The Seattle Seahawks have released three players who were eligible to become free agents on Monday.

Linebacker Jamie Sharper and cornerbacks Andre Dyson and Michael Harden were waived by Seattle, clearing more than $4.5 million from the payroll in 2006.

The Seahawks are nearly $14million under the salary cap but want to re-sign NFL MVP Shaun Alexander, full-back Mack Strong, wide receiver Joe Jurevicius and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard, who are all eligible to become unrestricted free agents on Monday.

Seattle also has tendered a one-year offer worth $6.39million to Pro Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson.

Alexander won the rushing title with 1,880 yards and set an NFL single-season record with 27 touchdowns in 2005 for the NFC champions.

The move to cut Sharper saves $3.3million in cap money for 2006 but he will still count for $1.2 million dollars.

Sharper, 31, started eight games for Seattle last season before being placed on injured reserve due to an infection in his right knee. He had 37 tackles and a forced fumble.

Sharper spent his first five seasons with the Baltimore Ravens and three years with the Houston Texans before signing with Seattle last season.

He was third on the Ravens in tackles with 102 when they won the Super Bowl in 2000.

Dyson, 26, also signed with Seattle last season and started five of 10 games.

He returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown and also scored on a 25-yard fumble return in a 42-0 win at Philadelphia on December 5.

However, Dyson sprained his left ankle on the second touchdown and was inactive for the final four weeks of the regular season.

Dyson started 60 straight games in his first four seasons with the Tennessee Titans and had a career-high six interceptions in 2004.

Harden was signed as a free agent for the final four games of the season when Dyson was inactive and totalled five tackles but was inactive for the post-season.