NFL Roster Cuts 2015: Notable Players Released on Deadline Day

It's one of the most dreaded days in football—for players, coaches and front-office personnel alike. Saturday, September 5, saw all 32 NFL teams finalize their 53-man rosters for the upcoming 2015 season by no later than 4 p.m. ET.

Most teams had around 75 players still on their roster after Thursday's final slate of preseason games. Do some quick back-of-the-envelope math, and you know that hundreds of NFL dreams were dashed, or at least deferred, this weekend. 

Of course, Not all of those shut out of the 53-man roster need despair. Some will make the practice squad, others might find spots on teams with a great need at their position and still more will get phone calls when the injuries inevitably mount. Heck, a few might latch on in the Canadian or Arena Football League. 

Here's a look at some of the biggest names to miss the cut Saturday. A full list of roster cuts can be found at NFL.com.

Player	Position	Team
Tim Tebow	QB	Philadelphia Eagles
Matt Cassel	QB	Buffalo Bills
Reggie Wayne	WR	New England Patriots
Devon Still	DT	Cincinnati Bengals
Darnell Dockett	DL	San Francisco 49ers
Josh Freeman	QB	Miami Dolphins
Nick Novak	K	San Diego Chargers
Jameel McClain	LB	New York Giants
Da'Quan Bowers	DE	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jason Babin	DE	New York Jets
Matt Flynn	QB	New York Jets

Tim Tebow, QB, Philadelphia Eagles

With the Philadelphia Eagles trading Matt Barkley to the Arizona Cardinals on Friday, per NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal, Tim Tebow fans wouldn't have been crazy to think it opened up a spot for him as the team's third quarterback. Unfortunately, Tebow Time is no longer on the clock in Philly, per ESPN on NFL:

The Eagles will move on with just two quarterbacks for now, Sam Bradford and Mark Sanchez. Head coach Chip Kelly was plainspoken when explaining why Tebow didn't make the team.

"We felt Tim has progressed, but we didn't feel he was good enough to be the [No.] 3 right now," Kelly said, via ESPN.com.

Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd didn't question the decision: 

Tebow starred in the team's final preseason game against the New York Jets, completing 11 of 17 passes for 189 yards and two touchdowns against one interception. However, the final preseason game is usually reserved for fringe players, so it wasn't like he was shredding a truly NFL-caliber defense.

He also didn't make much of an impact prior to Thursday, completing just 10 of 19 passes for 97 yards and adding a rushing touchdown in preseason Week 1.

"[Tebow] really improved his throwing motion from when he was throwing a couple of years ago," Kelly said, via ESPN.com. "He worked extremely hard on it and deserves a lot of credit for that. I talked to him a little earlier [Saturday] when we released him."

He made improvements, to be sure, but Tebow's throwing motion still doesn't pass the eyeball test. He has an unusually long windup, making it easier for defenders to break on his passes. He also still struggles at times with accuracy. He's an exceptional athlete and a consummate team player, but this might've been the last we see of Tebow at the NFL level.

Matt Cassel, QB, Buffalo Bills

Brett Carlsen/Getty Images

It hasn't been a great offseason for Tom Brady's former understudies. Ryan Mallett appears to have lost out on the starting job in Houston to Brian Hoyer, and Matt Cassel is without a team after the Buffalo Bills released him Saturday, according to Chris Brown of BuffaloBills.com.

Cassel became surplus to demand with fifth-year quarterback Tyrod Taylor's ascension to the starting job. E.J. Manuel, the Bills' 2013 first-round pick, is the ostensible backup in Buffalo. 

ESPN's Mike Rodak noted that money was a probable factor in Cassel getting the axe:

WGR 550's Sal Capaccio felt the roster move reflected well upon Manuel: 

In any case, the Bills' quarterback situation is hardly secure. In four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens before joining Buffalo this offseason, Taylor saw minimal playing time in the regular season. He's 19-of-35 in his career, with no touchdowns and two interceptions. He has flashed speed and agility, rushing for 136 yards and a score on a five yards-per-carry average.

Cassel is just 33 years old, so don't expect him to be a free agent for long. Injuries will happen, and if a team doesn't add him as quarterback depth beforehand, he would seem to be at the top of the list for a midseason injury pickup.

Reggie Wayne, WR, New England Patriots

Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Thirty-six-year-old Reggie Wayne has been tormenting NFL secondaries for well over a decade. When the New England Patriots picked him up for the 2015 season, it looked like yet another sneaky-good move from coaching mastermind Bill Belichick. 

Alas, whatever plans the Pats had for Wayne won't come to fruition. The team let him go Saturday, reportedly at the player's request, per NFL.com's Ian Rapoport: 

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, this could be it for Wayne in the NFL, but he could be persuaded by the right situation: 

It's difficult to imagine a better situation than New England, especially now that Tom Brady won his appeal against the NFL for the Deflategate controversy and can play in Week 1. It will be interesting to see if the Colts come calling.

If this is truly it for Wayne, he will leave the league with his head held high and a shot at Canton. During his 14-year tenure in Indianapolis, he played with two of the league's great quarterbacks in Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. He's amassed 1,070 receptions for 14,345 yards and 82 touchdowns.

Devon Still, DT, Cincinnati Bengals

This could not have been an easy decision for Cincinnati. The Bengals released backup defensive tackle Devon Still on Saturday. Still and his daughter Leah have been an inspiration to millions around the world in their brave fight against the latter's cancer. Leah even won the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at the 2015 ESPYs.

The Bengals couldn't find room for him in their 2015 plans, but by keeping him on the roster last season, they have guaranteed that he and his daughter have health insurance for the next five years, per the Cincinnati Enquirer's Paul Dehner Jr.

In a post on Instagram, Still stated he was grateful for what the Cincinnati organization has done for him and his family.

It's unclear as of now if he will continue to pursue a grueling NFL career with his daughter's health issues.


Cuts to 53

Per NFL.com, here are the cuts down to 53 players from each team, as of 9 p.m. ET.

Arizona Cardinals

T Cameron Bradfield, CB Cariel Brooks, CB Jonte Green, G Jon Halapio, WR Trevor Harman, RB Robert Hughes, S Harold Jones-Quartey, RB Paul Lasike, LB Gabe Martin, G Antoine McClain, CB C.J. Roberts, DE Matt Shaughnessy, WR Jaxon Shipley, QB Phillip Sims, G/C Anthony Steen, NT Alameda Ta'amu, QB Logan Thomas, S Anthony Walters, RB Kerwynn Williams

Atlanta Falcons

S Sean Baker, QB Rex Grossman, LB Terrell Manning, DE Cliff Matthews, TJake Rodgers, G Jared Smith, CB Kevin White, QB T.J. Yates, LB Derek Akunne, OL Pierce Burton, CB Akeem King, OL Eric Lefeld, LB Stansly Maponga, DT Joey Mbu, WR Carlton Mitchell, LB Tyler Ctarr, OL Adam Replogle, RB Jerome Smith, TE D.J. Tialavea

Baltimore Ravens

ILB Andrew Bose, WR Daniel Brown, T Blaine Clausell, WR Tom Nelson, CB Quinton Pointer, WR Jeremy Butler, CB Asa Jackson, OL Jah Reid, OG Robert Myers, CB Cassius Vaughn, LBBrennen Beyer, OG Kaleb Johnson, RB Terrence Magee, RB Fitzgerald Toussaint, FB Kiero Small, TEKonrad Reuland, QB Bryn Renner, S Nick Perry, DE DeAngelo Tyson, DT Micajah Reynolds 

Buffalo Bills

 DE IK Enemkpali, QB Matt Cassel, LB Quentin Groves, QB Matt Simms, OL William Campbell, FB John Conner, WR Andre Davis, DT Andre Fluellen, RB Bronson Hill, OL Darryl Johnson, OL Alex Kupper, DE B.J. Larsen, WR Dezmin Lewis, CB Merrill Noel, WR Tobais Palmer, G Cyril Richardson, RB Cierre Wood, DT Red Bryant, C Dalton Freeman, S Jonathan Meeks, LB Kevin Reddick

Carolina Panthers

DT Chas Alecxih, S Marcus Ball, WR Brenton Bersin, LB Brian Blechen, WR Mike Brown, CB Carrington Byndom, WR Damiere Byrd, DE Rakim Cox, OT David Foucault, LB Adarius Glanton, CB T.J. Heath, TE Marcus Lucas, C Jordan McCray, DT Terry Redden, TE Scott Simonson, G Martin Wallace, CB Lou Young, C Brian Folkerts

Chicago Bears

LB Jonathan Anderson, LB David Bass, CB Qumain Black, G Conor Boffeli, DT Brandon Dunn, QB Zac Dysert, CB Jacoby Glenn, WR Rashad Lawrence, G Tyler Moore, G Michael Ola, TEGannon Sinclair, WR Emughedi Umodu, LB Matthew Wells, DT Terry Williams, LB Kyle Woestmann, DE David Carter, LB Mason Foster, TE Bear Pascoe, TE Dante Rosario

Cincinnati Bengals

DT Devon Still, WR Michael Bennett, OT Dan France, OT Tanner Hawkinson, CB Troy HillOG Trey Hopkins, WR Jake Kumerow, TE Matt Lengel, OT Matthew O'Donnell, K Tom Obarski, DSFloyd Raven Sr., LB Trevor Roach, C Jake Smith, RB Terrell Watson, QB Keith Wenning, RB James Wilder Jr., DT DeShawn Williams, CB Brandon Ghee, DS Keo Shiloh

Cleveland Browns

QB Thad Lewis, OL Karim Barton, QB Pat Devlin, RB Shaun Draughn, DB Landon Feichter, RB Tim Flanders, DB Kendall James, WR Darrius Jennings, OL Erle Ladson, WR Josh Lenz, WR Vince Mayle, DL Jacobbi McDaniel, OL Andrew McDonald, OL Darrian Miller, DB Robert NelsonJr., OL Vinston Painter, LB Hayes Pullard III, DB Joe Rankin, LB Mike Reilly, DB De'Ante Saunders, DLDylan Wynn, OL Eric Olsen

Dallas Cowboys

C Shane McDermott, DE Ben Gardner, FB Ray Agnew, LB Donnie Baggs, WR Clyde Gates, OT Laurence Gibson, WR Nick Harwell, WR A.J. Jenkins, LB Dakorey Johnson, RB Gus Johnson, RB Ben Malena, DE Efe Obada, C Ronald Patrick, CB Joel Ross, S Tim Scott, QB Jameill Showers, QB Dustin Vaughan, OT John Wetzel, LB Ka'Lial Glaud, CB Rod Sweeting

Denver Broncos

CB Tony Carter, DT Sione Fua, LB Zaire Anderson, LB Lamin Barrow, RB Kapri Bibbs,Isaiah Burse, C Dillon Day, S Josh Furman, G Ben Garland, TE Marcel Jensen, LB Steven Johnson, TE Dominique Jones, WR Corbin Louks, DT Chuka Ndulue, CB Taurean Nixon, OLB Gerald Rivers, OT Kyle Roberts, OT Charles Sweeton, WR Jordan Taylor, DE Josh Watson

Detroit Lions

 CB Crezdon Butler, QB Kellen Moore, RB George Winn, RB Emil Igwenagu, WR Jeremy Ross, WR Greg Salas, TE Joseph Fauria, TE Casey Pierce, OL Braxston Cave, OL Torrian Wilson, OLXavier Proctor, OL Joe Madsen, OL Al Bond, DL Larry Webster, DL Corey Wootton, DL Jermelle Cudjo, DL Jerel Worthy, DL Kerry Hyder, LB Julian Stanford, DB Isaiah Johnson, DB Brian Suite, DB Nate Ness

Green Bay Packers

WR Jared Abbrederis, LB Carl Bradford, RB John Crockett, S Jean Fanor, C Garth Gerhart, CB Tay Glover-Wright, TE Mitchell Henry, RB Rajion Neal, TE Justin Perillo, C/G Andy Phillips, DTChristian Ringo, G Matt Rotheram, LB Joe Thomas, DT Khyri Thornton, LB James Vaughters, TJeremy Vujnovich, RB Ryan White, WR Ed Williams

Houston Texans

LB Kourtnei Brown, LB Max Bullough, S Kurtis Drummond, OT Matt Feiler, C James Ferentz, DE Tevita Finau, RB Kenny Hilliard, CB Charles James, WR Damaris Johnson, S Corey Moore, DT Louis Nix III, WR EZ Nwachukwu, DE Dan Pettinato, OT Joseph Treadwell, WR Chandler Worthy, DT Brandon Deaderick, DE Fili Moala

Indianapolis Colts

DT Kelcy Quarles, G David Arkin, WR Vincent Brown, LB Daniel Adongo, QB Bryan Bennett, WR Quan Bray, WR Duron Carter, CB Chance Casey, DT Josh Chapman, LB Carlos Fields, DT Montori Hughes, OT Ulrick John, LB Cam Johnson, S Dewey McDonald, TE Sean McGrath, LB Henoc Muamba, G Kitt O'Brien, CB Eric Patterson, TE Erik Swoope, CB Raymon Taylor, RB Zurlon Tipton

Jacksonville Jaguars

DT Richard Ash, DE Camaron Beard, DE Nordly Capi, WR Kasey Closs, OG Will Corbin, TE Connor Hamlett, CB Jeremy Harris, DE Ike Igbinosun, RB Storm Johnson, TE Ben Koyack, WRErik Lora, DE QB Stephen Morris, OG Chris Reed, CB Rashaad Reynolds, WR Neal Sterling, LB Todd Thomas, CB Peyton Thompson, WR Tony Washington, LB Jeremiah George, S Craig Loston, OLAustin Pasztor

Kansas City Chiefs

WR Da'Ron Brown, DE Mike Catapano, S Sanders Commings, LB Ja'Gared Davis, DTHebron Fangupo, C Garrett Frye, DL David Irving, LB James-Michael Johnson, C Eric Kush, WR Tello Luckett, C Daniel Munyer, DB Deji Olatoye, G Jarrod Pughsley, RB Darrin Reaves, DB Kevin Short, OTDerek Sherrod, TE Ryan Taylor, FB Spencer Ware, WR Fredd Williams, TE Richard Gordon

Miami Dolphins

QB Josh Freeman, WR Damarr Aultman, QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, C Sam Brenner, DT Deandre Coleman, LB James Davidson, DE Emmanuel Dieke, RB Mike Gillislee, WR Cobi Hamilton, OT Donald Hawkins, LB Mike Hull, DT Anthony Johnson, S Don Jones, G/T Michael Liedtke, LB Jeff Luc, TE Tim Semisch, TE Jake Stoneburner, K Caleb Sturgis, S Cedric Thompson

Minnesota Vikings

OT Babatunde Aiyegbusi, DT Chigbo Anunoby, DE B.J. DuBose, G Isame Faciane, C Tom Farniok, WR Donte Foster, WR Isaac Fruechte, S Anthony Harris, RB DuJuan Harris, DT Greg Hickman, DE Leon Mackey, LB Michael Mauti, LB Brian Peters, CB Shaun Prater, FB Blake Renaud, CB Josh Thomas, OT Tyrus Thompson, C Bob Vardaro, LB Brandon Watts, WR Ryan Whalen, RBDominique Williams, OL David Yankey

New England Patriots

WR Reggie Wayne, RB Jonas Gray, TE Jake Bequette, CB Justin Coleman, RB Tony Creecy, WR Zach D'Orazio, WR DaVaris Daniels, OL Ryan Groy, OL Caylin Hauptmann, QB Ryan Lindley, OL Chris Martin, LB James Morris, DL A.J. Pataiali'i, DL Casey Walker, TE Asante Cleveland, LB Darius Fleming, CB Robert McClain, DL Zach Moore, WR Jalen Saunders, DB Justin Coleman, LBXzavier Dickson, S Brandon King

New Orleans Saints 

LB Parys Haralson, LB Justin Anderson, RB Edwin Baker, T Nick Becton, TE Orson Charles, LB Henry Coley, LB Jerry Franklin, G Mike Golic, QB Ryan Griffin, T Bryce Harris, T Sean Hickey, K Dustin Hopkins, DB Stanley Jean-Baptiste, WR Seantavius Jones, G Cyril Lemon, TE Chris Manhertz, RB Toben Opurum, DB Sammy Seamster, S Pierre Warren

New York Giants

WR James Jones, P Steve Weatherford, K Chris Boswell, FB Henry Hynoski, LB Ashlee Palmer, TE Adrien Robinson, LB Jameel McClain, CB Chykie Brown, S Jeromy Miles, OL Adam Gettis, OL Emmett Cleary, OL Sean Donnelly, WR Julian Talley, RB Kenneth Harper, QB Ricky Stanzi, DL Dominique Hamilton, DL Brad Bars, LB Cole Farrand, DB Chandler Fenner, DB C.J. Conway, WR Corey Washington

New York Jets

DE Jason Babin, QB Matt Flynn, QB Josh Johnson, WR Shaquelle Evans, WR Chris Owusu, WR Walt Powe, TE Arthur Lynch, TE Wes Saxton, RB Daryl Richardson, FB Julian Howsare, OL Charles Brown, OL Wes Johnson, DL Ronald Talley, DL Jordan Williams, LB Deion Barnes, LBTaiwan Jones, LB Joe Mays, CB Keon Lyn, S Durell Eskridge

Oakland Raiders

RB George Atkinson III, G Mitch Bell, RB Michael Dyer, LB Spencer Hadley, DE Shelby Harris, T Dan Kistler, TE Brian Leonhardt, DT Ricky Lumpkin, S Tevin McDonald, DT Leon Orr, LBJosh Shirley, K Giorgio Tavecchio, DE Max Valles, DE Gary Wilkins, WR Devon Wylie, WR Kris Durham, S Taylor Mays, QB Christian Ponder, DL C.J. Wilson

Philadelphia Eagles

QB Tim Tebow, WR Rasheed Bailey, OL Brett Boyko, OL Malcolm Bunche, CB Randall Evans, TE Andrew Gleichert, LB Najee Goode, WR Jeff Maehl, WR Freddie Martino, DE Brian Mihalik, OL John Moffitt, RB Raheem Mostert, WR Quron Pratt, S Chris Prosinski, DT Travis Raciti, S Ed Reynolds, LB Deontae Skinner, P Kip Smith, TE Eric Tomlinson, OL Julian Vandervelde, LB Diaheem Watkins, DB Jaylen Watkins

Pittsburgh Steelers

RB Jawon Chisholm, RB Josh Harris, DL Matt Conrath, DL Ethan Hemer, DL Mike Thornton, S Jordan Dangerfield, S Alden Darby, S Gerod Holliman, OL Reese Dismukes, OL B.J. Finney, OL Doug Legursky, CB Kevin Fogg, CB B.W. Webb, LB L.J. Fort, LB Shayon Green, LBHoward Jones, WR Shakim Phillips, WR Jarrod West

St. Louis Rams

LB Jo-Lonn Dunbar, T Isaiah Battle, TE Alex Bayer, WR Emory Blake, RB Malcolm Brown, S Christian Bryant, TE Justice Cunningham, QB Austin Davis, DT marcus Forston, CB Montell Garner, S Jacob Hagen, DE Martin Ifedi, C Barrett Jones, FB Zach Laskey, DE Matt Longacre, LB Marshall McFadden, CB Brandon McGee, CB Trovan Reed, WR Daniel Rodriguez, DT Louis Trinca-Pasat, GBrandon Washington

San Diego Chargers

K Nick Novak, CB Richard Crawford, OL Kenny Wiggins, LB Chi Chi Ariguzo, CB Richard Crawford, CB Greg Ducre, WR Javontee Herndon, G Michael Huey, S Johnny Lowdermilk, CB Jordan Mabin, LB Ryan Mueller, TE Brian Parker, S Adrian Phillips, CB Lowell Rose, RB Dreamius Smith, QB Brad Sorensen, DT Damion Square, LB Colton Underwood, G Kenny Wiggins, WR Austin Pettis, TE John Phillips

San Francisco 49ers

WR Issac Blakeney, S Craig Dahl, DT Darnell Dockett, G Joe Looney, OL Patrick Miller, LB Philip Wheeler, WR DiAndre Campbell, CB Marcus Cromartie, G/C Dillon Farrell, RB Kendall Gaskins, TE Xavier Grimble, CB Leon McFadden, LB Nick Moody, DT Kaleb Ramsey, OL Justin Renfrow, DL Marcus Rush, DT Garrison Smith, QB Dylan Thompson, G Andrew Tiller, S Jermaine Whitehead

Seattle Seahawks

RB Robert Turbin, CB Will Blackmon, TE Anthony McCoy, LB Tyrell Adams, TE RaShaun Allen, QB R.J. Archer, DE Obum Gwacham, S Keenan Lambert, DT T.Y. McGill, CB Douglas McNeill III, S Ronald Martin Jr., G KeaVon Milton, S Ryan Murphy, G/C Will Pericak, LB Eric Pinkins, OT Terry Poole, LB Alex Singleton, WR Kevin Smith, RB Rod Smith, DE Julius Warmsley, WR Kasen Williams

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

K Connor Barth, DE Da'Quan Bowers, LB Larry Dean, DE Lawrence Sidbury, CB Jude Adjei-Barimah, WR Kaelin Clay, T Edawn Coughman, DE Ryan Delaire, CB Brandon Dixon, WRDonteea Dye, CB Isaiah Frey, OL Garrett Gilkey, S Chris Hackett, LB Khaseem Greene, LB Josh Keyes, WR Tavarres King, QB Seth Lobato, DT Caushaud Lyons, K Patrick Murphy, OL Patrick Omameh

Tennessee Titans

FB Zach Boren, CB Ri'Shard Anderson, C Gabe Ikard, DB Khalid Wooten, DB Jemea Thomas, DL Isaako Aaitui, WR Josh Stewart, LB Andy Studebaker and LB Kaelin Burnett, WR Hakeem Nicks, T Byron Stingily, G Josue Matias, T/G Will Poehls, WR Tre McBride, WR Rico Richardson, RBDavid Fluellen, QB