That's just the story with Steelers Linebackers. Eventuallay, they play for other teams. Foote let it leak right after the SB that he would play in Detroit (home town) He backtracked a little after saying it. Then on Draft day, after we'd already signed Farrior and Harrison to deals/extensions, we did attempt to trade Foote, but since it was rather obvious to any team that knows how the Steelers tend to cut aging LBs especially when there is a Solid young 1st Round Draft pick waiting in the wings, no one bit on the trade and basically, were waiting to offer Foote a Starting Job without having to give up anything in return.
Its not going to be a total loss for Foote, it sux the Steelers couldn't get at least 1 draft pick for him, but once it became obvious that he wasn't going to start, wasn't going to "be happy" and we weren't going into camp with him, the Release was inevitable.