The Arizona Cardinals have recently announced the release of veteran quarterback Colt McCoy. McCoy had been with the Cardinals since 2019 and was expected to be the team’s backup quarterback this season.
McCoy, who is 33 years old, was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in 2010. He has also spent time with the Washington Redskins and San Francisco 49ers. During his time in the NFL, McCoy has thrown for 8,817 yards, 46 touchdowns, and 45 interceptions.
The Cardinals decided to release McCoy for several reasons. First, they wanted to give younger quarterbacks a chance to compete for the backup role. Second, McCoy was due to make $3 million this season, which was too much for a backup quarterback. Finally, the team was not sure if McCoy could stay healthy enough to play in games if needed.
The Cardinals have already signed two quarterbacks to replace McCoy. They signed Chris Streveler, who spent last season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League, and Brett Hundley, who spent last season with the Seattle Seahawks. Both players will compete for the backup role behind starter Kyler Murray.
McCoy’s release is a bit of a surprise, as he had been a reliable backup for the Cardinals over the past two seasons. He had also been praised by head coach Kliff Kingsbury for his leadership and knowledge of the game. However, the team felt it was time to move on and give younger players an opportunity.
The release of McCoy leaves the Cardinals with three quarterbacks on their roster. Murray is the clear starter, while Streveler and Hundley will compete for the backup role. It will be interesting to see who wins the job and how they perform in games this season.