Defensive end Michael Sinclair, the player with the longest current tenure as a member of the Seattle Seahawks, is one of five players the team left unprotected in the Houston Texans’ upcoming expansion draft.
Also available are kick returner Charlie Rogers, long snapper J.P. Darche, cornerback Paul Miranda and wide receiver Fabien Bownes.
Sinclair, an 11-year veteran who will turn 34 next week, is coming off his third consecutive subpar season. After compiling a league-high 16.5 sacks in 1998, he has been held to a total of 13.5 over the past three seasons.
Sinclair signed a long-term contract extension in 1999, and his salary – expected to pay him about $17.3 million in base salary through the 2005 season – makes him an unlikely target for the Texans.
Rogers has been the Seahawks’ main kickoff and punt returner for each of the past two seasons, and he led the NFL in punt return average as a rookie in 1999.
Also reportedly on the expansion list is Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Riall Johnson, a Mariner High School graduate.
The Texans will hold their draft on Feb. 18.
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