Steelers to Release Larry Foote

According to Pro Football Talk, citing a league source, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be cutting inside linebacker Larry Foote in a move that will reportedly save them nearly $3 million against the salary cap. Foote has been a regular starter since the 2003 season after being selected by Pittsburgh in the fourth round of the 2002 draft, and has been the definition of "solid." There's nothing flashy about his game, but he always manages to get the job done.

His exit will open the door for 2007 first-round draft pick Lawrence Timmons to start next to James Farrior, in a switch that will manage to make the best defense in the NFL more athletic and explosive.

After playing sparingly during his rookie campaign in '07, Timmons saw increased playing time as the '08 season went on and recorded 65 tackles (two more than Foote ... a starter) to go with his five sacks, forced fumble and interception. Due to his presence, Foote's release isn't much of a shock in Pittsburgh, seeing as how Timmons needs to be on the field as much as possible, while the Steelers needed to clear space against the cap. Scott Brown of the Tribune Review mentioned a week ago that Foote would be near the top of the list when it came to potential cuts.

So, where will Foote end up once the move becomes official? A couple of months ago there was a report that the Michigan native would like to finish his career as a member of the Lions. In case you missed this past weekend's NFL draft, it's worth pointing out that the Lions did not use an early pick on a middle linebacker.

There's also the possibility that, just for laughs, he could end up in Arizona with former Steelers assistants Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm, as they've developed a habit of signing just about every former Steeler that finds his way to free agency.

UPDATE: Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports that the Steelers will release Foote following this weekend's minicamp. Also, John Niyo of the Detroit News writes that Foote wants to join the Lions and quotes him as saying, "no question about it, that's my first choice."