HEADLINES

Karlos Dansby

NFC West Notes: 49ers, Rams, Cardinals

March 3rd, 2014 at 5:55pm CST by Ben Levine

Michael Bennett took to SiriusXM NFL Radio and talked to hosts Bruce Murray and Rich Gannon about his future with Seahawks, writes Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times. The defensive end revealed that discussions “have been positive,” adding that the team wants him “to be a Seahawk for the rest of (his) career.”

While it certainly sounds like the Seahawks will bring back their defensive end, Bennett admitted that his brother, Martellus Bennett, is still trying to recruit him to come to the Bears. The Bears would have to “open up their wallet” for that to happen, Bennett said.

Let’s take a look at what else is happening around the NFC West…

  • The 49ers did not use their franchise tag on Monday, but could use it next season, Bill Williamson of ESPN.com says. Colin Kaepernick, Michael Crabtree and Aldon Smith are entering the final season of their contracts and could be tagged next offseason.
  • Considering the safety’s connection to St. Louis, Jairus Byrd could potentially be a target of the Rams, writes Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. Byrd played high school football near St. Louis, and Wagoner believes the prospective free agent would be a great fit for the team. Still, the writer thinks it’s unlikely the Rams would dish out the kind of money that would be required for Byrd’s services.
  • Larry Fitzgerald acknowledged that the restructuring of his contract should allow the Cardinals to re-sign some key free agents, like Karlos Dansby and Patrick Peterson. One interesting name that the receiver also brought up was Frostee Rucker, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com writes. Fitzgerald said, “Some guys have gaudy numbers. I know his numbers weren’t crazy high. In terms of locker room guy, you can’t ask for a better teammate.”

Cardinals Rumors: FAs, Dansby, Jackson

February 28th, 2014 at 11:32am CST by Luke Adams

We’re getting closer and closer to the beginning of free agency, with just 11 days until the start of the new league year. Prospective free agents will be able to talk to rival teams a week from tomorrow, though they won’t be able to officially put pen to paper until March 11. As such, teams are preparing to make pitches to free agent targets. Asked if he and the Cardinals had their eye on anyone in particular, head coach Bruce Arians said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM that the team has more than one player in mind.

“We probably have five,” Arians said of the Cards’ early free agent targets. “[GM] Steve [Keim] and I have the same philosophy: ‘Here it is, do you want it? I’m going to ask this guy in about a half an hour. If you don’t want it, I’m going to ask him. If he wants it, you’re out.’ It’s easy. We don’t play games.”

Let’s round up a few more Cardinals-related items….

  • Within the same interview, Arians said the Cardinals offered Karlos Dansby a contract immediately after the season ended. While the veteran linebacker obviously hasn’t accepted that offer, the two sides remain engaged in negotiations, and the head coach said he’d “definitely” love to have Dansby back.
  • Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com believes Dansby wants to see what sort of offers he gets on the open market, which doesn’t necessarily preclude a return to Arizona.
  • It appears the Cardinals are eyeing alternatives in the event that the club can’t re-sign Dansby. According to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link), Arizona is among the clubs interested in recently released linebacker D’Qwell Jackson. The Cards have contacted Jackson’s agent and will try to set up a visit for next week.
  • Arians on where the Cardinals need to improve: “I think we need to get bigger and stronger on both sides of line with more depth — offensive line and defensive line. We need to get some depth because of our division. You’re going to win at the line of scrimmage in our division, you have to be physical.”

NFC Notes: Panthers, Saints, Dansby

February 21st, 2014 at 11:24pm CST by Ben Levine

The Panthers were “vague” when addressing Steve Smith‘s future with the club, says ESPN.com’s David Newton. General manager Dave Gettleman didn’t express much confidence when talking about whether the team’s all-time leading receiver will play again.

“Steve’s had a great career. None of us are here forever,” Gettleman said. “He’s part of the evaluation.”

Newton says the decision has little to do with Smith’s injury and more to do with money or Smith’s desire to play another couple of seasons to make a run for the record books. While the Panther await Smith’s decision, here are a couple more notes from the NFC…

  • Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says that the reported change in the salary cap will not affect any of his team’s decisions, reports Roman Vargas of the Black and Gold Blog. The team already cut veterans Jabari Green, Roman Harper and Will Smith, and the extra $5MM will put the team at $6MM beneath the cap.
  • The Cardinals have offered Karlos Dansby a multi-year deal, tweets Mike Jurecki of Fox Sports Phoenix. Dansby had stated his desire to stay in Arizona earlier this offseason. He recently told ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss (via Twitter) that his agents had not yet started negotiating with the Cardinals.

 

 

Combine Updates: Bucs, Titans, Bears, Lions

February 20th, 2014 at 11:15am CST by Luke Adams

The 2014 scouting combine is underway in Indianapolis, and NFL head coaches and general managers have begun speaking to reporters both in scheduled press conferences and in smaller side interviews. There have been several tidbits worth passing along from those sessions, so let’s dive right in and round up a few highlights….

  • While Lovie Smith said he likes Mike Glennon, the Buccaneers head coach also expressed a belief that there could be a potential franchise quarterback available with the No. 7 pick in the draft, as Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times details. If that’s the case, it sounds like the Bucs will strongly consider drafting a signal-caller in the first round.
  • Steelers GM Kevin Colbert didn’t reveal much about his team’s offseason plans, but was enthusiastic in discussing 2014’s draft class. While he cautioned that it’s an immature group due to all the underclassmen in the mix, Colbert said it’s the best class he has even seen, according to Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (Twitter link). As Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star notes (via Twitter), that’s very high praise coming from Colbert, who has been preparing for drafts for the last 30 years.
  • Colbert’s comments on wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders suggested to the Boston Herald’s Jeff Howe that the Steelers intend to let Sanders hit the open market.
  • Asked about running back Chris Johnson, a potential cap casualty, Titans GM Ruston Webster said that the club can be as patient as it wants to be in making a decision on Johnson, tweets Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean. Webster also confirmed that the Titans have spoken to cornerback Alterraun Verner‘s agent about a new contract, adding that “we’ll continue to talk” (Twitter link via Wyatt).
  • The Bears would like to re-sign free agent defensive lineman Henry Melton, GM Phil Emery indicated to reporters, including Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com (Twitter link). However, it’s clear that it will come down to Melton’s price tag. Emery also echoed coach Marc Trestman‘s views on Chris Conte, suggesting that he hopes the safety comes in and wins a starting job (Twitter link via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune). “I’d like to be talking to him about an extension,” Emery said of Conte.
  • Lions head coach Jim Caldwell said “never say never” when it comes to re-signing recently released safety Louis Delmas, but didn’t sound optimistic about the possibility, says Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (via Twitter). Caldwell added that acquiring a wide receiver to complement Calvin Johnson will be one of the club’s top priorities this offseason, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com (Twitter link).
  • The Cardinals would like to re-sign linebacker Karlos Dansby but have always been prepared to move on, GM Steve Keim said today, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (Twitter link).

Karlos Dansby Says He’ll Stay With Cardinals

February 11th, 2014 at 7:38pm CST by Zachary Links

Cardinals linebacker and free-agent-to-be Karlos Dansby could wind up in a different uniform next season, but he doesn’t envision that happening. In an interview with SiriusXM (audio link) last night, Dansby said that he expects to remain with the club that originally drafted him in 2004.

“I definitely expect to be an Arizona Cardinal next year,” Dansby said. “We don’t have long here (before free agency) so we’ll get to talking and try and hammer something out.”

The Cardinals want him back as well after he hauled in a career-high four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), 6.5 sacks, a career-best 21 passes defended, and 135 total tackles. But, after Dansby made $2.25MM last season, he’ll surely be looking for a pay bump. The Cardinals want to be fiscally responsible going forward and doling out a hefty multi-year deal to a player turning 33 in November wouldn’t fit that gameplan.

Dansby was hit by the franchise tag twice (2008, 2009) during his first stint with the Cardinals. His stay in Arizona was interrupted in 2010 when he inked a five-year, $43MM deal ($22MM guaranteed) with the Dolphins but he returned after being cut loose in March of last year.

NFC Notes: Murray, Austin, Cardinals

February 9th, 2014 at 7:53pm CST by Ben Levine

In spite of putting up career numbers in 2013, running back DeMarco Murray isn’t expected to receive an extension from the Cowboys any time soon, writes Todd Archer of ESPN.com. Murray ran for 1,124 yards and nine touchdowns this past season, which were solid improvements for the 25-year-old. Still, Archer refers to the Cowboys reluctance to re-sign former running back Julius Jones as a clue that the team may be patient with their third-year star. Here are some other notes from around the NFC:

  • Archer adds that the Cowboys want to move on from wide receiver Miles Austin. Hamstring injuries derailed Austin’s 2013 season, as the 29-year-old only had 24 receptions. Archer thinks there’s a chance Austin could return at a reduced rate, but he also believes the team may replace Austin in the draft or free agency. The writer names Robert Meachem as a possible target.
  • ESPN.com’s Josh Weinfuss feels there’s a possibility that the Cardinals don’t re-sign any of their top free agents, but suggests that Karlos Dansby, Matt Shaughnessy and Antoine Cason are among the players most likely to return.
  • Weinfuss also guesses that the Cardinals will not cut offensive guard Daryn Colledge. While the move would save the Cardinals $5MM, Weinfuss believes that the offensive guard played well enough in 2013 to stick around.