First Cuts: Postell, Jemison and Ramon Walker released

The first cuts of the presason will be made official today, and three more Panthers are going to be camp casualties.  This brings the total cut in this round to four. We reported last week that Matt Morgan was released by Buffalo in anticipation of these cuts. We also reported yesterday that Malcom Postell was cut by the Steelers.

Two more are on the block today, these will be made official later in the day.

Mike Jemison will be cut by the Giants, per the Journal News and NJ.com:

The cut to 75 will be made official today, but it is believed running back Mike Jemison was added to the list of 13 others Tom Coughlin made Sunday.

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The Giants did not announce their first cuts yesterday, but RB Mike Jemison was not at practice. He is likely the 14th player released in addition to a group of 13 players absent from Sunday’s practice

Ramon Walker was also release by the Texans according to The Houston Chronicle:

Receiver Derick Armstrong and safety Ramon Walker, two backup players with a combined seven years of experience with the Texans, were among the 13 players who were placed on waivers Monday.

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Ramon Walker was a fifth-round pick in the Texans’ first draft.

Saturday NFL Roundup

Five games featuring Panthers from Saturday night, Torrie Cox and Josh Lay with big nights at defensive back. Look for video of a lot of these plays soon. I’m out of town or there would have been video included in this post. 

Cleveland 20
Buffalo 17
Darnell Dinkins was the only Panther on either roster for this game after Buffalo dropped Matt Morgan last week. Dinkins did play in the game but had no balls thrown to him and committed no penalties. He is expected to make the team as the third tight end.

Indianapolis 27
New Orleans 14
Josh Lay had a more eventful game for New Orleans, and it started on the opening kickoff when Josh tackled the returner. In the fourth quarter Lay picked off a Shaun King pass and returned it 24 yards. The Colts had been driving to score again when Josh picked off the pass. This has to help Josh make the team as a special teams player and as a dime defensive back. We will be updating this week as cuts are made.

San Francisco 7
Dallas 17
Antonio Bryant was made into somewhat of the story heading into this game, facing off against Bill Parcels, whom he had thrown a jersey at when he played on the Cowboys, before being traded to the Browns. Bryant was thrown to 5 times for two catches for 24 yards. He also made a tackle on a ball thrown to him that was intercepted.

Andy Lee, as reported here again yesterday, is battling for his punting job. Unlike last week when Andy got the majority of the punts, this week he had two punts for 78 yards while his competition Rouen got three punts and put all three inside the 20. I still think Lee wins his job, but this game did not help at all. Look back here for updates early this week as teams go into cuts.

For Dallas, Rob Petitti did not start as we thoguht he might. He did play in the game, though I’m not sure what the split between right and left tackle was. This has been a hard story to follow, as Rob has gone from a virtual lock for the right tackle spot to third string right tackle, to being the team’s “Swing tackle” and then yesterday it seemed he is back in the battle for the right tackle spot. I think eventually he will be the swing tackle, backing up both right and left.

Lousaka Polite did play at fullback as usual, getting only one carry for four yards. He is Dallas’ only fullback.

Tampa Bay 18
Jacksonville 19
First of all, that is one of the weirdest football scores I have ever seen.

Torrie Cox didn’t start for Tampa Bay, but was in on the second defensive play to make a tackle on Fred Taylor. He is a lock to make this team as a nickel or dime back. Torrie also had a pass defensed on a really nice play downfield later in the game. He finished with three solo tackles, one assist and a pass defensed.

One area Torrie hasn’t got to show off his skills much this preseason has been returning kicks. He made the most of his opportunity though, returning the opening kickoff of the second half for 49 yards. Hopefully he gets more and more chances to return kicks, as Pitt fans know how good he can be in that role.

Dave Moore handled all of the long-snapping duties, and he will make the team in that role.

St Louis 12
Kansas City 16
Kris Wilson was in on some two and three tight end sets and as the main tight end later in the game, but only had one ball thrown his way for an incompletion. Kris will make the Chiefs roster as their third tight end.

Matt Morgan released from Bills

I guess the Bills just couldn’t wait until Monday to start chucking players off their roster:

The Buffalo Bills didn’t wait until Tuesday Aug. 29 to reduce their roster to the league required 75. The club waived four players a week prior to that cutdown date releasing defensive tackles LaWaylon Brown and Tai Tupai along with offensive tackle Matt Morgan and linebacker Courtney Watson.

This might be a good thing for Morgan though, might give him a jump on being signed to a squad somewhere. Matt was expected to be the second string left tackle for Buffalo this season, so he does have some promise:

Matt Morgan had been the team’s second string left tackle all through the spring and offensive line coach Jim McNally was eager to see the former St. Louis practice squad player in pads this summer. But he struggled in the first preseason game in Carolina and never recovered. Greg Jerman has most recently taken his place with the second offensive line.