Seahawks release Chris Clemons, per report

The Seahawks have released Chris Clemons, reports Albert Breer. This is a move that has been expected due to Clemons' $9.6M salary and $7.5M cap hit.

Clemons came to the Seahawks in 2010 along with a fourth round pick in exchange for Darryl Tapp. It was a move that was mostly looked at with cynicism -- Clemons was a virtual unknown and part-time role player for the Eagles at the time, but it's a move that obviously worked out beautifully. Clemons had 11+ sacks in each of 2010, 2011, and 2012, and while he only notched 4.5 in 2013 following a torn ACL, he came on strong at the end of the year and in the Super Bowl. He ends his Seahawks tenure as a Super Bowl Champion and fan favorite, and he will be missed.

This of course assumes the Seahawks aren't able to re-sign him after he tests the market. I'm guessing he'll have some suitors out there -- Jacksonville immediately comes to mind -- and he might be able to command anywhere from $4-$6M or so per year (just a rough estimate).

What this means for the Seahawks' rumored interest in Jason Hatcher, Jermichael Finley, and Jared Allen, well that remains to be seen.