The Cardinals released Washington on Thursday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
What was once a promising career has been derailed by violations of the substance abuse policy and legal woes, keeping him off the field since Week 17 of the 2013 season. A glimmer of hope arrived in late April, when Washington was conditionally reinstated by the NFL, but the development didn't stop the Cardinals from selecting inside linebacker Hasson Reddick in the first round of the draft. After meeting with team president Michael Bidwell, general manager Steve Keim and head coach Bruce Arians earlier this week, the team has opted to move ahead without the 30-year-old LB.