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Report: Cards cut bait on expensive mistake Stewart Bradley

Stewart Bradley, David Carter

Arizona Cardinals linebacker Stewart Bradley (55) and defensive tackle David Carter (79) kneel while an injured teammate is attended to during an NFL football game against the St. Louis Rams Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Tom Gannam)

AP

As big deals get thrown around when free agency begins, remember there’s a flip side to every such transaction.

The Falcons cleared the decks on luxury buys earlier this morning, and the Cardinals have joined the movement.

According to Adiki Kinkhabwala of the NFL Network, the Cards have released linebacker Stewart Bradley.

Bradley signed a five-year, $25 million contract in 2011, but took a significant pay cut last year. He was scheduled to make $5 million this year, and will clear $3.5 million off the books with his release.

It’s a cautionary tale worth keeping in mind when free agency begins in under two weeks. Big names or big numbers do not always equal big production.