Chiefs Release Eric Winston, According To Report
According to Pro Football Talk.com, the Kansas City Chiefs have released RT Eric Winston.
"Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Chiefs are releasing Winston. He’ll hit the free agent market immediately, a few days before it opens.Winston was due to earn a base salary of $4.9 million in 2013. He signed with the Chiefs after being cut last year by the Texans.The move gives the Chiefs the flexibility to take Luke Joeckel with the first pick in the 2013 draft, and then to move Joeckel or Branden Albert to the right side."
Wow. I am shocked. We just interviewed Winston for Arrowhead Addict earlier this week and the veteran RT seemed excited about the future of the Chiefs under the new regime.
This certainly changes things as far as the offensive line goes. Moving on from Winston sure does seem to make it a slam dunk that the Chiefs will select LT Luke Joeckel with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.
I have to say, I don’t get this move at all. Winston’s base salary wasn’t going to be that much of a cap hit for the Chiefs. You can never have enough tackle talent and even if the Chiefs are planning to take Joeckel, it would have been smart to keep Winston on the roster.
Unless there is some kind of injury issue, I really don’t like this move.
Branden Albert reacted to the news on Twitter and he seemed less than thrilled:
Then he added:
Eric Winston confirmed he has been cut:
Just wanted to confirm that I have been released. Even though it was an incredibly tough year on and off the field last year, I wouldn't
— Eric Winston (@ericwinston) March 7, 2013
Trade the relationships I made in KC and the overall experience I had for anything. It was an honor to be a Chief ... http://t.co/W0L1q4yUHt
— Eric Winston (@ericwinston) March 7, 2013
But the best in the future.... On to the next adventure!
— Eric Winston (@ericwinston) March 7, 2013
Here is the kicker:
Release of Eric Winston by Chiefs saves $700K in cap space but $4.9 million in cash http://t.co/4J3tWBC2hJ
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 7, 2013
The deal will save the Chiefs some cash but Winston wasn’t really going to be making an impact on the cap at all. Very strange.
UPDATE:
Looks like PFT may have it wrong. The Chiefs could actually be saving $3.5 million against the cap with this move.
@spotrac @brian_mcintyre Winston's signing bonus was $4M. His $900k '12 base salary was fully GTD. KC gains $3.5M in cap room with Winston.
— Joel Corry (@corryjoel) March 7, 2013