When will the signings start happening?

[KingofCards]

Soon?

 

[vince56]

(twirling moustache) "when you least expect it, hahahaha "

 

[az jam]

Will start two weeks before training camp in reverse order from the draft (i.e 7th round, 6th round picks signed first). First round pick signed just before camp opens. As an ex-Viking fan, I can't recall any draft holdouts when Denny was their coach.

 

[bankybruce]

the bears already have two picks signed, both there 4th rounders

 

[First Down Guy]

Great topic!

A few years ago this question would have been less important because top draft picks held out, and free agents felt neglected in contract negotiations.

However, last year was the first time in FOREVER that I remember the Cardinal organization getting everybody signed and in camp on time. If I remember right, Pace (our #2 pick) signed a couple of days before camp and Bryant Johnson (our #1) signed and got in on day 2 of camp. It really looks to me like the Michael Bidwill/Rod Graves combo are approaching signings with more creativity and just doing a better job altogether with the contract negotiations. Add to that the fact that they've added John Idzik as Senior Director of Football Operations, and I have a lot of confidence that we will see another year of good work at the table. Although a lot of this happens "behind the scene" to average fans like me, I think the handling the contract negotiations, and ultimately the signings, have a lot to do with the moral and tone of how the players approach the season.

There will be a flurry of signings for lower round guys starting about week 2 of July. But because of the way slotting goes, it wouldn't suprize me if we don't get done with all of the draft signings until a few days before camp starts.

Man, I'm ready for this season to start!!

 

[ajcardfan]

Actually, First Down Guy, both Pace and Johnson missed the first few days of camp. It seemed like they were in on time, because this is the Cardinals we're talking about. The cool thing about it, and it was cool even though they missed a handful of practices, was HOW they got into camp. The Cards used the "bells and whistles" necessary to avoid a long holdout. So, there is realistic hope this year that we won't have a big holdout. Or, even, have everyone in on time.

The last few years, 3 or 4, we've actually gotten ahead of most of the league signing draft picks up til round 2. In fact, the last three years we had everyone signed from 3rd round down before we left the June practices. I think we may be off to a little slower start this year because we replaced Nienkark with Idzik. But, I'm not concerned about those deals, I'm concerned with the first two. Dansby even more than Fitzgerald.

 

[CardShark]

Last year they finally got past a major hurdle. Insuring the players against injury until their contract is worked out. At least they can work out with the team.

 

[joeshmo]

Only about 20 out of 255 picks have been signed so far. Most of the signings come after the July 4th weekend, when the front office staffs start coming back from their vacations.

 

[Bobcat]

Will start two weeks before training camp in reverse order from the draft (i.e 7th round, 6th round picks signed first). First round pick signed just before camp opens. As an ex-Viking fan, I can't recall any draft holdouts when Denny was their coach.

Bet we sign our 1st before we sign our 2nd rounder...!!!

Allan

 

[lrk27]

I wouldn't get too excited about Fitzgerald being in on time. I think he wants to be in on time, but his negotiation is going to wind up being tricky. The top picks in this years draft will have more problems than usual because of the trade between NY and SD.

Both Eli Manning and Philip Rivers will expect #1 overall money and the brothers Poston said that they are expecting to negotiate Kellen Winslow as a #1 overall pick.

This means that Fitzgerald at #3 is stuck in the middle of other people's problems. As much as he wants to get in on time, there is a lot of pressure on the agents from the players union to sign in order, so that they all get fair market value. If Fitz signed ahead of Rivers, Manning, and Winslow, the union wouldn't be happy. I think he wants to be in Flagstaff on August 1, but the politics of signing picks may make that difficult.

 

[40yearfan]

I wouldn't get too excited about Fitzgerald being in on time. I think he wants to be in on time, but his negotiation is going to wind up being tricky. The top picks in this years draft will have more problems than usual because of the trade between NY and SD.

Both Eli Manning and Philip Rivers will expect #1 overall money and the brothers Poston said that they are expecting to negotiate Kellen Winslow as a #1 overall pick.

This means that Fitzgerald at #3 is stuck in the middle of other people's problems. As much as he wants to get in on time, there is a lot of pressure on the agents from the players union to sign in order, so that they all get fair market value. If Fitz signed ahead of Rivers, Manning, and Winslow, the union wouldn't be happy. I think he wants to be in Flagstaff on August 1, but the politics of signing picks may make that difficult.

Irk27, since the NFL has established a rookie pool hasn't the first round draft picks contract amounts been very similar from year to year with only a slight rise in them on a yearly basis? Because there's only so much money to go around for the draft class, the difference in dollars from last year to this year should be almost insignificant. Therefore, if Fitz signed for say 2 or 3% over what last years' third round pick received, he should be right in the ball park.

 

[TruColor]

I would have signed them all if it weren't for those meddling kids...

 

[lrk27]

Irk27, since the NFL has established a rookie pool hasn't the first round draft picks contract amounts been very similar from year to year with only a slight rise in them on a yearly basis? Because there's only so much money to go around for the draft class, the difference in dollars from last year to this year should be almost insignificant. Therefore, if Fitz signed for say 2 or 3% over what last years' third round pick received, he should be right in the ball park.

Yes, he will probably get a deal almost identical to last year's #3 pick. Again, I don't think working out the details of his contract will be the problem. Fitz knows he went #3 and accepts that, the problem is that three different guys think they deserve the money of a #1 overall, which will delay the signings of the top 6 picks. Unfortunately, depending on how his agent wants to play this, Fitz may not have much control over when he signs. If he's not in on time, it won't be because of a holdout, just that the deal isn't done yet for other reasons.

 

[Tangodnzr]

Yes, he will probably get a deal almost identical to last year's #3 pick. Again, I don't think working out the details of his contract will be the problem. Fitz knows he went #3 and accepts that, the problem is that three different guys think they deserve the money of a #1 overall, which will delay the signings of the top 6 picks. Unfortunately, depending on how his agent wants to play this, Fitz may not have much control over when he signs. If he's not in on time, it won't be because of a holdout, just that the deal isn't done yet for other reasons.

I don't buy this arguement much at all.

I'm willing to wager that there will be no major problem signing Fitz at all. What anyone else is doing is immaterial and a moot point.
The general slots are there. This isn't Larry Fitzgerald, dumb ego maniac going to a team he knows nothing about. Denny Green is like a father to this kid. He's smart. Let all those other dumb asses play their stupid games, miss practice, create ill will, etc. Anyone that thinks his agent has more influence over him than Dennis Green does, needs a wake up call. I'd say.

All that BS ain't gonna happen with Fitz. Wanna bet on it?????

Edited to add: I don't know who you are Irk, but Skkorp keeps saying you have "inside info". I really would be interested to know, just for curiousity's sake exactly what your "pipeline" is and why you seem you feel your stated scenario is so likely. (I realize that's basically a rhetorical question, as it will never be answered). It sounds like too much bureaucrat-speak to me. Whether it be you, or you are just repeating what you claim to "hear".

 

[Evil Ash]

Edited to add: I don't know who you are Irk, but Skkorp keeps saying you have "inside info". I really would be interested to know, just for curiousity's sake exactly what your "pipeline" is and why you seem you feel your stated scenario is so likely. (I realize that's basically a rhetorical question, as it will never be answered). It sounds like too much bureaucrat-speak to me. Whether it be you, or you are just repeating what you claim to "hear".

Lrk is Luke Kohler, the ASU/Cardinals insider for XTRA Sports 910. He knows what he is talking about, so listen to him.

BTW Luke: Good call on the Lightning winning the Stanley Cup

 

[KingofCards]

I, for one, appreciate lrk's insight on the board.


I just wish he would post more often.

 

[Tangodnzr]

I'm not knocking his presence on the board. That's great.

That still doesn't mean I agree with what he was saying about Fitz not signing because of the "pressure" of what's happening with those 3 other picks.

I still don't buy that, I don't care who he is. A press pass, doesn't automatically make you correct in everything you say. No disrespect there, I just don't buy the argument he laid out.

 

[Brighteyes]

For the record -- first day of training camp was 7/28/03; on that day an agreement was announced -- a five year deal with Pace.

Len Pasquerelli wrote an article (ESPN, dated 7/28 8) )about how this makes it almost impossible to sign Johnson, as there was no money left, and predicted it would be a long time before Bryant appeared in Cardinal red.

( http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1586467.html )

The red ended up on Len's face, however, as Johnson signed 'hours' later. Both men made their first practice the afternoon of 7/30.

(No, I'm not super memory lady. I merely found the old articles on the internet.)

 

[maddogkf]

Why Postons think KW2 is worthy of #1 money is what's wrong with sports today.

Good stuff as always Luke. Thanks for the blurb.

 

[vikesfan]

Uh there will be no problem with Fitz. The NFL has established a procedure the procedure is you get what your slot is worth plus a slight raise.

 

[ajcardfan]

Uh there will be no problem with Fitz. The NFL has established a procedure the procedure is you get what your slot is worth plus a slight raise.

Uh, if it's that easy, then why are there multiple holdouts every single year? The NFL does not have true slotting like the NBA does. Yes, there are parameters, but there is a lot of wiggle room in how the deal can be set up.

 

[joeshmo]

Why Postons think KW2 is worthy of #1 money is what's wrong with sports today.

Good stuff as always Luke. Thanks for the blurb.

The Postons never said they think he is worthy of a #1 pick money. All they said was that he is a #1 caliber player. Big difference. Winslow himself denounced that idea as a load of crap in several interviews. It was just the media twisting their words around thats all.

Winslow's negotiations will not have an impact what so ever on Fitz negotiations and shouldnt even be put in the same breath.

The only possible stumbling block wll be Manning/Rivers negotiations.

And even then I doubt it will be a problem, becuase both teams will have both signed in time becuase they are big parts of their offseasons, and holdouts would be huge negative media to them.

 

[spanky1]

Rivers was drafted #4.......plain and simple. That he was traded for the #1 pick (Manning) is immaterial to any contract posturing. NY will pay Manning #1 money. SD will not pay Rivers #1 money. Rivers will not demand #1 money anyway. He knows that he has a legitimate chance to start the season as #1 and that any time lost will hurt him too much.

Fitz will not be a problem signing. He will end up being our highest pick without a holdout ever.......pure and simple.

The Cardinals will not drop any balls this year in contract negotiations. If anything, I can see them doing the unthinkable and signing Dockett to a contract that is better than his #64 pick warrants.

 

[vikesfan]

I dont know about there being so many hold outs do you have stats on that. I recall very few. The one year I recall a hold out it was McKinnie and it was because the Vikes wanted to pay him less then his slot.

I believe the formula is what your slot got last year plus 5%.

 

[lrk27]

The Postons never said they think he is worthy of a #1 pick money. All they said was that he is a #1 caliber player. Big difference. Winslow himself denounced that idea as a load of crap in several interviews. It was just the media twisting their words around thats all.

Winslow's negotiations will not have an impact what so ever on Fitz negotiations and shouldnt even be put in the same breath.

The only possible stumbling block wll be Manning/Rivers negotiations.

And even then I doubt it will be a problem, becuase both teams will have both signed in time becuase they are big parts of their offseasons, and holdouts would be huge negative media to them.

I'm not saying that it definitely will be a problem, just that it could be a problem. I hope he is in on time, but the Winslow deal will effect him in that the picks usually go in reverse order in the first round. Poston said he will negotiate for Winslow as a player who could've gone anywhere in the top six. Not #6, but anywhere in the top 6. Winslow has said he is happy with last years #6 money, but he hired Poston, and that is where the power now is.

I don't know that it will be a huge problem for Fitz, I am just offering a warning that there are a lot of circumstances out of the Cardinals hands that may make a timely signing difficult.