It's a new dawn around the NFL— even for many of those players who did not survive the "Final" cut. Some will find their way back to an NFL roster spot or a PS8 squad— somewhere.
Clay Harbor is a class act. He willingly switched positions (TE, WR, and LB) in training camp in an effort to make Chip Kelly's Eagles.
Harbor had a strong training camp, but had two drops in the Eagles last preseason game against the New York Jets.
Many thought that if Harbor was not part of the Eagles plans he would be traded, but that hasn't happened. It's likely Harbor will be picked up by another team.
Harbor didn't wait long to announce on his own Twitter feed that he had been released, and he did so with style and grace.
"Want to thank the Eagles for the last three seasons it was a great to be able to play in such a passionate city! 1:32 PM – 31 Aug 2013 "
It leaves the Eagles currently with 4 tight ends. Jordan Raanan of NJ.com had a decent analysis of why they cut Harbor and kept the other guys:
Tight End – Brent Celek, James Casey, Zach Ertz, Emil Igwenagu
Final Cut: Clay Harbor
Raanan's Analysis: "It's not that Igwenagu was clearly the better player. It's that Igwenagu filled a need as a blocking tight end more than Harbor, a 2010 fourth-round pick. The Eagles wanted role players at the end of the roster rather than iterations of what was already there. That gave Igwenagu the edge. He was the biggest surprise for me on this roster."
"We were looking for different skill sets at the back of the roster," Roseman said. "We didn't feel there was another guy on the roster who was as good a blocker, a point-of-attack blocker. He's a physical guy. And we also felt those other three guys were good receiving threats."
Valid points. If Igwenagu can block well, it's a smart move to keep a tight end with that skill. It's not any of the other three's strength.
Around the rest of the Division, we see some familiar names bite the dust— at least temporarily.
According to ESPN sources, the Cowboys cut the following players: Alex Tanney, Anthony Armstrong, Edawn Coughman, Jakar Hamilton, Taylor Reed, Demetress Bell, Kendial Lawrence, Xavier Brewer, Jerome Long, Jabari Fletcher, Caleb McSurdy, Cameron Lawrence, Thaddeus Gibson, Ray Dominguez, Danny Coale, Jason Vega, Tim Benford, Micah Pellerin, Sterling Moore, Brandon Magee and Kevin Kowalski.
Safety Matt Johnson is heading to season-ending injured reserve.
The Cowboys will be actively looking at the waiver wire for upgrades. Tanney, Pellerin, Magee, Benford, Coale and Vega could be practice squad candidates if they clear waivers.
The New York Giants waived: DE Matt Broha, OT Stephen Goodin, S David Caldwell, OL Matt McCants, CB Charles James, CB Terrence Frederick, WR Julian Talley, LB Kyle Bosworth, DE Adrian Tracy, DE Adewale Ojomo, DT Marvin Austin, OL Eric Herman, OL Bryant Browning, WR Kevin Hardy, WR Marcus Harris
Contracts terminated: QB David Carr, RB Ryan Torain
Waived/injured: S Tyler Sash, OL Selvish Capers
Reserve/physically unable to perform list: DT Markus Kuhn (knee)
Injured reserve: WR Ramses Barden (knee)
Suspended: S Will Hill (4 games)….
Meanwhile the Washington Redskins made news of sort by keeping 4 quarterbacks.The Redskins also opted to keep running back Evan Royster, who perhaps saved his job with a strong preseason finale at Tampa Bay. He's one of five running backs along with speedy rookie Chris Thompson.
Redskins cuts: RB: Keiland Williams, Jawan Jamison, RB Tristan Davis (from exempt/left squad list). WR: Skye Dawson, Nick Williams, Lance Lewis, Dez Briscoe (designated as injured). OL: Tevita Stevens, Tony Pashos, Kevin Matthews, Xavier Nixon. TE: Emmanuel Ogbuehi. DL: Chigo Anunoby, Dominique Hamilton, Ron Brace. DB: DeJon Gomes, Chase Minnifield LB: Vic So’oto, Will Compton, Marvin Burdette.
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