The Lions aren’t wasting any time when it comes to clearing out their roster after Monday’s start to the period when teams can make moves involving players already on their roster.
Mike Garafolo of USA Today reports that the team has informed defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch that he will be released. The news comes on the heels of word that guard Stephen Peterman got the same message and a day after the team washed its hands of the headaches provided by wide receiver Titus Young.
Vanden Bosch’s departure was expected. He was set to count for $10.7 million against the cap in 2013, far too much for a player who produced just 3.5 sacks during the 2012 season. Vanden Bosch signed a four-year deal with the Lions in 2010 and produced 12 sacks over his first two seasons with the team before his production slipped this season.
His departure comes just as Jim Washburn arrives in Detroit, robbing Vanden Bosch of a chance to reunite with the position coach who helped him develop into a strong pass rusher in Tennessee almost a decade ago. It also means that the November page in the Lions 2013 calendar will celebrate a player no longer on the team.
The Lions could use some of the savings toward keeping impending free agent defensive end Cliff Avril, assuming they don’t decide to move in another direction altogether at the position.