NFL Gildon, Trotter cut for salaries

By cutting the linebackers, the Steelers and Redskins created salary cap room.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Former All-Pro linebacker Jason Gildon of the Pittsburgh Steelers and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter of the Washington Redskins are back on the free agent market, as expected.
Gildon and Trotter were the latest salary cap cuts Wednesday, joining quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Vinny Testaverde, along with several others.
Gildon was released by the Steelers in a long-expected move that creates $3.65 million of salary cap room for the team.
Gildon, who will be 32 next month, learned weeks ago he would be traded or released. The Steelers also told him not to attend last month's mini-camp or their ongoing voluntary coaching sessions, though he has worked out by himself at the team's practice complex.
By releasing Gildon, the Steelers freed themselves of his $3.65 million salary but still must count $1.3 million of his deferred signing bonus against their 2004 cap and $2.6 million next year. They would have been required to count the entire $3.9 million this year if they had cut Gildon before now.
The 6-foot-4, 255-pound Gildon, coming off two consecutive down seasons after making All-Pro in 2001, is expected to sign shortly with another team. The Texans, Redskins, Packers, Ravens and Browns are believed to be interested in Gildon.
Trotter among trio let go
Trotter was told months ago not to attend the spring mini-camps and was given permission to seek a trade. He was let go along with running back Trung Canidate and guard Dave Fiore.
The trio were high-profile acquisitions that never worked out, representing the hit-and-miss pattern of off-season player signings under owner Dan Snyder.
Trotter never lived up to the seven-year, $35 million contract he received as a free agent from Philadelphia two years ago.
Canidate, acquired last year in a trade with St. Louis, was billed as the big-play back that would fit well into former coach Steve Spurrier's offense. But Canidate rushed for just 600 yards, scored only two touchdowns and missed five games due to injuries.
Fiore's signing was a risk from the start. He already had a history of knee problems when the Redskins gave him a four-year, $6.5 million contract last year. He played only three games before his knee sidelined him the rest of the season.
Gardener is waived
In another expected move, defensive tackle Daryl Gardener's brief and tumultuous stint with the Denver Broncos formally ended when he was waived.
Gardener was suspended twice last season for conduct detrimental to the team, and in March he and the team settled a dispute over his $5 million signing bonus.
Gardener, who signed a seven-year, $34.8 million deal last year, was supposed to be Denver's big free-agent pickup of the off-season.
Also, the Atlanta Falcons cut cornerback Tyrone Williams. The move will reduce the team's 2004 salary cap charge on Williams from $2.3 million to $600,000.
The Rams cut Warner, and the Jets said good-bye to Testaverde. Both are expected to land elsewhere for the upcoming season.
Agent worked a deal
Warner's agent worked on a deal with the New York Giants to bring the two-time NFL MVP to mentor top draft pick Eli Manning. Mark Bartelstein confirmed the two sides talked.
Kordell Stewart agreed to a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens, who planned to put the quarterback to work today during the final session of a two-day passing camp.
Pro Bowl defensive tackle Corey Simon will skip the Eagles' voluntary minicamp this week.
Panthers rookie receiver Drew Carter tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee on the first day of mini-camp.