ARIZONA CARDINALS

Report: Arizona Cardinals interested in outside linebacker Mike Neal

Feb 23, 2014, 12:52 AM | Updated: 3:54 pm

While the Arizona Cardinals’ front office currently finds itself in Indianapolis taking inventory of the best young prospects the upcoming NFL Draft has to offer, the prospect of upgrading the roster through free agency is apparently not far from their mind.

According to Bob McGinn of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Cardinals are one of the teams rumored to be interested in outside linebacker Mike Neal.

Neal, a former second-round draft pick out of Purdue in 2010, has played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers. Last season, he set career highs in games played (16), solo tackles (36), total tackles (47), sacks (5) and interceptions (1).

The Cardinals entered the 2013 with plenty of depth at the outside linebacker position, but season-ending injuries to Sam Acho and Lorenzo Alexander forced Matt Shaughnessy and John Abraham to play a bit out of position. Arizona relied on Dontay Moch and Marcus Benard to fill the void, as well.

Neal wasn’t without his own ailments last season, either. The 26-year-old suffered a knee injury that forced him out of the Packers’ Wild Card round loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Nick Bosa, 49ers...

Jesse Morrison

49ers ‘war daddy’ Nick Bosa to challenge Cardinals’ Paris Johnson

Paris Johnson Jr. has a huge task in Week 4 against San Francisco defensive end Nick Bosa but he is excited to face the 49ers' star.

14 hours ago

Wide receiver Marquise Brown #2 of the Arizona Cardinals prepares for the snap during the second ha...

Arizona Sports

Injury report: Cardinals’ Marquise Brown questionable to play vs. 49ers

The Arizona Cardinals enter Week 4 with No. 1 receiver Hollywood Brown injured heading into a game against the San Francisco 49ers.

15 hours ago

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort (Tyler Drake)...

Kevin Zimmerman

Cardinals GM ‘won’t hesitate’ to activate Kyler Murray, downplays USC-ASU scouting

Kyler Murray, Joshua Dobbs and Caleb Williams were all on the mind of Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort this past week.

17 hours ago

Defensive end Chandler Jones #55 of the Las Vegas Raiders talks to fans before a game against the N...

Arizona Sports

Former Cardinals LB Chandler Jones arrested in Las Vegas

Former Arizona Cardinals linebacker and current Las Vegas Raider Chandler Jones was arrested in Las Vegas on Friday.

18 hours ago

Joshua Dobbs #9 of the Arizona Cardinals on the field after defeating the Dallas Cowboys  at State ...

Dan Bickley

Have Arizona Cardinals found hidden treasure in QB Josh Dobbs?

The early results from Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs have been a revelation and is making the new regime look good.

1 day ago

Zaven Collins at practice...

Arizona Sports

Eye patches and blurred vision: Cardinals LB Zaven Collins describes ‘freak’ injury

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Zaven Collins explained how he suffered an injury that caused him to wear an eye patch for a few days.

2 days ago

Report: Arizona Cardinals interested in outside linebacker Mike Neal