Schefter: Fitz & Cards closing in on new deal - Contract Signed!!!

[splitsecond]

So where should I set up the crow buffet for all the nonbelievers?

 

[BirdMan21]

So it sounds like you believe Fitz couldn't have gotten more than a $22 million guarantee from some other team? If that's what you believe, cool... IMHO, I would say your belief is wrong.

His thought was he could get 12-18 guarenteed elsewhere.....3yr/18-24mil total was the thinking, but he didn't want to test it if the Cards offered anything fair. I don't feel that was too out of line, which was why he had his number for the Cards at 18-24mil over 2yrs (basically a 2/3 paycut on his previous total contract over the two years....which he knew he would never see).

Luckily we threw a number at him right in the middle ($1mil extra) and things got done quickly.

 

[cardncubfan]

Right here and couldn't be happier to be wrong!

 

[CT Card Fan]

Next Man Up

Can we apply that philosophy to getting contracts done too?

Great news! Now on to getting that Gerald Fitzsimmons taken care of too.

 

[ARZCardinals]

<-------eating crow today

and loving it

 

[cardncubfan]

I was referring to Brady's contract. The way his was structured, he only changed when he gets the money.

Fitz, DEFINITELY took a paycut....from talking with him, he had an upper and lower level in mind for what he felt was fair to receive and that he wouldn't even negotiate....and this sat just above the middle number. So thats why things got done so quickly from when the first rumor was leaked.

Now to Stout's comment, Fitz was smart enough to realize he was never truly gonna see what his contract numbers were the rest of the 4yrs. But he was willing to take what he was "going to" make this year, guaranteed over this year and next. Because that was what he felt was a fair paycut....a bit above what he would get on the open market, but a big enough cut that he would help the Cards out significantly and stay here.

Wait what? Andy do you talk to Fitz?

 

[BirdMan21]

Right here and couldn't be happier to be wrong!

Can you predict we won't win the Superbowl this season too Cheese? I'll buy you as many beers to go with your crow next year in return....

 

[BirdMan21]

Wait what? Andy do you talk to Fitz?

Quite a bit....which is why I have been a little less active on the board. To prevent myself from saying things that weren't public yet on accident.

 

[splitsecond]

Quite a bit....which is why I have been a little less active on the board. To prevent myself from saying things that weren't public yet on accident.

Do you guys go to Jimmy Johns once a week or something?

 

[BirdMan21]

Do you guys go to Jimmy Johns once a week or something?

Hahaha no, have a close friend in common....so have known him for a while because of that. Really only see him during the offseason, and very often when he isn't training. Just a few texts here and there during the season though....although I will suggest the Jimmy Johns idea.

Maybe like a Jimmy Johns ASFN lunch, and each week we have a drawing for who gets to come along?

 

[don7031]

The Cardinals would have had $22 million in dead cap space over the next two years if they released Fitzgerald. The CBA requires teams to actually spend 89% of the cap over a four year period. So it is better for the Cardinals to pay Fitzgerald that $22 million rather than having a large unspent hit on their cap.

 

[splitsecond]

The Cardinals would have had $22 million in dead cap space over the next two years if they released Fitzgerald. The CBA requires teams to actually spend 89% of the cap over a four year period. So it is better for the Cardinals to pay Fitzgerald that $22 million rather than having a large unspent hit on their cap.

That to me seems like the simplest possible solution to the problem. No wonder it only took one meeting at the combine to get it done. Our cap guy is a magician.

 

[BirdMan21]

That to me seems like the simplest possible solution to the problem. No wonder it only took one meeting at the combine to get it done. Our cap guy is a magician.

Yup, and that was why Fitz' number was centered around that. Because he understood what the Cards had to do.

This team and FO are actually starting to act like a REAL football team now, its kinda weird to see.

 

[SoCal Cardfan]

That to me seems like the simplest possible solution to the problem. No wonder it only took one meeting at the combine to get it done. Our cap guy is a magician.

It's amazing really.. We basically went from one of the worst front office, to one of the best IMO.

I was going to say THE worst front office, then I remembered Matt Millen and Vinny Cerrato.

 

[BigRedRage]

Yup, and that was why Fitz' number was centered around that. Because he understood what the Cards had to do.

This team and FO are actually starting to act like a REAL football team now, its kinda weird to see.

thx for all of your comments. A lot of us felt that way but it was all hope until today. Cheers to Fitz. Glad he is sticking around. Hope palmer stays healthy this year, its magic time.

 

[Mainstreet]

That's the only thing I hate about the cap...all those loopholes.

I do love however that we finally have a GM that is smart enough to use them....its a player and team option to terminate...and if both agree to let it stand it terminates. So there is no way he gets the third year, unless he extends after next year.

It seems worse than doing taxes.

 

[BirdMan21]

thx for all of your comments. A lot of us felt that way but it was all hope until today. Cheers to Fitz. Glad he is sticking around. Hope palmer stays healthy this year, its magic time.

I try to pass on as much as I can to everyone....I've been talking and spending some time with a few other players on the team now through Fitz. Most of the time I have to pretend I didn't hear anything. But whenever there is good news and I am given the okay to post something GENERAL without attributing it to any one player or coach, then I will.

And there are more players than you think reading this site.

 

[BigRedRage]

I try to pass on as much as I can to everyone....I've been talking and spending some time with a few other players on the team now through Fitz. Most of the time I have to pretend I didn't hear anything. But whenever there is good news and I am given the okay to post something GENERAL without attributing it to any one player or coach, then I will.

And there are more players than you think reading this site.

Well none of them ever respond to me on twitter even though I only bash the players like housler.

 

[Chopper0080]

Wow...Fitz keeps winning in contract neogtiations with the Cardinals. $22 mil guaranteed for two years is a huge win for a guy his age who was never going to see the end of that deal. A guy who has made every deal he signs leverage him into huge amounts of guaranteed money over a long career. Both sides got what they wanted today, and we will revisit this in two years where I'm sure Fitz will put the Cards over the barrell again.

 

[Chopper0080]

What Fitz did is the biggest legit paycut I have seen a player take......the thing we had working for us the entire time, was he is a smart enough man to recognize staying here was where he was going to make the most money. And even though the money isn't all that matters, the fact we are competitive made it an easy choice. Had we been 4-12 the past 3yrs, I could have seen him leaving and playing for 4-7mil somewhere else next year. But he knows this team can win....now just wait for Dockett and Campbell to restructure later this week, and a whole new contract for Washington to be put on the table. And this team will be in great cap shape going forward.

Campbell restructuring will be huge. I have been hoping that it would happen, but I wasn't sure how the organization felt about doing so with two years left on the deal. I know Campbell would like the guaranteed money he would get now, and it would allow the Cards to set him up on a more cap friendly deal.

Dockett's extension isn't necessary as they can cut him and save big, but I believe both parties want to keep him a Cardinal.

 

[BigRedRage]

Campbell restructuring will be huge. I have been hoping that it would happen, but I wasn't sure how the organization felt about doing so with two years left on the deal. I know Campbell would like the guaranteed money he would get now, and it would allow the Cards to set him up on a more cap friendly deal.

Dockett's extension isn't necessary as they can cut him and save big, but I believe both parties want to keep him a Cardinal.

You cant cut the heart of your D.

I feel like campbell just got his deal but if its already a problem, sign him to a longer deal for sure!

 

[juza76]

Sorry i have no idea about the terms ,did he take a pay cut?

 

[wa52lz]

Quite a bit....which is why I have been a little less active on the board. To prevent myself from saying things that weren't public yet on accident.

I thought it was so you wouldnt make crazy bets about Brian Hernandez having a better 2012 then Andre Roberts or Early Doucet. I still have $20 coming from that
http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb...sday-177597-9.html?&highlight=brian+hernandez

 

[BirdMan21]

Well none of them ever respond to me on twitter even though I only bash the players like housler.

Hahahaha, I don't know Housler. I will say that on here without worrying about everyone on here being able to narrow down who else I know on the team and coaching staff. You have now knocked 2 off the list

 

[BigRedRage]

Hahahaha, I don't know Housler. I will say that on here without worrying about everyone on here being able to narrow down who else I know on the team and coaching staff. You have now knocked 2 off the list

yeah well I am friends with a harlem globetrotter. So there.