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Last Cuts Are the Deepest; A Few Vets Say Goodbye
SAM FARMER / ON THE NFL
Last cuts are the deepest for NFL coaches
Getting down to the 53-man roster limit is hard on staffs as well as the players who are cut. Saturday was the deadline, and that meant plenty of pain around the league.
Sam Farmer 9:07 p.m. CDT, September 3, 2011
NFL teams on Saturday completed what can be their most difficult and painful task of the summer. They trimmed their rosters down to 53 players, in some cases saying goodbye to franchise fixtures.
New England bid farewell to Pro Bowl safety Brandon Meriweather, a trouble-prone talent taken in the first round five years ago.
Chicago said so long to running back Chester Taylor, a move telegraphed when the Bears signed veteran Marion Barber.
And defensive tackle Tommie Harris, once a force in the middle for Chicago, couldn't carve out a spot in Indianapolis.
Patriots Coach Bill Belichick called cutting players "the worst part of the job."
"Guys work hard, they give you everything they've got," he said. "They go out there and compete, and not everybody can make it. It's always a tough time of year for myself and all the other position coaches as well. . . . But unfortunately, we all understand that's part of the process and business."
Meriweather, who was entering the final season of the five-year contract he signed as the 24th overall draft pick in 2007, is a two-time Pro Bowl safety who was fined $50,000 (later reduced to $40,000) last season for two helmet-to-helmet hits on Baltimore tight end Todd Heap. Also, Meriweather was implicated in an off-season shooting but was later cleared by authorities.
The Patriots let some other familiar names go, too: running back Sammy Morris and receiver Brandon Tate, the team's third receiver last season who also returned kicks — a less valuable commodity now that kickoffs have been moved up five yards to promote touchbacks.
A handful of reserve quarterbacks (with starting experience elsewhere) were shown the door: Kellen Clemens by Washington, Brodie Croyle by Arizona, and Josh McCown by San Francisco.
Running back Larry Johnson, a first-round pick in 2003 and onetime star in Kansas City, was shown the door by Miami a mere two weeks after he arrived. That was after Johnson played well in the exhibition finale against Dallas, showing flashes of his earlier years with a 22-yard touchdown run around the right side.
In the end, he wound up on the wrong side of the cuts/keeps list.
The New York Jets are green, so it stands to reason they recycle. And that's just what they're doing with linebacker Aaron Maybin, maybe the biggest bust in Buffalo Bills history. Maybin, the No. 11 overall pick in 2009, was released by the Bills two weeks ago. He played in 27 games over three seasons, collecting 24 tackles and no sacks.
The Jets signed him, and last week Coach Rex Ryan said Maybin needed to do more to make the team. Evidently, Maybin did enough. He had three tackles and 1.5 sacks in an exhibition finale against Philadelphia, earning one of the coveted spots.
Ryan said Maybin's "play rushing the passer is what landed him on the roster."
St. Louis parted ways with receiver Donnie Avery, who was a rising star in 2009 but missed last season because of a knee injury. Also waived was fellow Rams receiver Mardy Gilyard.
Oakland, which lost Pro Bowl cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha in free agency, felt good enough about its situation at the position to cut corners Lito Sheppard and Walter McFadden.
Meanwhile, San Diego showed the door to the facility swings both ways. On the same day the Chargers let go of defensive lineman Ogemdi Mwagbuo and receiver Seyi Ajirotutu, they signed free-agent linebacker Na'il Diggs, who was released by the Rams this week. A 10-year veteran, Diggs started 12 games at outside linebacker in St. Louis last season but is expected to move inside for the Chargers.
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Copyright © 2011, Los Angeles Times
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I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap.
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Some "names" hit the street including our old pal Tommie Harris. He's finally run out of chances. Meriweather might have been a good option for some DB help but he's not a fit characterwise. Would Lito Sheppard or McFadden give us any help at CB?
Looks like we picked the wrong DE bust to resurrect. Although we did try to get him Aaron Maybin went with the Jets and managed to show them enough pass rush to win a spot on the roster. I think we're better off with Reed and Addison anyway.
And, are the Chargers trying to win a United Nations prize for employing foreign players with extremely hard to pronounce names? Our Dline is a cinch to pronounce for broadcasters compared to those two guys. Maybe that's why the were cut. The networks demanded that no player with a name which can't be pronounced by Joe Theismann can be on an NFL roster.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap.
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Screw all that (no offense), but what OL are being cut?
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Originally Posted by
matsellah
Screw all that (no offense), but what OL are being cut?
Not much so far although I'm gonna look over all of the cuts later today. I don't see us getting much Oline help Mats. Anybody who could have helped us in the starting lineup probably went in FA but I'm praying for anyone who could replace OMG as the backup OT.
We badly need another vet LB unless they plan on making due with the guys we have until Pisa is able to play and we could use a vet CB and there should be some help out there at both spots. I'm just posting stuff as it comes up but I really don't expect much in the way of Olineman being there.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap.
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
soulman
Not much so far although I'm gonna look over all of the cuts later today. I don't see us getting much Oline help Mats. Anybody who could have helped us in the starting lineup probably went in FA but I'm praying for anyone who could replace OMG as the backup OT.
We badly need another vet LB unless they plan on making due with the guys we have until Pisa is able to play and we could use a vet CB and there should be some help out there at both spots. I'm just posting stuff as it comes up but I really don't expect much in the way of Olineman being there.
Still no one of note in the way of Olineman. Herzlich made the Giants roster. Man I wish we could have signed that guy. He's the perfect LB to have understudy Urlacher. Maybe we'll get lucky and the Giants will cut him somewhere down the road.
NFL roundup: Meriweather cut by Pats, Herzlich makes Giants
Giants' Mark Herzlich tackles Bears' Kahlil Bell. (Patrick McDermott / Getty Photo)
Tribune News Services 10:10 p.m. CDT, September 3, 2011
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Brandon Meriweather, Tommie Harris and Larry Johnson are former Pro Bowl players now looking for jobs.
The three were among hundreds of players cut Saturday as NFL teams got down to the mandatory 53-man roster maximum just five days before New Orleans and Green Bay kick off the regular season.
Cancer survivor Mark Herzlich made the New York Giants' roster after being signed as a free agent out of Boston College. The linebacker, who beat a rare form of bone cancer in college, was on the bubble — and still may be as teams search the waiver wire — but he's on the Giants' roster for now.
"Herzlich didn't bat an eye the whole camp," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "Physically, he did everything you asked and more. I saw him improve literally week by week."
Meriweather was a first-round pick of New England who has played in 64 games over four seasons. He has 12 interceptions, including a career-high five in 2008 when he earned the first of two straight Pro Bowl selections. Also among the Patriots' cuts were running back Sammy Morris, a 12-year veteran, and wide receiver Brandon Tate.
Harris, a three-time Pro Bowl defensive end, was hoping to revive his career in Indianapolis, but was among 27 waived by the Colts. He was a key cog in Chicago's Super Bowl run during the 2006 season, but was hindered by injuries the past three seasons and released by the Bears in February before the lockout.
Four other veteran free agents signed by Indianapolis — defensive linemen Jamaal Anderson and Tyler Braxton, quarterback Kerry Collins and linebacker Ernie Sims — all made the roster.
Johnson, a two-time Pro Bowl running back, was among those released by Miami. The Dolphins signed him last week after he sat out most of last season when his career was derailed by injuries and a series of off-the-field missteps. Miami also terminated the contracts of cornerback Will Allen, a veteran who missed all of last season with a knee injury, and fullback Lousaka Polite, who started 24 games over the past three seasons.
Among the Giants' cuts was Matt Dodge, giving veteran Steve Weatherford the job at punter. New York also placed Sage Rosenfels, last year's backup quarterback, on injured reserve, giving the job to David Carr, who was Eli Manning's backup in 2008-09.
Chicago let go of running back Chester Taylor and tight end Desmond Clark. Taylor appeared to be on the way out for a while, hinting he was finished in Chicago early in the week. He didn't play in the third preseason game at Tennessee and left team headquarters thinking he had been released after a meeting with coach Lovie Smith on Monday. He was back practicing the next day and started the exhibition finale against Cleveland on Thursday, struggling for 27 yards on 10 attempts.
The defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers released 23 players, including third-string quarterback Graham Harrell, and traded fullback Quinn Johnson to Tennessee and rookie guard Caleb Schlauderaff, a sixth-round pick, to the New York Jets — both for undisclosed draft picks.
The Titans acquired Johnson after fullback Ahmard Hall was suspended by the NFL for four games for using performance-enhancing substances. Among Tennessee's cuts was wide receiver Justin Gage.
The Jets also traded defensive back Dwight Lowery to Jacksonville for an undisclosed pick. He spent three seasons with the Jets, filling in at cornerback and safety, after being drafted in the fourth round out of San Jose State.
New York kept Aaron Maybin, the former Buffalo first-round pick who was released by the Bills after two unproductive seasons. The former No. 11 pick by the Bills in 2009 is hoping to jump-start his career as a pass-rushing presence with the Jets despite having no sacks in two seasons in Buffalo.
"He's one of those guys we had talked about where we probably had three spots open," Jets coach Rex Ryan said, "and I thought his play rushing the passer, that's what landed him on the roster."
Denver waived Perrish Cox, cutting ties with the cornerback who is facing a sexual assault trial later this year. General manager Brian Xanders indicated it was Cox's on-field performance and not his legal issues that led to his departure.
"Everybody coming out of that lockout, it's their job to create their role," Xanders said. "No roster spot is safe. His was based on the four preseason games, the five weeks of training camp."
Cox faces one count of sexual assault against a victim who was physically helpless and one count of sexual assault against a victim who was incapable of determining the nature of the conduct. He has pleaded not guilty and is free on $50,000 bail. If convicted, he could face two years to life in prison.
Demoted defensive lineman Igor Olshansky, last year's starting fullback Chris Gronkowski and veteran kickers Shayne Graham and Dave Rayner were among the players Dallas released.
Cincinnati placed cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones and linebacker Keith Rivers on injured lists, sidelining them for at least the first six weeks. Jones had offseason neck surgery and couldn't participate in contract drills during training camp. Rivers had surgery on his right wrist and is wearing a cast.
Kansas City put tight end Tony Moeaki on injured reserve Saturday after he was hurt in their final preseason game against Green Bay, and kept Keary Colbert, who hasn't played in the NFL since 2008. He spent last season as a coach at Southern California, his alma mater, and earlier this summer signed with a UFL franchise.
New Orleans put Chris Ivory, the Saints' leading rusher last season, on the physically unable to perform list after he hadn't yet recovered from offseason foot surgery or sports hernia surgery.
Cleveland placed running back Brandon Jackson on injured reserve with a toe injury. Jackson, who signed a two-year, $4.5 million free agent contract with Cleveland before training camp opened, got hurt in an Aug. 19 exhibition against Detroit and has been in a cast for two weeks.
Among other notable players cut Saturday were: Philadelphia cornerback Joselio Hanson and wide receiver Sinorice Moss, Oakland quarterback Trent Edwards and cornerback Lito Sheppard, Detroit punter Nick Harris and linebacker Caleb Campbell, Washington quarterbacks Kellen Clemens and Matt Gutierrez, St. Louis wide receiver Donnie Avery, Buffalo center Geoff Hangartner, Houston punter Brad Maynard, Pittsburgh punter Jeremy Kapinos and San Francisco quarterback Josh McCown.
Copyright © 2011, Chicago Tribune
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I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap.
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Originally Posted by
matsellah
Screw all that (no offense), but what OL are being cut?
You asked about available Olineman and here's a vet OG who might have been of some help even if it was only to provide depth. Apparently Tice wants to take his chances with a guy like EWill as a backup OG rather than an aging vet like Waters.
Patriots agree to terms with veteran Pro Bowl G Waters
- NFL.com
- Published: Sept. 4, 2011 at 09:36 a.m.
- Updated: Sept. 4, 2011 at 11:45 a.m.
By NFL.com
More Columns >
The New England Patriots have agreed to terms with Pro Bowl guard Brian Waters, NFL Network's Michael Lombardi confirmed Sunday.
More:
» Final cuts for all 32 NFL teams
ESPN first reported Waters' decision to join the Patriots. The 11-year veteran worked out for the team Saturday.
Waters, 34, joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1999 as an undrafted free agent and caught on with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2000. A five-time Pro Bowler, he was released by the Chiefs last week.
Waters immediately provides a veteran presence at a position of need for the Patriots. Dan Connolly, who started 14 games for New England last season, suffered an ankle injury in the third preseason game and did not appear in Thursday's fourth and final preseason game.
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Meanwhile, backup Rich Ohrnberger was placed on injured reserve and rookie offensive lineman Marcus Cannon on the reserve/non-football injury list. Waters has started all but three games in the last eight seasons.
The move continues an active weekend for the Patriots, who made headlines Saturday by cutting two-time Pro Bowl safety Brandon Meriweather, the team's top selection in the 2007 draft. The team also released veteran running back Sammy Morris Saturday.
By releasing Meriweather the team has no remaing players from those drafted in 2007.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap.
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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Yeah, just posted a thread on it. How do you like the roster so far?
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap.
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
-
Looks fair. Can't pass too much judgement til we see them at full speed in real games
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Originally Posted by
The Benjamin
Looks fair. Can't pass too much judgement til we see them at full speed in real games
True but I really liked the rookies and 2nd year guys we kept. Lot's of potential there and when you couple that with the fact that all of our draft choices made the team so far at least we did well in those areas. The only failures so far have been in not getting a vet LT and once again giving into Martz on his choice of a WR. I can live with the first more than the second.
I'm getting to that age where a lifetime warranty just doesn't mean as much to me anymore as an afternoon nap.
Honey Badger Don't Care. Honey Badger Don't Give a Shit.
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High Fives / Like - 1 BEAR DOWN!, 0 Dislikes