Final Cuts – Petitti, Miree, Lay, Jemison

Four former Panthers couldn’t make the final cut as NFL teams got down to their final 53-man rosters:

Rob Petitti, who started all 16 games last season and throughout training camp was looked at as a swing tackle, was let go by the Cowboys Saturday:

Rob Petitti played every offensive snap as a rookie last season for the Dallas Cowboys. The offensive right tackle won’t even be on the roster this season.

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Even though Petitti started every game last season, it seemed that he would be a “swing” tackle this season, a player able to start or back up on either side. Nine-year veteran Jason Fabini, signed during the offseason, or Marc Columbo will start at right tackle.

Petitti could have also been undone by the emergence of rookie tackle Pat McQuistan, a seventh-round pick from Weber State. McQuistan got extended time in the preseason because of two-time Pro Bowl tackle Flozell Adams’ calf injury and impressed Parcells.

What is sort of surprising about this whole thing is Dallas hasn’t even named a starting right tackle, and I’m not sure either one of the remaining candidates can back up the left tackle, and Adams is old…that could be bad. Parcells seemed determined to only keep three tackles though, and he seemed to keep the best three regardeless of which position they could or couldn’t play. I’m sure Rob will catch on with someone.

Brandon Miree was also released by Denver with little fanfare. Brandon’s shot to make this team was really at fullback, but he just didn’t play well enough and most teams don’t keep multible fb’s.

Josh Lay was cut by the Saints on Saturday. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him make a team’s practice squad, possibly the Saints. Josh was beaten out for the final spot in the secondary by Anwar Phillips, former Penn State Nittany Lion.

Mike Jemison was actually cut by the Giants. We’re positive this time. Jemison most likely will make the Giants practice squad if he clears waivers though.

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Thursday NFL Roundup

Seven games on the preseason NFL slate last night featured former Panthers, thank goodness the preseason is almost over…

New England 23
New York Giants 31
Mike Jemison might not have helped his case to make the Giants last night. He didn’t get in the game until the 4th quarter, which is a bad sign when almost no starters are playing, and got nine carries almost in a row. Those nine carries went for 22 yards, only a 2.4 average. That was the good part though, as he fumbled on his final carry and didn’t get another opportunity. To be fair to Mike the Giants only had time for one more rushing play in the game, but it wasn’t with Jemison. Check back for roster news in the next week, as there will be plenty of moves.

Carolina 15
Pittsburgh 13
Nick Goings was the only former Panther in this game, and most likely already had a roster spot locked up going into last night. He finished with only four yards on five carries, but did get two receptions for ten yards and one tackle on special teams. More on Nick later today.

Minnesota 10
Dallas 10
Lousaka Polite had a pretty uneventful night, a few passes thrown to him were all incomplete, but he did assist on a tackle on special teams. His play on special teams and his versatility out of the backfield is helping him make this team more than his ability to block as a fullback it seems. Parcells just doesn’t seem to use a fullback in the traditional role much.
Rob Petitti did play, but I haven’t searched around the web yet to get how much he played or if it was at right or left tackle. This was a big game for Rob and I should have some more info later on today.

Chicago 20
Cleveland 7
Ruben Brown started for the Bears, which is somewhat surprising in the final preseason game. I’m assuming he played only one series as there is basically no info on anything he did in the game.

Darnell Dinkins had three receptions for 27 yards, in the 2nd and 3rd quarters. He should be a lock to make the team as of today.

Tampa Bay 13
Houston 16
Torrie Cox did not play in this game, which could be a good sign for him, as mostly all the starters were held out. I have not seen any info that he was hurt, so I will assume it was a good thing he was held out of the game.
Dave Moore did play on kick coverage getting an assist and was the long snapper on most of the kicks and punts. More news on Dave’s situation later today, possibly not in a good way.

Charles Spencer did start at left tackle, as expected, and didn’t commit any penalties this game. Looks like Charles is getting more settled in his role as a starter.

New Orleans 9
Kansas City 10
Josh Lay played a good bit in this one, battling for that last roster spot with Anwar Philips. Josh got two tackles but did commit an illegal contact penalty. Philips seemed to play more though, with five tackles and an assist without committing any penalties. Look for updates here as they are available.

Kris Wilson played, but was only thrown to once for an incompletion.

Denver 29
Arizona 23
Larry Fitzgerald started and made one catch for 26 yards before exiting early with the starters.
Gerald Hayes seemed to play a lot more, starting and still being on the field to make a tackle in the 3rd quarter. Hayes finished up with three tackles, and committed a holding penalty on defense.

Brandon Miree did get in the game for Denver, but the only time the ball came his way was on an incomplete two-pointconversion attempt. Not a good sign for Brandon, although he may make the squad as a fullback.

Thursday News – Camp Battles for Moore, Lay, Lee and Jemison

Just another quick series of notes found around the web about Panthers that are fighting for jobs in the last preseason games…

This is the first I’ve heard of Dave Moore being in a battle for a job with the Bucs:

The situation is similar at tight end. The Bucs likely will keep three players there, but whether the third is Mark Anelli, Tim Massaquoi or Dave Moore may have to do with their special teams skills.

All preseason it’s been pretty widely accepted that he would make the team because of his long-snapping skills. This note also seems to say that will be the determining factor. As he’s handled almost all of the long-snapping in the preseason, I really can’t see him not making the team.

Josh Lay is fighting for his job with the Saints tonight against Anwar Phillips. Hopefully he doesn’t get raped:

CORNERBACKS: One rookie likely will make the team behind veterans Mike McKenzie, Fred Thomas and Jason Craft. Right now, it looks like Anwar Phillips will win the job over Lay. The Saints will keep an eye on the waiver wire here, too.

Mike Jemison, who all of New York thought was cut on Monday, is now fighting for a practice squad spot with the Giants:

While the nine offensive line spots on the active roster are filled, several rookies including versatile Na’Shan Goddard, guard Matt Lentz and center Todd Londot will be competing for practice squad spots. The same is true for running backs James Sims and Mike Jemison unless Derrick Ward’s ankle injury lands him on injured reserve, opening up a roster spot.

In the on-going battle Andy Lee is in for his punting job, this note from sfgate.com’s 49er notebook:

Andy Lee hit the best punt of the day, a cloud-scraping 50-plus yarder. He’s in contention with Tom Rouen for the punting job

Jemison NOT cut from Giants, out for personal reasons

We reported here yesterday that Mike Jemison was cut by the New York Giants. Actually, New York papers assumed he was the last roster cut made, because he wasn’t at practice. Coach Tom Coughlin cleared that up yesterday:

Q: Mike Jemison wasn’t at practice yesterday.

A: He had something he had to do personally.

No word on what the personal issue was. NJ.com also had to make the correction today:

The Giants also officially cut 13 players from their roster, including QB Rob Johnson and TE Boo Williams. RB Mike Jemison, who was believed to have been cut when he was not at practice two days ago, was back. Coughlin said Jemison he had to attend to a personal matter on Monday.

Instead of Jemison, WR Harry Williams was waived.

This is obviously good for Jemison, hopefully he survives the next round as well and stays on as the Giants 3rd running back.

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.

Friday NFL Roundup

Three games with seven former Panthers on rosters from Friday night. Panthers on the five teams included established veterans, star players, new starters, one Panther with a new team, one Panther playing in the second half for a roster spot and two Panthers who did not play and are going to have a tough time making their teams.

NY Giants 13
NY Jets 7
As far as Panthers, and some fantasy football owners, this was the most anticipated game of the night, with Kevan Barlow making his debut in Gotham. The Jets started Derrick Blaylock at Halfback, but Barlow got his first carry about halfway through the first quarter. On his second carry he fumbled, and did not see the ball again until he caught a pass in the middle of the 3rd quarter. Oh and making the tackle on the fumble (I believe he just fell on Sam Madison who was already down) was Holly Mangold’s older brother.

Barlow finished with three rushes for 11 yards and a fumble, and one catch for two yards.

Mike Jemison didn’t get as much work for the Giants, with only two carries for eight yards and one catch for zero yards. He did match Barlow in fumbles though with one, but he recovered his own. Not a good night for Panthers holding onto the football.

Jemison was fourth in carries on the Giants last night, and is on the bubble for the first round of cuts. We’ll update you through the weekend and next week as cuts begin.

Arizona 23
Chicago 16
Another game featuring two teams with former Panthers, except they all are starters for the Bears and Cardinals.

On the Bears side, Ruben Brown is a lock at left guard as usual. I only have seen one highlight of the Bears on offense from this game but in it Ruben completely manhandled the guy he was against. Usually anything to report for an offensive lineman is probably bad. That’s the case here as the only stat I can give you is that Ruben commited a false start penalty on Chicago’s first drive of the second quarter.

As for the Cardinals, their Panthers are more in the spotlight positions at WR and MLB.

Gerald Hayes started at MLB where we have reported he has won the starting job and his main competition James Darling was moved to OLB. Hayes played into the fourth quarter and led the team with seven tackles on the night.

Larry Fitzgerald also started and played into the second half, finishing with four catches for 45 yards. His highlight that has made it’s way onto sportscasts everywhere was a 27 yard pass from Matt Leinart in the second quarter.

Greg Lee did not dress. Another Panther staring at the cuts that are coming soon.

Pittsburgh 7
Philadelphia 16
Malcolm Postell did not play for Pittsburgh Friday night. I do not believe he was injured, but if I can verify that I will update. If not, that is definitely not a good sign for Postell with cuts coming.

Thursday NFL Roundup

Only one game with a Pitt alumni last night, as Kansas City visited the New York Football Giants.

The Chiefs started in a two tight end set but it did not include Kris Wilson. Tony Gonzalez is obviously the true starting tight end, the other was blocking specialist Jason Dunn. Wilson did play from the second quarter on and came away with 2 receptions for 16 yards, including a 12 yard reception on a 3rd and 9 that was deflected before Kris got his hands on it to keep the drive going which later ended in a punt. Kris was in the game after starter Trent Green had been replaced by second year QB Casey Printers.

The Giants surprisingly featured RB Mike Jemison in the second half, giving the former Panther 10 carries for 37 yards including a rush of 13 and adding one reception for another 13 yards. Jemison played only in the second half, but looked good running the ball after starting slow with only 1 yard on his first four carries. Jemison led the Giants in carries for the game.

You can vote for Mike as the most impressive player in the Giants win on their official home page.