--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sports Update
Jones remains on trading block
By Darren Urban, Tribune
Cardinals vice president of football operations Rod Graves was hoping to trade running back Thomas Jones during draft weekend for a draft pick. Graves still wants to consummate a deal some time this week.
But it has to be on the Cards’ terms.
“We were not going to give Thomas Jones away,” Graves said. “We still feel he has some value. To give Thomas Jones up for a sixth- or seventh-round pick, to be honest with you, I would rather cut him.”
Added Graves later about the idea of dealing Jones for a seventh-round choice, “I don’t feel good about that personally.”
With the draft passed, Graves wants to trade Jones for another player, preferably this week. The Cardinals have a mandatory minicamp starting Friday, but Graves admitted he wouldn’t expect Jones — who hasn’t been around the team since breaking his hand at home with six games left in the season — to show up.
“That’s one thing we wanted to try and avoid,” Graves said. “We don’t want it to be a distraction.”
There has been some discussion with Miami in a Jones-for-Derrick Rodgers deal, but Graves said that deal is unlikely. The Saints also offered defensive tackle Norman Hand for Jones, but the Cards declined (Hand was traded to Seattle on Sunday). A “handful” of teams remain interested in Jones, Graves said, but at this point no other names have been offered.
“We’re either going to trade Thomas or let him go,” Graves said.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WOW!!! Declined a draft pick. Declined Norman Hand (DL). Would rather release him than get a 6th or 7th round pick. Again....WOW!!!!
After all of that, would the Cardinal Fans still be interested in Snoop Minnis for Thomas Jones straight up? I know we took Larry Johnson in the first, but competition is good.
