The Cardinals are donkeys because...
...this pathetic and delusional franchise just overpaid for a marquee running back when the team clearly has more pressing needs.
The Cardinals signed James to a four-year deal worth $30 million. He will receive $11.5 million of bonus money this year, along with $3.25 in salary.
It's big money, but Arizona did not break the bank. And there's no doubt that he could be a highly productive player for the Cardinals. If he is, the Cardinals might find that they actually made a great move for once in their long, inglorious history.
But a more likely scenario is that Cardinals management is confused and delusional. The organization, by their own admission, seems to believe that they are a highly competitive team that is just one player away from the Super Bowl.
"I think we had most of the pieces in place, but adding a guy like that means a lot to this team," said Bill Bidwill (pictured here),
in a report by the Arizona Republic. Bidwill apparently confused his sad, sickly and pathetic team with a real and competitive NFL team.
Bidwill watched his team last year and concluded that it "had most of the pieces in place." If you wonder why the Cardinals habitually suck, look no further than that quote from a delusional man.
- The truth is that that the Cardinals were a pathetic 5-11 team last year.
- The truth is that the Cardinals were not even as good as their 5-11 record would indicate – three of their wins came against the 4-12 Titans and 49ers (twice) – and they were absolutely manhandled by quality opponents all season.
- The truth is that the Cardinals ranked at or near the bottom of the league in virtually every major statistical category.
- The truth is that a marquee running back is never the difference between a 5-11 season and a playoff run.
- The truth is that marquee running backs never win without great players around them on both sides of the ball. Just ask Barry Sanders, Earl Campbell, Eric Dickerson or O.J. Simpson – none of whom won a championship – or Walter Payton, who for 10 years was arguably the greatest running back in NFL history but never won a title until the team fielded the league's best defense.
- The truth is that plenty of teams win championships without marquee running backs. Just ask the 2001 and 2003 Patriots, the 2002 Buccaneers or the 2005 Steelers.
The truth is that the Cardinals have much more pressing needs, including:
A franchise quarterback – Kurt Warner was brought in last season to give the Cardinals veteran leadership at quarterback. He responded with grand mediocrity, passing for 11 TDs and 9 INTs in 10 appearances. Still, he was more productive than Josh McCown, who had 9 TDs and 11 INTs in nine appearances. Needless to say, the Cardinals are still struggling for a playoff-caliber performer at the most important position on the field.
An offensive line – The Cardinals were dead last in the NFL last year in average per carry (3.2 yards) and rushing TDs (a truly astonishing 2). Surely, a top-notch ballcarrier will help. But James will have little impact on Arizona's ground game if he's getting hit in the backfield every time he touches the ball.
A defense – The Cardinals have ranked in the Top 20 in scoring defense just once in the last 11 years. They last ranked in the Top 10 in scoring defense under Buddy Ryan in 1994, when they allowed 267 points (No. 4). In 2005, the Cardinals allowed 24.2 PPG, 26th out of 32 teams. You don't win playoff games giving up nearly 400 points every season.
A new owner – Sadly, the Bidwills will never replace themselves. But as we've seen in football or in business time and again, management means everything. Teams with great management, visionary leaders and stable ownership win Super Bowls. Teams with pathetic, misguided and delusional owners suck for nine straight decades with no hopes of changing.
Welcome to Arizona, Edgerrin. Enjoy the weather while it lasts. There's a big storm brewing.
