Hall was placed on "injured/waivers"---if he is not claimed, he goes on the IR...according to Urban.
If the Cardinals wanted Hall on IR, the would've put him on IR, not the Waived - Injured list
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Urban was wrong, and (without drawing attention to it) corrected himself with his latest post, quoting Whisenhunt:
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the Cards waived-injured Max Hall because it was the only way they could have any chance of bringing Hall back this season. They can injury settle with Hall and then re-sign him down the road.
I believe Hall only ends up on IR if he and the Cardinals can't come to agreement on an injury settlement. But given that the injury was minor and that a settlement would give Hall a chance to come back this year, i'd expect him to be motivated to settle.
However, your contention that the move was related to "liking" Hall may have some merit, given that this move is a way that they could potentially bring Hall back this year.
Then again, it could be an evil ploy to trick Hall into accepting a paltry settlement with false hope of returning, rather than having to pay him his full salary on IR!
...dave