Back in the Day Roster Cuts
 

Way, way back in the day, an NFL roster only had 45 players on it (gameday roster was only 33!)

Here's a challenge for the board: if the Pats had to cut down to 45 instead of 53, how would that look? Here is my take (33 man gameday roster in bold):

QB (2): Brady, Cassell
RB (4): Dillon, Maroney, Faulk, Mills
WR (4): Branch, Brown, Jackson, Caldwell
TE (3): Graham, Watson, Thomas
OL (8): O'Callahan, Light, Koppen, Hochstein, Mankins, Yates/Stevenson, Neal, Kazcur
K (1): Gostkowski

Total offense: 22 (16 gameday)

DL (6): Seymour, Warren, Wilfork, Green, Sullivan, Wright
LB (8): Bruschi, Vrabel, Seau, Colvin, TBC, Izzo, Davis, Woods/Alexander
CB (4): Hobbs, Samuel, Gay, Scott
S (4): Harrison, Wilson, Hawkins, Sanders
P (1): Miller

Total defense: 23 (17 gameday)

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Not a bad core group. I'd be comfortable fielding that a generation ago. Nice depth.

Paxton is obviously a huge sacrifice, but it's a luxury you can't afford with a total roster of 45. Koppen or Hochstein would have to step up.

On the conflicted slots, I don't have sufficient expertise to pick Yates or Stevenson, or Woods or Alexander.

I'm pretty confident in the rest of the cuts from the probable 53.

It must have been considerably easier to follow a team back then.