The Colts have released center Samson Satele, according to Mike Klis of the Denver Post (Twitter link). Satele had been set to enter the final year of his contract.
With the move, the Colts will clear most of Satele’s $5.067MM cap number from their books for 2014, reducing the hit to about $1.067MM in dead money. The veteran center had been in line for a $3.9MM base salary for ’14, plus a $100K workout bonus.
Satele, 29, has been an NFL starter since being drafted by the Dolphins in the second round of the 2007 draft, having spent multiple seasons in Miami, Oakland, and Indianapolis. 2013 wasn’t one of his better seasons — of 29 NFL centers who played more than 50% of their teams’ snaps, Satele ranked dead last as a run blocker, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required).
As Satele hits the open market, the Colts figure to be in the market for a new starting center. Indianapolis drafted Khaled Holmes out of USC in the fourth round of last year’s draft, but if the team isn’t ready to give him the starting job, adding a replacement for Satele in free agency is a possibility.
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