The Arizona Cardinals announced a surprise roster move this afternoon. They released 11th-year wide receiver Michael Crabtree, whom they signed at the end of the preseason.
He appeared in two games, played limited snaps and had only four catches for 22 yards. He had not apparently done enough to warrant playing time over Damiere Byrd or KeeSean Johnson.
Crabtree signed a one-year $3.25 million deal that could have been worth up to $5.5 million.
He was already paid a $500,000 signing bonus and earned more than $308,000 in salary. He was due $1.75 million in base salary in 2019.
The move is a curious one because vested veterans have their contracts fully guaranteed if they are on the Week 1 roster. That means the Cardinals carry his $2.25 million charge against the salary cap despite getting only two games out of him.
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