Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams has told US TV that he is going to be released.
Williams told WBTW in Charlotte: "We sat down and he told me 'The fact of the matter is we're going to have to release you'. I said you know, 'Why?' and he said, 'because we don't run the ball enough. Just like you said back before the season started, we don't run the ball enough to keep you and both [Jonathan Stewart], so we're going to release you'."
The running back, who is the club's all-time leading rusher with over 6,000 yards and nearly 50 touchdowns for the team, had a relatively disappointing season, posting 213 yards on 69 carries in an injury-ravaged 2014, where he started just six games. Teammate Jonathan Stewart - who will be kept by the Panthers - ran up 809 yards on 175 carries.
"I don't feel bitter at all", he said, adding that Stewart "had the hot hand at the end of the season. He's a great running back, obviously, uh, I don't feel bitter at all. It's a business....it's going to happen to every guy in that locker room, so it doesn't bother me at all."
The team has said that nothing has been confirmed yet, although NFL.com noted that if Williams is cut, it could save the team over $2m in salary cap space.
News also emerged that the Panthers had cut offensive tackle Byron Bell.
