2012 Preseason Transactions

Preseason is an opportunity for players to prove, in game, that they are worth keeping on teams’ 53-man rosters. But not all players will make it. Some just aren’t good enough; others have contracts that are too expensive. In either case, while roughly 1700 players will get through the Preseason and keep their spot on their teams’ rosters afterwards, hundreds more have nothing but disappointment once Preseason ends.

Here is my list of what I considered to be high profile, or just eye-catching, transactions from this Preseason:

·      The Patriots cut WR Deion Branch as the team tries to stay young.

·      Former Rams and Redskins safety O.J. Atogwe was cut by the Eagles. They already have a strong secondary and didn’t feel the need to keep him around.

·      The Redskins released HB Tim Hightower. Until an injury cut his season short, he was the starting back for Washington in 2011, and was doing a great job in the spot. But rookies Roy Helu Jr. and Evan Royster used the opportunity to prove their worth to the team. Rookie HB Alfred Morris did a great job this preseason and the Redskins don’t need four backs on the roster.

·      The Dolphins cut Chad Johnson shortly after reports emerged that he had been in a physical altercation with his wife. He hasn’t been picked up by another team yet and there haven’t been reports of interest so far.

·      John Kasey was cut by the Saint, joining several other kickers who were released following battles for starting positions. The Redskins released both Graham Gano and Neil Rackers in favor of Billy Cundiff, who had just been released by the Ravens, and the Chargers cut Nick Novak.

·      Curtis Painter, who started a handful of games for the Colts in 2011, did not make the cut in Baltimore.

·      Seneca Wallace didn’t make it in Cleveland, meaning that if things down pan out for Brandon Weeden, the quarterback job will go right back to Colt McCoy.

·      The Jaguars released Jordan Palmer. Not really a high-profile move, but it is the younger brother of Carson Palmer, so I thought it was worth noting.

·      The Colts let HB Deji Karim go. Another not so high profile move, but Karim had a few pretty solid games for the Jaguars a year or two ago.

·      Former Redskin Rock Cartwright did not make it at a fullback in San Francisco.

·      One other move that surprised me in Washington, WR Anthony Armstrong was cut, too. I knew the Skins had a surplus of receivers – they also cut Terrance Austin – but Armstrong had done a good job in D.C. Maybe it just means that RGIII has much better chemistry with the other guys on the roster.

Keep an eye out for more posts over the next few days leading up to the first game of the 2012 Regular Season. I appreciate all of you reading.