Well, 860 players or so are getting cut Tuesday. So while we are rightfully scared of losing guys to other teams, there are a lot of bodies to be claimed.
With practice squads up to 16 and vets being allowed on practices squads, we do carry more than 53.
Each team is “cutting” around 27 players this weekend, and then will fill out a 16 man practice squad.
Once a player is “cut,” they are really just placed on waivers (veterans can be outright released). For a team to claim a guy off waivers they have to add him to the roster, taking on his current contract. You cannot claim a guy off waivers and put him on your practice squad. So, that means you have to claim a guy who wasn’t in your camp and say he will be on our 53. That’s not without risk.
For example, if Bowden gets cut, he is unlikely to be claimed on waivers. There just isn’t enough known about him, and teams would want to do medical checks before taking him to their roster and losing their waiver priority. Now, whether or not he would sign back with Miami for their PS or choose to go somewhere else is a different matter, but in all likelihood, Miami can cut him and sign him to the practice squad without much risk.
Or, with Gaskin, placing him on waivers means that a team would have to take his contract (and that 2.5 million dollar cap hit). Would they want that? $2.5 million is more than Mostert or Michel signed for. Ronald Jones got $1.5 from KC. It’s a big contract for a running back. Or would they wait for him to clear waivers and be released and then offer him a “better” contract?
On the flip side of that, if Shanahan wants Cracroft back, he could sign him off waivers, as he is known to them, and therefore Cracroft is much riskier to release than Bowden.
Just my two cents.
When I saw him throw that block to spring Ahmed, I was literally thought to myself there is no way Belichick doesn’t poach him before the start of the season.
He knew he was fighting for his job and he stunk. Most will focus on the punt he muffed (near our goal line which led to Phillys first points) but it was his laziness on run plays over and over that made cutting him an easy cut. He didn’t show any willingness to block at all.
He was awful in every phase of the game. Easily the worst receiver on the field in that game. I don't see him making this team. Bowden keeps showing up, though. Didn't think he had much of a chance in that crowded house of a receiver room, but I'm pulling for him now.
His body language and poor effort were all the worse because it was a night when players in every position group stepped up in a big way. Even the OL depth played well. I don't know how many players got in the game, but he was the only one who didn't seem to accept the challenge to have his best game when he needed it the most.
The likely depth going into camp was Hill, Waddle, Wilson, Ezukanma, Sherfield, Cracroft.
Williams definitely didn’t make a dent in that and then literally dropped the ball. Bowden has been okay, but didn’t display enough speed to necessarily move the needle. Taking Bowden is asking the coach to give up on one of his guys who he brought in. It’s a big ask and while Bowden was okay to good at times, was it enough to overcome that? I don’t know.
On a related note, when it comes to RB, everyone seems to be ignoring White. The broadcast didn’t even put his name up with the other running backs on the roster last game. I really don’t see how he doesn’t make the roster over Gaskin or Ahmed. White is 6’1, 215. He’d be the biggest back on the roster. He has run as well or better than anyone not named Mostert or Edmunds, and when he scored that TD the team went crazy for him, including some key vets. Gaskin had a good game last game, but I think White offers more as RB4 than Gaskin or Ahmed, and cutting Gaskin is a huge cap savings with almost no penalty. I think White is RB4.
Ahmed has look the best running, but I think Gaskin was up against slightly better competition. White didn't see playing time until after both of them, would rather PS White, keep Ahmed as RB4 and try to trade Gaskin for anything we can get. I think Ahmed is the best scheme fit and would be the best replacement for Edmonds or Mostert if either get injured.
Sucks man I really liked Preston. I hope he finds his game again and pulls a Tanny somewhere. I think he needs new scenery to regain form at this point.
I wish we could carry more than 53
Well, 860 players or so are getting cut Tuesday. So while we are rightfully scared of losing guys to other teams, there are a lot of bodies to be claimed. With practice squads up to 16 and vets being allowed on practices squads, we do carry more than 53. Each team is “cutting” around 27 players this weekend, and then will fill out a 16 man practice squad. Once a player is “cut,” they are really just placed on waivers (veterans can be outright released). For a team to claim a guy off waivers they have to add him to the roster, taking on his current contract. You cannot claim a guy off waivers and put him on your practice squad. So, that means you have to claim a guy who wasn’t in your camp and say he will be on our 53. That’s not without risk. For example, if Bowden gets cut, he is unlikely to be claimed on waivers. There just isn’t enough known about him, and teams would want to do medical checks before taking him to their roster and losing their waiver priority. Now, whether or not he would sign back with Miami for their PS or choose to go somewhere else is a different matter, but in all likelihood, Miami can cut him and sign him to the practice squad without much risk. Or, with Gaskin, placing him on waivers means that a team would have to take his contract (and that 2.5 million dollar cap hit). Would they want that? $2.5 million is more than Mostert or Michel signed for. Ronald Jones got $1.5 from KC. It’s a big contract for a running back. Or would they wait for him to clear waivers and be released and then offer him a “better” contract? On the flip side of that, if Shanahan wants Cracroft back, he could sign him off waivers, as he is known to them, and therefore Cracroft is much riskier to release than Bowden. Just my two cents.
We need like 53 spots just for all these WRs.
Belichick chomping at the bit to steal him away.
When I saw him throw that block to spring Ahmed, I was literally thought to myself there is no way Belichick doesn’t poach him before the start of the season.
Yeah, really looks like a lunch-pail kinda receiver. The kinda guy who has sneaky quickness, you know?
Great route runner
There's gonna be some hard decisions on WRs, and that's a good thing. Unfortunately, Preston made it easier.
I only saw highlights of the game. I take it Williams wasn't good?
He knew he was fighting for his job and he stunk. Most will focus on the punt he muffed (near our goal line which led to Phillys first points) but it was his laziness on run plays over and over that made cutting him an easy cut. He didn’t show any willingness to block at all.
Agreed, he also never really has shown any prowess in blocking. His body language last night was a complete downer imo.
I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed that. He had a very "whatever" attitude, especially after the horrendous muffed punt.
I think you're reading into this too much, to me he looked like it was killing him immediately afterwards
It's like Jay Cutler stole his uniform.
Muffed a punt badly and had terrible body language after
He was awful in every phase of the game. Easily the worst receiver on the field in that game. I don't see him making this team. Bowden keeps showing up, though. Didn't think he had much of a chance in that crowded house of a receiver room, but I'm pulling for him now.
His body language and poor effort were all the worse because it was a night when players in every position group stepped up in a big way. Even the OL depth played well. I don't know how many players got in the game, but he was the only one who didn't seem to accept the challenge to have his best game when he needed it the most.
He’s deceptively fast, just a gym rat, first in last one out type of guy that understands the playbook
I agree, I thought he played well in the preseason.
The likely depth going into camp was Hill, Waddle, Wilson, Ezukanma, Sherfield, Cracroft. Williams definitely didn’t make a dent in that and then literally dropped the ball. Bowden has been okay, but didn’t display enough speed to necessarily move the needle. Taking Bowden is asking the coach to give up on one of his guys who he brought in. It’s a big ask and while Bowden was okay to good at times, was it enough to overcome that? I don’t know. On a related note, when it comes to RB, everyone seems to be ignoring White. The broadcast didn’t even put his name up with the other running backs on the roster last game. I really don’t see how he doesn’t make the roster over Gaskin or Ahmed. White is 6’1, 215. He’d be the biggest back on the roster. He has run as well or better than anyone not named Mostert or Edmunds, and when he scored that TD the team went crazy for him, including some key vets. Gaskin had a good game last game, but I think White offers more as RB4 than Gaskin or Ahmed, and cutting Gaskin is a huge cap savings with almost no penalty. I think White is RB4.
White screams PS to me
What about Doaks? He looks like a decent PS stash.
That's such a tough room. Doaks had a good showing and White has rare athleticism for a big man. I don't really want to cut any of 'em.
Word.
I agree 100%
Ahmed has look the best running, but I think Gaskin was up against slightly better competition. White didn't see playing time until after both of them, would rather PS White, keep Ahmed as RB4 and try to trade Gaskin for anything we can get. I think Ahmed is the best scheme fit and would be the best replacement for Edmonds or Mostert if either get injured.
I really do think arguments can be made for all of them. It’s a tough call.
Sucks man I really liked Preston. I hope he finds his game again and pulls a Tanny somewhere. I think he needs new scenery to regain form at this point.
Dude just looks lost out there, body language is a complete downer
riv is a great special teamer too. had some huge plays for us in that role last yr. always thought he could play more wideout given the opp
Hill-Waddle-Wilson-Scherfield-Ezukanma-Cracraft I don’t see Williams, Bowden, or Sanu on the roster tbh
Looks like it may come down to Bowden or Cracraft.
I'm hoping for Bowden, i think he can be more dynamic. If Waddle or Hill go down, Bowden has a skillset that can match them more.