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What’s next for the Cardinals?
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(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
After an amazing Super Bowl run highlighted by a spectacular game, the Arizona Cardinals head into this off season with uncertainty about the future of the team. The biggest question for the NFC champions is whether or not to bring back quarterback Kurt Warner, which would quickly solve some of the issues facing Arizona.
Offensive coordinator Todd Haley has already bolted the nest by accepting the Kansas Chiefs offer to become their next head coach. Whether or not this has any impact on Warner’s decision remains to be seen, but one thing is for sure, the Cards don’t want to take a step back after getting to the big game and falling one amazing catch short of the title.
For starters, one good sign is Arizona’s cap space for 2009 which is around $40 million. There is an abundance of talent on both sides of the ball so the front office decisions this off season will have a heavy impact on the Cardinals chances of maintaining control in the NFC West. With general manager Rod Graves and head coach Ken Whisenhunt making the decisions, it’s a good bet Arizona will be in good shape come next season. However, many players are headed for free agency and a few other players are unhappy with their contracts (hello Anquan Boldin).
The unrestricted free agents are Kurt Warner, defensive end Bertrand Berry and linebackers Monty Beisel and Karlos Dansby. Dansby has already begun looking at other teams and even mentioned the New York Giants as a possible landing place. Boldin, Adrian Wilson and Darnell Dockett are all in the bucket of wanting a new deal and tear up their existing contracts.
Aside from Warner, Boldin is the biggest question mark. With superstar Larry Fitzgerald making $10 million a year, it’s probably not in Arizona’s best interest to sign two receivers to that type of money. Plus, the Cardinals have a young and talented receiving corps behind Fitzgerald so getting something of value for Boldin may be the best move. Fitzgerald has said he would be willing to renegotiate his contract so the team can bring Boldin back but it may not be enough.
It all starts with Warner however who turns 38 in June. Warner proved all his critics wrong with a tremendous season, earning Pro Bowl honors with 4,583 yards through the air with 30 touchdowns. Warner was also spectacular in the playoffs which should have answered any questions the front office has about his ability this late in his career. After the Super Bowl, Warner offered no clue as to his future, either with the Cardinals, another team or retirement. Arizona does have Matt Leinart, their first round pick in 2006 warming the pine right now and he has done nothing to prove he can be a franchise quarterback like the team envisioned when they drafted Leinart out of USC. Graves does believe Leinart is still the future of the team but is he ready to hand the reigns to an unproven player after reaching the promise land this year?
On defense, Dansby is the biggest potential loss for Arizona so wrapping him up quickly is one move the Cardinals should make. Even during Super Bowl week, Dansby discussed his unhappiness with his contract so this is not a slam dunk for either side.
Now that Arizona has proved they are contenders, the team should have no trouble luring free agents to the desert but the main focus now should be retaining their key players to make another run at a title. All these decisions will have a huge impact on what the cardiac Cards look like next season and their chances of returning to the big game.
