Bernard Pollard's time with the Ravens appears to be over.
The safety broke the news on Twitter Wednesday morning.
"Well Raven Nation it's been fun. My time in Baltimore is done... Thank you!" Pollard tweeted.
Pollard carried a $3.25 million salary-cap hit and was due a $500,000 roster bonus by Saturday, according to Jeff Zrebiec of The Baltimore Sun. His release reportedly saves the Ravens $1 million against the salary cap.
Pollard, 28, signed a three-year contract extension with the Ravens last offseason, seemingly indicating that he would be around long term.
With veteran safety Ed Reed being an unrestricted free agent, Baltimore could be without its two starting safeties from last year.
The Ravens' other safeties on the roster are veteran James Ihedigbo, who was re-signed to a one-year deal Tuesday, Emmnanuel Cook, who spent last year on injured reserve with a broken leg, and second-year players Christian Thompson (fifth-round pick), Omar Brown (rookie free agent) and Anthony Levine (rookie free agent).
Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome said he wanted to bolster the middle of his defense this year. Baltimore signed defensive lineman Chris Canty Tuesday, but saw inside linebacker Dannell Ellerbe leave via free agency and now parted ways with Pollard.
Pollard was the Ravens' leading tackler last season (98 tackles) despite battling through broken ribs for much the season. He still started 13 games and re-broke all six ribs in Super Bowl XLVII only to continue playing.
Head Coach John Harbaugh called Pollard one of the toughest players on the team.
Pollard added two sacks, six pass deflections and one interception last season. In the playoffs, he logged 17 tackles, four pass deflections and one forced fumble with a vicious hit on New England running back Stevan Ridley in the AFC championship that defined who Pollard is as a player.
Frequently flagged for illegal hits and outspoken in his disapproval of the NFL's safety rules, Pollard said he wouldn't change the way he played the game.
Pollard's teammates expressed their feelings on Twitter.
