Arguing ASU should be in and U of A should be out is a waste of time. ASU did not get screwed.

I think they should be in over UK and Nova. When you’re screwed, though, you need to have a clear beef with the committee and ASU doesn’t. I can’t run up the steps at the NCAA offices in Indianapolis screaming, “Only 40 teams played an easier schedule in the non-conference!”

Beat UO or USC in the last week and you’re in. Don’t lose by 400 at Nebraska and you’re in. Play a tougher non-conference schedule and you’re in.

I don’t like the criteria that puts U of A in the tourney. I don’t care how tough your schedule is when you don’t win enough of those games. I don’t care about the injuries your team has suffered during the season because everyone suffers injuries. U of A does not belong in the “Doug Franz tournament bracket.”

However, here’s a point you’ll never hear a talk-show host say: My opinion on this is irrelevant! The NCAA is following the same philosophy they have for 15 years. U of A did the things to get into the tournament that other teams have done in the past and made it. It would be wrong to keep U of A out when you’ve already established a history of putting teams in similar to U of A. It’s clear, when you schedule like U of A, you make the tourney. I hate it, but it’s the reality of the situation.

I think Larry Fitzgerald put money ahead of team.

He had every right to do exactly what he did.The game of football is a business and he treated it as such. He made sure that he got his. He wants to win as long as he’s got his.

It didn’t have to come to this. He would have received whatever he wanted from the Cardinals. He could have been paid out the wazu - I have no idea how to spell wazu but I didn’t want to use the word “ass” in a blog - and helped his team.

Here’s how the negotiations should have gone: “Mr. Graves. I’m only interested in a four-year contract and I don’t want to lose any money that I’ve already earned. I don’t care how you structure the contract but I want $30 million guaranteed. If you’re going to hold firm on the 6 years, I get that. However, I have to have a buy back clause in order for me to give up those two years of free agency. Since I’m giving up free agency for you, the clause will be steep.”

I staunchly believe in the player’s right to get what money they can in the time that they’re in their playing age. This argument is mostly about when the money will be paid and only slightly on how much. By waiting this long to negotiate, the Cards lost the chance at Alan Faneca, the one true free agent that would have dramatically up-graded the talent on the team.

The Cardinals didn’t have the room under the cap due to Fitz’s contract to sign Faneca. Faneca was right not to wait for the Cards because the other teams would have spent their money elsewhere and Faneca would have lost leverage.

Another issue this presents is the future of Anquan Bolden.

I want Bolden more than I want Fitzgerald. Fitz is incredible in the red zone but Bolden’s the one who will get you into the red zone. How does Bolden approach the Cards now? He means more to that offense than Fitz does. His choices are to take less, leave in free agency, or for the Cards to tie up $30 million per year in receivers.

(For more on this read this)

Fitzgerald completely earned the right to do what he did. He signed the rookie contract and earned huge money by his play on the field. His play triggered clauses that put the Cardinals in a bad spot. If the Cards didn’t like it, don’t offer the original contract. If you want to blast the Cards for giving Larry this leverage, I understand, but I’m not with you. The point is where we were we three weeks ago and where are we now. Three weeks ago Larry Fitzgerald was guaranteed over 30 million dollars and Alan Faneca was a free agent.

Today, Larry Fitzgerald is guaranteed over 30 million dollars and Alan Faneca is a Jet. He got what he earned, and it may cost the Cardinals a playoff spot.