The Cardinals have released offensive lineman Rex Hadnot.
The 30-year-old was inked by the Cards with a three-year deal back in 2010. He was supposed to make $1.5 million base salary with a $150,000 workout bonus. His release trims $1.65 million off the Cardinals’ salary cap this season.
Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the Cardinals are expected to release offensive tackle Levi Brown, the fifth overall pick of the 2007 NFL Draft.
Brown is due $8.33 million in base salary with a $6 million dollar roster bonus and $250,000 and was slated to count nearly $17 million against the team’s salary cap in 2012.
The Cardinals planned to release Brown if an extension lowering that number could not be reached.
The tour for free agent QB Peyton Manning is making its second stop tonight, as the QB is set to meet with Ken Whisenhunt and the Arizona Cardinals.
Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com reports that Manning is flying to Phoenix to meet with the Cardinals about coming aboard as their QB.
Glazer adds that Manning never intended to sign with the first team he visited, which was the Denver Broncos. The four-time MVP is also expected to chat with Stephen Ross and the Miami Dolphins.
The Cardinals are one of the favorites for Manning, as they have quarterback Kevin Kolb on the roster, and he is due a $7 million roster bonus on March 17th.
Acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 second round draft choice, Kolb completed 57.7 percent of his 253 pass attempts for 1,955 yards with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions, missing nearly half the season with concussions.
If the Cardinals are able to signing Manning, they would assuredly release Kolb to save $7.5 million in cash from his roster and workout bonuses.
The Cardinals have placed a “Second Round” restricted free agent tender on running back and kick returner LaRod Stephens-Howling.
A 2009 seventh-round pick out of Pittsburgh, Stephens-Howling has 72 carries for 295 yards and one touchdown and 39 receptions for 428 yards and three touchdowns out of the backfield. Over the last three seasons, the 5-foot-7, 185-pound running back has averaged 25.3 yards on 145 kick returns, returning three for touchdowns.
Stephens-Howling signed a three-year, $1.219 rookie contract that paid him a 2011 CBA-enhanced base salary of $525,000 in 2011. Under the “Upgraded Tender”, Stephens-Howling would make $1.927 million in non-guaranteed base salary in 2012.
In addition to Stephens-Howling, the Cardinals placed “Original Round” tenders on cornerback Greg Toler and safety Rashad Johnson. The Cardinals selected Toler in the fourth round of the 2009 NFL Draft out of St. Paul’s and the 6-foot, 192-pound corner started 13 of 14 games in 2010 before missing the entire 2011 season with a torn ACL. Johnson was a 2009 third-round pick who has started 11 of 42 games the last three seasons, totaling 113 tackles and an interception.
It was inevitable that since Peyton Manning is the most high-profile free agent in NFL history, that some teams would be in contact with his agents now that the NFL rules allow them to. ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that 12 teams have contacted so far.
It’s unknown who all of the 12 teams are and how vigorous each of their desires is to work out Manning are.
ESPN is reporting that the Cardinals and Seahawks are two of the teams.
Other sources are designating the Cardinals and Broncos as the favorites, saying they’ve already contacted him and he’s interested in both.
For the Cardinals, Adam Schein of Fox Sports is reporting that the Cardinals “want to sign Manning,” Manning is “very intrigued” by the idea of playing with Larry Fitzgerald, Manning “respects” coach Ken Whisenhunt, and thinks highly of Arizona’s “young, talented defense.” As “part of the plan,” Cardinals would bring in free agent Reggie Wayne, who has been “discussed at length internally.” Schein speaks of a “legit mutual interest in a Manning-Cardinals marriage.” I’ve heard that the agent for OL coach Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt has confirmed this.
Count the Cardinals as a team that will for sure have interest in Peyton Manning now that he’s released.
The level to which the Cardinals are interested in Manning is unclear, but that there is any is a sign that they have doubts about Kevin Kolb’s ability to lead them back to the top of the NFC West and to the Super Bowl they played for after the 2008 season under Kurt Warner.
Acquired from the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 second round draft choice, Kolb signed a five-year extension worth $62.1 million that included a $10 million signing bonus and $2 million base salary in 2011.
Kolb, 27, completed 57.7 percent of his 253 pass attempts for 1,955 yards with nine touchdowns and eight interceptions, missing nearly half the season with concussions as 2010 fifth-round pick John Skelton stepped in and nearly led the team on a miracle run to the playoffs following their 1-6 start to the season.
Kolb is due a $7 million roster bonus on March 17. The Cardinals can get out of the contract by releasing him prior to that date.
With a $28 million dollar roster bonus due on March 8th the debate is on.
Could Peyton Manning play for the Cardinals in 2012?
There’s little about this that is sure. Everything ends with a question mark. Where will he play? Will his neck hold up? Did his injury happen because of the Saints “Bounty Gate”?
The Cardinals have plenty of offense. Up and coming running back Beanie Well, a solid offensive line, and the best wide receiver in the NFL today in Larry Fitzgerald. The defense is solid with veteran players and up and coming stars. Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt is an offensive mind that needs a veteran quarterback to run his offense. Whisenhunt could be on the hot seat soon if the team doesn’t start winning on a regular basis. The Cardinals hit gold with Kurt Warner, but completely missed the mark with Matt Lienart. So going after another veteran quarterback makes sense. If Reggie Wayne comes to the desert too that would give the Cardinals a great second receiver as well. Then the Cardinals would be ready to fly high again. Arizona would be the easiest team for Manning to find early success with. For the Cardinals need the least to turn around. It was only three years ago that this team almost won the Super Bowl. Manning could lead a turnaround win a Super Bowl and ride off into the sunset. Arizona has been battling Florida for retirees for years. In this case Arizona wins and does so big!
What do you think?
The Cardinals have placed the “non-exclusive” franchise tender on defensive end Calais Campbell.
Negotiations towards a long-term contract are expected to continue.
A 2008 second-round pick out of Miami, the 6-foot-8, 300-pound Campbell has 180 tackles, 21 sacks and 18 passes defensed as a full-time starter over the last three seasons. Campbell earned a $600,000 base salary in 2011, the final season of a four-year, $2.9 million rookie contract that included $1.9 million in guarantees.
Under the “non-exclusive” franchise tag, Campbell would be allowed to negotiate with other teams, who would be required to compensate the Cardinals with a pair of first-round picks if they signed Campbell to an offer sheet that the Cardinals declined to match.
If Campbell plays under the one-year tender, he would receive a base salary of a projected $10.595 million in 2012, which would become fully guaranteed when signed.
March 18th, 2012 
Matt Loede 
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