Rod Graves

[Cbus cardsfan]

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?????

he applied for it . You can always tell the value of a guy by the other teams interest in him. Hell, Graves didn't have a contact for about a year and still no other team approached him. I still say one of gravest days for the Cards was about 5-6 years ago when Atlanta showed a glimmer of interest in RG but didn't hire him. Now , he's not going anywhere. You can't blame him either because only in Cardinal land do you get PROMOTED for incompetency.

 

[PDXChris]

What about the 24 or so other GM's that failed to sign their #1 picks? Many of them reported to camp this morning.

1. Jake Long OT Miami Signed
2. Chris Long DE St. Louis Signed
3. Matt Ryan QB Atlanta Signed
4. Darren McFadden RB Oakland Signed
5. Glenn Dorsey DT Kansas City Unsigned
6. Vernon Gholston DE N.Y. Jets Unsigned
7. Sedrick Ellis DT New Orleans Unsigned
8. Derrick Harvey DE Jacksonville Unsigned
9. Keith Rivers LB Cincinnati Unsigned
10. Jerod Mayo LB New England Unsigned
11. Leodis McKelvin CB Buffalo Unsigned
12. Ryan Clady OT Denver Unsigned
13. Jonathan Stewart RB Carolina Unsigned
14. Chris Williams OT Chicago Unsigned
15. Branden Albert OG Kansas City Unsigned
16. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Arizona Unsigned
17. Gosder Cherilus OT Detroit Unsigned
18. Joe Flacco QB Baltimore Signed
19. Jeff Otah OT Carolina Unsigned
20. Aqib Talib CB Tampa Bay Unsigned
21. Sam Baker OT Atlanta Unsigned
22. Felix Jones RB Dallas Unsigned
23. Rashard Mendenhall RB Pittsburgh Unsigned
24. Chris Johnson RB Tennessee Unsigned
25. Mike Jenkins CB Dallas Unsigned
26. Duane Brown OT Houston Unsigned
27. Antoine Cason CB San Diego Unsigned
28. Lawrence Jackson DE Seattle Unsigned
29. Kentwan Balmer DE San Francisco Unsigned
30. Dustin Keller TE N.Y. Jets Signed
31. Kenny Phillips FS N.Y. Giants Signed

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Jeez, There is going to be one of these every day until the kid gets to camp.

Oh well, at least we are sticking to standard procedures.


Mights as well start a Rackers sucks thread, and a why did we draft Levi Brown over Adrian Peterson one as well.

 

[WisconsinCard]

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.

I hear this a lot, and maybe I am wrong, but how could we afford to sign AF if we're only a few mil under the cap as of now. IIRC AF signed a pretty healthy contract.

 

[cardfan]

Kent Somers
DRC update
Cardinals GM Rod Graves is supposed to talk tonight to Eugene Parker, the agent for first-round pick Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. While DRC won't be signed in time to report to camp on Wednesday, Graves remains hopeful the two sides can quickly come to an agreement that would allow DRC to participate Friday in the first practice of training camp.
"We'd like to get down to the nitty-gritty," Graves said. "I don't see this as being a complicated type of contract for us."
Graves has had a difficult time getting together with Parker for substantive conversations. Parker represents four first round picks, and has spent time negotiating those deals.
In other news, Graves said the Cardinals don't have interest in signing running back Mike Bell, recently cut by the Broncos. Bell's agent called the Cardinals to see if they might want to sign the Tolleson High and UofA product.
The Cardinals like Bell and think he's talented, but determined he doesn't have what the club needs at the position: speed. Bell is too much like the backs they already have, so the Cardinals passed.

 

[Stout]

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.

If Graves had managed to get even one 1st rounder into camp on time, it wouldn't be as bad. His appalling lack of competence on this topic, though, is impossible to ignore. Name one other GM that has never gotten a 1st rounder into camp on time.

 

[Stout]

That'd be okay, Banky, except I'm pretty sure a lot of those GMs have actually gotten a 1st rounder to camp on time once in a while. Rod hasn't.

 

[Stout]

Kent Somers
DRC update
Cardinals GM Rod Graves is supposed to talk tonight to Eugene Parker, the agent for first-round pick Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. While DRC won't be signed in time to report to camp on Wednesday, Graves remains hopeful the two sides can quickly come to an agreement that would allow DRC to participate Friday in the first practice of training camp."We'd like to get down to the nitty-gritty," Graves said. "I don't see this as being a complicated type of contract for us."
Graves has had a difficult time getting together with Parker for substantive conversations. Parker represents four first round picks, and has spent time negotiating those deals.
In other news, Graves said the Cardinals don't have interest in signing running back Mike Bell, recently cut by the Broncos. Bell's agent called the Cardinals to see if they might want to sign the Tolleson High and UofA product.
The Cardinals like Bell and think he's talented, but determined he doesn't have what the club needs at the position: speed. Bell is too much like the backs they already have, so the Cardinals passed.

That would be cool. This report is a far cry from the report that had them not only not agreeing on money, but not agreeing on structure. Also, what happened to cell phones, faxes, and email?

 

[PDXChris]

That'd be okay, Banky, except I'm pretty sure a lot of those GMs have actually gotten a 1st rounder to camp on time once in a while. Rod hasn't.

Come on, this is a common thing in the NFL now for some stupid reason. We all know that 75% of 1st round picks never make it to camp in time. This has been common for 5 or so years now.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Come on, this is a common thing in the NFL now for some stupid reason. We all know that 75% of 1st round picks never make it to camp in time. This has been common for 5 or so years now.

Not when you're talking about the RG Cards.

I am gonna leave this subject alone now though. I agree with Rugby that this is done and has been beat around enough.

 

[BigRedRage]

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?????

How many GM's have signed a first round pick already?

 

[Russ Smith]

That would be cool. This report is a far cry from the report that had them not only not agreeing on money, but not agreeing on structure. Also, what happened to cell phones, faxes, and email?

Not to mention that if Parker has been too busy negotiating with other teams that proves he will negotiate, he's just not negotiating with us.

For once it would be nice to read that someone else's first round pick is held up because their agent has been negotiating with the Cardinals.

Oh well it'll get done eventually.

 

[Totally_Red]

What about the 24 or so other GM's that failed to sign their #1 picks? Many of them reported to camp this morning.

Stop being so logical. The purpose of this thread is to hate on Rod.

 

[Stout]

Come on, this is a common thing in the NFL now for some stupid reason. We all know that 75% of 1st round picks never make it to camp in time. This has been common for 5 or so years now.

The problem is that 100 percent of Cards 1st round picks never make it to camp in time. Why anyone should defend that is beyond me.

 

[Darth Llama]

If Graves had managed to get even one 1st rounder into camp on time, it wouldn't be as bad. His appalling lack of competence on this topic, though, is impossible to ignore. Name one other GM that has never gotten a 1st rounder into camp on time.

There are other factors that make up a good GM. The bottom line is that we have a talented core of players, most of which are locked up for years to come. A horrible and incompitent GM would never be able to accomplish what Graves has done here. It's still up to Whiz to get them to win, but Graves has done his job up to this point. Sometimes 1st round picks take more time to sign, it's just the way things are. Judging his job on just this one problem is just something I'm not willing to do. I would love to see DRC on the field on day 1, but if that doesn't happen, I'm not going to stress over it. I feel confident he'll be in camp by the end of the week, and I don't think he'll be a starter anyway.

Meanwhile, our talented core of guys like Fitz, Boldin, Dansby, Levi, Wilson, Dockett, Leinart, Warner, Edge, etc.. will all be there on time, along with all our other draft picks. Again, I know I won't win this argument, there is more hatred for Rod Graves on this forum then you could generate for Hitler or Stalin. I respect peoples opinions, but I don't fight battles I can't win. I'm too badly outnumbered to even attempt to take on this fight.

 

[joeshmo]

Come on, this is a common thing in the NFL now for some stupid reason. We all know that 75% of 1st round picks never make it to camp in time. This has been common for 5 or so years now.

Hold on a second. Lets not just throw around arbitrary numbers you picked off the top of your head to make your point. 75% isnt even close to being true. This is the worst year in 10 years because of the small ruling that had to be made and its already almost better then 75% and only 13 teams will have reported to camp by the end of today. Most teams dont report until Friday.

 

[Russ Smith]

There are other factors that make up a good GM. The bottom line is that we have a talented core of players, most of which are locked up for years to come. A horrible and incompitent GM would never be able to accomplish what Graves has done here. It's still up to Whiz to get them to win, but Graves has done his job up to this point. Sometimes 1st round picks take more time to sign, it's just the way things are. Judging his job on just this one problem is just something I'm not willing to do. I would love to see DRC on the field on day 1, but if that doesn't happen, I'm not going to stress over it. I feel confident he'll be in camp by the end of the week, and I don't think he'll be a starter anyway.

Meanwhile, our talented core of guys like Fitz, Boldin, Dansby, Levi, Wilson, Dockett, Leinart, Warner, Edge, etc.. will all be there on time, along with all our other draft picks. Again, I know I won't win this argument, there is more hatred for Rod Graves on this forum then you could generate for Hitler or Stalin. I respect peoples opinions, but I don't fight battles I can't win. I'm too badly outnumbered to even attempt to take on this fight.

There's certainly truth in that but let's face it when you draft high as often as we have during RG's time here you SHOULD be able to build a talented core of players. the whole concept of the NFL and the draft is the weak get stronger by picking first. The whole idea is a weak team in a couple of drafts and FA periods can reload with talent and turn themselves around.

We all hope that's what we've done.

I for one would like to just once see a situation where Graves or someone says look this kid is raw and we're going to need all the reps we can get with him in camp to get him ready for the season, his agent has multiple first rounders, lets make sure we're on his calendar early to start negotiating.

 

[joeshmo]

Hold on a second. Lets not just throw around arbitrary numbers you picked off the top of your head to make your point. 75% isnt even close to being true. This is the worst year in 10 years because of the small ruling that had to be made and its already almost better then 75% and only 13 teams will have reported to camp by the end of today. Most teams dont report until Friday.

More on this.

Of the 8 teams that have reported to camp already. Four out of the eight dont have their 1st rounders signed yet. That ratio could go up or down depending on who is signed on the teams that report today which are - Browns(dont have a 1st rounder), Cards, Bears, Lions, and Saints. Even if those teams didnt sign their 1st rounders the ratio is still only 60% of the teams that have reported to camp that dont have their 1st rounders in camp on time.

But the fact remains regardless of what the percentage is, why are we always on the wrong side of that percentage?

Edit - Note that I dont like this thread and it is off base. Only commenting on one aspect of Graves duties that I dont like his performance in.

 

[abomb]

Graves 910 interview Tuesday morning was great. DCR should be in camp fairly soon, just not for the start.

 

[Carddan]

1. I won't bash Graves
2. Did Thomas Jones get signed on time in 2000? (I checked going back 10 years to 1998, and we have never had all our picks in camp unless it was 2000)
3. Win the NFC West, get a late 1st rd picks and watch history change.
4. Cardinal Bashing won't end until winning begins. 8-8 isn't enough but it's a start.

 

[Carddan]

Hi Darth,
I tend to blame negativity on historical frustration but refuse to give in to it. I BELIEVE. I believe the organization is on the right path. I believe The Coach will be the first Cardinals Coach in AZ to have a better second year record than first. I believe winning cures all ills. I believe I am going crazy waiting for the pads to pop.
When the winning comes, how much sweeter it will be for the believers!

 

[40yearfan]

Hi Darth,
I tend to blame negativity on historical frustration but refuse to give in to it. I BELIEVE. I believe the organization is on the right path. I believe The Coach will be the first Cardinals Coach in AZ to have a better second year record than first. I believe winning cures all ills. I believe I am going crazy waiting for the pads to pop.
When the winning comes, how much sweeter it will be for the believers!

If you read this board on a regular basis, you will realize that there are only about 3 of us believers.

 

[Darth Llama]

Hi Darth,
I tend to blame negativity on historical frustration but refuse to give in to it. I BELIEVE. I believe the organization is on the right path. I believe The Coach will be the first Cardinals Coach in AZ to have a better second year record than first. I believe winning cures all ills. I believe I am going crazy waiting for the pads to pop.
When the winning comes, how much sweeter it will be for the believers!

Oh, I understand people that are frustrated with Graves. I wouldn't call any of them non believers, not by a long shot. They are all good Cardinal fans that just want to win, and I understand that. Graves is NOT perfect, far from it. He's not the best GM in the league, he's probably not even in the top 10 (I haven't tried to rank them.) I don't think he's the greatest, I just don't think he's bad.

Either way, one thing will fix everything and that's winning. The fans that don't like Graves are entitled to that, and they have good reasons. I take it with a grain of salt, because I know that we'll all be celebrating together once we make the playoffs this year.

The best thing to change peoples minds is winning, that's the bottom line. I support Graves and Bidwill.. maybe I'm wrong, only time will tell I guess.

 

[DaisyCutter]

There are other factors that make up a good GM. The bottom line is that we have a talented core of players, most of which are locked up for years to come. A horrible and incompitent GM would never be able to accomplish what Graves has done here. It's still up to Whiz to get them to win, but Graves has done his job up to this point. Sometimes 1st round picks take more time to sign, it's just the way things are. Judging his job on just this one problem is just something I'm not willing to do. I would love to see DRC on the field on day 1, but if that doesn't happen, I'm not going to stress over it. I feel confident he'll be in camp by the end of the week, and I don't think he'll be a starter anyway.

Meanwhile, our talented core of guys like Fitz, Boldin, Dansby, Levi, Wilson, Dockett, Leinart, Warner, Edge, etc.. will all be there on time, along with all our other draft picks. Again, I know I won't win this argument, there is more hatred for Rod Graves on this forum then you could generate for Hitler or Stalin. I respect peoples opinions, but I don't fight battles I can't win. I'm too badly outnumbered to even attempt to take on this fight.

Like winning football games? The administrative stuff is fine, but you can't really crow about that when the Cards are perennially in the last quarter of the league in getting their picks into camp, and they have frequently paid free agents a ton of money only to let them leave a year later (Holt, M. Brown, K. Clancy, R. Thompson) and busted on draft picks that forces the Cards to spend more in free agency instead of locking up their core players or refreshing departed free agents from withing (B. Davis, D. Blackstock, Bra. Johnson, N. Leckey, A. Stepanovich, L. McCoy, T. Watkins).

None of this would matter if Rod Graves did what he said (like using the cap money we entered the offseason with to secure/upgrade the contracts of players on the roster like Dansby, Boldin, and Wilson) or won some damned football games. But Graves has gone through three head coaches and trails only Matt Millen in the number of "L"s posted during his tenure.

Of course you can't win an argument that Graves is one of the worst GMs in the NFL.

 

[DaisyCutter]

1. I won't bash Graves
2. Did Thomas Jones get signed on time in 2000? (I checked going back 10 years to 1998, and we have never had all our picks in camp unless it was 2000)
3. Win the NFC West, get a late 1st rd picks and watch history change.
4. Cardinal Bashing won't end until winning begins. 8-8 isn't enough but it's a start.

Thomas Jones and David Boston were the last #1 picks to get to camp on time (Shelton held out Boston's season). Incidentially, I think that the next season was when Graves came on board as a contract man.

As for #3, the Cards won a playoff game in 1998 and had a prolonged holdout with that pick, L.J. Shelton.

Graves isn't the worst GM in the NFL. Matt Millen is. But Graves is in the Bottom 5 by pretty much every metric. Especially the one that matters: Winning percentage.