Reports: Cardinals to sign Dwight Freeney
Oct 12, 2015, 11:19 AM | Updated: 5:29 pm
San Diego Chargers outside linebacker Dwight Freeney (93) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Monday, Sept. 8, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
It looks like the Arizona Cardinals are adding to their pass rush.
DE/OLB Dwight Freeney is signing a one-year deal with the #AZCardinals a source said. Still has plenty of gas in the tank. Solid addition.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) October 12, 2015
Freeney will serve in a designated pass-rush role for the #AZCardinals. Was extremely productive last year in limited duty (40 QB hurries).
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) October 12, 2015
Dwight Freeney will sign with Arizona Cardinals after passing a physical earlier today, per sources
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) October 12, 2015
Freeney, 35, is a veteran of 13 NFL seasons. He spent the last two with the San Diego Chargers, tallying four sacks. His first 11 seasons were with the Indianapolis Colts, where he was one of the most feared pass rushers in the game. He racked up 107.5 sacks while making the Pro Bowl seven times and being named an All-Pro three times.
The 6-foot-1, 268-pound Freeney has spent most of his career as a defensive end, though played some linebacker with the Chargers. One of the veteran’s new teammates tweeted out his excitement over the move.
https://twitter.com/Mathieu_Era/status/653639565085904896
However, as of Monday afternoon the move had not been made official, and all Cardinals coach Bruce Arians would confirm is that there were talks between the organization and Freeney and that something will probably get done one way or another in the next 48 hours.
But in terms of Freeney, Arians told Bickley and Marotta on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM the veteran still has something left in the tank.
“He’s still around the quarterback a lot and he gives you a lot of edge presence,” he said.
Arizona may have had extra incentive to bring Freeney into the fold due to injuries sustained during Sunday’s victory over the Detroit Lions. Linebackers Kenny Demens and Alex Okafor along with safety Chris Clemons all left the game. Initial fears were Demens, who stars on special teams, suffered a torn ACL while Okafor, who led the team with eight sacks last season, suffered a right calf injury that will reportedly keep him out the next two to four weeks.
However, Arians said the team has had an eye on Freeney for a while, with the player having interest in the team, too.
“In talking with him even back in the summer, we had talked about maybe bringing him in, but it just was one of those things where young guys came around,” Arians said. “It wasn’t an opportunity — now there’s an opportunity.”
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