Truth & Rumors > NFL

Cardinals face salary cap headaches

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With the NFL season over, attention shifts from the fields to the front offices, and few general managers face more challenges over the next few weeks than the Cardinals' Rod Graves does. Those three potential deals are for receiver Larry Fitzgerald and linebackers Karlos Dansby and Calvin Pace. Dansby and Pace are due to become unrestricted free agents at the end of the month, but the Cardinals are expected to put the franchise tag on Dansby, severely restricting his options in free agency. Pace is expected to test his worth on the market. The linchpin to the Cardinals off-season plans is Fitzgerald, because the impact of negotiations with his agent, Eugene Parker, will reverberate through the roster. Even with the salary cap expected to increase $7 million, to $116 million this year, Fitzgerald's cap numbers ($16.5 million and $19.25 million) would cause the Cardinals considerable financial problems over the next two years.

Arizona Republic

Larry Fitzgerald , AP Larry Fitzgerald , AP
February 9, 2008  10:46 AM ET

Fitz, come back to Minnesota, we have the money...Fitz is titz

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February 9, 2008  05:22 PM ET

The trouble with having so many losing seasons is you have to pay all those high first round draft pics you get from it..If they cannot move some of those contracts they are in trouble. They will have no depth at positions. Too much money tied up in a few stars..Some really bad management by this team for a long long time...

February 10, 2008  05:58 AM ET

The perfect scenario - Patriots trade their first round pick to the Cardinals for Larry Fitzgerald and "franchise" Moss. What a trio - Fitzgerald, Moss & Welker !!!

February 10, 2008  07:26 PM ET

You're on Drugs! Fitz isn't going anywhere... New England doesn't need receivers, they need defensive lineman and a corner

February 11, 2008  10:02 AM ET

Fitz is not going anywhere, and good point about high picks, but it ain't like they are in huge cap trouble, they have money, 30mil under cap, plus they franchise dansby, let pace walk, they still have Chike who was the starter till he got hurt, they will be a player in free agent either assante samuel, or Fanica, I know they do not have a lot of players under contract but the core is all set, once they fix these 3 guys

February 11, 2008  12:05 PM ET

I don't think this is as serious an issue as some think...Larry Fitz says he is committed to being a Card..so I have faith that he will take an extension and spread his bread! As for Pace and Dansby, Dansby is due his respect so the franchise tag and a SERIOUS 8 mill pay increase would be wonderful....Pace, so long and farewell! The Cards, need to acquire a CB, RB, OL probably a tackle, and a Punter...ASAP! AZ, sucks horrendously on defense, I don't hesitate blaming the D for the Cardinals missing the post season! Last year's free agency acquisitions sucked BIG time...Terrance Holt? With Rolle shifting to FS, AZ's best option is to acquire a CB with their 16th pick (Antoine Cason)! Then get Kevin Smith (RB) in the Second round...all of this after securing Fenaca in the free agency game and parting ways with Calvin Pace!

I am surprised no one is talking about Bryant Johnson...do we think he stays or goes??? Personally I think he is a wonderful third option at the WR position, but I wonder if his price tag is worth it or if he has the patience to play third fiddle, arguably he could be a nice standout on another team...he reminds me a west coast Wes Welker! If Bryant leaves, AZ will have to take a LATE round WR to replace the lost speed, UNLESS they use Breaston. HUMMMM...... Someone please forward this lay out to Rod Graves!!!!

February 12, 2008  03:05 PM ET

Losing Fitzgerald or Dansby would be a colossal blow to the team image they're trying to put forth to the fans. If they're going to field a winner, they need to put out the bread for it. Don't give us, the fans, the notion you're going to field a good team and not follow through on that promise. Re-signing Fitzgerald and Dansby should even be conversation- it should be common sense. As far as Pace, well.. if we could get him cheaper, then I might be for it. He's not produced as expected.

 
February 26, 2008  09:03 PM ET

going over the salary, and going over those players stats you can see that it will be well worth the money to spend on them, and anyone who knows anything about football can tell that the cardnals really need to keep any of the good player that they have because in order for them to get more money is to get to the big game and that mean their best players and bringing in some more good people.

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