Arizona Cardinals-Karlos Dansby: Contract Questions

While the Anquan Boldin remains on the main stage as the most drama-filled matter among getting contracts done in time for the next campaign the organization needs to keep an eye on maintaining the defense.

In order to compete again for the NFC Title and another shot at the Super Bowl, getting contracts for linebacker Karlos Dansby and strong safety Adrian Wilson, should also considered to be high priorities.

Dansby's case is particularly curious, though, considering he was named over quarterback Kurt Warner as the team's franchise player. Which sounds nice on the resume, but for any player only adds to the tension of getting a deal done.

Reports are that talks with his new agent have resumed and a new long-term deal is pending, or, quite the opposite will occur, any day now.

Without a deal by July 15, Dansby will become a free agent at the end of the 2009 season. But before either side gets the long-term deal done, they need to ask themselves a few questions.

Starting with, what, exactly happened in the closing minutes of the Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh?

Does what happened indicate the Cardinals' have the making of an NFL championship defense?

If so, is Dansby, in his seventh season after several years of improving his stats for defensive production and leading his teams with 95 solo tackles in 2008, the guy you want to be leading the team with a big contract in place after the end of the upcoming season?

If not, how much is Dansby part of the problem? Is there somebody better out there, a better crazed blitzing linebacker and all-over-the-field who might become available in 2010?

For example, if given a $9.6 million deal, say, will he continue to be getting those brain dead penalties for hitting guys too late along the sidelines at inopportune times during the game?

Will he continue to be the guy who is the leader of the blitzing first down crew that, at the team's best times, late at the playoffs, made the Cardinals' blitz look like a stampede?

Or simply one among many who gets rolled over when the real contenders come to town?

Will he continue to be among those who have to apologize each week because the Cardinals allowed among the highest number of points per game in the NFL (26.6), putting them right in there with Kansas City and New Orleans in the team defense ratings?

With big money, will Dansby stay motivated enough to help the Cardinals improve a somewhat mediocre defense, which was in the middle of the pack in terms of yard-per-game, as well, but also was among the great big play defenses of the year—20 fumbles recovered, five defensive touchdowns?

Without a contract, how well will Dansby perform after becoming one of the top eight in the league among linebackers in the NFL for solo tackles with 95, among the top 12 for total tackles, when the rule on the franchise player tag is a player is entitled to earn the average of the five highest, or, simply make 20 percent more than his current salary?

Will the Cardinals look at that discrepancy and set aside their historically tight practices when it comes to paying players?

Why did Dansby fire his agent, hiring instead Todd France?

While it may seem like a young man's dream to be called a franchise player for an NFL team, just how much fun can it be to go through the drama?

Where, exactly, would the Cardinals be without Karlos Dansby? And vice versa...anyway?