Eagles Release Cullen Jenkins
The much-hyped 2011 Eagles free-agent class has lost another member, as the team released defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins on Monday.
Jenkins carried a $5.5 million salary for this upcoming season and was reportedly due a $1 million roster bonus in mid-March, forcing the Eagles to make a call on the veteran.
The 32-year-old had four sacks and 26 tackles in 2012, a drop-off in production from his first year in Philadelphia (5.5 sacks, 40 tackles).
“I had a chance to speak with Cullen today and let him know of our decision,” said Howie Roseman. “It’s one of the most difficult parts of the job. He has been a very productive player in this league for a long time but we felt it in our team’s best interests that we go in a different direction. By releasing him at this point, it gives he and his agent more time to sign on with another team. We wish Cullen and his family all the best as he continues his NFL career.”
He signed a five-year, $25 million deal in 2011 after seven quality seasons in Green Bay. While Jenkins was a solid contributor in two seasons with the Eagles, he did not quite live up to the billing — much like many of the other big names that joined the fold prior to the ’11 campaign.
Ronnie Brown, Vince Young and Jason Babin are off the team. Nnamdi Asomugha could be next. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, acquired from Arizona via trade, is slated to become an unrestricted free agent. The much less heralded Evan Mathis could be the only member of that group still in green when the 2013 season kicks off in September.
Jenkins won a Super Bowl with the Packers the season prior to joining the Eagles, and the hope was that he would develop into a leader and help build a championship environment in Philadelphia. The magic never rubbed off, and the Eagles went a combined 12-20 over the past two seasons.
“I was brought in here, especially coming from a championship team, to try and help instill [a certain mindset]. Not maybe, I’m not doing a good enough job of it,” Jenkins said back in November.
He had this to say on Twitter Monday:
Thank you to all my supporters. Lets see where the next chapter takes us.
— Cullen Jenkins (@CullenJenkins) February 25, 2013
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