Wide receiver Sidney Rice and defensive end Red Bryant were released by the Seattle Seahawks on Friday, giving the Super Bowl champions additional salary cap space as free agency approaches. Seattle made the expected roster moves official eight days before teams can start speaking with potential free agents. Bryant had spent his entire career with the Seahawks after being a fourth-round draft pick in 2008, while Rice signed as a free agent before the 2011 season. According to the leagues transaction report, Rice was released with a "failed physical" designation. Both were due hefty salaries in 2014 that didnt necessarily match the production they had shown on the field. Rice had struggled with injuries with the Seahawks and was lost for the 2013 season after Week 8 with a knee injury. Bryant was a unique player as a 300-pound defensive end for the Seahawks, but his playing time had diminished. Seattle should save more than $12 million in salary cap space with the moves. Rice was due $8.5 million in base salary for 2014 and Bryant $4.5 million. "We want to thank both Red and Sidney for their effort, commitment and contribution to the Seattle Seahawks over the last few years," Seattle general manager John Schneider said in a statement. "These are extremely tough decisions, but we wanted to give them a head start on free agency. We wish them well in the future." Both moves were expected to happen and are likely the first in a series that will change the makeup of the Super Bowl champions. Bryant was one of just four players left from before the arrival of Schneider and head coach Pete Carroll. He was given a new contract during the 2012 off-season, but the emergence of Michael Bennett -- one of Seattles top free agent priorities -- appeared to make Bryant expendable. The only players still remaining from the pre-Carroll era are centre Max Unger, defensive tackle Brandon Mebane and punter Jon Ryan. Bryant was also a captain and vocal leader of Seattles league-best defence. He could be an attractive option in free agency for a team seeking a defensive end that can hold the edge in defending the run in a 3-4 defence. Rice had not matched the production that came with his big contract, mostly because of injuries. Rice played in 33 games with 31 starts with 97 receptions for 1,463 yards and 12 touchdowns. But his 2011 season was cut short by a concussion and he was unable to finish the 2013 season after suffering an ACL tear in his knee and being placed on injured reserve. Rice led Seattle in receptions (50) and yards receiving (748) during the 2012 season, one of just two seasons in his career that hes played in all 16 regular-season games. Rice tweeted a goodbye to Seattle fans shortly after his release became official: "The amount of love I have for the .12thman and the (at)Seahawks organization! Thanks for a wonderful experience!" Detroit Red Wings Jerseys . Johansen scored twice and Derek MacKenzie, Brandon Dubinsky and Cam Atkinson also had goals to lead the Blue Jackets to a 5-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Thursday night, ending a three-game losing skid. Brendan Shanahan Jersey .Airport spokeswoman Heather Lissner said that all departing flights were back on schedule. However, arriving flights were still trying to catch up.Super Bowl Sunday got off to an inconvenient start for hundreds of passengers trying to get to Phoenix for the game. http://www.hockeyredwings.info/authentic-frans-nielsen-red-wings-jersey/ . But when it was all over they had wasted another lead, seen another pitcher flame out on the mound and lost their fourth straight at home. Gordie Howe Jersey . The club was unable to retain hitting coach Kevin Seitzer, who is bound for Atlanta. Seitzer replaces Greg Walker, who was assisted by Scott Fletcher this season as the Braves finished 79-83. Alex Delvecchio Jersey . - After spending the morning in the hospital, Logan Couture gave the San Jose Sharks the spark they needed. PITTSBURGH -- Heres another adjective Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin can call his ill-timed two-step onto the field last Thursday night against Baltimore. Expensive. The NFL fined Tomlin $100,000 on Wednesday for interfering with Baltimores Jacoby Jones on a kickoff return in the third quarter of a 22-20 loss to the Ravens on Thanksgiving night. The fine is the second-highest ever levied by the league on a head coach, behind only the $500,000 the NFL docked New Englands Bill Belichick in 2007 for spying on an opponents defensive signals. There is also the chance the Steelers have a draft pick taken away "because the conduct affected a play on the field." Though he was not penalized, the league said the Steelers should have been flagged 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct. All that from what Tomlin called an "embarrassing, inexcusable" case of being "mesmerized" while standing in a restricted area that separates the sideline from the playing field and staring at the video board during Jones 73-yard return. Jones had to swerve to avoid running into the coach and was tackled during a return that might have gone for a touchdown if not for the obstruction. Tomlin briefly stepped onto the field before he jumped back. Tomlin insists the "blunder" was not intentional but has no plans to appeal the ruling. "I apologize for causing negative attention to the Pittsburgh Steelers organization," Tomlin said in a statement Wednesday. "I accept the penalty that I received. I will no longer address this issue as I am preparing for an important game this Sunday against the Miami Dolphins." Jones didnt blame Tomlin for his own inability to score on the return, but his teammates believe the move put the coach and the league in a difficult position. "Im not going to lie, its tough," Baltimore wide receiver Torrey Smith said. "I cant say he did it on purpose because I dont know what he was thinking. It definitely sends a message across the league. He stepped across the line, which definitely threw it off." Tomlin said he was following his normal routine on the play and said standing on the 6-foot wide strip is common practice. New York Giants coach Tom Coughlin didnt disagree. Coughlin drew a 15-yard flag during the preseason for stepping onto the field during a field goal attempt. "You find yourself sometimes running down the sideline on the white, but nevertheless, youre not even supposed to be even on the white because the officials have to have access there," Coughlin said. "That is a most difficult thing to absorb." Tomlins players leapt to his defence in the immediate aftermath, and safety Ryan Clark allowed he is "always on the field." The 12-yeear veteran, however, is hardly surprised the NFL is considering taking an extra step of stripping the Steelers of a draft pick.dddddddddddd "Its not supposed to be fair," Clark said. "Its Roger Goodell, so when has he been fair?" Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger doesnt believe Tomlins near-trip will serve as a distraction for Pittsburgh (5-7), which remains in the playoff hunt as December begins despite an 0-4 start. "If anything, guys joke about it more," Roethlisberger said. "Theyre the ones pulling up the pictures online and joking with coach about something. If anything maybe its a light-hearted fun thing." The league will not determine whether to take a pick away from Pittsburgh until after the draft order has been set. It would be an unprecedented move for a coach getting involved during a live play. The NFL fined the New York Jets $100,000 in 2010 when cameras caught strength and conditioning coach Sal Alosi tripping a Miami player on the sideline. Alosi was suspended by the Jets and eventually resigned after the season. Tomlin is hardly in danger of losing his job, and said Tuesday he had not spoken to team owners Dan and Art Rooney II about the situation. "I would imagine if the Rooneys thought that I was capable of that or they thought my intentions were that, I wouldnt be sitting at this table talking to you guys," he said. Tomlin makes $5.25 million a season and the fine constitutes less than 2 per cent of his annual salary. He can absorb the relatively small financial hit. Hes far more concerned about the uncomfortable position he put the league and the Steelers in after failing to get out of the way with any sense of urgency. "I will take this as an opportunity to strenuously defend the game of football and the NFL. I wont defend myself," Tomlin said. "The people that know me, I dont need to do that. The people that dont know me, they are going to make their judgments any way." Tomlins predecessor, Bill Cowher, raised eyebrows but not the ire of the commissioners office in 1997 when he feigned tackling Jacksonvilles Chris Hudson as Hudson ran back a Pittsburgh field goal attempt for a touchdown on the final play of a 30-21 Jaguars victory. While Tomlin has no plans to change the way he goes about his business, he plans to do a better job of policing himself. The 41-year-old understands this will stick with him once the furor dies down. His goal is to make sure it doesnt stain the team as well. "The only thing we can control is our preparation and ultimately our play this week," he said. "Thats the now and whats immediately ahead of us. I try to relay that sentiment and attitude to our team, and I think its something they embrace." Cheap Buffalo Sabres GearWholesale Calgary Flames JerseysCheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche JerseysMontreal Canadiens Outlet StoreWholesale New Jersey Devils JerseysAdidas Arizona Coyotes JerseysCheap Adidas Boston Bruins JerseysCheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes JerseysChicago Blackhawks Shop Free ShippingWholesale Columbus Blue Jackets JerseysDallas Stars Shop Free ShippingCheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings JerseysAnaheim Ducks Jerseys ChinaWholesale Edmonton Oilers JerseysFlorida Panthers Shop Free ShippingWholesale Los Angeles Kings JerseysMinnesota Wild Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Nashville Predators JerseysCheap Adidas New York Islanders JerseysNew York Rangers Winter Classic JerseysCheap Adidas Ottawa Senators JerseysCheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers JerseysWholesale Pittsburgh Penguins JerseysCheap Adidas San Jose Sharks JerseysSt. Louis Blues Winter Classic JerseysWholesale Tampa Bay Lightning JerseysToronto Maple Leafs Outlet StoreVancouver Canucks Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights JerseysCheap Adidas Washington Capitals JerseysCheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '