The Arizona Cardinals are reported to have been angered by DeAndre Hopkins refusing to suit up for games last season despite having no reason not to.
The wide receiver was expected to be traded this offseason, but the Cards released him instead, shocking the football world when they announced their decision to sever ties this past Friday.
It’s easy to assume that the decision was based on the player’s hefty contract, especially when coupled with his age. However, one Cardinals reporter has made claims of the player upsetting some people within the organization by refusing to play although he could have.
According to Kyle Odegard, the wideout “upset some” when he refused to suit up for the team’s final two games of last season, despite being healthy.
Hopkins Wouldn’t Have Made A Difference
Hopkins had already missed the first six games of the season due to the NFL suspending him for violating its policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He played nine consecutive games thereafter, but would sit out the final two games of the season.
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The veracity of this claim is yet to be confirmed but Hopkins’s absence was inconsequential as the Cardinals finished the season 4-13 and two more wins wouldn’t have made a difference. From another standpoint, if you’re getting paid millions to play, you should be playing as long as you are able to.
