Report: Arizona Cardinals will place Daryl Washington on reserve-suspended list

The Arizona Cardinals and their fan base are still reeling from Friday’s news that linebacker Daryl Washington will miss the entire 2014 campaign as the result of another failed drug test.

The reaction to the news has been vast. Many, including Arizona Sports’ own Doug Franz and John Gambadoro, believe that the linebacker’s most recent transgression should be enough for the organization to sever ties with him immediately. Vince Marotta believes that general manager Steve Keim is facing a very difficult decision because of financial, competitive and human elements to the story.

It doesn’t appear that the Cardinals will do anything immediately, according to ESPN NFL insider Ed Werder, mostly for financial reasons.

A source within the organization told ESPN that none of that money has actually been paid to Washington and conceded that one of the reasons the team won’t consider releasing him is because it might no longer be entitled to keep a portion of that money.

Werder reports the Cardinals will place Washington on the reserve-suspended list and that the former Pro Bowler will forfeit up to $6.5 million in salary and bonuses between now and December.

Sources say there are two reasons the Cardinals won’t cut Washington yet: His cap acceleration would be approximately $7.5 million, and they would not be entitled to recover some of the aforementioned $10 million option bonus — none of which has been paid at this point. So rather than attempt to force Washington to repay the money, the Cardinals are prepared to argue they shouldn’t have to pay him in the first place.

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