Quarterback Kevin Kolb is expected to be released by the Arizona Cardinals before he’s owed a $2 million roster bonus on Saturday, NFL Network reported.
The March 17 payment would be difficult to swallow for the new regime with the Cardinals. Kolb was paid a $7 million roster bonus last March, but the failed trade in 2011 in which the Cardinals traded a second-round pick and former first-round draft choice Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Eagles leaves the franchise searching for a starting quarterback.
Kolb is owed $9 million in base salary for 2013 as per terms of the seven-year, $63 million contract he signed in 2011.
The inability of the Cardinals to keep Kolb on the field was a major factor in the franchise firing head coach Ken Whisenhunt and replacing general manager Rod Graves in January.
Kolb could still stay in Arizona, but only at a fraction of his current salary.
Releasing him would save the team $7.5 million against the 2013 salary cap and add Kolb to a quarterback market that includes former starters Ryan Fitzpatrick and Matt Cassel.