Free-agency rundown: Depleted Cards don’t expect freefall
Article By cbrown.tsn on 6th March, 2010
As free agency rolls into Sunday, some thoughts to ponder, with plenty of players still on the market:
Linebacker Karlos Dansby is one of several key losses for the Cardinals. 1. Which team has changed most dramatically since the offseason? The Cardinals. They continued their active offseason Saturday night, acquiring safety Kerry Rhodes from the Jets, in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2010, and a seventh-round pick in 2011.
I still view the Cardinals as the team to beat in the NFC West. But think about the players they have lost, not only during the last few days – wide receiver Anquan Boldin (traded to Ravens), linebacker Karlos Dansby (signed by Dolphins) and safety Antrel Rolle (signed by Giants) – but since the end of the season (QB Kurt Warner, retirement).
Clearly, the Cardinals are embarking on a new era. But they will not concede that losing key players will lead to losing more games.
"We are a football team that I think is positioned correctly to withstand transition," general manager Rod Graves said at the Combine. "Whether we lose Karlos Dansby or Kurt Warner, I feel (head coach) Ken (Whisenhunt) has done a tremendous job in instilling the right qualities and setting the proper standards. If we lose players from time to time, I think we can keep going."
Why do I still call the Cardinals the NFC West favorites? For starters, the division is weak, with the Rams and Seahawks in rebuilding mode, and only the 49ers posing a serious threat to unseat the Cardinals as division champs
Offensively, the Cardinals have enough wide receivers to compensate for losing Boldin – Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston, and Early Doucet. With Matt Leinart as their new starting quarterback, look for the Cardinals to rely more on their running attack, and Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower have the talent to be effective in a two-back system.
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Linebacker Karlos Dansby is one of several key losses for the Cardinals. 1. Which team has changed most dramatically since the offseason? The Cardinals. They continued their active offseason Saturday night, acquiring safety Kerry Rhodes from the Jets, in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2010, and a seventh-round pick in 2011.
I still view the Cardinals as the team to beat in the NFC West. But think about the players they have lost, not only during the last few days – wide receiver Anquan Boldin (traded to Ravens), linebacker Karlos Dansby (signed by Dolphins) and safety Antrel Rolle (signed by Giants) – but since the end of the season (QB Kurt Warner, retirement).
Clearly, the Cardinals are embarking on a new era. But they will not concede that losing key players will lead to losing more games.
"We are a football team that I think is positioned correctly to withstand transition," general manager Rod Graves said at the Combine. "Whether we lose Karlos Dansby or Kurt Warner, I feel (head coach) Ken (Whisenhunt) has done a tremendous job in instilling the right qualities and setting the proper standards. If we lose players from time to time, I think we can keep going."
Why do I still call the Cardinals the NFC West favorites? For starters, the division is weak, with the Rams and Seahawks in rebuilding mode, and only the 49ers posing a serious threat to unseat the Cardinals as division champs
Offensively, the Cardinals have enough wide receivers to compensate for losing Boldin – Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston, and Early Doucet. With Matt Leinart as their new starting quarterback, look for the Cardinals to rely more on their running attack, and Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower have the talent to be effective in a two-back system.
...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
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