Chiefs release RT Eric Winston; LT Branden Albert not happy

Another interesting offensive tackle has just hit the free-agent market. Right tackle Eric Winston confirmed Wednesday night that the Chiefs have released him, meaning Winston will join fellow tackles Andre Smith, Jake Long and Sebastian Vollmer on the free agent market. Pro Football Talk was the first to report the news.

“Just wanted to confirm that I have been released,” Winston wrote, via Twitter. “Even though it was an incredibly tough year on and off the field last year, I wouldn't trade the relationships I made in KC and the overall experience I had for anything. It was an honor to be a Chief and I wish them nothing but the best in the future .... On to the next adventure!”

Considering the Chiefs just franchise-tagged left tackle Branden Albert for $9 million, that means Kansas City needs another tackle. Hmm, I wonder if the Chiefs would want a guy like this. This, of course, being Texas A&M tackle Luke Joeckel, who very well could be the No. 1 draft pick in April (NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang thinks that's exactly what will happen).

You'll recall that Winston -- who signed a four-year, $22 million contract last March -- made news last year when he said he was sickened by the Kansas City fans' reaction to quarterback Matt Cassel having to leave the game with a concussion.

"We are athletes," Winston said at the time. "We are not gladiators. This isn't the Roman Coliseum. People pay their hard-earned money to come in here, and I believe they can boo. They can cheer. They can do whatever they want. … But when you cheer somebody getting knocked out, I don't care who it is, and it just so happened to be Matt Cassel, it's sickening. It's 100 percent sickening, and I've been in some rough times on some rough teams, and I've never been more embarrassed in my life to play football than in that moment right there."

On Wednesday night, at least one of Winston's teammates was surprised with the transaction. And not in a good way.

What????

— Branden Albert (@Balbert76) March 7, 2013

That's not all.

“@chiefsbeef: @balbert76 Would you be open to playing RT? And they could draft Fisher instead of Joekel who can play RT.” nope

— Branden Albert (@Balbert76) March 7, 2013

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