Steelers cut all-time sack leader Harrison
Two-time Super Bowl champion James Harrison, who is Pittsburgh's franchise sack leader, was released by the Steelers on Saturday, the National Football League team announced.
The 38-year-old linebacker Harrison had been given a reduced role with the team and has made just one sack and three tackles this season.
The Steelers cut Harrison loose to find space for right tackle Marcus Gilbert who is returning from a four-game suspension for violating the league's anti-drug policy.
"To make room on the roster, the Steelers released linebacker James Harrison," the team said in a news release on their website.
Harrison started 107 of 177 regular season games with the Steelers, making 80 career sacks.
Harrison, who has openly complained about his lack of playing time this season, was signed to a two-year contract in March.
Harrison's agent, Bill Parise, said Harrison wants to continue to play, Reuters reported.
"There was no animosity or bad feelings," Parise told ESPN. "It's just the business of the NFL. I believe he still wants to play. We'll have to wait and see what happens with waivers."
Harrison was the 2008 NFL defensive player of the year and was named to the Pro Bowl five times in his 14-year career.
Harrison played just 40 snaps through 14 games this season after playing 587 snaps last year.
For his career Harrison has 82 1/5 sacks, including two with the Cincinnati Bengals, as well as eight interceptions.