp as much as possible for that. He needs to be with Lott as much as possible to gain the weight they asked him to gain in a smart way(while not losing speed and agility), and I think Green stinks and DRC needs to be the starter from day one if we hope to have improved secondary play this year..

 

[cgolden]

As for DRC, I think him missing camp will hurt him more then most other rookies. DRC comes from a small school playing against small competition. No questioning his athletic ability but there are huge questions about his technique and toughness, he needs to be in camp as much as possible for that. He needs to be with Lott as much as possible to gain the weight they asked him to gain in a smart way(while not losing speed and agility), and I think Green stinks and DRC needs to be the starter from day one if we hope to have improved secondary play this year..

That's pretty much what I was trying to initially point out but this is obviously worded much better.

 

[black]

The Cards have a certain person looming in the background now, if I were Graves the least thing I would do is be a bit more vocal. When Rod talks, it's so obvious. Well you know.

I just want to win.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

This is the type of crap that makes reading Cardinals forums a painful experience.

The two sides can't get together for a couple days because of travel schedules. There is no noted problems on either side, and negotiations have seemed amicable up till this point. We have every other player under contract and set to show up on time..

Yet we still need to bash Rod Graves.

Un-****ing-real. Seriously, you haters are just too much.

lol. those travel schedules must really be something for them not to have significant details of the contract (per joeschmoe's post above) ironed out since . . . april.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

And what you are failing to do is remember that it takes two to tango.

I guess though this is all RG's fault though. I have to agree though with you though in saying he is incompetent. Mostly because to disagree gets one pissed on.

that's true, but when you see a couples that can't dance year after year after year and only one partner remains the same throughout all those tangos . . . well . . . i think you get the picture . . . he must keep getting lousy partners.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Bryant was a bum who looked only as far as his first pay day. Then he smartly invested it and checked out, never having to work again a day in his life. He was a investment major in college and knew exactly what he was doing.

As for DRC, I think him missing camp will hurt him more then most other rookies. DRC comes from a small school playing against small competition. No questioning his athletic ability but there are huge questions about his technique and toughness, he needs to be in camp as much as possible for that. He needs to be with Lott as much as possible to gain the weight they asked him to gain in a smart way(while not losing speed and agility), and I think Green stinks and DRC needs to be the starter from day one if we hope to have improved secondary play this year..

i agree with this entire post other than the "green stinks" comment. is he a legit starter . . . mmm . . . no, but i think he's a legit third corner/part-time starter. but what concerns me most is that DRC, unlike most rookies, needs MORE training camp due to his hailing from smalltime competition. he needs the time to make an impact this season. no matter how small.

 

[Russ Smith]

I know it's very easy to blame Rod Graves for the DRC situation, but in this particular case, it may be beyond his control. See this brief note on Kent Somers' blog...

The pace has slowed, Graves told Dan Bickley and Mike Jurecki, because DRC's agent, Eugene Parker, has been traveling. Parker has four first-round picks, so his time has been divided among those players, Graves said.
Parker has represented numerous Cardinals first-round picks over the years (Simeon Rice, Andre Wadsworth, Larry Fitzgerald). One Cardinal GM told me that Parker works with his own, private deadline in mind. That's the point in which he becomes serious about negotiations.

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/KentSomers

correct me if I'm wrong but all of those former Parker clients were late to camp too.

So we have had plenty of experience with parker.

 

[earthsci]

correct me if I'm wrong but all of those former Parker clients were late to camp too.

Going out on a limb there Russ?

"...all of those former <fill in the blank> clients were late to camp too."

 

[Totally_Red]

Ever heard the story about the boy who cried wolf?

If none of Parker's other first-rounders are signed yet either, I'm not pointing the finger at Rod Graves for this year.

 

[AZCB34]

As for DRC, I think him missing camp will hurt him more then most other rookies. DRC comes from a small school playing against small competition. No questioning his athletic ability but there are huge questions about his technique and toughness, he needs to be in camp as much as possible for that. He needs to be with Lott as much as possible to gain the weight they asked him to gain in a smart way(while not losing speed and agility), and I think Green stinks and DRC needs to be the starter from day one if we hope to have improved secondary play this year..

This post should be stickied about DRC. It is why a holdout will effect him more than alot of other guys and it is the main reason I hated the pick when made.

Graves needs to figure this out and get the kids every rep he can and get a deal done...even if that means...gasp...travelling to where Parker is instead of the other way around.

 

[joeshmo]

If none of Parker's other first-rounders are signed yet either, I'm not pointing the finger at Rod Graves for this year.

Well then you can not blame the Cards in any year. Agent doesnt have any other 1st rounders signed yet. Agent doesnt work well with the Cards. Agents hates the Cards. Agent is Drew. Agents demands are to high. Agent knows they are the lowly Cards and keeping them hostage. So on and so on. They are all just excuse.

 

[joeshmo]

Graves needs to figure this out and get the kids every rep he can and get a deal done...even if that means...gasp...travelling to where Parker is instead of the other way around.

Or phone call during his flight to where ever else he is going next. Video confrence while Parker is at his hotel for the night. Fax, email, the list goes on. There is no reason what so ever you need to meet face to face in this day and age. Not sure why it is a crutch in this case or in todays technology.

 

[RonF]

According to ESPN from year 2000 to 2007, overall, 169 of the 254 first-round selections (66.5 percent) have met or exceeded expectations. Twenty-four percent exceeded expectations. One-third failed to measure up.

IMO, It's going to be tough for DRC to become a starter this year whether he is in camp early or not. If he has the tools and instinct for where the ball is we have a winner whether he is in camp early or not. Let's focus on those who have a contract and show up, the rest will take care of itself.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/columns/story?columnist=sando_mike&id=3356729

 

[Russ Smith]

Going out on a limb there Russ?

"...all of those former <fill in the blank> clients were late to camp too."

Yep I was just pointing out that while Parker may have a history with taking his time, every first round pick we've ever had that he represented came in late so you would hope we'd have learned something by now and tried a different approach to get them in on time.

For example my girlfriends brother is constantly late, tell him to be there at 5 he'll call at 6 and say he's almost there, when he hasn't even left home. Her family knows this so they constantly lie to him about when things start, starts at 6 you tell him 4:30 hoping he'll be there by 6.

If you know Parker is always down to the wire, make a point to start negotiations early.

 

[mjb21aztd]

Rats i've been hoping for a Cards sign DRC thread every time I wake up in the morning... Well hopefully we have him in for our first preseason game if he misses a few days of camp so be it just get him signed before preseason hits.

 

[NMCard]

Someone make a vbookie bet on when DRC gets signed.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Graves will never get our 1st round pick in camp on time; he is a procrastonator.

 

[Darth Llama]

Apparently, I created quite a reaction with my post.

Black, if I misjudged you as a "hater," then I apologize. I don't really know you, but it appears I was wrong about you.

The problem is, there are so many posts that are just hatred toward Graves and Bidwill that everytime I see one, it initiates a type of "knee jerk" reaction. I realize I won't win any argument about Graves not being an idiot, so I won't bother. I don't think he's the best GM in the history of the NFL, but I think he does a much better job then people give him credit for. I have every confidence that DRC will be in camp in a reasonable amount of time. The Cardinals are not the only team that still has picks left to sign.

Again, I won't go there with the Graves debate, I'll never win that argument against hundreds of people that think he's doing a bad job. I respect the opposing view point and realize I'm in the minority, I'll accept that. I stick by my opinion in Graves but I shouldn't have replied that way to Black, hopefully there are no hard feelings. I have no problem with Black, none at all.. never have.

 

[black]

Apparently, I created quite a reaction with my post.

Black, if I misjudged you as a "hater," then I apologize. I don't really know you, but it appears I was wrong about you.

The problem is, there are so many posts that are just hatred toward Graves and Bidwill that everytime I see one, it initiates a type of "knee jerk" reaction. I realize I won't win any argument about Graves not being an idiot, so I won't bother. I don't think he's the best GM in the history of the NFL, but I think he does a much better job then people give him credit for. I have every confidence that DRC will be in camp in a reasonable amount of time. The Cardinals are not the only team that still has picks left to sign.

Again, I won't go there with the Graves debate, I'll never win that argument against hundreds of people that think he's doing a bad job. I respect the opposing view point and realize I'm in the minority, I'll accept that. I stick by my opinion in Graves but I shouldn't have replied that way to Black, hopefully there are no hard feelings. I have no problem with Black, none at all.. never have.

You're ok. no hard feelings here cardinal friend. We are on this message board for the same reason, peace.

 

[Darth Llama]

You're ok. no hard feelings here cardinal friend. We are on this message board for the same reason, peace.

Thanks dude, I appreciate it.

 

[sundevil04]

Rod Graves proves AGAIN he is the worst GM in the NFL

Well camp officially starts today and surprise surprise our 1st round pick isnt inked....who'da guessed it??? When was the last time we had our 1st rounder in camp on day1...? What HAS Rod done for this club...???? We have the worst GM in football, what did this guy do to get this job?????

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

i was not going to respond because,just like Xmas,Easter,and Thanksgiving, a Cards 1st round holdout comes every year. But, the lame agent traveling excuse is so stupid,that @^%$#@@$* it. Do the Cards have e-mail. Does Graves have a blackberry? THere may be 2 hours, when in the air, that Graves can't be in contact with Parker. You don't have to be face to face to negotiate.This isn't the 70's. It's like with Dansby's agent. It seemed like Graves wouldn't/couldn't talk to him unless it was in Alabama at the Senior Bowl or when they we're both in Atlanta. Graves,himself, said he doesn't expect a tough negotiation. Well that leads me to one of two conclusions.Either, he he's in for a big surprise because he thinks that Parker is going to accept the Cards initla offer or ,if it isn't going to be tough, why not start about 3 weeks ago and be done with it for camp. The Cards FO always talks about players showing the commitment to winning. When is the FO going to show that same commitment,do their job, and get people signed on time to put the best product on the field. You can go back to free agency this year. Graves dragging his feet with Fitz cost the Cards a legitimate shot at Faneca. That would've improved the team. DRC in on time could only help the team.