| 49ers release injury-hampered receiver Edwards and Pitino says he'll quit when contract ends in 2017 |
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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Struggling wide receiver Braylon Edwards was released by the San Francisco 49ers following surgery on his right knee earlier this season that limited him.Edwards tweeted the news Tuesday, attributing the move to his injury, which "required more time to rehab and hasn't allowed me to re-sync with the offense.""I wish the 49ers organization the best of luck during the playoffs," Edwards said in a statement on his Web site. "I will be working hard this off season to strengthen my knee and prepare for the 2012 season. Thanks for your continued support and for being such loyal fans."Edwards had 15 catches for 181 yards and no touchdowns in eight games with five starts for the NFC West champion 49ers (12-3) after receiving a $3.5 million, one-year contract in August. That gave him a fresh start under coach and fellow Michigan man Jim Harbaugh.He was inactive against St. Louis on Dec. 4 and again for the Monday night game. [Read the full article] PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin believes injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and center Maurkice Pouncey both have "a shot" to play in Sunday's regular season finale at Cleveland."It is our intention right now that if those guys are healthy enough to practice and prepare, then we will play them," Tomlin said Tuesday.Given the way backups Charlie Batch and Trai Essex handled themselves in a 27-0 win over St. Louis last Saturday, the Steelers (11-4) may not need Roethlisberger or Pouncey to hurry back from their badly sprained left ankles to keep the team's hopes of an AFC North title alive.Batch played effectively against the Rams, passing for 208 yards while showing there's still some life in his 37-year-old legs. He extended plays with his mobility and even threw the ball downfield, hitting Mike Wallace for a 46-yard gain in the fourth quarter that set up the clinching touchdown. [Read the full article] ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- The Washington Redskins have released running back Ryan Torain, who started four games this season, but fell behind rookies Roy Helu and Evan Royster on the depth chart.Torain rushed for only 200 yards this year, with 135 coming in the win over the St. Louis Rams on Oct. 2. He then struggled when given a shot at the starting job after Tim Hightower was lost for the season with a knee injury, leading to the emergence of the rookies.The Redskins on Tuesday also have promoted receiver Aldrick Robinson from the practice squad. Robinson was a sixth-round pick in April.Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- The Washington Redskins have released running back Ryan Torain, who started four games this season, but fell behind rookies Roy Helu and Evan Royster on the depth chart. [Read the full article] 
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