The Official "Sign Chidi Ahanatou Now" Thread

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by 40yearfan
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.

Really - you'd rather take a chance of Fred Wakefield who has shown aboslutely NOTHING in his entire career than take a chance on a guy who is "old" even though he's only a nine-year veteran. Maybe it's a guy like THAT who HAS HAD SUCCESS that could teach our kids to play today, maybe give Kenny King some pointers he liekley won't get from Mean Joe Greene's lack of educational skills. It seems like people don't want him only as an excuse for letting Graves off the hook. This team needs to start winning games in order to attract free agents - it also needs to show that when probelms arise - they go out and address those problems - via FA or maybe GOD FORBID going outside the damn organization to correct something - instead of promoting from within (Graves, Mac) or just keeping defensive coordinators and coaches who should have been run out of town a long time ago. The answers are not within this organization - sometimes outside help is needed - it would appear that somone would recoginze this after five years of being in the crapper.

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by AZCB34
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.

Look at the numbers on Chidi. B-los' D was as bad, if not worse, than Arizona's was, and was totally overhauled this season. Chidi, on a bad D, put up KVB-esque numbers. That's a fact. He had fewer tackles, but more sacks.

Personally, I think that Graves, Mac, and others look at KVB's contributions in the lockerroom, weight room, during warmups, and in practices, and overvalue his contributions where it matters: on the field. He has done nothing to validate his salary number or draft position. In Chidi, you can get a player for a year or two at the same contribution for 10% of the price (at or near the veteran minimum, with a modest signing bonus, if any). Why wouldn't you want to do that? The guy is a player.

 

[40yearfan]

Originally posted by kerouac9
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.

Kerouac, it's obvious you don't have people working for you or if you do, they're probably all talking about you when you're back is turned. First rule of business----your employees are your business----take care of them and they'll take care of you. Spending money just to spend it is stupid and terrible business practice. No wonder your a Democrat. All you want to do is spend other peoples money.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Spending money just to spend it? Our starting DE went down - that effects depth and pouts a player who most of us and coaches likely do not value very much in a starting position. Personally - sign him even if it's just for rotations - this team needs depth right - aren't we always saying how GREAT the depth is - well it took a shot - we have a ridiculous amount of cap room for this reason - take advantage of it. By the way - if this team is runing The Cards as a busniess then we're f@cked. Football is enterianment and like the movies it ain't no business - it's SHOWBUSINESS -regular rules don't apply.

 

[40yearfan]

Originally posted by cheesebeef
Really - you'd rather take a chance of Fred Wakefield who has shown aboslutely NOTHING in his entire career than take a chance on a guy who is "old" even though he's only a nine-year veteran. Maybe it's a guy like THAT who HAS HAD SUCCESS that could teach our kids to play today, maybe give Kenny King some pointers he liekley won't get from Mean Joe Greene's lack of educational skills. It seems like people don't want him only as an excuse for letting Graves off the hook. This team needs to start winning games in order to attract free agents - it also needs to show that when probelms arise - they go out and address those problems - via FA or maybe GOD FORBID going outside the damn organization to correct something - instead of promoting from within (Graves, Mac) or just keeping defensive coordinators and coaches who should have been run out of town a long time ago. The answers are not within this organization - sometimes outside help is needed - it would appear that somone would recoginze this after five years of being in the crapper.

Well maybe I disagree with you about Wakefield. As such my take on the matter is different than yours, but since you and kerouac are such experts, my opinions aren't worth ****. You jump on Tango's butt and then turn around and do the same thing. Talk about do as I say and not as I do.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Signing this guy would remind me of another move the Cards made a couple of years ago out of desperation. Anyone remember the signing of Tony McCoy to help out on the DL.

Ahanatou played on very good defenses that made him look better than he actually is. My guess is that is the reason no teams have signed him.

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by 40yearfan
Kerouac, it's obvious you don't have people working for you or if you do, they're probably all talking about you when you're back is turned. First rule of business----your employees are your business----take care of them and they'll take care of you. Spending money just to spend it is stupid and terrible business practice. No wonder your a Democrat. All you want to do is spend other peoples money.

I'm certain that my co-workers talk about me when my back is turned.

I bet the Detriot Tigers are also excited about their salaries and are not at all bothered by their non-contention year after year.

These aren't desk-jockeys, they're professional athletes, and they care whether they win or lose. To see this, you need only look at the annual pilgrimage of players out of the Valley to competitive franchises.

I fail to see how these players deserve a finanical reward for nothing more than making the team. They already have an incentive to make the team: it's called their salary.

 

[40yearfan]

Originally posted by cheesebeef
Spending money just to spend it? Our starting DE went down - that effects depth and pouts a player who most of us and coaches likely do not value very much in a starting position. Personally - sign him even if it's just for rotations - this team needs depth right - aren't we always saying how GREAT the depth is - well it took a shot - we have a ridiculous amount of cap room for this reason - take advantage of it. By the way - if this team is runing The Cards as a busniess then we're f@cked. Football is enterianment and like the movies it ain't no business - it's SHOWBUSINESS -regular rules don't apply.

Why is it when ever a player becomes available, certain people on this board think that he has to be better than what we have?

 

[Rivercard]

Originally posted by 40yearfan
Why is it when ever a player becomes available, certain people on this board think that he has to be better than what we have?

Because we are thin on the DL and the depth guys we have don't seem that great.

 

[40yearfan]

Originally posted by kerouac9


I fail to see how these players deserve a finanical reward for nothing more than making the team. They already have an incentive to make the team: it's called their salary.

You're not much of a team player, are you kerouac? Has your boss ever given you an unexpected bonus? Think about it.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Originally posted by 40yearfan
Why is it when ever a player becomes available, certain people on this board think that he has to be better than what we have?

He's been available all year. No one signed him this off season.

 

[kerouac9]

40year, what part of this do you not understand: The Cardinal braintrust did not want Fred Wakefield to be a starter, either. They looked at the roster, and agreed with cheese and I. We drafted Pace to take KVB's place on the right side, KVB would move to the left side, and Wakefield would be on the bench.

Why do you think you know more about football than Graves and Mac?

We have in Ahanotu a player where you know what you're getting. He's not going to be a star, but neither is Fred Wakefield, ever. Even as a rotational guy, he's better than Dennis Johnson or Alton Moore, who are both listed behind Wakefield on the depth chart.

What is the downside to this? Two years, $500,000 per season, $75,000 signing bonus.

 

[Northern Card]

Originally posted by 40yearfan
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.

Where does this attitude problem come from? There was no mention of it last year in Buffalo. I do remember though, that he was no fan of the SAPP personality when in Tampa.

And he doesn't have "injury" problems - he did, however, miss a few games with an ankle sprain, which is neither here nor there...

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by 40yearfan
You're not much of a team player, are you kerouac? Has your boss ever given you an unexpected bonus? Think about it.

Yeah, when the company does well. This company is not doing well. It's one of the least valuable in the league, and is in the basement of the league in all revenue-generating categories.

 

[40yearfan]

Originally posted by Rivercard
Because we are thin on the DL and the depth guys we have don't seem that great.

As compared to who? No one team has every position covered to their satisifaction. Look at the Eagles. How many starters did they loose this off-season. They train and promote from with-in. Wouldn't you like the Cards to have thier won/loss record?

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by 40yearfan
Why is it when ever a player becomes available, certain people on this board think that he has to be better than what we have?

because I think what we have for the most part sucks - at least on the d-line - and Im not sure how you can argue any different ly. We have watched Russel Davis and Bell for a couple years and they have never shown anything to me except getting driven backwards - Fred Wakefield has never shown anything to me except he is tall - I give pace and Bryant some leeway ehere because they are rooks and have better atheltic skills than the others mentioned - they also haven't been members of D-lines that haven't been able to stop runing back or get pressure on QBs - so to me - that means we still need another DE and DT - My question is this to you - how can you have watched tyhis team for a couple years and not wanted to at least rbing guys in to supplant the D-lIne.

In addition to that - nice gerenalization - there a re sepcific players that I think can help this team - do I want Ryan McNEIL - No - he;s old, slow and I like our secondary. Did I want Andre Riuson - no - even though I think our WRs are extremely suspect - but that rumor was just ridiculous. My question is this - this was not a good football team lat year. We DO NOT have a good track record of finding diamonds in the rough - if we did , we wouldn't be so damn pathteic most years. So why am I supposed to believe that the question marks at DE, DT, WR are just gonna magically morph into great finds for us this year. We're due? My question is why not bring guys in?

As far as Tony McCoy - that guy NEVER played as well as Chidi - the comparison makes very little sense to me.

 

[40yearfan]

Originally posted by kerouac9
Yeah, when the company does well. This company is not doing well. It's one of the least valuable in the league, and is in the basement of the league in all revenue-generating categories.

Is that the players fault? Sometimes when you're mired in mud, the best way to get out of it is to exhort your people to climb out themselves. Money is a great motivator.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by MadCardDisease
He's been available all year. No one signed him this off season.

Wasn't that the same with Fina? Or am I confused?

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by Northern Card
Where does this attitude problem come from? There was no mention of it last year in Buffalo. I do remember though, that he was no fan of the SAPP personality when in Tampa.

And he doesn't have "injury" problems - he did, however, miss a few games with an ankle sprain, which is neither here nor there...

Yeah - where did the attitude problems and injury concerns stuff come from?

 

[40yearfan]

Originally posted by kerouac9
40year, what part of this do you not understand: The Cardinal braintrust did not want Fred Wakefield to be a starter, either. They looked at the roster, and agreed with cheese and I. We drafted Pace to take KVB's place on the right side, KVB would move to the left side, and Wakefield would be on the bench.

Why do you think you know more about football than Graves and Mac?

We have in Ahanotu a player where you know what you're getting. He's not going to be a star, but neither is Fred Wakefield, ever. Even as a rotational guy, he's better than Dennis Johnson or Alton Moore, who are both listed behind Wakefield on the depth chart.

What is the downside to this? Two years, $500,000 per season, $75,000 signing bonus.

So on top of everything else, you can read Graves and McGinnis minds. You certainly are something.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by 40yearfan
Is that the players fault? Sometimes when you're mired in mud, the best way to get out of it is to exhort your people to climb out themselves. Money is a great motivator.

Money may be a great motivator - but ultimately motivation falls by the way of talent and experience - we seem to be short on those on the D-line. You know it's the reason they went after Colvin, Holliday, darafted Pacem, wanted McDougle, would have taken Robertson . . .

 

[40yearfan]

I constantly see people on this board talk about how it takes 2 to 3 years for a player to reach his potential and not to depend on our new WR's to be any good for the next 2 to 3 years. Why doesn't that also apply to our young DL's? Maybe now that they are seasoned, Wakefield, Bryant, Bell, etc. are ready to have breakout years. Why bring in an old guy who's going to take reps away from them?

Also, the people who want this guy are the ones saying we are going to have a hard time winning 5 games this year, so why bother bringing in someone who will only be here for a couple of years. Let's season our young guys and play for next year.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Originally posted by cheesebeef
Wasn't that the same with Fina? Or am I confused?

Somewhat. Fina was Cut during the offseason due to high salary/injury issues.

Fina was signed after week 1 so that if the Cards decided to cut him his entire salary wouldn't count against the cap.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Originally posted by MadCardDisease
Somewhat. Fina was Cut during the offseason to high salary/injury issues.

Fina was signed after week 1 so that if the Cards decided to cut him his entire salary wouldn't count against the cap.

But he did linger around during the offseason correct. There are reasons guys are out of football - teams wait around because most times they can afford to - I personally don't think the Cards can treat themsleves like any other team - we are coming from such a disadvantage - especially overcoming the media's ribbing of us, that we can't take such a passive attack - if we wait like everyone else for late cuts - do you think those guys are gonna come here rather than play for somneone who has a real chance and histroy of winning. It's not like we're gonna be offereing anyone who gets cut multi-million dollar contracts. The money will all be relatively equal and players are gonna choose the best teams to play for - IMO. Besides getting a guy in now gives him a better opporutnity to actually become part of the team, rather than learning on the fly.

 

[40yearfan]

Originally posted by cheesebeef
Money may be a great motivator - but ultimately motivation falls by the way of talent and experience - we seem to be short on those on the D-line. You know it's the reason they went after Colvin, Holliday, darafted Pacem, wanted McDougle, would have taken Robertson . . .

Yes and because we didn't get them, according to you, we are not going to win many games this year, so why grab a guy who may only help us this year?