When commenting yesterday on the situation between the Ravens and defensive end/linebacker Terrell Suggs before the two sides worked out a long-term deal, we forgot that Cardinals and linebacker Karlos Dansby were in the same situation, too.
Dansby, like Suggs, is entering his second season under the franchise tag.
Dansby, unlike Suggs, didn’t work out a long-term deal.
And so Dansby will have tremendous leverage come 2010.
To keep Dansby from hitting the open market next season the Cardinals will have to offer him a one-year guaranteed salary equivalent to the average earnings in 2009 of the five highest-paid players in the game.
So given the deal that Suggs signed on Wednesday and a looming one-year take that will exceed $15 million and likely will approach $20 million if the Cardinals decide to keep Dansby from getting a shot at a first-day-of-free-agency haul for a third straight year, it’s no surprise that Dansby is excited.
“The sky’s the limit,” Dansby told Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic.
Of course, before Dansby can hop a ride on a rocket, he’ll need to get through the coming year without a major injury. That’s the risk he continues to bear in the absence of a long-term contract.
And if that injury occurs, the limit will be a lot lower than the sky.
Guys used to play football for the love of the game now they play it for all that money.
What do you think he is more excited about his teams chances on getting back to the Super Bowl or Suggs huge new contract?
OK so Karlos is gone after this year…Play your ass off every game not every other game…And repeat as NFC Champion, but this time hold the lead in the Super Bowl with two minutes left and not allow the 80 yard TD drive…Then ‘Los, you can cash in .
Dansby thinks he’s way better than he actually is try making a Pro Bowl first and then try putting yourself in the same class as Suggs.
Sky’s the limit until you get sent to Heaven
-Sincerely Steve Mcnair