Seahawks cut WR Rice, DE Bryant, save $12.8M

Red Bryant was one of two veterans released by the Seahawks on Friday. (USATSI) More NFL offseason: NFL Mock Drafts | Prospect Rankings | Top free agents

In a move to free up some salary cap space, the Seahawks released two veterans on Friday. The team announced that wide receiver Sidney Rice and defensive end Red Bryant have both been cut.

Rice was set to count $7.3 million against the cap in 2014 and Bryant would have cost Seattle $5.5 million, so the two moves will save the Seahawks $12.8 million, according to NFL.com.

"We want to thank both Red and Sidney for their effort, commitment & contribution to the Seattle Seahawks over the last few years," Seahawks general manager John Schneider said in a statement. "These are extremely tough decisions, but we wanted to give them a head start on free agency. We wish them well in the future."

Both veterans knew the moves were coming. Rice tweeted good-bye to Seattle on Feb. 21, a full week before he was actually cut.

The number #12 will remain on the left side of my chest no matter what! Grateful for the opportunity to share so many special moments w yall

— Sidney Rice (@sidneyrice) February 21, 2014

Rice's final game in a Seahawks uniform came in Week 8, when he suffered a season-ending ACL injury against the Rams. When Rice went down on Oct. 28, he was the team's third leading receiver with 231 yards, trailing Doug Baldwin and Golden Tate, who had 372 and 439 yards at the time. Percy Harvin was still on the physically unable to perform list in Week 8 and had yet to play a game with the Seahawks.

As for Bryant, he was one of only two players left on the Seahawks defense who had been with the team before Pete Carroll's arrival in 2010. With Bryant out, that leaves Brandon Mebane as the only defensive player Carroll and Schneider didn't personally bring in.

Bryant had been in Seattle since the Seahawks selected him in the fourth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.

NFL Hot News

Report: Eagles will sign WR Riley Cooper to 4-year contract on Thursday; WR Jeremy Maclin to follow?



Geoff Mosher of CSN Philadelphia reports via a league source that wide receiver Riley Cooper will sign a four-year deal on Thursday to remain with the Eagles. Cooper, 26, is coming off the best season of his career. He caught 47 passes for 835 yards and eight touchdowns, all career highs as he filled the No. 2 WR role in place of the injured Jeremy Maclin.Speaking of Maclin, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the team is expected to re-sign Maclin soon, "most likely to a one-year 'show me' contract after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament last July."



But the Eagles will lock up Cooper first. I think it would have been a mistake if Philly had re-signed Cooper at the expense of losing Maclin, but it makes sense if they can afford to keep both. Maclin is still more talented and should reclaim his No. 2 spot if his right knee makes it back to 100 percent before next season. Cooper as the No. 3 wideout would have more value to Nick Foles and the Eagles than he would to fantasy owners.