Kansas City Chiefs Release OT Eric Winston After Only One Season

The Kansas City Chiefs have released offensive tackle Eric Winston after one season, per Pro Football Talk.

Winston took to Twitter to share his thoughts after the team’s decision became public.

“Just wanted to confirm that I have been released,” he wrote. “Even though it was an incredibly tough year on and off the field last year, I wouldn’t trade the relationships I made in KC and the overall experience I had for anything. It was an honor to be a Chief and I wish them nothing but the best in the future. … On to the next adventure!”

Photo Credit: KCChiefs.com

Recently franchise tagged left tackle Branden Albert handled the news a little differently, as he vented about potentially switching positions.  When asked by one of his followers if he saw himself strictly as a left tackle, he replied, “You damn right.”

Winston, who signed a four-year, $22 million contract last March after being released by the Texans in a very surprising decision, earned $9.3 million in his first year in Kansas City, saves the Chiefs $3.6 million in cap space.

He’s appeared in 108 games (103 starts) in his seven NFL seasons with the Houston Texans (2006-11) and Kansas City Chiefs (2012).  The 6-7, 302-pound lineman was selected in the third round (No. 66 overall) out of Miami (FL) in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Winston, 29, hasn’t missed a single start since his rookie season and should be a hot commodity on the open market when the 2013 NFL Free Agency period begins on March 12.

The move makes the team’s decision with the No. 1 overall pick on draft day even clearer.  Taking Central Michigan OT Eric Fisher at the top spot or trading down slightly to secure him and stockpile are still possible scenarios, but it’s almost a foregone conclusion that the Chiefs will choose Luke Joeckel out of Texas A&M—which means more hype for the second selection, which belongs to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Michael Gartman is a College Football and NFL Senior Writer, the AFC South and NFC West Lead Writer and the Founder, CEO of GridironGrit.com.  He’s also about to start reporting on topics across all sides of the political spectrum and analyze important issues in the liberty movement for a political website.  Follow him @_MichaelGartman on Twitter.  Be sure to ‘like’ Gridiron Grit on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @GridironGrit to keep up with the latest coverage on college football, the NFL and more!