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Report: Cardinals won't consider releasing Daryl Washington, will try to recoup bonus money

Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington has 18 sacks and 5 interceptions in four NFL seasons. (AP Photo/Paul Abell)

(AP Photo/Paul Abell)

The Arizona Cardinals are prepared to put linebacker Daryl Washington on the reserve-suspended list and can challenge Washington's right to collect a $10 million option bonus, reports Ed Werder of ESPN.com.

The NFL suspended Washington for the 2014 season for violation of the league's substance abuse policy. The team activated a $10 million bonus clause in Washington's contract in March, which was supposed to be given in $5 million installments. The team has not yet paid the bonus.

According to the report, the Cardinals won't consider releasing Washington because the team may no longer be entitled to keep a portion of that money.

More from ESPN.com:

When the Cardinals activated the option on Washington's contract in March, they committed $10 million to the team's most dynamic front-seven player in equal $5 million installments. Sources within the organization say that Washington will be placed on the reserve-suspended list after a positive drug test the player says was for using marijuana.

Washington was also suspended the first four games of last season and finished with 75 total tackles, three sacks and two interceptions in the remaining 12 games he played.

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