With the Cardinals high on the potential of 2011 third-round pick Rob Housler, tight end Todd Heap was at risk of losing his job in Arizona this summer.
Like many other veterans over the years, Heap decided to help his case to stick around by accepting a pay cut from the team. Adam Caplan of TheSidelineView.com reports that the Cardinals have slashed Heap’s salary from $2.15 million to $1.15 million for the 2012 season. Heap is set to become a free agent after this season, his 12th in the NFL.
Heap joins linebacker Stewart Bradley as veteran Cardinals to see a reduction in their pay this season. Heap’s 2011 season wasn’t as bad as Bradley’s, but it still wasn’t quite what the Cardinals hoped to get when they signed him away from the Ravens as a free agent.
Heap had 24 catches for 283 yards and a touchdown while splitting time with Housler and Jeff King at tight end, a sharp drop in production from his 2010 season in Baltimore. He played in just 10 games because of injuries and has missed nine games over the last two seasons, a trend that likely contributed to Arizona’s desire to cut down their financial commitment to Heap for this season.