Cardinals Trade Rumors

"You can't toss a sock in a hamper in the Cardinals locker room these days without hitting a player with a contract issue. Receiver Anquan Boldin would like a new deal. So would defensive end Darnell Dockett. Adrian Wilson has said he wants to be the highest paid safety in the NFC. The Cardinals have been in negotiations for months with the agent for inside linebacker Karlos Dansby, their franchise player. A handful of other key players, such as cornerback Eric Green and defensive end Antonio Smith, are working under one-year contracts."

"What are the chances off the Cowboys getting Roy Williams, Chad Johnson or Anquan Boldin in a trade?"

"Since the end of last season, there has been speculation the Cardinals were eager to replace running back Edgerrin James with a younger, faster model. Not so, team officials say. They would like to add a running back in this weekend's draft, but they would be content to again go with James and develop a potential replacement. This draft is deep in running backs, but there might be only two or three worthy of being taken at No. 16 by the Cardinals."

"Other teams have inquired about trading for Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, and his agent has asked if the team would be willing to part with him. On both counts, Cardinals officials had one simple answer: No."

"Another day, another rumor about a prominent wide receiver the Eagles probably won't be able to trade for this spring. Yesterday, the NFL Network's Adam Schefter reported that Anquan Boldin has asked the Arizona Cardinals for a trade. "

" The three names most linked of late to such talk have been Cincinnati's Chad Johnson, Detroit's Roy Williams and Arizona's Anquan Boldin. Adding intrigue is the fact that the three teams most mentioned as trade partners – the Cowboys, Eagles and Redskins – all play in the same division."

"The Dallas Cowboys have talked to a team, not the Cincinnati Bengals, about acquiring a veteran receiver. And that's about all Jerry Jones would say Tuesday, offering nothing more specific... The top veteran receiver candidates who might be available via trade remain the Arizona Cardinals' Anquan Boldin and the Detroit Lions' Roy Williams."

"If Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett thinks his absence from off-season workouts might prompt the team to renegotiate his contract, he should reconsider. General Manager Rod Graves said Wednesday that he has no inclination to rework a contract that's less than two years old. "I'm not sure what the issue is with him because we addressed Darnell's contract early," Graves said, "and we did so in December of '06. He signed what amounts to a five-year deal and he's only played one year into it.""

"Asked if he would consider making a draft-day trade for a veteran receiver such as Cincinnati's Chad Johnson, Arizona's Anquan Boldin or Detroit's Roy Williams, Jerry Jones told reporters in Dallas, “Yes,” before punctuating his remark with a smile and a wink. The Cowboys own the 22nd and 28th picks in the April 26-27 draft."

"Cornerback Eric Green and defensive end Antonio Smith, both unrestricted free agents, signed their one-year tender offers Thursday morning. Both were tendered at the second highest level and will make $2.017 million in salary this season. Smith denied a report on profootballtalk.com Thursday that he was seeking a trade. The report also said defensive end Darnell Dockett isn't attending off-season workouts because he wants a new contract."

"Hamlin's agent, Kennard McGuire, met with Cowboys officials Tuesday during the lunch break at the NFL owners meetings. A long-term deal could be nearing completion... Disgruntled Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Johnson isn't likely to be the receiver the Cowboys add, even though he has stated a desire to play in Dallas... The Cowboys could make a play for Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin or Detroit Lions receiver Roy Williams."

"A face-to-face meeting last week between Cardinals officials and the agent for inside linebacker Karlos Dansby produced little, and it appears the team is no closer to signing Dansby to a long-term contract."

"Free-agent linebacker Brandon Chillar will make a decision today on his next team, according to his agent, Brian Mackler. Mackler provided no further details, but league sources say Arizona, Green Bay and the Rams all have made offers and that the Rams very much remain in the running to retain Chillar."

"Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin laughed at the question, as is his custom when the answer calls for some diplomacy. So, as a receiver, he was asked, did Larry Fitzgerald's new four-year $40 million contract leave you smiling?"

"Wide receiver Bryant Johnson has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, a source told ESPN.com"

"Roy Williams, who burned the Eagles for nine receptions totaling 204 yards and a touchdown Sept. 23 for the Detroit Lions at Lincoln Financial Field, is one...As long as the Eagles did not burn any bridges in Arizona, a re turn phone call with an offer for its other Pro Bowl wide receiver, An quan Boldin, is in order."

"The Bucs have a shot at landing either Cardinals playmaker Bryant Johnson or Panthers speedster Drew Carter. Jets speedster Justin McCareins also could wind up in Tampa."

"Fitzgerald, of course, is the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver on the wish list of just about every Eagles fan. Over the weekend, some media reports surfaced that coach Andy Reid's team had made trade offers in an attempt to pry the former Valley Forge Military Academy star away from the desert. It's not happening."

" Anyone who thought Sheppard and a second-round pick could land Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald probably thought Spikes was going to be a Pro Bowl player last year and Kearse was going to lead the league in sacks. If the Eagles really want Fitzgerald (and here's a tip, he's really good and he's really young and he would really help) give the Cards whatever they want: Sheppard, the 19th pick in the draft, next year's No. 1 pick. "

"The Larry Fitzgerald-to-the- Eagles trade scenario takes on new intrigue daily, with a report surfacing Friday that the Eagles have submitted a trade offer to Arizona to obtain the Pro Bowl wide receiver."

"The Eagles came up short in their pursuit of Randy Moss and watched as Javon Walker signed Wednesday with Oakland. Now, the search for a wide receiver will likely turn to the name most frequently mentioned as their primary target -- Arizona Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald, who remains in contract negotiations with the club that drafted him. Lions wideout Roy Williams, mercurial Bengals receiver Chad Johnson and Rams veteran Torry Holt are logical choices for the Eagles to pursue if they can't land Fitzgerald."

"There is still no indication that the Cardinals will trade Larry Fitzgerald - the Eagles believe they aren't - as talks between the Cards and Fitzgerald inch toward a contract restructuring. Detroit has said it will not trade Roy Williams, and has no reason to want to trade him."

"Linebacker Brandon Chillar, who played for the Rams the past four seasons, visited the Cardinals Tuesday and expressed interest in joining up."

"Q: In looking at what is or may be available from a free agency/trade perspective let me suggest the following: If you can get Larry Fitzgerald do it. If not, go get Bryant Johnson. What do you think?"

"The Cardinals continued to work on multiple fronts in free agency Monday, losing one player, agreeing to terms with two others and continuing efforts to restructure receiver Larry Fitzgerald's contract."

"Larry Fitzgerald continues to say he wants to remain with the Cardinals. "I'm playing for the Cardinals so long as I possibly can," Fitzgerald said."

"It’s no surprise, then, that the Cardinals are being criticized both locally and nationally for their current stalemate with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. To recap: Because Fitzgerald hit incentive clauses written into his rookie contract, he’s due to earn $14.6 million this coming season and $17.4 million in 2009."

"The Eagles, according to a source close to the situation, made a prolonged effort to sign free-agent wideout Randy Moss, who ultimately decided to stay with the New England Patriots for $27 million over 3 years, $15 million guaranteed... And, of course, there is the fan base's great white whale, Larry Fitzgerald, who still isn't being traded by the Cardinals, but might be, eventually, if the sides can't agree on restructuring his contract. "

"The latest rumor has the Arizona Cardinals trading Pro Bowl wideout Larry Fitzgerald of Minneapolis to Philadelphia before next month's draft. Fitzgerald is guaranteed $33 million for the next two seasons, and if the Cardinals were to designate him as a franchise player following the 2009 season, via the NFL's labor deal, they would have to pay him $21 million in 2010."

"Titans defensive end Travis LaBoy, a four-year veteran, was due to arrive Sunday night and meet with the team on Monday. "

"It's intriguing that Randy Moss has not reached the expected deal to stay with the Patriots, but the Birds have not been mentioned in Moss speculation... A source close to free-agent wideout Javon Walker disputed an Internet report yesterday that said the Eagles were no longer interested in Walker's services... In case you haven't been near an Internet message board or within hearing range of sports-talk radio lately, many Eagles fans think trading Sheppard to Arizona in a package for Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald would be a neat idea."

"Negotiations between the Bears and star Devin Hester are expected to officially start this week, a source close to Hester said. ... The Bears are expected to get a visit this week from Arizona free-agent receiver Bryant Johnson unless Johnson signs a deal with Buffalo."

"Amid wild trade rumors surrounding star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald possibly going to the Philadelphia Eagles, word surfaced Saturday that the Cardinals' No. 3 wideout, Bryant Johnson, was scheduled to meet with the Buffalo Bills Sunday regarding a potential deal there."

"The Dolphins are waiting to see how Arizona linebacker Calvin Pace likes his visit with the Jets. Pace, 27, left South Florida on Saturday headed for New York, with an offer from Miami waiting behind for him."

"A league source said the Eagles, as expected, are fielding significant offers for cornerback Lito Sheppard, who seems to be the odd man out with the signing of Samuel on Friday. The source said some teams are offering draft picks and others are offering players. The wish list among the fans never changes. They want a wide receiver, with Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald topping the list. Fitzgerald is owed $32 million by the Cardinals over the next two seasons, and the team is trying to renegotiate his deal."

"Conversations between the Eagles and the Arizona Cardinals re garding the availability of stud wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald were held, according to a league source, but the Cardinals' asking price for Fitzgerald "was absurd," according to the source."

"The thinking is that if Turner signs with Atlanta, former Buc Warrick Dunn will be released. If that happens, the Bucs could make a play on Dunn, whose loss has been lamented by Bucs coach Jon Gruden since it happened seven years ago. Another top-level player on the Bucs' radar is wide receiver Bryant Johnson (Cardinals). "

"As for the next tier, former Cardinals receiver Bryant Johnson is believed to be high on Tennessee's list, though he's scheduled to visit the Bills today and as of late Saturday the Titans had not called his agent."

"The Cardinals apparently are on the verge of losing linebacker Calvin Pace as a free agent to the Miami Dolphins. The team also seems all but out of the race for Steelers free-agent offensive lineman Alan Faneca, a seven-time Pro Bowl player who tentatively has agreed on a four-year deal worth $32 million with the New York Jets."

"Alan Faneca’s agent said Friday that Larry Fitzgerald’s drawn-out contract talks with the Cardinals cost Arizona a chance to land Faneca, the well-regarded, free-agent offensive lineman."

"This year, the Cardinals' focus is on retention, not recruitment. They are trying to restructure the contract of receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who is due to make $32 million in salary the next two years. If they can do it - creating cap space in the process - they stand a better chance to re-sign linebacker Calvin Pace, an unrestricted free agent who is expected to attract some attention on the market."

"On Thursday, the Cardinals tendered one-year qualifying offers to three restricted free agents: cornerback Eric Green, defensive end Antonio Smith and offensive lineman Elton Brown."

"The little deals are done. But the big deal is unfinished. The Cardinals moved to lock up several players for the upcoming season, but were unable to reach a long-term contract for Larry Fitzgerald by the start of the free-agency period Thursday night."

"With the Vikings $35.6 million under the salary cap and desperate for a big-time receiver, there would be no excuse not to try to get involved in talks. Fitzgerald, who is among the NFL's top half-dozen receivers, probably would cost Minnesota first-, second- and third-round draft picks spread over two years but easily would be worth it."

"Which gets you to the two most interesting names: Larry Fitzgerald and Javon Walker. Fitzgerald (6-3, 226 pounds) is the absolute prototype of what you're looking for: good all over the field but a touchdown machine in the red zone (21 red-zone TDs in 4 years out of 34 total). He would be perfect. The problem is in working out the trade with Arizona and finding a way to make his exorbitant contract work, given everything else the Eagles need to do."

"The Dolphins apparently want to move quickly in addressing their quarterback situation during free agency, scheduling a visit with Raiders quarterback Josh McCown on Friday in Davie. Several free agents are expected to visit South Florida Friday, which marks the first day teams can sign players, but McCown and Arizona linebacker Calvin Pace are two of the visits that have been confirmed by The Miami Herald through sources."

"Those two positions of need stated, however, perhaps the flashiest free-agent possibility of all for the Jets is Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel, who's unrestricted and one of the best cover corners in the league, but won't come cheaply... Defensively, the Jets could make a play for Cardinals LB Calvin Pace, a good fit for the 3-4 system."

"It appears the Cardinals will enter the waters of free agency with a large anchor attached to their legs. NFL free agency begins at 10 p.m. Thursday, and the club is not close to reaching an agreement to restructure the contract of receiver Larry Fitzgerald, whose $14.6 million salary promises to restrict the Cardinals' movement in free agency."

"It’s decision time for Larry Fitzgerald and the Arizona Cardinals. Free agency starts at 10 p.m. today. The Cardinals would like to sign the wide receiver to a long-term deal by then. Otherwise, they may be stymied in their attempt to sign free agents, both their own and players who are departing other teams."