Cincinnati Bengals release LB Rey Maualuga

The Cincinnati Bengals released veteran linebacker Rey Maualuga, the team announced on Saturday.

Maualuga, 30, was entering the last season of his contract and was due $3.6 million in salary and bonuses.

"Rey has been a tough and productive player for us, and a fine teammate, and this is a difficult decision," Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said in a statement.

"It's one of several we have made to transition to a younger group at linebacker as we continue to shape our 2017 roster."

The 6-foot-2, 258-pound Maualuga, who was selected by the Bengals in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft, played in 114 games with 104 starts in his eight seasons with the Bengals, compiling 584 tackles, four sacks, seven interceptions and six forced fumbles.

Maualuga's playing time dropped off in 2016, when he made 27 tackles in 14 games, and the Bengals added former Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter in free agency on Monday.

The Bengals also agreed to re-sign defensive lineman Wallace Gilberry, adding depth to the position.

Gilberry's agents announced Friday that the 10-year veteran will be back with the Bengals in 2017.

Gilberry, 32, first joined the Bengals in 2012 and played through the 2015 season before leaving after four years to sign with the Detroit Lions as a free agent last offseason. He suffered a sports hernia and was released after four games with the Lions.

The 6-2, 270-pound Gilberry came back to the Bengals in early November and recorded 2.5 sacks and 10 tackles in five games. He owns 34 career sacks -- 20 of those for the Bengals.