As expected, the Steelers finally got around to releasing linebacker Larry Foote today. The team's 2002 fifth-round pick hadn't missed a start since 2004, but with the emergence of Lawrence Timmons, Foote became expendable. In fact, last season, Foote was a two-down player, coming off the field in passing situations. And that, along with Timmons' progress and Foote's $2.9 million salary for next season, was enough for the Steelers to make a change. Foote never made the Pro Bowl during his seven-year career, but he was an integral part of the defense, particularly after Dick LeBeau returned as coordinator in 2004. He was one of the team's most consistent players, and that, along with his age (28), means he won't be out of a job for long.
Foote, a Detroit native (just like Jerome Bettis!), said last week that he'd love to play for the Lions. And the Lions, fresh off a record-setting 0-16 season, could use him. They didn't get a linebacker with their first three draft picks. (Matthew Stafford was a no-brainer, but a lot of folks expected them to take a player like Rey Maualuga with the 20th or 33rd selections. Didn't happen, although the early returns are encouraging for safety Louis Delmas, who was eventually taken 33rd overall.) And Foote would probably move to the top of the depth chart the moment he signed with the club.
For as proficient as the Steelers are at unearthing and cultivating linebackers, they're just as good at knowing when to say goodbye.
"Larry has been a big part of our success, but unfortunately the realities of the salary cap made this decision inevitable," Kevin Colbert, the Steelers' director of football operations, said in a statement. "We wish Larry and his family nothing but the best as he moves forward with his career."Detroit Pershing Doughboys has a chance to be even more authentic. (It'll be just like that time Eddie Murphy wore a "Mumford" t-shirt in Beverly Hills Cop. But different.)
via PFT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-04-2009 @ 7:45PM
cantstopdrinkin said...
Saints need to jump all over this. They have done very well, with the salary cap room they had , with making some signings this offseason and have filled most of their needs except for linebacker depth and a power runner. If they can get him for a good price they really need to take a long look into this, and since they just let go of vertern DTs Hollis Thomas and Brian Young they have the money to do this so im sure they are takin a look at it amoung other things (i hope , because we are not set at linebacker , and while we could get lucky and do well and survive with P. Thomas and Bush at RB - i think we really need a power runner for 3rd and shorts after Thomas and Bush proved more then once they could not be counted on to convert them last year.).
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5-05-2009 @ 11:52AM
T.C. Cameron said...
Ryan:
Thanks for the link to my 'SuperBowl shout-out' post. I'm looking forward to reading more of your copy!
~ T.C. Cameron, aka The Write Referee
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5-05-2009 @ 2:53PM
tdolan1035 said...
Thats for all the hard work Larry it was a joy watching you play goodluck in the future
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5-05-2009 @ 9:13PM
screwface5 said...
Pittsburgh just seems to be able to take anybody off the street who's lean, mean 6' 240 and turn them into a all-pro linebacker, so i don't see this as a shock, but Larry Foote did help the Steelers keep other teams from running the ball in their base package (in both superbowls he appeared in, neither the seahawks, or cardinals team ran the ball well, and the seahawks had shaun alexander in his prime). So i see this as good for the steelers, because they can replace him easily for cheaper, and good for teams like the Lions who need another linebacker who's good at stopping the run.
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