According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, running back Darius Slay is being released and Asante Samuel Jr. is being signed from the practice squad to the active roster.
Slay was a healthy scratch on Sunday against the Bills and was hoping to be released so he could see if another team would sign him and play him. He will be available to any team that wants him on waivers, and then if he clears waivers he will be an unrestricted free agent.
The Steelers signed Slay to a one-year, $10 million contract at the start of free agency in March, thinking he would be a great addition to their defense. Instead, he has been deeply disappointed. His contract was structured for a large signing bonus ($8.74 million) but a low base salary ($1.255 million) and a team that claims him on waivers would only have to pay him $350,000 for the remainder of his base salary this season.
Steelers coach Mike Tomlin famously believes that players should be volunteers, not hostages, so if Slay was not happy in Pittsburgh, Tomlin would be happy to see him go.
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