Linebacker Daryl Washington has been released by the Arizona Cardinals, just after being reinstated by the NFL
Daryl Washington’s last game was played on December 29th, 2013. He recorded five tackles in a 23-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. He walked off the field, and wasn’t allowed back on it.
Washington arrived in Arizona as a second round draft pick in 2010. He quickly took over the starting job at inside linebacker, and it didn’t take long before he took the league by storm. In his second year, he had over 100 tackles and five sacks. His next season would be his best, though. In 2012, he had 134 tackles, 9 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and an interception. He made the Pro Bowl and was named All Pro.
In 2013, things began to unravel. He was suspended for the first four games of the season for a violation of the NFL’s substance abuse policy. Then, did himself no favors by getting arrested for assaulting the mother of his children just a month later.
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If he felt remorse over what happened in 2013, he didn’t show it. In 2014, he once again violated the league’s substance abuse policy and combined with the assault, was suspended indefinitely. That suspension lasted three years.
Washington was confident that he would finally be reinstated as the calendar changed to 2017, and he was right. Last month, the NFL finally announced he could return to professional football, meaning the Cardinals could bring him back into the fold.
We have released LB Daryl Washington.
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) May 11, 2017
More info: https://t.co/pv1wdhqP3N pic.twitter.com/MBMq0G1yOI
As it turns out, the Cardinals have decided to release Washington from his contract, making him free to sign elsewhere. With his checkered past and his age becoming a factor, it’s unclear if he’ll find a home.
The Cardinals lost Kevin Minter to free agency, opening a hole at linebacker, but re-signed Karlos Dansby and drafted Haason Reddick this offseason.