The Houston Texans will allow all-time leading tackler Brian Cushing to leave before the new NFL year begins in March.
Linebacker Cushing will become an unrestricted free agent on March 14 after spending the last nine seasons with the franchise and racking up a total of 664 tackles.
Cushing's release will save Houston $7.64m in salary cap space.
The 30-year-old only played in four games last season because of a 10-game ban for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
He was a first round pick of the Texans in 2009 and was named Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first season, as well as being named to the Pro Bowl.
"It's all good," Cushing told the Houston Chronicle. "It's part of the business."