Cory Redding - Pro Football Rumors

Cory Redding Announces Retirement

June 29th, 2016 at 10:27am CST by Zachary Links

On Wednesday morning, defensive lineman Cory Redding took to Twitter to announce his retirement from the NFL. Redding wrote (sic):

“I’m leaving the game I’ve played for 23 years. Thanks to the teams I played for, coaches, teammates, fans and my family for their support!”

Redding contemplated retirement before signing with the Cardinals last year. After playing a limited role in Arizona in 2015 – he failed to make a start for the first time since his 2003 rookie year – the 35-year-old decided to call it career.

Redding, viewed as a potential cap casualty heading into the spring, was released by the Cardinals in April. At the time, the Cardinals had the second-least amount of cap space in the NFL with just $2.29 in breathing room, which made the move something of a no-brainer. Cutting Redding will reduced the team’s hit from $4MM to $1MM, removing his non-guaranteed $3MM salary from the Cardinals’ books.

In his 12 games last season, Redding played 183 defensive snaps, picking up five tackles and two passes defended. He did show a knack for coming up with big plays, grabbing his second career interception, and recovering a pair of fumbles, including one for a touchdown.

In 2014, Redding started all 16 regular season games for the Colts, racking up 44 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 3 pass deflections. He also made his presence felt in the postseason, recording 2 sacks and 2 pass deflections to go with 9 total tackles. In total, Redding enjoyed a 13-year career with the Lions, Seahawks, Ravens, Colts, and Cardinals and made a total of 147 starts.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Cardinals Release Cory Redding

April 18th, 2016 at 3:50pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran defensive lineman Cory Redding, viewed as a possible cap casualty for the Cardinals, has officially been released by the team, according to a press release. As a vested veteran, Redding will become an unrestricted free agent without first passing through waivers.

The Cardinals entered the day with just $2.29MM in cap room, according to Over the Cap’s data. That gave the team the second-least amount of cap space in the NFL, limiting the club’s flexibility. Cutting Redding will reduce his cap hit from $4MM to $1MM, removing his non-guaranteed $3MM salary from the Cardinals’ books and creating a little more breathing room.

As Darren Urban writes at AZCardinals.com, Redding contemplated retirement before signing with the Cardinals last year. After playing a limited role in Arizona in 2015 – he failed to make a start for the first time since his 2003 rookie year – the 35-year-old may mull retiring once again. For now though, he’ll be a free agent, with the freedom to sign anywhere.

In his 12 games last season, Redding played 183 defensive snaps, picking up five tackles and two passes defended. He did show a knack for coming up with big plays, grabbing his second career interception, and recovering a pair of fumbles, including one for a touchdown.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Cardinals Put Alex Okafor On NFI, Sign Babin

January 12th, 2016 at 12:41pm CST by Luke Adams

The Cardinals have made multiple changes to their 53-man roster in advance of their divisional round game against the Packers, the team announced today in a press release. Arizona has placed outside linebacker Alex Okafor on the non-football injury list due to a toe issue, and placed defensive tackle Cory Redding on IR with an ankle injury.

To replace Okafor and Redding on the roster, the Cards have promoted inside linebacker Gabe Martin from their practice squad, and signed veteran outside linebacker Jason Babin, who recently worked out for the club.

Okafor, who turns 25 next month, didn’t have the same impact in 2015 that he did in 2014, when he recorded a career-high eight sacks. However, the Texas product was still a key contributor on the Cardinals’ defense, starting 13 games and playing more defensive snaps than any other Arizona edge defender, so his absence will be felt. Since he landed on the NFI list rather than on IR, it appears his injury was sustained away from the team.

Redding was a part-time player for the Cardinals who didn’t play a huge role for the team this season, but did make a handful of big plays, recovering a pair of fumbles – including one for a touchdown – and grabbing an interception.

As for Babin, the 35-year-old has played for eight teams since being selected in the first round of the 2004 draft. The two-time Pro Bowler made 16 appearances (four starts) with the Jets in 2014, compiling 25 tackles and two sacks. New York released him in September and Babin caught on with the Ravens following a season-ending injury to Terrell Suggs. However, he was inactive for his first two games with Baltimore, and barely saw the field in his next two games, committing multiple penalties when he did play. He was cut by the Ravens in October.

Cardinals To Sign Cory Redding

March 11th, 2015 at 1:25pm CST by Zachary Links

1:25pm: Redding’s deal will pay him up to $6MM over two years, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Redding’s deal will include a $2MM bonus with salaries of $1MM and $3MM, a source tells Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (on Twitter).

10:42am: The Cardinals are nearing a deal with defensive end Cory Redding, a source tells Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (via Twitter). Redding, 34, started at least 14 games for the Colts the past three years.

In October, Redding said that he was considering retirement. It was a decision that he wasn’t taking lightly as he was thinking long and hard about what his legacy would be.

“When I’m dead and gone, what are people going to say about Cory Redding?” the defensive end said. “Will my name even come up? Was he just a football player? A good football player and a horrible person? What is my legacy going to be?”

After some soul searching, Redding decided that he has yet to write his final chapter. In 2014, Redding started all 16 regular season games for the Colts, racking up 44 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 3 pass deflections. He also made his presence felt in the postseason, recording 2 sacks and 2 pass deflections to go with 9 total tackles.

FA Rumors: Orakpo, Rolle, Gilchrist, Conte

March 10th, 2015 at 4:36pm CST by Sam Robinson

After also being linked to the Cardinals earlier today, Brian Orakpo will visit the Titans to start his first free agency foray, according to Terry McCormick of TitansInsider.com on Twitter.

The Titans have more than $44MM in cap room, according to OverTheCap, and do not have much money currently allocated to their linebacking corps as free agency enters warp speed. Tennessee’s highest-paid linebacker is 3-4 inside man Wesley Woodyard, who signed with the Titans last year, with a $3.5MM number for this season.

An older first-time free agent who enters his age-29 season, Orakpo made more than triple that on the franchise tag for Washington last season before suffering a pectoral tear for the third time in his career, weakening the edge-rusher’s momentum.

In other news in the opening stage of real free agency …

Antrel Rolle will visit the Bears, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus’ Twitter, but has no agreement in place. The Bears are the highest bidder for the 32-year-old free safety’s services, according to ESPN’s Michael C. Wright on Twitter.
The player Rolle could be replacing in Chicago, 26-year-old Chris Conte, will visit the Buccaneers, ESPN Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure notes on Twitter. Conte was the fourth-worst safety Pro Football Focus (subscription required) graded last year.
More from the safety market: the Jets will host former Chargers back-line starter Marcus Gilchrist tonight, reports NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (via Twitter). Gilchrist started all 16 games for the Chargers the past two years.
Kendrick Lewis and the Texans engaged in preliminary discussions on keeping the free safety in Houston, reports Brian T. Smith of the Houston Chronicle on Twitter.
Veteran defensive end Cory Redding announced (Twitter link) he intends to visit the Cardinals on Wednesday. Now 34, Redding started at least 14 games for the Colts the past three years.
Chargers backup linebacker Andrew Gachkar has visits booked with two potential suitors, the Panthers and Vikings, notes Michael Gehlken of the San Diego Union-Tribune (Twitter link). The Vikings appear to be the frontrunner for Gachkar’s second contract, adds Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press on Twitter.

AFC South Notes: Redding, Colts, Jags

October 7th, 2014 at 8:46pm CST by Zachary Links

Cory Redding, in the final year of his three-year contract with the Colts and contemplating retirement, will soon make a determination about his football future, writes Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star. It’s a decision that he’s not taking lightly. “When I’m dead and gone, what are people going to say about Cory Redding?” the defensive end said. “Will my name even come up? Was he just a football player? A good football player and a horrible person? What is my legacy going to be?” More out of the AFC South..

The Jaguars worked out John Drew, Malcolm Bronson, John Dockery, and Keelan Johnson, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter).
The Colts recently tried out Bubba Ventrone, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post (on Twitter). The safety didn’t go to Indianapolis, however, he signed with the 49ers earlier tonight.
Former Colts running back Delone Carter has signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the CFL, according to Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (on Twitter).