Official Release: Cardinals Agree To Terms With Antrel Rolle (merged)

[Red Hawk]

Looks like Rolle and Alex smith(#1 pick) are the only first rounders to get 6 year deals.

2005 first-round pick signings

 

[Cards Czar]

Tough croud in here tonight!! One of these days Ouchie I'll get you!

Muhhhhhhhh Muhhhhhhhh!!

 

[Crimson Warrior]

Welcome aboard Antrel!

Can't wait to see Eli get crushed by Berry and Okeafer, and you run in the jump ball for six!

 

[TigToad]

back loaded

I haven't seen any of the contract details, but seeing as mom had made an issue of having a 'back loaded deal that wouldn't get played out', I'm guessing the six years is just that. They wanted to save face, but if they signed the normal 5 year deal, they would look bad.. I'm guessing the sixth year has silly high salary/bonuses/options/etc. forcing the Cards back to the table.

Of course, I could be full of it. I'm not an agent, a player or part of the Cards organization. I'm just happy.

 

[40yearfan]

Call me Old School, but despite Dennis' penciling in Rolle as a starter prior to Camp, I think Tate has earned the right to start and Antrel will have to prove he can do better before he's handed the starting job on a platter. (When you don't attend the first 2 weeks of practices, all talk of returning starters getting their jobs back doesn't apply here).

I'm confident Antrel will rise to the occasion and nail down a starting role, but it's not a lock (Tate could make this interesting) and it may take a week or three.

1st round money notwithstanding, that's what competition in camp is all about.

That'd be perfect if Tate is playing at a level where Rolle will have to win his job back. I'd prefer a veteran in there for the first few games anyway until Rolle is ready.

 

[Rocco]

I don't buy that for a second, everyone knows that there's no way a good player ever has to play out his rookie contract.



I don't get the 6th year I thought because of the uncapped year that bonuses were harder to spread out(one less year) this year? So it would seem there's no advantage to the Cards doing it 6 or 7 years in terms of caproom from prorating the bonus?

Or did I misunderstand that part?

I thought so too about six year contracts for rookies this year. Guess not. We get another year to prorate the bonus, five years of service and I'll bet there are some hefty escalators in year 6 that either forces us to renegotiate or cut him outright. Either way, Rolle either gets a new contract or hits the FA market without having to worry about being tagged as a franchise or transition player at the end of his current deal, at least not without considerable compensation. That's a good deal for him too. Looks like a nice compromise.

 

[Stout]

Rolle-in, Rolle-in, Rolle-in into ca-amp!!!

 

[nurnay]

<b>EXCELLENT!!!</b>

I'td time to take this franchise to another level, boys.

 

[justAndy]

...

this will have a salutory effect in the next few years - top college players willing to sign long term rookie deals...

 

[nurnay]

<b>EXCELLENT!!!</b>

I'td time to take this franchise to another level, boys.

so ,uch for html tags... forgot about the font options.

 

[seesred]

It's a great day in Cardinals land. As far as starting. Rolle was here for all of the spring and rookie camps.Those 8 days he missed, not a big deal. Tate has proven he needs to be on the field and also has shown us all that we now have depth at Corner.

GBR
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