Chiefs release punter Colquitt

Dustin Colquitt walked into the Kansas City Chiefs training fa cility15y ears ago as a third-round pick out of Tennessee, a punter with a big leg and peerless pedigree. He wound up setting nu merous franchise records, including most games played and most postseason appearances.

Colquitt's long tenure is finally coming to a close. The Chiefs released the two-time Pro Bowl punter after signing a pair of prospects to compete for the job in training camp.

“I have enjoyed my time in Chiefs Kingdom ,” Col quitt, who turns 38 next month, wrote in an Ins tag ram post .“All things come to an end, sometimes sooner than you hoped, prayed and pleaded for them to.”

Colquitt stopped short of saying he was retiring, which would save the Chiefs $ 2 million in salary cap space. He was due a workout bonus of $2 million, and there will be $650,000 in dead cap space as he entered the final year of his contract.

Rarely do teams use a third-round draft pick on a specialist, but rare came to describe Colquitt perfectly. He was called upon to punt 1,124 times, 15th in NFL history, and his average of 44.8 yards puts him in the top 25. He also became known for his almost otherworldly ability to pin opponents inside the 20.

BENGALS: Former OU running backs Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine apparently will be reunited. According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter, the Cincinnati Bengals have picked up running back Perine off the waiver wire. Perine was put on waivers by the Miami Dolphins.

STEELERS: Here's guessing the Steelers didn't have to think too long or hard about this one. They're picking up the fifth-year option on star outside linebacker T.J. Watt's rookie contract. It was essentially a paper move for a no-brainer decision on one of the best pass-rushers in the NFL.

Watt, the 30th pick in the 2017 draft, is coming off his second consecutive Pro Bowl and first All-Pro season as he enters his fourth year in the league. This move, which had to be made by May 3, officially makes him a Steeler through the 2021 season. He is the brother of Houston Texans defensive star J.J. Watt and Steelers fullback Derek Watt. 49ERS: Defensive lineman Joe Staley announced his retirement following a stellar 13-year career in San Francisco. Staley made six Pro Bowls, played 181 games and was recently honored as one of the NFL's alldecade players for the 2010s.