NFL Salary cap realities involve tough choices. So it was that Steelers Nation says goodbye to an old friend in the form of Larry Foote, as the Steelers cut the veteran in a cost-saving move.

#Steelers have released LB Larry Foote, CB Curtis Brown and OT Levi Brown
— Dale Lolley (@dlolleyor) March 5, 2014

As everyone expected, the Steelers also waived veteran corner Levi Brown, the tackle acquired in a trade with Arizona who never played a down.

Brown wasn’t the only “Brown” to find his name on the wavier wire, as the Steelers also cut Curtis Brown. The Steelers had drafted Brown in 3rd round of the 2011 NFL Draft one round ahead of current starter Cortez Allen, as rookies both men showed promise both on special teams and in spot duty.

By opening day 2011, Cortez Allen had over taken Brown. Brown started in the Steelers shocking upset suffered at the hands of the Chargers, and looked lost. He saw his playing time reduced following that, and 2013 was marred by injuries.

Steelers Give Foote the Boot

The move to cut Larry Foote amounted to a mild surprise, as the veteran’s name was not mentioned often as a potential cut. Likewise, Foote’s salary of 1.5 million was modest.

• But Foote will be 34 by opening day and is coming off an injury.

And its safe to say that this decision is as much about what the Steelers current roster at inside linebacker can offer. Vince Williams struggled mightly at times in 2013 and it is he, and not Steve McLendon, who is more likely the culprit in the decline of the Steelers defense.

But Willams made strides as the year progressed. The Steelers also have Sean Spence, who is an unknown but offers potential if Kevin Colbert’s assessments are to be trusted. Finally there is Terence Garvin, an undrafted Steelers rookie free agent, who was also working his way into the line up by year’s end.

Foote however, will be missed. Draft in 2002, Foote became a fixture in the Steelers defense from 2004 to Super Bowl XLIII in 2008. The emergence of Lawrence Timmons led Foote to seek his release, and he spent 2009 with the Detroit Lions. A year later however he was back in Pittsburgh, where he served as a back up in 2010 and 2011 before returning to the starting line up in 2012 following James Farrior’s departure.

Foote’s release may have been necessary. But while never a star, he was always a solid player, and both an on the field and off the field leader. It’s sad to see him go.

Steel Curtain Rising joins the rest of Steelers Nation in wish Larry Foote success as he begins “Life’s Work.”

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