The Pittsburgh Steelers released tight end Ladarius Green on Thursday one year after signing him to a four-year, $20 million deal.
Steelers announced they have released TE Ladarius Green.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 18, 2017
Pittsburgh Steelers Release Ladarius Green
Just one year after signing him to a four-year deal, the Steelers decided that cutting ties with him would be the best move going forward. The Steelers cited a failed physical as to why they released him. Green was productive while on the field, the problem was that he never was on the field enough to make a true impact.
Green missed ten games during the season with injury so he missed more than half of the season. He was productive for the six games he was on the field yielding 18 receptions for 304 yards and a touchdown, but that was only over six games. Missing five-eighths of a season does not bode well for a player’s long term future with a team, so the Steelers cut ties before he had a chance to miss more time.
Green simply didn’t live up to his salary and the Steelers decided that enough was enough. They released him after he failed his physical, and since it was a failed physical designation, they are not on the hook for too much dead money against the cap. His overall dead cap hit for 2017 comes to $3,562,500.
Who knows what is next for Green. He may even leave football completely. Now the Steelers have another roster spot for a possible young competitor to earn. Green may go down as the worst free agent signing of the Kevin Colbert era, but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, and this move will only hopefully improve the Steelers next season. Steelers fans better expect to see a lot of Jesse James in 2017 as he figures to be the starting tight end moving forward.
