Steelers to release Larry Foote

[Tailback U]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4107676

Steelers to release Foote
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By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
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Rumors became reality Tuesday as the Pittsburgh Steelers informed starting inside linebacker Larry Foote that he will be released.

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It had been rumored for much of the offseason that Foote, made extraneous by the emergence of two-year veteran and former first-round pick Lawrence Timmons, would either be traded or released. It is believed the Steelers attempted to trade Foote during the NFL draft last weekend.

In a strange and puzzling twist, however, team sources said that Foote will not be released until after the club's upcoming minicamp, a stance first reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Tuesday afternoon and subsequently confirmed by ESPN.com. Yet Foote continues to believe he has been released already and is now a free agent. It is not certain, sources close to Foote said, if the linebacker will attend the minicamp, should the Steelers not officially release him until next week.

A player is not technically released until his name appears on the league's internal transactions report, which is issued daily.

A seven-year veteran, Foote is still a productive defender at only 28 years old. But a combination of economics and the urgency to move Timmons into the starting lineup will lead to his release.

His résumé includes 110 games, and 83 starts, including two Super Bowl victories. Foote has played in all 16 games for six straight seasons and started all 16 contests each of the past five years. The former University of Michigan standout is considered a strong player against the run but usually left the field in nickel situations.

The fact that Foote was scheduled to earn a base salary of $2.885 million in 2009, a steep price to pay for a player projected as a reserve, was certainly a factor in the decision to release him. Foote had a salary-cap figure of $3.5 million for 2009. The Steelers will have his base salary of $2.885 million refunded into their '09 cap.
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Pittsburgh is typically tight against the spending limit and can sorely use the funds provided by Foote's release. Last week the Steelers had to release tailback Gary Russell in order to have enough cap room to sign backup quarterback Charlie Batch.

Timmons was the team's first-round draft choice in 2007. He spent much of 2008 as the nickel linebacker and an occasional blitzer, two roles in which he excelled. It was generally considered that Timmons, who had 65 tackles and five sacks last season, was ready to break into the starting lineup.

In six seasons, Foote posted 431 tackles, 14½ sacks, three interceptions, 11 passes defensed, seven forced fumbles and four recoveries.

Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com

Surprising to anyone? I would love to see Foote in a Raider uniform.

 

[j.hen]

Please come to the Falcons.

 

[celtsxpatsxsox]

Well I hate to be one of those people that when anytime a player is released I want my team to sign him lol, but............. I hope the Patriots put some consideration into trying to sign him.

 

[nesper]

i hate to be that guy but he'll come home to play in detroit.

http://freep.com/article/20090428/S...rry+Foote+says+he+would+like+to+become+a+Lion

“Ain’t no doubt about that,” Foote said from his home in Michigan today, after he learned that the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers plan to release him. “I would love to come home. My family is here. I just bought a house here. It would be great. And just to answer critics: I’m not a veteran trying to come home and cash out on my hometown team. I’m a baller first. I wouldn’t sacrifice that for nothing.”

 

[Shayn•Da•Pain]

I hate to be one of those guys to say we released him because we don't need him anymore...but we have Timmons, and I expected Timmons to take over the starting roll this year anyhow. It was only a matter of time before Foote got released. Too bad we couldn't trade him. No shock, no surprise.

 

[DSpydr84]

Yeah he said he wants to come home to Detroit.

This is why you don't reach for players and fill holes in the draft (like Maualuga)... take the best players available, let the draft come to you and try to fill holes in free agency. Foote would be our perfect Mike linebacker. And Sims, Foote, and Peterson sounds like a nice crew to me.

 

[MVP1991]

Miami could use him. Oh, well.

 

[mgoblue2290]

Mayhew, don't screw this up. You have a proven veteran who plays one of our biggest needs, MLB, wanting to come and play for this. He's won championships, he knows what its like, he could be our leader.


Do not fuck this up, I know these fucks will say something like "We love Larry but we want our guys to prove themselves and we really believe in unproven OLB DeAndre Levy." These morons didn't draft a MLB in the draft and now have a chance to get his guy. Offer him the big money, cut Paris Lenon if you have to, get him here!!

 

[krulmichael]

I smiled as soon as I saw this on SportsCenter earlier because I remember reading like 2-3 months ago bout Foote saying he wanted to finish his career with his hometeam...Detroit, get this guy for the love of God. Like mgoblue, they better not fuck this up.

 

[Shayn•Da•Pain]

Mayhew, don't screw this up. You have a proven veteran who plays one of our biggest needs, MLB, wanting to come and play for this. He's won championships, he knows what its like, he could be our leader.


Do not fuck this up, I know these fucks will say something like "We love Larry but we want our guys to prove themselves and we really believe in unproven OLB DeAndre Levy." These morons didn't draft a MLB in the draft and now have a chance to get his guy. Offer him the big money, cut Paris Lenon if you have to, get him here!!

You'll really love him if you get him. He's not going to be your best linebacker, but he doesn't fuck up either. He'll be a solid starter and you won't have a need there anymore.

 

[krulmichael]

You'll really love him if you get him. He's not going to be your best linebacker, but he doesn't fuck up either. He'll be a solid starter and you won't have a need there anymore.

Hell, I don't remember us having a solid anchoring inside linebacker since Stephen Boyd...which was a long time ago.

 

[mgoblue2290]

You'll really love him if you get him. He's not going to be your best linebacker, but he doesn't fuck up either. He'll be a solid starter and you won't have a need there anymore.

Exactly. We just need some solid guys right now, guys who make tackles and don't let running backs go right around them.

 

[DSpydr84]

Mayhew, don't screw this up. You have a proven veteran who plays one of our biggest needs, MLB, wanting to come and play for this. He's won championships, he knows what its like, he could be our leader.


Do not fuck this up, I know these fucks will say something like "We love Larry but we want our guys to prove themselves and we really believe in unproven OLB DeAndre Levy." These morons didn't draft a MLB in the draft and now have a chance to get his guy. Offer him the big money, cut Paris Lenon if you have to, get him here!!

Trust me, if he hits the market - which it all but looks like he has - he's a Lion. I'm 100% sure of it.

 

[Leftwich]

I hope the Jags don't sign him cause we don't need him.

 

[young2rice]

I hope for Detroit's sake that they sign him, just because I'd like to see them at least become even more competitive again.

 

[Apocalypse]

I hope he's a Lion by next week.

Definitely a huge upgrade even though his age, but he's said that he'd like to play 3-4 years as a Lion if he's given the chance.

 

[dboy_dc]

IF he goes to Detroit... no When he goes to Detroit, what do yall think the record would be after that?

 

[Shayn•Da•Pain]

IF he goes to Detroit... no When he goes to Detroit, what do yall think the record would be after that?

In the NFC North? Detroit will win the dev...possibly an NFC Championship. :rolleyes1:

 

[steeljake]

the writing was on the walll when farrior got his extesion last year. I willmiss the guy, he is a solid defender and a no non-sense team player. I was sure we would hear of him being talked to by the cards, they seem to be pittsburgh west with the guys 'we' cut, but the fact is that he could help out any team looking for help at LB. I think the Coltsa and Bucs will be in the mix for him.

So long Larry, thanks for the memories.

 

[SethMode]

I enjoyed watching Foote (his completely ludicrous sack celebration not withstanding), but I'm not sure that he'll be as successful elsewhere. How many LBs have looked good/great on the Steelers and laid an egg elsewhere?

Still, hope he succeeds wherever he goes. And that he stops doing that foot stomp thing.