Nors
Benched
- Messages
- 22,015
- Reaction score
- 1
Cards' Pace close to deal with Miami
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 1, 2008 12:00 AM
The Cardinals apparently are on the verge of losing linebacker Calvin Pace as a free agent to the Miami Dolphins.
The team also seems all but out of the race for Steelers free-agent offensive lineman Alan Faneca, a seven-time Pro Bowl player who tentatively has agreed on a four-year deal worth $32 million with the New York Jets.
Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves was not available for comment late Friday when the signings appeared close to becoming imminent, although neither deal is expected to be finalized until sometime this weekend.
Pace didn't become a starter for the Cardinals until Chike Okeafor went down with an injury early in training camp last season and he beat out Darryl Blackstock for the job. His stock rose slowly, but then considerably on the open market once several premier linebackers were locked up by their respective teams.
Faneca, who played for Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and assistant coach/offensive line Russ Grimm when the two were together in Pittsburgh, is said to have agreed to a contract with the Jets that would bring him $20 million or more in guaranteed dollars.
Faneca also was said to be considering similar offers from the St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers, both NFC West Division rivals of the Cardinals.
If true, that is much more than the Cardinals were able or willing to pay, given their salary-cap restraints, especially when trying to restructure the expensive contract of wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Rumors have been floating out of Philadelphia for the past few days that the Eagles, who signed a deal in principle with free-agent cornerback Asante Samuel of the AFC champion New England Patriots, were trying to procure a trade with the Cardinals for the rights to Fitzgerald, possibly for cornerback Lito Sheppard and a draft pick.
Graves on Thursday categorized such rumors as "nothing but smoke," downplaying the speculation and adding that he has had continuous discussions with Fitzgerald's agent, Eugene Parker, on a deal to keep the two-time Pro Bowl player in the Valley.
Parker wasn't available for comment, but during a online chat with ESPN.com, Fitzgerald professed his desire to remain with the Cardinals, saying, among other things, "I love Arizona, I like my coaching staff, I think we'll be successful for years to come, and I want to be a part of that.
"I'm not looking to be traded. I don't want to be traded," he added.
Post a Comment
This is a public comment zone. Readers are solely responsible for the content of their posts and must comply with our Terms of Service and Rules of Engagement. Report offensive content by clicking on the "Report abuse" link.
Bob McManaman
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 1, 2008 12:00 AM
The Cardinals apparently are on the verge of losing linebacker Calvin Pace as a free agent to the Miami Dolphins.
The team also seems all but out of the race for Steelers free-agent offensive lineman Alan Faneca, a seven-time Pro Bowl player who tentatively has agreed on a four-year deal worth $32 million with the New York Jets.
Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves was not available for comment late Friday when the signings appeared close to becoming imminent, although neither deal is expected to be finalized until sometime this weekend.
Pace didn't become a starter for the Cardinals until Chike Okeafor went down with an injury early in training camp last season and he beat out Darryl Blackstock for the job. His stock rose slowly, but then considerably on the open market once several premier linebackers were locked up by their respective teams.
Faneca, who played for Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and assistant coach/offensive line Russ Grimm when the two were together in Pittsburgh, is said to have agreed to a contract with the Jets that would bring him $20 million or more in guaranteed dollars.
Faneca also was said to be considering similar offers from the St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers, both NFC West Division rivals of the Cardinals.
If true, that is much more than the Cardinals were able or willing to pay, given their salary-cap restraints, especially when trying to restructure the expensive contract of wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
Rumors have been floating out of Philadelphia for the past few days that the Eagles, who signed a deal in principle with free-agent cornerback Asante Samuel of the AFC champion New England Patriots, were trying to procure a trade with the Cardinals for the rights to Fitzgerald, possibly for cornerback Lito Sheppard and a draft pick.
Graves on Thursday categorized such rumors as "nothing but smoke," downplaying the speculation and adding that he has had continuous discussions with Fitzgerald's agent, Eugene Parker, on a deal to keep the two-time Pro Bowl player in the Valley.
Parker wasn't available for comment, but during a online chat with ESPN.com, Fitzgerald professed his desire to remain with the Cardinals, saying, among other things, "I love Arizona, I like my coaching staff, I think we'll be successful for years to come, and I want to be a part of that.
"I'm not looking to be traded. I don't want to be traded," he added.
Post a Comment
This is a public comment zone. Readers are solely responsible for the content of their posts and must comply with our Terms of Service and Rules of Engagement. Report offensive content by clicking on the "Report abuse" link.