The Official "Sign Chidi Ahanatou Now" Thread

[kerouac9]

Chidi Ahanotu's Lifetime Stats

Mac asserted that there isn't a player of KVB's caliber that can be found on the streets right now. I beg to differ, and I think that the stats will bear me out.

This guy should have been in Flagstaff with us. It's not too late to get him in red for the Minnesota game, and open the season with him.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Man it would be nice to at least get this guy in for a workout - hell maybe even sign him and avoid even more bad press for getting fined for not spending the minimum amount of the salary cap. I thought we had all this cash so that if people went down we could do something about it. Come on, Graves - get movin' baby - KVB is replaceable - and could be even upgraded.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Finding a servicable DE in free agency is rare. A DE that is just average would draw tons of interest from several teams. With that in mind, why has Ahanotu not been persued by any other teams? Don't you find that odd?

 

[Northern Card]

Thaks for starting the thread... I was thinking thre same thing.

(repeat)

CHIDI lives in Toronto, and is a regular on sports talk shows. Interesting, well-spoken guy - in passing. A few weeks ago, he was saying that his agent was in-touch with a number of teams and expected cuts or injuries would get him a job in the not too distant. He added that, as a veteran and in shape, he didn't need a full training camp to be up and ready.

I saw him play in Buffalo last year. Solid. if unspectacular - against the run and capable of putting on some pressure.

 

[40yearfan]

Too old. Sack production has really gone down in the last 3 years. Injury problems?

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by cheesebeef
Man it would be nice to at least get this guy in for a workout - hell maybe even sign him and avoid even more bad press for getting fined for not spending the minimum amount of the salary cap. I thought we had all this cash so that if people went down we could do something about it. Come on, Graves - get movin' baby - KVB is replaceable - and could be even upgraded.

Graves is going to wait until the end of camp to see who gets cut before making a move.

 

[Minix]

Good call. Don't know what he's up to now, but he's been a player for both TB and STL. A winner.

 

[Jttsaz]

Is he a free agent? Did Buffalo cut him?

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by MadCardDisease
Finding a servicable DE in free agency is rare. A DE that is just average would draw tons of interest from several teams. With that in mind, why has Ahanotu not been persued by any other teams? Don't you find that odd?

I guess. I think that a lot of teams just want to be "younger" and "go with what we have" rather than use a place-setter for a year or two. Coaches that are on the hot seat (like Mac indubitably is, and Gregg Williams continues to be) usually sign solid veteral role players to ensure that they have someone there that you know can play.

Also, most coaches and GMs know exactly what to expect from Chidi, and I don't think that they want to take up a camp roster spot for someone that they don't really need to work out and take a look at.

Chidi isn't going to surprise anyone with anything other than his solid, unspectacular play.

For the record, he had 1.5 more sacks than the "irreplaceable" KGB. Maybe we can give Chidi his number.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by AZCB34
Graves is going to wait until the end of camp to see who gets cut before making a move.

Quick question - does anyone know why we soured on Chiki Okeafor? I remember us bringing him in and he would have been a decent addition toi the line, certainly better than KVB even if healthy - was there a reason we decided to place all our eggs into Holliday's basket - did we even make a contract offer to him?

 

[40yearfan]

Originally posted by cheesebeef
Man it would be nice to at least get this guy in for a workout - hell maybe even sign him and avoid even more bad press for getting fined for not spending the minimum amount of the salary cap. I thought we had all this cash so that if people went down we could do something about it. Come on, Graves - get movin' baby - KVB is replaceable - and could be even upgraded.

Cheesy, I disagree with you about your assessment of the cap situation. You won't get fined if you take the remaining cap that you need to spend and give it to players who make your squad. An unexpected bonus would thrill any of us, why not the final team members on the Cards? Of course, this is after extending contracts and absorbing bonuses into this year instead of having to spread it out over several years. It'll keep us in great cap situation for next season and may entice some high priced FA's to look at us seriously.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by cheesebeef
Quick question - does anyone know why we soured on Chiki Okeafor? I remember us bringing him in and he would have been a decent addition toi the line, certainly better than KVB even if healthy - was there a reason we decided to place all our eggs into Holliday's basket - did we even make a contract offer to him?

The Cards didn't make an offer to Okeafor. I think they were set on rushing for Colvin and Holliday that Okeafor was more a fall back position...just a hunch. I assume when he came to visit, he didn;t make any kind of lasting impression on Graves/coaches otherwise they may have really tried to get him.

 

[Shane]

Originally posted by cheesebeef
Quick question - does anyone know why we soured on Chiki Okeafor? I remember us bringing him in and he would have been a decent addition toi the line, certainly better than KVB even if healthy - was there a reason we decided to place all our eggs into Holliday's basket - did we even make a contract offer to him?

The reason we soured on him was his back problem! Even Seattle was very leary of him!

Im dont think our DRs gave him a clean bill of health!

 

[kerouac9]

40year: He had 1.5 more sacks than KVB, our #1 sack artist, last season. You're not going to get Dwight Freeney off waivers. We're looking for an LDE, not a sack-artist! Also, he played in 16 games last season and started 14. He hasn't missed a game since 1998.

AZCB: We have a roster spot after putting KVB on IR. Camp's over. We need this guy. He might be better right now than anyone at the defensive end position except for Pace (maybe). What are we waiting for?

Jttaz: He signed a 1-year, minimum-salary deal with B-lo, and they drafted Chris Kelsay to take his place on the strong-side end position.

Cheese: I think that Okeafor had serious injury concerns with some degenerative knee condition. That's what I remember. Seattle was desperate for help up front, and took a gamble. They needed younger players because they're very old on the D-line.

Don't look for excuses, demand results. Don't cot Graves a break and write off the season and use the excuse the KVB was injured and we're a young team. This guy can help us win games, and for very little money! What's the downside?

 

[40yearfan]

Originally posted by AZCB34
The Cards didn't make an offer to Okeafor. I think they were set on rushing for Colvin and Holliday that Okeafor was more a fall back position...just a hunch. I assume when he came to visit, he didn;t make any kind of lasting impression on Graves/coaches otherwise they may have really tried to get him.

AZCB, the reason the Cards didn't offer Okeafor an offer was because he didn't pass the physical the Cards gave him. I remember reading that as Rod's answer when he was questioned about it.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Originally posted by Shane H
The reason we soured on him was his back problem! Even Seattle was very leary of him!

Im dont think our DRs gave him a clean bill of health!

That is correct, he had back issues and was asking for way to much.

 

[Jttsaz]

Good enough for me...his stats look solid if not spectacular...but we could use a savy Vet to help some of those rookies...Is he a "team player" that would fit in with Coach Mac?

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by 40yearfan
Cheesy, I disagree with you about your assessment of the cap situation. You won't get fined if you take the remaining cap that you need to spend and give it to players who make your squad. An unexpected bonus would thrill any of us, why not the final team members on the Cards? Of course, this is after extending contracts and absorbing bonuses into this year instead of having to spread it out over several years. It'll keep us in great cap situation for next season and may entice some high priced FA's to look at us seriously.

It didn't entice those free agents this year. Look if we are bad - AND we go into the season with a ton of cap room - it's just gonna make us look even worse and if you don't the media, every chance they get won't jump on the remianing cap room - well your'e wrong - and if you say that you don't care what the media says because they hate us, then you're not looking big piicture because the playerws DO listen to the media - the players love the media and THEY WILL BE effected as far as perception coming here. Look, regardless of the fact that we tried to get a lot of guys - the players watch ESPN they follow the media and if you think they're opinions are somewhat formed by what the media gives us, I think you're dead wrong. It's gonna be a black eye if we got into the season with that much money and that won't look good - BUT - if they they somehow pull of wins this year, then you arew right on the money - it will be great for next year - that's just asking a lot - as I think most of you are out of rookies, and undrafted free agents and 5th, 6th, 7th round draft picks.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by MadCardDisease
That is correct, he had back issues and was asking for way to much.

how much was he asking for? Seattle seemed to sign him to a rleatively decent contract if remember - nothing that made my eyes pop-out. So how much was he asking for and has he been playing so far in pre-season? Didn't Holliday have knee problems and bvack problems also?

 

[SECTION 11]

Why not sign him (if he passes a physical)? It's not like we need the roster spot for Stone...

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by kerouac9
AZCB: We have a roster spot after putting KVB on IR. Camp's over. We need this guy. He might be better right now than anyone at the defensive end position except for Pace (maybe). What are we waiting for?

First, in todays EVTrib http://www.evtrib.com/index.php?sty=8646

Here is an excerpt:

Vice president of football operations Rod Graves said the Cardinals will put an emphasis on picking up another defensive end before the season.

But, Graves added, “the chances of us replacing him with a guy as good or better is very slim.”

Now there is no way to be certain, but there are no indications he has attempted to contact Chidi so he mustn't think Chidi is as good as KVB. I think that is insane but it isn;t like the Cards had top line DEs to begin with, Logic to me says he would have been contacted much sooner than now to upgrade the position.

I also believe that Graves suffers right now from hopefulitis. He was hopeful the Cards would get top tier FAs...didn;t happen. He was hopeful June 1 would bring a bounty...it didn't. I think he will have hopes that something of value will be shaken loose on the last cutdowns and he can swoop in and win the day.

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by 40yearfan
Cheesy, I disagree with you about your assessment of the cap situation. You won't get fined if you take the remaining cap that you need to spend and give it to players who make your squad. An unexpected bonus would thrill any of us, why not the final team members on the Cards? Of course, this is after extending contracts and absorbing bonuses into this year instead of having to spread it out over several years. It'll keep us in great cap situation for next season and may entice some high priced FA's to look at us seriously.

Wow. This is stunning myopia. [Imagine sarcastic voice here] I'm sure that free agents all over the league are going to be ecstatic to join a team that couldn't spend to the minimum level this year. [End imaginary scarcastic voice]

The opprobrium that will fall on the franchise if they fail to reach the minimum salary level by Opening Day will reach a point where Wizard of AZ won't even be able to post all of it. And it will be well-deserved.

Those four million dollars would be better spend increasing salaries for core players than cutting Mike Stone a check for $48,000 for just barely making the team again.

 

[AZCB34]

Originally posted by 40yearfan
AZCB, the reason the Cards didn't offer Okeafor an offer was because he didn't pass the physical the Cards gave him. I remember reading that as Rod's answer when he was questioned about it.

I didn't remember that part. Thanks for the clarification.

 

[40yearfan]

Originally posted by kerouac9
40year: He had 1.5 more sacks than KVB, our #1 sack artist, last season. You're not going to get Dwight Freeney off waivers. We're looking for an LDE, not a sack-artist! Also, he played in 16 games last season and started 14. He hasn't missed a game since 1998.

AZCB: We have a roster spot after putting KVB on IR. Camp's over. We need this guy. He might be better right now than anyone at the defensive end position except for Pace (maybe). What are we waiting for?

Jttaz: He signed a 1-year, minimum-salary deal with B-lo, and they drafted Chris Kelsay to take his place on the strong-side end position.

Cheese: I think that Okeafor had serious injury concerns with some degenerative knee condition. That's what I remember. Seattle was desperate for help up front, and took a gamble. They needed younger players because they're very old on the D-line.

Don't look for excuses, demand results. Don't cot Graves a break and write off the season and use the excuse the KVB was injured and we're a young team. This guy can help us win games, and for very little money! What's the downside?

Check out Wakefield's stats compared to this guy. He played in all 32 games the last two seasons and had 1.5 less sacks than this guy. I'd rather use a young and upcoming guy who will be with the team for years to come than take a chance on an "old" guy who might have injury or attitude problems.

 

[Capital Card]

I think Graves will bring someone in. Just like last year, when we waited until the season started to bring in Fina and Roundtree, we will bring in a vet player or two this year as well. Chidi Ahanotu may indeed be one of the ones we look at.

Good research on your part for identifying him. I admit to having forgotten about him, and I don't think I've seen him play in a few years. Lord knows I didn't watch any Bills games last year.

Go Cards!!!