When the Arizona Cardinals signed Mike Gruttadauria away from the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams following the 1999 season, he was supposed to be the centerpiece of a young and improving offensive line.

Three years later, with Gruttadauria having battled injuries each season with the Cardinals, he is about to become a casualty. After Gruttadauria goes through the formality this week of a so-called "exit physical," he will be released into an uncertain free agent market, representative Harold Lewis has confirmed.

"It's something (Gruttadauria) thought might be coming," Lewis said Sunday. "It just didn't work out there, mostly because of the injuries, and (head coach Dave) McGinnis called Mike last week to explain the situation."

This is hardly the kind of cap-related maneuver that has dumped more than 50 veterans into free agency in the past week. Arizona is more than $30 million under the $75 million spending limit and Gruttadauria was to earn a base salary of $1.73 million in the final season of a four-year contract.

But the seven-year veteran has missed 17 games the last three seasons -- roughly 35 percent of the schedule in that period -- because of knee, back and neck injuries. The spate of injuries was the main reason Arizona coaches have decided to look elsewhere for a center.

Because of back and knee problems, Gruttadauria appeared in only eight games in 2002.

Two years ago, it was believed Gruttadauria might have to retire because of a neck injury, but he overcame it.

Lewis emphasized that Gruttadauria is not prepared to retire yet at 30.

"He feels better than he has in a while," Lewis said, "and he wants a chance to prove to people he can still play."

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.