Cardinals hoping to keep Rolle off open market, Bears Could Target

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Arizona Cardinals are going to continue with their efforts to try to re-sign free safety Antrel Rolle, but barring an unexpected breakthrough he is expected to hit the open market and become a potential Bears target.

The problem for the Cardinals is he is owed $12 million this coming season ($8 million plus a pending $4 million roster bonus) and isn't inclined to renegotiate. If the Cardinals can't sign him to a long-term deal, they are expected to release him and let him enter the free market, where he will be perhaps the most pursued veteran at his position.

"We're going to try hard to get a contract in place with him before we have to make a decision about his contract," Cardinals general manager Rod Graves said. "If not, we will continue to work with him and treat him as if he is a free agent we are pursuing.

"We've always been under the impression Antrel wanted to remain an Arizona Cardinal. We have been able to develop him and we have seen him develop into an outstanding player and we want to keep that relationship going. We're not looking to lose quality players, but again, all of those decisions have to make sense to us from a team standpoint. Obviously he is a top priority."

The Cardinals' focus this offseason will be on a defense that was steamrolled in the playoffs by Green Bay and New Orleans. Losing Rolle will only create more work for the club, but Arizona is already heavily invested in strong safety Adrian Wilson and can't pay Rolle more than him. The team also faces the prospect of losing linebacker Karlos Dansby in free agency.

"At this point, I realize those guys could become free agents and they are interested in what the market will bear," Graves said. "At the same time, I am confident those guys don't undervalue what they mean to our football team and their relationship with us."

Coach Ken Whisenhunt, fresh off his contract extension that averages $5 million per season, said the team is committed to getting a deal done with Rolle and his agent Drew Rosenhaus.

"He's done a great job of making that transition from corner to safety, and is still growing in that role (as a safety)," Whisenhunt said. " He's made a number of big plays for us in the last few years. We're working to try and get that deal done.

"It's a different position to him after all the years of playing outside as a corner. He played nickel for us the first couple years, which was inside and covering a slot receiver, and did a good job for us. But to play the back half of the field, to be able to make the adjustments, make the calls to the secondary, which is critical for safeties to do, he's done a great job of studying and learning the position.

"He still has a lot to learn as far as where he lines up, how he reacts to certain things. Obviously, we're excited about the progress he's made at safety."

So are other teams, the Bears included, and that is why Rolle is destined for free agency.

(chicagobreakingsports.com)