Kansas City, MO (My Sportsbook) - Safety Bernard Pollard, wide receiver Ashley Lelie, and linebacker Zach Thomas were among the highest-profile players released by the Kansas City Chiefs on Saturday, as the club reduced its roster to 53 men.

Pollard, best known for leveling the hit that ended Tom Brady's 2008 season, had been a staple in the Kansas City lineup since being selected in the second round of the 2006 draft out of Purdue. The safety tallied 199 tackles and three interceptions during his stint with the Chiefs, but the presence of the emerging DaJuan Morgan and veteran Mike Brown may have helped make Pollard expendable.

Lelie, a 1,000-yard receiver as a member of the Broncos in 2004, was attempting to make the Chiefs his fifth team in five years, joining Denver, Atlanta (2006), San Francisco (2007), and Oakland (2008). The former first- rounder out of Hawaii had 11 catches for 197 yards and two touchdowns as a Raider a year ago.

Thomas, perhaps Kansas City's most surprising cut, scarcely saw the practice field during training camp due to an undisclosed injury. The seven-time Pro Bowler, who earlier this week celebrated his 36th birthday, has over 1,700 career tackles in 13 seasons spent with the Dolphins (1996-2007) and Cowboys (2008).

Also released on Saturday were cornerback Jackie Bates, tight end Tom Crabtree, defensive end Dion Gales, defensive end Bobby Greenwood, guard Darryl Harris, wide receiver Taurus Johnson, defensive tackle Derek Lokey, safety Ricky Price, running back Javarris Williams, and wide receiver Rodney Wright.

On Friday, the team excised fullback Jed Collins, cornerback Travis Daniels, cornerback Londen Fryar, center Eric Ghiaciuc, tackle Damion McIntosh, linebacker Corey Smith, tackle Herb Taylor, and guard Tavares Washington.

The Chiefs will begin the 2009 regular season on Sept. 13, when they open the Todd Haley era by traveling to meet the Baltimore Ravens.