The Kansas City Chiefs released veteran linebacker Justin Houston on Sunday after they were unable to drum up enough trade interest http://www.steelersfootballauthentics.com/diontae-johnson-jersey-authentic , ending the tenure of one of the best pass rushers in club history.The Chiefs had made it clear they would trade or release Houston this offseason, primarily because of his cost. He was due $15.25 million and carried a salary cap hit of $21.1 million, numbers that would have made it nearly impossible to make other much-needed upgrades to their defense.The move means the Chiefs will free up $14 million and make the four-time Pro Bowl selection a free agent when the period begins Wednesday. The Chiefs will also take on $7.1 million in dead money.“Justin has made a lasting impact on this franchise and I can’t thank him enough for his contributions over the years,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said in a statement.“These decisions are never easy,” Veach said. “I have a great deal of respect for Justin as a player and person and I wish him and his family the best moving forward.”The 30-year-old Houston was a third-round pick of the Chiefs out of Georgia who quickly became a fan-favorite, not to mention one of the team’s most visible leaders. He wound up starting 96 of the 102 games he appeared in over eight seasons, and his best season came in 2014, when Houston shattered the franchise record with 22 sacks and was voted a first-team All-Pro.He parlayed that season into a $101 million, six-year deal in 2015 that was at the time a record for a defensive player. But he has been slowed by injuries the past four seasons Justin Layne Jersey , and despite continuing to pile up sacks, Houston has been unable to keep up the pace that landed him the lucrative deal.As the Chiefs try to rebuild one of the league’s worst defenses, and provide some help to one of the NFL’s best offenses, it became apparent that Houston’s days in Kansas City were numbered.“Over the last eight seasons we’ve had the ability to watch Justin grow into a leader on and off the playing field,” Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt said. “His passion helped him become one the most successful pass rushers in franchise history. We appreciate his contributions to our team and community.”Houston departs Kansas City with 78 1/2 sacks, trailing only Derrick Thomas (126 1/2), former teammate Tamba Hali (89 1/2) and Neil Smith (85 1/2) for the most in franchise history.He should have no shortage of suitors after seasons of 9 1/2 sacks two years ago and nine more last season, provided he convince a club that he can remain healthy. Houston has experienced with elbow and knee injuries that have allowed him to play 16 games in a season just twice.The Chiefs used their franchise tag on fellow pass rusher Dee Ford, though it’s possible they could still trade him. Other premier edge rushers that were franchised include DeMarcus Lawrence http://www.steelersfootballauthentics.com/benny-snell-jr.-jersey-authentic , Jadeveon Clowney and Frank Clark, and that could create a more robust market for Houston.Working against him is the fact pass rusher may be the most stacked part of April’s draft.“You can never have enough of that,” Veach said. “It’s a really intriguing class. I think it’s been mentioned multiple times throughout the first few days, the defensive line this year is really deep. There are a lot of players, pass-rushers, interior pass-rushers, run players, there’s a lot of depth at that position. I certainly think there will be a lot of names from those defensive players called early on.” NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Titans will be without both their starting tight end and right tackle against the New York Giants.They could be out longer Zach Gentry Jersey , but for now, Sunday’s road trip to New York is the only game that matters.The Titans are trying to climb back into an AFC wild-card berth, and coach Mike Vrabel gave no update on tight end Jonnu Smith or tackle Jack Conklin on Monday morning except to say both were getting treatment for knee injuries. Vrabel said he doesn’t see either Smith or Conklin being available against the Giants, possibly leaving the Titans with roster decisions to make for players hurt in Tennessee’s 30-9 rout of Jacksonville last Thursday.Whether either Smith or Conklin returns this season, Vrabel gave little hint.“I’ll hold out hope until somebody tells me otherwise,” Vrabel said.Losing Smith would be a big blow as the second starting tight end the Titans (7-6) have lost this season. Three-time Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker broke his right ankle in the season opener, and Smith has started 12 games season. Anthony Firkser, who made his NFL debut with Tennessee earlier this season, currently is second after Smith with 16 catches for 201 yards receiving and a touchdown.The Titans do have veteran Dennis Kelly to step in for Conklin L.J. Collier Jersey , and he has started twice this season.What Tennessee also has is a two-game winning streak for a franchise whose best hope of earning a second straight playoff berth is winning out.Denver’s loss to San Francisco trimmed the number of teams between the Titans and the AFC’s second wild-card berth to three with Tennessee now tied at 7-6 with Baltimore , Miami and Indianapolis. Each of those teams holds a head-to-head tiebreaker, though the Titans host the Colts on Dec. 30 in the regular season finale.The Colts’ win over Houston also pulled the Titans within two losses of the Texans (9-4) in the AFC South with three games to play. Houston finishes the season on the road at the Jets (4-9) and Eagles (6-7) before hosting Jacksonville.Not that Vrabel is looking at any playoff scenarios except the first and most crucial component: Tennessee winning.“Whatever else would happen outside of that couldn’t help us if we didn’t find a way to win,” Vrabel said.The Titans have blown chances to control their playoff destiny in years past, including 2016 when Marcus Mariota broke his right leg in a loss at Jacksonville on Christmas Eve. They led the AFC South last December only to stumble with a three-game skid. Linebacker Wesley Woodyard said the Titans will take this final stretch one game at a time starting with the Giants (5-8).“The only way to survive is win this game here, and that’s the only game that anybody should be worried about, not any kind of scenarios or what’s going to happen, what could happen,” Woodyard said. “We need to take care of this game.”A 2-5 record away from Nashville this season doesn’t help http://www.seahawksfootballauthentics.com/marquise-blair-jersey-authentic , but safety Kevin Byard said he believes the Titans have been doing better than at the beginning of the season.“We’re just trying to work on being consistent right now, and I think if we’re consistent late in this year and especially down the stretch that will pretty much be the indicator if we’ve grown or not,” Byard said.