HOUSTON -- Veteran running back Ahman Green and linebacker Morlon Greenwood were released by the Houston Texans on Tuesday.
Financial considerations
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Green was hailed as the solution to Houston's rushing woes when he was signed, but he finished each of his two seasons with the Texans on injured reserve. He leaves the team after rushing for 554 yards and missing 18 games with various injuries.
Green, a four-time Pro Bowl pick, started the Texans' 2008 season opener but missed the next game with an injury. Steve Slaton filled in, and when Green was healthy, Houston head coach Gary Kubiak decided to stick with the rookie. Slaton responded by rushing for a team-record 1,282 yards.
The move could signal the end of Green's 11-year NFL career, which began with the Seattle Seahawks and peaked during his seven seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He rushed for more than 1,100 yards in each of his first five seasons with the Packers before missing 11 games with an injury in 2005. Green rebounded to rush for 1,059 yards in 2006 before joining the Texans.
Greenwood, who recorded more than 100 tackles in each season from 2004 to 2007, saw his production and playing time decrease in 2008 as Houston relied on its younger linebackers. Greenwood started 10 games and finished with 45 tackles.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press