Post by scorpion42 on Mar 24, 2009 15:01:25 GMT -7
Cards turn attention to home front
24 comments by Kent Somers - Mar. 23, 2009 10:31 PM
The Arizona Republic
DANA POINT, Calif. - With the shelves of the free-agent market nearly empty, the Cardinals will turn their attention in the coming weeks to some big-ticket items from their own inventory.
The quest to come to a long-term deal with inside linebacker Karlos Dansby is in its second year. A resolution to the continued contract saga of receiver Anquan Boldin is needed. The club would like to extend the contract of Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson. And running back Edgerrin James still is waiting for his release.
So far, the off-season has gone as the Cardinals had hoped, said coach Ken Whisenhunt, who pointed to the re-signing of quarterback Kurt Warner and the acquisition of cornerback Bryant McFadden from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"Signing Bryant McFadden was good for us, and obviously getting Kurt re-signed was critical," Whisenhunt said Monday at the owners meetings at the St. Regis Resort. "And I think we've been among the most active teams as far as re-signing our guys."
The remaining jobs are the toughest, however.
As reported by SI.com this week, the Cardinals would like to re-sign Boldin for less than the $10 million a year average they are paying Larry Fitzgerald. The team wants to stay in the $7 million to $9 million range, depending on how the contract is structured.
After the Super Bowl, Boldin backed away from a vow to never re-sign with the team, which the club viewed as a positive sign.
For now, the Cardinals are maintaining their stance of not trading Boldin, but that could change if talks with his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, go nowhere over the next month.
"We still recognize him (Boldin) as a core player and one that we would like to extend," General Manager Rod Graves said, "but I think we have to remain open at all times to possibilities. To this point, we have not made any considerations for a trade, and we're focused primarily on trying to make this relationship beneficial for our team."
Rosenhaus declined to comment on the negotiations but did say that he and Boldin recently had positive talks with the Cardinals.
If the Cardinals are going to trade Boldin, the opportune time to do it is before the draft on April 25-26. No teams have inquired about Boldin in recent weeks, Graves said, but that could change if it becomes apparent an extension can't be reached.
The Eagles and Giants are two potential suitors. The Eagles have 12 picks, including two in the first round, the 21st and 28th. The Giants have 10 picks, including two second-rounders.
Though Boldin's situation garners headlines, negotiations with Dansby are a more-immediate priority for the team.
"I fully expect those conversations are going to pick up after the owners meetings," Graves said.
Dansby has signed the franchise tender of $9.7 million, and the Cardinals could significantly lower that by signing him to a long-term deal.
The club is believed to be about $1.5 million under the salary cap, but cap space will not hinder the team as it moves through the off-season, Graves said.
The Cardinals could gain $5 million of cap space by releasing James, although that's not expected to happen until after the draft.
James wanted to be released right after the season in order to have a better shot at landing a featured role elsewhere.
The Cardinals, however, have paid James $25 million of the $30 million contract he signed three years ago. They figure that kind of money gives them the right to cover themselves until the need at running back has been addressed.
Meanwhile, Graves isn't ready to say the Cardinals are finished bringing in other free agents.
"I don't want to turn away and say we're completely done with free agency," he said. "I think there are still opportunities out there that can be had."
Note
The Cardinals were awarded a compensatory seventh-round draft pick, giving them eight selections. The additional seventh rounder is the 254th selection, third from the last.
24 comments by Kent Somers - Mar. 23, 2009 10:31 PM
The Arizona Republic
DANA POINT, Calif. - With the shelves of the free-agent market nearly empty, the Cardinals will turn their attention in the coming weeks to some big-ticket items from their own inventory.
The quest to come to a long-term deal with inside linebacker Karlos Dansby is in its second year. A resolution to the continued contract saga of receiver Anquan Boldin is needed. The club would like to extend the contract of Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson. And running back Edgerrin James still is waiting for his release.
So far, the off-season has gone as the Cardinals had hoped, said coach Ken Whisenhunt, who pointed to the re-signing of quarterback Kurt Warner and the acquisition of cornerback Bryant McFadden from the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"Signing Bryant McFadden was good for us, and obviously getting Kurt re-signed was critical," Whisenhunt said Monday at the owners meetings at the St. Regis Resort. "And I think we've been among the most active teams as far as re-signing our guys."
The remaining jobs are the toughest, however.
As reported by SI.com this week, the Cardinals would like to re-sign Boldin for less than the $10 million a year average they are paying Larry Fitzgerald. The team wants to stay in the $7 million to $9 million range, depending on how the contract is structured.
After the Super Bowl, Boldin backed away from a vow to never re-sign with the team, which the club viewed as a positive sign.
For now, the Cardinals are maintaining their stance of not trading Boldin, but that could change if talks with his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, go nowhere over the next month.
"We still recognize him (Boldin) as a core player and one that we would like to extend," General Manager Rod Graves said, "but I think we have to remain open at all times to possibilities. To this point, we have not made any considerations for a trade, and we're focused primarily on trying to make this relationship beneficial for our team."
Rosenhaus declined to comment on the negotiations but did say that he and Boldin recently had positive talks with the Cardinals.
If the Cardinals are going to trade Boldin, the opportune time to do it is before the draft on April 25-26. No teams have inquired about Boldin in recent weeks, Graves said, but that could change if it becomes apparent an extension can't be reached.
The Eagles and Giants are two potential suitors. The Eagles have 12 picks, including two in the first round, the 21st and 28th. The Giants have 10 picks, including two second-rounders.
Though Boldin's situation garners headlines, negotiations with Dansby are a more-immediate priority for the team.
"I fully expect those conversations are going to pick up after the owners meetings," Graves said.
Dansby has signed the franchise tender of $9.7 million, and the Cardinals could significantly lower that by signing him to a long-term deal.
The club is believed to be about $1.5 million under the salary cap, but cap space will not hinder the team as it moves through the off-season, Graves said.
The Cardinals could gain $5 million of cap space by releasing James, although that's not expected to happen until after the draft.
James wanted to be released right after the season in order to have a better shot at landing a featured role elsewhere.
The Cardinals, however, have paid James $25 million of the $30 million contract he signed three years ago. They figure that kind of money gives them the right to cover themselves until the need at running back has been addressed.
Meanwhile, Graves isn't ready to say the Cardinals are finished bringing in other free agents.
"I don't want to turn away and say we're completely done with free agency," he said. "I think there are still opportunities out there that can be had."
Note
The Cardinals were awarded a compensatory seventh-round draft pick, giving them eight selections. The additional seventh rounder is the 254th selection, third from the last.