Report: Cardinals try out linebackers Babin, Shaughnessy
Jan 11, 2016, 3:32 PM | Updated: Jan 12, 2016, 11:29 am
Oakland Raiders quarterback Christian Ponder (9) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Matt Shaughnessy (91), linebacker Shaquille Riddick (47), nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu (66) and linebacker Kareem Martin (96) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 30, 2015. The Cardinals won 30-23. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
(AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
The Arizona Cardinals are preparing for their Divisional Round matchup with the Green Bay Packers, but at the same time they appear to be interested in adding to their roster.
Source: the Cardinals tried out a pair of notable veteran OLB's, Jason Babin and Matt Shaughnessy.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 11, 2016
Shaughnessy should be a familiar name to Cardinals fans, as the veteran was with Arizona the two seasons prior to this one. The 29-year-old was released in September as part of the team’s final roster cuts, but in 2013-14 recorded 53 combined tackles along with three sacks, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. In six NFL seasons — the first four of which were with the Oakland Raiders — he has recorded 176 combined tackles to go along with 18.5 sacks.
Babin, 35, last played for the New York Jets in 2014, recording 25 combined tackles and two sacks. In his career, which included stints with the Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Tennessee Titans, and Jacksonville Jaguars, too, the veteran has tallied 64.5 sacks, notching 7.5 as recently as the 2013 season.
The Cardinals finished the 2015 season with a 13-3 record, earning the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. They ranked 20th in the NFL with 36 quarterback sacks and also had the league’s sixth-best run defense.
