Super Bowl Fallout
Feb 02, 2009 at 9:58 AM
As the memory of one of the, if not THE, most exciting Super Bowl of all time percolates, the start of a busy offseason is upon us. There are many things for fantasy owners to track in the coming weeks and months: the combine, free agency, the NFL draft, and camps to name but a few. However, several big offseason questions loom in the aftermath of the Steelers dramatic Super Bowl victory, and most of them center on the Cardinals.
First of all we'll start with a Steelers question, and it's an easy one, namely: precisely what does Santonio Holmes' Super Bowl performance do for his fantasy value? The answer is obvious to me: it means he will be vastly overrated next summer. His wonderful game comes with a regular-season-sized asterisk. Holmes was drafted as a WR2 in most fantasy leagues, but was dreadful for most of the regular season, when it mattered to fantasy owners. To put it bluntly, he was a significant bust in a season that included several high-profile wide receiver busts (see: Plaxico Burress, Braylon Edwards, Chad Johnson, etc). Something tells me that a player of Holmes' ilk, a guy who raised his own character issues just this past week when he admitted to dealing drugs as a kid, might rest on his laurels a bit this offseason while he shines his ring and enjoys the banquet circuit. When analyzing his fantasy value next summer, look past his remarkable catch and super numbers in the Super Bowl.
The other questions that immediately spring to mind following the Super Bowl all have to do with the Cardinals.
First off, what will Kurt Warner do? I know that he wants to take some time off to pray about his future and discuss it with his family, so I don't expect an immediate answer to this one. However, I do expect that we will have one in the next two weeks. Warner does not seem like the type of guy who would let this drag on like Brett Favre annually does. He has three options: retire, re-sign with the Cardinals, or exercise his right to become a free agent and fully test the market. The third scenario is the least likely in my opinion. My gut tells me the Cardinals will offer him the money he is reportedly looking for: two years and $18 million and Warner will sign it instead of uprooting his family yet again. Furthermore, I think he will strongly suggest or even come right out and say that this will be his final contract.
There are also questions surrounding the Cardinals two Pro Bowl wide receivers. I am waiting for the other shoe to drop with Anquan Boldin now that the Super Bowl is in the rear-view mirror. Boldin has been outspoken about his situation and his desire to play elsewhere unless he gets a new contract. Larry Fitzgerald has reportedly offered to restructure his deal to keep Boldin around, but we'll see if something like that comes to fruition or whether Boldin starts voicing his displeasure again. Will the Cardinals entertain trade offers for Boldin? Whatever happens will be linked to Warner's decision.
As for Fitz, there is no question that his reputation as a player has reached superstar status, but there is also no question that his off-field reputation took a hit with the reports that his ex-girlfriend filed a restraining order against him, accusing him of slamming her head onto a marble floor while holding their son. Will additional allegations be made? Will they be swept under the rug? Is this a person looking to take advantage of Fitzgerald's celebrity by making false claims? I expect to hear more about this situation in the months ahead.
So there you have it, four pretty big questions from just the two Super Bowl combatants. We'll be tracking them all in addition to other big offseason questions on Tom Brady, LaDainian Tomlinson, Brett Favre, Plaxico Burress, Matt Cassel... the fun never ends!