- As part of a series of moves, the Cardinals signed tight end Gerald Christian to a one-year deal and cut fellow TE Steve Wroblewski, an undrafted rookie. They also also reached injury settlements with cornerback Jumel Rolle and linebacker Tevin Floyd. Christian came into the league in 2015 as a seventh-round pick of the Cardinals, but his only game time came with Buffalo last season. He caught one pass in three contests as a Bill.
Former Browns cornerback Tramon Williams is flying to Arizona for a visit with the Cardinals, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The get-together comes on the heels of a meeting with Brandon Flowers on Wednesday. 
[REL,ATED: Cardinals Meet With CB Brandon Flowers]
Williams started 22 games over his two seasons in Cleveland. Last year, he appeared in 12 games (seven starts) and he finished 2016 with 36 tackles, five passes defended, and one interception – his lowest totals since 2007. The advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus also indicated that he has lost a step. He finished out as PFF’s No. 73 cornerback out of 111 qualified players.
Williams can’t offer the same version of himself that we saw with the Packers earlier in his career, but he can still provide the Cardinals with some veteran know-how in the secondary. He’s probably being looked at as a backup since coach Bruce Arians indicated that Flowers was not being evaluated as a starter.
- Running back Chris Johnson‘s one-year deal with the Cardinals is worth $1.35MM (a bit more than was previously reported) and can max out at $2.5MM with incentives, tweets Adam Caplan of ESPN.
- Although cornerback Brandon Flowers is scheduled to meet with the Cardinals on Wednesday, head coach Bruce Arians says the club isn’t necessarily looking at the veteran defender as a starting-caliber player, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. As such, Arizona’s interest in Flowers shouldn’t be viewed as a comment on Justin Bethel, who is currently projected to start opposite Patrick Peterson. The Cardinals recently lost two backup defensive backs — Jumal Rolle and Elie Bouka — to minor injuries, so a Flowers addition would be a solid depth addition as the team heads to training camp.
Former Chargers and Chiefs cornerback Brandon Flowers is visiting the Cardinals on Wednesday, a league source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Flowers has also been talking with the Patriots, Schefter adds. 
Flowers was released by the Chargers just prior to the start of free agency. The Steelers expressed some interest in Flowers that week, but this is the first time that we’ve heard of other teams reaching out.
Flowers parlayed a strong 2014 season into a lucrative four-year deal with the Chargers before the 2015 season. He was unable to repeat that success in his first year with San Diego and his 2016 season was marred by concussion issues. Assuming that he is clear of any symptoms of brain trauma, he could be a valuable addition for teams in need of secondary help.
The Cardinals are presently without an established option to start at right cornerback opposite star Patrick Peterson. Justin Bethel and Brandon Williams have been battling it out for the job, but it’s possible that Bruce Arians is underwhelmed by what he’s seen so far this summer.
The Patriots have a lethal 1-2 combo of Malcolm Butler and Stephon Gilmore at cornerback, but they’re always on the lookout for additional depth. Eric Rowe, Justin Coleman, Cyrus Jones, and Jonathan Jones are among the other cornerbacks on the 90-man roster.
- Patrick Peterson‘s running mate at corner has served as one of the main discussion items of the Cardinals‘ offseason. Bruce Arians said Sunday (via Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com) the position remains open and likely won’t be decided until the regular season begins. Arians, though, praised the work of Justin Bethel (Twitter link, via Urban) — less than a year after the coach labeled the corner a “failure in progress.” The Cardinals could still be in the market for a veteran corner, Urban writes, but as of now the battle is between Bethel and second-year man Brandon Williams.
Despite Larry Fitzgerald putting together a 107-reception season in 2016, he was not certain to return for what will be his 14th NFL campaign. But the perennial Pro Bowler decided to come back in February.
The Cardinals star wideout addressed his status on Sunday as he prepares for another training camp.
Fitzgerald, who is set for his age-34 season, said he does not want to see his production diminish to the point he has to retire. The former No. 3 overall pick in 2004 went three consecutive seasons without a 1,000-yard campaign before reigniting in 2015 (109 catches, 1,215 yards and nine touchdowns) and playing a key role in Arizona’s NFC championship game push.
“The end is never really pretty for elite athletes,” Fitzgerald said, via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. “It never looks good for the most time. You watch Michael Jordan in a Washington Wizards uniform or see Tony Dorsett playing for the Denver Broncos or Shaquille O’Neal playing for the Boston Celtics. It’s weird because you’re used to seeing them play at their most dominant stage, or Willie Mays running around with bad knees 20 years in.
“It’s not pretty but for me, I really want to be able to play and do things at a high level and be able to walk away and still be someone who can play at a high level.”
Fitzgerald is the only wideout still playing from the ’04 class. At this point, he’s the most experienced receiver in football. (Former teammate Anquan Boldin, though, is still contemplating a return for a 15th season. He’s visiting the Bills Monday.)
Injuries have not been an issue for Fitz; he’s missed just two games across the past nine seasons. Health will play into Fitzgerald’s retirement decision, but he refused to say 2017 would be his last.
“I feel good right now. When that changes, I’ll let you know. … “I don’t really make any decisions based on anybody else. I never really have. I don’t know what the future holds. That’s why this year is so much more important because we don’t have to think about what we’re doing after Feb. 4.”
The motivation of being part of a Super Bowl-winning team serves as the driving force behind Fitzgerald, a 10-time Pro Bowler, deciding to come back.
“That’s huge. That’s the only reason I’m playing at this point. From a personal standpoint and the things I’ve accomplished, they’re fine. But the thing that you will say is out of you control because you’re in a team sport, is a championship.”
Today’s minor moves:
- The Cardinals have signed linebacker Tevin Floyd and waived center Lucas Crowley, the club announced today. Floyd went undrafted earlier this year out of The Citadel, where he finished with 86 tackles a season ago. He started 38 games during his collegiate career. Crowley, meanwhile, signed with Arizona in May after not being selected in the draft. The North Carolina product will now try to latch on with another club before training camp gets underway.
- Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com passed along (via Twitter) that former NFL wide receiver Plaxico Burress and former defensive lineman Tommy Kelly will be joining the Cardinals as coaching interns. Kelly actually played in 16 games for Arizona back in 2014.
[SOURCE LINK]
More than two months following his ankle surgery, the Cardinals have placed linebacker Deone Bucannon on the physically unable to perform list, according to AZCardinals.com’s Darren Urban (via Twitter). The team has also placed linebacker Jarvis Jones on the active non-football-injury list.
The Bucannon news isn’t particularly surprising, although the team was reportedly hoping that the linebacker would avoid the PUP and be healthy by early September.
“Deone is close,” coach Bruce Arians told AZCardinals.com. “He’s getting there. I think he’s a little bit ahead of schedule. We have our fingers crossed. The first game is his due date, so to speak. Hopefully we’ll have him ready to play.”
“I want to start the season,” Bucannon added. “I’m not here to rush anything and I’m not going to put a timetable on it, but at the same time, I want to get out there as quickly as I possibly can. But get out there at 100 percent so I can do the best for the team and not be a liability.”
Following two years at strong safety, the versatile defender spent most of his time at linebacker last season, compiling 89 tackles and one fumble recovery in 13 games. Following his solid campaign, the organization picked up the former first rounder’s fifth-year option, keeping him in Arizona through the 2018 season.
Meanwhile, Jones joined the organization on a one-year deal earlier this offseason. After having lost both Alex Okafor and Calais Campbell this offseason, Jones was supposed to provide some depth, especially at pass rusher. Of course, the 2013 first-round pick only has six sacks through four NFL seasons, but he did set several career-highs in 2016, including tackles (43) and forced fumbles (two).
Roster Resource currently has Chandler Jones, Karlos Dansby, Markus Golden, and Bucannon listed at the team’s starting linebackers. If the team is eyeing a true inside linebacker to replace Bucannon in the lineup, they could opt for either Zaviar Gooden or Scooby Wright. Otherwise, they could consider the assortment of outside linebackers on the roster, including first-rounder Haason Reddick. Assuming Jones returns relatively soon, he’ll presumably be competing with Kareem Martin, Gabe Martin, and Alani Fua for second-team reps.