The Super Bowl-champion Green Bay Packers released former Centerville High School and Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk on Wednesday, saving the $10 million he was scheduled to earn in 2011.
The Packers indicated they would like Hawk to return, but at a lesser cost.
“With A.J., the business side of the game is driving this decision,” General Manager Ted Thompson said in a statement. “We’re hopeful that we can continue to work with A.J. to have him be a part of our team in the future.”
Hawk, the No. 5 overall pick in the 2006 draft, had 111 tackles in 2010 after finishing with fewer than 90 in each of the previous two seasons. He also had three interceptions, backboning a championship defense.
If a return to Green Bay is not in the cards, Hawk should find a market for his services elsewhere, especially with a Super Bowl ring on this finger.
And there’s another factor.
“It’s a poor linebacker draft, so he will have interest for sure,” one scout told ESPN.com. “Good size, good speed, versatile, can play in nickel, good instincts, average coverage and physical play.”
One team rumored to have interest is Houston. The Texans are going to a 3-4 defense, and inside linebacker DeMeco Ryans is coming off a major Achilles’ tendon injury.
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