When running back Chris Rainey was arrested on charges of slapping his girlfriend in the face, the Steelers made it clear that he wouldn’t be welcomed back to the team in 2013.
League rules dictated the Steelers couldn’t pull the trigger until after the Super Bowl, although the extra time did nothing to change the team’s decision. Bob Labriola of the team’s website reports that Rainey, who had two other run-ins with the law during his rookie season, was officially waived on Monday, the first day he was eligible to be dropped from the roster.
The 2012 fifth-round pick is now eligible to be claimed by any team in the league and he pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct charges to settle the case involving his girlfriend. If he passes through waivers unclaimed, he’ll become a free agent eligible to shop his wares to any NFL team.
Rainey had 102 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries during the season and averaged 26.5 yards per kick return.