Alan Faneca Signs With the Cardinals
The Cardinals have picked up yet another player from the Jets, as Alan Faneca has signed with the Arizona.
The Arizona Cardinals have agreed to terms with free-agent left guard Alan Faneca on a one-year contract, three days after he was cut by the New York Jets.
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The 33-year-old Faneca played the last two seasons for the Jets and has 128 consecutive starts over the past eight years.
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Faneca rejoins Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt and offensive line coach Russ Grimm, both former Steelers assistants.
We wish Big Al the best, he did everything he could for the team, and he helped bring along youngsters D’Brickashaw and Mangold in a big way during his two years with the team, but no one was denying that his productivity was coming into question.
Getting younger sets up three players on the line that are under 26 years of age heading into the season. It’s nice to think that three-fifths of the line could plausibly stay together for the next five or more years.
The Jets are trying to solidify their nucleus on offense for Sanchez going forward, but with Wayne Hunter, Rob Turner and Matt Slauson (more or less unknown starting commodities) the team is doing this to some degree without a net without Faneca. While some lip service has been paid to Matt Slauson, today Mike Tannenbaum remarked on WFAN that the team felt like keeping Faneca would stunt the growth of a player like Ducasse, and that they’d rather him get in there (a very Rex sentiment) and play right away.
56 Responses to Alan Faneca Signs With the Cardinals
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jp losman says:
listening to tannebaum on the boomer and carton today, i feel like its pretty clear, the JETS think whoever wins the LG spot of those three, it will be an upgrade.
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WW85 says:
Faneca: Complete & total class act. I can only wish him & his family the best.
I hate this move & the TJ move. Leadership is one part of playing football.
Ducasse seems like a real good kid. I hope this all works out well.
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Eric in StL says:
good luck to faneca and the cards next year- i like that everyone leaving goes to teams that are pretty much neutral- i wish the best to TJ and the chiefs as well.
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LeRevis says:
Is it ironic how Rhodes, Feely, and Faneca all end up on Cardinals?
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BigKatFan says:
“I’m gonna miss you too, Al.”
-Robin Williams (from Disney’s Aladdin) -
AJet4Life says:
My first post on the site but I am a regular reader. Personally I believe cutting Faneca was the right move to make. He was the weak link on that line in pass protection giving up 6.5 sacks last season the most at his position in the NFL. If we will increase our passing attempts that puts Sanchez in a pickle. Also I for one could not take another year with Alan’s false start penalties that killed many drives at crucial moments. Also the Jets have to be proactive in personal decisions not reactive. I trust Callahan to make the correct decision concerning the offensive line and I seriously doubt the Jets would sacrifice Sanchez and the 2010 season if they felt they had no replacement for Faneca. Just my thoughts.
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Gary G. says:
@LeRevis
Not as bad as Randy Thomas, Laveranues Coles, John Hall and Chad Morton to the Redskins in ’03.
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JayM says:
Faneca Low Lights
Watch the first play
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlOM6kyhFkgTony Brown Sacks Mark Sanchez and Forces Fumble
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHuFsngi72E -
Welcome Ajet4life. This site is addictive so be careful!
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rollercoaster says:
Even though he was regressing, I still think we should have held onto him. O-line is one of our strengths and we’ve been lucky the last two years with virtually no serious injuries to anyone. Now if Vlad, Slauson, or Turner gets injured, we’re screwed.
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War Machine says:
But do we save $$$ thought?
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*though
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Wolf says:
We will miss you Alan. You’ve been a class act and total professional since your arrival. Your knowledge of the game helped bring our younger guys along.
Tell Kerry we say hi.
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WW85,
I hear Ya. My boss will be pleased. As to Faneca I look at this situation the same way as when Mangold took over for Mawae turned out pretty good.
It basically comes down to trust. Do you trust the F.O. to make the correct decision concerning personal. I personally do. I am trying really hard to get rid of the “same old Jets” mentality and trusting the F.O. is the first step until they show they cannot be trusted. -
WOJF says:
I now have an NFC team to root for.
IF anyone knows Faneca’s strengths and weaknessed it is Whisenhunt:
“We’re obviously familiar with him from our time together in Pittsburgh, but we’ve also seen a lot of tape of him from the last two years with the Jets,” Whisenhunt said, “and he’s still the same tough, physical player who does a good job pulling and getting to the next level.”
The 33-year-old Faneca spent his first 10 NFL seasons with the Steelers, who drafted him in the first round out of Louisiana State in 1998, and has 128 consecutive starts over the past eight years.
“There’s a reason he’s been selected to the last nine Pro Bowls,” Whisenhunt said. “And at a time when we’re facing changes on our offensive line, we’re very fortunate to have a player of his caliber coming on board.”
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Rich in Albany says:
Am I the only guy here is very concerned that we have replaced a very very reliable kicker with a very unreliable one? This guy Folk wasn’t bad this year, her was terrible!
I just want a guy who can make it from 35 every time.
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AJet4Life, welcome aboard.
I hear ya, trying to get past the SOJ mentality but they are making it difficult this offseason.
Mangold was a universal first round grade from a major program that was considered as close to a can’t miss prospect as is possible, not the case with this kid.
Second, even considering the above statement, Mawae was better than Mangold in Mangold’s rookie season and has continued to play at a very high level.
The made sense at the time since they were not on the verge of a Super Bowl and Mawae was a bit of a clubhouse lawyer although that was really a Mangini issue.
Dropping Faneca would make a lot more sense if they had drafted Iupati, but even if that was the case it makes no sense to release him now, without letting him compete for his job.
Why not bring him to camp, let him compete, then perhaps you might even be able to trade him for a pick if someone else was desperate. Or just cut him then, no money difference in holding him through camp. They just gave him away which is REALLY going to backfire if someone gets hurt in preseason.
They can spin it all they want, this is about money.
Ducasse may eventually become a Hall of Fame Guard, but all I want right now is to win the 2011 Super Bowl and I would rather take my chances with the veteran.
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Rich, count me in as concerned.
I am also concerned that we have replaced the long snapper to save a few bucks.
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Rex Ryan from the Postdraft News Conference
Alan’s definitely going to play in this league again. I have no idea where but by releasing him now, it gives Alan an opportunity to go where quite honestly he wants to go. We’re not looking to trade him and send him to a place where he doesn’t want to play. We gave him the respect that he is due, and this allows him to go where he wants to go.
On the decision to break up one of the best offensive lines in the league…
RYAN: You’re going to stay the same, get better or get worse. We’re getting better. That’s why we made the move we made.
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a big understated part of the faneca deal is the mess that it would cause if he STAYED with the team. the FO obviously thinks ducasse/turner/hunter/slauson, will all be better than faneca in terms of performance. i assume they are correct based on our front office’s recent evaluation of O Line talent combined with the fact that we have a brilliant O Line coach in Callahan- i truly believe that from this quartet a player SUPERIOR to faneca will emerge (because everyone associated with the Jets feels that way). based on that assumption- does anyone really think that cutting faneca later on after his starting job is lost or (gulp) benching him and using him as reserve would really be BETTER locker room/chemistry situations than we have currently. the Jets think the players they have are better and cannot afford to keep faneca for the locker room chemistry right now, when it will hurt more later. it’s like breaking up with a girl- you want to do it too soon before too late- that way time will heal everything.
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On if Faneca slipped in his production over the past two seasons…
TANNENBAUM: I would say that when you look at Alan last year, we led the league in rushing, we went to the AFC Championship Game and he started every game. He did a lot of great things. We just felt, as Rex said, that when we looked at it carefully for us, what was in the best interest of the Jets and in terms of where we want to go, that line couldn’t stay together forever. Now is the time. Again, the easy decision would have been “Let’s try to get through another year.” But that was not the correct decision in our minds.
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michael says:
Well they clearly believe in this kid Ducasse. If Kyle Wilson hadn’t been there, they were strongly considering him at 29. And who did the Jets pick at 30 a few years ago? Oh yeah, Mangold. He turned out alright. Of the 2 guys they’ve taken early recently, both have been capable or good rookie starters.
Now obviously I’m not saying that because these guys were successful Ducasse will be, but I have a lot of confidence in this team in terms of effectively evaluating linemen, and more importantly linemen that will be capable rookies, because of that.
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Freeman Mc says:
How does Fanecas salary with Zona effect money due from the Jets, future cap issues if cap comes back?
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I have watched throughout the years how the jets have stuck with players a year too long ie: Marvin Jones and Mo Lewis, and it was not pretty. I am sure Rex has seen the same thing in his years of coaching, how players have declined from year to year. I have complete faith that Rex wants to put the best team out there. So if you keep Faneca another year because you want to keep your so called chemistry, and he gives up a sack that gets Sanchez injured. I can only imagine the how many here will be happy that the team has chemistry with a losing record.
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On the challenges of having different personalities on the team…
RYAN: Well, the great thing is, even the new guys that we added, they wanted to be Jets. They wanted to come in here. They wanted to be part of something that I think everybody realizes, “Hey, look, we are a team that’s going forward. We are a team that the expectations are set extremely high.” Any competitor would want to be in that situation. So, they’re coming in. Cromartie’s in here and he’s wowing everybody with his athleticism and working his whatever off. But really, that’s what’s exciting. You see LT working every day and all that. They want to be part of this. We’re going to get this team close.
Now, did we take a hit by losing some outstanding football players and outstanding men? Absolutely we did. But we’re bringing in some excellent people as well. I know that when you look at it on paper, we brought in two former NFL Man of the Year Award winners, things like that. We’ve got some special people in here. We bring in Santonio Holmes, an outstanding young man. You guys met him. Has he had some problems and all that? Absolutely. So have I. So has probably everybody in this room. Everybody’s had issues.
But I think when you look at it, we’re all in there with the same thing in mind, and that’s to win a championship. Everybody wants the same thing, and that’s to win. We’re about being a team and I think everybody realizes that.
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Randy says:
Just sign AT or Darren Sharper and everyone will forget about this Faneca move…
But in all honesty is a perfect oportunety for our Offensive line to get younger and the Tools are there for this kid we drafted.Under the right coaching under our offensive line, I expect good things from Vlad.
Same with or Runningback situation.It should be exciting to see a young core of Greene and this USV kid along with a Hall of Fame Runningback in LT.
I think the best move we should do is to sign Coles.He would be a pefect fill in until Santonio Holmes comes off his suspe
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Rich i thought i was the only one. People cry over Fanaca wen he sucked for 75 % of the year but he is such a “leader.” Wen Feely was money for 90% of the year and dont care. We will see this year wen Folk hits on 20 and miss 10
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But i guess kickers that score points and win games are easier to replace then 40 year old gaurds.
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Dave TN says:
I really hope that Tanny knows what he is doing. The nickels and dimes they are saving with the TJ, Faneca, and Feely moves are giving me nightmares about Woody and his unsold PSLs…
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Jeff says:
Is it just me or has anyone watched film and has seen that Feely always missed a kick over 40yds when he kicks from the right hashmark?
THEN WHY DID THEY MAKE HIM KICK FROM THERE, WHEN HE MISSES FROM THAT SPOT 50% OF THE TIME!!!
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BurbankJetsFan says:
I thought I read Jets would pay the difference from that $5mil he is gauranteed…
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klecko71 says:
think we save another 2.5 mil on faneca b/c he signed for 2.5 mil…. so we save the first 2.5 mil out of the 7, then another 2.5 mil for the difference bt what he was owed (5) and what he got from zona
also that clip that was posted proved the point….faneca got blown up alot in pass protection…
and hearing whisenhunt say “if a guy makes the pro bowl 9 times” etc…
hello?? he made it this year on name only….even “anonymous” jets were saying they were surprised he was named a pro bowler this year when the names were announced….
gimme a break already…..
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iJets!!! says:
Fron SI – “Faneca will join a few other familiar faces in Arizona. Kicker Jay Feely and safety Kerry Rhodes are also former Jets now with the Cardinals.”
NFC west will interesting to watch – Seahawks v Cardinals especially.
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Gregory Rasputin says:
Dear Mr. Faneca.
Thank you for your marvelous pulling blocks, and leadership in transforming the Jets line into something truly special. Best wishes for you and your family with your coming transformation back into normal life. -
Bent says: war/klecko/Burbank – we only reported that a saving when the new contract was signed was a possibility. The Jets have had such clauses in the past. Based on Schefter and Cimini’s reports, this doesn’t appear to be the case (although both have made mistakes recently). The fact he signed for more than the minimum seems to confirm this. I’d say that more or less proves that the move was performance related as Rex and Tannenbaum are saying.
Freeman – There is likely no future cap saving because the dead money in 2011 will probably still bite once the CBA is signed (but it’s less than 2m).
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Tos9987 says:
wtf the cards are taking all our scraps
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Those talking about kicking …
I also am concerned, but I as I’ve said in other threads, it would not surprise me that if the 2010 Jets punter and kicker are currently on someone else’s roster.
If you remember, both Weatherford and Feely were post-training camp pickups. Might be more of the same this year …
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Rich and War, count me as one who is worried about Folk and the kicking game. For that matter, getting the right punter is still out there as an issue. Kicking often gets overlooked until they miss the gimme that would have gotten you into the playoffs THEN it’s a big deal. You they Pat Leahy is still around? :-)
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GP says:
Since the Cardinals love Jets players so much, they should give Kellen a call. He might not be the best answer at QB, but i’ve got a hunch he’s better than Leinart.
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Eddie DiGio says:
Something went down in the coaches meetings that we dont know about…Callahan or Schottenhiemer probably said “We just cant run this stuff cause Faneca cant block it”…someone very high up has a serious problem with Alan Faneca as a player, and they might have a bigger, more massive option in Ducasse or Slauson…
I was never and will never be for this move because I still stay hes the best LG on the team, but it could work out this season and the future…
One thing I learned about Rex Ryan, if you play for him and make alot of money, do not play up to your paycheck, even if your unit plays well as a whole, you are gone…a la Kerry Rhodes and Alan Faneca
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“The Jets have had such clauses in the past. Based on Schefter and Cimini’s reports, this doesn’t appear to be the case (although both have made mistakes recently). The fact he signed for more than the minimum seems to confirm this. I’d say that more or less proves that the move was performance related as Rex and Tannenbaum are saying.”
Exactamundo…
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War Machine, on April 28th, 2010 at 1:02 am Said:But i guess kickers that score points and win games are easier to replace then 40 year old gaurds.
Hes 35 years old bro
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War Machine
Well now the Jets have Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Jericho Cothchery…that will help Folk kick FGs by your convoluted logic…
while JCo holds the ball, Santonio and Braylon will grab Folk like a midget toss contest, throwing him head first into the ball, propelling it up through the goal post…just like TO did in Dallas right?
(fart noise)
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Zenlaw says:
I’m also in the camp that is concerned about the kicker position. I have no faith in Folk. Also, I don’t understand why Dearth was let go.
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Zenlaw
By no means am I stating that Folk is a lock to be a great kicker for us…
But go through a lot of kickers who have been mainstays in the NFL and guys like Vinatieri, Chris Brown, Rackers, and even our own Jay Feely…all had similar seasons to Folk where they kicked in the LOW 70′s even high 60′s in terms of percentage…
When kickers mess up, they are gone, then they get it straightened out and they find another team…
People only point to last year, but before that he was a money kicker in the NFL, even made a Pro Bowl…gotta look at it both ways
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daleinct says:
With Alan, TJ and Leon gone on offense I’m anxious to see who will emerge as leaders….our offensive identity. I really liked all these guys and even though I get the reasons for the change I don’t like it yet. Man, I could never be a GM.
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Folk’s Feeling Good About a Career Restart
http://www.newyorkjets.com/blog/posts/1580-folk-s-feeling-good-about-a-career-restart
Folk wasn’t going to go into all the reasons that career got put on hold for a while. But he allowed that a lot had to do with the hip procedure he underwent in May 2009 after that joint had bothered him for much of ’08.
“I don’t want to blame anything, but everything leads back to the surgery. That’s what I can kind of attribute it to,” he said. “I talked with my kicking coach and there was something really minor I had picked up, and it was because I felt I needed to get more aggressive to the ball to compensate for things. That’s just the way it was. But everything feels good now.”
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Bent says:
Zenlaw – I think the Jets figure they can save money and still get equivalent production.
Purdum for Dearth saves $500K
Stitser and Folk for Feely saves $700K (and should at least upgrade the kickoffs, even if field goal kicking is less certain)If Weatherford, Conley, Stitser and/or Folk don’t look much good in camp, they still have the whole offseason to add a kicker or punter.
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too many “concerns”, considering the offseason is barley half over.
@ dave in TN – none of your guys were cut to save money. faneca was upgraded, TJ was upgraded from with in the roster, and jay feely, the dude is a kick. if thats not good enough, read R in CT.
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nyjwtf says:
Thank you Mr. Faneca. Unfortunately you cannot pass block any more but whenever tj ran to the left you were a stud. Wish we could’ve kept you for a mentor.
Good luck!
Watch your back on those 7 step drops leinart!
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jvsvn says:
Look at those quotes from Rex Ryan that are posted by JayM above. I’m not worried about chemistry. Who wouldn’t want to play for that guy. Players have relationships and it’s a bummer to see a friend leave. That will pass. My guess is that everybody on the Jets knows what a great situation they’re in and they’re totally stoked about it.
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Harlan Lachman says:
Bent, I think they expect better production too. Didn’t Dearth screw up snaps a few times in games for the first time in years?
While I personally think it made no difference, didn’t Feeley miss two kicks in the Championship game?
I think Tanny and Rex have low tolerance for screw-ups and also have a salary scale that they adhere to as much as they can.
But the proof is in the pudding. If our LG resembles Adrien Clark at his best (or worst since they were the same thing), all Jet fans will think letting Faneca go to save less than $3 mil and avoid a locker room not liking a vet sat down was stupid.
OTOH, if we continue to ground and pound and Sanchez gets better, lets remember the extra reps Slauson and Vlad got by having Faneca gone.
Similar thought about Leon. Let’s see how LT and McKnight fare in his place. Although even if it turns out weI miss him, not having to listen to Keels and Mrs. W will not be missed by me.
harlan
h
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Bent says:
Harlan – Yeah, to be more detailed, they are hoping that they can get AT LEAST as much production for less money (with greater upside too in every single case so far apart from LT replacing TJ…although if you account for the fact that Green will take on much of TJ’s workload I guess the upside is stronger there as well).
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SackDance99 says:
Whisenhut and Grimm know Faneca and wanted him. Rex, who coached aginst him for a decade and was his HC for 1 season, knows him, too. Rex considered him expendable. That’s a red flag in my book. Maybe the Jets felt that he was too much of a liability as a pass blocker or as an in line drive blocker.
I don’t know if any of the 1/2 dozen or so possible replacements on the roster will be better, but the bare fact that the Jets have so many options make this far different from the Kendall-Clarke debacle. Remember, the Jets have the no. 1 defense and Rex is a genius at blitzes. The player that survives training camp by doing his job at LG in the face of the Jets no. 1 defense will be an adequate replacement.
For the good of the Jets, I hope it’s Ducasse because the Jets OL needs to get younger to match the youth at the skill positions. Rex isn’t building a team just for 2010 and if you look at the Cowboys glory teams of the 90s, the offense was almost entirely the same age and matured together. The Jets already have a dominant defense, if the offense ever gets near top ten, the Jets will be very difficult to beat for a long time.
Faneca, thank you for being a Jet. Good luck!