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Early Doucet Cut, Brian Hoyer Tendered

Cardinals continue with roster moves; Powell, Smith, Talley also tendered

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Wide receiver Early Doucet was cut by the Cardinals Saturday.


A new coach and a new general manager usually means a new roster, and that process continued to pick up momentum Saturday.

A day after the Cardinals released veteran safety Adrian Wilson, the team cut another veteran in wide receiver Early Doucet. The move clears about $2 million in salary cap space, or about the same amount it cost to tender restricted free agent quarterback Brian Hoyer at the second-round level, which the team also did.

Three exclusive rights free agents also were tendered: running backs Alfonso Smith and William Powell, and defensive end Ronald Talley.

Doucet, who missed the final three games of 2013 with a concussion, never could rise high enough on the depth chart and fell behind Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Roberts and Michael Floyd. A third-round draft pick in 2009, Doucet had just 28 receptions for 207 yards in 2012 and was due a salary of $1.95 million this season. The Cardinals still have 2012 undrafted rookie LaRon Byrd at receiver, and Michael Floyd expects to take a bigger role this season alongside Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Roberts.

Hoyer's restricted free agent status made it all but a certainty the Cardinals would keep him with a tender offer, given their quarterback problems and a dearth of decent quarterbacks on the open market. The team is still expected to draft a quarterback in April and their activity in free agency depends on what they decide to do with Kevin Kolb and his bulky contract.

Kolb is due a $2 million roster bonus on March 17, although the decision is expected to come a day or two earlier.

Originally, Hoyer was expected to be tendered at the low offer of $1.3 million, but that wouldn't have cost any team to sign him away. Now, not only can the Cardinals match any contract offer made to Hoyer, if they choose to let him go the Cardinals must receive a 2013 second-round draft pick in return.


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