Ravens release Bernard Pierce after DUI arrest

The Baltimore Ravens aren't about to endure another offseason arrest-fest, and Bernard Pierce is learning that the hard way.

The team announced Wednesday they are releasing Pierce following his DUI arrest on the eve of St. Patrick's Day. Baltimore County police said Pierce was driving his Mustang before being stopped for speeding around 2 a.m. this morning. He later failed several sobriety tests before being arrested.

Pierce is the third Ravens player to be both arrested and released this off season. The previous two players were defensive tackle Terrence Cody and defensive back Victor Hampton. Cody was indicted for animal cruelty, while Hampton, who spent last summer with the Bengals in training camp, was arrested on DWI charges less than two months after signing with the team.

Pierce, 24, was expected to replace Ray Rice in September after he was cut by the team. However, injuries and lack of productivity dropped Pierce down on the depth chart behind Justin Forsett, Lorenzo Taliaferro and Fitzgerald Toussaint.

A third-round pick out of Temple by Baltimore in the 2012 NFL draft, Pierce has averaged fewer than 4.0 yards per carry during the past two seasons.