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Here is a summary of the latest NFL moves, as reported on NFL.com:
Cardinals Release Edgerrin James The Arizona Cardinals granted running back Edgerrin James his release, and unexpectedly cut defensive back Rod Hood and defensive end/linebacker Travis LaBoy as well. The moves clear salary-cap space for potential new deals with linebacker Karlos Dansby, safety Adrian Wilson, and disgruntled wide receiver Anquan Boldin. James, Hood, and LaBoy were set to make a combined $10 million next year, but the $7.5 million signing bonus given to LaBoy a year ago makes the cap savings several million dollars less than the three would have earned collectively. However, it still gives spending room to a team that barely made it below the salary ceiling. James had 794 carries for 2,895 yards and 16 touchdowns in his three seasons in Arizona. He topped 1,000 yards in 2006 and 2007, and performed well during the playoffs last year after losing carries to Tim Hightower and requesting a release earlier in the season. James had one year and $5 million left on the four-year, $40 million contract that he signed with Arizona before the 2006 season. In his career, he is 11th on the NFL career list with 15,466 yards, first among active players. The emergence of Hightower coupled with the selection of running back Beanie Wells in the first round of the draft contributed to the release of James. Hood started 30 games after signing with Arizona as a free agent in 2007, but the six-year veteran who was scheduled to make $3 million next season became expendable after the Cardinals signed cornerback Bryant McFadden away from the Steelers in free agency and made Greg Toler out of St. Paul's College of Virginia their 4th round draft pick Sunday. LaBoy signed a five-year, $22 million contract with $7.5 million guaranteed with Arizona before the 2008 season after four years with the Tennessee Titans. He played in 13 games with the Cardinals and was due to receive $2 million next season. Sproles Signs Franchise Tender San Diego Chargers running back Darren Sproles has signed the $6.621 million contract he was tendered after being designated as the team's franchise player. Sproles had been scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent before the Chargers made him their franchise player, thus paying him the average salary of the top five running backs in the NFL. Sproles received $1.1 million in base pay in 2008, a season he in which he rushed for a career high 672 yds and 6 touchdowns. Seahawks Rescind Franchise Tag for Hill The Seattle Seahawks rescinded their franchise tag on linebacker Leroy Hill, making him a free agent one day after after selecting linebacker Aaron Curry with the fourth overall pick in the draft. The surprising move creates $8.3 million in salary cap space for the team, the value of the guaranteed 2009 contract that the Seahawks were obligated to offer Hill as its franchise player. Curry, the top-rated linebacker in the draft, is expected to receive at least $25 million guaranteed in his new contract. The move gives the team flexibility to sign free agents and to possibly resume talks for a long-term deal with the four-year NFL veteran Hill who had refused to sign the Seahawks' tender offer and skipped the voluntary mini camp for veterans. Hill has said he'd love to stay with Seattle and would listen to potential long-term contract offers from the team. Eagles Make Deal for Hobbs The Philadelphia Eagles packaged some extra draft picks to acquire cornerback Ellis Hobbs from the New England Patriots. The four-year veteran and former 2005 third round draft pick gives the Eagles some flexibility in dealing with disgruntled cornerback Sheldon Brown, who wants out of a deal that currently runs through 2012. Brown is in the midst of an eight-year contract that will pay him $2 million this season and has gone public with his demand for a new deal or a trade. The Eagles have made it clear that a new contract is not an option.
OTHER NEWS ACROSS THE BUSINESS OF SPORTS NETWORK
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