Bills trim roster to 53; cut vets CB James, LB Spragan
by Brian Galliford on Aug 30, 2008 6:14 PM EDT
in News
68 comments
The Buffalo Bills have announced their final cuts, as they have trimmed their roster to 53 players in preparation for the NFL's regular season, which begins a week from tomorrow. First the cuts, and then the entire roster of your 2008 Buffalo Bills.
The Cuts
RB Dwayne Wright, RB Bruce Hall, FB Jonathan Evans, WR Felton Huggins, WR Scott Mayle, TE Courtney Anderson, TE Tim Massaquoi, OT Patrick Estes, OT Dustin Dickinson, OG Christian Gaddis, OG Nevin McCaskill, OG Robert Felton, DE Derrick Jones, DT Jason Jefferson, DT Corey Mace, DT Teraz McCray, LB Donnie Spragan, LB Jon Banks, LB Blake Costanzo, LB Marcus Buggs, CB Will James, CB Dustin Fox
The Roster
Quarterbacks (3)
Trent Edwards, J.P. Losman, Gibran Hamdan
Running Backs (3)
Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, Xavier Omon
Fullbacks (1)
Darian Barnes
Wide Receivers (6)
Lee Evans, James Hardy, Josh Reed, Roscoe Parrish, Justin Jenkins, Steve Johnson
Tight Ends (3)
Robert Royal, Derek Schouman, Derek Fine
Offensive Tackles (4)
Langston Walker, Kirk Chambers, Demetrius Bell, Matt Murphy
Offensive Guards/Centers (5)
Derrick Dockery, Melvin Fowler, Brad Butler, Jason Whittle, Duke Preston
Defensive Ends (5)
Aaron Schobel, Chris Kelsay, Ryan Denney, Chris Ellis, Copeland Bryan
Defensive Tackles (4)
Marcus Stroud, Kyle Williams, Spencer Johnson, John McCargo
Outside Linebackers (4)
Angelo Crowell, Kawika Mitchell, Keith Ellison, Jon Corto
Inside Linebackers (2)
Paul Posluszny, John DiGiorgio
Cornerbacks (5)
Terrence McGee, Jabari Greer, Ashton Youboty, Leodis McKelvin, Reggie Corner
Free Safeties (2)
Ko Simpson, George Wilson
Strong Safeties (3)
Donte Whitner, Bryan Scott, John Wendling
Specialists (3)
Rian Lindell, Brian Moorman, Ryan Neill
Did Not Report (1)
OT Jason Peters
Discussion in the comments section. Poll below. Let's hear it, folks.
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Some surprises
Matt Murphy made it too apparently. I don’t see him listed. Please, put him on IR FO…
I’m somewhat shocked that Bryan made it, especially over a healthy TE or Will James.
Nothing else is really surprising. I thought Costanzo over Corto would have been the smarter move.
~K
by Kurupt on Aug 30, 2008 6:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
As far as your concerns go at tight end, I think it’s fairly apparent that Schouman is going to be ready for Week 1.
by Brian Galliford on Aug 30, 2008 6:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree
Totally agreee with you on that Brian. Just can’t see any other logic to it. They aren’t going into week one with only one healthy TE. While I am surprised James was let go, and that Murphy was not sent to IR, it must be that he is keeping Peters spot warm. Otherwise that makes little sense—it’s still not clear that Murphy won’t need surgery. Bryan was clearly the biggest overall surprise to me. I wiill need to have somebody explain that to me.
Geronimo
by Geronimo on Aug 30, 2008 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The team must not think that Schouman’s injury is that bad. If both he and Fine are inactive in week 1 and they don’t bring in another, that will be a real head-scratcher.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on Aug 30, 2008 6:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I disagree. Seattle’s got an outstanding pass rush. I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Bills run a lot of spread offense in Week 1 in an effort to get the ball out of Edwards’ hands.
But that’s a discussion for a couple of days from now. :)
by Brian Galliford on Aug 30, 2008 6:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Call me crazy,
YOU CRRRAAAAZZZY….
What are the chances that on any goal line plays where we’d normally see a double tightend set, Mr. Stroud is out there lined up on offense? Did he ever do that in Jax? He seems like he’d have the body and athleticism to have excel in that role occasionally.
by twoeightnine on Aug 31, 2008 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You're crazy.
They’d just line up an extra tackle in a tackle-eligible play. Bell, probably, or even Preston. If Murphy were healthy, he’d be going there without a doubt.
Stroud did line up as a fullback in Jacksonville; that’s much more common for a DT than lining up on the line as a TE. It’s probably more likely for the Bills to line up Barnes as a TE and use Stroud as the lead blocker than the other way around.
by Krenn on Aug 31, 2008 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Told ya I was crazy.
I thought I remembered him or Big John or someone lining up on the offensive side of the ball at some point.
by twoeightnine on Aug 31, 2008 1:11 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hmmm
A little surprised at keeping 5 DEs vs. 3 TEs, although I didn’t feel Anderson or Massaquoi were really worth keeping.
Overall no real shockers.
by MonStarr_716 on Aug 30, 2008 6:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good for Corto
Nice to the the local kid made the team… great story…
Regards, ChaosthePitbull
by chaosthepitbull on Aug 30, 2008 6:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Copeland Bryan is a goner. Hamdan long term backup?
When (hopefully it’s not an if) Peters reports the team will drop Bryan. The only other real option would be to move Murhpy to IR.
The team is choosing to keep 3 TEs instead of 4, I think, because they’re keeping 3 QBs. Instead of risking Hamdan getting added by another team while trying to stash him on the practice squad, my guess is that the Bills have pretty much settled on him as the back up for next season.
by Ron From NM on Aug 30, 2008 6:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think they’d go with your other real option, Ron – if Peters comes back, Murphy goes to IR.
by Brian Galliford on Aug 30, 2008 6:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it'd have to be Murphy to IR or cut
Why would we keep 5 OT’s, 1 of which has a torn rotator cuff? I don’t understand why he’s on the team at this point any how…..He should already be on IR….
Hamdan was not eligible for the PS
~K
by Kurupt on Aug 30, 2008 6:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Murphy is holding open Peter's spot
thats the only reason he is on the active roster, otherwise I have no clue either why a dude with a buster rotator cuff is on there and not an IR spot. Makes sense too though if they plan to have Bryan on the roster the full season.
Fear the mighty helmet wearing gopher, he is coming for your soul....
by WABillsfan on Aug 30, 2008 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree
That Bryan is just holding a spot for the moment….interesting thought on Hamdan….
by MonStarr_716 on Aug 30, 2008 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who you guys keeping on the Practice Squad?
1. Gaddis
2. Felton
3. Buggs
4. Huggins (or Marcus Monk from the Giants)
5. Costanzo
6. Dustin Fox or another CB
7. Marcus Mason from Washington (RB) or Bruce Hall
8. Derrick Jones I guess
I’d also investigate Jerome McDougle. He would be a better player to have in the DE rotation that Copeland Bryan.
~K
by Kurupt on Aug 30, 2008 6:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think thats about the same as mine
1. Gaddis
2. Felton
3. Buggs
4. Huggins
5. Costanzo
6. Dustin Fox
7. Marcus Mason from Washington (RB) or Bruce Hall
8. Derrick Jones
The only spot I have trouble with like you K is Mason or Hall. Though I think the Bills will aim for to keep Hall because they know what they have in him.
As for Johnson and Bell on the Active roster, I think the Bills got scared after both kids played well in preseason, especially Johnson, that they didn’t want to risk Waiver wire moves with them.
Fear the mighty helmet wearing gopher, he is coming for your soul....
by WABillsfan on Aug 30, 2008 6:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agree on Johnson/Bell
Well, I think Bell was a guy we HAD to keep, Johnson a guy we had to keep active to KEEP him. We need that 3rd OT in Bell for now, and Johnson has too much talent to throw away.
The Bills may keep Hall, but how do we know how much they like him? He looked pretty good in camp and in the games to us, but just because they know what they have doesn’t mean they like it. We don’t know how much the staff likes him though they’d probably rather keep their guy around. I liked what I saw of Mason for the Skins in 2 games I watched. He also led the league in rushing this preseason, so he must have done something right.
I’d investigate other CB’s out there too. Fox can be had at any point this year, just like he was available last year in October. There might be a guy out there the team likes that was just cut elsewhere.
~K
by Kurupt on Aug 30, 2008 7:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed K
Glad we see eye to eye on Johnson and Bell, would hate to lose either guy as I think Bell could be a stud with a few years of experiece and another 30-40 lbs of NFL muscle. Johnson was is too good to risk losing.
As for Mason, I didn’t get to see the kid play so I have no idea. As for Fox and Hall, if the Bills decide to pick someone else up, no problems, they would know better than I how they fit into the team down the road than me all the way across country.
Fear the mighty helmet wearing gopher, he is coming for your soul....
by WABillsfan on Aug 30, 2008 8:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
well called the corto over costanzo pick..........
http://bills.sportsbloggingnetwork.com/
by norcaliangelsfan on Aug 30, 2008 6:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Did I count right?
Being on the Did-not-report-list, does that mean Peters doesn’t count on the roster? That would put the roster at 52, I think.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on Aug 30, 2008 6:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
There's 53 up there now
Brian didn’t have Murphy before I think. So there are 54 players listed, with Peters not reported.
~K
by Kurupt on Aug 30, 2008 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Peters is already part of the 53...
Ron…. Peters is already part of the 53…… I thought though that they would keep 5 DT’s instead of 5 DE’s… I thought DT Jefferson played better than Bryan…
Practice Squad (My choices)
Gaddis
Huggins
Costanzo
Felton
Buggs
Regards, ChaosthePitbull
by chaosthepitbull on Aug 30, 2008 6:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
No he’s not. He’s on the Did Not Report list.
Jason Jefferson was awful this pre-season, IMO. I liked what Bryan did against Detroit.
Definitely agree with your thoughts on Huggins, Costanzo and Buggs on the PS.
by Brian Galliford on Aug 30, 2008 6:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jefferson has never really impressed me, he was always a warm body who could play both DT and DE. I like keeping Bryan much better.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on Aug 30, 2008 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah. I really like our depth at DE. (And WR.)
by Brian Galliford on Aug 30, 2008 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love our depth at WR. more on that later…
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on Aug 30, 2008 6:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i was worried we weren’t going to keep Jenkins and Johnson. It’s relieving to see we’re thinking about a deep and talented receiving corp, after the progress it seems we’ve made, in our passing game.
by jj24 on Aug 30, 2008 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Me too
Though Bryan is probably #53 right now. If another DE is available elsewhere, maybe Jerome McDougle of Philly even, we may be best served to look there and putting Bryan on the PS. He will play ST if he’s ever active, so he wouldn’t be a useless player kept.
I hope our WR depth actually gets utilized. Jenkins and Johnson are more than talented enough to play this year.
Hopefully when Peters returns, Murphy is the one to go. I’d hate to see one of the young kids cut for a guy who’s got a torn rotator cuff….
~K
by Kurupt on Aug 30, 2008 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Would going to the IR be the worst thing in the world for Murphy? it would give him a year to heal up the rotator cuff, and learn the OT position a little better. Just a thought.
The time has come for someone to put his foot down. And that foot is me.
by sireric on Aug 30, 2008 6:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Seriously
he can have surgery and come back next year and fight for a job again….if he continues waiting, doubt the shoulder heals up fully….
~K
by Kurupt on Aug 30, 2008 6:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
good point by both of you........
give murphy the redshirt year.
http://bills.sportsbloggingnetwork.com/
by norcaliangelsfan on Aug 30, 2008 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
over at my blog I nailed all but 3 of the picks.
Murphy in and Peters on the Did not report
I had Anderson as the 4th TE and didnt have Bryan on at 5th DE……but pretty soild all in all.
http://bills.sportsbloggingnetwork.com/
by norcaliangelsfan on Aug 30, 2008 6:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Bah. You beat me by one. I missed 4.
by Brian Galliford on Aug 30, 2008 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
thats because you counted out Corto......lol
http://bills.sportsbloggingnetwork.com/
by norcaliangelsfan on Aug 30, 2008 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, and FYI – you tied Chris Brown. He also missed 3.
by Brian Galliford on Aug 30, 2008 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I would have preferred Costanzo over Corto on special teams. He outplayed him in the preseason but i guess they are looking long term. Corto has more upside and is faster. No one is mentioning McCaskill for the practice squad, had a solid preseason and should make the squad.
by savedbychrist on Aug 30, 2008 6:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Agree about the McCaskill. I think he has a bit more upside than Gaddis.
by Brian Galliford on Aug 30, 2008 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is probably true
He did look solid enough this preseason….
~K
by Kurupt on Aug 30, 2008 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is Dwayne Wright eligible for the practice squad and if not, why not?
by savedbychrist on Aug 30, 2008 6:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I dont think he is because he played the full season on the active roster.......
Brian should be better at explaining that stuff………
http://bills.sportsbloggingnetwork.com/
by norcaliangelsfan on Aug 30, 2008 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If a player is on the Active squad for more than 6 games...
Then they are no longer eligible for PS. So Wright got some cash last year and now needs to find a job with some other team.
Fear the mighty helmet wearing gopher, he is coming for your soul....
by WABillsfan on Aug 30, 2008 7:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
he needs to learn how to hold on to the ball first
so much for a forth round pick
by LGB on Aug 30, 2008 7:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Whats up with Matt Baker?
I don’t see him on either the list of cuts or the depth chart/roster.
by NJBillsfan on Aug 30, 2008 7:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Copeland Bryan
Jerome McDougle is a way better DE than this guy. Is he still on the roster because he played for Jauron in Chicago. Cut Bryan and bring in McDougle, if he’s not in Miami or NE.
by the Skycap on Aug 30, 2008 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
McDougle was declared a "preseason failure" by coach Andy Reid
by LGB on Aug 30, 2008 9:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That's odd
he had 3 sacks. None of our guys showed much in terms of pass rushing skills. I’d love to add another pass rusher, as I’ve mentioned hundreds of times before. We simply don’t have much talent there.
~K
by Kurupt on Aug 30, 2008 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thank you K
He is much better than Bryan!!!!!
by the Skycap on Aug 30, 2008 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Not true, he was a by-product of too many D-lineman. If you watched the Eagles preseason games, Charley Casserly raved about this guy and said the only reason he won’t make the squad is because of depth and that he won’t be on the waiver wire for long.
by the Skycap on Aug 30, 2008 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Another name to investigate
Dre Moore, DT was cut by Tampa Bay.
This was a guy we were talking about leading up to the Draft as a potential 2nd/3rd round pick for us.
I’d see if we could add him to our PS immediately…
~K
by Kurupt on Aug 30, 2008 9:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Is he the kid from Texas A&M, or Maryland?
by the Skycap on Aug 30, 2008 9:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
More cuts around the league
Astonishingly, Larry Tripplett was also cut and is available. Can’t imagine why.
Other former Bills cut today – Kiwaukee Thomas, Jason Webster (Aug 26), Terrence Pennington, Brad Cieslak, and C.J. Ah You.
by Krenn on Aug 30, 2008 9:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sad about Tripplett… I was hoping to see him at The Ralph next week.
by Brian Galliford on Aug 30, 2008 10:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Murphy Was the Only Real Surprise ...
… and that they “appear” to only have one healthy tight end. These guys are so cryptic with injury info that we have no idea who’s close. If Murphy’s going on IR with Peter’s return, why not put him on now and keep a healthy player for #53? I think they kept Bryan because Denney and Kelsay had foot injuries last year.
by MrFurious1 on Aug 30, 2008 10:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i love
the bills….. i have a soft spot for copeland bryan after I met him last year as he lived at the Extended Stay Suites where I stayed when I went to the Bills v. Cowboys game…A genuine nice guy and I think he has the work ethic to produce. I think Dj and staff think that he can aid in pushing Ellis and co. to that extra level. They have developed him and believe that their work will pay off. I am not saying he is wothy completely of this spot, but I will say he will work for it.
when I talked to him last year he told me he was doing everything the coaching staff asked of him and was hoping that this year would be his year. For his sake I wish him the best and hope he can contribute.
MARVelous
by MARVelous on Aug 31, 2008 3:12 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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