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Adrian Peterson on the Cardinals?
Will the Cardinals recruit Adrian Peterson to share the load with an overwhelmed Andre Ellington?

Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson is reportedly unhappy in Minnesota, and there has been rampant speculation he could be traded to the Cardinals if the relationship can’t be smoothed out. Larry Fitzgerald Fitzgerald and Peterson are friends, and the Cardinals star wideout said the addition of a running back of that caliber would be a “game-changer.”

“Obviously, he’s an MVP-caliber player,” Fitzgerald said. “Everybody knows that. Any team he ends up with -- or if he stays with the Vikings -- is going to have a great back. If he was to come play here, it would obviously mean a tremendous amount for our ballclub.” There is a lot of focus on the possible addition of Peterson, as well as the six players the Cardinals signed during the first week of free agency. While Fitzgerald is excited about the direction of the team, he said there is a downside to this portion of the offseason -- the departure of several long-time teammates.

“As a player, it’s always a tough time of year,” Fitzgerald said. “You make new acquisitions, but a lot of guys you play with – the Lyle Sendleins, Darnell Docketts, players like that -- moving on, it’s never easy.”

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie didn’t have the same tenure as Dockett and Sendlein, but is also a big loss after playing well opposite last year. However, Fitzgerald said it’s impossible to blame Cromartie for his decision to return to the Jets on a four-year, $32 million deal with $20 million guaranteed.

Lyle Sendlein Cut from the Cards
When Lyle Sendlein came to the Cardinals, he was undrafted out of the University of Texas and the team already had high-profile free agent signee Al Johnson to play center. It didn’t take long for Sendlein to earn his place. With Johnson battling injuries and Sendlein – who grew up in nearby Scottsdale – fighting for his role in the NFL, he quickly turned into the anchor of the offensive line. That lasted through Thursday, when, on the heels of the Cardinals signing free agent center and with Ted Larsen on the roster, the team cut Sendlein with one year remaining on his contract. With the departure of Sendlein and Darnell Dockett in the past week, the Cardinals now have just two players remaining from their 2008 Super Bowl team – wide receiver and defensive end. Sendlein had been scheduled to make $3 million in salary this season, saving around that much on the salary cap. He will leave $1.125 million in dead money on the cap. Given the arrival of Shipley and Larsen and after a season in which Sendlein did not play as well as hoped, it was a contract that the Cardinals chose not to keep.