Confessions of a Polluted Mindset – The First Cut is the Deepest

Roster Cut Day is a day that we fans wait for anxiously and get all excited about. We study the preseason roster and make our predictions and rejoice when we’re right about a player being released. It’s pretty selfish isn’t it? We’re thrilled because we were right about something. And I’m as guilty as anyone. But remember, someone has just lost their job and livelihood – and not just any job. It’s something they’ve likely been working toward for a decade or more. Giving their all, enduring the pain and hard lessons. These players are willing to go through almost anything to reach their goal of getting on to an NFL roster. Oh to be one of the only 1696 people on earth to have achieved this goal on this day! But just like that, it can all be taken away from them. So have some compassion for these guys. Don’t rejoice that a player you didn’t think was any good got cut. Just understand what they all go through and wish them well.

The first potential Green Bay Packer we heard about that had that dream taken away for them (at least for now) was Samori Toure. Here is a player that is very likely deserving of being on an NFL roster. But on the Packers, he had the misfortune of being WR 8 in the deepest position group on the team. Toure was the “First Cut FROM the Deepest” group on the team. NFL competition can be downright brutal. I hope he catches on somewhere else.

Here are some of my surprises and expected moves from yesterday

SURPRISES:

Anders Carlson – this shouldn’t be a surprise, but I guess I was just blind hoping he would get it together and keep improving with more time. Greg Joseph instills no confidence in me, other than when he makes a kick, it’s usually more centered than Carlson’s kicks are. I expect the Packers to bring some more kickers in for workouts and Joseph’s days could be numbered.

Anthony Johnson Jr. – I really though he was coming along nicely and that Hafley’s scheme would be good for him, but yes, the Safety room is now loaded. I was correct about Zayne Anderson making the team, but so did Oladapo, which we saw very little of in camp and preseason. I suppose they think Oladapo he has more upside.

Kristian Welch cut plus Brenton Cox Jr AND Arron Mosby both making the team. I was convinced one of either Mosby or Kristian Welch would make it, put picked the wrong horse in my predictions. I did not consider the possibility that both Cox and Mosby could be rostered, so I opted for Welch in and Ballentine out.

Kalen King – A mild surprise. I wasn’t that impressed but he was a draft pick and we know the Packers will give them preferential treatment in year one.

AS EXPECTED:

I correctly had assumed AJ Dillon would go on IR as I mentioned in my roster predictions, due to the Packers “getting second opinions” on his injury. I did not, expect him to be on final IR and out for the season.

Zayne Anderson making the team surprised a lot of people, but not this guy. He’s a as a special teams ACE the Packers dearly need.

Malik Heath – I was all over this one. I just felt he offered more overall at this time than Grant DuBose. Malik does everything well.he’s assignment sure, runs good routes, find open spots in the zone, catches and secures the ball, blocks with nastiness. He’s a gamer.

Royce Newman’s time with the team has ended. In the spirit of my first paragraph, I’ll just wish him well and hope he catches on with another team. I thought that would be enough.