Rapids part ways with eight players

Commerce City, CO – The Colorado Rapids announced late Friday that the club has decided to part ways with eight players, including striker Conor Casey.

Casey leaves Colorado by mutual consent while the Rapids decide not to exercise contract options or decline to offer new contracts to Edu, Ian Joyce, Tyrone Marshall, Joseph Nane, Scott Palguta, Tyson Wahl, and Luis Zapata.

"Conor has been an incredibly important part of the Rapids since he got here in 2007, and has forever left his mark on the club," said Technical Director Paul Bravo. "He's the Rapids��� all-time leading scorer and the MLS Cup MVP in 2010. But after having a conversation with him about his future, we all decided that it was the right time to move on."

Casey, 31, was traded to the Rapids in 2007 after six years playing professionally in Germany and just two matches with Toronto FC. He bagged 50 goals in 121 matches with Colorado, including one in a 2-1 defeat of FC Dallas in the club's MLS Cup triumph in 2010.