We Will We Will Mock You! An Eye Toward the Future

[slanidrac16]

If our plan is to draft an heir apparent WILB in anticipation of Dansby leaving, I will dive right back into utterly ripping Rod Graves and this organization to shreds. It would be the STUPIDEST idea in the frickin' world for us. AT BEST it would likely be a lateral move. AT BEST. And we do NOT need lateral moves. We need to improve our talent level, not try to hopefully maintain it.

As will I. You simply do not draft a player just to let very good players walk. It's incredibly stupid to draft a player hoping beyond all hope that you made the right chice , watch him develop and grow , only to let him walk when he starts to contribute and blossom into the player you HOPED he would be.

 

[slanidrac16]

Finally...wouldn't it be something if the Cardinals shocked the football world and took QB Joe Flacco of Delaware with the #16 pick? Before you write me off as having gone totally insane...think about this for a second. The Cards still don't know what they have in Matt Leinart or even whether he will be able to hold up physically after two injury-riddled, less than stellar seasons. Kurt Warner is going to be 37 and is in the final year of his contract...and Whiz won a Super Bowl with a 6-6 rifle-armed QB named Ben Roethlisberger. When one watches Flacco, who may have an even better arm than Big Ben's, it's pretty enticing to think of him in a Cardinals' uniform with the WRs we have in Q and Fitz...and, get this, a TE in Ben Patrick, who was a favorite target of Flacco's at Delaware a year ago.

While scouting Patrick, maybe the Cards saw something special in Flacco, who not only possesses a big time arm, but has rare pocket vision.

You can call me insane because now, having spent the whole post predicting what Graves and the Cards will do...here's what I would do, if I could get Atlanta to agree to a trade that would likely entice them...

QB Matt Lienart to the Atlanta Falcons for RB Jerious Norwood, their #34 pick (Round 2) and their 4th round pick. I know...the cap ramifications are pretty severe...but I would do it anyway. In Norwood we get the perfect speed/homerun compliment to Edge...the plan would be to start Kurt Warner (who, IMO, should start ahead of Leinart this year anyway) for one more year or two while Whiz grooms Flacco.

1. QB Joe Flacco, Delaware. By trading Leinart to Atlanta, that means they won't take Matt Ryan at #3...which is key, because, there's a chance that if Ryan is off the board, that the Ravens could take Flacco at #8. Now the Ravens take Ryan at #8 and we get Flacco...although I's still worry about him getting by Carolina and Chicago.


Step away from the Bong, take a nap or buy and NFL franchise.

Think back to the game against the Chicago Bears. Leinart came into that game as a rookie and picked the Bears apart.
To me there is no reason not to think there is much more of that to come. There is reason to believe that he will be an above average QB, which is all any team is really hoping for. He will be going into his 3rd year and has shown flashes of what he brings to the table.
I'm sorry, there is 1 concern and that is to see him remain healthy for a full season. But I am not ready to write him off as injury prone or fragile just quite yet.

 

[Duckjake]

Slan, I think trading Leinart to Atlanta would be a public relations nightmare, because Matt is the face of the franchise and a walking advertisement for the team, and would have media everywhere saying the Cards were up to their old tricks. Imo it would cause 1000s of casual fans to turn their backs on the franchise, kill merchandise sales, and cause a drop in season ticket sales next year.

The Cards would then be heavily under the gun to win, and win big, or lose all the ground they've made recently with the city of Phoenix. As soon as Warner got hurt that chance at salvaging the franchise would be over.

The overall perception of the Cards is changing, in no small part due to having Matt Leinart on the team. Your scenario would change it right back.

 

[bg7brd]

I don't think the trade scenario is that far fetched. I just don't think Atlanta would go for it. I wouldn't pick Flacco at 16 but if he's on the board at 34 when Atl picks I would consider it. I'm not a Leinart basher by any means but I think Flacco might fit Whiz's style better. It could be a win win for both teams.

 

[nidan]

HBoldin is another real question. Will the team also do right by him. And Wilson runs out after next season too.

They already reupped Boldin early once, why would you think they wouldn't do it again ?

 

[WildBB]

They already reupped Boldin early once, why would you think they wouldn't do it again ?

Because of excessive demands by his agent in their opinion. Trade rumors are swirling allready. But what Fitz got makes his deal ludicris.

 

[Garthshort]

Graves' Presser

Mitch, please listen to Rod Graves being interviewed by Paul Calvassi, again. What I heard Rod say, or thought I heard, was that there are a couple of good tackles/OL at the top of the Draft, and good depth at the CB position, I didn't hear depth at the OL. Let me know what you heard. Thanks.