NFL Roster Cuts 2011: 50 Most Surprising Releases

Just a month ago, a wave of free-agent signings and trades stormed through the NFL world, and this past weekend, yet another wave of transactions stormed through again: roster cuts. 

Each and every year, teams have to trim down their roster to 53 players, and believe it or not, it's one of the most challenging things to do. 

This past weekend saw many big-name players hit the free-agent market simply because they did not make their own respected teams.

Here are 50 of the most surprising releases of this weekend. 

Brandon Meriweather

Entering 2011, many believed that Brandon Meriweather would start alongside Patrick Chung as New England's two safeties—that will obviously not be the case.

Meriweather was cut from New England's roster and then shortly after signed with the Chicago Bears. 

John Parker Wilson

The Atlanta Falcons simply gave up on developmental quarterback John Parker Wilson, as the team will enter 2011 with only two quarterbacks on their roster, Matt Ryan and Chris Redman. 

J.P.W. threw zero touchdowns and three interceptions during the preseason. 

Kellen Clemens

Apparently John Beck and Rex Grossman are good enough to be the only two quarterbacks on the Washington Redskins roster as Kellen Clemens was released.

Clemens has a career 59.7 quarterback rating with five touchdowns thrown and 11 interceptions. 

Ricky Schmitt

The San Diego Chargers waived kicker Ricky Schmitt this past Saturday.

Schmitt, who's only played in one NFL career game for the San Francisco 49ers back in 2009, drilled his two only kicks that season.

Schmitt may get an opportunity if a kicker goes down with an injury this season. 

Stafon Johnson

Stafon Johnson's comeback story will have to happen somewhere else, as he was released by the Tennessee Titans. 

The former USC Trojan running back suffered a freak weight-lifting accident in 2009, where the barbell nearly crushed his throat. 

Brandon Tate

The new NFL kickoff rule really hurt Brandon Tate, as it was pretty much the only thing that he could offer. Tate was a very inconsistent wide receiver for the New England Patriots as he was cut from New England's roster.

Tate is now a member of the Cincinnati Bengals. 

Jacob Ford

Jacob Ford displayed decent skills as a pass rusher for the Tennessee Titans, as he's accumulated 15.5 sacks in three seasons, but was not good enough to make the Titans' final roster. 

Mardy Gilyard

Wide receiver Mardy Gilyard's time on the open market didn't last long, as he signed with the New York Jets after being cut by the St. Louis Rams.

2010 was Gilyard's rookie season as he played in 11 games while snagging six balls for 63 yards. 

Coy Wire

Coy Wire is a serviceable linebacker that can be productive in special teams—however the Atlanta Falcons decided to move on without him.

Wire played in 15 games last season for the Falcons as he racked up only 12 tackles, despite having 96 his rookie season with the Buffalo Bills in 2002. 

Shawn Nelson

Third-year tight end Shawn Nelson was cut by the Buffalo Bills this past Saturday.

Nelson is a solid tight end that does have some upside, but injuries have been a problem in his young career. Nelson has played in 18 total games making 21 receptions and scoring one touchdown. 

Tavares Gooden

The Baltimore Ravens simply didn't have enough room to hold onto Tavares Gooden.

The former Ravens linebacker is now a member of the San Francisco 49ers. 

Nick Hayden

Nick Hayden did not make the Carolina Panthers final 53-man roster as he was cut Saturday.

Hayden has played in 26 career games as he's recorded 51 tackles and two sacks. 

Chris Gronkowski

The Dallas Cowboys decided to cut running/fullback/tight end Chris Gronkowski this past weekend.

Gronkowski, who's only played one NFL season, should be picked up by some team in the next coming days. He does have upside and can be productive. 

Dante Rosario

After spending training camp and the preseason with the Denver Broncos, they simply did not like what they saw in tight end Dante Rosario. 

Rosario is now a member of the Miami Dolphins. He played for the Carolina Panthers in 2010 as he snagged 32 balls for 264 yards. 

Caleb Campbell

The former Army football player, Caleb Campbell, was released by the Detroit Lions as they made their final cuts to make the 53-man limit.

Campbell, who was a member of the Lions roster squad, played only two games in 2010 as he recorded only two tackles. 

Brandon Underwood

After winning a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers, the team decided to move on without cornerback Brandon Underwood. 

Underwood is a solid prospect that's played two seasons in the NFL as he's racked up 21 tackles in 23 games. 

Dorin Dickerson

After having a solid career at Pittsburgh, the Houston Texans parted ways with second-year wide receiver Dorin Dickerson.

Dickerson played in seven games last season for the Texans but did not make one reception. 

Donnie Avery

Donnie Avery was St. Louis' top wide receiver in 2009, as he snagged 47 passes for five touchdowns, but missed all of 2010 with a major knee injury suffered in the team's preseason battle with the New England Patriots.

Perhaps Avery's knee still isn't healthy. 

Josh McCown

Apparently the San Francisco 49ers decided to go with Kyle Williams as their third-string quarterback instead of the veteran Josh McCown. 

McCown saw limited action in the preseason, as he completed all four of his passes for 51 yards. 

Kyle Moore

Tampa Bay's fourth-round selection from 2009 simply wasn't good enough to make the final roster.

The Buccaneers cut defensive end Kyle Moore this past weekend. Moore has played in 15 career games while recording 29 tackles. 

Justin Gage

Veteran wide receiver Justin Gage was not good enough to make the Tennessee Titans' final roster.

Gage, who's entering his eight season in the NFL, played in 11 games for the Titans in 2010, making 20 receptions for 266 yards and one touchdown. 

Laurent Robinson

Wide receiver Laurent Robinson was cut by the San Diego Chargers this Saturday.

Robinson, who spent all of 2010 with the St. Louis Rams impressed all with 34 receptions for 344 yards while scoring two touchdowns.

Robinson is definitely a speedy wide receiver that should be signed in the next few days. 

Seyi Ajirotutu

Seyi Ajirotutu was San Diego's best big-player wide receiver in 2010, as he reeled in 13 balls for 262 yards, a whopping 20.2 yards-per-reception average.

After being cut by the Chargers, Ajirotutu was then picked up by the Carolina Panthers. 

Joselio Hanson

Joselio Hanson is a solid cornerback, but the Philadelphia Eagles simply didn't have enough room to keep him. The Eagles will roll with Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel and Dominique Rogers-Cromartie as their top three cornerbacks in 2011.

Hanson should be picked up rather quickly, as he's the caliber of a starter. 

Trent Edwards

If you asked me who I thought would be Oakland's backup quarterback this season, it would not be Kyle Boller, but it would be Trent Edwards—that is obviously not the case.

Edwards was released by the Raiders this past Saturday. 

Scotty McKnight

We were all well aware that Mark Sanchez and rookie wide receiver Scotty McKnight has a close relationship—but it did not pan out well on the football field.

McKnight caught only one pass, which was a 14-yard touchdown. 

Matt Dodge

It's clear that the New York Giants did not want punter Matt Dodge after his terrible punt last season against the Philadelphia Eagles, where DeSean Jackson returned it for a game-winning touchdown.

Dodge lost the punt competition against Steve Weatherford, as he was cut Saturday. 

Sammy Morris

The New England Patriots simply have a crowded backfield entering 2011 and veteran Sammy Morris was the odd man out.

New England will enter 2011 with BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, Stevan Ridley, Shane Vereen and Kevin Faulk as the team's running backs. 

Larry Johnson

Who actually thought that veteran running back Larry Johnson would actually rebound with the Miami Dolphins? He's fallen off of the map the past couple of seasons, ever since he left Kansas City.

The once-great running back known as LJ was cut Saturday. 

Tommie Harris

After signing with the Indianapolis Colts this offseason, the team decided to let go defensive tackle Tommie Harris.

Harris, who played 2010 with the Chicago Bears, recorded only 13 tackles and two sacks in 15 games. 

Reshard Langford

Reshard Langford was released by the Kansas City Chiefs this Saturday.

Langford, who's entering his second year in the NFL, played in just six games for the Chiefs in 2010 as he recorded six total tackles. 

Jaymar Johnson

Jaymar Johnson very well could just be a combine freak, as he was released by the Minnesota Vikings this past weekend.

The second-year wide receiver played in six games for the Vikings last season as he caught only one reception for nine yards—apparently the Vikings have zero faith in the youngster. 

Dan Gronkoswski

Rob Gronkowski's other brother, Dan Gronkowski of the Denver Broncos was released Saturday.

The tight end played in 12 games for Denver last season as he reeled in only eight passes for 65 yards. 

Will Allen

The Miami Dolphins decided to part ways with their cornerback Will Allen this Saturday.

Allen, who played in just six games last seasons for the Dolphins recorded 21 tackles while picking off two passes. 

Chauncey Davis

The Atlanta Falcons decided to let go of their defensive end, Chauncey Davis, this past Saturday.

Davis, who's been a rather serviceable defensive end for the Falcons, has played in all 16 games throughout his entire six-year career with the Falcons. 

Corvey Irvin

Despite entering his second-year in the NFL with a bit of upside, the Carolina Panthers parted ways with defensive tackle Corvey Irvin. 

Irvin played in only two games last season as he tallied up four tackles. 

Igor Olshansky

Igor Olshansky has always put up solid numbers for the Dallas Cowboys, as he's tallied up 78 tackles in the last two seasons in Dallas while recording one-and-a-half sacks.

Olshansky is a serviceable defensive end that should not last on the free-agent market. 

Damione Lewis

Apparently Damione Lewis was not a good fit in Wade Phillips' new 3-4 defensive scheme.

Lewis, the 11-year veteran out of Miami, was released Saturday. If any young defense needs a veteran presence along their defensive front, Lewis is a perfect candidate. 

Myron Rolle

Rookie safety out of Florida State, Myron Rolle, was not good enough to make the Tennessee Titans final 53-man roster.

Rolle, who's still got loads of upside and potential, should find himself a new team within the next few days. 

Xavier Adibi

The four-year linebacker Xavier Adibi signed with the Minnesota Vikings earlier this offseason, but was then released by the team this Saturday.

After spending 2010 with the Houston Texans, Adibi will rejoin the Texans this season, as the team claimed the linebacker off of waivers. 

Dan Orlovsky

The Indianapolis Colts wanted none of Dan Orlovsky, as the team brought in Kerry Collins to join Curtis Painter as the team's backup behind Peyton Manning.

Orlovsky has a career 71.3 quarterback rating and could find a job as a backup within the next few days. 

Sinorice Moss

Sinorice Moss' career has been troubled with injuries as he will not make the Philadelphia Eagles final roster in 2011.

Moss, who's the younger brother of Santana Moss, has to yet to play in a regular-season game since 2009. 

Micah Johnson

The Kansas City Chiefs determined that Micah Johnson was not good enough to make their final 53-man roster.

Johnson, who went undrafted in 2010, has spent time with the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants, along with the Chiefs, and simply could not make a good enough impression to stick around. 

Clint Ingram

Clint Ingram jumped onto the scene in 2006 as a rookie for the Jacksonville Jaguars as he tallied up 71 tackles. However, his numbers have been on a decline ever since.

Ingram joined the New Orleans Saints this offseason and the team obviously felt like the linebacker out of Oklahoma is not worthy of a roster spot. 

Kelley Washington

Not only is Kelley Washington a quality wide receiver but he's also a solid special teams player—but was not good enough to make the San Diego Chargers' final roster in 2011.

Washington played eight games for the Chargers last season as he reeled in 13 balls for 173 yards and one touchdown. 

Zeke Markshausen

Zeke Markshausen is somewhat undersized for a wide receiver but is definitely an athlete. 

Markshausen played his college ball at Northwestern and then was signed by the Chicago Bears, but was cut as well as being cut by the Kansas City Chiefs this past Saturday. 

The rookie may find a home on one team's practice squad. 

Dedrick Epps

The third-year tight end out of Miami, Dedrick Epps was waived by the Miami Dolphins this past weekend.

Epps, who spent 2010 with the San Diego Chargers, was released before signing with the Dolphins.

Epps has yet to play an NFL regular-season game. 

Craig Davis

Craig Davis, better known as Buster Davis, was released by the Buffalo Bills this past Saturday.

Davis, who has played four seasons in the league, all with the San Diego Chargers, has caught 51 career passes for 558 yards and only two touchdowns. 

Ogemdi Nwagbuo

The San Diego Chargers decided that defensive tackle Ogemdi Nwagbuo was not worth of one of the team's final 53 roster spots.

Nwagbuo will be entering his third year in the NFL as he's recorded 38 career tackles and two sacks for the Chargers. 

Ed Wang

Ed Wang, the Buffalo Bills' fifth-round pick from 2010 was released this past Saturday.

The 6'5" 300 lbs. offensive tackle is still an intriguing prospect that still could receive a shot at joining a team's practice squad in 2011.