A four-year stint in Philadelphia came to an end for linebacker Demeco Ryans as he was cut from the team Wednesday.
The 10-year veteran had a base salary of $2.5 million that would have been fully guaranteed on Mar. 11, per Zach Jackson of Pro Football Talk.
#Eagles release LB DeMeco Ryans.
Doug Pederson & Howie Roseman will address the move at 4:15 from the #NFLCombine. pic.twitter.com/VMF1HEnWvd
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 24, 2016
Ryans, 31, totaled 330 tackles, five sacks, 20 passes defended and five interceptions for the Eagles from 2012-15. His 2014 season ended abrutly, due to a rupture of his Achilles tendon.
Both of his Pro Bowl appearances—2007 and 2009—came with the Houston Texans (2006-11). He was taken by the Texans with the 33rd overall pick in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Ryans earned first-team All-Pro honors after his second year in 2007.
He has 13.5 career sacks, seven interceptions, seven forced fumbles and 10 fumble recoveries.
Ryans was a standout at linebacker at Alabama from 2002-05. He guided the Crimson Tide to a 10-2 season in 2005 under head coach Mike Shula. Ryans won multiple awards that year, including SEC Defensive Player of the Year and unanimous All-American.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @ESPN_Future.
