Report: Cardinals Unlikely To Release ILB Daryl Washington

ESPN’s Ed Werder reports that the Arizona Cardinals are “fuming” over ILB Daryl Washington‘s year-long suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

According to Werder, the Cardinals appear to be prepared to challenge the Washington’s right to some of the $10 million option bonus they recently activated.

A source within the organization tells Werder that Arizona has yet to pay Washington any of his option bonus.

While this could end up being just a formality, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk mentions that the process required to recoup some of his bonus could “becomes a lot more efficient if Washington hasn’t gotten paid any of the money.”

Werder adds that the Cardinals have no plans to release Washington because they might no longer be entitled to keep a portion of that money. On top of that, cutting Washington would actually accelerate his cap of $7.5 million while preventing them from recovery some of his option bonus.

Washington, 27, still has four years remaining on his six-year, $32.5 million contract. He’ll make a base salary of $2.9 million for the upcoming season and another $3.4 million in 2015.

In 2013, Washington appeared in 12 games and totaled 75 tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Pro Football Focus has Washington rated as the No. 21 inside linebacker in the league this past season.

Washington is expected to be placed on the reserve-suspended list at some point.