Cardinals to give Kolb $7 million bonus

After weeks of speculation, the Arizona Cardinals have
made their decison regarding quarterback Kevin Kolb,
according to Suzy Kolber of ESPN via Adam Schefter.

ESPN’s
Suzy Kolber reports Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb will
receive his $7 million roster bonus, according to team
source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 16,
2012

According to Kent Somers of The Arizona
Republic and Darren Urban of
AZCardinals.com, the Cardinals converted the roster
bonus to an “option bonus”, allowing them to prorate the
bonus over four years and lowering Kolb’s cap number from
10.5 million to 4.75 million — a savings of over 5
million for next season.

The decision on the roster bonus had been clouded by a
couple
of factors. Firstly, their interest in signing free agent
quarterback Peyton Manning and secondly by Kolb’s injury-
plagued 2011 campaign. Kolb missed 7 games last season
with turf toe and a concussion.

Arizona acquired Kolb in a trade with Philadelphia at the
conclusion of the NFL lockout last summer, sending former
Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a
second round pick to the Eagles.

Kolb threw for 1,955 yards and 9 touchdowns while
compiling a QB rating of 81.1 in his first season as a
Cardinal.

This, of course, effectively ends the Cardinals’ pursuit
of Manning, who is reportedly considering Denver,
Tennessee and San Francisco during his recruitment
process.

More details to follow on Arizona Sports 620 and
ArizonaSports.com.

Follow @Vincemarotta