Some surprises in the Cleveland Browns final cut list. Some fans are shocked.
Anytime a team faces that final cut-down to the 53 man roster there are some very difficult decisions to be made. In some cases many of the releases made by the 32 NFL teams are not surprising, but sometimes they are downright shocking. For the Cleveland Browns there are a few shockers to hit the wire on Friday.
QB Seneca Wallace:
Since Brandon Weeden was drafted 22nd overall in April’s draft it was clear that both Colt McCoy and Seneca Wallace would compete for the backup slot. In addition the one who did not win the job would be let go. Many thought the situation would be resolved in a trade for Colt McCoy by a team like Green Bay. This would unload a player who has been involved in some disastrous PR moves during this offseason thanks to a concussion at the end of the 2011 season, and family members sounding off. But McCoy showed a lot of character in camp and has shown a good grasp of Pat Shurmur’s playbook. So the release of Wallace was not much of a surprise. The question for Seneca now is will find a place to land?
TE Evan Moore:
From a surprising impact player from 2010 to the cut list In 2012 Moore has fallen off the table. Moore has always had good receiver talent but not the best in the way of a blocking tight end. But Moore’s fate was sealed more by the performance of 2nd year player Jordan Cameron who has blown coaches, fans, and teams away this training camp and preseason. I don’t doubt that Moore will find a home and I wish him nothing but the best.
DL Brian Schaefering:
Brian Schaefering is not a top-tier defensive lineman. But he has always stepped up numerous times when called upon and has always beaten expectations. Schaefering was one player I did not even consider being on the bubble. He’s a veteran player in a position in which the Browns are somewhat thin due to the injury to starting DL Phil Taylor.
DB Davis Sims:
This particular cut outraged me. I thought Sims did everything he needed to do in order to earn a spot on the final 53 man roster. He had numerous interceptions, hard hits, and deflections during the preseason and also performed well in camp. The Browns are deep in the secondary but not so at safety. This move could hurt the Browns if Eric Hagg, T.J. Ward, or Usama Young suffers serious injury during the season. Sims was not cut, however was traded for a conditional 2013 pick to the Eagles
FB/TE Brad Smelley:
This is another player I really expected to make the team. Smelley was a FB for Alabama and teammate RB Trent Richardson which those who watched the Tide last season saw a successful combo. I expected Smelley to take the place of current fullback Owen Marecic who has not stood out like former fullbacks in Cleveland such as Lawrence Vickers.
WR Josh Cooper:
Cooper had a great camp but it just did not translate onto the field during the preseason in the limited action that he saw. Cooper is an excellent candidate to make the 8 man practice squad and I think given more time he can develop into a fine receiver.
Other Players released, cut, waived, and contracts terminated
· WR Rod Windsor
· DT Ronnie Cameron
· CB James Dockery
· DE William Green
· TE Dan Gronkowski
· OL Jarrod Shaw
· DL Kiante Tripp
· RB Adonis Thomas
· LB Quinton Spears
· OL Jeff Shugarts
· OL Jarrod Shaw
· DL Ernest Owusu
· OL Garth Gerhart
· OL Stanley Daniels
· OL Dominic Alford
Now comes the free for all in which all 32 teams try to out maneuver each other for players released. The frenzy will be fast and furious but one thing that should be clear to Browns fans is that the 53 man roster you see now may not be the same 53 you see when they take the field on September 9th against the Eagles Just because you made the team today, it doesn’t mean you will be there tomorrow.
Who do you think should have been cut?
Michael W. Youngman--Lead Analyst AFC North Michael is the Lead Analyst for the AFC North Report and the Cleveland Browns Report. He has written many articles that have been featured by playerpress.com, cantonrep.com, FoxSports.com, and of course this site. Michael has also written a book titled “The Dayton Project” published in 2008 by PublishAmerica. He makes his home in the Hall of Fame City of Canton Ohio with his wife Lisa and his two children Joseph and Jennifer. To learn more, visit his Website
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