Cut Predictions

I don't see Helu being cut to be honest. I think before we start crowning Morris as a lock, let's reflect on who the team was he was playing against. He was playing against a dreadful Colts defense that has always had issues against the run. Also, wasn't he running against the 2nd and 3rd stringers during the Chicago and Buffalo games? Helu actually had a higher YPC than Morris had in the Buffalo game. Now granted, he only had 4 carries so keep that in mind.

At the end of last week I thought the rookie richard crawford looked like a potential top nickle back...well....he whiffed a few times tonight against backups and looked quite vanilla...I think his lack of showing up tonight just landed him safely on the practice squad.

I do give the talk of Cooley getting cut some merit, I personally didn't think his blocking was that great tonight, Paulsen seems a better blocker and he has proven he can catch the standard TE passes last wk. Giving Cooley that much for a backup role is hard to swallow.

Regarding cutting Moss, I did think it was unthinkable, but he hasn't caught much and they put him in as a punt returner. The first think I thought was, he is expendible, and based on potential with other WR, it is possible they cut him, though not likely.

The only shock cuts could be Cooley or Moss

Anthony Armstrong is a definite casualty, Cooley will make the team, everyone else that isn't a sure bet starter will be on the bubble.

the first cut is for 4th stringers, not royster or moss or doughty etc


c griff and AA/TA are probably gone. robinson and briscoe showed up, and your #5/#6 receiver aren't going to get crap for playing time anyways unless you have some really bad luck, so that's a good place to start.

my guess:
WR Lance Lewis
WR Samuel Kirkland
WR Anthony Armstrong
TE Beau Reliford
TE Richard Quinn
RB Antwon Bailey
RB Lennon Creer
LB Donnell Holt
LB Monte Lewis
LB Brian McNally
OG Nick Martinez
FB Dorson Boyce
DT Marlon Favorite
DB Travon Bellamy
C Grant Garner

or something like that.

Moss.has returned punts plenty of times.since shanny has.been.here, he's historically pretty decenr at it... i wouldnt read into.him.being "expendable" based on that... moss is gonna kill it in the slot, and id be beside myself with dis.belief if he was.cut

I think it has to do with his price tag. He is a valuable player but 5mil? With our limited cap room can we really afford over 10mil in TEs?

Freeing up cap room so they can sign who? If they wanted his cap room they would have cut him in June and tried to sign someone with what they freed up. Back when there were actual significant players to use the money on.

Again Davis is a puff puff pass away from a year suspension. It would be foolhardy to not hedge your bets with Davis.

He's not only not getting cut, he's in absolutely no danger of being cut. For the simple reasons already noted.

Whoever said Paul is a better blocker isn't watching the same preseason I am. Niles Paul is a good teamer, but a pretty mediocre TE at the moment, he's an experiment they're trying because they can't keep him as a wide out, but they love his special teams play and work ethic.

Paulson is a good blocking TE yes, IMO Cooley has better technique but less strength. If only because he's more of an overall threat, he's the better TE.

All of this is ignoring the fact that dual threat TE's are all the rage, and something that the Shanahan's have a whole package designed around even before what New England did last year. It's called the Tiger package.

Every shred of evidence suggests that Cooley is not even being evaluated seriously. Let me list them:

Didn't get much action in game 1 and 2 (except sub'ing for the FB which also makes Cooley valuable on a team that's thread bare at that spot)

Check

Played with the first team in preseason game 3

Check

Wasn't cut when his money would have freed up cap space for a big signing

Check

Is the best overall TE on the roster and looked like it in game 3

Check

Every other TE has played later into games than him (except as FB) including Davis.

Check

None of those things are consistent with players who are "on the bubble"
However ALL of those things ARE consistent with a Veteran player who the coaches aren't seriously considering cutting.

At wide receiver, you have to think that Austin, Armstrong, and Banks will get waived. Banks 91 yard punt return for a TD last week looked nice, but I don't see Shanahan going back on his word about Banks needing to contribute at WR in order to make the team, something that he hasn't done. Briscoe and Robinson seems to have the edge for the last few receiver slots.

Helu? Cut?!? Please. He'll be IRed before he ever gets cut

the first cut is for 4th stringers, not royster or moss or doughty etc


c griff and AA/TA are probably gone. robinson and briscoe showed up, and your #5/#6 receiver aren't going to get crap for playing time anyways unless you have some really bad luck, so that's a good place to start.

my guess:
WR Lance Lewis
WR Samuel Kirkland
WR Anthony Armstrong
TE Beau Reliford
TE Richard Quinn
RB Antwon Bailey
RB Lennon Creer
LB Donnell Holt
LB Monte Lewis
LB Brian McNally
OG Nick Martinez
FB Dorson Boyce
DT Marlon Favorite
DB Travon Bellamy
C Grant Garner

or something like that.

Thanks 'Guy.

Helu? Cut?!? Please. He'll be IRed before he ever gets cut

I think this is right, instead of losing Royster or Helu by cutting them, just IR one of them. Morris is on the team and Hightower is getting healthier so you IR Royster and hope Helu is ready to go in 10 or so days.