Albert Haynesworth and 8 Veterans in Danger of Being Cut

There are plenty of stars who will end up as part of the scrap heap come cut day when NFL teams have to get down to 53 players.

The NFL allowed for more players to be on the initial rosters this year in anticipation of players being behind this year. That means more players who will surprise in the preseason and more guys who will ultimately end up without a job come cut day.

Teams tend to leave a spot or two open in anticipation of some big name player looking to sign somewhere on the cheap because he already got the guaranteed money.

Teams like the Steelers, Eagles, Jets, Patriots and Packers are teams where these types of veterans are most likely to sign so they can get a ring.

Here are the players most likely to be cut and looking at those five teams above to sign with so they can chase a ring.

Luke McCown, Jacksonville Jaguars

With four quarterbacks on the roster, Luke McCown is the least accomplished of the four.

David Garrard is the presumed starter. Blaine Gabbert is the presumed future. So this really comes down to Patrick Ramsey and Luke McCown.

The best-case scenario for McCown is an injury to one of the other quarterbacks. He is currently on the sidelines, and his lack of repetitions is certainly hurting his chances of making the team.

Blaine Gabbert's performance against the Patriots in the preseason at least showed he could get on the field and not throw up on himself. That means he will likely be the backup quarterback, and unless the Jags have absolutely no faith in Patrick Ramsey, it would be foolish to carry a fourth quarterback.

McCown will once again be out of the league.

Limas Sweed, Pittsburgh Steelers

The former Texas Longhorn is almost on his last leg in Pittsburgh. His inability to stay healthy is disrupting his chances of being an NFL wide receiver.

Sweed has the build to make it in the NFL and can certainly look the part when on the field, but he is never on the field. Even this offseason he is battling a hamstring injury.

The Steelers are fairly secure at receiver with Mike Wallace, Hines Ward, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown. Sweed is fighting for one of the last two receiving spots. Not being on the field is hurting his case.

Sweed had seven career catches in three seasons. Seven! That isn't exactly what teams are looking for from second-round draft picks.

Jerry Hughes, Indianapolis Colts

There is still hope for him but probably not in Indianapolis.

Jerry Hughes is still behind Robert Mathis on the depth chart and a former first-round pick should be starting in his second season unless he is replacing a Hall of Famer, which he isn't.

Hughes didn't develop quite like the Colts wanted, but neither have most of their recent first-round picks.

It's one thing to completely miss on a pick but it is another to repeat those same mistake. A team looking for a young pass-rusher might be interested in Hughes, but other than that the Colts need to cut ties.

Bill Polian won't want to do it because it means he is making mistakes, but Polian doesn't quite have the track record he once did so it might be better to admit his mistake and move on.

Ted Ginn, San Francisco 49ers

With the addition of Braylon Edwards, Ted Ginn bumps down the depth chart once again. Josh Morgan and Michael Crabtree were already ahead of him and outside of being a return man, the 49ers have no use for him.

Ginn didn't develop like the Dolphins had hoped when they drafted him ninth overall. He didn't develop like the Niners had hoped either. Turns out drafting a return man in the first round isn't a great idea. Who knew?

This is probably Ginn's last chance to make it as a receiver and that's unfortunate. Speed doesn't last forever unlike great hands or route running, so Ginn is looking at a shortened career due to his inability to develop.

Beanie Wells, Arizona Cardinals

Two seasons, 1,200 yards, nine touchdowns and five fumbles. Not exactly what you are looking for in a lead back. The Arizona Cardinals running game is putrid and drafting Ryan Williams might have been a signal to Wells to shape up or ship out.

The Cardinals pass much more than run. It's not like the quarterback situation last year warranted this trend of pass over run. It's that the Cardinals were behind more often than not and needed to get yards quick.

The other reason is the running game went no where and that is a reflection on Wells more than anything. A first-round running back should lead a team in rushing—not the team's goal line back.

Wells needs a strong performance in training camp and his preseason games to ensure a roster spot, or he will at best be a backup.

Chester Taylor, Chicago Bears

With Marion Barber resurrected from Dallas and Matt Forte firmly planted as the starter, last year's acquisition of Chester Taylor looks like a luxury rather than a necessity.

Taylor was wooed by money last year, and left Minnesota looking to bring his style of running to Chicago as a change of pace back to Matt Forte. He never really found traction though, rushing for only 267 yards.

Barber will easily replace that production and is nearly four years younger, a lifetime in running back years. There is no reason for Taylor to be on this team at the start of the season.

Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints

Pierre Thomas might be on the outside looking in in respect to the New Orleans Saints running back situation.

The Saints added Darren Sproles and Mark Ingram in the offseason, and already had Chris Ivory on the roster. Even with the loss of Reggie Bush, four running backs might be one too many in the already-crowded backfield in New Orleans.

Thomas has not been healthy over the past two seasons, and the Saints have shown virtually anyone can be plugged into their system and be productive.

With Ingram and Ivory being younger it make no sense for the Saints to keep Thomas barring an injury.

Asante Samuel, Philadelphia Eagles

It seems like this would be a bad move, but they have Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, and Samuel won't be happy as a nickel or dime corner.

There are only so many teams that will be looking for cornerbacks barring injury and teams are probably sick of the rich getting richer in Philadelphia.

Samuel would still add value to plenty of teams in the league and deserves to start, but the Eagles are probably looking to extract some value out of him. If there are no offers, there is a good likelihood that he could end up being cut.

Albert Haynesworth, New England Patriots

When your value drops to the point where you are worth no more than a fifth-round draft pick after being rewarded with $100 million contract, chances are you are on your last leg.

Albert Haynesworth isn't on this list because his skills declined. His motivation has. It looked like at one point he was going to change his ways when he got to New England. Turns out that may have been a fantasy.

Haynesworth has missed more practices than he has participated in so far and looked out of shape. Not exactly the type of impression you want to make on Bill Belichick.

Haynesworth has not cost the Patriots a dime thus far, and he has put in that type of effort. Belichick only keeps the guys who can make plays on the field. If you aren't on the field, you can't make plays. If you can't make plays, you don't make the roster in New England.

Haynesworth needs to very quickly get on the field from his injury and show he can make a difference. Otherwise, he might have just used up his last chance in New England.