Veteran S Burnett wants release from Steelers
PITTSBURGH — The Steelers‘ big free-agent signing of 2018 says one year in Pittsburgh is enough, as veteran safety Morgan Burnett has said he would like to be released from his contract.
Steelers president Art Rooney II said the team hasn’t made any decisions regarding Le’Veon Bell or Antonio Brown but that it needs to add talent.
Burnett told NFL Network on Saturday that a release would help him return to his natural position of safety instead of the dime linebacker role he played with the Steelers. Burnett missed four of the first six games of the season due to injury, and the Steelers continued to start rookie Terrell Edmunds in his absence.
Burnett recorded 30 tackles and six pass deflections in a subpackage role over 11 games. Edmunds and third-year player Sean Davis occupied both starting safety spots for the season.
A source told ESPN that Burnett hadn’t officially requested a release and wasn’t sure whether the team would honor it if he did.
The Steelers signed Burnett, 30, to a three-year, $14.25 million contract in March, including a $4.25 million signing bonus. Releasing Burnett would save $2.16 million on the salary cap. Burnett played eight seasons for the Green Bay Packers before hitting free agency.