Baltimore Ravens Cut WR Jacoby Jones

The Baltimore Ravens announced Wednesday that they have cut receiver-returner Jacoby Jones.

The former Super Bowl champion has had a difficult season and instead of paying his $2.5 million salary for the upcoming season, the Ravens decided to let him go. This move will save the Ravens only $750,000 of cap space.

Jones, 30, dropped five passes and botched two punts. He also made the fewest number of catches since 2008. Despite these struggles, Jones finished second in the league in kickoff returns with an average of 30.6 yards. He was one of just two players to be ranked within the top 10 for kickoff and punt returns. Cincinnati Reds' Adam Jones was the other player.

"We thank Jacoby for what he did for us. He was invaluable to our success. Opponents, especially on special teams, schemed to stop him. What a compliment to him," coach John Harbaugh said. "Jacoby is one of my most favorite players ever to coach, an absolute joy to be around. He's a good person with a good heart."

General manager Ozzie Newsome added, "We don't win Super Bowl XLVII without Jacoby. You immediately think of the touchdown against Denver in the divisional round and then the big plays in that Super Bowl -- the long touchdown from Joe [Flacco] and the kickoff to open the second half. He also had a big punt return in that game. Jacoby was an outstanding Raven, good teammate on and off the field."

Jones was most well known for his performance in Super Bowl XLVII. During that championship game, he caught a 56-yard touchdown pass and scored on a 108-yard kickoff return. The Ravens defeated the San Francisco 49ers 34-31.

Jones signed a four-year contract worth $12 million with the Ravens before the start of this past season. Now that he had been cut, he will be able to sign with any team in free agency.