CARDS TAG DANSBY, SETTING STAGE FOR WARNER TO POSSIBLY LEAVE

As expected, the Arizona Cardinals have placed the franchise tag on linebacker Karlos Dansby, according to the Arizona Republic. Because the Cardinals used the franchise tag a year ago on Dansby, the team is required to tender to him a one-year salary in the amount of 120 percent of his $8.065 million 2008 salary. So he’ll be eligible to receive $9.678 million. The amount will become guaranteed if/when Dansby accepts the tender. Until then, he’s not under contract. Another guy not under contract is quarterback Kurt Warner. And the application of the tag to Dansby means that Warner will become an unrestricted free agent at midnight on February 27, unless he reaches a deal with the team before then. Warner’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, is expected to meet at the upcoming Scouting Combine with Cardinals officials in an effort to work out a deal. The bigger question, as we see it, is whether Bartelstein will be meeting with folks from any other teams.