Bedard: Koppen, Stallworth, and Bulman among vets who could be cut

[Ian]

Just read this from Bedard:

The players who we'll be watching the next 24 hours: center Dan Koppen, receiver Donte' Stallworth and defensive tackle Tim Bulman.

Initial roster cuts coming with vets in focus - Extra Points - Boston.com

 

[Nikolai]

I think Koppen might make the first round and maybe even Stallworth, but I don't see either on the final 53.

 

[Tasco]

I think Koppen might make the first round and maybe even Stallworth, but I don't see either on the final 53.

I think they might get the chance to sign with another team and could be cut tomorrow.

 

[Deus Irae]

Yates has his list out, as well. Of the three titular players, he has one getting cut in this first round:

Predicting cuts to 75-man limit - New England Patriots Blog - ESPN Boston

 

[Rob0729]

Typically the Pats don't have any surprise cuts in the first round of cuts.

 

[Big-T]

I'd hold onto Koppen as long as possible so he has less time to get accustomed to potentially the Titans playbook before the game in week 1.

 

[Deus Irae]

Typically the Pats don't have any surprise cuts in the first round of cuts.

Sanders was pretty surprised, though.

 

[signbabybrady]

Koppens not going anywhere. He could be your week one starter at center.

 

[The Gr8est]

Typically the Pats don't have any surprise cuts in the first round of cuts.

If it's a respected vet who is not likely to make the team, that is exactly what BB WILL do; cut them early to give them a chance to catch on with another team.

 

[JackBauer]

Koppens not going anywhere. He could be your week one starter at center.

I don't think that's anything close to a certainty. Connolly, Wendell, and McDonald all give you more versatility than Koppen. Wouldn't surprise me at all to see him cut, and in fact I pretty much expect it to happen.

 

[Deus Irae]

I don't get the Koppen stuff. He was coming off of injury at the start of camp, and he showed it. He was tentative and slow in his movements, and he showed a lack of faith in his injured leg. As has been noted by the media, though, he's been improving over the course of camp and the games. It's not as if any of the other potential center candidates have gotten the job done, either. In the past two games, he's been on the field for the team's best drives.

 

[Gwedd]

I also don't get all the hate towards Stallworth. He's been on the field more (it seems to me) than Gaffney. I'd honestly think that Gaffney would be gone before Stallworth.

But then, I'm just a fan and not linked into the inner Belichick Sanctum Sanctorum

 

[RayClay]

I also don't get all the hate towards Stallworth. He's been on the field more (it seems to me) than Gaffney. I'd honestly think that Gaffney would be gone before Stallworth.

But then, I'm just a fan and not linked into the inner Belichick Sanctum Sanctorum

Hypothetically, If one players job was safe and two others were very close for the last spot, wouldn't the players fighting for a spot see more action?

 

[patchick]

I don't get the Koppen stuff. He was coming off of injury at the start of camp, and he showed it. He was tentative and slow in his movements, and he showed a lack of faith in his injured leg. As has been noted by the media, though, he's been improving over the course of camp and the games. It's not as if any of the other potential center candidates have gotten the job done, either. In the past two games, he's been on the field for the team's best drives.

I don't think anybody's slamming Koppen particularly, it's simply a numbers game -- IF Waters returns. One of these players presumably has to go:

Connolly
Koppen
McDonald
Thomas
Wendell

Connolly is experienced and reliable at multiple positions, and given the structure of his contract would cost as much to cut as to keep. Wendell is undersized but keeps improving year to year and is probably a better pure center than Connolly. Both McDonald and Thomas are young, athletic, dirt cheap, and zipping up the learning curve after starting out extremely raw.

Koppen is a savvy veteran who manages the line calls, snaps beautifully, and has a great rapport with Brady. But he's also about to turn 33, is coming off a major injury, was a bit undersized and underpowered even in his prime, and cutting him would save $1 million+ off the cap. Put it all together and he's far from a lock.

 

[JackBauer]

I don't think anybody's slamming Koppen particularly, it's simply a numbers game -- IF Waters returns. One of these players presumably has to go:

Connolly
Koppen
McDonald
Thomas
Wendell

Connolly is experienced and reliable at multiple positions, and given the structure of his contract would cost as much to cut as to keep. Wendell is undersized but keeps improving year to year and is probably a better pure center than Connolly. Both McDonald and Thomas are young, athletic, dirt cheap, and zipping up the learning curve after starting out extremely raw.

Koppen is a savvy veteran who manages the line calls, snaps beautifully, and has a great rapport with Brady. But he's also about to turn 33, is coming off a major injury, was a bit undersized and underpowered even in his prime, and cutting him would save $1 million+ off the cap. Put it all together and he's far from a lock.

Agreed. Seems to me four the five you listed are trending up, while one is trending down and has been for some time now. I liked Koppen very much during his prime but I'm skeptical, given an increasing inability to handle the power rush, that his trajectory will change much, particularly coming off injury.

 

[Deus Irae]

I don't think anybody's slamming Koppen particularly, it's simply a numbers game -- IF Waters returns. One of these players presumably has to go:

Connolly
Koppen
McDonald
Thomas
Wendell

Connolly is experienced and reliable at multiple positions, and given the structure of his contract would cost as much to cut as to keep. Wendell is undersized but keeps improving year to year and is probably a better pure center than Connolly. Both McDonald and Thomas are young, athletic, dirt cheap, and zipping up the learning curve after starting out extremely raw.

Koppen is a savvy veteran who manages the line calls, snaps beautifully, and has a great rapport with Brady. But he's also about to turn 33, is coming off a major injury, was a bit undersized and underpowered even in his prime, and cutting him would save $1 million+ off the cap. Put it all together and he's far from a lock.

I'm not calling him a lock, although I don't think he'll get cut in round one. I'm just talking about the way people here are being rather quick to think he's gone. Even though he's had his issues, he's probably been the team's best center in the last two exhibition games.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

I'm not calling him a lock, although I don't think he'll get cut in round one. I'm just talking about the way people here are being rather quick to think he's gone. Even though he's had his issues, he's probably been the team's best center in the last two exhibition games.

I don't know how you came to that conclusion but it's simply not true.

 

[Deus Irae]

I don't know how you came to that conclusion but it's simply not true.

I came to that conclusion by watching the game, assessing the play of the centers, watching the way the players were used by the coaching staff, watching the results, and then following all that up by reading the writings of others to see if it lined up with what I saw.

As for it not being true, your opinion is noted.

 

[patchick]

I'm not calling him a lock, although I don't think he'll get cut in round one. I'm just talking about the way people here are being rather quick to think he's gone. Even though he's had his issues, he's probably been the team's best center in the last two exhibition games.

I think this could be one of the odd cases where he's either the day 1 starter, or he's gone. IF Koppen clearly beats out all comers at the center position that great, he's the man. If not, though, he's neither versatile nor economical as a backup.

 

[ATippett56]

Just read this from Bedard:

Initial roster cuts coming with vets in focus - Extra Points - Boston.com

Not one of Bedard's better efforts.