With teams scheduled for the final cut-down to their final 53-man roster Saturday night, it will be interesting to see how many of the players cut Tuesday when teams trimmed their roster to 75 players, will land back on a roster. Some of the surprising cuts from Tuesday already have a new job. To see the first half of this piece, you can click here.
San Diego Chargers: Quarterback Zach Mettenberger and Wide Receiver James Jones
Jones must not show much in practice, because this is the third time he’s been cut in two seasons. The team he stuck with last season, the Green Bay Packers, made it to the playoff and Jones had a solid season there, catching 50 passes for 890 yards and eight touchdowns. Maybe the Packers will sign him again?
After #49ers get down to 53 I have to think they will be scouring waiver wire for WR help, or signing a vet after Week 1 (James Jones?)
— Jeff Deeney (jeffdeeney on Threads) (@PFF_Jeff) September 2, 2016
Mettenberger was the odd-man out in the Chargers’ quarterback room and was always a longshot to make the team. Philip Rivers is the starter and Kellen Clemons is a solid back up. Behind both those guys they can develop a cheap rookie like Mike Bercovici out of Arizona State so Mettenberger just wasn’t worth the money. No reason to cry for Zack, though. He got picked up by the Pittsburgh Steelers almost immediately.
Seattle Seahawks: Cornerback Brandon Browner
Brandon Browner was part of the original, Super Bowl-winning Legion of Boom in Seattle so his return after a couple of seasons as an NFL journeyman made a lot of sense. His immediate dismissal is probably a giant red flag.
Say what you want about @bbrowner27, but I'd love for him to be back in New England. Huge part of the SB team, adds attitude to the defense
— Bauston Diehards 🏈 ⚾🏀🏒⚽ (@BaustonDiehards) August 29, 2016
Browner has always been a discipline problem, but most of the time that was just on the field. He was a walking pass interference penalty and good to give up a few key flags downfield in any big game. He evidently also punched Derrelle Revis in the face when they were both with the New England Patriots in 2014. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has publicly stated the team might bring Browner back, I’m assuming that comes with plenty of caveats about injuries or younger players completely blowing opportunities. As it is, Browner is a young, solid corner who could easily land on a team and if he could keep his pass interference calls down to at least the league average, he could probably stay on one.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Safety Major Wright
Wright is still a young player and has started 51 games in the NFL, so his unemployment probably won’t last long. The Carolina Panthers have brought him in for a workout and if they sign him, Wright will probably feel like he’s won the lottery after spending the first years of his career with the Chicago Bears and Bucs.
Wright struggle with injuries last season, appearing in only nine games with Tampa Bay and starting just two. The Bucs brought him into to hold down their strong safety spot, but he never really seemed to fit what they wanted to do on defense. Last year Wright set career lows in tackles with 25 and for the second season in a row did not record an interception. Wright’s best season was 2013 when he recorded 103 tackles, two forced fumbles, three pass defenses, two interceptions and one defensive touchdown with the Bears.
Washington Redskins: Defensive end/tackle Stephen Paea
Stephen Paea was out of work all of three days after getting the boot from the Washington Redskins. Paea was one of the best free agent defensive linemen to hit the market last season, but it was still a surprise when he signed with the Redskins. They played him outside as a defensive end in a 3-4, when Paea is a natural DT in a 4-3 or nose tackle in a 3-4. Needless to say, Paea’s numbers took a dive.
One man's trash is another man's treasure. God is good. #DAWGPOUND #Cleveland #Browns pic.twitter.com/UVJdiKVTPc
— Stephen Paea (@PAEA_90) September 2, 2016
The Cleveland Browns signed Paea Friday and should plug him into the spot he belongs. The Browns get a four-year player still in his prime that should be able to match his 2014 season where he had 33 tackles, two forced fumbles, three passed defended and six sacks, all from the DT and NT positions.
Oakland Raiders: Longsnapper Andrew East and Tight end Colton Underwood
Neither of these guys are a shocking cuts, but it’s a bummer to see East and Underwood both on the street. East is a journeyman NFL longsnapper who just so happened to win the lottery by marrying former USA Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson. Underwood, through East and Johnson, was trying to pull his own coup by setting up a date with 2016 Olympic gold medalist Aly Raisman and it appeared to have worked out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoQfdtdTesc
Since he’s out of a job at present, it might put a crimp in his romantic plans. I’m still pulling for him.
NEXT: Cuts to 53
