Cut-day wrap-up: Tuna's blunders, bungling Broncos, QB youth
The final cuts in the NFL tell a lot of stories. Some are feel-good. Some are heartbreak.
Some are football decisions gone wrong. So here's a look at some of the happenings as teams cut down to 53 players Saturday.
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| Bill Parcells isn't the all-knowing guru that he makes himself out to be. (US Presswire) |
Take a look at the teams with the best quarterbacks. They have a star and not much behind them.
If you say you have two, you have none. The good teams have one, and if those starters go down for any length of time the season is over. So what's the point of paying a veteran backup?
That's the tactic used by the New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts and now the New Orleans Saints. The Saints opted to keep Chase Daniel behind Drew Brees. The Colts have Curtis Painter behind Peyton Manning. The Patriots have Brian Hoyer behind Tom Brady.
Is it risky? You bet. But when Brady went down and Matt Cassel came in a couple of years ago and led the Patriots to a respectful record, New England wasn't really a factor to win it all anyway.
Teams with star passers aren't playing to make the playoffs. They're playing to win it all. I like the trend. Like I often say: If you say you have two quarterbacks, you have none.
Bill Parcells isn't the genius after all
With so many members of the media genuflecting at the seat of Bill Parcells, it's time we pointed out that he didn't invent the game of football like he thinks -- or many in the media want you to think.
In 2009, Parcells drafted quarterback Pat White in the second round and receiver Patrick Turner in the third, even though White was never going to be a quarterback in the NFL. It was a stupid pick.
The minute I saw White in a minicamp for the Dolphins, I uttered this phrase: He is a how-not-to on playing quarterback. Turner never panned out, even though he looked the part.
Parcells gagged on those two picks. But you'll hear little about that. It's not wise to rip on The Tuna.
But I can tell you this: Those two picks smell worse than any rotten fish.
Nice pick, Josh
In the 2009 draft, the Broncos traded a 2010 first-round pick to have the chance to draft corner Alphonso Smith with the 37th pick in the second round.
The Broncos traded Smith to Detroit for tight end Dan Gronkowski Saturday. They did so with the idea that Smith might not have made the final roster anyway.
That's simply a terrible move made by Broncos wiz-kid Josh McDaniels. It ranks up there with getting rid of Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall, cutting up one of the best pass-catching combos from a few years ago.
The pick the Broncos traded ended up being the 14th overall in the first round. Seattle, which made the deal, drafted safety Earl Thomas with the pick. He will start for them as a rookie.
McDaniels added to his busts when he released defensive end Jarvis Green, who the team signed to a four-year deal this spring. Green takes a $2.5 million signing bonus out the door.
Owner Pat Bowlen must love that.
This is what happens when a coach gets way too much power.
Here's Rusty
I liked Rusty Smith a lot coming out of FAU. The Titans love their new quarterback as well, which is why they sent Chris Simms packing Saturday.
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Smith, who played at FAU, really impressed the Titans. I asked Jeff Fisher about him at camp, and Fisher said he's smart and he keeps his eyes up in the face of a rush, which is a must for a young quarterback.
Keep an eye on this kid. He gets it. If Vince Young fades, Smith could be the quarterback of the future. Don't laugh.
Another young passer impresses
The Cardinals cut Matt Leinart -- a move I don't agree with because I don't think Derek Anderson is the answer. But maybe Max Hall can be. He is a rookie free agent who has impressed during the summer.
Hall sees the field. He comes from an up-tempo, pro-style offense and he's an older player at 24.
Maybe he's the answer down the road. The Cardinals didn't think Leinart was. And I don't think Anderson is.
T.J. can't run
The Seahawks cutting receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh might be a surprise, but let's face it. It wasn't a good move when they signed him.
You don't pay receivers who can't run. Houshmandzadeh can't run, which limited his ability to make plays down the field.
Shortly after Seattle signed him in 2009, Houshmandzadeh made my list of overrated players.
Here's what I had to say: He averaged less than 10 yards per catch last season. He's a No. 2 receiver at best.
Now he's not even that, another dud on the resume of former GM Tim Ruskell.
By the way, Michael Clayton, another receiver who can't run, was let go by Tampa Bay Saturday. His career once looked so bright after an impressive rookie year, but it went downhill quickly. He had trouble staying into the work, according to team sources.
Running backs come and then they go -- quickly
Willie Parker was a Super Bowl star after the 2005 season. He then went to consecutive Pro Bowls.
Now he's looking for work. The Redskins released Parker Saturday, which leaves his career in doubt as he readies to turn 30.
Parker is yet another example of how quickly running backs get used up. So enjoy them when you can. They won't be around for long.
Don't think your team is done
Even though teams must be down to 53, the rosters aren't set. Many players will be picked up in the next day or two, meaning somebody has to go.
So if you're a back-end player on a roster, it might not be wise to celebrate. You could still go.
Quick hitters
• Safety Myron Rolle, cut by the Titans, needs to find something else to do. He is so smart and he isn't a fluid football player. He never made plays at FSU. But he might be President of the United States someday. Jeff Fisher might have cut the future Prez.
• Matt Jones never cared enough. A former first-round pick of the Jaguars, Jones was cut by the Bengals Saturday. Jones worked his way back after legal troubles, but he still looked lackadaisical when I watched him camp. What a waste.
• The Bengals cut 2009 third-round pick Chase Coffman. They thought he might develop into a pass-catching tight end, but he wasn't sudden enough and he wasn't tough enough as a blocker.
• Sam Bradford will start for the Rams. Really? This was a done deal a long time ago. It was so obvious watching him practice. Even if A.J. Feeley doesn't get hurt, Bradford starts the opener. Why not? What's there to lose?
• I can't believe the Steelers are leaning toward starting Charlie Batch when Ben Roethlisberger is out. Hey, Dennis Dixon didn't do much in the preseason, but didn't Batch throw passes to Charlie Sanders in Detroit? Isn't he that old?
