Here’s the problem with Pro Football Talk Posted by John Paulsen (04/13/2011 @ 12:02 pm) Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald runs to score a touchdown on a pass from quarterback Kurt Warner during play against the Green Bay Packers in their NFL playoff game in Glendale, Arizona January 10, 2010. REUTERS/Rick Scuteri (UNITED STATES – Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL) Pro Football Talk is associated with NBC and is a juggernaut in the industry (82K Twitter followers and counting), and while I appreciate the work that guys like Gregg Rosenthal and Evan Silva do in fantasy circles, some of PFT’s practices bother me. For example, I just saw this headline on Twitter: 
Reading that, I’m thinking, “Wow, Fitzy must have said something pointed about Gabbert.” Clicking through to the article, I see Fitzgerald’s actual quote: “I would doubt that we would draft a quarterback that high (No. 5),” Fitzgerald told FOX Sports Arizona on Tuesday. “I would doubt it. But, who am I? I’m just a player.”
The author, Silva (whose work I generally respect), concluded that Fitzgerald must be talking about Blaine Gabbert, since the Cardinals have been linked to the Missouri QB. Only Fitzgerald never mentioned Gabbert. And he never said that the Cardinals shouldn’t draft a QB. He just said that he doubted they would. Big difference. Headlines are meant to drive interest and traffic, I get that. But this one was simply misleading. Larry Fitzgerald available at the right price? Posted by Anthony Stalter (01/28/2011 @ 11:45 am) Arizona Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald (L) can’t make the catch after Oakland Raiders Nnamdi Asomugha (R) interfered with Fitzgerald in the first quarter of the game at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, AZ, September 26,2010. UPI/Art Foxall According to NESN.com, Cardinals’ receiver Larry Fitzgerald could be available in a trade, although that doesn’t mean that “the team is actively trying to unload him.” For the right price, Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald could be available in a trade, according to league sources, but that doesn’t mean the Cards are actively trying to unload him. In fact, no one polled for this story had any direct knowledge of whether the Cardinals have had any legitimate discussions about trading their star receiver, so take that for what it’s worth. The Pats are also equipped with two picks in both the first and second rounds of the draft, which would give them more than enough ammunition to acquire Fitzgerald if they’d like to explore that avenue. However, there aren’t considered to be any franchise-caliber quarterbacks in the 2011 draft class, so the Cardinals might not be overly interested in anything the Pats would have to offer.
So a player could be available at the right price, but his team isn’t actively trying to trade him. Uh, allllllllllllll right. Isn’t this true for a lot of players? If Team X is willing to give up three first round picks and two second rounders to acquire Player A from Team Z, I’m willing to bet that Team Z would consider that the “right price” for Player A as long as he’s not the face of the franchise. And even then… What a weird report. It’s almost like NESN.com wanted to speculate about something – anything – so they threw this out there. Then when they “polled” their sources and came back with nothing, they discredited their own report. In other news, The Scores Report has learned that Brett Favre will play for the Buffalo Bills next season according to league sources. That said, our sources have no knowledge of this report and therefore can’t confirm its truth. So take our Lord Favre-to-Buffalo report with a grain of salt. Because it may or may not be true. We don’t know. And neither do our sources. Grain. Salt. Quarterback could derail Cardinals’ season before it gets started Posted by Anthony Stalter (08/28/2010 @ 2:00 pm) Merry training camp season, everyone. It’s been a long offseason, but football is finally gearing up again and to celebrate I’m rolling out a new series on TSR entitled “2010 NFL Question Marks,” where I discuss one or two of the biggest concerns that teams have heading into the new season. Granted, some teams have more issues than others, but I’ll primarily be focusing on the biggest problem areas. Today I’ll be discussing the Cardinals massive issues at the quarterback position. The Cardinals have a couple of weakness that could be discussed, including offensive tackle, cornerback and inside linebacker. But none of them will impact their chances this season like the quarterback position will. Read the rest of this entry » Posted in: NFL Tags: 2010 NFL Preview, 2010 NFL Question Marks Series, 2010 NFL Season Preview, Anquan Boldin, Anthony Stalter, Arizona Cardinals, Beanie Wells, Derek Anderson, John Skelton, Larry Fitzgerald, Matt Leinart, Max Hall, Steve Breaston
Anquan Boldin, Ravens a perfect match Posted by Anthony Stalter (03/05/2010 @ 7:49 pm)  Anquan Boldin hasn’t caught one pass yet as a Baltimore Raven, but I feel confident enough to say that it’s already a perfect partnership. The Ravens acquired Boldin and a fifth round pick from the Arizona Cardinals on Friday in exchange for their third and fourth round selections in this year’s draft. Immediately after acquiring the 29-year-old receiver, Baltimore signed him to a four-year, $28 million deal. The Ravens have been desperately seeking a true No. 1 receiver over the past couple years, while Boldin has wanted to be treated like one. It’s not that he didn’t like playing in Arizona – he just felt as though he should be paid similarly to Larry Fitzgerald, or at least have the opportunity to make No. 1-type money. Boldin will immediately upgrade Baltimore’s receiving corps and assuming he doesn’t retire, Derrick Mason will make a fine No. 2. Acquiring a legitimate No. 1 receiver was the final piece of the puzzle for GM Ozzie Newsome and while it took a couple years, he finally found one in Boldin. Joe Flacco now has several solid weapons at his disposal in Boldin, Mason and rising star Ray Rice, and will also be protected by an above average offensive line. While the Cardinals would have loved to keep Boldin paired with Fitzgerald in their dynamic offense, all parties involved in this trade walk away winners. The Ravens got their receiver, Boldin got his money and his No. 1 status, and the Cardinals got fair compensation for a player that didn’t want to be there long-term.
Boldin was a top 10 fantasy receiver in Arizona, and depending on who starts the season as the Ravens’ WR2, he should be a top 10 receiver in Baltimore. If Mason sticks around, it will likely depress the numbers of both players. Also, don’t expect Ray Rice to catch 78 passes again next season. Boldin is going to get a ton of targets and Mason figures to as well. From Arizona’s point of view, it’s an opportunity for Steve Breaston or Early Doucet to step into the WR2 role and have a big season. Breaston has had the better career, but Doucet played well in the postseason, catching 14 passes for 145 yards and two TD against the Packers and Saints. However, either player’s success will depend directly on how Matt Leinart fares at QB. There’s a good chance that the Cardinals will now focus more on Beanie Wells and the running game. Larry Fitzgerald should continue to be a top 3 fantasy wideout.
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Should the Cardinals trade Anquan Boldin? Posted by Anthony Stalter (01/22/2010 @ 12:50 pm) If beat writer Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic is right when he says that the Cardinals will try to shop receiver Anquan Boldin this offseason, then the team would be making a wise decision. Boldin is a quality playmaker with excellent size, good speed and solid hands. But talent isn’t something the Cardinals are desperate for at the wideout position. They have plenty of youth and depth at receiver with Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston and Early Doucet, which makes Boldin expendable. Boldin will be 30 in early October and is set to make $3 million in his final year. Mind you, that’s not a ton of money to pay a receiver of his caliber, but if he reaches free agency after the 2010 season then Arizona will get nothing for him in return. If they trade him now, they might be able to get a third round pick and another player, which was what teams were offering last offseason. A trade makes even more sense if Kurt Warner retires this offseason. When Matt Leinart takes over under center, the Cardinals will switch from an offense that attacks opponents through the air to one that tries to beat teams on the ground. The focus will come off the quarterback and receivers and onto young running back Beanie Wells. Read the rest of this entry » |
