And your 53 is. . . . . .

[RashanGary]

Aaron Rodgers, Graham Harrell

Benson, Green, Starks, Kuhn

Finley, Williams, Taylor, Crabtree

Nelson, Jennings, Jones, Cobb, Driver, Boykin

Newhouse, Lang, Saturday, Sitton, Bulaga, Deitrich Smith, Wells, Barclay, Van Rotten (Sherrod PUP)



Wilson, Raji, Pickett, Worthy, Daniels, Muir (Neal suspended)

Matthews, Perry, Moses, Jones, Smith, Hawk, Fancois, Manning, Lattimore (Walden knocks someone off when he comes back)

Williams, Shields, Hayward, Bush, House, Woodson, Burnett, McMillan, Levine, Richardson


Goode, Crosby, Masthay

[Joemailman]

QB (2) Rodgers, Harrell
RB (4) Benson, Green, Starks, Kuhn
WR (6) Jennings, Nelson, Driver, Jones, Cobb, Boykin
TE (4) Finley, Williams, Crabtree, Taylor
OL (9) Saturday, Dietrich-Smith, Barclay, Lang. Sitton, Bulaga, Datko, Newhouse, Sherrod
DL (6) Pickett, Worthy, Raji, Muir, Wilson, Daniels
LB (9) Francois, Hawk, Lattimore, Manning, Matthews, Moses, Perry, Smith, So'oto
DB (10) Bush, Hayward, House, Shields, Williams, Woodson, Burnett, Jennings, McMillian, Richardson
ST (3) Crosby, Masthay, Goode

[pbmax]

I don't think Ted will give up that easily but all the Twitter reporters think Manning is squarely on the bubble. McGinn chimed in Manning would be safe with 10 LBs but at 9, he's competing with Brad Jones' versatility.

Barclay declared to have outplayed Wells and is likely now the 7th lineman. Wells should/could be #8.

I hope Sherrod spends the night in Hawk's hyperbaric chamber.

[Joemailman]

I don't think Ted will give up that easily but all the Twitter reporters think Manning is squarely on the bubble. McGinn chimed in Manning would be safe with 10 LBs but at 9, he's competing with Brad Jones' versatility.

Barclay declared to have outplayed Wells and is likely now the 7th lineman. Wells should/could be #8.

I hope Sherrod spends the night in Hawk's hyperbaric chamber.

Only 3 of TT's pick in 5th round or higher didn't make the team as a rookie - Cory Rogers, David Clowney and Jamon Meredith. I think he'll take potential of a young guy over Brad Jones' established mediocrity.

[rbaloha1]

Only 3 of TT's pick in 5th round or higher didn't make the team as a rookie - Cory Rogers, David Clowney and Jamon Meredith. I think he'll take potential of a young guy over Brad Jones' established mediocrity.

Why not both? Jones is an important special teams player with the experience to play multiple lb positions.

[Brandon494]

Aaron Rodgers, Graham Harrell

Benson, Starks, Green, Saine, Kuhn

Finley, Williams, Taylor, Crabtree

Nelson, Jennings, Jones, Cobb, Driver, Gurley (I'd rather keep Boykins but I think they'll go with Gurley for special teams)

Newhouse, Lang, Saturday, Sitton, Bulaga, Deitrich Smith, Wells, Barclay


Wilson, Raji, Pickett, Worthy, Daniels, Muir

Matthews, Perry, Moses, Jones, Smith, Hawk, Francois, Walden, Lattimore

Williams, House, Shields, Hayward, Bush

Woodson, Burnett, McMillan, Jennings, Richardson

Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Brett Goode

[LegandofthePack15]

Aaron Rodgers, Graham Harrell

Benson, Green, Starks, Kuhn

Finley, Williams, Taylor, Crabtree

Nelson, Jennings, Jones, Cobb, Driver, Boykin

Newhouse, Lang, Saturday, Sitton, Bulaga, Deitrich Smith, Wells, Barclay, Van Rotten (Sherrod PUP)



Wilson, Raji, Pickett, Worthy, Daniels, Muir (Neal suspended)

Matthews, Perry, Moses, Jones, Smith, Hawk, Fancois, Manning, Lattimore (Walden knocks someone off when he comes back)

Williams, Shields, Hayward, Bush, House, Woodson, Burnett, McMillan, Levine, Richardson


Goode, Crosby, Masthay

No disrespect, but Van Rotten??? I'm thinking practice squad.

Doesn't make sense to keep 4 true safeties when Bush and Woodson can both play there. I think McMillan will win the job opposite Burnett and Richardson will be put on the PS; Thompson will either acquire another team's safety after the cuts or keep either Jennings or Levine as backup.

[BobDobbs]

Aaron Rodgers, Graham Harrell

Benson, Starks, Green, Saine, Kuhn

Finley, Williams, Taylor, Crabtree

Nelson, Jennings, Jones, Cobb, Driver, Gurley (I'd rather keep Boykins but I think they'll go with Gurley for special teams)


Newhouse, Lang, Saturday, Sitton, Bulaga, Deitrich Smith, Wells, Barclay


Wilson, Raji, Pickett, Worthy, Daniels, Muir

Matthews, Perry, Moses, Jones, Smith, Hawk, Francois, Walden, Lattimore

Williams, House, Shields, Hayward, Bush

Woodson, Burnett, McMillan, Jennings, Richardson

Mason Crosby, Tim Masthay, Brett Goode

That's my 53 except I drop MD Jennings for Sherrod. And I don't know what they do with Walden's spot for week 1. Maybe keep Merling to give an extra DE in case Raji misses week 1.

[smuggler]

Why not both? Jones is an important special teams player with the experience to play multiple lb positions.

because Jones plays those LB positions so poorly that you'd never want him to play there, even as a backup

[pack4to84]

QB- Rodgers, Harrell (2)
FB- Kuhn (1)
RB- Benson, Green, Saine (3)
TE- Finley, Crabtree, Williams, (3)
WR- Jennings, Nelson, Jones, Driver, Cobb, Boykin, Gurley (7)
OL- Newhouse, Lang, Saturday, Sitton, Bulaga, Sherrod, EDS, Barclay ( 8 )

DL- Raji, Pickett, Worthy, Wilson, Muir, Daniels, Merling (7)
OLB- Matthews, Perry, Moses, Jones (4)
ILB- Hawk, Smith, Lattimore, Francois, Manning (5)
CB- Williams, Woodson, Bush, Shields, House, Hayward (6)
S- Burnett, McMillian, Levine, Richardson (4)

ST- Crosby, Mathay, Goode (3)

Suspension: Walden, Neal


PS: Borel, Tyler, Ross, Coleman, Jennings, Bostick, Datko, Genus

[pbmax]

Dominguez, Shaky Smithson and DeMarco Cosby waived off IR with injury settlement per Adam Caplan on Twitter.

[rbaloha1]

because Jones plays those LB positions so poorly that you'd never want him to play there, even as a backup

Disagree. Decent fill-in. Still believe best position is wolb.

[rbaloha1]

Dominguez, Shaky Smithson and DeMarco Cosby waived off IR with injury settlement per Adam Caplan on Twitter.

No surprise. Others stepped-up.

[pbmax]

Anthony Levine is gone. Richardson moving up.

[pbmax]

C Sampson Genus is gone. Preseason Curse of Patler is alive and well (usually has a 2nd year in camp gestation period).

Gone as is waived in last two posts at least.

[pbmax]

Dolphins beat guy says he has seen a report that Borel has been cut.

Ben Volin ‏@BenVolinPBP
Report out of Green Bay says #Packers have cut WR Diondre Borel. One name for #Dolphins fans to watch

https://twitter.com/BenVolinPBP/status/241559232477024256

[pbmax]

Still going young, Packers have released Reggie Wells; Barclay, Allard and Van Roten to stay?

[RashanGary]

ignore

[RashanGary]

Was gonna change mine. Noticed stuff was going down. I'll keep as is.

[pbmax]

Greg Van Roten has to become Baron Von Roten, doesn't he? He can appear as a guest referee during the offseason at WWE and MMA events.

[pbmax]

Nic Cooper and Baron Von Roten are gone. Van Roten would definitely be back on the PS if he isn't claimed.

[pbmax]

Adam Caplan ‏@caplannfl
Hanson is an outstanding slot CB. Smart, tough. Great guy. Works well in space.


Tom Oates ‏@TomOatesWSJ
#Bears cut QB Josh McCown. Could UW-Whitewater's Matt Blanchard stick as the No. 3?


Adam Caplan ‏@caplannfl
Wow, first semi-big surprise for the Eagles: I'm told the #Eagles are expected to release veteran CB Joselio Hanson.

[pbmax]

Wow. Not all of these on Twitter:

C/G Tommie Draheim: Played every offensive line position in camp and is a good bet to return to the practice squad if he clears waivers.

T Andrew Datko: Seventh-round draft pick missed the last half of camp because of a concussion. Packers are probably hoping he clears waivers so they can bring him back to the practice squad.

TE Brandon Bostick: Undrafted rookie who had a nice training camp. He could draw interest from other teams. If not, a practice squad possibility.

T Shea Allard: Undrafted rookie was the No. 2 left tackle in last night’s preseason finale. Another practice squad possibility.

[pbmax]

C/G Tommie Draheim
T Andrew Datko
TE Brandon Bostick
T Shea Allard
G/T Reggie Wells
C/G Sampson Genus
WR Shaky Smithson
LB Nic Cooper
WR Diondre Borel
S Anthony Levine
WR Tony Gurley
WR Dale Moss
DT Justa Guy

[pbmax]

Some of those cuts above are getting reported in just one place. Borel was from a Dolphins reporter. GBPG picked that up but haven't confirmed that I have seen.

[Brandon494]

Lets go Boykins!

[RashanGary]

Lets go Boykins!

!!

[Joemailman]

Lets go Boykins!

I agree, but I hope they put Moss on PS. I think he has the most talent of all the UDFA WR's.

[Joemailman]

Muir has been cut...I big surprise in my opinion.

Will they go with five until Neal is eligible, or is Merling going to make it?

[Joemailman]

The roster (includes Walden and Neal)



# NAME POS. HT. WT. AGE EXP. COLLEGE
63 Saturday, Jeff C 6-2 295 37 14 North Carolina
62 Dietrich-Smith, Evan C/G 6-2 308 26 3 Idaho State
24 Bush, Jarrett CB 6-0 200 28 7 Utah State
29 Hayward, Casey CB 5-11 192 22 R Vanderbilt
31 House, Davon CB 6-1 195 23 2 New Mexico State
39 Ross, Brandian CB 6-0 191 22 1 Youngstown State
37 Shields, Sam CB 5-11 184 24 3 Miami (Fla.)
38 Williams, Tramon CB 5-11 191 29 6 Louisiana Tech
21 Woodson, Charles DB 6-1 202 35 15 Michigan
69 Merling, Phillip DE 6-5 315 27 5 Clemson
96 Neal, Mike DE 6-3 294 25 3 Purdue
98 Wilson, C.J. DE 6-3 300 25 3 East Carolina
99 Worthy, Jerel DE 6-2 304 22 R Michigan State
76 Daniels, Mike DT 6-0 294 23 R Iowa
79 Pickett, Ryan DT 6-2 338 32 12 Ohio State
90 Raji, B.J. DT 6-2 337 26 4 Boston College
30 Kuhn, John FB 6-0 250 29 7 Shippensburg
67 Barclay, Don G 6-4 305 23 R West Virginia
70 Lang, T.J. G 6-4 318 24 4 Eastern Michigan
71 Sitton, Josh G 6-3 318 26 5 Central Florida
2 Crosby, Mason K 6-1 207 27 6 Colorado
49 Francois, Robert LB 6-2 250 27 3 Boston College
50 Hawk, A.J. LB 6-1 242 28 7 Ohio State
59 Jones, Brad LB 6-3 242 26 4 Colorado
57 Lattimore, Jamari LB 6-2 237 23 2 Middle Tennessee St.
56 Manning, Terrell LB 6-2 237 22 R North Carolina State
52 Matthews, Clay LB 6-3 255 26 4 Southern California
54 Moses, Dezman LB 6-2 249 23 R Tulane
53 Perry, Nick LB 6-3 265 22 R Southern California
51 Smith, D.J. LB 5-11 239 23 2 Appalachian State
93 Walden, Erik LB 6-2 250 27 5 Middle Tennessee State
61 Goode, Brett LS 6-1 255 27 5 Arkansas
8 Masthay, Tim P 6-1 200 25 3 Kentucky
6 Harrell, Graham QB 6-2 215 27 1 Texas Tech
12 Rodgers, Aaron QB 6-2 225 28 8 California
32 Benson, Cedric RB 5-11 227 29 8 Texas
20 Green, Alex RB 6-0 225 24 2 Hawaii
33 Saine, Brandon RB 5-11 220 23 2 Ohio State
44 Starks, James RB 6-2 218 26 3 Buffalo
42 Burnett, Morgan S 6-1 209 23 3 Georgia Tech
43 Jennings, M.D. S 6-0 195 24 2 Arkansas State
22 McMillian, Jerron S 5-11 203 23 R Maine
28 Richardson, Sean S 6-2 216 22 R Vanderbilt
75 Bulaga, Bryan T 6-5 314 23 3 Iowa
74 Newhouse, Marshall T 6-4 319 23 3 Texas Christian
83 Crabtree, Tom TE 6-4 245 26 3 Miami (Ohio)
88 Finley, Jermichael TE 6-5 247 25 5 Texas
82 Taylor, Ryan TE 6-3 254 24 2 North Carolina
84 Williams, D.J. TE 6-2 245 23 2 Arkansas
11 Boykin, Jarrett WR 6-2 218 22 R Virginia Tech
18 Cobb, Randall WR 5-10 192 22 2 Kentucky
80 Driver, Donald WR 6-0 194 37 14 Alcorn State
85 Jennings, Greg WR 5-11 198 28 7 Western Michigan
89 Jones, James WR 6-1 208 28 6 San Jose State
87 Nelson, Jordy WR 6-3 217 27 5 Kansas State
Injured Reserve

# NAME POS. HT. WT. AGE EXP. COLLEGE
23 Bennett, Du'ane RB 5-9 213 23 R Minnesota
55 Bishop, Desmond LB 6-2 238 28 6 California
67 Jones, Johnny DL 6-4 321 23 1 Marshall
45 Lair, Eric TE 6-2 238 22 R Minnesota
64 McCabe, Mike T 6-5 313 23 R Holy Cross
97 So'oto, Vic LB 6-3 256 25 2 Brigham Young
Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform

# NAME POS. HT. WT. AGE EXP. COLLEGE
68 Brooks, Jaymes G 6-2 300 23 R Virginia Tech
81 Quarless, Andrew TE 6-4 252 23 3 Penn State
78 Sherrod, Derek T 6-6 321 23 2 Mississippi State
58 Zombo, Frank LB 6-3 254 25 3 Central Michigan

[rbaloha1]

Interesting roster.

Merling's versatility won a roster spot.

TT strikes again with street free agents, Boykin, Moses and Richardson.

Is Boykin a faster Antonio Freeman?

[gbgary]

Interesting roster.

Merling's versatility won a roster spot.

TT strikes again with street free agents, Boykin, Moses and Richardson.

Is Boykin a faster Antonio Freeman?

and barclay.

[Fritz]

Zombo just won't go away, even though he hasn't played since 1988.

[denverYooper]

Zombo just won't go away, even though he hasn't played since 1988.

Funny, it just snuck up on me this morning that Zombo didn't get cut.

His sense of fashion would seem to indicate that he's stuck in '88. Maybe the Packers really want a throwback on the roster.

[Iron Mike]

Zombo just won't go away, even though he hasn't played since 1988.

All of the bench shots I see in-game of Clay Matthews are of him goofing w/Zombo. Maybe he's sticking around 'cuz Clay wants him around.

[Iron Mike]

All of the bench shots I see in-game of Clay Matthews are of him goofing w/Zombo. Maybe he's sticking around 'cuz Clay wants him around.

Yeap. Quite the bromance going on there:

http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQX63lPI3tH4F9byrJEWncnfreTtxZPO 4k7hSoF60_A-ochzPt0QAhttp://www.bloomberg.com/image/iHV55GFlTllc.jpg
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C9Qjaz9xcXs/TjedDhAuGlI/AAAAAAAAF4k/O5o0miu3Eck/s1600/JUL_5333.JPG

[Fritz]

Ewww.

[pbmax]

Interesting roster.

Merling's versatility won a roster spot.

TT strikes again with street free agents, Boykin, Moses and Richardson.

Is Boykin a faster Antonio Freeman?

Thompson said at the press conference it was his size. More typical of 3-4 DE than Muir, who everyone has pegged to go to a 4-3 team again.

[RashanGary]

Thompson said at the press conference it was his size. More typical of 3-4 DE than Muir, who everyone has pegged to go to a 4-3 team again.


I saw that. Looks like they do want some of that prototype length. We have enough inside quickness. Merling fits into our base really well. He's just starting to get into shape too. He could have more upside than he's shown so far. He's only 27.

It will be interesting to see how the line rounds into shape this year. Merling, Neal and Wilson all fit that 3-4 base mold. Merling more than the other two.

Pickett is an excellent nose. Raji can play nose, but seemed to get a lot more big-time plays when he was shooting gaps, going after the QB.

Worthy and Daniels have the inside Quickness to get after the passer or disrupt plays behind the line, although they are very young. Raji is your best bet to really get after it inside. Will they open him up like they did two years ago is the big question.


We'll have to see who steps up from the group. There are a lot of ways this could shake out. I like the variety though.

[RashanGary]

I remember quite a few plays this preseason where Raji and Wilson were getting shoved around in the run game. I really don't recall many where Merling was being pushed around. I could be wrong though.

[pbmax]

Thompson on DLine, first sentence is about Muir, next is Merling. Not sure if Merling is the same kind of pressure guy as Muir, but this kind of choice is necessary with two other smaller D line who will be tasked with providing the nickel pass rush.


"A very passionate young man, but the NFL is like a wheel it goes round and round like a wheel, you never know when somebody might be back," Thompson said. "In the case of Phillip, we thought he played very well. We thought he especially gave us a little inside push on that last game. Body-type, a little bit longer and taller that sort of thing.”

[Lurker64]

I think a lot of it had to do with the fact that as things were shaking out, the only people on the team who were a 3 down (base, nickel, dime) kind of player on the DL were Raji and maybe Wilson. We have another one available after week 4 with Neal, but we had a lot of nickel-only guys (like Daniels and Worthy) and a lot of base only guys (like Pickett and maybe Wilson). So Merling kind of makes it for versatility, and the fact that he fills kind of the same niche as Neal, so if he ends up sucking in the regular season, you can cut him for Neal.

[Harlan Huckleby]

gave us a little inside push on that last game. Body-type, a little bit longer and taller that sort of thing.
Merling is longer and taller that sort of thing - i.e. a defensive end, of which they have more than enough. Muir is a stout nose tackle, where they are wanting.

Both guys have been in pros for 5 years, so it's not a youth move.

[Lurker64]

Merling is longer and taller that sort of thing - i.e. a defensive end, of which they have more than enough. Muir is a stout nose tackle, where they are wanting.

It's actually kind of the opposite. The Packers have a bunch of squatty solidly built DL, and it's not like Muir is actually all that great against the run (he'd be the #3 NT anyway behind Raji and Pickett and I bet Worthy could get you out of a game at the nose), whereas in terms of longer, 2-gapping, active against the run DL they've got just Wilson and Neal (who is suspended) in addition to Merling.

Muir's best contributions to this team would be in the locker room, where he could have probably really helped some of the young DL. Merling's best contributions, on the other hand, would be on the field. I mean, it's not like Merling doesn't have more natural talent, since he was chosen #32 overall whereas Muir went undrafted and has been cut at least 5 times.

[rbaloha1]

Trust TT on selecting Merling over Muir. Explosive power with length.

Combined with Neal could help with a fourth quarter pass rush.

[BobDobbs]

At the start of camp, I figured that Merling wouldn't do anything, because it seemed like he had enough time to show and prove. And I figured that Muir was a big run stopping NT. But as the preseason games went on it turned out that wasn't true.

Lurker's right Muir is not very stout and a really wants to shoot one gap and get to the quarterback. He's really quick for a big guy like Grady Jackson, but I saw him get blown off the ball a couple of times.

The first two preseason games I thought Muir played the best. The third it was a tie and by the fourth Merling outplayed him, collapsed the pocket, and was active. I thought they'd keep Muir for pass rushing, but I really think that Merling made the team with his play against the Chiefs. Looks like he's got a month and he should get some time against San Fran, because they want to play physical at the line.

[rbaloha1]

Disagree with Muir not being stout -- its one of the big reason he survived up to 53.

Again Merling's versatility and upside that win's out. A classic under achiever given another chance.

Maybe he develops into Pickett's replacement.

[pbmax]

Didn't Muir always play DT in 4-3 defenses? And didn't the Giants play him exclusively on passing downs inside (ignoring injuries)?

Merling comes at the equation from the opposite end. He is very stout against the run and has the body type to succeed at DE in a base 3-4. He isn't there because he's versatile, he is there because he is big enough to backup a DE in the 3-4. They obviously felt that Muir couldn't. Thompson's oh-by-the-way Merling had some nice pressure inside in nickel might hopefully be true, but that is not his calling card yet.

Muir is gone because Worthy and Daniels were ahead of him. Merling is pegged to a different spot. He is the lone backup DE in base. He might play base DE if ANY of the starters gets hurt, since Pickett would slide over to nose if Raji was unable to go. I would be surprised, pleasantly so, if Worthy gets the DE call first in base.

[Harlan Huckleby]

Jason Wilde pointed-out that it is very likely that Merling will get cut when Neal returns.

Well, I haven't gained much traction on this issue from anybody, but it's obvious to me that rosters need to be a bit larger.
The game would be more fun for hardcore fans if they could carry a few more of the Boykin, Merling, Muir type players. Teams are far too vulnerable to injuries, there's just barely room to keep enough backups.

[Lurker64]

Didn't Muir always play DT in 4-3 defenses? And didn't the Giants play him exclusively on passing downs inside (ignoring injuries)?

I believe this is the case. Muir is best suited to playing the under-tackle in a 4-3 defense where he's instructed to penetrate a single gap and get upfield. His best performances were on that Colts defense who didn't bother to try to stop the run, because Peyton Manning was their quarterback. The entire DL just tried to get in the backfield.

If you ask Muir to sit back, anchor against a double-team, and maintain the integrity of two gaps, then you're going to be very disappointed.


Well, I haven't gained much traction on this issue from anybody, but it's obvious to me that rosters need to be a bit larger.

The NFLPA would very much agree with you. They'd greatly like to see their ranks swell as more players are getting paid NFL salaries. Though they'd probably like you to increase the salary cap commensurately, since remember, highly paid players like Drew Brees are extremely active in the union, and they're not going to take less money so that more backup TEs can get paid the vet minimum.

But the NFL, in this as in all things, opposes the NFLPA in this. Both for the reason that it would cost them more money, and for the reason that letting teams keep all their best players runs contrary to the principle of parity that makes the league so valuable and compelling. If the personnel-smart teams could keep all their best players, then there'd be fewer good players for the personnel-dumb teams to acquire in hopes of turning around their fortunes.

So the time to address "roster size" is about 9 years from now when the CBA is up again. The last time was a win for the NFL, the time before was a win for the NFLPA, maybe the next time we'll end up with more give and take.

[Joemailman]

Thursday night Pickett did not play and Raji went out on the first play. Although I don't recall, I imagine Muir was playing in the middle in their absence. Kansas City had little trouble running the ball, which probably caused TT to decide that Muir just isn't stout enough against the run when playing the nose. That would greatly decrease his value since he's never really been much of a pass rusher.

[RashanGary]

Press Gazette has an article about Terrell Manning battling an illness that caused him to lose 17 pounds in camp. It's not nice to know he had a parasite, but it's nice to know he has more in him. He showed up pretty well in that last game.

[Harlan Huckleby]

But the NFL, in this as in all things, opposes the NFLPA in this. Both for the reason that it would cost them more money, and for the reason that letting teams keep all their best players runs contrary to the principle of parity that makes the league so valuable and compelling. If the personnel-smart teams could keep all their best players, then there'd be fewer good players for the personnel-dumb teams to acquire in hopes of turning around their fortunes.
Ya, the good teams are obviously penalized by the tight rosters.

Speaking as a fan who likes to follow the home team players, I think NFL has gone too far with parity. Parity is important to a point, you certainly don't want rich clubs buying-up talent, but the penalizing of teams (and their fans) simply for being smart goes too far. Dynasties make football more memorable and fun.

[Pugger]

I'm frankly surprised Muir is still unemployed.

[Fritz]

Press Gazette has an article about Terrell Manning battling an illness that caused him to lose 17 pounds in camp. It's not nice to know he had a parasite, but it's nice to know he has more in him. He showed up pretty well in that last game.

He sure did have more in him - he had a parasite in him.

[Smidgeon]

Ya, the good teams are obviously penalized by the tight rosters.

Speaking as a fan who likes to follow the home team players, I think NFL has gone too far with parity. Parity is important to a point, you certainly don't want rich clubs buying-up talent, but the penalizing of teams (and their fans) simply for being smart goes too far. Dynasties make football more memorable and fun.

+1

[Fritz]

But if the NFL expanded rosters by, say, three players, we'd still be having the same kinds of arguments, only it'd be over slightly less talented players.

[rbaloha1]

He sure did have more in him - he had a parasite in him.

Expect TM to be a factor in nickel and/or dime packages.

[Fritz]

I'm guessing he'll be inactive for the first half of the season, but as he gets healthy, regains weight, and practices more and more, you'll be correct.

[mraynrand]

Press Gazette has an article about Terrell Manning battling an illness that caused him to lose 17 pounds in camp. It's not nice to know he had a parasite, but it's nice to know he has more in him. He showed up pretty well in that last game.

just so long as it doesn't have 'molecular acid'* for blood

http://updatesfromthefield.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/aliens-stomach.jpg




*just exactly what is non-molecular acid?

[Guiness]

The guy everyone said was as good as gone, Crabtree, makes the squad!

I hope he can play some tackle - can't believe there are only 7 OL on the 53. I think that deserves another thread...

[Lurker64]

The guy everyone said was as good as gone, Crabtree, makes the squad!

Who thought Crabtree was gone? Clearly nobody paying attention, as Crabtree was the #2 TE all throughout camp.

[rbaloha1]

Who thought Crabtree was gone? Clearly nobody paying attention, as Crabtree was the #2 TE all throughout camp.

Never was a Crabtree fan. Dude improved and deserves a roster spot.

[Guiness]

Who thought Crabtree was gone? Clearly nobody paying attention, as Crabtree was the #2 TE all throughout camp.

I'd have to have a look back, but I remember some naysayers saying he didn't have a roll. Here are a couple I found...

http://packerrats.com/showthread.php?22617-Official-quot-Jump-to-Conclusions-Based-on-the-Third-Preseason-Game-Thread-quot&p=608722&viewfull=1#post608722

http://packerrats.com/showthread.php?24287-TOUGH-ROSTER-DECISIONS-AHEAD&p=678091&viewfull=1#post678091

[Lurker64]

Never was a Crabtree fan. Dude improved and deserves a roster spot.

He's improving as a pass catcher; he'll never be great at it, but at least now he's a threat to catch a pass.

What he is, however, is literally the only TE on the team who can reliably seal an edge in the running game, and he does the dirty work on special teams. The only real chance of him not making the roster was if Taylor or Williams came in and miraculously became dominant blockers, or if Quarless was miraculously completely healed.

[Brandon494]

I thought he would make the team this year but I admit I was one of the guys who thought he wouldn't make it last year, I just didn't see them keeping 5 TEs.

[Pugger]

Being thin on the O line a good blocking TE like Crabtree is invaluable.