From NFL.com:
The Arizona Cardinals have agreed to terms with free-agent cornerback Bryant McFadden on a two-year contract, the team announced Sunday.
McFadden will receive $5 million in the first year of the deal, including a $3.75 million salary.
McFadden appeared in 10 regular-season games in 2008 (eight starts) for the Pittsburgh Steelers, collecting 41 tackles and two interceptions with one sack despite missing six games due to an arm injury. Once McFadden returned from his injury, he started the final three regular season games and also all three postseason contests, including Super Bowl XLIII against the Cardinals.
"It seems to be a good situation," McFadden said during his visit to Arizona last week. "There are some guys I have been around in previous years. And it's an up-and-coming organization, which you'd love to be a part of -- a successful organization and (one) that is making strides and you want to be a part of."
Originally drafted by the Steelers in the second-round (62nd overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Florida State, the four-year veteran has appeared in 51 regular season games with 18 starts collecting 135 tackles (121 solos), seven interceptions, 28 passes defensed and two sacks. The 27-year-old has also played in eight postseason games, collecting four tackles and a pass defensed.
McFadden is expected to compete with veteran Rod Hood for a starting job opposite second-year man Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The move bolsters the Cardinals secondary after a 2008 season when Eric Green fell out of favor and the nickel position was manned by veteran Ralph Brown.
The move also should allow Antrel Rolle to focus on playing free safety and not have to worry about filling the slot cornerback role.
Even when B-Mac returned to the Steelers' starting lineup, he was still splitting some time with reserve William Gay. The Steelers have too many other priorities to get done before next season to warrant giving McFadden $5 mil/year. They need to get guys like James Harrison and Heath Miller (among others) re-signed before they can go free after next season.
I think that B-Mac saw the handwriting on the Wall when he was with the Steelers in terms of them not paying him what he wanted, and the confidence that Dick LeBeau has in William Gay. Bryant was smart to only sign a 2-year contract cause that means he can still get BIG Money in Free Agency when this contract ends. I'm sorry to see him leave the Steelers cause he was a Good Guy, and I used to listen to his Radio Show every week ..He goes from making $789,750 last year to 5 million next year, which is 6 times more of the amount
B-Mac is also a Well-Mannered person who would always call you Sir or Ma'am. He is a VERY under-rated shut-down Cornerback, and the Cardinals (or the Steelers West) won't regret having him. He just needs to be a Starter, which my Steelers never gave him the opportunity.
You got to wonder how much he benefitted from the steelers pass rush, and having Troy hovering on his side of the field last year. I was really surprised he wasnt one of the first few CBS signed, so maybe there is something in his game that was turning people off.
Itll will be interesting to see how high they draft a CB, that will hsow you how much they think of big play gay as a starter.
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Mar 08, 2009
07:02 PM
Definately not the contarct McFadden was looking for. After seeing the deals for Bartell, Foxworth, etc., I thought Bryant would get a much better offer. In fact, with this contract, I think the Steelers could have resigned him......why didn't they?