The Cardinals knew what they had to do in order to retain linebacker Karlos Dansby at the start of free agency. Whichever team came hardest with the most cash was the one that would acquire Dansby’s services for the next however many seasons.

Yet when it came time to pony up, the Cards couldn’t (or wouldn’t?) match the five-year, $43 million contract that the Dolphins were offering. Thus the reason Dansby will be playing in South Beach next year with the Dolphins.

With Dansby gone, Arizona had to fill the void that was created at linebacker. So they recently signed aging loudmouth Joey Porter to a three-year, $17.5 million contract, with a max value of $24.5 million. If he reaches the max value of the contract, Porter will make just over $8 million a year from the Cardinals. Considering they could have had Dansby (a younger, more versatile and more productive linebacker) for $8.6 million a year, it’s a little bothersome that Arizona didn’t make a harder pitch to the 28-year-old.

Of course, Dansby will get $22 million in guaranteed money and the only way Porter gets $24.5 million is through incentives. That’s a big difference between the two contracts. Arizona could cut Porter in a year and save money on the back end, while Miami is stuck paying $22 million regardless of whether or not Dansby turns out to be a bust.

Still, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cardinals fans are a little peeved that their team just overpaid for Porter and couldn’t convince Dansby to stay. I realize Dansby may have had his hopes set on leaving Arizona no matter what, but money appeared to be the root of his motivation to sign and even though the Cardinals knew that, they still couldn’t (or wouldn’t?) pony up.

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After publicly stating that he would never wear a Dolphins jersey again, Joey Porter got his wish on Friday when Miami officially released the aging linebacker. The Dolphins are now off the hook for the $4.8 million that Porter was scheduled to make in 2010.

Porter stated publicly last week that he wouldn’t mind playing for the Chargers, Cardinals or 49ers, although Arizona probably makes the most sense given that its coaching staff is most familiar with the outside ‘backer. Plus, I don’t see Mike Singletary and Porter meshing in San Francisco.

In the end, Porter may wind up settling for whatever team shows interest. He turns 33 in March, can only play in a 3-4 and brings baggage to the table in the form of his attitude. Plus, this offseason should be quieter than usual because teams are preparing for a potential lockout in 2011, so there may not be a big market for him. (Not that there would be anyway, given that he’s not an every down player any more.)

Porter essentially picked the worst offseason to open his mouth and cause waves, although teams are always in need of pass-rushers so he’ll land somewhere. Personally, I think Porter deserves the Raiders, but that’s just me.

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