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This is The Republic's Cardinal Insider column for Monday.

When it comes to negotiations, nothing is as motivating as a deadline, and the Cardinals and agent for inside linebacker Karlos Dansby are closing in on one.

Both sides say they desire a multiyear contract, but there's much work to be done if that's going to happen by July 15. After that date, Dansby, the team's franchise player, can't sign a long-term deal with the club until after the 2008 season.

General Manager Rod Graves and agent Kirk Wood haven't talked for several weeks, but they've exchanged phone messages over the past week. As each day passes, it becomes more likely that Dansby will play for the one-year tender offer of $8 million.

"I'm not overly concerned about the time factor," Graves said. "I think we have the time to do it, and if it's not going to happen, we'll find excuses and reasons why it won't."

That last comment was made tongue-in-cheek, but there's an element of truth in it. While declining comment on specific offers, neither side thinks the other has made a reasonable proposal.

"Karlos is excited about being to camp and the future of the team," Wood said. "We look forward to getting something done long term, and we're ready.

"We are up against a time line that's becoming more and more narrow. If we're going to get something done, we need to get moving."

It's believed that several months ago Wood made the Cardinals an offer that would pay Dansby an average of $9 million a year. That's in the neighborhood of what the New York Jets paid Calvin Pace, a former Cardinal. Pace, who signed this spring, will make $26 million over his first three seasons.

Graves acknowledged that he's looking for Wood to lower the asking price.

"I'm not sure where they stand at this particular time," Graves said.

Meanwhile, Graves is working on other fronts while also trying to take a few days off this week. He spoke to Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for receiver Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett, about a week ago.

It was more of a courtesy call, however, with Graves reiterating that the club would like to sign Boldin to a new deal. Boldin has three years remaining on his contract and recently told the team's Web site that he was unsure he would report to training camp this summer on time.

It would be a surprise if Boldin and the Cardinals agreed to a deal this summer. Graves acknowledged that a more realistic "window" is some time this fall. Graves wants to make sure the team has the cap space to deal with possible injuries in training camp and the start of the season.

It's believed the Cardinals will enter the season with $2 million to $4 million of cap space, depending on the makeup of the opening-day roster.

Rosenhaus and Boldin have not responded to interview requests. Cardinals officials remain confident that Boldin will report to camp on time and not subject himself to fines of $14,000 a day.

Boldin is working under a contract that pays him an average of about $4 million a year.

He wants a substantial raise, given that teammate and fellow receiver Larry Fitzgerald signed a four-year, $40 million deal earlier this spring. The Cardinals made Boldin an offer last December and remain interested in re-signing him.

"He's under contract, and we expect him to honor that agreement," Graves said, "and as we said, we'll continue to work with him."

The Cardinals have no intention, however, of working with Dockett, who has four years left on his contract.

Graves also has been negotiating with the agent for quarterback Kurt Warner, who is in the last year of his contract.

The Cardinals would like to extend that deal, which pays him $4 million this season.