Philadelphia Eagles release defensive end Jason Babin

The Eagles have released defensive end Jason Babin in just the second season into his five-year contract, the team announced on Tuesday.

Babin, 32, finished third in the NFL with 18.0 sacks and made his second straight Pro Bowl last season, but has recorded only 5.5 sacks in 2012 for the floundering team, which has lost seven straight games and also placed star receiver Desean Jackson on IR on Tuesday.

He signed a five-year deal worth approximately $28 million to reunite with former Titans defensive line coach Jim Washburn as part of the Eagles' free agent spree in the summer of 2011. The team's statement on the move read as follows, according to CSNPhilly.com:

“We appreciate everything that Jason has given this team over the last couple of years," head coach Andy Reid said in a statement. "We wish him all the best as he continues his career. By releasing him today, this gives us an opportunity to give more playing time to some of younger guys in the defensive line rotation.”

Babin will now go through the waiver process and likely clear waivers because he is owed $1.64 million over the rest of the season, according to NFL Network's Albert Breer.

https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer/status/273520772537012224

Any team that claims him would owe him $4.225 million in base salary next year. Teams with the worst records get the highest waiver priority, but USA Today's Mike Garafalo speculated that a contending team could pick him up: