Notable Cuts Around The NFL, Aug. 31

The most notable cuts around the NFL as of Monday morning, Aug. 31.

Tim Jennings, CB, Bears: This may be the biggest surprise. Jennings is 31 years old but his $4.4M salary is fully guaranteed. If the Bears are thinking Jennings will just sign for that amount with another team, that’s not going to happen. Teams won’t have incentive to offer more than the veteran minimum of $970,000 and Jennings will take it, knowing the Bears will have to pay him the bulk of the salary he is due.

Donald Thomas, G, Colts: Thomas was activated from the PUP list and cut this morning. The Colts obviously made this move because Thomas was healthy enough to release without paying an injury settlement. Don’t ask if the Broncos will be interested; the answer is no.

Fred Jackson, RB, Bills: He’s a popular player, but at 34 years old, it made little sense to keep him. I suspect he’ll find another team, but it won’t be the Broncos, who have enough young backs who can contribute.

J.D. Walton, C, Dolphins: An old friend of ours failed to make the cut in Miami as a backup to Mike Pouncey. Again, don’t count on the Broncos bringing him back, especially given how Matt Paradis has impressed in the preseason.

Broncos Cutting Roster Down To 75

I imagine some of you will not be happy with the decision to part ways with Spencer Lanning. I can only assume that the Broncos didn’t find anybody they were comfortable with as the holder for PATs and field goals, a role that Colquitt fills.

I am not surprised Dysert is gone. It is pointless to keep four QBs when it’s clear Dysert won’t make the final cut and you need to see what other players can do in the final preseason outing.

The Stewart cut likely means Kapri Bibbs will get his chance to prove himself against Arizona.

Along with placing Jeff Heuerman on IR and the pending trade of Chris Clark, the Broncos have made 12 moves with three more to go.

ETA: Here is the more detailed list of the Broncos’ roster moves as of Monday morning, Aug. 31.

49ers at Broncos: The 10 Things I Liked and the 10 Things I Didn’t

This game determined which players have a chance to stay on the team before the first cut. 90 players are filling the Broncos roster, and by 4 PM EST on September 1st, 15 of those players will be cut. The first half of the game for most teams in the third preseason game will be first-team players. This either validates or invalidates coaching decision for starters. The second half of the game is focused on who has potential to stay before the cut.

Continue reading 49ers at Broncos: The 10 Things I Liked and the 10 Things I Didn’t

How McManus improved his game

If you haven’t heard already, Brandon McManus won the starting kickoff and field goal job from Connor Barth. I wish Barth all the best in his career and as he is dead accurate in field goals and improved his power from last year. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough compared to McManus. Many people will question whether McManus’ accuracy improved, and I can say it did based off mini-camp and preseason games. But, you don’t have to take my word for it.

Continue reading How McManus improved his game