2011 NFL Free Agency: Kansas City Chiefs Release Team Icon Brian Waters

As the Kansas City Chiefs prepare for the upcoming season, they'll be doing it without one of the stalwarts of their offensive line.

This evening, the Chiefs announced they have released Brian Waters. An 11-year veteran who has played his entire career in Kansas City. The departure of Waters marks the end of an era.

For a number of years, the Chiefs boasted the very best offensive line in the NFL. In the 90s, names like John Alt, Dave Szott and Tim Grunhard dominated opposing defenses.

By 2002, those names were Willie Roaf, Will Shields, Casey Wiegmann and Waters. All they did was block for Priest Holmes as he became one of the most dominant running backs for a three-year period. He was an essential cog to the Dick Vermeil machine that recreated the Greatest Show on Turf.

True, Wiegmann just re-signed with the Chiefs, but his role is obviously to train his successor, second-round draft pick Rodney Hudson. Plus, Wiegmann had to take a two-year hiatus with the Broncos during the Herman Edwards era. Waters was the longest-tenured Chief on the team.

Waters had likely been ready to seek a fresh start and perhaps a shot at the Super Bowl with only one or two years left before he retires. Kansas City is certainly closer to becoming a perennial playoff contender, but Waters needs to win now if he wants some bling.

Things also did not go well between Waters and Kansas City's new management when Scott Pioli and Todd Haley joined the team.

The move unquestionably frees up more cap space, which the Chiefs could use to land another free agent or two, despite already having plenty of room under the cap. This could be a precursor to signing a big-money player like Aubrayo Franklin.

Wherever Waters goes, Chiefs fans will wish him well. He has been a stand-up player both on and off the field. And while this is apparently in both parties' best interests, Kansas City as a city is certainly poorer for it.