The Cardinals’ signing of linebacker Stewart Bradley to a five-year, $25 million contract was widely met with media praise last July, but things didn’t turn out nearly as well on the field. Bradley received a $5 million signing bonus, yet wound up playing less than 20 percent of Arizona’s defensive snaps.
In order to keep his roster spot entering year two of the deal, Bradley agreed to a $2.5 million pay reduction, Adam Caplan reports. The salary slash wasn’t accompanied by the usual “signing” bonus to make up the difference, either. Bradley’s base pay simply dropped from $5 million to $2.5 million.
Bradley, 28, finished last season with 31 tackles and no sacks in 16 appearances, starting just once. He returns to compete for snaps at inside linebacker against 34-year-old Paris Lenon.