According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport safety Morgan Burnett has asked the Steelers for his release.
The feeling should be mutual.
Spoke with #Steelers S Morgan Burnett, who tells me he wants to be released from his deal before free agency. During his time in Pittsburgh, he felt he played out of position as a dime LB. Burnett, with 2 yrs left on his contract, wants a new start & a chance to play safety again
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 19, 2019
Burnett hardly was able to stay on the field, and when he managed to get there he was poor in coverage and often looked ineffective. Burnett only played in 11 games while missing most of training camp too. He didn't record his first pass defense until week 12 and hasn't had an interception since 2016.
Burnett played a hybrid safety type in Green Bay which made him a perfect target for the Steelers last year as they were trying to replace Ryan Shazier. With Burnett's size they figured it would be an easy transition to dimebacker for him in Pittsburgh.
Apparently Burnett wasn't happy with that idea, though. It would seem hard to believe that his role wasn't discussed with him prior to him signing a contract in Pittsburgh.
The Steelers signed Burnett to a three-year, $14.3 million contract in March 2018. Burnett is due a base salary of $5 million in 2019 and counts $6.46 million against the Steelers’ salary cap. The Steelers can save $3.6 million from his release pre-June 1 and $5 million if they choose to wait until after June 1 or designate him a June 1 release.
