Cardinals’ decision to move on from Patrick Peterson appears not to be financial
In what might have been a surprise move this offseason, the Arizona Cardinals did not re-sign cornerback Patrick Peterson. After 10 years with the team, he joined the Minnesota Vikings. He himself saw it as a surprise, saying he never saw himself playing with another team and also stating he didn’t know exactly what happened.
Some point to money being the issue, but it would appear cost was not the issue. The Cardinals were simply ready to move on from him.
General manager Steve Keim was asked in his recent press conference whether he offered Peterson a contract. He did not say, rather talking about Peterson’s time here.
“He has been a tremendous, tremendous player here for a long time,” Keim told reporters.
He equated the decision not to bring Peterson back to when he had to release a Cardinals legend back when he was first hired as general manager in 2013. He had to release safety Adrian Wilson, who is now in the Ring of Honor and now is one of Keim’s top executives in the front office.
“To have these types of decisions are extremely difficult,” her said. “It happened with Adrian Wilson in his career.
“It’s not a fun part of the business, but we wish Pat the best and are excited about his opportunity in Minnesota.”
On the Huddle and Flow podcast with Steve Wyche and Jim Trotter, he was asked if Peterson would have been back in Arizona had the salary cap not gone down by roughly $16 million.
“It’s hard to say,” he said. “He had a great run here and is certainly one of my favorite players that I’ve had a relationship with through the years. I’m really fond of him.”
Given multiple opportunities, Keim never said he tried to negotiate a deal with Peterson. He never said they just couldn’t get the numbers to work.
Peterson wanted to continue with the Cardinals. The Cardinals were done with him. Letting him go in free agency was not a financial decision. It was a football decision.
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