NFL Cut Down Day

Today NFL teams had to trim down to their final roster of 53. Some veterans of note are now looking for new jobs:

NT Kendrick Clancy- Injuries limited him in pre-season, sure to land on somebody's roster soon.

RB Dorsey Levens- Didn't last very long, might be done.

QB Tim Couch- Terrible pre-season could mark the begining of the end. In a QB-starved league, will get yet another shot.

DE Kenny Holmes- Was considered one of the better FAs available, is so again. Must have stunk for the DE-thin Packers to cut him loose (though they did pick up Truluck).

DT Bryan Robinson- Former starting DT for the Bears, can play end. Sure to be picked up.

DB Kwamie Lassiter- Former Pro-Bowler was one of the few vets in the Chargers backfield (team?).

WR Kevin Dyson- Might be the end of his NFL career. 1st round bust has now hit absolute rock bottom, not even making the Chargers WR corps.

CB Derek Ross- 4th team in as many months.

LB Jason Gildon- Not much left in the tank, but somebody will bite.

CB Terrell Buckley- Useful as a vet nickel / dime back.

K Morton Anderson- Decent vet kickers never sit home long, even ones with wimpy legs.

QB Cory Sauer- Actually a marginal player, only worth mentioning because the Colts are not carrying a back-up for Manning (other than an undrafted rookie).

WR Antonio Freeman- Trade for Booker made him expendable. Sure to find work somewhere in a depth role.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/7647259

The Eagles' release of both backs Dorsey Levens and Eric McCoo is leading a lot of Eagles fans to believe that a possible trade or waivers pick-up is in the works for the team.

Edit: On his radio show with Salsbury, Clayton said that the reason Levens was cut was because of the injuries at LB they had to keep an extra LB. When Jones, Wayne and Trotter are healthy, Jason Short will be cut and Levens will be back. Apparently the Eagles just didn't expect Levens to be a big contributor the first game or two anyway.

The Eagles' release of both backs Dorsey Levens and Eric McCoo is leading a lot of Eagles fans to believe that a possible trade or waivers pick-up is in the works for the team.

Has got to be a trade. The FA market is still crap (no better than it was a week ago when they picked up Levens). Stewart, Mack and Levens have top billing (though Stewart is a good back-up IMO, just painfully slow). Only guys added were even worse (Cloud, L.Smith, Cason)

Who has spare bodies?

Raiders had a gaggle in camp. Hambrick lost to Wheatley so was traded. Zereoue seems too much like Westbrook, but is a possibility.

Perhaps Lamont Jordan? He is a malcontent headed for FA next summer.

Maybe Anthony Thomas? He is an upgraded version of Buckhalter (though I think Chicago is foolish for trying to run a Rams-style offense with crap at the skill positions).

If the Eagles trade for Jordan/Thomas (each would come fairly cheap) and added some insurance at CB (Buckley is a good fit), they look quite impressive.

I wonder who the Colts'll pick up as a backup QB. They seriously need a better QB to backup Manning than they have right now.

Tennessee is currently looking at Bratzke, Upshaw, and Darrin Smith...


Dyson was picked ahead of Moss believe it or not...

Ugh...Truluck was a nice pass rushing option off the bench. Late bloomer. Not a big loss or anything...he's hardly an every down player, or even every other down player, but I liked the guy.

The Chiefs also cut a pair of former fairly highly drafted DT's in Eddie Freeman and Eric Downing, not to mention Andersen and punter Jason Baker who just crapped out in the pre-season.

I wonder who the Colts'll pick up as a backup QB. They seriously need a better QB to backup Manning than they have right now.

FAs are slim. Top three are:
-Jim Miller
-Rob Johnson
-Chris Redman

Ugly. Very, very ugly.

The fact that the QB market is so empty makes me wonder how the Eagles so easily signed Blake to the veteran minimum.

'Fins rookie RB Fred Russell got cut...should be interesting to read his diary on ESPN.

FAs are slim. Top three are:
-Jim Miller
-Rob Johnson
-Chris Redman

Ugly. Very, very ugly.


I think the Pats re-signed Miller.

I think the Pats re-signed Miller.

They let him go, but want to bring him back after the season starts. The reason being that any and every player on the opening day roster gets paid for the season (I believe that only applies to tenured players though). Anybody signed after that is paid a pro-rated amount based on time spent on the team.

Kinda surprised Gildon got cut.Gildon,Fletcher and Spikes could have been a great LB core

Surprised Couch was cut from the Pack..

He'll still get work, but what a fall from a first #1 overall pick.

Any decent DEs out there? Something the Jags are in need of.

Any decent DEs out there? Something the Jags are in need of.
Upshaw... Holmes?

Vonnie Holliday is apparently on the trading block...

Lamont might be on his way to PHI..

They let him go, but want to bring him back after the season starts. The reason being that any and every player on the opening day roster gets paid for the season (I believe that only applies to tenured players though). Anybody signed after that is paid a pro-rated amount based on time spent on the team.
they released him last tuesday 8-31 and re-signed him friday 9-3

It's amazing how fast some players can fall when they get past their primes...2 years ago Gildon was one of the best linebackers in the game, today he's without a job...

Notable Steeler cuts...
NT Kendrick Clancy- As JCD said injuries kept him from practicing or playing in the pre-season and he lost his job without a chance to win it back, that's what happens when your replacement lands 3.5 sacks in pre-season...
OLB Adrian Ross- Started 11 games for the Bengals last year but just signed too late to make an impact in camp.
K Rob Bironas- Every team brings in an extra kicker and punter for practice reasons, usually they're among the first to be cut, Bironas stayed until the last cut and honestly deserved to make the team, but with a proven kicker in front of him it's tough. He'll definitely find himself in the NFL within a matter of weeks.
LB Nathanial Adibi- Wasn't done today, but I still can't get over this one. Fifth round pick who I thought very highly of was cut last week, Tennessee snagged him and moved him back to DE.
RB Dante Brown- Was great in camp, again, but Willie Parker beat him out for the final RB spot.

LB Nathanial Adibi- Wasn't done today, but I still can't get over this one. Fifth round pick who I thought very highly of was cut last week, Tennessee snagged him and moved him back to DE.

and was cut yesterday...

Kinda surprised Gildon got cut.Gildon,Fletcher and Spikes could have been a great LB core


Gildon would have been a Defensive End, not a Linebacker.Anyway,the Bills have a great Linebacking core with Fletcher,Takeo and Jeff Posey.

Kinda surprised Gildon got cut.Gildon,Fletcher and Spikes could have been a great LB core
Posey > Gildon

Any decent offensive linemen on the market, maybe a touch younger than Fontenot?

and was cut yesterday...

Ouch.

Man...what happened Nat?

WR Kevin Dyson- Might be the end of his NFL career. 1st round bust has now hit absolute rock bottom, not even making the Chargers WR corps.

Hmm...right now he's my #1 receiver in Year 2 of my Madden franchise. He's decent in the game.

Hmm...right now he's my #1 receiver in Year 2 of my Madden franchise. He's decent in the game.
Well when a WR tears his:
-ACL twice
-MCL
-Hamstring
-Achilles

... then you might aswell stick a fork in 'em

I wonder who the Colts'll pick up as a backup QB. They seriously need a better QB to backup Manning than they have right now.

Checked out their website.

They still have Joe Hamilton and some rookie Sorgi. It is just the same as nothing...

I bet they don't. Manning has not missed a start in his career.

Kinda surprised Gildon got cut.Gildon,Fletcher and Spikes could have been a great LB core

Not too surprising. Gildon is a lateral move (if that) from Posey. I guess they were going to try him as a pass-rushing end on 3rd downs. Didn't pan out.

With Oakland, SAN DIEGO switching to the 3-4 along with Houston still using it, I bet Gildon gets picked up.

Any decent DEs out there? Something the Jags are in need of.

Short answer, no. All the guys cut were cut for a reason. You find few starters at this point in the season. Lucky to find a quality back-up.

Kenny Holmes, Chad Bratzke and (the guy you cut) Tony Brackens are among the best available. All long past their prime.

Jags are really hurting at end.

they released him last tuesday 8-31 and re-signed him friday 9-3

Didn't know that.

Checked out their website.

They still have Joe Hamilton and some rookie Sorgi. It is just the same as nothing...

I bet they don't. Manning has not missed a start in his career.

It's Dungy's call, Sauter had a good preseaon, but he liked Hamilton better, a draft pick from his TB days BTW. Sorgi played at Wisconsin, a starter for a few years there too. He's OK.

Checked out their website.

They still have Joe Hamilton and some rookie Sorgi. It is just the same as nothing...

I bet they don't. Manning has not missed a start in his career.

But, if Manning goes down, the Colts go down. Teams might realize that and play Manning more agressively.

I hope that Dungy can get something good out there. I think that even Ricky Ray would be a good enough option to back Manning up. Better than Sorgi, at least.

D'oh! I really liked McCoo. I reckon he was pretty decent

Colts might pickup Couch since they don't have a backup who's ever thrown an NFL pass. It'll be the easiest paycheck Couch has ever made. Titans cut Jason Gesser and want to replace him with a veteran. Hopefully this won't mean another return of Neil O'Donnell.

The fact that the QB market is so empty makes me wonder how the Eagles so easily signed Blake to the veteran minimum.


He wants a ring!

He wants a ring!
that wouldn't explain why he signed with philly...

that wouldn't explain why he signed with philly...


Name a team in the NFC who is better set up to win it all this year?

Name a team in the NFC who is better set up to win it all this year?
Seattle...

Seattle...

Seattle has just as many, if not more, questions. On defense, neither one is deep, the Eagles have a better line, the Seahawks have a more proven secondary but the Eagles have better individual players, LBs are a wash. They have just as many issues on offense. Seattle has the edge at RB, Philly at QB, Seattle WRs drop too many passes and have a weaker O-line. They have weaker ST than the Eagles, and the coaching is at best on par with Philly.

Seattle has just as many, if not more, questions. On defense, neither one is deep, the Eagles have a better line, the Seahawks have a more proven secondary but the Eagles have better individual players, LBs are a wash. They have just as many issues on offense. Seattle has the edge at RB, Philly at QB, Seattle WRs drop too many passes and have a weaker O-line. They have weaker ST than the Eagles, and the coaching is at best on par with Philly.
Well Jones signed a few days ago which improves the o-line tenfold. The Seattle D-line is just as good as Philly's (Added Wistrom whose a top DE) and has quite alot of depth whereas Philly is an injury away from catastrophy. I give the Seattle LB's the edge. They've been together for awhile and are quite a solid group. The WR's do drop balls, but when u have 3 WR's with potential for 700+ yards each and 2 of them with 1000+ yard seasons as possibilities, then it's not a concern whatsoever.

Well Jones signed a few days ago which improves the o-line tenfold.

I was including Jones in my post. Even with him, Philly is better.

The Seattle D-line is just as good as Philly's (Added Wistrom whose a top DE) and has quite alot of depth whereas Philly is an injury away from catastrophy.

Wistrom a top DE? Hardly. He's a top 2nd tier DE, not a top 1st tier. Kearse is a top 1st tier. Simon/Walker are a better tandem than Moore/Woodward. Kearse > Okeafor, Wistrom > Eagles RE rotation. Eagles have 3 out of 4.

I give the Seattle LB's the edge. They've been together for awhile and are quite a solid group. The WR's do drop balls, but when u have 3 WR's with potential for 700+ yards each and 2 of them with 1000+ yard seasons as possibilities, then it's not a concern whatsoever.

Neither team has standout LBs, they're a wash. Trotter might excel now that he's back, but Wayne is average and Jones is merely above average. Kacyvenski and Huff don't have the experience that the PHI LBs do, and Simmons hasn't played a full season in 2 years.

Seattle clearly has the better WRs. I never said they didn't. I just said they have more issues. Bobby Engram had a hell of season last year, he really bailed the Seahawks out on third down when they needed to keep drives alive to win games. But that's not something you can count on year in and year out from non-top flight players. Maybe he does it again, maybe he doesn't, and if he doesn't, the offense isn't the same. Seattle was the best in the league on 3rd down, and that is not a stat that is consistent from year to year. They'll almost certainly be high on the list, but not at the same rate that they were in 2003.

RE: Seattle LBs

I would disagree there. Simmons is a top-end OLB, when healthy. That is a big 'when' in that statement, but he stands head and shoulders above anybody else on either team. I would say Chad Brown too, but he is out hurt.

I wouldn't sleep on the Carolina Panthers. Best defensive line in football. With Mark Fields back and a healthy Dan Morgan, Brandon Short, and Will Witherspoon a pretty strong linebacking core. Secondary is suspect, but Ricky Manning Jr. and Mike Minter are solid players. A lot of the secondary depends upon Gamble making plays this year. If he does that, you're looking at the NFL's best defense as far as i'm concerned. On the offensive side, you're looking at a line that has lost a few quality players. However, the offense isn't going to be as run heavy this year as it was last year because Delhomme has proven his worth and the passing game is going to be much improved over last year. Steve Smith continues to be one of the most underrated WR's in the game, as well as being explosive. Moose Muhammed is probably one of the best blocking WR's in the game as well as an effective possesion receiver. Ricky Proehl is one of the best slot recievers and Keary Colbert has surprised quite a few with his great preseason that includes 3 touchdowns of 40 yards or longer. Deshaun Foster and Stephen Davis make up one of the best running attacks in football, and with a more diverse playbook you're going to see a lot of teams have trouble scheming for this offensive attack.


As for Kevin Dyson, he's done. I've seen him at camp and all through last year trying to recover from those injuries but he's just done. He was only active for one game last year for the Panthers and he didn't do anything. He's washed up.

RE: Seattle LBs

I would disagree there. Simmons is a top-end OLB, when healthy. That is a big 'when' in that statement, but he stands head and shoulders above anybody else on either team. I would say Chad Brown too, but he is out hurt.

D-oh, I forgot about Chad Brown (who is very good but a bit overrated IMO). But that's because he's out hurt. So right now, they're a wash. When healthy, yeah, they're better.

Seattle...

Close but not better.......

QB
Eagles

HB
Seattle

WR/TE
Equal

O Line
Eagles

D Line
Eagles

LB
Equal

D Backs
Equal

Eagles are no better than Seattle, Green Bay or Minnesota. Each of the teams have a number of unanswered questions and some great strengths.

Eagles are no better than Seattle, Green Bay or Minnesota. Each of the teams have a number of unanswered questions and some great strengths.

Hmm... we've already done Philly/Seattle

Philly/Minnesota

QB: Draw
RB: Vikings
WR: Vikings
TE: Eagles
O-Line: Eagles
D-Line: Vikings
LB: Draw
DB: Vikings
ST: Eagles
Coaching: Eagles

Minnesota/Seattle

QB: Vikings
RB: Seahawks (Vikings with better depth though)
WR: Seahawks
TE: Draw
O-Line: Draw
D-Line: Vikings
LB: Draw
DB: Vikings
ST: Seahawks
Coaching: Seahawks

Damn, that's closer than I originally thought. Vikings have really 'caught up,' Eagles have tailed off, and the Seahawks continue to steadily improve.

Close but not better.......

QB
Eagles

HB
Seattle

WR/TE
Equal

O Line
Eagles

D Line
Eagles

LB
Equal

D Backs
Equal
Pal, WR and TE is Seattle's bread and butter if anything. Kearse is no better the Wistrom, who consistently put up above average numbers on a weak d-line and managed to stay very healthy.

DB's aren't even close. For the Eagles, it's probably one of their largest areas of concern. For Seattle, it's probably their strongest catagory. Hamlin, Trufant, Lucas, Taylor are all good if not great DB's.

As for LB's... Trotter isn't even starting this year so I don't know what your talking about. His impact will only be felt if Simoneau goes down to injury. Trotter is washed up.

I'm probably the biggest Titans fan on these boards and when Eddie George left, I said good riddence (he shouldn't of been the full time starter last year imo either). Many people thought George's departure was a huge loss... I gave them the benefit of the doubt at first because George is, afterall, a future Hall of Famer. But when George almost didn't make the final cuts, some people finally started realizing that maybe his big name no longer meant much on the field. When Kearse left, I said good riddince. Many people decided to shoe the Eagles in for a Super Bowl when he signed... But, like George, I've been watching him week in and week out for the past 5 seasons, and he is following the same path as Eddie. The foot surgery, unfortunately, made him lose his burst that made him the best rush end in 1999, 2000. Last season, teams were no longer assigning 2 lineman on him. He was my favorite defensive player for a good 3 years, but I realized that the foot surgery took his flair away from him. Kearse will not put up more then 8 sacks this season. Right now, I would take Wistrom over Kearse.

Hmm... we've already done Philly/Seattle

Philly/Minnesota

QB: Draw
RB: Vikings
WR: Vikings
TE: Eagles
O-Line: Eagles
D-Line: Vikings
LB: Draw
DB: Vikings
ST: Eagles
Coaching: Eagles

Minnesota/Seattle

QB: Vikings
RB: Seahawks (Vikings with better depth though)
WR: Seahawks
TE: Draw
O-Line: Draw
D-Line: Vikings
LB: Draw
DB: Vikings
ST: Seahawks
Coaching: Seahawks

Damn, that's closer than I originally thought. Vikings have really 'caught up,' Eagles have tailed off, and the Seahawks continue to steadily improve.

Personally, I would take Kleinsasser over any Eagle, Seahawk or Packer TE hands down. He is a devastating blocker and respectable receiver.

I also would give the Seahawks the edge in the secondary. More depth and more proven players.

Pal, WR and TE is Seattle's bread and butter if anything. .. Sorry but I think you are overlooking TO, Freddy Mitch and LJ Smith.

Kearse is no better the Wistrom, who consistently put up above average numbers on a weak d-line and managed to stay very healthy..

Totally Disagree. Kearse, when healthy is a top 3 DE in football. Also, Corry Simon and Walker are also top caliber linemen. We own Seattle here.


DB's aren't even close. For the Eagles, it's probably one of their largest areas of concern. For Seattle, it's probably their strongest catagory. Hamlin, Trufant, Lucas, Taylor are all good if not great DB's..


Ya, I guess B Dalkins and M Lewis don't play in to this :shakehead

Plus I have seen B Taylor play. He could not Tackle my mother. Soft, Soft, Soft!!!

As for LB's... Trotter isn't even starting this year so I don't know what your talking about. His impact will only be felt if Simoneau goes down to injury. Trotter is washed up..


You have me confused. I did not mention Trotter.

... But, like George, I've been watching him week in and week out for the past 5 seasons, and he is following the same path as Eddie. The foot surgery, unfortunately, made him lose his burst that made him the best rush end in 1999, 2000. Last season, teams were no longer assigning 2 lineman on him. He was my favorite defensive player for a good 3 years, but I realized that the foot surgery took his flair away from him. Kearse will not put up more then 8 sacks this season. Right now, I would take Wistrom over Kearse.

This is why the Eagles moved Kearse to the other side, so that he will not have to push of his bad leg. He will have 8 sacks by week 12.

Personally, I would take Kleinsasser over any Eagle, Seahawk or Packer TE hands down. He is a devastating blocker and respectable receiver.

I also would give the Seahawks the edge in the secondary. More depth and more proven players.

I love Kleinsasser. I'd drool if I had him on my team. But other than him, the Vikes don't have anyone at TE. In Smith and Lewis, the Eagles have two quality TEs, although Lewis has really started to tail off in his ability. I give the Eagles the edge because of their depth. It's not a slam dunk by any means, just a slight edge.

Pal, WR and TE is Seattle's bread and butter if anything. Kearse is no better the Wistrom, who consistently put up above average numbers on a weak d-line and managed to stay very healthy.

Winstrom was aided by having Leonard Little, one of the league's best pass rushers, on the other side. Expect a drop off in Seattle, where he'll face the double teams instead of being the beneficiary of having Little being the one double teamed.

DB's aren't even close. For the Eagles, it's probably one of their largest areas of concern. For Seattle, it's probably their strongest catagory. Hamlin, Trufant, Lucas, Taylor are all good if not great DB's.

They're good, no doubt. But Dawkins is the best FS in the league, and Michael Lewis played at a Pro-Bowl level last year. The Seahawks have the edge in CB, but the Eagles have a dominant pair of safties.

As for LB's... Trotter isn't even starting this year so I don't know what your talking about. His impact will only be felt if Simoneau goes down to injury. Trotter is washed up.

Trotter isn't starting because he's hurt. Once he's fully healthy, he'll take over for imoneau.

So ur saying moving Jevon to a side where he has to also get by a Tight End when power isn't his strong point is gonna do any good? So what if you move him to another side to compensate for his weak foot. You need two legs to play the game... it's not like he's gonna take one step and get to the QB... He's gonna have to use that injured foot... and it's severely damaged. As for Wistrom, he would get doubled up aswell since the DT's consistently got walloped by one blocker. Little is a pure pass rusher, whereas Wistrom is both a pass rusher and run stopper with ideal size.

Trotter was signed for insurance purposes only... and he's been healthy for the most part in preseason... and he's been coming into the game in the 3rd-4th quarter.

Robinson, Jackson, Engram, Mili, and Stevens toast the hell out of whatever philly has. It's not even close. Apart from TO, Pinkston hasn't gotten more then 800 yards in a season and Mitchell hasn't topped 500-600 yards either...