Team has re-signed four players
The Arizona Cardinals Football Club today announced that the team has re-signed four players to contract extensions. Fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo signed a two-year deal while running back Damien Anderson, linebacker Isaac Keys, and defensive end Anton Palepoi all signed one-year contracts. In accordance with club policy, terms were not disclosed. Anderson (5-11, 211) appeared in the final five games of 2005, collecting two yards on seven carries. Anderson was re-signed on November 29 after being released in the team’s final roster cut on September 3. He originally was signed by the Cardinals as a rookie free agent in 2002 out of Northwestern and has appeared in 35 games with 50 carries for 137 yards, nine receptions for 72 yards, and 14 kickoff returns for 258 yards. Ayanbadejo (6-2, 233) appeared in all 32 games (seven starts) at fullback over the past two seasons for the Cardinals after signing as a free agent in 2004. During the past two seasons, Ayanbadejo has had 52 carries for 168 yards and three touchdowns while collecting 53 receptions for 402 yards and a touchdown. Originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 1997 out of San Diego State, Ayanbadejo has appeared in 87 career games (18 starts) with 114 carries for 476 yards and five touchdowns to go along with 113 receptions for 746 yards and three touchdowns receiving. Keys (6-3, 247) appeared in six games last season recording six special teams tackles. He was released and re-signed to the active roster three times during the 2005 season. Originally signed as an undrafted rookie free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 2001 out of Morehouse, Keys was signed as a free agent by the Cardinals in 2004 and appeared in the final three games of the 2004 season for the after spending the first 13 games of that season on the practice squad. Palepoi (6-3, 283) played in three games last season for the Cardinals after signing as a free agent on November 15. In his three seasons before joining the Cardinals, Palepoi appeared in 35 career games (one start) with the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks collecting 45 tackles (28 solos), 4 sacks, 5 passes defensed and 1 forced fumble. Originally drafted by Seattle in the second round (60th overall) of the 2002 draft out of UNLV, Palepoi played two seasons in Seattle appearing in 20 games. He was released by the Broncos on September 4, 2005.