NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest |  |
- Seattle Loses Offensive Line Coach
- Packers: Final Roster & Management Analysis
- Saints make moves to get the roster to the 53 man limit
- Jags send safety Reggie Nelson to Cincinnati for CB David Jones
- Could just released Jarvis Green potentially return to New England?
- Kansas City trades safety Jarrad Page to New England
- Buffalo cuts 19 players to get to 53
- Steelers final cuts include OL Hartwig, FB Summers
- 2010 NFL Impact Rookies (Offense)
- Packers: Final Roster & Headlines
| Seattle Loses Offensive Line Coach Posted: 05 Sep 2010 04:14 AM PDT There’s now one more big name leaving Seattle with wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. According to the Twitter account of ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Seattle’s offensive line coach, Alex Gibbs, has retired. Seahawks.com reports that fatigue is the cause of the retirement. “We wish Alex the best in his retirement,” said Seattle head coach Pete Carroll in a statement. “We’re grateful for the time we had with him and we’re all better for it.” Gibbs was brought in during the offseason to revamp an offensive line that crumbled due to injury last year. With a patchwork line, Seattle quarterbacks were sacked 44 times in 2009. Filling the hole created by Gibbs’ departure will be the tandem of assistant line coach Art Valero and quality control coach Luke Butkus. Gibbs’ retirement is the latest in preseason offensive line news that’s dampened the optimism about the unit. Out for the final two preseason games and most likely the first game of the regular season is rookie left tackle Russell Okung with an ankle injury. Also limited by injury has been guard Ben Hamilton. OTHER NEWS Can't get enough NFLGridironGab? Follow SeahawksGab Editor Devon Heinen on Twitter at http://twitter.com/DevonHeinen. |
| Packers: Final Roster & Management Analysis Posted: 05 Sep 2010 12:45 AM PDT Jclombardi commentary about final roster and management. Guest senior writer jclombardi @ http://lombardiave.com Sports, its business, & management simply reflect the culture. Football is no different watching its bottom business line, personnel, and management. While reviewing the final roster and its cut, sports writer GB seemed to be the only "right on" reviewer: The label on GM Thompson has always been that he can build a roster to a certain point, but doesn't make the moves needed to put the team over the top. "Forever building two years down the road and not for the now" is the label [on] Thompson until he proves otherwise.Thompson is carrying five players that aren't ready to help the Packers if needed this season because of injury: OG McDonald, TE Quarless, OG Newhouse, DE Wilson and OLB Zombo. Wilson, Zombo and McDonald could be good players with development…on the practice squad. Packers need more effective backup experience and/or talent at DE, OLB, CB and S. For the record, fans may consider blogger TV's view: It pained Thompson to part ways with Giacomini and Barbre . In his six drafts, Thompson has brought in twelve offensive linemen, and of the ten drafted before this season, only three remain (Colledge, Spitz, and Sitton). We find such bold frankness to be refreshing and insightful about the state-of-affairs about the 2010 Packers heading into the regular season. Generally, we agree noting also that the nauseating fluff Packers press and the Packers organization need to learn this fact of life, "If you wait for tomorrow, tomorrow never comes." Of course, TT can always visit us in a blue suit to donate a nice locker for posterity and for our amusement. Yes, while waiting for the next flight out of Chicago airport and watching the blonde board a plane for Milwaukee at dusk, a fan was right to echo, "It's not about the money, is it?" Meanwhile, with the coming regular season, the Packers team face a tough schedule. They better prepare to ride a consistent offensive machineto win games until the defense can sort out its defensive issues with experience and additions with time. |
| Saints make moves to get the roster to the 53 man limit Posted: 04 Sep 2010 07:17 PM PDT
The Saints have released their 53-man roster. Though not many, there were some surprises here. Here is the way the roster shaped up. QB (2) Drew Brees, Chase Daniel HB (4) Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush, Chris Ivory, DeShawn Wynn FB (1) Heath Evans WR (6) Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Lance Moore, Adrian Arrington, Courtney Roby TE (4) Jeremy Shockey, David Thomas, Tory Humphrey, Jimmy Graham T (4) Jermon Bushrod, Jon Stinchcomb, Zach Strief, Charles Brown G (2) Jahri Evans, Carl Nicks C (2) Jonathan Goodwin, Matt Tennant E (5) Will Smith, Alex Brown, Jimmy Wilkerson, Jeff Charleston, Junior Galette DT (3) Sedrick Ellis, Remi Ayodele, Anthony Hargrove OLB (5) Scott Shanle, Jo-Lonn Dunbar, Stanley Arnoux, Anthony Waters, K.C. Asiodu MLB (2) Jonathan Vilma, Marvin Mitchell CB (5) Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer, Randall Gay, Patrick Robinson, Leigh Torrence S (5) Malcolm Jenkins, Roman Harper, Pierson Prioleau, Usama Young, Chris Reis K (1) Garrett Hartley P (1) Thomas Morstead LS (1) Jason Kyle The final cuts list is as follows: RB Ladell Betts, DT Kendrick Clancy, C Nick Leckey, G Terrence Metcalf, DE Bobby McCray, FB Jason McKie, QB Patrick Ramsey, WR Montez Billings, G Brandon Carter, G Na'Shan Goodard, T Jermey Parnell, LB Harry Coleman, CB Reggie Jones, FB Zak Keasey, TE Tyler Lorenzen, DT DeMario Pressley, DT Jay Ross, DT Al Woods, S Chip Vaughn. Special Notes: Darren Sharper and Clint Ingram will begin the year on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list, meaning they will not be able to play for the first six games. Also, we've lost LB Jonathan Casillas for the season to injury. He has been placed on IR. We wish him the best in his recovery. Looking back, my predictions were not that far off. I guess I didn't do too terrible. |
| Jags send safety Reggie Nelson to Cincinnati for CB David Jones Posted: 04 Sep 2010 06:27 PM PDT
Reports are now coming out that the Bengals have consummated a trade with the Jacksonville Jaguars for former first-round pick Safety Reggie Nelson. The Jaguars will receive cornerback David Jones from Cincy. Nelson is entering his fourth season. The 26-year old former Florida Gator was on the outs in Jacksonville after underperforming the last two years. The trade gives the Bengals some better depth at safety after keeping only 3 on their initial 53-man roster. Before Nelson was brought in, Chris Crocker was the only safety of the 3 classified as a free safety. Roy Williams and Chinedum Ndukwe are generally considered strong safeties. Jones, though healthy and solid, was unlikely to see extensive playing time with Johnathan Joseph, Leon Hall, Adam Jones, Morgan Trent and Brandon Ghee all ahead of him in the deep Bengal cornerback corps. He had an impressive interception returned for a touchdown against Denver in the second preseason game, but he was in an untenable numbers game and might have been cut at some point. Jaguar observers have noted to me that Nelson is generally considered to be a first-round bust and a liability in coverage. It was expected that he may have been one of their final cuts. He's accumulated 187 total tackles in 3 seasons, along with 1 sack and 7 interceptions. 2009 was his best year for tackles with 70, but he had no picks and only 5 passes defensived in 16 games. The Bengals will hope to help him recapture the form he displayed in his rookie season, when he accumulated his best stats: 63 tackles, 1 sack, 11 passes defensed, and 5 interceptions. The acquisition gives the team some veteran depth after Gibril Wilson was lost for the year with torn knee ligaments earlier in the preseason. Personally, I applaud the move. I like to see the team continue to be aggressive in trying to upgrade the team. The trade makes sense for both clubs, and both players. |
| Could just released Jarvis Green potentially return to New England? Posted: 04 Sep 2010 04:07 PM PDT
According to the National Football Post, former Patriots defensive lineman Jarvis Green was cut loose on Saturday by the Denver Broncos. Green's release paves the way for a possible return to a New England team that has struggled to put consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks this preseason. The Patriots' depth at defensive end took a hit during training camp when starter Ty Warren (hip) was placed on season-ending injured reserve and the team released veteran Damione Lewis on Friday. The 31-year-old Green, who was taken in the fourth round of the 2002 draft out of Louisiana State University by the Patriots, played eight seasons with New England before leaving this past offseason. Green played a key role during his time as a Patriot as a situational pass rusher. He could potentially return in a much needed similar role this season. Green inked a deal as an unrestricted free agent with the Broncos this past offseason. The Patriots were still open to bringing him back at the time, but the Broncos' upped the price to a level that was out of the Patriots' reach. Green collected a $2.5 million signing bonus, and $755,000 in guaranteed salary from Broncos for this season. If you add it all up, Green walked away with $3.255 million for a summer's worth of work in Colorado before being cut. It would be surprising if the Patriots didn't give Green a phone call over the next couple days. |
| Kansas City trades safety Jarrad Page to New England Posted: 04 Sep 2010 04:05 PM PDT Adam Schefter of ESPN reports via twitter that the Chiefs has traded free safety Jarrad Page to the Patriots for a conditional draft pick. Page finally signed his restricted free agent contract on Friday. Page has been requesting a trade on several occasions throughout the offseason. Page played in just five games last season after a shoulder injury landed him on injured reserve. Page will fill a reserve role behind Brandon Meriweather and Patrick Chung. |
| Buffalo cuts 19 players to get to 53 Posted: 04 Sep 2010 02:21 PM PDT
C Sean Allen The Bills also announced that SS Jon Corto has been placed on Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform and TE Derek Schouman has been Waived/Injured. The Bills roster now stands at the mandatory 53 players. |
| Steelers final cuts include OL Hartwig, FB Summers Posted: 04 Sep 2010 02:10 PM PDT
Can’t say that any of these are much of a shock, Burnett, Hartwig, Logan and Summers are the biggest surprises if there are any. Summers was supposed to be that fullback the team wanted to help open holes, but it just didn’t happen. The hardest cut had to be Justin Hartwig, but with Maurkice Pouncey taking the starting center job out of nowhere, cutting Hartwig and his $3 mil was the only answer left. |
| 2010 NFL Impact Rookies (Offense) Posted: 04 Sep 2010 01:35 PM PDT
Special to NFLGridironGab More than ever, teams are now looking for rookies to make an immediate impact in their first year. Long gone are the "redshirt" mentalities of most teams, because rookies at all levels (high draft picks, middle and low draft picks, and undrafted free agents) must earn their spot and contribute from Day 1 with their respective teams. This concept is not as far-fetched as in the past. College systems have become more sophisticated and the learning curve between big time college football and the pros has become less steep than ever. Draft stats also show that NFL teams are looking to big conference players in the draft – at the 2010 NFL Draft almost 75% of the players selected were from the 6 BCS Conferences. NFL Network's Draft Guru Mike Mayok recently summed up the situation by saying, "NFL coaches now expect that their draft picks will be able to step onto the field and compete in their first year". He added "With the limited amount of players that can dress each week coaches are looking for draft picks that can help out everywhere, especially on special teams". The 2009 NFL Season showed that this trend of rookies contributing is here to stay. Impact rookies produced high marks on offense, defense, and special teams including: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Minnesota Vikings WR Percy Harvin (60 catches for 790 yards and 6 TDs), NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Houston Texans LB Brian Cushing (Over 100 TKLS), Buffalo Bills safety Jarius Byrd (9 INTs), Green Bay Packers LB Clay Matthews (10 sacks) and many others. Here is a look at my picks for 2010 impact offensive rookies Detroit Lions RB Jahvid Best – The Lions now have a speedster back that should fit nicely on their indoor track. I could see Best being the next Brian Westbrook as he combines speed, moves, and hands. Lions head coach Jim Schwartz is hoping that he has the next Reggie Bush and I think he maybe right. Best was one of the fastest players at the 2010 NFL Combine and he is a former California state champ in the 100 meters The only question is durability (back injury and concussion last year at Cal), but look for Best to make a huge impact running, catching, and helping on kick returns for Detroit – expect over 250 touches in 2010. Best averaged an amazing 7.3 yards per carry for his college career. Washington Redskins OT Trent Williams – I know offensive lineman are boring, but there is no denying that this former Oklahoma All-American will have a huge impact for the Redskins. In 2009, the 'Skins had all sorts of O-line problems, but this year new quarterback Donovan McNabb should feel confident with his new blindside protector. Williams (6′4 ½, 314) was a 40-game starter at OU with experience at both left and right tackle while earning first-team All-Big 12 honors the last two years. Adapt at pass and run blocking, Williams has great athleticism to handle speed rushers.
Dallas Cowboys WR Dez Bryant – A high ankle sprain may have slowed Bryant in preseason, but there is no denying that he has Randy Moss 1998 potential. Yes…I know about his checkered past, but the Cowboys are well equipped to help him. The former Oklahoma State star should replace underachiever Roy Williams by Dallas' 7th game. Bryant missed all but three games in 2009 after being suspended by the NCAA for inappropriate interaction with former NFL great Deion Sanders, but there is no denying his ability. He has been compared to Houston Texan Pro Bowl receiver Andre Johnson and if Bryant keeps his head on straight, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, QB Tony Romo, and WR Miles Austin will be very happy men. Look for Bryant to have an impact catching "Go" routes and in the return game — 2008 numbers of 87 catches for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns, plus an average of 17.9 yards per punt return with 2 TDs. Buffalo Bills RB CJ Spiller – If he can stay healthy, Spiller should battle the aforementioned Jahvid Best to be the NFL's newest Reggie Bush clone. Spiller (5′11/196) is a homerun threat type of player, who should get a lot of work early in the 2010 NFL Season with veterans Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch (hand) banged-up. The former track star ran a 4.37-second forty at the NFL Combine and has great hands catching the ball. Spiller in 2009 had 31 carries of 10+ yards and eight receptions for 20 yards or more plus contributed an NCAA-leading five TDs on returns — 5.6 yards per carry average and 36 catches. Look for the former Clemson star to help out on kickoffs, catching the ball on third downs, and running the ball to the outside. San Diego Chargers RB Ryan Matthews — Chargers head coach Norv Turner and GM AJ Smith made the tough decisions of releasing veterans RB LaDainian Tomlinson. But that doesn't matter as Matthew is clearly their back of the future. The number-two rusher in NCAA football last year (276 carries for 1,808 rushing yards and 19 TDs) is a big (6'0, 218) physical runner that also has speed. Matthews should have an impact running inside, outside, and in the redzone. I am expecting the former Fresno State star to get at least 250 touches with veteran Darren Sproles helping on 3rd downs. However two areas that Matthews must work-on is catching the football (only 19 career receptions in college) and picking up a blitz. Carolina Panthers QB Jimmy Clausen – This 2nd round pick has all the tools to be a week-in, week-out starter in the NFL. Right now he is nursing a toe injury and the Panthers are starting QB Matt Moore – 6-2 as a starter – but I think by mid-season that on-the-hot-seat head coach John Fox will start the rookie. Playing in a "pro style" offense – a huge plus for any college QB — Clausen from 2007 to 2009 improved greatly under the tutelage of Charlie Weis. The junior-eligible is tough, accurate (68% completion percentage last year), and is a leader. Look for the former Notre Dame star to get the ball to receivers Steve Smith, Brandon LaFell, and Dwayne Jarrett. Clausen sported an outstanding 28 to 4 touchdown-to-interception ratio last year. Pittsburgh Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey – Already several Steelers are comparing the former University Florida youngster to former team great Dermotti Dawson. Pouncey was the 2009 Rimington Award winner as the best pivot in college football. After a stellar training camp, Pouncey surged passed veteran Jeff Hartwig to assume the leadership role on the Steelers' O-line. The former junior-eligible is very smart, has very good feet, and plays with great leverage. The former All-SEC pick should be cornerstone in the Steel City for years to come and he should be an impact player in leading Rashard Mendenhall on inside runs. SF 49ers OG Mike Iupati – To protect star running back Frank Gore and comebacking QB Alex Smith, the Niners used their two first-round picks (11th and 17th overall) to fortify their O-line. They selected Rutgers OT Anthony Davis (Rutgers) and the rock solid Iupati. The big (6'5, 325) All-American from Idaho was one of the most impressive lineman at this year's Senior Bowl. Iupati has 35-inch arms, good footwork, and balance to dominate on the inside. With Niners’ OC Jimmy Raye going to a more ball-control offense, look for Iupati to lead the way on many Gore runs. Oakland Raiders OG Bruce Campbell – Another O-lineman…That's Right. Campbell (6′6, 314) is an incredibly athletic prospect with extremely long arms (36 ¼-inches). The Raiders were extremely lucky to have grabbed him in the 3rd round. If he can fight through some preseason penalty struggles, Campbell should be a key player leading RB Darren McFadden on sweeps. The former All-ACC players should be a great pro offensive guard and look for him to be more athletic than some of his opponents — ran an offensive lineman best 4.85 forty at the NFL Combine. The Best of the Rest Cleveland Browns RB Montario Hardesty (Big physical runner for a pedestrian Browns' offense) Pittsburgh Steelers RB Jonathan Dwyer (A classic Steelers between-the-tackles thumping runner) Tampa Bay Buccaneers WR Mike Williams (Has put away his college baggage and looks like the "Real Deal") Kansas City Chiefs RB/KR/WR Dexter McCluster (This guy is could be the next Darren Sproles as he does a variety of things well) St. Louis Rams QB Sam Bradford (Get ready for a "Troy Aikmen" type rookie season. Development and a lot of lumps) New York Jets OG Vladimir Ducasse Carolina Panthers WR Brandon LaFell Denver Broncos center J.D. Walton Green Bay Packers RB James Starks Tennessee Titans RB LaGarrette Blount New Orleans Saints TE Jimmy Graham
Lloyd Vance is a Sr. NFL Writer for Taking It to the House and Sports Journey Network , who is also an award-winning member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) |
| Packers: Final Roster & Headlines Posted: 04 Sep 2010 01:31 PM PDT
Guest senior writer jclombardi @ http://lombardiave.com Summary: With the deadline approaching, we are getting the official cuts to determine the Packers 2010 final roster. We will update through the final announcements:
Remember, the roster on Saturday might not be the roster on Monday. The Packers will go through NFL waivers for potential players or they may still try trades. Official list: Packers released 20 players including punter Bryan, tackle Campbell, wide receiver Chery, cornerback Clark, center/guard Dietrich-Smith, wide receiver Dillon, linebacker Francois, tackle Giacomini, quarterback Harrell, tight end Havner, linebacker Joseph, safety Levine, running back Lumpkin, linebacker Obiozor, linebacker Simpkins, defensive end Talley, nose tackle Toribio, wide receiver West, wide receiver Williams and defensive end Wynn. Tackle/guard Barbre and safety Blackmon will be placed on injured reserve. Final Roster:
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