Not giving up on Colvin. Things also looked bleak last year with Starks.

[Lomax to Green 84]

I see the same pattern emerging in the negotiations with Rosie Colvin. He can say all he wants about wanting to play for a winner, blah, blah, blah but the bottom line is that money talks just like it did with Pete Kendall 2 years ago and just like it did with Duane Starks last year. Remember Starks coming in for a visit and then basically disappearing off the radar map for the Cards for about a week. All the reports in the media were that he wanted desperately to resign with Baltimore and that they had the inside track, Baltimore and the Raiders.

The bottom line was that the Cards had more money to throw Starks way, even Starks agent admitted that the Cards had way too much money available to them that they could throw Duane's way. Money more than not seals the deal and what I think Graves and the Cards will do is see exactly what the highest bidder is offering and then throw about 15 percent on top of that highest bid. No way will Rosie Colvin sign a deal with New England or someone else without first consulting with the Cardinals. His agent would never allow that to happen. They know that he is their top guy. They want to milk this for all it is worth.

If the Cards offer more than the highest bidder, he will sign with the Cardinals. Bet on it. I see this as simple agent posturing. Colvin won't turn his back on the highest bid. No way. This may be his only big money contract he gets. He will want to get as much as he can regardless of the destination.

 

[Jetstream Green]

I agree

All that crap about wanting to go to a winner is bull. I honestly feel, even the Bengals, want to win. If that was the case, all the good players would take a pay cut after they made their money in the NFL and sign with one team to get a ring. It is about the money and Colvin will sign if the money is right.

 

[Ryanwb]

Most NFL players are Rod Tidwell at heart....Show me the money!!

 

[az643dp]

These days, I would say that 90% of guys who become an unrestricted free agent for the first time will go where the money is. They don't put winning at the top of their list until they get their big payday. There are exceptions, but for the most part, they try to strike it rich.

 

[pinetopred]

Most of these guys have so much faith in there own abilitys that they think they can turn things around no matter where they go, so most go where they can make the money, and in football players cases I don't blame them one bit. Have you ever watched one of those halftime deals honoring players from the past and when you see guys in their 60's walking around like they are in their 80's football takes a huge toll on a body.

 

[jw7]

I'm not giving up on Colvin either. Most players realize that they only have a short period of time in which to make their money.

I can see older players near the end of their career maybe want to go to a contender, but Colvin is still fairly young I believe.

 

[Ed B]

When players are young and talented, they don't sacrifice cash for anything. Older vets might, but not a 25 year old.

Pay him and he'll come.

 

[ajcardfan]

The game is so violent, they'd really be foolish to do anything but sign for the most money. Say Colvin turns down 2mil more from the Cardinals to play for the Patriots. First game of the year, he torques the hell out of his knee. Think he wouldn't be kicking himself in the butt because he didn't sign with us?

 

[JeffGollin]

I'm not ready to give up on Colvin either. But the penalty for not winning is that the FA's we have the edge on signing feel it can't hurt to explore what's out there because they can always come back later if the other teams can't match our money.

I think that's what's happening. If they had their druthers, they'd rather not come here, so every time another team expresses interest, they buy another airline ticket. But once those options are exhausted, many of these guys will eventually sign with us (unless - heart of heart - they really don't want to be here).

If some other team offered the money we're offering these guys, they'd be signed, sealed and delivered within days if not hours.

But like I said - that's the penalty we pay for not winning.