The Cincinnati Bengals terminated the contracts of defensive end Robert Geathers and wide receiver Greg Little.

Cutting Geathers saves the Bengals $3.05 million against the salary cap in 2015, when Geathers was to earn $2.85 million in base salary and a $200,000 workout bonus in the final year of a three-year, $9 million contract signed in 2013. Little was due to earn $745,000 in base salary in the final year of a two-year, $1.39 million contract.

Geathers is an 11-year veteran who has played in 152 games for Cincinnati, third-most in Bengals history among defensive linemen behind Tim Krumrie (188) and Eddie Edwards (170). He was originally a fourth-round pick in 2004 and has played his entire career with the Bengals.

He leaves the Bengals with 473 tackles, 34 sacks, three interceptions, 16 passes defensed, six forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.

“Robert has been with us for all my seasons except the first one,” said Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, “and he has been a team leader as well as a very productive player. He’s an incredible teammate and a true professional, a big part of the winning seasons we’ve achieved. If Robert elects to pursue an opportunity with another NFL team, the timing of this move will allow him the best possible chance at that.”

Little caught six passes for 69 yards while appearing in six regular-season games in 2014. He played in Cincinnati’s lone playoff game, but did not record a catch.