National Football League

NFL vets facing the chopping block

Published Mar. 8, 2013 12:00 a.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

Alex Marvez

Even with a slew of veterans cut through Friday afternoon, the bloodletting isn’t quite over yet as NFL teams prepare for the start of Tuesday’s free-agent signing period.

Here’s a quick look at five big-name players whose release was either imminent or expected to happen without agreeing to restructured contracts:

1. Pittsburgh outside linebacker James Harrison: As the Steelers deal with a salary-cap crisis (again), USA Today reports that Harrison is on the verge of being whacked unless he agrees to a pay cut from his scheduled $6.57 million base salary. Harrison is 35 years old and struggled with injuries in 2012, which helped limit him to only six sacks. Harrison would have appeal elsewhere as a short-term fix at outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Jason Worilds, who is entering the final year of his rookie contract, would likely assume Harrison’s starting spot.

UPDATE: As expected, the Steelers announced Saturday that Harrison has been released. The move came after Pittsburgh’s front office was unable to reach agreement with Harrison on a restructured contract.

2. Philadelphia cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha: This isn’t a matter of if but when. Multiple media reports say Asomugha is set for release after failing to reach agreement on a restructured contract. Once considered the NFL’s best cornerback while with Oakland, Asomugha was a major free-agent flop after signing a five-year, $60 million contract with $25 million guaranteed to join the Eagles in 2011. Asomugha will join what already is a crowded market of free-agent cornerbacks.

3. Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall: As reported by CBS Sports and the Washington Post, Hall is on the chopping block as the Redskins try to get under the $123 million salary cap while dealing with an $18 million penalty levied by the NFL for cap violations in 2010. Hall is scheduled to earn an $8 million base salary, which is a lofty figure for a 10-year veteran on the downside of a quality NFL career. Cheaper alternatives can be found in free agency.

4. Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel: With the deal for San Francisco’s Alex Smith set to become official Tuesday, the Chiefs are expected to release Cassel if they can’t find a trade partner for his services. Cassel flopped the past two seasons in Kansas City but would have value as a backup in a quarterback-starved market.

5. Oakland linebacker Rolando McClain: An incredibly poor streak of Top 10 draft selections that included JaMarcus Russell, Michael Huff and Darrius Heyward-Bey continues with McClain. The No. 8 overall selection in 2010, McClain has proven a mediocre player whose off-field troubles are even more disappointing. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that McClain will be released – a move the Raiders wanted to make last season but couldn’t because of limited space cap space – before the start of free agency. Oakland could then spread a $7.26 million cap hit in “dead money” over the next two seasons.

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League