NFL Roster Cuts: Packers Cut Down To 53 Plus Two Trades

by Brandon on Sep 3, 2011 6:45 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers Training Camp

Here's the entire list of 23 players that the Green Bay Packers released on Saturday. From Packers.com:

Released Saturday were WR Diondre Borel, S Anthony Bratton, T Chris Campbell, T/G Ray Dominguez, NT Chris Donaldson, LB Ricky Elmore, C Sampson Genus, CB Josh Gordy, WR Tori Gurley, QB Graham Harrell, FB Jon Hoese, LB Cardia Jackson, DE Eli Joseph, LB Elijah Joseph, S Anthony Levine, C/G Nick McDonald, RB Dimitri Nance, CB Brandian Ross, NT Jay Ross, RB Brandon Saine, WR Kerry Taylor, S/CB Brandon Underwood and WR Chastin West.

A lot of practice squad material available. But I don't expect all of them will be eligible.

In addition, DE Lawrence Guy and WR Shaky Smithson were placed on I.R. Why Smithson wasn't just released is a mystery.

The Packers also made two trades for undisclosed draft picks. FB Quinn Johnson went to the Titans and OL Caleb Schlauderaff went to the Jets. A little surprising to see them give up on Johnson, and leave themselves with only one fullback after carrying three last season. I expect they got a future 7th rounder for each player.

Probably the most surprising moves are the release of Harrell, Gurley and West. But the Packers had preferred carrying no more than two quarterbacks for the past couple seasons (until concussions forced Rodgers to miss a game) and carrying more than five wide receivers seemed unlikely, no matter how well West plays. I expect all three will be eligible for the practice squad, if no other team claims them.

I'll start taking a closer look at who the Packers kept, and for any major surprises, in future posts. This is just my immediate reaction. Who's your biggest surprise?

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My understanding

is that you can’t cut an injured player.

“Why Smithson wasn’t just released is a mystery.”

They’ll have to give him an injury settlement before cutting him is what I read today.

by GinSlinger on Sep 3, 2011 6:48 PM CDT reply actions

He could have been an injury settlement

He didn’t show me any reason why he should have been kept for another look next season. Injured players are released all the time after an injury settlement is worked out. If he was hurt, then they were probably on the hook for his salary either way.

by Brandon on Sep 3, 2011 7:29 PM CDT up reply actions

I'm not saying that's why he's still here

but it could be they couldn’t reach the settlement in time. Dunno.

by GinSlinger on Sep 3, 2011 7:56 PM CDT up reply actions

The biggest surprise for me was Harrell

You obviously don’t want him having to start a game, and I know nobody wants Rodgers to get another concussion, but let’s face it, the odds are greater than they were this time last year of a recurrence. I don’t know but I’d feel better having him as #3 for sure rather than some retread. I thought he made enough progress to carry him on the full roster. I guess they’re hoping for him to make it to the PS again.

by Danwood on Sep 3, 2011 7:02 PM CDT reply actions

I wasn't that surprised, but Im a bit bothered,

I don’t see him making it to PS. He’s been great this preseason, so any teams looking to carry 3 QBs would rather have him than their undrafted rookie who would otherwise be their #3. I think he’ll be very capable of being the backup when Flynn leaves, but now he might be someone else’s backup.

"I should run a marathon backwards, so I can see what 2nd place look like"
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I've always wondered if he's actually 5'9".

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by BlackPack-fan on Sep 3, 2011 9:02 PM CDT up reply actions

PS

OK My PS guess is…

Gordy, Dominguez, Harrell, Gurley, Hoese, McDonald and 2 from other teams…

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Sep 3, 2011 7:05 PM CDT reply actions

Switch Hoese out for Elmore because I think they seem pretty comfortable with TEs/Raji blocking like fullbacks

And one of the two from another team I’m calling a safety.

Also did anyone else see that the Rams cut Donnie Avery? That’s shocking, he’s had injuries and personality issues but not horrible personality issues and he is a DeSean Jackson style player with worlds of talent (in fact the Rams made the poor choice of drafting Avery ahead of Jackson)

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by Buddhasillegitimatechild38 on Sep 3, 2011 7:17 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

I don't think TE can play FB full time if Kuhn got hurt.

Thats why I think Hoese goes on PS. And Elmore has been extremely underwhelming. Don’t see any reason to bother w/ the PS for him.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Sep 3, 2011 7:26 PM CDT up reply actions

ps=

GORDY, WEST, GURLEY, HARRELL, SAINE, ROSS.
Love that we kept Crabtree. Good blocker and can catch. Loved seeing him bring in a TD during the playoffs! Go Pack!

Life is too short to drink bad coffee...

by Jeigh AK on Sep 3, 2011 7:31 PM CDT reply actions

hey guys

jet fan here. why the hell would we want schlauderaff?

"it's not easy being green"-kermit the frog
"we the mets are an improved ball club, now we lose in extra innings"-casy stengel
i cant spell a nosebleed
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by rexthejet on Sep 3, 2011 8:27 PM CDT reply actions

I have no clue. none whatsoever.

Tbh, he may have some value, but from what I have seen from him…bleh. Some other may offer you more of a scouting report than that.

That dog just won't hunt.

by Bush League All Star on Sep 3, 2011 8:34 PM CDT up reply actions

good

now i know we are severly desperate for O-Line depth. i can resume slamming my head on this desk

"it's not easy being green"-kermit the frog
"we the mets are an improved ball club, now we lose in extra innings"-casy stengel
i cant spell a nosebleed
The Official Seinfeld Gif-Man of GGN!!!!!!!!

by rexthejet on Sep 3, 2011 8:37 PM CDT up reply actions

He has some potential

But he needs to develop quite a bit. Needs alot more strength before he is ready. He’s a scrappy guy who finishes but that won’t happen in the NFL unless he gets stronger. Don’t see why you would trade for him, I can’t see many/any teams claiming him unless teams know something about him we don’t. He just didn’t show much…

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Sep 3, 2011 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions

i think they believe calahan

can work with something here. it could just be that we have no depth at the O-Line right now, and he might be upgrade over the guys we just cut. some of the guys we had were awful.

"it's not easy being green"-kermit the frog
"we the mets are an improved ball club, now we lose in extra innings"-casy stengel
i cant spell a nosebleed
The Official Seinfeld Gif-Man of GGN!!!!!!!!

by rexthejet on Sep 3, 2011 9:16 PM CDT up reply actions

I read minutes ago

That the J-E-T-S wanted to draft him, but the Packers did first. And that Calahan liked what he saw from his college tape. Certainly wasn’t from his Packer tape…

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Sep 3, 2011 9:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Why?

Because he’s been through Packer training camp, of course!

by GinSlinger on Sep 3, 2011 8:54 PM CDT up reply actions

thanks

i feel good now

"it's not easy being green"-kermit the frog
"we the mets are an improved ball club, now we lose in extra innings"-casy stengel
i cant spell a nosebleed
The Official Seinfeld Gif-Man of GGN!!!!!!!!

by rexthejet on Sep 3, 2011 9:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Lol

Fire Slocum

by packallday555 on Sep 3, 2011 11:50 PM CDT up reply actions

I don’t know, he wasn’t someone anyone was talking about in here. I barely even knew his name! haha

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Sep 4, 2011 7:14 AM CDT up reply actions

He could be a good developmental player down the road

He’s not ready to step in & play now, but maybe by the end of the year or next year.

13.

Grossman: Sup, you insulin needing bitch! The sex cannon has arrived! Now get the hell out of my locker room, you chinless mother fucker!

by Wiedmann on Sep 4, 2011 1:31 PM CDT up reply actions

I am wondering if they are eventually going to consider Taylor at LB....?

Packers over the Bears, Illini over the Badgers...

by SpaceGhost34 on Sep 4, 2011 8:05 AM CDT via mobile reply actions

Why?

you wanna make him into Havner 2.0 so he can get released too? LOL

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Sep 4, 2011 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions

Not

What I am saying, but its not like our depth at LB is overwhelming, in fact 5 TE’s on the roster makes about as much sense as 3 FB’s did….maybe he will get worked in as an H back or FB too…who knows

Packers over the Bears, Illini over the Badgers...

by SpaceGhost34 on Sep 4, 2011 4:03 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Or ILB is Smith who had the best training camp of any rookie and Francois who is a big thumper. I don’t think there is much wrong w/ our ILB’s. Taylor has good potential as a TE, why would you stunt that growth by playing him at ILB. Makes NO sense, IMO! Crabtree and Taylor both can play or at least be used as blocking FB in some situations/packages.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Sep 4, 2011 4:44 PM CDT up reply actions

never said there was anything wrong with our ILBs

In fact I am pumped about Smith, I’ve heard speculation that he had potential at LB is why I asked, I didn’t propose the idea….I am proposing that he get a look at H back with Crabtree like you said…..However Francois I am not sold on…

Packers over the Bears, Illini over the Badgers...

by SpaceGhost34 on Sep 4, 2011 5:30 PM CDT via mobile reply actions