The Bengals release LB Preston Brown

CINCINNATI – Veteran leader Preston Brown has been cut by the Bengals, the team announced on Tuesday.

Brown, who quit two days after being replaced by rookie Germaine Pratt in the starting lineup, started the first eight Cincinnati games before coming off the bench in the loss to Baltimore on Sunday.

The Bengals had signed Brown to a three-year, $ 16.5 million deal in March that included a guaranteed $ 4.8 million and made him the highest paid linker on the team roster. [

On Monday, Bengals coach Zack Taylor said the team needs to see significant improvement from his teammates.

"Someone has to step up and be a leader there," Taylor said. "We are waiting for this and we are stirring the squad around, we are waiting for someone to step up and be consistent and be the leader in this room. We are still waiting for that."

Brown, who attends Northwest Cincinnati, has been out for a shortened 201

8 season after missing the last seven games with a knee injury. Earlier this season, he had made a one-year, $ 5 million deal to return to his hometown after spending the first four seasons of his career with buffalo bills.

With the departure of Brown Cincinnati, there will be about $ 2.5 million in dead money on his books over the next two seasons.