Reiss says we must cut down to 55 not 53

[DefenseRules]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

September 1, 2007
55 the number
By Mike Reiss, Globe Staff

When the Patriots finalize their roster cuts today, they won't have to include safety Rodney Harrison and cornerback Asante Samuel against the 53-man roster limit.

Harrison is suspended for the first four games of the regular season. The Patriots have been granted an exemption for Samuel through Sept. 10 (or until he is activated).

So technically, the Patriots will have 55 players by 4 p.m. today, which could influence some of the final roster decisions.

I would be surprised if BB keeps 55 players. But you never know.

 

[DaBruinz]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/


I would be surprised if BB keeps 55 players. But you never know.

Actually, if the Pats plan on keeping Childress on the Practice squad, they HAVE to go to 55 and not 53.

Needless to say, the next few hours will be interesting.

 

[pats1]

Well, it's 53 in all actuality.

Being on Reserve/Suspended or being on Commissioner's Exemption is no different than being on Reserve/Injured or Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform.

And we don't say the Pats need to cut to 57 because they have 2 guys on IR.

 

[pats1]

Not to jump on anyone or anything, but there are about 15 guys suspended in the NFL right now for some duration of this season.

The last Pat to be suspended was Michael Cloud in 2003. Only 4 years ago.

Suspended players NEVER count against the active roster, so there wasn't really a question with this.

 

[bbabin]

This is still a pretty big benefit for the Patriots. Basically we have an extra 1 week for one player and 4 weeks for another in which we can hang on to them. While all other teams are making the tough cuts AND creating their practice squad, we get to try out these two that would normally not be on the roster. When our starters come back (Samuel and Harrison) we'll have a better chance of them clearing waivers.

 

[DefenseRules]

I get it. We still cut down to 53 but we get two exemptions for Asante and Rodney which brings us to 55. Thanks guys.

 

[Pats726]

Not to jump on anyone or anything, but there are about 15 guys suspended in the NFL right now for some duration of this season.

The last Pat to be suspended was Michael Cloud in 2003. Only 4 years ago.

Suspended players NEVER count against the active roster, so there wasn't really a question with this.

Yes...never at all thought it would not be...thought it was pretty automatic...

 

[pats1]

I get it. We still cut down to 53 but we get two exemptions for Asante and Rodney which brings us to 55. Thanks guys.

Yeah, I think the only reason Reiss is saying this is to be perfectly clear to those who have less of an understanding of the system.

He did the same thing last year on the final cutdown. Instead of stating the technically-correct reality that Branch was on Reseve/Did Not Report, he just said the Pats cut down to 54 since Branch didn't count.

But again, Reserve/Did Not Report or Reserve/Suspended is no different from Reserve/Injured. None of the Reserve/X lists count against the active roster.

I guess Reiss could have said "the Pats need to cut down to 61 because there is 1 on Reserve/Suspended, 1 on Commissioner's Exemption, 3 on Reserve/PUP, and 3 on Reserve/Injured" or just "the Pats will need to cut down to 53 since Samuel is on Commissioner's Exemption and Harrison on Reserve/Suspended," but he opted for the Football For Dummies version. No biggie.

 

[DefenseRules]

The Pats have not contacted Hawkins according to Tomase:

http://news.bostonherald.com/blogs/patriots/

September 1st, 2007
Hawkins not likely to return
Posted by John Tomase at 1:56 pm

A source close to former Patriots safety Artrell Hawkins said he has not been contacted by the team about rejoining the squad with Rodney Harrison suspended for violating the league’s substance abuse policy. Hawkins has visited the Jets, Eagles and Titans, and according to the source, has received offers from two of them, pending the resolution of some minor physical issues.

The Patriots released Hawkins, who was a solidifying influence over the last two years, on Aug. 18. He was suffering from an undisclosed injury.

Also, it should be noted that because Harrison is suspended, he does not count against the team’s roster limit. So when they cut the roster to 54 today at 4 p.m. (they have an exemption through Sept. 10 for Asante Samuel), Harrison won’t have to be among the names on their list.

Why not? I would have been on the phone last night.

 

[DaBruinz]

The Pats have not contacted Hawkins according to Tomase:

http://news.bostonherald.com/blogs/patriots/

Why not? I would have been on the phone last night.

Hawkins, wasn't playing very well in 2005 against Denver and he showed that he doesn't have what it takes to be a corner any more. In 2006, Hawkins, though very good on special teams, was mediocre on the field.

I think that the Pats like enough of what they see in Sanders to feel comfortable going with him in the secondary.

 

[DefenseRules]

Hawkins, wasn't playing very well in 2005 against Denver and he showed that he doesn't have what it takes to be a corner any more. In 2006, Hawkins, though very good on special teams, was mediocre on the field.

I think that the Pats like enough of what they see in Sanders to feel comfortable going with him in the secondary.

I guess. But I would feel a lot better if we had a veteran safety back there with Merriweather, but hopefully Wilson is healthy enough to start.

 

[BelichickFan]

I guess. But I would feel a lot better if we had a veteran safety back there with Merriweather, but hopefully Wilson is healthy enough to start.

We've added a lot of DBs since last year, Meriweather, Mitchell back, the guy from the Bears, Gay back, we have a lot of bodies that we just didn't have last year. Tory James too if he even makes the team.

 

[DefenseRules]

The Pats are not going to announce their cuts until the last minute, huh?

 

[pats1]

The Pats are not going to announce their cuts until the last minute, huh?

Most teams haven't.

The Giants' have been trickling in, the Browns, Cardinals, Saints are done. Eagles were done yesterday. A few other names have been trickling out as well (Cundiff, Crockett, Printers).

 

[Crazyeechrispats1]

Names I surely don't wanna hear on the cut list.

RANDY MOSS
KELLY WASHINGTON
WESLEY BRITT
JUSTIN ROGERS

Anyone else they wanna cut as far as bubble players are concerned I'm fine with.

 

[pats1]

Names I surely don't wanna hear on the cut list.

RANDY MOSS
KELLY WASHINGTON
WESLEY BRITT
JUSTIN ROGERS

Anyone else they wanna cut as far as bubble players are concerned I'm fine with.

Why so high on the last three guys?