GM Rod Graves Says Calais Campbell Will Remain An Arizona Cardinal Next Season

by Tyler Nickel on Feb 17, 2012 7:01 AM MST in NFL Offseason/Free Agency

Arizona Cardinals general manager Rod Graves was on Arizona Sports 620 yesterday to discuss all things Cardinals with the local Valley radio station. While doing so, the question of whether or not star defensive end, Calais Campbell would remain with the team was finally answered.

Rest assured fans, Graves said Campbell is coming back to the desert for at least another year of football.

Although he didn't come right out and say that the team will use the franchise tag on Campbell, it sounds like that will be the plan if they are unable to work out a long-term deal with him and his agent.

"Calais will be with us, rest assured," Graves said. "We will continue to focus on getting a long term deal in place and it's a process. But he will be an Arizona Cardinals player this year and we are hoping certainly to extend that to a long-term deal. Conversations are continuing with his agent."

This should be good news for all Cardinals fans, as Campbell has really started to shine over the past couple of seasons and should not be allowed to go anywhere. The 6'8" stud led the team with nine sacks last season, while also managing to register 55 solo tackles and be an effective force both as a pass rusher and in run defense.

Campbell is the prototypical 3-4 defensive end and makes a nice compliment to his Pro Bowl counterpart, Darnell Dockett. Having the both of them back along with what will hopefully be reinforcements in the linebacker corps should make the Cardinals pass rush one to be afraid of for years to come.

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Comments

Just lock him up,

Formerly known as Cardsfan928, If you wanna grab a quick game of madden, my screenname is also my Xbox name.

by INSOMAN1ATIC on Feb 17, 2012 8:35 AM MST via mobile reply actions

best news of the off season.

by KDean75 on Feb 17, 2012 9:40 AM MST reply actions

It is not really any news....

I just hope they aren’t going to be using the franchise tag for this. It kinda sounded (in Rod Graves voice) like they were going to have to use it though, but we will see.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Feb 17, 2012 1:17 PM MST reply actions

They'll definitely tag him and then try to work the rest of the offseason on an extension

In my mind if they were close or seriously working on a long term deal, we’d have heard something. For whatever reason nothing gets done till the 11th hour and both sides know that they can tag him and work on a deal later.

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Feb 17, 2012 2:37 PM MST up reply actions

Yeah

I just hate using it. Would rather reward a player we drafted who is playing very, very well. I do think it is what we will be doing though.

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Feb 17, 2012 3:20 PM MST up reply actions

The problem with using the franchise tag is the exact same one they had with Dansby

What if he plays fantastic this year and another team throws a boatload of $$$ at him. The franchise tag is like cashing in your 401k early, it should only be done if absolutely necessary. We havent heard a thing about “talks” heating up or anything. Michael has done a fantastic job of rewarding the core players and I hope he continues with Campbell

by Redbird Nation #1 on Feb 17, 2012 4:56 PM MST reply actions