Schefter: Cards to tag Dansby

[cgolden]

How can people continually call Graves a total failure when he helped provide the building blocks of the team that took us to the Super Bowl? He ain't perfect, but he is not the dismal failure people try to make him out to be.

He did build an NFC Championship team right? He hasn't been perfect but we've got to give him some credit for 2008.

 

[cardsfanmd]

How can people continually call Graves a total failure when he helped provide the building blocks of the team that took us to the Super Bowl? He ain't perfect, but he is not the dismal failure people try to make him out to be.

I have no problem giving credit where credit is due, but it's should go to Graves IMO. Whiz and his staff (and a big shot out to John Lott) have come in here in two years and done more than anyone else has been able to in 60+ years. The team was well coached and was the healthiest team in the league. That has more to do with it than anything else IMO.

Graves has drafted well and I have never disputed this, but he has continually failed when it comes time to either resign or extend players.

Up until last offseason I had never been overly critical of Graves and actually was pretty supportive of him and was glad to have the guy. The debacle with Fitz flat out made me embarrassed to be a Card fan though. It was a HORRIBLE job by Graves, and I dont think there is any other way to see it.

I dont love the price of the deal, but that's not the bad part. What was so bad was that we wasted the entire offseason fighting over the deal only to cave right before camp and give Larry exactly what he asked for in the beginning. It's the good old" know when to hold/fold em". With the leftover money on the cap we didn't use you better believe had the deal been done earlier we could have had Allen Faneca or atleast two more solid role players. Basically, had Graves done his job in a timely manner we could have avoided suffering through watching Francisco in the Super Bowl.

 

[D-Dogg]

Thats great and all, except that everyone said he was going to get a deal done with him last year too. It's not gonna happen and we are gonna get stuck overpaying this guy again.

I love what he does on the field and I respect his honesty, but Dansby has let it be known from the beginning that he wants to be payed first and foremost and he'll worry about other things at a later time. We just aren't in a position to continually accomodate that IMO. This is two years in a row now he has been overpaid and we could have taken this guarenteed money and signed him long term by now. I just dont get how we can call this a good thing.

I could understand giving someone the benefit of the doubt, but not Graves. Not a guy who has failed in every offseason of his entire career with the team.

If we don't sign him long term by the July deadline, I'll agree with you that we made a mistake.

However, I fully expect him to be given a deal before the deadline, in which case this was a brilliant tactical maneuver where we have several other issues on the plate to deal with already.

 

[Cards Czar]

Rod Graves reminds me of myself, in high school. I'd always tell myself that I'll get my homework out of the way on Friday, and then actually start doing it on Sunday night. Of course I'd never get it all done, and would start the week in a hole. Rod is no different.

Dont cut your self down as being short and fat. Comon now I'll bye the first round.

 

[Skkorpion]

Listen, fellow wackos, this kind of guaranteed cash money always, repeat always, requires input and approval by ownership. As will Warner's deal, since it will mean a large up-front cash signing bonus.

I'm not absolving Graves of any decision making. He's the one with Michael's ear. Just remember every owner (almost) has final say and veto power when it comes to large cash payouts.

 

[slanidrac16]

No Graves bashing here. First , it gives the Cards ( and Dansby) time to see how the market goes and see what other players are tagged. I do believe we get a long term deal done. He is in the prime of his career and this will be his biggest payday. He's probably looking for 5 years, 45m dollar range with 20 or so gauranteed. That to me is fair in todays market and could be structured in a way to help our cap.

For everybody worried about Boldin, here's my prediction. We won't even talk to him until after the draft. There are too many other things going on right now that need to be addressed before we start doing contract extentions. With the statements that Q has made, you can bet we will keep the phone lines open right up to draft day.

As far as Warner goes, I believe he is going to return. I would offer 2 years 18 mil with 12 gauranteed. I would front load his contract with a bigger portion going toward so if his career is cut short due to injury or we want to move on we would not get killed with a huge cap hit next year. Even if he only played 1 year he would receive 12m. More than fair especially if he has another year like last year.

 

[sportznutt]

I personally thought Hayes had a better year than Dansby.

OKAY, maybe not......just looked at the stats.

 

[Duckjake]

and it is in his best interest to work out a longer term deal.

Why? Dansby gets 9+ million guaranteed and gets to be a free agent again next year. He's 27 and will have made over 17 million dollars in two years. Unless he's really dumb he's already set for the rest of his life so why worry about a career ending injury?

Its also a good move for the Cards because they get to pay the 9 million over a year rather than that much or more all at once as a signing bonus.

However, according to USA today's 2008 salary list Calvin Pace's cap hit was only 2.8 million so, if correct, could the Cards free up almost 7 million in cap space by doing a long term deal?

 

[CardEd]

Correct me if i'm wrong, but were we saying last year that Dansby need to show more consistancy for a big payday?

If so that knocks out the question of paying him 17mil over two years. You have one or the other. Sign him to a long term deal and risk the questionable production, or francise him and make sure of what you got. ( referring to last year)

I feel that Dansby proved a lot to me this past year, not only in production but being a team leader.

As far as the tag goes this year, I'm fine with it. Gives Graves more time to finalize a long term deal.

I have no problem with how Dansby's contract has been handled so far.

 

[WildBB]

Listen, fellow wackos, this kind of guaranteed cash money always, repeat always, requires input and approval by ownership. As will Warner's deal, since it will mean a large up-front cash signing bonus.

I'm not absolving Graves of any decision making. He's the one with Michael's ear. Just remember every owner (almost) has final say and veto power when it comes to large cash payouts.

Uhm...FANATIC, thank you.

And true that, on ownership.

 

[Buckybird]

I still worry that Graves is not the one for our GM job. Dansby was asking a little more then the Pace deal so why did we have to tag him. Just give the guy the money and make him a cornerstone of our LB unit for the next 5 years.

I guess Graves this season will come out and say he was too busy to get a deal done because of the Super Bowl. Note to Graves: Give your best defensive playmaker the damn money, please!!! How long have we had to get a long-term deal with Karlos now? I don't understand this situation.

 

[Buckybird]

How can people continually call Graves a total failure when he helped provide the building blocks of the team that took us to the Super Bowl? He ain't perfect, but he is not the dismal failure people try to make him out to be.

Steve Kiem is calling the shots in the draft room. Graves is a moron in my book.

 

[red desert]

Steve Kiem is calling the shots in the draft room. Graves is a moron in my book.

Yeah that.

And the Bidwills are cheap too.

Now it feels like the board of old. Cool.

 

[bg7brd]

Steve Kiem is calling the shots in the draft room. Graves is a moron in my book.

How do you know this? Not the part about Graves but who's calling the shots.

 

[Skkorpion]

Darren Urban just posted, after talking to Graves, that he thinks Dansby will indeed be tagged, allowing more time to work out a deal.

Interviews with prospective coaches are still going on today. So keep minds open and ears close to the ground.

 

[earthsci]

How do you know this? Not the part about Graves but who's calling the shots.

Because the head of the scouting department always decides who gets drafted, not the GM or the HC!

 

[Goldfield]

I agree with this move 100%. We have the cap for it. What we dont have is all the bonus money it will take to get everyone signed & happy this year. This allows us to put off the big signing bonus for Dansby another year and get some other guys done.

 

[Goldfield]

I dont understand the concern with the guaranteed money. It wasnt like we were going to cut him this year or next.

If he got the long term deal it would still be big money towards the cap.

The only difference is we didnt have to shell out 20 mill in one lumps sum. We were able to pay it over 2 years.

The money up front has always been the Bidwells problem IMO.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Steve Kiem is calling the shots in the draft room. Graves is a moron in my book.

Steve Keim and his team of scouts help prepare the draft board, and make recommendations.

Whis and Graves are the deciders in the actual selection.

 

[Buckybird]

I agree with this move 100%. We have the cap for it. What we dont have is all the bonus money it will take to get everyone signed & happy this year. This allows us to put off the big signing bonus for Dansby another year and get some other guys done.

Not gonna happen. Before Dansby signs a franchise tender (if he isn't given a long term deal) he will ask to not be tagged again, watch.

 

[Buckybird]

Steve Keim and his team of scouts help prepare the draft board, and make recommendations.

Whis and Graves are the deciders in the actual selection.

I think it's more of all three, but Graves has less input than Wiz and Kiem.

 

[Big Deal]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/2009/02/17/20090217spt-dansby.html

AZCentral reporting that this is a done deal.

 

[cardfan]

Cards officially put franchise tag on Dansby:

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/articles/2009/02/17/20090217spt-dansby.html?source=nletter-sports

 

[joeshmo]

Dansby on 910 am right now -

Asked him he watched the Super Bowl and what he thought. Dansby stated they made a tone of technique errors in the last 2 minutes. Was asked about Rolle blocking Fitz on the Harrison run and Dansby sounded upset with Rolle and gave a sigh and stated it was just one of many mistakes that lost them the game.

They have in fact told him about the franchise tag. Said he knew it was going to happen again becuase he knows how the Cards do business. Said he would be cool if the Cards stepped up to pay him what he could make in the free agent where he really wanted to see what he is worth. He has been here for 6 years and is wondering what they are waiting for. He will sign it right away to put the onus on them. He wants them to start doing business with him and get a deal done instead of waiting for two years to get something done. He didnt sound upset but he did sound annoyed for what I presume he see's as the Cards being so slow with negotiations, like it isnt important to them to get thier "franchise player" signed long term.

He kept mentioning stuff about being shopped around and not having the ability to go to where he wants to go like he would have done in the free agent market? Shopped around, I am confused?

I kind of agreed with him with a lot it. He didnt sound mad or bash anyone but did voice his annoyance of the situation.

He was asked about Pendy and he said he was upset they didnt consult him considering he is considered their franchise player. Which I found hilarious that he would think he should be consulted on coaching issues. But he does like Davis a lot, and thinks the D scheme wont change.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I think it's more of all three, but Graves has less input than Wiz and Kiem.

IF that's the case, you should be a happy man.