Why the hell did Graves get an extension, again?

[Shzm13]

Failed to sign Dansby for 3 consecutive years. Failed to resign Boldin. Failed to bring in any big names other than Edge. Hell, if it weren't for Fitz reconstructing his deal, we probably dont even keep enough players to make our superbowl run. Whats the point in "saving" money by not spending on Dansby/Rolle/Q if were not using it to sign anybody whos on their level of play?


/rant.]

 

[clif]

two way street.

 

[Buckybird]

Failed to sign Dansby for 3 consecutive years. Failed to resign Boldin. Failed to bring in any big names other than Edge. Hell, if it weren't for Fitz reconstructing his deal, we probably dont even keep enough players to make our superbowl run. Whats the point in "saving" money by not spending on Dansby/Rolle/Q if were not using it to sign anybody whos on their level of play?


/rant.]

The only one he will be give is his own. Thats pretty jacked up isn't it?

 

[wilycoyote24]

Wow, can we stop this? Do you think if Graves was told "You can spend as much money as you want!" he wouldn't overpay everyone as others will do. I'm happy Boldin and all his crying is gone. He is older and breaking down already. Dansby would have never signed in the past unless we gave him Peyton money. Move on to a topic that hasn't been talked about every day of every season, please!

 

[WildBB]

Graves doesn't operate in a vacuum. Stuff still comes down from the top. He's just the front guy.

 

[Buckybird]

Wow, can we stop this?

We don't live in Iraq...yet.

 

[wilycoyote24]

We don't live in Iraq...yet.

Because Iraqis appeal to each other's maturity of knowing when they are beating a dead horse?

 

[sundevilscott]

I am really staying patient rather then the past when I might freak out. If we end up the next couple days by losing Boldin, Dansby, Rolle and Ware I will be expecting us to sign some with the 8 team rule(I know Boldin isn't involved in that). I hope that we can be really successful in the draft.

 

[40yearfan]

We aren't even past the first day of free agency and this crap starts already? Unbelievable.

 

[Duckjake]

I am really staying patient rather then the past when I might freak out. If we end up the next couple days by losing Boldin, Dansby, Rolle and Ware I will be expecting us to sign some with the 8 team rule(I know Boldin isn't involved in that). I hope that we can be really successful in the draft.

Maybe but can any team lose a starting QB, starting ILB, starting Safety, starting OLB and a starter at WR in the same off season and still do well the next year? Especially when they don't like to start rookies right away.

 

[ajcardfan]

Maybe but can any team lose a starting QB, starting ILB, starting Safety, starting OLB and a starter at WR in the same off season and still do well the next year? Especially when they don't like to start rookies right away.

It sure looks to me like the Graves and Whiz are thinking past next season. They just got extensions, so they are doing what's best long term rather than just next season. Yeah, they could've freaked out and fantically tagged Rolle and Dansby, extended Boldin, etc. But, would that really guarantee much of anything next year with a team that, to be honest, relied so heavily on one special QB?

JMO.

 

[splitsecond]

the sky is falling the sky is falling

 

[WildBB]

It sure looks to me like the Graves and Whiz are thinking past next season. They just got extensions, so they are doing what's best long term rather than just next season. Yeah, they could've freaked out and fantically tagged Rolle and Dansby, extended Boldin, etc. But, would that really guarantee much of anything next year with a team that, to be honest, relied so heavily on one special QB?

JMO.

The Beanie and tough as nails D era are upon us. We need to work some on the latter!

 

[sundevilscott]

I think people need to have patience around here. The better we get the more teams will want our players.

 

[Snakester]

So far this off-season blows. But hey, it's just the first day right. I'm sure Graves will go out and replace all of the players we are losing with better ones. Really though, if Graves loses all these guys and replaces them with a couple of has beens and some draft picks this will without a doubt be the worst off season in the last thirty years. Instead of adding a few players and going back to the superbowl we might end up with a losing record.

 

[abomb]

I like Graves.

 

[Duckjake]

So far this off-season blows. But hey, it's just the first day right. I'm sure Graves will go out and replace all of the players we are losing with better ones. Really though, if Graves loses all these guys and replaces them with a couple of has beens and some draft picks this will without a doubt be the worst off season in the last thirty years. Instead of adding a few players and going back to the superbowl we might end up with a losing record.

Just for reference the last time the Cards lost this many starters during one off season without a coaching change was spring of 2003. We all know how that worked out.

I remember now how many people were saying that it didn't matter that the guys were leaving because the team wasn't any good anyway.

But I don't think we'll finish dead last in points scored and points allowed and rely on a miracle win to keep from having the worst record in the NFL this season though.

 

[Unsterblich856]

Matt Leinart is going to replace Warner. He's been the QBOF, his time has come.
Steve Breaston is a 1k a year type receiver and Early Doucet is a beast.
Rashad Johnson terrorized the SEC. Though he didn't have a stellar rookie campaign, he was just a rookie.
Will Witherspoon and Larry Foote are potential replacements for Dansby, and I'd expect they'll get a great player like Sean Weatherspoon.

Why are you complaining? These are players that did not want to play for us. We should commend Graves for having the foresight to line up replacements before they left.

 

[DoTheDew]

Failed to sign Dansby for 3 consecutive years. Failed to resign Boldin. Failed to bring in any big names other than Edge. Hell, if it weren't for Fitz reconstructing his deal, we probably dont even keep enough players to make our superbowl run. Whats the point in "saving" money by not spending on Dansby/Rolle/Q if were not using it to sign anybody whos on their level of play?


/rant.]

I wonder if there are threads like this on Steelers message boards every other year when they let guys walk for nothing.

 

[DoTheDew]

Matt Leinart is going to replace Warner. He's been the QBOF, his time has come.
Steve Breaston is a 1k a year type receiver and Early Doucet is a beast.
Rashad Johnson terrorized the SEC. Though he didn't have a stellar rookie campaign, he was just a rookie.
Will Witherspoon and Larry Foote are potential replacements for Dansby, and I'd expect they'll get a great player like Sean Weatherspoon.

Why are you complaining? These are players that did not want to play for us. We should commend Graves for having the foresight to line up replacements before they left.

Imagine the commentators struggling if we had a LB cover that consisted of Witherspoon and Weatherspoon.

 

[Duckjake]

I wonder if there are threads like this on Steelers message boards every other year when they let guys walk for nothing.

Go to nfl.com/teams and go to the Steelers. Check out their depth chart and come back and tell us how many guys they have that have played for any other team than the Steelers. Also look at how many starters they have with 3+years on the team.

Also look at the Cards roster in 2008 and see how many guys they had with 3 or more years on the team. Compare that to the 2003 Cardinals.

Then tell me its ok to let your veterans go and replace them with rookies and one year wonders like Terrance Holt and Al Johnson.

 

[Hypothesis]

Go to nfl.com/teams and go to the Steelers. Check out their depth chart and come back and tell us how many guys they have that have played for any other team than the Steelers. Also look at how many starters they have with 3+years on the team.

Also look at the Cards roster in 2008 and see how many guys they had with 3 or more years on the team. Compare that to the 2003 Cardinals.

Then tell me its ok to let your veterans go and replace them with rookies and one year wonders like Terrance Holt and Al Johnson.

I agree with ya there...but...the Steelers have been doing it the right way for more than 3 years. We're starting to get on track now with stronger drafts and better written contracts. It'll take a little while before we are on their level. We're starting to do what they have always done. Develop their own players through the draft and signing only lower to mid tier FA's for depth. Sadly however, the poor practices of the Cardinals Front Office are having a dramatic effect now, but since Whiz arrived, our drafts have been pretty solid overall, the contracts are being written well and with the exception of Johnson and Holt, our FA signings have been pretty good.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Like everyone in management, Graves got his extension because he has the ability to implement the will of the ownership. He can make the hard and unpopular decisions that no one likes.

Do you get pissed at your manager? He is just the filter for someone above him.

If you don't like this off season the blame rests solely on the Bidwill's. Personally I hope we take a step back to take 3 steps forward later.

 

[Duckjake]

I agree with ya there...but...the Steelers have been doing it the right way for more than 3 years. We're starting to get on track now with stronger drafts and better written contracts. It'll take a little while before we are on their level. We're starting to do what they have always done. Develop their own players through the draft and signing only lower to mid tier FA's for depth. Sadly however, the poor practices of the Cardinals Front Office are having a dramatic effect now, but since Whiz arrived, our drafts have been pretty solid overall, the contracts are being written well and with the exception of Johnson and Holt, our FA signings have been pretty good.

I hear you but it's just really frustrating when you are a big believer in Veteran players winning championships and just when your favorite team gets to the point where they have mostly veteran players you lose several of them with not much in either talent or experience to replace them.

 

[Shane]

Personally I hope we take a step back to take 3 steps forward later.

That is exactly what we are doing IMO. Im actually excited for it!