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09 Mar 2009

McFadden Leaves One Super Bowl Team For The Other

Former Pittsburgh cornerback Bryant McFadden has signed with Arizona. Two years, $10 million. $5 million in the first year, so I assume that's guaranteed. This could be a big deal for the Cardinals -- if McFadden can beat out Rod Hood for a starting job and bump Hood down to nickel back, they will be stronger at both positions.

Posted by: Vincent Verhei on 09 Mar 2009

10 comments, Last at 09 Mar 2009, 8:38pm by CowWithBeef

Comments

1
by Whatev (not verified) :: Mon, 03/09/2009 - 4:15am

Arizona already has pretty decent safeties, so if DRC develops like they're hoping he will, I imagine this could lead to a pretty high-quality pass defense.

2
by Mystyc :: Mon, 03/09/2009 - 4:43am

Maybe the least surprising place he could have landed. Whisenhunt obviously knows and favors former Steelers, and in this case, he gets a very good, rather underrated guy for a pretty good price. McFadden will win the starting job. He's absolutely good enough.

As a Steelers fan, I was really hoping they would retain McFadden. Apparently William Gay will be the new starter, so Deshea Townsend must be definitively Too Slow. Gay will get a soft easing into the job, though -- Ike Taylor will continue to be among the most-targeted CBs in the league until he learns to catch. On the plus side, should be worth a low compensatory pick!

3
by Anthony Smith (not verified) :: Mon, 03/09/2009 - 7:20am

Hey, what about me?? B-Mac isn't the only defensive back the Steelers are losing.

They'll be the worse for it, though, and I guarantee they will lose to my Packers this season.

4
by erniecohen (not verified) :: Mon, 03/09/2009 - 8:28am

I don't get it. Surely PIT was (or should have been) willing to pay something like this. They will be screwed soon.

7
by drobviousso :: Mon, 03/09/2009 - 12:05pm

False.

This is exactly the modus operandi that Pittsburgh has been using for years, and it works out pretty well for them. Replace the older vet who wants to be paid like a vet with a promising young guy. It usually works (Note: this doesn't apply to the OL...)

9
by Mystyc :: Mon, 03/09/2009 - 4:01pm

The thing is, McFadden isn't that much older. He'll turn 28 next season, so this contract only takes him through age 29. It is strange that the Steelers wouldn't come up with something to beat what seems like a very reasonable figure. Either they are really sure about William Gay, or McFadden liked Arizona a lot.

8
by discostu :: Mon, 03/09/2009 - 12:29pm

The Steeler method is that they'd rather get rid of guys too soon than hang on to guys too long. They figure it's cheaper to train up people before the guy they replaced is washed up than to be having some guy who can't perform anymore taking up a roster spot and cap space. It's unsentimental, and leads to the occasional Rod Woodson situation, but it also prevents situations like the Saints had at RB last year.

5
by Harris :: Mon, 03/09/2009 - 8:28am

Heh. Hood left Philadelphia because he wanted to be a starter and now he could very well go back to being a nickleback.

Hail Hydra!

6
by Justin Zeth :: Mon, 03/09/2009 - 10:43am

The Steelers really couldn't afford to keep him? This is made even worse by the fact they spent more money than this to retain the services of a bad left guard.

10
by CowWithBeef (not verified) :: Mon, 03/09/2009 - 8:38pm

Why would a 27 year old player sign a 2 year contract? I would have expected him to at least get a bigger deal than Nate Washington. For this price I'm very sad to see him go, and I'm not sure I understand the move.