AFC East
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| Photo from thirddownconversion.com |
Miami Dolphins: Daniel Thomas, RB - Daniel Thomas was a second-round pick in 2011. When healthy, he has been featured in Miami's lousy backfield, but has failed to provide the ground punch Miami seeks. The Dolphins sought help in free agency by signing Knowshon Moreno fresh off a breakout season with the Broncos. Moreno and Lamar Miller are expected to see the lion's share of halfback reps this season, leaving Thomas to struggle with UDFA Damien Williams for his job.
New England Patriots: Stevan Ridley, RB - No, seriously. Earlier this week, Mike Reiss of ESPN Boston projected that Brandon Bolden, practice squad veteran Jonas Gray, and UDFA James White would round out the Patriots backfield behind Shane Vereen, with fumble-prone Stevan ridley being cut. It would certainly be a surprising move, even for the unpredictable likes of Bill Belichick. I would expect Bolden or Gray to be the more likely odd man out, but there's really no knowing with the Patriots.
New York Jets: Stephen Hill, WR - Hill has been one of the most disappointing draft picks of the Rex Ryan era, taken in the early second round of the 2012 draft. The reports speculating that Hill is either on the trade block--or worse, the roster bubble--have been relentless. I could see a very desperate team (like the Panthers) making a low-risk trade for Hill, but if there are no takers, there is a good chance he gets a visit from the Turk.
AFC North
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| Photo by Matthew Emmons, US Presswire |
Cincinnati Bengals: BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB - There are two huge factors working against "the Law Firm" and his bid to make final cuts with Cincinnati. One, he is overpaid for the contribution he offers. Green-Ellis is making better than two million dollars, heading into his age-29 season, which is the other factor: his age. The Bengals' drafting of Jeremy Hill is a not-so-subtle way of indicating that Green-Ellis is done with the Bengals. I doubt they will spend $2.3 million to keep Green-Ellis on the bench.
Cleveland Browns: Chris Ogbonnaya, RB/FB - My confidence in aging veterans Rex Grossman and Jim Leonhard is not all that high, but I think their rosters chances are better than Ogbonnaya's. Chris Ogbonnaya has had ample opportunity to break out, with the injury bug annually wreaking havoc on Cleveland's backs (Peyton Hillis, Montario Hardesty, Dion Lewis), but he has failed to do so. With Dion Lewis healthy and showing well in camp, Ogbonnaya's roster chances appear slim.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Darrius Heyward-Bey, WR - Darrius Heyward-Bey has taken on a lot of undue pressure since he was a top-ten draft-pick by the Al Davis Raiders. The selection of DHB was one of the last acts of Al Davis that led many speculators to seriously wonder if the old man was senile. He could've had Crabtree; he took Heyward-Bey. Now, Darrius is on his third team, fighting Lance Moore for a spot. He did have a pretty TD grab in the preseason to help his cause.
AFC South
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| Photo by Phil Sears, USA Today |
Indianapolis Colts: Zach Kerr, DT - When Arthur Jones went down in Indianapolis' dress rehearsal against New Orleans, the undrafted rookie Kerr was thrust into action with the first-teamers. Kerr played pretty much the remainder of the game and--I thought--showed well. The extent of Jones' injury is unknown, but Kerr's performance in the fourth and final preseason game will tell us whether or not he can be trusted as the first man up behind Jones.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Allen Hurns, WR - I don't even think one may consider Hurns a "fringe player" any longer. He has been an absolute stud in preseason (Blake Bortles has made him look good). How is this for a preseason statline: 13 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown, with a 17.7 YPC average? In the Florida Times-Union, Jags coach Gus Bradley called Hurns a "diamond in the rough." I would not be surprised to see Hurns outdo Mike Brown for a roster spot.
Tennessee Titans: Colin McCarthy, ILB - OK, so we aren't going to get any answers on Colin McCarthy tonight. The inside linebacker is already on injured reserve (again). The question is, is this the last straw. McCarthy has been injured for more games than he has been healthy, and the new regime in Tennessee has to have the walking-injury on a short leash already due to his history of fragility. McCarthy has all-star potential when healthy--but he never is. He might have played his last down as a Titan.
AFC West
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| Photo by Andy Lyons, Getty Images |
Kansas City Chiefs: A.J. Jenkins, WR - A high draft pick by the 49ers in 2012, it did not take the 49ers long to give up on Jenkins and exchange their underwhelming receiver for Kansas City's, Jon Baldwin. Baldwin has already gone on to be released by San Francisco, and I would not be surprised to see A.J. Jenkins meet the same fate in Kansas City. He is behind Dwayne Bowe, Donnie Avery, Junior Hemingway, and Frankie Hammond on the depth chart.
Oakland Raiders: Jack Crawford, DE - This is another case of simply not hearing from a player for so long that it becomes disconcerting. Crawford has been unable to climb the depth chart in his two seasons with Oakland, and remains buried beneath free-agency haul Lamarr Woodley, Justin Tuck, and C.J. Wilson. Greg Little might be another interesting candidate for release. Having already worn out his welcome in receiver-needy Cleveland, it's difficult to imagine Little having any more luck in Oakland.
San Diego Chargers: Marion Grice, RB - The Bolts beat me to the punch and released first-round bust Larry English before I could write this article. Marion Grice is a sixth-round pick out of Arizona State, but has been very unimpressive in OTA's, training camp, and exhibition work. His spot on the depth chart will likely go to the undrafted Branden Oliver out of Buffalo, who has vastly outperformed Grice in the preseason.
NFC East
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| Photo by Patrick Semansky, AP |
New York Giants: Corey Washington, WR - Like Allen Hurns in Jacksonville, Washington has come out of nowhere to challenge his elders for a role in the offense. Nine catches, 152 yards, and four touchdowns into this preseason, Washington is likely to get the nod over veterans Mario Manningham and Preston Parker. Much like Victor Cruz a few years ago, Washington may well be on his way from preseason standout to legitimate receiving threat with the G-Men.
Philadelphia Eagles: Casey Matthews, ILB - Forever doomed to be "Clay's brother," Casey was handed a starting job straight out of the University of Oregon in 2011. He did not man it well, and ever since then, he has been relegated to backup duties. I am honestly surprised he has made it this far without being cut. Some other intriguing possible cuts include 6'7" WR Ifeanyi Momah, and former first-round pick Brandon Graham, an under-utilized edge rusher with trade potential.
Washington Redskins: Kai Forbath, K - When a team uses a draft pick on a kicker, the incumbent has received his death sentence. Washington drafted the big-legged Zach Hocker in the sixth round of May's draft, and the ensuing kicking battle has gone down to the wire. I have a hard time believing, however, that Washington would trash a draft pick, effectively investing faith in a kicker of questionable reliability like Forbath. Along with RB Evan Royster, longtime wideout Santana Moss may also finally meet his doom in the coming days.
NFC North
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| Photo by Brian Peterson, StarTribune |
Detroit Lions: Michael Egnew, TE - Freshly cut from the Dolphins, the former third-round pick is getting a second chance with the Lions, who claimed the bust off of waivers earlier this week. I don't know why; the Lions are very deep at tight end with Brandon Pettigrew, Eric Ebron, and Joseph Fauria. I suppose the Lions are hoping to see a flash of the brilliance that made Egnew a third-round pick out of Missouri. The chances are not good.
Green Bay Packers: Derek Sherrod, T - Another mega-bust, Sherrod inherited the right tackle spot in Green Bay after the retirement of Chad Clifton in 2011. Before he could get his career off the ground, however, Sherrod succumbed to a plague of injuries from which he is only now emerging. Had swing tackle Don Barclay not gone down to an ACL tear earlier in the offseason, Sherrod would possibly already be gone.
Minnesota Vikings: Christian Ponder, QB - Once the future of the franchise, Ponder has been a dreadful failure in Minnesota. His three-year "trial run" has expired and I think it is obvious that the Vikings need to go in another direction at quarterback, whether it be Matt Cassel or Teddy Bridgewater. Of course, with starting experience, Ponder may yet make the team, but as no better than a third-string quarterback in the case of an emergency.
NFC South
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| Photo from cbssports.com |
Carolina Panthers: Joe Webb, QB/WR - Carrying three quarterbacks is not in fashion these days. A week ago, I might have told you that Carolina would only carry two (Cam Newton and Derek Anderson), but Newton is earning the inauspicious title of "injury-prone," thanks to the row of turnstiles posing as his "offensive line," and his somewhat reckless mobility. Additionally, Newton has looked awful in preseason. It might behoove the Panthers to keep the versatile Webb--who has starting experience--on their roster.
New Orleans Saints: Shayne Graham, K - This is a case of someone just getting beat, plain-and-simply. Graham has made a career out of taking over as placekicker for desperate teams when injury or inefficiency struck their first options. By the looks of it, he will have to continue making his living this way, as the Saints seem poised to go with the younger, stronger Derek Dimke at kicker in 2014. Graham might get a look in Denver or Tennessee.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Da'Quan Bowers, DE - It doesn't seem like that long ago Da'Quan Bowers was considered a top-five draft pick. That was actually 2011. About a week before that year's draft, word got out that Bowers had some serious knee issues, and the Clemson All-Pro would not be drafted until the second round. Though round two turned out to still be way too high, a top-five selection would have made Bowers one of the biggest busts of all time. His continuous injuries imperil his roster spot.
NFC West
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| Photo by Stephen Brashear, AP |
San Francisco 49ers: Stevie Johnson, WR - Johnson was supposed to be the No. 3 wideout when San Francisco traded for him early in the offseason. That was before Brandon Lloyd showed up and proved that he wasn't washed up; before the Niners fell in love with rookie Bruce Ellington; and before Johnson established a rapport with Kaepernick--which he still hasn't. Quinton Patton worked ahead of Johnson in the preseason dress rehearsal.
Seattle Seahawks: Terrelle Pryor, QB - If the Seahawks carry only two QB's, Tarvaris Jackson is likely to be the guy to back up Russell Wilson. Told by Pete Carroll that he has had his best camp as a Seahawk, Jackson has held off Pryor, who would probably fare better on the market anyway. I feel like Buffalo would snatch him up in a heartbeat if he gets cut; the Bills are scrambling to find a backup to E.J. Manuel, who is already one of the league's worst starting quarterbacks.
St. Louis Rams: Austin Pettis, WR - How many JAG's can one team have? The Rams have not had a true-blue star wide receiver since the days of the Greatest Show on Turf. St. Louis is hoping Kenny Britt can reach that level now that he is reunited with Jeff Fisher, while they hold out hope that former second-round pick Brian Quick lives up to his draft position. Tavon Austin and Stedman Bailey are the next men up, leaving Austin Pettis and the once-promising Chris Givens to fight it out over the final receiver slot.
Whew, that was a lot more difficult than I exptected. Welcome, welcome regular season. Goodbye fake, preseason football!
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