NFL Weekend: Roster Cutdown Carnage Looming

It's week #3 of the NFL preseason. Training camps are in wind down mode, and coaches have begone to sort out who'll be on their final roster on Sept. 5th, at 4pm Eastern Time...

I liked the article by Joel Cory over at CBS Sports.

He touches on how agents try to glean where their clients stand before the final roster cuts, so it's pretty interesting. Yet, I almost feel bad - if not downright insensitive - after reading it, then moving on to write my own piece about what's about to start happening this coming Tuesday, Sept. 1st, at 4pm ET. What's with the "4pm" thing? These young men are going to hear they've been cut right before the dinner hours. "Yes, you don't have an NFL future, but we're telling you now so you don't kack-up a nice meal..."

...Is it just me who shakes his head at the pending "Tebow-watch" in Philadelphia?

Literally thousands of Tim Tebow fans will be holding their collective breathes as they wait to hear if he's made the cut with the Eagles. Why? A great college player - who had his 15 minutes of fame with Denver - really has no business even being considered for an NFL roster spot. Don't get me wrong: I truly respect Tebow's love of the game and his off season efforts. But I don't think I've ever seen a quarterback who throws as bad as he does at the NFL level. I have to tip my hat to his fans too. No one will ever call them fair weather fans...

Would it be all that shocking to see Robert Griffin III's name pop up on the Washington cut list?

It won't happen, but I'm with a growing number of NFL sports writers wondering when this saga will end. When RGIII came into the league, his talent burned hotter than the noon-day sun. Then? Well, I don't have to tell you what happened, do I? Injuries, draft picks traded away, and coaches who just didn't mesh with Griffin will be the core of this tale that'll be spun and told for years to come. Today though, it honestly makes sense for Washington to part ways with Griffin. Even though I'm not sure just how great the Redskins' options are at quarterback right now, Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy at least offer their fans less drama...

Pawns, and camp bodies...

While they're really only invited to NFL training camps to be human tackling dummies for the most part, these unsung young men will quietly shift back to off field every day life after September 1st. Believe it or not, some will be back in one NFL training camp or another next year... And the year after that too... Whether it's belief in themselves, or outright denial of what their reality truly is, I'll leave that for you to suss out.  Yet they're a crucial part of how the NFL forms itself up every year, even though theses bit-part players never receive their due. Reminds me of...

Coaching hot seats? Already?

I wonder which college football coach will be crowned the next heir to the rumor throne? It's coming, and sooner than many think. A few NFL coaches - See: Jay Gruden - are already being mentioned as resting on their job's razors edge. But whatever happens, don't call an NFL coach fat!:

"I listen to it a little bit, I read a little bit; some articles. I have to be up to date so when I come up here I know what is going on," Jay Gruden said via CSN Washington. "And I really dislike the guy who called me a fat a--, that really ticked me off. I don't mind you critiquing my coaching style but to make fun of my weight, that's unfair. I'm only 225. Jesus."

With running backs returning to the flavour du jour once again, look for the St. Louis Rams current stable to be watched closely by teams in need of ball carriers.

If Benny Cunningham or Trey Watts hit the open market, they'll be snapped up in a heart beat. Cunninham may be less of a lock to make the St. Louis roster than many would think. The Rams have loads of kick-returner possibilities, so that small niche may be less of a reason to keep Cunningham. Plus, the Rams' Jeff Fisher may need to keep a more than normal number of offensive linemen around. He needs to find room somewhere, and their packed running back stable could take a hit. Watts is an intriguing prospect who just can't get the first team stage time in St. Louis. Look for a team like Pittsburgh, New England or Buffalo to covet him for his running style...

Have a great weekend!

You can find/follow me on Twitter: @thenovelroad