The Pittsburgh Steelers have released veteran wide receiver Cedrick Wilson, who has been charged with assaulting his former girlfriend.

"We're extremely disappointed with this incident," Steelers chairman Dan Rooney said.

"The Steelers do not condone violence of any kind, especially against women," he was quoted as saying on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's website.

Wilson, who was entering his eighth NFL season, caught 81 passes for 1,162 yards and two touchdowns in three seasons as a back-up receiver with the Steelers.

The 29-year-old Wilson was accused of punching his former girlfriend in the face at a suburban Pittsburgh restaurant on Wednesday night.

Earlier this month, Steelers' Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison was arrested for assaulting his girlfriend, but Rooney said the cases were different.

"I know many are asking the question of [why] we released Wilson and Harrison we kept," Rooney said.

"The circumstances... they are completely different."

Rooney said Harrison was trying to take his son to be baptized and got into an argument with his girlfriend over that, while this was Wilson's second incident with his former girlfriend.

Reuters