KIRKLAND, Wash (March 2, 2006) -- The Seattle Seahawks cut cornerback Andre Dyson and linebacker Jamie Sharper.

Dyson, signed as a free agent from Tennessee before last season, would have counted $4.26 million against the team's 2006 salary cap. His release means the NFC champions have, for now, settled on veteran Kelly Herndon as their starting left cornerback opposite Marcus Trufant.

Dyson, a five-year veteran from Utah, started seven games for Seattle last season -- including the Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh. He missed six games with a strained right hamstring and then a sprained left ankle.

Sharper, 31, started the first eight games of last season at outside linebacker before getting a staph infection in his right knee. He eventually went on the season-ending injured-reserve list. Rookie linebacker Leroy Hill excelled in his place, making Sharper and the $17.5 million, five-year contract he signed last April expendable.

With the $1.5 million signing bonus Sharper received in that deal, he would have counted just over $2.5 million against the Seahawks' cap this season.

Seattle entered the day over $11 million under the league's $94.5 million salary cap for 2006 -- but is still in negotiations with NFL MVP Shaun Alexander and others on possible contract extensions.

The Seahawks also released cornerback Michael Harden, a former practice-squad player who was active for the final four games of the 2005 regular season.