Fans have been wondering what’s up with the Cardinals after they finally got the Larry Fitzgerald deal done.

Well, they got something done Wednesday, agreeing to terms with Clark Haggans, the Steelers’ veteran linebacker.

They’ve also re-signed a host of veterans, most notably defensive end Joe Tafoya, receiver Jerheme Urban and offensive lineman Elton Brown.

I first met Bob Moran when around 1981.

I worked newsside for the Tribune while Bob worked in sports for the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson but was based in the Valley.

A few of us would play basketball at Westwood
High School over the weekend to stay in shape or at least try to pretend we could still play.

He didn’t know it, but I already was familiar with his college sports stories; you could tell by reading him once or twice that he knew his stuff.

We kept in touch through the 1980s, then, finally, we became colleagues when I re-joined the Tribune, this time in sports, in 1988.

I enjoyed his company in part because he could talk about far more than sports.

When his health started to decline, I called him about once or twice a month. We usually talked about college sports, though in recent months we turned our attention to the presidential race.

On the college sports scene, I more or less played the role of “Sparky” to his “Wilbur.”

A few months ago, when Lute Olson mysteriously stepped away from his job as the Wildcat basketball coach for personal reasons, I called him and offered what I considered a sound theory: A person has a defined (though unknown in advance) amount of time he or she can spend in dull Tucson before cracking up.

He got a kick out of this; I’m sure I got a bigger kick when he told me he enjoyed the conversations.

The last time I called him was last Thursday night. We talked about the alleged problems in the ASU baseball program (in general, Bob believed that coaches should get rid of repeat-problem players to avoid such matters), more about the presidential race.

And for the first time, I realized there wouldn’t be many more conversations.

It was all I could do to get through the conversation. I said good-bye. Then I said a prayer.

I’m sorry he had to suffer. My best wishes to his mom.

Kurt Warner may get his wish

Last summer, Warner said he’d like to play two more years beyond his current contract (which runs out after the upcoming season).

Now the Cardinals are starting to talk about the idea.

After free agency settles down in a few weeks, they might do such a deal, says his agent Mark Bartelstein. 

Though he wants to start, Warner has indicated he’d accept a backup role to Matt Leinart.

“He’s having a wonderful time,” Bartelstein said. “He feels as well as he’s ever felt.”

In addition, “He thinks the team is headed in the right direction. He enjoys the coaching staff.”

Also, the Cardinals are expected to try to work out a new contract for defensive end Joe Tafoya, Bartelstein said.

Tafoya filled in nicely when Bertrand Berry was hurt last season. Tafoya is looking for a two-year deal, Bartelstein indicated.

What might be the highlight of a lackluster off-season free-agent haul is finished.

On Tuesday, the Cardinals signed defensive end Travis LaBoy to a five-year contract reportedly worth $22 million.

In a reserve role last season, LaBoy had six sacks 20 tackles, four forced fumbles, one interception and one fumble recovery.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said he sees “a lot of similarities” to linebacker Calvin Pace, recently lost in free agency, though LaBoy actually would compete with Bertrand Berry for time at defensive end.

“In our defense, we’re going to ask him to do a number of the things we did last year with Calvin,” Whisenhunt said.

A LINEBACKER VISITS

Another possible signing could come in the form of linebacker Brandon Chillar, who played for the Rams the past four seasons.

Chillar visited the Cardinals Tuesday and expressed interest in joining up.

“What’s not to like about
Arizona?” said Chillar, who played in college at UCLA before being drafted in Round 4 of the 2004 draft.

“They’re playing very good defense. And I think they’re definitely headed in the right direction.”

Chillar could compete for time with Chike Okeafor at outside linebacker and back up Gerald Hayes inside.

“I think I can fit wherever they need me to fit.”

NEARING THE LIMIT

But this could be about it.

The Cardinals are nearing the point of going about as far as they can go in free agency, unless the team can work out a long-term deal with Larry Fitzgerald, Whisenhunt indicated.

“It’s pretty close to that, yes,” the coach said.

“What we’d be faced with, if we had to sign other free agents, we’d have to make roster space.

 “That would potentially involve cutting players.”

It’s hard to believe the name of Calvin Pace was once associated with the description of “draft day disappointment” if not outright bust.

Not any more. Not after Pace agreed to one of the off-season’s biggest deals: a reported $42 million with the New York Jets, including a whopping $22 million guaranteed.

Pace, who was slow to live up to his stature as a Round 1 pick in 2003, had a good year at the right time. He filled in more than adequately for the injured Chike Okeafor, then hit the free-agent market when a host of teams had money to spend.

It’s not clear at all the Cardinals would have bid anywhere close to this amount even if they Larry Fitzgerald debacle hadn’t come up.

But good for Calvin Pace. He worked himself into the right spot and took advantage.

Travis LaBoy, the free-agent defensive end, visited the Cardinals on Monday and indicated he wants to get a deal done.

I like being out here. I like the coaches I’ve been talking with,” said LaBoy. 

He also visited Cleveland, but, “I’m hoping to get something done here.  I like Arizona a lot.”  

LaBoy said he isn’t worried about his past problems with concussions.