The Arizona Cardinals want to keep safety Antrel Rolle, but they will release him first, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.
Rolle (6-0, 208) earned Pro Bowl honors for the first time after posting 72 tackles, 1.5 quarterback sacks and 4 interceptions from his free safety position in 2009. Playing both cornerback and safety, Rolle has started 59 of his 68 games with the Cardinals, totaling 335 tackles, 34 pass break-ups, and 12 interceptions, four of which he's returned for touchdowns, in his career.
Chosen with the eighth overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, Rolle is signed for the 2010 season, but has an $8.11 million dollar base salary, as well as a $4M roster bonus, which the Cardinals are unlikely to pay him for one season of work.
The Homestead, Florida native is expected to draw interest from the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears if he hits the free agent market, so there is an element of risk on the Cardinals' part. However, $12.11 million dollars in total compensation would not have been a prudent financial decision by the Cardinals, who took safety Rashad Johnson in the third-round of last year's draft, presumably as a safeguard should they release Rolle this off-season.
