Breaking down Arizona Cardinals’ free-agent signings
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSKarlos Dansby discusses return to Cardinals | 1:30
Linebacker Karlos Dansby signed a 1-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals on March 10, 2017 at the Cardinals training facility in Tempe.
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSNFL free agency and how it affects the Arizona Cardinals | 1:59
Shot Clock: NFL free agency moves, including Chandler Jones staying and Calais Campbell and Tony Jefferson likely leaving the Arizona Cardinals. Video: azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSReports: Texans trade QB Brock Osweiler to Browns with second-round pick | 0:43
The Texans have traded quarterback Brock Osweiler and a 2018 second-round draft pick to the Browns, according to multiple reports. ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the news. Time_Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTony Romo says goodbye to Cowboys fans | 0:41
Quarterback Tony Romo posted a message on Instagram to say goodbye to all the Dallas Cowboys fans who supported him during the course of his 13-year career. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSReport: Kirk Cousins asked Dan Snyder to trade him | 0:52
Washington Quarterback Kirk Cousins reportedly asked Dan Snyder to trade him, but ESPN’s Chris Mortensen is reporting Snyder told Cousins not to get his hopes up. Time_Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSShot Clock: Key issues for Cardinals in NFL free agency | 2:08
Shot Clock: The beginning of the new NFL year, what the Cardinals’ chances are for keeping Calais Campbell and Tony Jefferson and who might make an impact around the league. Video: azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSNFL Scouting Combine: Quarterbacks show off their skills | 0:51
USA TODAY Sports’ Tom Pelissero fills you in on how the top quarterback prospects fared during Day 4 of the NFL Scouting Combine. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSDeshaun Watson says it’d be awesome to learn from a veteran NFL quarterback | 0:30
Clemson QB Deshaun Watson said he could benefit from backing up a veteran when he enters the NFL. Video: Kent Somers/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSPatrick Mahomes: I’m a competitor and I want to play | 0:29
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw for 5,052 total and 41 TDs with 10 INTs in 2016 at Texas Tech. Video: Kent Somers/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSNFL Scouting Combine: Teams looking for quarterbacks | 1:11
USA TODAY Sports’ Lorenzo Reyes gives insight as to which teams will be searching for a quarterback at the NFL Scouting Combine. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSJohn Ross runs fastest 40-yard dash ever at NFL Combine | 0:48
John Ross, former wide receiver from the University of Washington, broke Chris Johnson’s 40-yard dash record at the NFL Combine. Time
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSWashington Huskies receiver John Ross on his versatility | 0:22
Washington receiver John Ross in 2016 was a second-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 standout with 81 catches for 1,150 yards and 17 TDs . Video: Kent Somers/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSNFL scouting combine: 49ers high on Kizer | 1:09
USA TODAY Sports’ Lindsay H. Jones says that San Francisco 49ers GM John Lynch spoke very highly of a number of high-profile quarterback prospects.
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSShot Clock: NBA MVP debate, Cardinals DBs | 1:59
azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Dan Bickley break down the NBA MVP race and a possible reunion in the Cardinals defensive backfield.
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCardinals GM Steve Keim on combine process, free agency | 2:17
Cardinals insider Kent Somers talks with GM Steve Keim about how the Cardinals conduct business at the NFL combine and how they will handle their free agents.
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSArians on finding quarterback of the future | 0:34
Cardinals coach Bruce Arians discusses finding the team’s future quarterback in the draft.
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSShot Clock: Tough free agency decisions looming for Cardinals | 1:51
azcentral sports’ Jay Dieffenbach and Kent Somers discuss Cardinals free agency and Larry Fitzgerald’s reaction to an extra NFL preseason game. Video: azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSNFL mock draft: How will top 5 picks shake out? | 0:57
USA TODAY Sports’ Nate Davis gives us his top five picks of the 2017 NFL draft. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSMichael Floyd’s message for his critics | 1:00
Not everyone is happy that ex-Cardinals WR Michael Floyd, who was waived by the Cardinals three days after an arrest on suspicion of driving under the influence, is a Super Bowl champion. Video: azcentral sports Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSArizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald skates for the first time with Shane Doan | 1:24
Arizona Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald skates for the first time with Arizona Coyotes’ Shane Doan. (Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSKurt Warner inducted to Pro Football Hall of Fame | 0:53
Third time is the charm for former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner, as he and four others were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Feb. 4, 2017. Hannah Gaber/azcentral.com Wochit
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSFalcons and Patriots advance to Super Bowl LI | 1:08
Atlanta and New England will face off in Houston after winning the NFC and AFC championships, respectively. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSOn the drawing board: Cardinals lineman Mike Iupati | 1:03
Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Mike Iupati talks about his experiences of growing up fishing on a small island. Video: Michael Chow and David Wallace/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSOn the drawing board: Tony Jefferson of the Arizona Cardinals | 1:25
Arizona Cardinals safety Tony Jefferson is also an impersonator, and, was once haunted by a ghost. Video: Michael Chow and David Wallace/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSOn the drawing board: Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter | 1:11
Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter sits down with Steve Benson of The Republic, and admits a weak spot for good food. Video: Michael Chow and David Wallace/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCardinals players clear out lockers, reflect on season | 1:12
Cardinals players reflect on the 2016 season as they clear out their lockers on Monday. Nick Oza/ azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSCardinals looking to play several younger backups | 2:25
Cardinals Insider Kent Somers says Bruce Arians is high on younger backups who got a chance to play last week. Michael Chow/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTop underclassmen entering the NFL draft early | 1:01
Here’s a look at some of the top underclassmen planning on entering the 2017 NFL Draft. USA TODAY Sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSTime-lapse: On the field during pre-game festivities | 0:51
A time-lapse view from field level during the pre-game introductions for the Arizona Cardinals: Video: David Kadlubowski/azcentral sports
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WATCH THE LATEST CARDINALS AND NFL VIDEOS FROM AZCENTRAL SPORTSGrass field rolls in at University of Phoenix Stadium | 0:37
Watch video of the Cardinals field rolling into University of Phoenix Stadium before the start of the first practice of the 2016 training camp. Video by Patrick Breen/azcentral sports
NFL free agency and how it affects the Arizona Cardinals
Reports: Texans trade QB Brock Osweiler to Browns with second-round pick
Tony Romo says goodbye to Cowboys fans
Report: Kirk Cousins asked Dan Snyder to trade him
Shot Clock: Key issues for Cardinals in NFL free agency
NFL Scouting Combine: Quarterbacks show off their skills
Deshaun Watson says it’d be awesome to learn from a veteran NFL quarterback
Patrick Mahomes: I’m a competitor and I want to play
NFL Scouting Combine: Teams looking for quarterbacks
John Ross runs fastest 40-yard dash ever at NFL Combine
Washington Huskies receiver John Ross on his versatility
NFL scouting combine: 49ers high on Kizer
Shot Clock: NBA MVP debate, Cardinals DBs
Cardinals GM Steve Keim on combine process, free agency
Arians on finding quarterback of the future
Shot Clock: Tough free agency decisions looming for Cardinals
NFL mock draft: How will top 5 picks shake out?
Michael Floyd’s message for his critics
Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald skates for the first time with Shane Doan
Kurt Warner inducted to Pro Football Hall of Fame
Falcons and Patriots advance to Super Bowl LI
On the drawing board: Cardinals lineman Mike Iupati
On the drawing board: Tony Jefferson of the Arizona Cardinals
On the drawing board: Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter
Cardinals players clear out lockers, reflect on season
Cardinals looking to play several younger backups
Top underclassmen entering the NFL draft early
Time-lapse: On the field during pre-game festivities
Grass field rolls in at University of Phoenix Stadium
When the Cardinals opened free agency last week by signing three players older than 30, the requisite jokes were made on social media about retirement communities, Wal-Mart greeters and keeping oxygen tanks on the sideline.
After the laughs faded, the core questions remained:
What are the Cardinals thinking?
Is this a sign that management is going all-in on winning this year, knowing it could be the last season for quarterback Carson Palmer and receiver Larry Fitzgerald?
Is it money?
Is it just that the older guys are better?
We don’t know for sure, since General Manager Steve Keim and coach Bruce Arians haven’t been available for comment, but the reasoning for skewing old in free agency is likely a combination of most of the above.
It’s certainly a departure from the way the Cardinals conducted business in free agency in the previous four seasons of the Keim/Arians regime.
In that period, the Cardinals signed 14 players from other teams in the first couple days of free agency. Only four of those had reached their 30th birthday by the start of their first season in Arizona.
This year there were three: kicker Phil Dawson, 42; linebacker Karlos Dansby, 35; and safety Antoine Bethea, who turns 33 this summer.
The reasons for signing those players differ in each case, so let’s take a look at them individually.
He replaces Chandler Catanzaro, who had no bigger advocate the last three years than Arians. The coach stuck with Catanzaro through difficult times because Catanzaro’s physical talents were obvious.
What had to trouble the Cardinals was Catanzaro’s mental fragility, something that wasn’t helped by the long-snapping troubles last year.
The longer extra point obviously was rattling around in Catanzaro’s head, too. He missed nine of them in the last two years.
So the Cardinals elected not to extend the restricted tender to Catanzaro and replaced him with Dawson, who is 16 years older.
This move was based strictly on performance. The value of Dawson’s two-year deal is not yet known, but it’s likely substantially more than it would have taken to re-sign Catanzaro.
Dawson made 18 of 21 field goals last year, missing none from fewer than 40 yards. He’s made 53 of 55 extra points the last two years, a success rate of 96 percent. Catanzaro’s was 91 percent.
Dawson had just four touchbacks last season, but he attributed that to the 49ers’ strategy. Coaches asked him to place the ball in certain spots on most kickoffs. Four times he was allowed to boot the ball as deep as he could, he said. Those were the four touchbacks.
He was signed as a possible replacement for Tony Jefferson, who signed a four-year, $36 million deal with the Ravens.
Bethea’s three-year deal won’t be anyone near that. At 32, he’s seven years older than Jefferson and, most likely, not as good a player at this point.
So what led to Jefferson’s departure?
A stellar 2016 season, for one. Jefferson gambled on himself and won.
Looking back, the Cardinals would have been smart to sign Jefferson to a long-term deal a year ago, but they weren’t sure he was worth the money. Jefferson wasn’t particularly fast, and coaches thought he struggled in man coverage at times.
But Jefferson cut his body fat in the offseason, improved his pass coverage and remained a force against the run.
With big investments in two other defensive backs – Patrick Peterson and Tyrann Mathieu – the Cardinals weren’t in a position to take on another huge contract at that position.
So they signed Bethea at a cheaper price. Bethea had more than 100 tackles last season, and the Cardinals must figure he’s good enough to buy them the time needed to find and develop a young safety.
The Cardinals were established in 1898, and Dansby is the first player to have three different stints with the team.
He realized the absurdity of that, laughing and shaking his head at the beginning of a news conference last Friday.
So why bring Dansby back?
Mostly because Kevin Minter, the starter the previous two years, never played up to the expectations the team had for its second-round pick in the 2013 draft.
Minter was solid, for lack of a better word. He’s smart and tough but never impacted the game as much as coaches hoped.
Can Dansby at age 35?
We’re about to find out. Dansby is fastidious when it comes to taking care of his body. In his previous stint with the team in 2013, Dansby brought his own food into the team facility, something several other players started copying. Dansby is in great shape and vows this will not be his last year.
But it’s rare for a player to be better at 35 than he is at 30. If he can stay healthy, Dansby can compensate with experience. He’s played inside linebacker in every style of defense, and there is not much an offense can do that will surprise him.
He also has charisma, and if he’s on the field, teammates are going to follow him.