The Cardinals have a roster, initial as it might be, as the opener in New Orleans draws closer. Before we begin this week's mailbag, a quick shoutout to Mark in Australia for being an avid reader. A shoutout to all our mailbag consumers across the globe for that matter. And those in the U.S. too, while we're at it. We're all one big family.
As always, questions have been edited for length and clarity. Don't forget to send a question for a future mailbag with at least a first name and last initial.
From Mike Greene:
"Final cuts just came down, and there's an elephant in the room. How on earth do they keep Weaver over Fehoko? How on earth do they keep Elijah Jones or Kei'Trel Clark over Hall? It needs to addressed because Fehoko and Hall were two of the MVPs of preseason, and the message this sends is 'your draft position matters more than your performance.'"
From Steve I:
"Simi Fehoko is going to be in the NFL this year by virtue of how well he played in the pre-season. But I'm still upset about him getting cut. The injustice of it. It's discouraging. You're telling us that this dude was fated to be cut. Before Game 1 they knew he would be cut today, no matter how well he played."
I am guessing Simi would be flattered by all of this. I'll start by saying I thought Fehoko was going to make the team. However, and I am guessing here, if it came down to Fehoko and Xavier Weaver, perhaps they thought Weaver wouldn't make it through waivers to the practice squad. Fehoko, who is a vested vet, doesn't have to go through waivers. He can sign elsewhere, but it might be easier to keep him on the PS. I'll be honest, I don't understand some of the anger; we are talking deep depth here and not starters.
But I am also reminded of the great Cap Capi. Cap had a couple of great preseasons. He didn't stick. Fans were upset. But life went on. By the way, there is a good chance both Fehoko and Hall will be on the practice squad.
From Jobe Stanson:
"Hi Urbz, you know something that occurred to me while I was looking across the NFL waiver wire; the concept of cap casualties isn't what it used to be. Back in the day, you could expect darn good veteran players (albeit maybe a little elder and expensive) to hit the wire, and provide reinforcements to your own team. But in the last few years, it really seems like the NFL has done a 180. It seems to me that teams are much moreso willing to hoard proven players, and cut young guys. I think this is further supported by the fact young QBs are given no time to develop anymore. Looking at our own roster moves, all our expensive old guys are still here; granted they are proven players. An additional big takeaway is that there's all the more onus on GMs to nail the draft, because camp cuts no longer provides the same value it used to."
I'm going to disagree with part of your premise. The biggest reason there are not cap casualties anymore is because most teams have figured out how to deal with the cap much better. Look at the cap room available to most teams, and if there are not players for which to spend cap space on, then you just don't. It was called "cap casualties" because players were cut for their cap pain and not necessarily for a lack of talent. The pressure on the draft seems as important to me now as it has when I started covering the league 25 years ago.
From Mitch A:
'Just saw a tweet from Saturday's game that showed Anquan Boldin sitting in the box with Michael and Monti. I sincerely hope this leads to Q being added to the ROH, which I know you've been waterboarded with comments for years. But I do think, on a larger scale, this offseason has been amazing for reconciliation. CC is back, P2 is back, and now a Q has been spotted in attendance? I don't think that's an accident, and I know the fans appreciate it."
No it's not an accident. The Cardinals have put together an alumni program upgrade and while that will touch dozens of former players, it is important to have that bridge with the stars of the Arizona era. Anquan would be one. We'll see what happens to the future with the RIng of Honor, but recreating those relationships is part of the mission these days.
From Ken Moroney:
"Two questions: Why are there so many haters for Kyler? I am now and have been a HUGE fan of his since he came to our team. Fantasy football for a lot of fans involves a friendly wager with friends so why is Kyler drafted as the 8th-to-10th QB when their money is involved worldwide IF HE IS SO BAD? Question two: Did we have as many injuries causing players to miss several games when the team trained in Flagstaff? Thank you for all your efforts and those of your staff."
I'll be honest. I don't really have much to say about the Kyler debate. People seem to feel strongly about him one way or the other. I think it's fair to say there are some on both sides that choose not to accept facts when they don't support their case. (Hmmm, sounds familiar at this time in our history.) As with most QBs, if the Cardinals have a good season, there will be more than not who will jump on the Kyler bandwagon.
As for the Flagstaff workouts, I'd have to go back, but the overall injury rate isn't much different now. Maybe teams are a little more careful with certain injuries as medical knowledge continues to improve. But you've always had injuries, serious and otherwise.
From T Walker:
"Darren, if there are eight IR designated-to-return slots but only two can be used before Tuesday's cut, how soon can we use the other six?"
You could in theory use the other six starting Wednesday. I don't know why you would though. You need to have some for the first couple months of the season. Now, if you are talking about the situation the Cardinals are in, they shouldn't need many because they have many key guys on PUP. Might as well leave those players on PUP -- it has the same effect as IR to return, sitting a minimum of four games.
From Jerry Holmes:
"I wanted to shoutout one particular feller on the team who I think deserves recognition: Xavier Thomas. I think he has all the potential in the world to be a long-term rotational edge/special teams ace much like Gardeck was for so long. I went to the Red/White practice in which the mobility-impaired fans are allowed to line up at field side. First player to come down the ramp to greet them? XT. Not only that, but I watched him make his way down the ENTIRE line of them. He handed out easily 100 autographs that day. The final roster hasn't been releases as of this writing, but I'm very confident XT isn't going anywhere for a long time."
Thomas indeed is on the team. I think he earned it, although he is going to be deeper on the depth chart and has work to do to move up. He's a good kid who has overcome a lot. It's cool to hear what he did for those autographs. There is a chance he might've been a practice squad possibility but I think he'd be snagged by another team if the Cardinals tried to get him through waivers. The story of he and Jordan Burch is a good one though, and I am glad it's continuing.
From Richard W:
"Hey Darren, maybe you could just reply to me for this one question but do practice squad players practice with the regulars? Do they do the same kind of things? I always thought they were separated but that just doesn't make sense."
I figured this is something worth dropping in for the whole class, Richard. Yes, they practice together. On the practice field, you can't even tell who the practice-squad players are and who are not. OK, you can tell first-string, second-string, etc., but in this time when teams can and do most weeks elevate two practice-squad players to play, the line is fairly blurred. Jonathan Gannon often says the practice squad players are part of the roster like everyone else, in part because many end up playing a role during the season at some point.
From Robert Malicki:
"Hi, Darren, it's that special week of the year again, where I am beset by the 'tinglies,' anticipating the final roster and the new campaign's opening game. My question, though, is more about your sense of the current front office and coaching staff in maintaining long term success in roster building? I like what the GM and his coaches are doing but it needs to be followed up with another, and another. Why? Because winning seasons lead to much higher draft positioning and you more often than not lose access to high-profile players."
I mean, yes? No way to know for sure until the seasons play out. Things can change. If Kyler gains the consistency they seek, then it seems like they are in a good place. If at some point they need to find a different quarterback, even if it is five years down the road, then the equation changes. I still think the 2011 Cardinals could have been potentially a playoff team had they had a top QB. (Narrator: They did not.) But overall, they are trending well. QB in place, young talent everywhere, and many of the draft choices with a chance to be good. But only time can tell.
From Matthew Stroh:
"Hey Darren, thanks for the mailbag. One of my biggest surprises from this last preseason game was Clayton Tune. He should be proud of himself. As soon as he just started not holding the ball for so long his game got so much better. I think this really did give him more time to maybe be on the practice squad. There's a few WR needy teams out there do you think Monti will try to get picks for any of the WR that won't make the 53-man roster? I think San Francisco is really needy."
The 49ers already made a trade, but more importantly, I don't think there are any receivers a team would've dealt a pick for. It's funny, before final cuts, I saw one media type suggest Zay Jones could be dealt. The Cardinals need Jones. As was noted above, Fehoko was the main WR cut, and he should be on the practice squad.
From Jeff D:
"Darren, I'm an eternal optimist and have thought we were going to make the playoffs every year since 1988. Yes, I'm feeling that way again but I also think we have a little extra juice going this year. I have no data or facts to back me up, just something telling me this group is going to do something special. Any chance you're feeling it too? Thanks for all the effort over the years."
I appreciate the glass-is-always-three-quarters-full approach, Jeff. The world would be a better place if more were like that. Me even. I've been around this for a long time, so to feel about something "special," I need at least a little regular-season proof. That said, I do think this team is in a great place to be in the hunt for a division title. The variance can be high; a key injury or two, or players having disappointing seasons, and that changes. But they have set up for a good season. Now they need to make it one.
