The Raiders are parting ways Marcel Reece.
Oakland released the veteran fullback on Monday, the team announced.
"What he has meant to the organization and to me over the past few years is hard to put into words, but his actions, both on and off the field, speak louder than any words can," Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said. "This was a tough decision. Not enough can be said about Marcel's commitment to his teammates and his pride in the Raiders, and we wish him and his family nothing but the best."
Reece is finally eligible to play after being tagged last December with a four-game suspension for violating the NFL Policy and Program for performance-enhancing substances. The Pro Bowl fullback missed the regular-season finale as part of his punishment.
In the meantime, the Raiders found a replacement for Reece in Jamize Olawale, the fifth-year blocking back who inked a three-year, $6 million extension through 2018. Olawale has appeared in all three Raiders games this season.
"Marcel was a great teammate and I appreciate him as a player on the field and as a man off the field," coach Jack Del Rio said. "I wish him all the best moving forward."
At 31, Reece and his $2.6 million base salary were no longer the answer after seven productive campaigns in Oakland. A versatile player who can run the ball and catch passes out of the backfield, he's likely to see interest from teams before long.
