Somers: Only 11 mil in cap space left!

[Russ Smith]

Another great 3 point plan post

Do you really not see the irony in this?

You're complaining about that but your entire plan seems to be Graves is smart, the Bidwills are smart, they know what they're doing, give them time.
That's your answer for everything, I don't think Whiz would have taken the job if he didn't believe that etc.

These are the same people that hired Dennis Green and watched him systematically hire his fishing buddies as coaches. I think Green did a horrible job but I'm not convinced that just replacing him with a first time coach is going to take us to a Super Bowl. We need to help Whiz turn this around by giving him better talent to work with, we're not doing that.

I'm certainly not the first to say that the NFL is set up to be "idiot proof" the bad teams get high picks, that becomes good players, and the bad teams get better. Then they start to get to a point where they can't afford to keep their team intact because of the cap. It's a circular system to avoid the SF and Dallas dominance in the 80's and 90's (in part due to simply outspending other teams), and to avoid having some teams be perpetually bad.

The Cards missed out on the 80's, had one good year in the 90's, and it's 2007 and so far we're still left out. I think we'll win more games this year because I think Whiz will work harder by lunch every day than Green did his entire day, but so far I don't see the FO commitment to winning a super bowl.

 

[Totally_Red]

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Everything is fine at Warner and Hardy. The Bidwills actually do know how to run a team and Rod Graves is a brilliant GM. We're a 5-11 football team that going into an offseason with $32 million in cap space managed to lose the best offensive lineman on the market for nothing while adding only three backups. Nothing to see here folks, just remember to renew your season tickets.

Nice to know Baghdad Bob is still gainfully employed. Maybe HE can play left offensive tackle.

 

[Sandan]

I think it's a combination of both. Then again we will never know until Rod gets another NFL job. Since I don't see that every happening I guess it will go down as one of the biggest unsolved mysteries in the universe.

Have you ever considered going down to Jilly's and talking to Rod Graves and/or MB ?

They go there during the season at times and you might be surprised and what you can discuss with them.

 

[Sandan]

I tried and I'm done with this discussion

 

[Covert Rain]

Have you ever considered going down to Jilly's and talking to Rod Graves and/or MB ?

They go there during the season at times and you might be surprised and what you can discuss with them.

Talking and having anything meaningful to say are 2 different things. Why would they say anything other then the company line? Why? Just because I can talk to them at Jilly's?

That's like me asking a hooker why do you do the things you do and expecting an answer about how she should give up her life and change the way she does things. As long as Cards and hookers are making money, there is no reason for either of them to change.

 

[Urubu Rei]

Do you really not see the irony in this?

The Cards missed out on the 80's, had one good year in the 90's, and it's 2007 and so far we're still left out. I think we'll win more games this year because I think Whiz will work harder by lunch every day than Green did his entire day, but so far I don't see the FO commitment to winning a super bowl.

What bothers me is the "wait for the next season mentality".

The next season is never delivered, but there is always new excuses.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Nice to know Baghdad Bob is still gainfully employed. Maybe HE can play left offensive tackle.

He can at least attempt a cutblock (fall out of the way) and let Leinart get hurt.

 

[conraddobler]

It's nice to know that Rod's creativity tends to saving our team the most possible money.

We now are amassing one of the largest stores of powder ever seen on planet earth and in a further testament to Rod's evil genius, since it resides in a desert it should remain dry.

Game set and match.... boy one day in some future far off free agent market, watch out, we are going to take out that big ol room of powder and light it and watch the fireworks, yeah buddy, can't wait.... actually all I can do is wait and get older and more frustrated.

Rod Graves is a lacky that knows what his owner wants and delivers, which is smart since winning football games isn't particaluarly required of him he's maximizing his chance of retaining his job.

This means for the 1 billionth time that until we have a real GM that can spend money as he sees fit we'll continue to be far less of a team than we could be.

I hope Whiz is one mother of a coach because that's all we're going to have to fall back on.

 

[Covert Rain]

He can at least attempt a cutblock (fall out of the way) and let Leinart get hurt.

Sort of like he did for Saddam!

 

[Sandan]

Talking and having anything meaningful to say are 2 different things. Why would they say anything other then the company line? Why? Just because I can talk to them at Jilly's?

How about because of the very interesting comments I got from MB regarding officiating, which certainly wasn't the company line

 

[blindseyed]

Do you really not see the irony in this?

You're complaining about that but your entire plan seems to be Graves is smart, the Bidwills are smart, they know what they're doing, give them time.
That's your answer for everything, I don't think Whiz would have taken the job if he didn't believe that etc.

These are the same people that hired Dennis Green and watched him systematically hire his fishing buddies as coaches. I think Green did a horrible job but I'm not convinced that just replacing him with a first time coach is going to take us to a Super Bowl. We need to help Whiz turn this around by giving him better talent to work with, we're not doing that.

I'm certainly not the first to say that the NFL is set up to be "idiot proof" the bad teams get high picks, that becomes good players, and the bad teams get better. Then they start to get to a point where they can't afford to keep their team intact because of the cap. It's a circular system to avoid the SF and Dallas dominance in the 80's and 90's (in part due to simply outspending other teams), and to avoid having some teams be perpetually bad.

The Cards missed out on the 80's, had one good year in the 90's, and it's 2007 and so far we're still left out. I think we'll win more games this year because I think Whiz will work harder by lunch every day than Green did his entire day, but so far I don't see the FO commitment to winning a super bowl.

Excellent post, Russ!

 

[AZCB34]

1. Rod Graves is not stupid however, I think he expects certain things to happen whether it is FA, draft or whatever, and he usually finds he is off on his projections. Then we see panic or inactivity. Doesn't make him stupid at all.

2. Bidwills are not cheap however at least to my eyes, there seems to be some confusion about how to spend the money. When Rod's projections falter, the normal reaction seems to be Close the Wallet. Doesn't make them cheap. Makes them too cautious.

There is just too much history to look back upon to give them a break. If this was an isolated incident, people would be griping but not going nuts. Unfortunately the Cards have made it an art of doing questionable stuff thus the anger.

Sorry to say this but this team is less talented now than the end of season and that is disconcerting to say the least.

 

[Covert Rain]

How about because of the very interesting comments I got from MB regarding officiating, which certainly wasn't the company line

Getting them to comment on officiating and getting them to reveal the inner workings of accounting with this franchise are on an entire other level. Was is opinion and the other is a basis of how this franchise is run internally by a family with a track record that can't be disputed.

 

[Sandan]

I guess there is no pint in talking about this SD. No matter what I say you will head back to the same place.

You said they will always toe the comapny line, I pointed out this was not the case based on personal experience. You head off and counter my factual comment with more supposition.

Again while it was a few years ago MB was prepared to talk about their budgeting process to fans. It was high level for sure but seemed to be based in facts.

Again what is the point when you use assumptions to counter any information you are given.

 

[BigRedArk]

It doesn't change the fact that you are are repeating the core 3 points again.

I do have a question though. Is it that you think Rod Graves is stupid, powerless or both?

I certainly don't think he is stupid. Michael says he has final say on all football matters so I would guess he has lots of power. How about the possibility that he just doesn't know what he is doing? How about the possibility that he just doesn't know how to put a winning football team on the field? Could it be that Rod is simply entrenched in the FO and he has built a lot of security for himself with Bill Sr and Michael? Could it be that Rod is the new George Boone of the St. Louis days?

 

[Covert Rain]

I guess there is no pint in talking about this SD. No matter what I say you will head back to the same place.

You said they will always toe the comapny line, I pointed out this was not the case based on personal experience. You head off and counter my factual comment with more supposition.

Again while it was a few years ago MB was prepared to talk about their budgeting process to fans. It was high level for sure but seemed to be based in facts.

Again what is the point when you use assumptions to counter any information you are given.

nidan, I get what your trying to say. However, just because someone is approachable doesn't mean they don't toe the company line or are suddenly going to listen to your take and admit they are wrong or should change.

The Cards history is fact. The Cards record is fact. The Cards track record is fact. You accuse me of going back to the same points yet your doing the same thing just from your point of view.

I would love to be talking about this team from a purely football point of view. However, the front office in this team continues to be a roadblock in it's success. If you really want people to start thinking differently then the FO needs to show results. Until then people should and will knock this franchise.

Truth is, I would rather listen to people complain which shows they care about this franchise then have people go "oh well maybe next time" for another 30 years which would show people really don't care at all.

 

[Duckjake]

You're complaining about that but your entire plan seems to be Graves is smart, the Bidwills are smart, they know what they're doing, give them time.
That's your answer for everything, I don't think Whiz would have taken the job if he didn't believe that etc.

My favorite "etc." people use is blaming everything on the old coach after having defended him for his entire tenure. Especially the "he knows more than some fan on a message board" line. Then when the guy is fired posting how stupid the coach was.

 

[Big T]

My favorite "etc." people use is blaming everything on the old coach after having defended him for his entire tenure. Especially the "he knows more than some fan on a message board" line. Then when the guy is fired posting how stupid the coach was.

Although I can see and or agree with part of what you say, and since I've just taken my Dr. Ruth pill, I'm also left wondering if a lot of what you "say" here may also be some kind of subliminal divesting or otherwise "confession" of one's own psychic unrests and/or also a Freudian "projection".

 

[JeffGollin]

First of all, kudos to Somers (who appears to be reading this bb - in his blog, he addressed our recent questions about what's been going on behind the scenes and now also the cap issue).

The whole issue of cap sanity and the way the Cardinals are addressing it seems logical at first glance.

But when you start to think about it for a while, the question is begged: "Aren't the other 31 teams in a similar situation? And, if so, where are they finding the money to keep their own talent-core intact while adding guys like Clements, Kerney, Porter and A Thomas?

If they can do it, why can't we (and why aren't we)?

 

[Duckjake]

Although I can see and or agree with part of what you say, and since I've just taken my Dr. Ruth pill, I'm also left wondering if a lot of what you "say" here may also be some kind of subliminal divesting or otherwise "confession" of one's own psychic unrests and/or also a Freudian "projection".

Nah, I've thought all our coaches since Coryell were Bums.

In fact I have posted on at least 4 message boards over the years that the Bidwills failing as owners of an NFL franchise was not related to money or personell issues but in consistently choosing the wrong person to be the Head Coach of the Cardinals.

 

[Rivercard]

And, if so, where are they finding the money to keep their own talent-core intact while adding guys like Clements, Kerney, Porter and A Thomas?

If they can do it, why can't we (and why aren't we)?[/color]

We did it last year with Edge.

 

[Big T]

Hmmmm....and the Cards just signed Terrence Holt to a 5 year deal.

So whats the flavor of the day beach now boys?

 

[jefftheshark]

Hmmmm....and the Cards just signed Terrence Holt to a 5 year deal.

So whats the flavor of the day beach now boys?

I am usually fairly good at deciphering what someone means, but I have to admit that I am at a loss on this one.

The Shark

 

[Mulli]

Hmmmm....and the Cards just signed Terrence Holt to a 5 year deal.

So whats the flavor of the day beach now boys?

beach ---beech--- bitch??

 

[BigRedArk]

Hmmmm....and the Cards just signed Terrence Holt to a 5 year deal.

So whats the flavor of the day beach now boys?

Yeah we just need 2 new guys from last years 5-11 team to send us to the playoffs. Whis et all will just coach up the rest of our roster and we will be a dynamo.