PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Friday was deadline day when it came to Vinny Curry's future with the Eagles and after failing to find a trade partner or convince the veteran defensive end to restructure his deal and take less money Philadelphia took its medicine and released him.

If Curry was still on the team's offseason roster past the end of business Friday, $5 million of his $9 million base salary for 2018 would have been guaranteed.

Curry was a solid part of the team's defensive line rotation during their run to a Super Bowl LII championship but he was set to be paid like a star with that $9 million base salary and an even worse $11 cap hit.

Philadelphia is also extremely deep at the position after trading for Michael Bennett last week and expects former first-round pick Derek Barnett to increase his role next season.

By releasing Curry the Eagles will gain $5M in space back but also take on $6 million in dead money.

“We want to thank Vinny Curry for his contributions to our organization over the last six seasons, including the important role he played in bringing our city its first Super Bowl championship," the Eagles said in a statement. "It’s difficult to part ways with a player like Vinny who has made an impact on the field, in the locker room and in the community. We wish Vinny and his family all the best moving forward.”

A New Jersey native who grew up an Eagles fan Curry was originally a second-round draft pick of Philadelphia back in 2012. He ends his tenure with the franchise after playing in 84 regular-season games over six seasons. Curry totaled 147 tackles, including 27 1/2 for loss, 22 sacks, five forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in the regular season, while adding 13 tackles in four postseason appearances.

Curry became a full-time starter for the Eagles last season and recorded career highs in tackles (48) and TFL (13), while also tallying three sacks and a forced fumble. He also led an impressive front with 41 combined QB pressures and hits while playing 56 percent of the team's defensive snaps.

Now an unrestricted free agent with no significant salary-cap restraints Curry is expected to have quite a few suitors on the open market and he's leaving the Novacare Complex with no ill will.

"Who would’ve thought a small town boy from Neptune, NJ who grew up an Eagles fan, would’ve been drafted to his favorite team and win his and the teams first Super Bowl Championship!" Curry wrote on Instagram after being informed of his release.

In other free agency news kicker Caleb Sturgis is expected to sign with the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Eagles, however, has no real interest in bringing Sturgis back after Jake Elliott took the job and ran with it after Sturgis injured his hip in the season opener against Washington.

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen

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