NFL Network Announces That Cardinals Will Allow Leonard Davis to be an UFA

[Buck]

Good News for all you Chiefs Fans, I hear you need a Tackle (or two).

[Pushead2]

Do we want what happened to James to happen to Johnson???

[dirk digler]

Team Report: Inside Slant

The Cardinals are going to be in the market for a starting left tackle after informing underperforming Leonard Davis on Thursday that he will not be tagged and will be allowed to become an unrestricted free agent.

That leaves the door only barely open for the possibility that the team would make an attempt to sign him back at what it believes his market value to be.

"When we evaluated Leonard, we certainly see ability and improvement, especially as last season went on," said Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt. "But when you look at the situation on the whole and take everything into account, we don't feel that the investment that would be required to keep him is equal to the performance."

"We have needs at multiple positions, as well as for depth, and we want to be in the best position for us to address those needs."

It would have cost the Cardinals $11 million in salary in 2007 had they franchised Davis.

"It's not about cap room or trying to make it fit, but it's about paying the right value for Leonard Davis," said Rod Graves, Cardinals Vice President of Operations.

Davis was the second pick overall in the 2001 draft behind Michael Vick and had his best seasons early in his career, when he was the starting right guard for former coach Dave McGinnis. Davis has yet to make the Pro Bowl.

Davis is best remembered as a dominating rookie playing inside, giving hints at a wonderful future as he learned the pro game. In one monster game his rookie year against Chicago, Davis pancaked Brian Urlacher and picked up -- literally picked up -- a blitzing Mike Brown and essentially shot put him.

But his reputation grew in the wrong direction thereafter. He was forced into emergency duty as the starting right tackle because of injuries to Anthony Clement and was serviceable but not great as the replacement.

And then, when Dennis Green replaced McGinnis, Davis was moved to left tackle, the position he was expected all along to play, just as he had while earning All-America status at Texas and vaulting nearly to the top of the draft.

It just didn't work for the 6-foot-6-inch, 365-pound behemoth, and it's not clear exactly why.

Davis' name, however, continues to appear at the top of most lists as the best available left tackle in free agency.

"In fairness to Leonard, we wanted to let him know what our position is so he can move forward and make plans," Graves said. "Our coaching staff has had an opportunity to evaluate Leonard and how he fits in with our team and we feel this is the option that makes the most sense from a football standpoint."

[Skip Towne]

Originally Posted by Brock

"We" traded.

What did NO get in the trade?

[Chiefnj]

Originally Posted by Skip Towne

What did NO get in the trade?

3rd round pick.

[boogblaster]

A decent OL coach could help him with foot-work, probably the only thing wrong with a human-wall like that, hell at least take a look ...

[JBucc]

Here's a post I stole from the footballsfuture board. I think he's moved some and hasn't played just LT but he's not as bad as some say. I'm not sure if we should sign him but we should at least consider it if these stats are right.

I have done a little comparison of 5 left tackles over their careers. Walter Jones, Leonard Davis, Orlando Pace, Willie Anderson, and Bryant Mckinnie. These stats are career averages. All these tackles have been in the league between 5 and 11 years. Compared in 4 categories averaged out over there careers. The averages are Games Played. False starts. Holding Penalties. Sacks Allowed per season.

Lets see if you can guess who the players are.

Player 1)

Games 15.82 FS 1.64 Holding 1.09 Sacks Allowed 4.05

Player 2)

Games 14.30 FS 5.7 Holding 0.80 Sacks Allowed 5.50

Player 3)

Games 15.30 FS 1.7 Holding .90 Sacks Allowed 4.78

Player 4)

Games 15.17 FS 5.5 Holding 1.5 Sacks Allowed 5.79

Player 5)

Games 14.40 FS 2.4 Holding 2 Sacks Allowed 7.8

Based on these stats pick which of these 5 tackles you would want in order or preference. You might surprise yourself.


Take the test before you look at the answer you might surprise yourself................................................











And the players are:




Player 1) Willie Anderson

Player 2) Orlando Pace

Player 3) Walter Jones

Player 4) Leonard Davis

Player 5) Bryant Mckinie

Davis is not as bad as people say he is. He is very durable. I think he will get better with good coaching (Grimm) and consistency on the line. If I was GM I would resign him and move him to guard. I would even pay him Steve Hutchinson money, he would be worth evey penny, and will be a relative bargain as the salary cap continues to increase. Yes his false starts have been bad, but those can be corrected. He is a rare talent, and if you move him inside he will destroy people. I know other teams will be all over him. I will be disappointed if we let him walk away. If we can draft Thomas and then move Davis inside our line will be significantly better.

MuDaChainS
CARDS FAN/BUD MAN

[banyon]

Originally Posted by boogblaster

A decent OL coach could help him with foot-work, probably the only thing wrong with a human-wall like that, hell at least take a look ...

This is what I thought. Surely our O-Line coaches are better than the Cards?

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by JBucc

Here's a post I stole from the footballsfuture board. I think he's moved some and hasn't played just LT but he's not as bad as some say. I'm not sure if we should sign him but we should at least consider it if these stats are right.

That doesn't really take into account that Davis played at the guard position for 3 of his 6 years in the league.

[Direckshun]

We pretty much need Davis.

He's big, and that's reasons 1 through 100 why we need the guy.

Herm wants to run up the gut over and over, and you can't do that without size up front. Davis would give LJ a wide lane to run through.

I'm all aboard the Leonard Davis express.

[Chiefnj]

Over the past 2 years at LT Davis has 21 false start penalties. That's tough on an offense, especially a conservative offense like Herms.

[StcChief]

Worth a look....I'm sure the Chiefs will at least talk to him.

Have to wonder why the Cardinals couldn't get him to work right??? Oh it was their great mgmt, coaches.

[C-Mac]

Originally Posted by banyon

This is what I thought. Surely our O-Line coaches are better than the Cards?

I bet joining a organization that even sniffs winning will have a strong impact on him.

[Mile High Mania]

I'd take a shot at him for the right contract. Everyone knows how a change of scenery helps players and I wouldn't be surprised to see the same happen here. There's no lock that it will happen, but there are more than enough examples of 'underperforming' guys doing well with new teams.

[Eleazar]

If he's no good at left tackle, but he can play as well at guard as he did during the first years of his career, he'd be worth it. We are likely going to need a guard too, lest we forget...

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by Cochise

If he's no good at left tackle, but he can play as well at guard as he did during the first years of his career, he'd be worth it. We are likely going to need a guard too, lest we forget...

I might entertain using him at guard. Problem is that he'll be asking for tackle money, likely left tackle money.

The guy has never shown he has the feet to play tackle in the NFL. It's not about scenery. It's about a guy that got by on size in college but doesn't have the athleticism to be a great NFL tackle.