The final week of preseason football is upon us and you know what that means? The start of the 2010 NFL season is just one week away! While most starters around the league won’t see a snap of action as they prepare for Week 1, this week still has a lot to offer for diehard fans.
This is the last chance players have to make an impression on their coaching staffs before cut day.
Between now and Saturday, September 4th at 4pm EST, teams around the league have to cut down from 75 to 53 players. That means 864 different men will get a pink slip from their team this weekend. While most rosters are shaping up, there are still many players on the bubble.
As teams begin to trim down their rosters the performance of the player on the field is not the only thing that will come into question. So much of today’s game is based on the finances. Article XXIII of the current collective bargaining agreement details “vested veterans” and what they’re status can mean for a squad. Any player that has four years of NFL experience qualifies as a vested veteran. If the player is on the opening day roster for his respective team, his entire base salary is guaranteed for the season.
However, if he is released before Week 1 and then signs on with another team or even the same team that just released him after the first week, the team is only obligated to pay him on a week-to-week basis.
Teams take advantage of this situation all the time.
The Philadelphia Eagles used to do it with veteran RB Dorsey Levens. Just two days ago, the New York Jets released WR Laveranues Coles. Don’t be shocked if the Jets pick up Coles again after Week 1. Over the next several days, many veteran players will be surprisingly released from their teams. Some will quickly be snatched up by another team while others wait for that next call to come.
While veterans worry about the financial side of the game, rookies and other unsigned players’ focus strictly on what they can accomplish on the football field. If you are tuning in to see your favorite stars take the field this week, you will be severely disappointed. However, if you are looking for hard nosed, passionate football in which players are leaving literally everything they have out there battling for their professional lives, it’s well worth watching.
It may not be the best quality football you watch but the effort will certainly be there.
There will be some high profile situations this week such as who will win the starting QB job in Arizona between Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson (coach Ken Wisenhunt named Anderson the starter for this week earlier today).
Then again, most of the drama that occurs in the final week of the preseason revolves around the players that fill out the bottom of the roster. While it might seem inconsequential right now, you never know when that fifth wide receiver of backup tackle is going to get the opportunity to completely change the course of your favorite teams season.
Great read. I didn’t know that teams could do that to a veteran player.
Great read. I didn’t know that teams could do that to a veteran player.
What’s the report on Lehigh football right now? The Chris Lum era is about to start and the offensive line returns some studs. However the defense is clearly in transition. Are they ready for Drake? Should be a huge showdown come Saturday, I need your opinion Mike.
What’s the report on Lehigh football right now? The Chris Lum era is about to start and the offensive line returns some studs. However the defense is clearly in transition. Are they ready for Drake? Should be a huge showdown come Saturday, I need your opinion Mike.
It should be a very big year for the Mountainhawks of Lehigh. Head coach Andy Coen is (somehow) heading into his 5th season as head coach and let’s face it. He’s only still around because he beat Lafayette the past two seasons. Coen is a combined 14-19 over the past three years and some media on campus have really pushed for his dismissal as head coach. Great guy but not a great coach.
The o-line should be very strong led by Senior Will Rackley and I’m sure everyone is incredibly excited about Chris Lum. We saw Lum show flashes in 2nd half duty last year replacing the struggling JB Clark. With almost all of the same skill position players returning from last season, the offense should be somewhat better.
The defense is going to have to find a way to recover from losing some strong seniors but with a guy like Troy Taylor at LB they should be good to go. I think Lehigh will roll against Drake this year and they have a shot to pick up their first winning season in a long time. I’m predicting 6-5 this year for the Mountainhawks.
It should be a very big year for the Mountainhawks of Lehigh. Head coach Andy Coen is (somehow) heading into his 5th season as head coach and let’s face it. He’s only still around because he beat Lafayette the past two seasons. Coen is a combined 14-19 over the past three years and some media on campus have really pushed for his dismissal as head coach. Great guy but not a great coach.
The o-line should be very strong led by Senior Will Rackley and I’m sure everyone is incredibly excited about Chris Lum. We saw Lum show flashes in 2nd half duty last year replacing the struggling JB Clark. With almost all of the same skill position players returning from last season, the offense should be somewhat better.
The defense is going to have to find a way to recover from losing some strong seniors but with a guy like Troy Taylor at LB they should be good to go. I think Lehigh will roll against Drake this year and they have a shot to pick up their first winning season in a long time. I’m predicting 6-5 this year for the Mountainhawks.
Are you guys planning on doing a breakdown of the upcoming season?
Are you guys planning on doing a breakdown of the upcoming season?
An NFL preview article should be up in the next 24-48 hours!
An NFL preview article should be up in the next 24-48 hours!