Why not fire Graves?

[ActingWild]

Mike finally has control of the team. Pocketbook was finally opened. He gets Green which 95% of you guys wanted and now he sucks? Cmon guys. Graves is a class act imo after meeting him and really wants to win. They will.

Who pissed sunshine and lollipops into Swd's coffee?

Seriously, who are you and what have you done with Swd?!

 

[CaptTurbo]

Who pissed sunshine and lollipops into Swd's coffee?

Seriously, who are you and what have you done with Swd?!

LOL when i meet someone I feel i understand them alot more. See if I met more of you IRL I wouldnt be so harsh in my posts.

 

[Kabin]

Time to start fresh and unload both graves and green. They've squandered their opportunities.

 

[arthurracoon]

After the season, fire Graves, green, etc...

 

[CardinalChris]

Is it really firing if he is not under contract? I suppose Arizona wants to be the only "at-will" franchise.

 

[AZCB34]

I have stated I expect Graves to be named GM but if, by some miracle of miracles he isn't...

...don't fire the guy. Find something for him to do. Reward his loyalty somehow. Twice, he has worked without a contract. He has always been front and center taking the shots...some deserved, some inflicted by Bidwillian logic. He has always been loyal to the Bidwill's. He deserves better than being kicked to the curb. And I am not talking about making him George Costanza or something (Assistant to the Travelling Secretary). Something real and meaningful, but not something that can affect the outcome of the on-field product.

 

[john h]

There has been zero discussion about firing Graves, why? This is his 4th year as VP of Operations.

His resume over his tenure (since '03 season) boasts the following success:

16 - 40 record
3 total road wins
$10 Million not spent in '06 Cap
'03 season, # 29 rushing offense
'04 season, #22 rushing offense
'05 season, # 32 rushing offense 71 yards/game
'06 season, # 32 rushing offense 69 yards/game



Please feel free to add his achievements to the list...

I do not know that firing Graves would change anything. What does he do that has anything to do with play on the field. He is not a GM. I would fire him just because he has been here among all this mess for so long and hire a real GM and give him the authority and responsibility of a GM. Let him clean house.

 

[john h]

Mike finally has control of the team. Pocketbook was finally opened. He gets Green which 95% of you guys wanted and now he sucks? Cmon guys. Graves is a class act imo after meeting him and really wants to win. They will.

Graves may be a class guy and the greatest guy on the planet but is he doing what it takes to make this a winning team? Maybe he cannot do anything as I am not sure anyone on the board know exactly what his duties are. People often talk about him like he is a GM but that is clearly not the case. It looks from where i sit (way out in Arkansas) that Michael Bidwill is really the GM no matter what his title. If you wonder who the GM is then who do you think can fire Green? Certainly not Graves. Michael Bidwill would seem to be the answer but even then I wonder if he does not go to Dad first???

 

[AZCB34]

Graves may be a class guy and the greatest guy on the planet but is he doing what it takes to make this a winning team? Maybe he cannot do anything as I am not sure anyone on the board know exactly what his duties are. People often talk about him like he is a GM but that is clearly not the case. It looks from where i sit (way out in Arkansas) that Michael Bidwill is really the GM no matter what his title. If you wonder who the GM is then who do you think can fire Green? Certainly not Graves. Michael Bidwill would seem to be the answer but even then I wonder if he does not go to Dad first???

Denny is the GM (but doesn't have unrestricted control...but is given wide latitude)
Michael is the top dog management-wise
Mr B is the final say in all things Redbird
Rod is a buffer between everyone and negotiates the 1str ounders contract...probably oversees the scouting department.

JMHO

 

[john h]

Yes, I believe there is a difference in philosophy...and in some ways it can be traced to the immortal Father-son differences in philosophy which can be traced through life itself. Bill, IMO, is risk averse whereas Michael is a risk taker. Denny sides with Michael and Rod sides with Bill because they are similar in their attitudes so the sides are natural

My guess is, Denny really thought Michael would get more money out of Bill and was left holding the bag when he didn't get the additional cash to buy more players of his liking. I also think Denny didn't emphasize to Michael what the real issues were that needed to be dealt with...maybe out of blindness and maybe out of belief.

I am beginning to get the feeling that Michael Bidwill does not have all the freedom we think he has. I think perhaps old Bill is not going to let go of complete control to anyone. When it comes to the budget I think Bill Bidwill still has the final say and he who controls the budget controls the team. Basically the Cardinals organization is not an organization but a dictatorship. Bill learned it from his father and we can only hope that when he passes on that Michael will step out of the mold. Just looking at Bill Bidwill sitting emotionless in the stands gives me the creeps. I am sitting my living room about to have a heart attack and the owner is sitting there eating ice cream with absolutely no emotion. Maybe he is crying on the inside? I doubt it! He may not even like football and it may just be a business to him. I would prefer an angry George Steinbrenner or a wild eyed Jerry Jones to at least give me the notion he cares. Steinbrenner would have fired every staff member on this team by now.

 

[earthsci]

I am beginning to get the feeling that Michael Bidwill does not have all the freedom we think he has.

That's what I'm sayin'.