Cardinals release Heap, sign Sperry

Arizona tight end Todd Heap, whose signing two years ago was seen as a homecoming for the Pro Bowl player, was cut by the Cardinals on Tuesday.

In his place, the Cardinals signed free-agent tight end Kory Sperry, who was with the San Diego Chargers before he was cut in September.

Heap, who went to Mesa (Ariz.) Mountain View High School and Arizona State University, played 10 seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before signing with the Cardinals in 2011.

However, he has played 12 games with Arizona since then. He missed six games last season with a hamstring injury and 10 this year with a posterior cruciate ligament injury suffered during the Cardinals' win at New England.

Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said Heap was not able to practice at full speed after being inactivate for three weeks.

Heap had 32 catches for 377 yards and one touchdown in Arizona. He had 499 career receptions for 5,869 yards and 42 touchdowns. He played in two Pro Bowls, his second and third seasons.