The Cardinals struck gold yet again on Friday, signing two underrated players to valuable deals that will make them a better team in the immediate future while also allowing them cap flexibility in 2014. One of those players is Antoine Cason, who came over as a free agent from the San Diego Chargers.
Cason signed a one-year deal worth $1.5 million with an opportunity to gain an extra $500,000 in incentives. Not only is this a (relatively) small amount of money for the Cardinals to have to pay, but it appears that he may have given Arizona a discount.
According to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Tribune (via Big Cat Country), Cason actually had a larger deal on the table to go play with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but spurned them in order to join the Cardinals. Whether that was because he was more impressed with Arizona and their new coaching staff or because he didn't want to play with the Jaguars is unknown, but the location likely played a large factor.
Cason played his college ball at the University of Arizona, so this signing is a bit of a homecoming for him. He struggled last season with the Chargers and, on his new one-year deal, hopes to find some stability once again in front of a familiar crowd.
Also, as noted by Acee, Cason is reunited with his former defensive backs coach, Kevin Ross. He coached with the Chargers between 2007-09. Cason was drafted in 2008 and looks to regain some of his former habits under his old coach.
It appears the Cardinals lucked out into signing a talented player simply because of their location and one member on their staff. With Cason's entrance comes a very talented and intriguing set of cornerbacks that includes Patrick Peterson, Jerraud Powers, Jamell Fleming, Justin Bethel and now the former Charger.
Hopefully it all works out to the Cardinals' benefit.