The Steelers did not waste much time in continuing with the transition to their linebacker core started by the signing of Jason Worilds. The team announced today their intention to release veteran OLB LaMarr Woodley on Tuesday. The team will technically designate Woodley as a post- June 1 cut, a designation which will spread his cap hit out over two years. The team will terminate ties to the 29-year old on Tuesday, however, to allow him to begin the free agent period and have the best chance to find a new team.
The Steelers re-signed Woodley to a six-year, $61.5 million extension in 2011, a contract that simply did not live up to expectations. Injuries cost the pass-rush specialist 14 games during the past three seasons. Woodley was a force on the Steelers defense from 2007-2010 when he posted three-straight double-digit sack campaigns and led the team with two defensive touchdowns. Woodley now becomes one of the biggest defensive prizes on the free agent market, which opens up this week.
The Steelers will clear $8 million from their salary cap on June 1 with this move. The release of Woodley brings the number of defensive starters remaining from the 2008 Super Bowl XLIII team down to two (Troy Polamalu and Ike Taylor), with Taylor still a possible cap casualty.
