http://www.azcardinals.com/fanzone/columndetails.php?cid=123
Jurecki's Observations on Latest Signings
There was a sense of urgency coming from the fans lately, what a difference 10 days makes. The Arizona Cardinals came to terms with thirteen players that included five new faces to add to their roster.
Since Vice President of Football Operations, Rod Graves, was appointed on January 6th to his new position, he has preached the importance of improving the “belly” of this football team. His message is simple: to have depth at a lot of different positions that will improve the special teams immensely.
Let’s not forget what happened last year after the Redbirds got off to the quick start (4-2). When they started to play the meat of their schedule, the injuries started to mount up and the depth wasn’t there. Of these thirteen players that were signed, five should be going into mini camp as penciled-in starters and they are quarterback Jeff Blake, fullback James Hodgins, center Frank Garcia, defensive tackle Russell Davis and safety Dexter Jackson. Other players that may not be starters going into mini camp, but will be contributors are defensive tackle Barron Tanner, linebackers James Darling, Greg Jones and LeVar Woods, plus versatile offensive lineman Raleigh Roundtree, just to name a few.
There’s four parts of the off-season: the first step is for a team to re-sign their own unrestricted free agents. The second step is to go out and entertain other clubs unrestricted free agents to try to upgrade certain positions on a football team. The third step is the National Football League draft which gives teams around the league the opportunity to obtain young players and bank on their development. The final stage happens after June 1st, which is when teams will release some of their top players because of salary cap issues. This date is when the Cardinals are anticipating going out and signing a couple players who can still be productive. Arizona should have money under the salary cap to sign some of these players because of their salary cap situation
Quick hits...
Jeff Blake, 32, is a seasoned veteran that will aid in the development of some of the younger quarterbacks on the Cardinal roster. He displays a strong and accurate arm that should allow offensive coordinator Jerry Sullivan to spin the ball down the field. Blake is expected to become an instant leader in the huddle and in the lockeroom. It’s important that Blake buys into the team concept.
James Hodgins, 25, came from the St. Louis Rams, where he was the leading blocker for Marshall Faulk. He has great size for a fullback at 6’2, 270 lbs. Keep in mind Hodgins will try to take your head off every play. He should pay dividends on short yardage situations, catching the ball out of the backfield, and special teams. (This could be one of their best signings of the off-season).
James Darling, 28, is experienced at all three linebacker positions which will allow him to play a lot more. His versatility was appealing to the Cardinals. He had other offers around the league that would have offered him more money but he turned them down to play on the west coast. Darling decided on the desert, thinking a starting role could be in the future. He is a player that should excel on special teams.
Dexter Jackson, 25, will interject some experience in the secondary as he has started thirty games in the last two years. Jackson could be a product of the system playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This Super Bowl MVP is a guy who doesn’t lack any confidence. Jackson is expected to come in and contribute right away. Obviously, the Cardinals feel like he has enough talent because a bidding war took place during negotiations against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Let’s just hope he’s not former Super Bowl MVP Larry Brown. Bottom line is he wanted to get paid.
Frank Garcia, 30, former Maryvale High School standout who is an eight-year veteran that has started 89 games at both guard and center with the Carolina Panthers and St. Louis Rams. He brings experience and could fill the hole in the center spot with the Cardinals. Garcia wanted to come home and play which led to him signing with the Redbirds.
Looking back, the Cardinals still should have put the franchise tag on David Boston. He was the organizations top player and they should have protected one of their investments. The worse case scenario was that he could’ve signed a one-year deal that would have guaranteed him 5 million dollars in base salary with no signing bonus. Placing the franchise tag on Boston would have allowed the Redbirds to see what his value was in the open market. If this had been the case, they could’ve dealt him and gotten something for him in return. Keep in mind; if at any time there were concerns about his character, then he could’ve been dealt. If they felt that the market value wasn’t appealing then the franchise tag could’ve been removed at any time, which would’ve made him an unrestricted free agent. In reality, the smart move would have been to place the tag on Boston and get something in return.
In case you missed it on Sunday, former Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer took out a full page add in both local newspapers thanking the fans and the organization in a final good-bye letter. Even though things may not have always worked out for Jake and the organization, this was a class act on his part. Personally, it was time for him to move on, but let’s not forget he led this team to their only play off victory in 50 plus years. I learned over the last six years that you’ll never be able to take his competitiveness away, no matter what the score is… I wish him luck in Denver
Emmit Smith is in the Cards plans, but at what price?
Jurecki's Observations on Latest Signings
There was a sense of urgency coming from the fans lately, what a difference 10 days makes. The Arizona Cardinals came to terms with thirteen players that included five new faces to add to their roster.
Since Vice President of Football Operations, Rod Graves, was appointed on January 6th to his new position, he has preached the importance of improving the “belly” of this football team. His message is simple: to have depth at a lot of different positions that will improve the special teams immensely.
Let’s not forget what happened last year after the Redbirds got off to the quick start (4-2). When they started to play the meat of their schedule, the injuries started to mount up and the depth wasn’t there. Of these thirteen players that were signed, five should be going into mini camp as penciled-in starters and they are quarterback Jeff Blake, fullback James Hodgins, center Frank Garcia, defensive tackle Russell Davis and safety Dexter Jackson. Other players that may not be starters going into mini camp, but will be contributors are defensive tackle Barron Tanner, linebackers James Darling, Greg Jones and LeVar Woods, plus versatile offensive lineman Raleigh Roundtree, just to name a few.
There’s four parts of the off-season: the first step is for a team to re-sign their own unrestricted free agents. The second step is to go out and entertain other clubs unrestricted free agents to try to upgrade certain positions on a football team. The third step is the National Football League draft which gives teams around the league the opportunity to obtain young players and bank on their development. The final stage happens after June 1st, which is when teams will release some of their top players because of salary cap issues. This date is when the Cardinals are anticipating going out and signing a couple players who can still be productive. Arizona should have money under the salary cap to sign some of these players because of their salary cap situation
Quick hits...
Jeff Blake, 32, is a seasoned veteran that will aid in the development of some of the younger quarterbacks on the Cardinal roster. He displays a strong and accurate arm that should allow offensive coordinator Jerry Sullivan to spin the ball down the field. Blake is expected to become an instant leader in the huddle and in the lockeroom. It’s important that Blake buys into the team concept.
James Hodgins, 25, came from the St. Louis Rams, where he was the leading blocker for Marshall Faulk. He has great size for a fullback at 6’2, 270 lbs. Keep in mind Hodgins will try to take your head off every play. He should pay dividends on short yardage situations, catching the ball out of the backfield, and special teams. (This could be one of their best signings of the off-season).
James Darling, 28, is experienced at all three linebacker positions which will allow him to play a lot more. His versatility was appealing to the Cardinals. He had other offers around the league that would have offered him more money but he turned them down to play on the west coast. Darling decided on the desert, thinking a starting role could be in the future. He is a player that should excel on special teams.
Dexter Jackson, 25, will interject some experience in the secondary as he has started thirty games in the last two years. Jackson could be a product of the system playing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This Super Bowl MVP is a guy who doesn’t lack any confidence. Jackson is expected to come in and contribute right away. Obviously, the Cardinals feel like he has enough talent because a bidding war took place during negotiations against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Let’s just hope he’s not former Super Bowl MVP Larry Brown. Bottom line is he wanted to get paid.
Frank Garcia, 30, former Maryvale High School standout who is an eight-year veteran that has started 89 games at both guard and center with the Carolina Panthers and St. Louis Rams. He brings experience and could fill the hole in the center spot with the Cardinals. Garcia wanted to come home and play which led to him signing with the Redbirds.
Looking back, the Cardinals still should have put the franchise tag on David Boston. He was the organizations top player and they should have protected one of their investments. The worse case scenario was that he could’ve signed a one-year deal that would have guaranteed him 5 million dollars in base salary with no signing bonus. Placing the franchise tag on Boston would have allowed the Redbirds to see what his value was in the open market. If this had been the case, they could’ve dealt him and gotten something for him in return. Keep in mind; if at any time there were concerns about his character, then he could’ve been dealt. If they felt that the market value wasn’t appealing then the franchise tag could’ve been removed at any time, which would’ve made him an unrestricted free agent. In reality, the smart move would have been to place the tag on Boston and get something in return.
In case you missed it on Sunday, former Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer took out a full page add in both local newspapers thanking the fans and the organization in a final good-bye letter. Even though things may not have always worked out for Jake and the organization, this was a class act on his part. Personally, it was time for him to move on, but let’s not forget he led this team to their only play off victory in 50 plus years. I learned over the last six years that you’ll never be able to take his competitiveness away, no matter what the score is… I wish him luck in Denver
Emmit Smith is in the Cards plans, but at what price?
