Sean Weatherspoon to sign with the Cardinals

[splitsecond]

Exactly and especially with guys who have an injury history like Weatherspoon. Also something that I think some people are overlooking is that it is also quite possible that Weatherspoon doesn't want a 2 year deal with very little guaranteed in the 2nd year. If he has a good year this year than he is going to want to have a chance at getting paid next year. Even then however it still might be possible to resign him without overpaying too much because that injury history will still be a factor for any team trying to sign him.

This is EXACTLY right. Cards have no built a reputation for having a goo system where guys can go prove it who have had a rough go for one reason or another, and then move on and get paid. While some people may not like that, if we can continue to bring in prove it guys year after year like we have so far under BASK, we are going to keep getting mega production on the cheap, and players will be grateful to come here for that chance. Maybe a few of these guys end up sticking around, maybe they don't. I would argue it's almost better that they don't, and that our long term deals go mostly to guys we draft and develop as the core of the organization. We have a coach guys love playing for and a system where "prove it" guys can come in year after year and earn a big contract elsewhere. It's genius if you ask me.

Also, Weatherspoon is a hell of a player when he is healthy. A 100+ tackles guy who can play anywhere in the middle of the field. If the best case happens where we have Weatherspoon and Washington on the field after week 4, we are going to be brutal in the middle of the field. D-Wash and Weatherspoon and Buchannon oh my!

 

[ARZCardinals]

looks like a big gamble on a guy that's seen more of the training room than the playing field. I like that he's a leader and smart....just hope his physical doesn't turn out to be a wreck.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

This is EXACTLY right. Cards have no built a reputation for having a goo system where guys can go prove it who have had a rough go for one reason or another, and then move on and get paid. While some people may not like that, if we can continue to bring in prove it guys year after year like we have so far under BASK, we are going to keep getting mega production on the cheap, and players will be grateful to come here for that chance. Maybe a few of these guys end up sticking around, maybe they don't. I would argue it's almost better that they don't, and that our long term deals go mostly to guys we draft and develop as the core of the organization. We have a coach guys love playing for and a system where "prove it" guys can come in year after year and earn a big contract elsewhere. It's genius if you ask me.

Also, Weatherspoon is a hell of a player when he is healthy. A 100+ tackles guy who can play anywhere in the middle of the field. If the best case happens where we have Weatherspoon and Washington on the field after week 4, we are going to be brutal in the middle of the field. D-Wash and Weatherspoon and Buchannon oh my!

I think the bolded part is very important. Guys who need a "prove it" year aren't gonna go somewhere where they're not going to be able to succeed.

 

[Big Deal]

Not sure people realize how good this guy is. Its a one year deal and who knows if hell play 16 games. But he is better than Dansby when he is on the field. Youll see.

Is your apostrophe key broken?

 

[kerouac9]

Not sure people realize how good this guy is. Its a one year deal and who knows if hell play 16 games. But he is better than Dansby when he is on the field. Youll see.

Yes, Sean Weatherspoon is good. But let's not get crazy here. At his peak Sean Weatherspoon hopes to be as good as Karlos Dansby was for the Cards--in either iteration.

Apples to apples:

Weatherspoon 2nd season in 4-3 D: 86 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 8 passes defensed.
Dansby in 2nd season in 4-3 D: 69 tackles, 4.0 Sacks, 3 INTs, 2 TDs, 5 passes defensed.

Dansby in 10th season in 3-4 D: 114 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 4 INTs, 2 TDs, 1 FF.

Karlos Dansby has been a uniquely underrated football player his entire career.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Good risk signing, but how effective can he be coming off torn Achillies?

 

[NJCardFan]

Yes Captain Obvious, however, this seems to have worked well for Keim over the past couple of off seasons if attention has been paid.

Oh really? Is that why we are constantly having to restock key positions? There has never, ever been a Super Bowl winning team built on patchwork system. Ever. It's takes cohesiveness and stability. Signing these players for one year then having to re-fill that position the next year is no way to build a championship team. It'd be one thing if we had several key positions covered and you fill holes but this team is trying to build a team like this and it rarely, if ever, works. You show me a team that has won a championship like this and I will take all of this back.

 

[Buckybird]

Not sure people realize how good this guy is. Its a one year deal and who knows if hell play 16 games. But he is better than Dansby when he is on the field. Youll see.

I totally disagree with this. Being "on the field" & not on the sideline or tub is a huge part of who Spoon is & you can't sugarcoat it any other way, given he's only played 16 games once I believe.

I'd take Los over this guy anyday of the week 365!!!

 

[splitsecond]

I think the bolded part is very important. Guys who need a "prove it" year aren't gonna go somewhere where they're not going to be able to succeed.

Exactly. I think the only other team that has provided a vehicle similar has been the Patriots - and that is likely more about the opportunity to win than wanting to play for Belichick.

I really think our current situation, at least as far as "prove it" defensive personnel is concerned is unprecedented. Players know they can come here, play for Arians, play for a defensive coordinator who will scheme to magnify their strengths, and play for a defense that is aggressive and has a reputation as one of the best in the league now. People pay attention to the Cardinals defense.

As much as we want to call Dansby a money chaser, the only reason that really stung us was because he was family once, and we thought he might want to stay family. The truth is we probably ought to be sending Dansby a fruit basket every time we sign one of these "prove it" guys because he is the shining example of what an unfairly undervalued defensive player can do for himself by coming here on a one year deal.

 

[Buckybird]

Karlos Dansby has been a uniquely underrated football player his entire career.

Absofreakinglutely

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Yes, Sean Weatherspoon is good. But let's not get crazy here. At his peak Sean Weatherspoon hopes to be as good as Karlos Dansby was for the Cards--in either iteration.

Apples to apples:

Weatherspoon 2nd season in 4-3 D: 86 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 8 passes defensed.
Dansby in 2nd season in 4-3 D: 69 tackles, 4.0 Sacks, 3 INTs, 2 TDs, 5 passes defensed.

Dansby in 10th season in 3-4 D: 114 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 4 INTs, 2 TDs, 1 FF.

Karlos Dansby has been a uniquely underrated football player his entire career.

Agreed. Dansby has pretty much been the best player on the Cards defense every year he played in Arizona.

 

[juza76]

washington since he was drafted by arizona was the best player,our defense even when he returned from suspension saw a big improvement with him on the field

 

[Big Deal]

Oh really? Is that why we are constantly having to restock key positions? There has never, ever been a Super Bowl winning team built on patchwork system. Ever. It's takes cohesiveness and stability. Signing these players for one year then having to re-fill that position the next year is no way to build a championship team. It'd be one thing if we had several key positions covered and you fill holes but this team is trying to build a team like this and it rarely, if ever, works. You show me a team that has won a championship like this and I will take all of this back.

You are the last person on earth I need to prove anything to. Your opinions are so opposite mine, and seemingly many others on this board, that it is a relief that you feel this way. It is such a childish view to complain about this team getting better because it isn't what YOU would have done. It is so obvious that this team is moving in the right direction and your nitpicking crybaby complaints are exhausting.

 

[CardsFan88]

We're also forgetting another aspect of signing guys to prove-it deals, besides the possibility of re-signing them easier because we already have them in the fold....

The fact that when you lose a free agent, which is what these guys will be for us if they leave after a one year deal, can help land you compensatory picks.

Of course if we sign high dollar players that can negate it, but it's a case where you have the potential to get a player you need for that year, possibly beyond because you have a better shot at retaining him then someone who isn't part of your team, and if he leaves you might get a draft pick...all for using just a bit of cap space. It gives options and additional levels of control for a GM. The GM is in the driver's seat and has the opportunity to make these decisions.

...and we should remember SK has said repeatedly his goal is to be able to not have to dip into free agency, sit back and relax, and instead be able to reap compensatory picks from other teams signing guys it doesn't makes sense for us to keep.

 

[40yearfan]

I dunno. It feels like a terrible way to "build a team", but it's not a bad way to keep a rental while the team gets built underneath. The challenge is that you have to keep hitting on these guys every year, or else you run into a problem when they don't come through.

I think BA is relying on his coaching staff to make this happen. I've often thought that the pre-BASK teams never had the coaching to get the most out of players and that is why so many of our FA's didn't work out.

 

[Jetstream Green]

We're also forgetting another aspect of signing guys to prove-it deals, besides the possibility of re-signing them easier because we already have them in the fold....

The fact that when you lose a free agent, which is what these guys will be for us if they leave after a one year deal, can help land you compensatory picks.

Of course if we sign high dollar players that can negate it, but it's a case where you have the potential to get a player you need for that year, possibly beyond because you have a better shot at retaining him then someone who isn't part of your team, and if he leaves you might get a draft pick...all for using just a bit of cap space. It gives options and additional levels of control for a GM. The GM is in the driver's seat and has the opportunity to make these decisions.

...and we should remember SK has said repeatedly his goal is to be able to not have to dip into free agency, sit back and relax, and instead be able to reap compensatory picks from other teams signing guys it doesn't makes sense for us to keep.

Those sixth and seventh round compensatory picks!

 

[splitsecond]

Oh really? Is that why we are constantly having to restock key positions? There has never, ever been a Super Bowl winning team built on patchwork system. Ever. It's takes cohesiveness and stability. Signing these players for one year then having to re-fill that position the next year is no way to build a championship team. It'd be one thing if we had several key positions covered and you fill holes but this team is trying to build a team like this and it rarely, if ever, works. You show me a team that has won a championship like this and I will take all of this back.

Apparently you have never heard of the New England Patriots?

 

[splitsecond]

We're also forgetting another aspect of signing guys to prove-it deals, besides the possibility of re-signing them easier because we already have them in the fold....

The fact that when you lose a free agent, which is what these guys will be for us if they leave after a one year deal, can help land you compensatory picks.

Of course if we sign high dollar players that can negate it, but it's a case where you have the potential to get a player you need for that year, possibly beyond because you have a better shot at retaining him then someone who isn't part of your team, and if he leaves you might get a draft pick...all for using just a bit of cap space. It gives options and additional levels of control for a GM. The GM is in the driver's seat and has the opportunity to make these decisions.

...and we should remember SK has said repeatedly his goal is to be able to not have to dip into free agency, sit back and relax, and instead be able to reap compensatory picks from other teams signing guys it doesn't makes sense for us to keep.

Exactly. This really is a heck of a model if you can make it work - and the key is having a destination organization people want to play for which starts with having a coach players want to play for. Even if we wanted to do this when Whisenhunt was here it wasn't going to happen given his reputation for putting players in the doghouse for eternity.

 

[cardsfanmd]

You are the last person on earth I need to prove anything to. Your opinions are so opposite mine, and seemingly many others on this board, that it is a relief that you feel this way. It is such a childish view to complain about this team getting better because it isn't what YOU would have done. It is so obvious that this team is moving in the right direction and your nitpicking crybaby complaints are exhausting.

This.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Is your apostrophe key broken?

It is broken. Hopefully we can get someone on the board who can decipher the hieroglyphics in my original post for you so you can get back to me on your thoughts.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I totally disagree with this. Being "on the field" & not on the sideline or tub is a huge part of who Spoon is & you can't sugarcoat it any other way, given he's only played 16 games once I believe.

I'd take Los over this guy anyday of the week 365!!!

Its why I qualified it as "on the field" I agree he needs to play to show this promise. But then again you dont get guys with his kind of talent at 1 year 4 million unless there is some sort of red flag.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Yes, Sean Weatherspoon is good. But let's not get crazy here. At his peak Sean Weatherspoon hopes to be as good as Karlos Dansby was for the Cards--in either iteration.

Apples to apples:

Weatherspoon 2nd season in 4-3 D: 86 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 8 passes defensed.
Dansby in 2nd season in 4-3 D: 69 tackles, 4.0 Sacks, 3 INTs, 2 TDs, 5 passes defensed.

Dansby in 10th season in 3-4 D: 114 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 4 INTs, 2 TDs, 1 FF.

Karlos Dansby has been a uniquely underrated football player his entire career.

I think we all get although I respect his game - I have never been a Los guy - mostly because of intangibles and I hope he rots in irrelevance in CLE. Not that I am bitter or anything.

Saying that. I think you kind of made my point. Weatherspoon has shown he is a similar type player (much better against the run then KD and just as solid in pass defense IMO) and I would like to think by year 10 he can put up that kind of production. Its certainly in the realm of possibility. He also brings the intangibles I like to the table but thats subjective so ill leave that alone.

Key is Karlos stayed on the field and produced. I hope Spoon can do the same.

 

[GuernseyCard]

Apparently you have never heard of the New England Patriots?

Thanks for pointing to the number one users of short term vet contracts, to good effect.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

looks like a big gamble on a guy that's seen more of the training room than the playing field. I like that he's a leader and smart....just hope his physical doesn't turn out to be a wreck.

I guess Big Gamble is relative. 1 year 4 million? At a position of desperate need?

I actually thought his talent dictated he would get multiple years and more money. Pretty stoked we pulled this off at this price.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I think we all get although I respect his game - I have never been a Los guy - mostly because of intangibles and I hope he rots in irrelevance in CLE. Not that I am bitter or anything.

Saying that. I think you kind of made my point. Weatherspoon has shown he is a similar type player (much better against the run then KD and just as solid in pass defense IMO) and I would like to think by year 10 he can put up that kind of production. Its certainly in the realm of possibility. He also brings the intangibles I like to the table but thats subjective so ill leave that alone.

Key is Karlos stayed on the field and produced. I hope Spoon can do the same.

Not sure how anyone can question Dansby's intangibles when he was consistently was named Captain of the Defense and was the on field play caller. Dude, just put $ in the offseason above everything else, but on the field and in the locker room during the season, not sure you could ask for a much better guy.

And how did K9 show Witherspoon was just as good in coverage as Los? He isn't near the playmaker at that level, which K9 backed up with stats.