Eagles Release Two-Time Pro Bowl LB DeMeco Ryans

The Philadelphia Eagles have released two-time Pro Bowl linebacker DeMeco Ryans.

Eagles Release Two-Time Pro Bowl LB DeMeco Ryans

The move, which was announced Wednesday, will save the Eagles $3.5 million in salary cap space. Ryans, 31, has a ten-year career in the NFL, including four seasons with the Eagles after being acquired by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft.

With a new coaching staff and a switch to a 4-3 defense this season under new coach Doug Pederson, Ryans became expendable.

With the Eagles, the LB had 458 tackles, five sacks and five interceptions in 54 regular-season games. He was considered a team leader and a strong presence in the locker room, and was even nicknamed “Mufasa.”

Ryans also overcame tearing his Achilles tendon — for the second time — midway through the 2014 season and started 13 games last year. He played in the 2007 and 2009 Pro Bowls.

Caption: PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 20: Jerome Couplin #21 of the Dallas Cowboys attempts to get away from DeMeco Ryans #59 of the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on September 20, 2015 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images)