The Final Cut: Down To 53

[Prime Time]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/04/bills-place-mckelvin-on-nfi-release-17-players/

Bills place McKelvin on NFI, release 17 players
Posted by Zac Jackson on September 4, 2015

The Bills announced a bunch of roster moves Friday afternoon, most notably placing veteran cornerback Leodis McKelvin on the reserve/non-football injury list.

That designation means McKelvin is out for at least the first six weeks of the season. He broke his ankle last November and early in training camp suffered a setback in his rehab and had a follow-up procedure done on the ankle.

Earlier this week Bills coach Rex Ryan said McKelvin was making “encouraging” progress but that there was still no timetable for his return.

A longtime starter, McKelvin had four interceptions last season before the injury. In part because of the injury and in part because McKelvin turned 30 on Friday, the Bills used a second-round pick on cornerback Ronald Darby last spring.

The Bills also cut Quentin Groves, Dezmin Lewis, Will Campbell, John Conner, Andre Davis, IK Enemkpali, Andre Fluellen, Bronson Hill, Darryl Johnson, Alex Kupper, BJ Larsen, Merrill Noel, Tobias Palmer, Cyril Richardson, Matt Simms and Cierre Wood.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/04/cardinals-cut-matt-shaughnessy-two-running-backs/

Cardinals cut Matt Shaughnessy, two running backs
Posted by Josh Alper on September 4, 2015

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians thought running back Chris Johnson looked “extremely sharp” in his preseason debut for the team on Thursday night and a couple of early cuts out of Arizona make Johnson’s chances of sticking around for more action in the desert look pretty good.

Josina Anderson of ESPN reports that the team has cut running backs Robert Hughes and Paul Lasike. Hughes was talked about as a short yardage option out of the backfield for the Cardinals this season, but he played sparingly in the preseason and the team has opted to roll with other backs. Hughes ran seven times for 11 yards last season and caught eight passes for 140 yards.

Lasike was an undrafted free agent out of BYU and had two carries and a catch in the preseason.

Anderson also reports that the team is releasing veteran defensive end/outside linebacke rMatt Shaughnessy. Shaughnessy missed eight games with a knee injury last season and has made 19 starts for the Cardinals over the last two seasons.

 

[Angry Ram]

Anderson also reports that the team is releasing veteran defensive end/outside linebacke rMatt Shaughnessy. Shaughnessy missed eight games with a knee injury last season and has made 19 starts for the Cardinals over the last two seasons.

Ahh yes, the young name free agent about that was about to make his mark in the NFL.

Anything more overrated than FA?

 

[RamsJunkie]

Craig Dahl - DB - Free Agent
49ers released S Craig Dahl.

Dahl is a 30-year-old special teamer and backup safety.
Related: 49ers

Sep 4 - 2:44 PM

 

[RamBill]

Rams Have Tough Decisions to Make On Offensive Line
ESPN Rams reporter Nick Wagoner says one position to monitor during final roster cut-downs is center, where Tim Barnes, Demetrius Rhaney and Barrett Jones all have worked with the first team without securing the starting job.

Watch Wagoner's Rams Report

 

[OldSchool]

I would agree with NW on his 53 man prediction, and think we will have three DB on the PS.

 

[Faceplant]

Craig Dahl - DB - Free Agent
49ers released S Craig Dahl.

Dahl is a 30-year-old special teamer and backup safety.
Related: 49ers

Sep 4 - 2:44 PM

Anyone upset that we don't get to play AGAINST him in the division anymore? Yep....ME for starters. Just say NO to Craig Dahl!!!

 

[RamsJunkie]

Rex Grossman - QB - Free Agent
Falcons released QB Rex Grossman.

The worst quarterback to start a Super Bowl this century hasn't appeared in a game since 2011.
Related: Falcons

Source: Adam Schefter on Twitter
Sep 4 - 4:19 PM

 

[Prime Time]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...arkley-to-arizona-for-conditional-draft-pick/

Eagles ship Matt Barkley to Arizona for conditional draft pick
Posted by Michael David Smith on September 4, 2015

Eagles quarterback Matt Barkley lost the third-string quarterback job to Tim Tebow on Thursday night, and now Barkley is heading to Arizona.

Jay Glazer of FOX Sports reports that the Cardinals are sending a conditional draft pick to Philadelphia to acquire Barkley. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Eagles get a seventh-round pick from the Cardinals if Barkley is on the Cardinals roster for six games.

A fourth-round pick of the Eagles in 2013, Barkley has played sparingly in Philadelphia. With Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez firmly ahead of Barkley on the quarterback depth chart and Tebow out-playing Barkley in the preseason as well, it appeared that Barkley was on the verge of getting cut.

But the Cardinals, whose season fell apart last year after injuries to starting quarterbackCarson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton, have decided that it’s worth giving a late-round pick up to acquire a third-string quarterback with some potential. And the Eagles get something out of a player who was going to give them nothing.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ne-more-including-linebacker-andy-studebaker/

Titans cut nine more, including linebacker Andy Studebaker
Posted by Darin Gantt on September 4, 2015

The Titans continued to whittle away at the roster Friday, making nine more moves to get their roster to 65.

The biggest name among this round of cuts was probably veteran linebacker Andy Studebaker, who was just signed two weeks ago. He has now been cut by 75 percent of the AFC South after previous stints with the Jaguars and Colts. He’s also been with the Chiefs and Eagles.

The Titans also released fullback Zach Boren, cornerback Ri’Shard Anderson, centerGabe Ikard, defensive back Khalid Wooten, defensive back Jemea Thomas, defensive lineman Isaako Aaitui, wide receiver Josh Stewart and linebacker Kaelin Burnett.

The Titans took care of another spot by trading guard Andy Levitre to the Falcons, meaning they have to make 12 more moves tomorrow.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...ase-philip-wheeler-joe-looney-and-craig-dahl/

49ers release Philip Wheeler, Joe Looney and Craig Dahl
Posted by Josh Alper on September 4, 2015

Darnell Dockett isn’t the only veteran that failed to make the cut to 53 players with the 49ers.

The team announced Dockett’s release on Friday afternoon along with five other moves that leave the roster at 69 players. They’ll need to pare that number to 53 by Saturday afternoon.

Guard Joe Looney was released, which leaves the team without any players from their 2012 draft class. He was a fourth-round pick of the 49ers and started four of the 19 games he played for the team over the last three years.

Safety Craig Dahl and linebacker Philip Wheeler are gone as well. Dahl restructured his contract for the second straight year and played in every game for the team over the last two seasons, but that wasn’t enough for him to hold onto a roster spot. Wheeler signed with the 49ers after being released by the Dolphins in March after playing just two years of a five-year, $26 million deal.

The 49ers also released wide receiver Isaac Blakeney and offensive lineman Patrick Miller.

 

[DCH]

I'm surprised at Cyril Richardson being this bad. At one point leading up to last year's draft people were calling him a 2nd-round prospect. Meh. Baylor.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Louis Nix, pfft. So man of my Notre Dame acquaintances blathered on about his future All-Pro skill level. HaHaHa.

I recall Wheeler being thought highly of a few years ago.


The Niners say goodbye to the last remaining member of the 2012 draft class. But, but, but Baalke is a genius. How can this be?

 

[MTRamsFan]

Brandon Washington cut per Aaron Wilson twitter

No shocker there.

 

[OldSchool]

I'm surprised at Cyril Richardson being this bad. At one point leading up to last year's draft people were calling him a 2nd-round prospect. Meh. Baylor.

Yup, he was highly touted and one of those the draft expert Rams fans wanted and criticized U.S. For not taking. I guess once in a while Snead knows more than us. Btw this isn't a dig at you dch just my musings over Richardson and others like him and even possibly about our current draft class.

 

[Prime Time]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/04/dolphins-cut-josh-freeman/

Dolphins cut Josh Freeman
Posted by Josh Alper on September 4, 2015

After throwing a pair of interceptions in Thursday night’s preseason game against the Buccaneers, quarterback Josh Freeman vowed to “exhaust every option” available to him before giving up on his hopes of resuming his NFL career.

That didn’t sound like a man who was confident in his chances of making the Dolphins’ 53-man roster and it looks like he’ll have to find his next chance somewhere other than Miami. Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report reports that the Dolphins have released the former Buccaneers first-round pick.

It’s the second time that the Dolphins have released Freeman since initially signing him in April, but they came into the cut to 53 players with three quarterbacks already on the roster and it’s hard to imagine that they would let Freeman go free at this point if they had their hearts set on having him on the team in 2015.

Freeman, who last played in a regular season game with the Vikings in 2013, was 23-of-48 for 332 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions with the Dolphins in the preseason. Those aren’t numbers that would seem to make anyone else’s heart set on having him on their roster, but one can never predict how often the quarterback carousel will spin in a given season.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...cks-at-qb-cutting-rex-grossman-and-t-j-yates/

Falcons clearing the decks at QB, cutting Rex Grossman and T.J. Yates
Posted by Darin Gantt on September 4, 2015

On a day when Tim Tebow appears to have sewn up a job in Philadelphia, all the news about iconic quarterbacks is not so happy.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, the Falcons have released veteran quarterback Rex Grossman.

The Falcons signed him just over a week ago, so he clearly didn’t have a chance to establish himself there. That leaves just Sean Renfree behind starter Matt Ryan, as D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that they’re also cutting T.J. Yates.

Grossman hasn’t played in a regular season game since 2011 in Washington. He did appear in last night’s preseason finale, going 4-of-9 passing for 41 yards.

Sometimes life just isn’t fair.

 

[DR RAM]

Rams Have Tough Decisions to Make On Offensive Line
ESPN Rams reporter Nick Wagoner says one position to monitor during final roster cut-downs is center, where Tim Barnes, Demetrius Rhaney and Barrett Jones all have worked with the first team without securing the starting job.

Watch Wagoner's Rams Report

Honestly, I think it comes down to whomever is not the starter, but is the best Guard prospect. I think Jones will be the starter, and Rhaney will be the interior swing. But the Rams may think that Barnes is a better Guard, we'll see, but I don't see a scenario, where they all make it. They are too similar, and we have too many positions to cover. Reynolds isn't going anywhere, and we need our best swing tackle. Rhaney, is young, smart, and athletic.

 

[DR RAM]

Remember, Fisher talks to everyone, so our cuts will come slowly.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Wake me up when the better teams start making their cuts. That's a good time to go fishing.

 

[HometownBoy]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/04/dolphins-cut-josh-freeman/

Dolphins cut Josh Freeman
Posted by Josh Alper on September 4, 2015

After throwing a pair of interceptions in Thursday night’s preseason game against the Buccaneers, quarterback Josh Freeman vowed to “exhaust every option” available to him before giving up on his hopes of resuming his NFL career.

That didn’t sound like a man who was confident in his chances of making the Dolphins’ 53-man roster and it looks like he’ll have to find his next chance somewhere other than Miami. Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report reports that the Dolphins have released the former Buccaneers first-round pick.

It’s the second time that the Dolphins have released Freeman since initially signing him in April, but they came into the cut to 53 players with three quarterbacks already on the roster and it’s hard to imagine that they would let Freeman go free at this point if they had their hearts set on having him on the team in 2015.

Freeman, who last played in a regular season game with the Vikings in 2013, was 23-of-48 for 332 yards, a touchdown and four interceptions with the Dolphins in the preseason. Those aren’t numbers that would seem to make anyone else’s heart set on having him on their roster, but one can never predict how often the quarterback carousel will spin in a given season.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...cks-at-qb-cutting-rex-grossman-and-t-j-yates/

Falcons clearing the decks at QB, cutting Rex Grossman and T.J. Yates
Posted by Darin Gantt on September 4, 2015

On a day when Tim Tebow appears to have sewn up a job in Philadelphia, all the news about iconic quarterbacks is not so happy.

According to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com, the Falcons have released veteran quarterback Rex Grossman.

The Falcons signed him just over a week ago, so he clearly didn’t have a chance to establish himself there. That leaves just Sean Renfree behind starter Matt Ryan, as D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that they’re also cutting T.J. Yates.

Grossman hasn’t played in a regular season game since 2011 in Washington. He did appear in last night’s preseason finale, going 4-of-9 passing for 41 yards.

Sometimes life just isn’t fair.

Some QBs of the future in there.

 

[Prime Time]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/04/patriots-cut-ryan-lindley-and-nine-others/

Patriots cut Ryan Lindley and nine others
Posted by Josh Alper on September 4, 2015

It’s not every year that a team cuts a quarterback that started a playoff game the previous year, but, then, it’s not every year that events conspire to allow a quarterback like Ryan Lindley to start a playoff game.

Lindley was forced into action with the Cardinals late last season and led the offense in their playoff loss to the Panthers before hitting the ranks of the unemployed this offseason. The Patriots signed him last month and he started Thursday’s preseason finale, but there wasn’t much need for him on the 53-man roster now that the team is assured of having Tom Brady in the lineup next week.

Lindley will be joined by running back Tony Creecy, wide receiver Zach D’Orazio, wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, guard Ryan Groy, tackle Caylin Hauptmann, tackle Chris Martin, linebacker James Morris, defensive tackle A.J. Pataiali’i and defensive tackle Casey Walker on the list of former Patriots.

The Patriots signed cornerback Justin Coleman, who was dropped by the Vikings last weekend. The moves leave them with 66 players and 13 moves to go before Saturday’s deadline to set a 53-man roster.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/04/jaguars-cut-18-including-two-2015-draft-picks/

Jaguars cut 18, including two 2015 draft picks
Posted by Josh Alper on September 4, 2015

The Jaguars are down to 57 players after saying farewell to 18 members of their roster, including four players drafted by General Manager Dave Caldwell in the seventh round in last three years.

Running back Storm Johnson was a seventh-round pick last year and ran for 86 yards on 29 carries as a rookie, but the arrival of T.J. Yeldon and Bernard Pierce this offseason likely pushed him off the roster. Cornerback Jeremy Harris, a 2013 seventh-rounder, was also axed.

Wide receiver Neal Sterling and tight end Ben Koyack have both been waived after arriving in the final round of the draft this year. Both could be candidates for the practice squad if they don’t catch on somewhere else in the roster shuffling that will go on this weekend.

The Jags also waived quarterback Stephen Morris, which leaves them with Blake Bortles and Chad Henne as the only quarterbacks currently on the roster.

Jacksonville rounded out this wave of cuts by parting ways with defensive tackle Richard Ash, defensive end Camaron Beard, defensive end Cap Capi, wide receiver Kasey Closs, guard Will Corbin, tight end Connor Hamlett, defensive end Ike Igbinosun, wide receiver Erik Lora, guard Chris Reed, cornerback Rashaad Reynolds, linebacker Todd Thomas, cornerback Peyton Thompson and wide receiver Tony Washington.