12:13pm: In addition to Feely, the Cardinals have cut 12 other players, trimming their roster to the required 75-man limit, per a press release:
- Keenan Clayton, LB
- JoJo Dickson, LB
- Tom Draheim, C
- Reggie Dunn, WR
- Derrell Johnson, LB
- Orhian Johnson, S
- Ryan Lindley, QB
- Kevin Ozier, WR
- Justin Renfrow, DT
- Max Starks, OT
- Brandon Sermons, CB
- Damien Thigpen, RB
Starks is 10-year veteran who has spent most of his career with the Steelers, while Lindley started four games for the Cards in 2012.
11:35am: The Cardinals have released veteran kicker Jay Feely, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Feely, a 13-year veteran, had been with Arizona since 2010.
Feely, 38, thanked the franchise on Twitter: “It’s been an honor to play for the [Cardinals and owner] Michael Bidwill, thank you for your leadership and friendship. AZ will still be home!” The former Michigan Wolverine has lived a kicker’s nomadic life, spending time with the Falcons, Giants, Dolphins, Chiefs, and Jets. For his career, Feely has converted 82.7% of his field goals (329-for-398).
The Cardinals save $635K against the cap with this move, but money probably wasn’t Arizona’s prime motivation. 23-year-old Chandler Cantanzaro, the only other PK on the Cards’ roster, will presumably become the starting kicker. He was an undrafted free agent out of Clemson.
It’s just my speculation, but I wonder if the Broncos would be interested in bringing Feely aboard. Matt Prater was recently suspended for the first four games of the season, and Feely could add some stability to the kicking position until Prater is ready to return.