NFL Rumors: Who's Getting Cut, Which Teams Are Looking to Deal?
It's a great time to be a football fan if you like trying to figure out who is going where and who is going to make the final 53-man roster list.
It's a not-so-great time if you are one of the bubble players that might or might not make the final list.
Over the weekend, games were played and some guys excelled and solidified their positions.
And some guys did not.
Here's a list of the rumors we hear going around.
What have you heard?
Is Donovan McNabb Seriously Hurt?
1 of 10
ESPN and several other sources reported over the weekend that McNabb's ankle is going to keep him out of the final preseason game.
That isn't big news because quite a few starters play limited or no minutes in the final tuneup.
But the news that was big was that McNabb might not be ready for the season opener versus the Dallas Cowboys.
Which means Rex Grossman might get the start.
Now reports are that maybe McNabb isn't hurt that badly and this is all a smokescreen.
Shanahan won't say much except that his starting QB is day to day.
But then again, aren't we all?
*(Stolen from Dan Patrick, circa 2003).
Antonio Bryant Is Cut from Bengals and Might Not Play Again?
2 of 10
Wide receiver Antonio Bryant signed a four-year, $28 million contract in March with the Cincinnati Bengals.
They cut him five months later without him ever seeing the field. Sure that probably happens a lot, but how about the fact that $8 million of his contract was guaranteed?
They paid him $8 million to watch practice for a few months and then go home.
I promise all of you out there, as out of shape as I am, I could freaking do that!
The word is, since it is an uncapped salary cap year the Bengals won't take a hit, so they just said good riddance.
Still, they must think his offseason knee surgery didn't work and that his knee is pretty jacked up to pat a guy on the back, slip him eight mill and tell him to have a safe flight home.
Wow.
Welcome Back, Adalius Thomas?
3 of 10
Adalius Thomas might be reuniting with Rex Ryan, who he played for when both were with the Baltimore Ravens.
Thomas might be needed to temporarily replace injured linebacker Calvin Pace.
Thomas is a free agent but according to one of my favorite writers, Peter King, he won't sign with the Jets, even if they do want him, until after Week 1.
Because as Mr. King points out, if a veteran is signed prior to Week 1, his salary is fully guaranteed for the season.
Anytime after that, only the portion of the contract that's negotiated to be guaranteed has to be paid if the player is cut.
That means if they need to cut him during the season, they won't have to pay more than he has earned.
Gotta save those dollars.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Is Maroney the Starter or the Next Man Cut?
4 of 10
The word out of New England is...no word.
Bill Belichick isn't saying anything. But the lack of carries for Laurence Maroney is speaking.
And with Fred Taylor, Sammy Morris, and crowd favorites BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Kevin Faulk all getting carries, Maroney might be one of the bigger names that gets cut.
Or he could be starting.
A Big-Name Kicker Will Be Cut...Probably
5 of 10
Former Cincinnati kicker Shayne Graham is in a battle with Billy Cundiff for the kicking job over in Baltimore.
Both are longtime vets but Cundiff is said to have the lead because his kickoffs have been better.
You figure 25 or so kickers come out of college every year and there are probably 50-60 guys hovering around the league every year.
So there is probably one kicking job opportunity for every three to four pro-ready kickers.
Tough gig.
Did Tim Tebow Move up on the Depth Chart?
6 of 10
It's the question everyone in Denver and beyond want to know.
Who is the No. 2 guy behind Kyle Orton going into the season?
In the last preseason game, Tebow played most of the second half, going 5-for-10 with 72 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Meanwhile Brady Quinn barely played and only went 1-for-2, for minimal yards and was sacked on a Steelers blitz.
Did Quinn get a fair shake?
Is it official that Tebow has moved up?
Pat White Might Be the Odd Man out
7 of 10
Pat White will always be a West Virginia Mountaineer legend.
But that doesn't mean much to the Miami Dolphins.
They don't need him to run the "Wild Cat," they have Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown for that.
And they don't need him to back up Chad Henne.
They have Chad Pennington and Tyler Thigpen to do that.
So unless he moves to wide receiver...
Good News Might Be Coming for Pittsburgh
8 of 10
The word everywhere is that Commissioner Goodell will most likely meet with Ben Roethlisberger after the final preseason game to knock his suspension down from six games to four.
Which is really good if you have seen how the Steelers' offense has looked lately.
Dennis Dixon most like lost any chance at the starting quarterback spot with his two picks in the last game against the Broncos.
A Big Name Running Back Has to Get Cut in Washington
9 of 10
The Redskins have a few big-name backs (Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker) on their roster.
But because Shanahan has always liked to keep a bit of youth at the spot, a guy like Ryan Torrain will most likely make the cut.
Which means one of the big three will not. Portis is the starter so he's safe.
Willie Parker started the last preseason game, and didn't do much.
Parker ran eight times for 16 yards and no catches. Hmm.
Johnson ran nine times for 42 yards and caught a 15-yard touchdown.
Maybe Parker shouldn't make any long-term D.C plans.
Days Numbered for Deion Branch?
10 of 10
Mike Williams led the Seahawks in receiving this past preseason game and appears to be building a chemistry with Matt Hasselbeck.
He caught three passes for 54 yards, including a 42-yard catch.
Will he be starting soon? And will Pete Carrol go with the youth movement by playing rookie Golden Tate more?
If that happens, where does the oft-injured Branch stand?
In Branch's defense, he also caught a 42-yarder.
But he gets paid a lot more money than the other guys.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")