Kerry Rhodes had a strong 2012 season with the Arizona Cardinals. It wasn't enough to keep his job.
CBS Sports.com's Jason La Canfora reported Wednesday that the Cardinals have released the free safety, ending his three-year tenure in the desert. The team later confirmed the move.
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Financially, the move has logic for the Cardinals. Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official website reported that Arizona saves $6 million in cash and $6 million in salary-cap space by parting ways with Rhodes, who was due $4.5 million in base salary, a $1 million reporting bonus and a $500,000 workout bonus.
The Cardinals are in the process of a complete makeover at safety. They cut 12-year veteran Adrian Wilson last week. While Wilson's play slipped last season, Rhodes arguably had the best season of his career.
Still, Rhodes' healthy salary and age (31 in August) made him expendable. He'll catch on elsewhere.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.