Arizona Cardinals: Don’t kid yourself, it’s about money
By Scott Allen
The Arizona Cardinals lost some good players during free agency in large part due to crazy money being thrown at them
When free agency was about to start a couple of weeks ago, we all knew the Arizona Cardinals had a number of players they were not going to be able to afford to keep. In some cases it had nothing to do with the desire to keep them in the desert.
What it in large had to do with was not having the obnoxious amount of money some other teams had to throw at them. Players like Calais Campbell and Tony Jefferson left for much more lucrative contracts than what the Cardinals offered them.
This week former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson said he can take his time finding his next team. Included in his statement? It’s not about the money. Right, whatever helps you sleep at night.
You know who else recently said it wasn’t about the money? Tony Jefferson. Jefferson was offered a new contract by the Cardinals before free agency opened up.
Now, given the market, most of us knew Jefferson wouldn’t accept that. The some that did believe he might stay was for the reasons Jefferson outlined himself prior. He said his first choice was to stay in Arizona.
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Jefferson left Arizona and signed with the Baltimore Ravens on a four-year deal worth a reported $34 million. The Cardinals could never come close to that. That would have eaten up half of the cap space availability.
The Cardinals reportedly offered (and this comes from Jefferson himself), $24 million over four-years. So they were still willing to pay $6 million a year with $12 million guaranteed.
Last I checked that was a nice pay raise. However, who wouldn’t turn down a chance at another $2.5 million per year with $19 million guaranteed elsewhere? So, I don’t blame Jefferson for chasing the money.
However please don’t insult our intelligence by accepting the better offer in Baltimore by saying it wasn’t about the money. Jefferson said he was “insulted” by the Cardinals offer. Please.
Campbell left for $60 million on four-years in Jacksonville. On mmqb.com Campbell said he saw a young team willing to do whatever to put a winning team together.
Ok, I’ll buy that. This was going to be his last big contract, so again, there’s no shame in chasing the money. Just please, never tell us it wasn’t about money at least in part because we all know it is.