Eagles release veteran linebacker Trent Cole

The Philadelphia Eagles parted ways with veteran linebacker Trent Cole after ten seasons, further loading up the team’s salary cap space.

The Philadelphia Eagles parted ways with yet another veteran on Tuesday, as the team announced they will release linebacker Trent Cole after ten seasons with the franchise.

Cole, who was due $11.625 million this season, was released after he and the team could not reach an agreement on a restructured deal. He had signed a four-year, $53 million deal in 2012.

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One of the team’s most popular players, Cole was named to a pair of Pro Bowls during his career in Philadelphia, which saw him record 88.5 sacks, second only to Hall of Famer Reggie White’s 124 on the franchise’s career list. Cole had three straight seasons (2009-11) of at least 10.0 sacks, including a career-best 12.5 in 2009. He is 11th among active players in career sacks and was third behind Robert Mathis (Colts) and Terrell Suggs (Ravens) in sacks accumulated with just one team.

Cole, who was drafted in the fifth round in 2005, had spent the past two seasons as a linebacker in the team’s 3-4 scheme after playing at defensive end the previous eight years. His versatility will make the 32-year-old a prime candidate for teams looking for that kind of trait once free agency formally kicks off.

The release of Cole was big news in Philly….that is, until the team announced it traded former All-Pro running back LeSean McCoy to the Bills for linebacker Kiki Alonzo late Tuesday afternoon on a day in which they earlier released cornerback Cary Williams. With McCoy, Cole and Williams off the books, the Eagles will have nearly $50 million in cap space to work with when free agency begins next Tuesday afternoon.

Coming off a season in which the 28th-ranked defense was one of the main culprits behind the team’s late season meltdown that cost them a playoff spot, the Eagles are expected to use much of their space on that side of the ball once wide receiver Jeremy Maclin’s contract is resolved.

Cole had been the most tenured player on the roster after guard Todd Herremans was released last week. With both gone, tight end Brent Celek, entering his tenth season, now becomes the one player who has called Lincoln Financial Field home the longest.

The moves are just the latest in what could be a ground-moving offseason for the Eagles, who not only are focused on re-signing Maclin and upgrading their defense. Speculation continues to climb that the team will make a strong play to move up from their current 20th overall position in order to select Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota.

Stay tuned.