ProFootballCentral.com

By PFC Cardinals Writer Kelley Smelser

Bill Bidwill is not why Jerry Maguire needed a new mission statement in the movie. Players and agents reserve that honor. Brett Favre seems baffled by the front office wanting to know where he was concerning retirement, and what he plans to do. Before they spent the 12 million in (Show me the cap money) and prepared their team for the season. Them boogers, Actually want to do their job and everything. How dare them!

I am waiting for NFL training camps to warm up and separate the cream to the top. The Cardinals have all their draft picks signed in a high risk- hopefully- high reward draft. Most of the concerns are in depth, from what I see deep depth! Some familiar names may fall off the team making cap room available to make core players happier at the expense of the team. A glance at last year’s camp roster shows improvement of talent and drastic changes.

The focus will be fundamentals of ball control, clock and game management, reducing penalties and turnovers. Continuity and consistency seems the cornerstone of winning NFL teams, until success rips them to shreds through free agency. Many after a Super Bowl not after an 8-8 season, Just wait until next year! Arizona players are paid well with few voidable years. This is just the latest effort by other agents and Drew himself to bust up the old guard! Graves is here because he follows Bill’s philosophy and guidelines. There are better GM’s especially at supervising and managing teams but few who want to come to Arizona a be a straight shooter with the salary cap. I agree with Bill Bidwill and believe in him and his decisions.

The NFL was never such a sure bet as it is right now, and yet, is more fragile than many dream to believe. See the void of the current collective bargaining agreement for more information! Bill is right and shoulders the criticism by himself. If and when the individual players are willing to give up cash for security (guaranteed) in contracts, things will change. It is the ultimate team sport and the NFL players and owners could do better as a whole by listening to the quiet man.

I’m a Bill Bidwill Fan because he was a ball boy for the Cards in the early days and lived his entire life for the Arizona Cardinal Football Club. He has shouldered a lifetime of pressure that would smush many men to smitherines. The NFL was not always a sure thing or a great investment. Jerry Jones would have never been involved in Charles (Stormy) Bidwill’s day. Bill survived, borrowed and paid off the team. Many had the opportunity in those days, few dedicated their life to it. He is Quiet, He is loyal, He is honest, and He is charitable (one of the most charitable in the world.) he has not sold out the NFL for the sake of his team. Many fans dislike Bill but Bill can take it, he is proven!

He has not always had a fair shake and has done well considering this is the first home Cardinals nest in over 100 year history. He has spent the stadium revenues and kept his promises, when Arizona did not! St Louis did not! and Chicago did not! I think we need a huge Bow Tie on UP Stadium and win one for Bill.

Michael Bidwill and Rod Graves will follow the rules and the spirit of the salary cap. And get beat down by the fans for it! We pay dearly for the Fitz contract but He out performed an incentive laden contract. This is not the Cards first rodeo, Jake Plummer was rewarded with the highest paid QB contract, for his performance not his potential. Bill stays by his principles he learned years ago because it is the right thing to do. He has forgotten more about the NFL than most remember. We will see how the next CBA works out! (take the money and don’t run)GM Rod Graves has the Salary cap thingy which is a wee bit bigger than the Q and Fitz thingy. I thought we were in great cap shape until all of Drew’s folks threw tantrums at the same time with 3-4 years left on their contract.

 It was an honor for Q to have Graves offer top 5 receiver pay before the Fitz deal and would have made Fitz the odd man out. Mr. Boldin and Mr. Dockett have my undying respect and admiration for honoring their contracts. They have played fantastic and Cardinaled up and took it like men. I would love for them to put on the Owner and GM hats (caps) and explain it to me, and the 43 Cards players that would be playing at the NFL minimum. The Cardinals offered a lot of money and respect, but not enough. Maybe their agent can explain it more entertaining and less honest than the Cardinals GM and for sure their owner. ( shut up, you had me at hello)

BJ should have been signed a long term deal, flame all you want, but BJ will make a statement in the next 2 years, IN THE DIVISION! Q and Fitz are better Receivers, but Bryant Johnson is a very talented faster receiver with great character. The big picture BJ and Fitz or BJ and Q is better than no BJ in AZ. Kurt wants a new contract extension, stand in line this is the salary cap era for at least a couple more years. I would like for him to sign for 3 more years and retire as a Cardinal. Matt is not the key. Kurt is not the Key. Defense and Edge is the key to start this engine. I wish we would have held on to Tim Rattay for back up. Matt is the young QB on the roster Kurt is the old vet, Rattay was great 3rd string insurance, Because as shown last year our 1 and 2 are fragile! If this system is right many QB’s can be good in it. Of course we strive for greatness but with the amount of talent top to bottom in the final 53 we should make a run in the playoffs with either QB managing the offense. Big Ben is not a top 5 QB but when this system was clicking on all cylinders, Ben looked great and won the Super Bowl for Pittsburg ! Bill Parcells may reveal this fact this year with Josh. Again! It’s the right system that makes the QB!  

Come listen to a story bout a team named RED,

poor football team barely kept their players fed,

Then one year they was shootin in the West,
And up through the league came their bumblin best.
NFCW Champions that is, playoff bound!

Kelley Smelser