"There are a handful of reasons outside linebacker Joey Porter might not return to the Cardinals this season.

He's coming off an unproductive season in which he produced five sacks. He turns 34 in March, and he's due to receive $5.75 million in salary, $4.5 million more than last season.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt defended Porter on Friday at the NFL scouting combine, saying Porter was put in an unfair situation because of injuries to other outside linebackers.

"Joey was in a situation that was tough for him," Whisenhunt said. "He was playing a tremendous amount of snaps and for a player his age that was tough and that was not our intent. Our intent was to rotate players in there and give him a break.

"The latter part of the season, he wore down. I give Joey a tremendous amount of credit because he fought every day to get through practice, to work hard and be a good example. But I think he'd tell you he wasn't as productive, especially late in the season, as he had been in the past."

Whisenhunt said he expects Porter to "compete and try to get back to the player he had been for us and we'll see how that progresses."

The Cardinals, however, are expected to take an outside linebacker high in the draft. With young players already on the roster, it seems unlikely Porter would return, especially at his scheduled salary.

General Manager Rod Graves was presented with the Paul "Tank" Younger Award on Friday for his work in promoting diversity in the NFL.

The award is given by the Fritz Pollard Alliance, which was organized in 2003 to encourage equal opportunities for employment for minorities in the NFL.

Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill was given the award last year.

Graves is one of five African American general managers in the NFL."