NFL teams have until 4:00 pm ET on Saturday to cut their rosters from 90 to 53. That will mean the hopes and dreams of 1,184 young men will get a kick to the man region. And while that hurts, it doesn't necessarily mean their journey is over. I mean, there's always the Jets.
Am I right, Devin Lucien, Austin Carr, D.J. Foster?
Maybe Lucien, Carr, and Foster will get lucky and Bill Belichick will trade them somewhere that isn't a dumpster fire at a railroad crossing with a freight train barreling down the tracks. Unlikely, but then, when one dream ends another begins, even if that happens to be in Jacksonville.
I find myself feeling a whole lot better about a tag-and-trade scenario with Jimmy Garoppolo next year after Jacoby Brissett's impressive performance in Thursday night's preseason finale. Yes, he was playing against backups and future practice squad wannabees but he put up the kind of numbers you want to see in those circumstances. A 28/39/341/4/1 slash line looks good regardless of the opponent. Throw in his rushing TD and Brissett had a hand in 30 of the Patriots 38 points. He also looked at home in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage.
I've been saying for a while that the Patriots have the two best quarterbacks in the AFC East in Brady and Garoppolo. (To all the Dolphins fans out there talking themselves into Jay Cutler: I'll try not to say "I told you so" when Cutler tears your still beating heart from your chest with a game-losing pick-6. To all the Jets and Bills fans out there; I notice you didn't say anything.) Now I'm not thinking the Pats have the three best QBs in the AFC East but I am thinking Brissett could've won the starting job in New York. I thought Brissett's spot on the roster was safe before Thursday night. There's clearly no way Belichick cuts Brissett now, which I suppose isn't good news for the bubblicious members of the 90-man roster. Or the Jets.
A quick review of Final 53 projections does not look good for D.J. Foster or Devin Lucien and only slightly less bad for Austin Carr. Despite all the wishful thinking in those projections, none of those guys will find their way to the Patriots practice squad. Given Danny Amendola's and Malcolm Mitchell's injury history I'd want to find a spot for either Lucien or Carr on the Final 53.
Some of the more creative pigskin pundits and bobbleheads have gone with just two tight ends. Apparently unable to choose between James O'Shaughnessy and Jacob Hollister, they gave up that spot to an extra RB, WR, or DE. I think O'Shaughnessy's special teams contributions gives him a slight edge over Hollister and I think Josh McDaniels wants a true 3rd tight end so he can pass out of run formations. (Note to Roger Goodell: This is not cheating.) Not so easy to do when your 3rd tight end is swing tackle Cameron Fleming. I was impressed by O'Shaughnessy's work catching the football Thursday night and I do think he gets the nod but I'm still intrigued by Hollister as a "Big Slot."
Is Shea McClellin headed to Injured Reserve? Seems likely Cyrus Jones blew out his ACL last night. And what's up with Nate Ebner? Two - maybe three - spots that need to be filled.
There are questions at offensive tackle given Nate Solder's lack of playing time in the preseason games and the injury to rookie Anthony Garcia, also a candidate for IR. Before his gaffe on Brissett's pick-6, I would've taken Conor McDermott over LaAdrian Waddle. In the cold light of day, I'm not so sure.
Would I rather have a 5th offensive tackle - Waddle - or a 5th wide receiver - let's say Devin Lucien?
Geneo Grissom's performance Thursday night received mixed reviews; will his special teams contributions and the lack of depth at DE help him find a spot on the roster?
What of those 1,147 cuts made by the other 31 teams in the NFL? Given the Patriots position on the waiver wire, Belichick might need to give up a 6th or 7th round pick to secure the services of a punt return/backup slot receiver type.
The intrigue is endless.
It's quiet now, but things are about to get crazy. Better buy that Jonathan Freeny jersey now while there's still time.
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