Will Belichick Cut His First 4th Round Rookie Draftee?

I only went to camp once but I would be absolutely shocked if White got cut. He was running with the 1's and looked pretty good. He hasn't done much in the games, but that's a small sample size relative to practices.

Stork and Fleming are much more interesting cases. Stork's back at practice today, FWIW.

Doesn't look like Stork will play week 3 preseason. I'm guessing he's going on PUP, doesn't that buy the team 6 weeks for roster tinkering?

juny said:

Doesn't look like Stork will play week 3 preseason. I'm guessing he's going on PUP, doesn't that buy the team 6 weeks for roster tinkering?

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No, he already practiced

juny said:

Doesn't look like Stork will play week 3 preseason. I'm guessing he's going on PUP, doesn't that buy the team 6 weeks for roster tinkering?

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Stork is not eligible to go on PUP.

Stork is practicing today. He sticks, as do the others you mentioned. They all make it.

AndyJohnson said:

Keeping players who didn't deserve to make the team because they were rookies with potential hasn't worked well so far, so perhaps the concept that BB will give draft picks 2 years to prove themselves should be examined.

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So basically according to you we should cut all rookies if they are not superstarts 2 weeks into the pre season? Well obviously then we should have cut Edelman a long time ago then. Brady should also have been released according to your measures. You seem to have absolutely no clue that players get better with practise. Players aren't exactly at their prime coming out of college, and if they are that isn't really a good thing.

Stork was competing to start as our center but then got hurt. Should we get rid of him just because he got injured? Why should we get rid of someone that competed for starting time, with 4 years of extremely cheap cap, just because they got injured?

Marinlik said:

So basically according to you we should cut all rookies if they are not superstarts 2 weeks into the pre season? Well obviously then we should have cut Edelman a long time ago then. Brady should also have been released according to your measures. You seem to have absolutely no clue that players get better with practise. Players aren't exactly at their prime coming out of college, and if they are that isn't really a good thing.

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Where did I say anything like that?
Edelman made the team, was the punt returner and played a lot in the first few weeks of his rookie season.
Brady had a great camp, and obviously proved he belonged.
Comparing those 2 to a guy who has missed all but the first few practices is quite a stretch.
But please give me the list of all the players who were kept without earning their job that turned out to be good decisions.

Stork was competing to start as our center but then got hurt. Should we get rid of him just because he got injured? Why should we get rid of someone that competed for starting time, with 4 years of extremely cheap cap, just because they got injured?

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That is not a fact. He was competing to start in the eyes of fans who wanted him to. He barely competed. If he does not practice between now and cut down, how do you justify keeping him? Only by saying he was a 4th round pick so maybe he will be good and someone would claim him on waivers before he got to where he really belongs, the practice squad.
I do not see the evidence of the player that approach has proven to be a good move with.

Now that it appears Stork has returned to practice, all of this is moot as he will allow a decision to be made on him on the field.

mgteich said:

Is there a draftee that is so bad that Belichick will make him the first 4th or earlier player cut by him as a rookie?

Some want to cut Stork; some Fleming; some White.

Others think that it doesn't matter. After all, we can put such a player on our Practice Squad for the year with rookie pay.

What say you?

For me, unless a 4th rounder is truly horrible (Kareem Brown), he will get two camps to prove himself.

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For all those who want to cut Stork, Fleming and Halapio I think it is important to keep in mind that Mankins is 32, Connolly is in the final year of his contract, and Cannon is in the final year of his contract. So sure you free up some roster spots cutting these players but then what happens next year?

Despite what some like to believe team building is not a year to year process, there is long term planning involved, and just because a player is not great day 1, month 1, year 1, or even year 2 does not mean that his ticket is stamped and his career is determined.

Brady6 said:

For all those who want to cut Stork, Fleming and Halapio I think it is important to keep in mind that Mankins is 32, Connolly is in the final year of his contract, and Cannon is in the final year of his contract. So sure you free up some roster spots cutting these players but then what happens next year?

Despite what some like to believe team building is not a year to year process, there is long term planning involved, and just because a player is not great day 1, month 1, year 1, or even year 2 does not mean that his ticket is stamped and his career is determined.

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The obvious answer is that the players who beat them out would be here next year, if they are in fact beaten out.

Your theory doesn't explain why Kline or Devey wouldn't be kept instead of Halapio or Storck.

As far as Fleming I think he makes the team. Really the only talk of him not was me suggesting that on a tight roster we save a spot if Maneri is the 3rd TE because he can be an emergency OL.

Its 6 of one half dozen of another whether keeping 9 OL and using a T as the 3rd TE vs keeping 8 and using the 3rd TE as an emergency OL is better, but the tipping point seems to be cutting a guy who has potential in Fleming.

Stork returned to practice today, so he has a chance to show he belongs.

AndyJohnson said:

The obvious answer is that the players who beat them out would be here next year, if they are in fact beaten out.
Your theory doesn't explain why Kline or Devey wouldn't be kept instead of Halapio or Storck.

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What do you think the ceiling is for Kline and Devey realistically? They may be the better player today because they have a year on an NFL roster but will they be the better player in December, or 2015?

patsinthesnow said:

In game he's been mediocre at
best. He has 2.6ypc through two games and 1 catch. Although against scrubs, Finch had 9 touched for 71 yards in a half against the Eagles.

White hasn't showed any running or receiving ability yet in game,
that's all.

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As for 4th rounders, TE Aaron Hernandez has clearly lost a step with shackles on and will not see the field (or the sun) in 2014, that fossil Tom Brady probably sticks, Boyce is history, and Stork, Fleming and White all make the 53. Stork may start out on PUP.

I think that's all of 'em, right?

And, why are we discussing UDFA rookie Roy Finch in this thread? (BTW, I think he'll make the team because of his KR skills and versatility on offense).

Brady6 said:

What do you think the ceiling is for Kline and Devey realistically? They may be the better player today because they have a year on an NFL roster but will they be the better player in December, or 2015?

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I've learned that day 3 picks and UDFAs are pretty much the same once they are in the league.
BB could choose any combination of backups and I would think that means he assesses them as the better players, now and long term and I wouldn't bat an eye that a UDFA is better than a day 3 pick, it happens all the time.

The chances of Stork making it to the PS are slim enough that it can't be realistically expected. He'll almost certainly end up on the 53 or on IR. Between Fleming and White, I'm not sure why anyone would think that either of them will be cut. They'll both be on the final 53.

BradyFTW! said:

The chances of Stork making it to the PS are slim enough that it can't be realistically expected. My guess would be that he goes to IR. Between Fleming and White, I'm not sure why anyone would think that either of them will be cut. They'll both be on the final 53.

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Why would Stork go to IR? He just returned to practice today.

KontradictioN said:

Why would Stork go to IR? He just returned to practice today.

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Hadn't seen that until a minute ago; edited my post accordingly.

Deus Irae said:

Didn't you have Stork getting cut in another thread?*



* Or am I confusing you with another poster because of your PUP notion?

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I wanted to put Stork on the PUP list until I found out that he had practiced.

BradyFTW! said:

Hadn't seen that until a minute ago; edited my post accordingly.

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Ah I gotcha. Forgot you're operating on west coast time.

Trade him for Andre Johnson

AndyJohnson said:

Keeping players who didn't deserve to make the team because they were rookies with potential hasn't worked well so far

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Andy, how do you identify these players who earned roster spots they "didn't deserve"?