Bernard Pierce Released by Jets: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

The New York Jets released running back Bernard Pierce on Saturday, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported. 

NESN's Doug Kyed confirmed the news, adding Pierce was released with an injury settlement. 

This comes just four days after the Jets placed him on injured reserve due to a nagging hamstring injury and signed Antone Smith as a replacement, per NJ.com's Darryl Slater. 

Per Spotrac, Pierce signed a one-year, $760,000 deal with the Jets toward the end of July after they waived Zac Stacy due to a failed physical. 

But Pierce has been forced to carry baggage of his own due to off-field issues that have thrown a wrench in his career path. 

In March 2015, the team he spent the first three years of his career with, the Baltimore Ravens, released him after he was charged with a DUI. The league suspended him in May for the first two games of the regular season, even though he appeared in seven games with the Jacksonville Jaguars last year. 

Pierce showed flashes of becoming a serviceable NFL running back in his rookie season of 2012 with the Ravens, backing up Ray Rice. 

In 16 games, he recorded 532 yards on 108 carries, posting an average of 4.9 yards per rush. But he was unable to recreate that kind of success in the following years, as he averaged 2.9 yards per carry in 2013 and 3.9 yards per carry in 2014. 

He got only six touches with the Jaguars last year for just 11 yards. 

On a Jets team that is set to feature Matt Forte, Bilal Powell and Khiry Robinson, Pierce wasn't expected to have an enormous role in New York's backfield. So this release could be a blessing in disguise for him if he's able to get that hamstring healthy and find a team that is desperate for rushing support. 

Stats courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com.