I was just informed by the Seahawks that Robert Gallery will be released. He played hurt all last year. Finally healthy!!

— Rick Smith (@RickSmith1956) March 15, 2012

The Seattle Seahawks will release Robert Gallery, the veteran guard signed by Seattle less than a year ago.

Gallery battled various injuries in his one season with Seattle.

The Seahawks agreed to terms and will re-sign Paul McQuistan, who played well in a variety of roles along the offensive line last season.

McQuistan was signed last February as he did not finish the 2010 season on an NFL roster. A former third-round pick, he had previous experience playing for Tom Cable in Oakland before the Raiders let him go.

He made the team as a backup, and became one of the most versatile members of an offensive line. He started three games at left guard, filling in for Gallery when he was out recovering from an abdominal surgery.

McQuistan also started three games at right guard, stepping in after John Moffitt went down with a season-ending knee injury, and then concluded the season by starting the last four games at left tackle after Russell Okung went down with a season-ending pectoral injury.

McQuistan is the fifth player the Seahawks have re-signed this season, which is a testament to the fact that coach Pete Carroll meant it when he said he liked the team he had.

The release of Gallery comes as a surprise. He was one of the signature additions the team made after the lockout, signed to plug that left-guard spot that has been a black hole of sorts since Steve Hutchinson left as a free agent in 2006.

Gallery missed this year's regular-season opener because of a knee injury, and when he started in Week 2, he became the 12th different player to start at left guard since Hutchinson's departure.

Gallery missed four of the first five games of the season, but played the final 11. His contract -- a three-year deal -- called for him to make $5 million in salary this season.