TEMPE, Ariz., July 30 (UPI) -- The Arizona Cardinals Saturday released defensive tackle Wendell Bryant and signed fellow DT Devone Claybrooks.
The Cardinals chose Bryant out of Wisconsin in the first round (12th overall selection) of the 2002 draft. He never fulfilled the team's expectations.
In three seasons with Arizona, he played in 29 games (nine starts), registering 29 tackles and 1 1/2 sacks. Last year, Bryant, 24, missed the first four games of the season after violating the NFL's substance abuse policy with a drunk driving arrest and wound up playing in only three games during the 2004 campaign.
"When you look at the numbers and who we have along the defensive line, we just didn't see a role for Wendell," said Coach Dennis Green. "We added Chike Okeafor as a starting end opposite Bertrand Berry and behind them you have a pair of veterans who have been starters, Calvin Pace and Peppi Zellner."
