Packers Release CB Sam Shields

The Green Bay Packers have released their number one corner as part of a salary cap purge. Sam Shields will hit the open market. Shields let the move be known on his Instagram account.

Shields, 29, only played 1 game in 2016 and ended up on injured reserve after suffering a concussion. It was the 2nd major head trauma injury in a 9-month span which caused him to sit out for the year. The former Green Bay corner has no intentions to retire at this point.

Green Bay will free up $9 million in cap space by letting Shields go but it’s not all good news. The Packers will pay Shields $3.125 million just to release him. Sam Shields was in the final year of a 4 year deal worth $39 million in which he signed back in 2014. Shields also made the Pro Bowl during the 2014 campaign.

Green Bay also released James Starks yesterday as they may be preparing to be active in free agency this year. That would be unusual for Packers fans as they normally tend to target guys who get released so that they don’t mess with the compensation picks.