The big picture: when it comes to this cut, fans are concerned with their favorite bubble players; not much else.
Every year the Steelers have between 7 & 10 spots open on the 53 man roster at the beginning of camp. The fringe guys from the year prior compete with draft picks, free agents and UDFAs for those spots. Fans pick out their favorite guys and project them as the next James Harrison / Willie Parker.
One Steelers fan site in particular does as many profile pieces as they can on those unknown players and hypes as them as much as possible over the course of rookie camp, OTAs, mini-camp and the preseason.
Then when those players are later cut (i.e. Ian Wild last season) and fans who bought into the site’s build up of the players are upset and complaining on the site’s boards about how they can’t believe they kept so-and-so over whats-his-name, that site’s owner makes fun of said fans for being idiots who believed in unknown player’s chances to make an impact.
“Oh yeah, as if Josh Mauro will ever be a Pro Bowler. Quitcher bitchin’ “
Rinse, repeat again next year.
This year those two guys are Tyler Matakevich and Travis Feeney. Feeney because he doesn’t deserve it and Matakevich despite the fact that he does. There are too many quality ILBs on the Steelers’ roster.
I’m not here to argue and in some instances I hope I’m wrong because I like some of the guys I see getting cut. I am basing these predictions on what I think the Steelers will do, not my preference.
I don’t see Grimble as worthy of a spot, to be completely honest. I think he’s the first guy they’ll look to replace from the waiver wire.
Senquez Golson will go to Injured Reserve on Tuesday. Spending at least one day on the regular season roster makes him eligible to return later on this season. Teams no longer have to designate that player out the outset of them being placed on Injured Reserve. Any ONE player per season is eligible so long as he spends 1 day on the 53 man roster, he is eligible to practice after a minimum of 6 weeks on Injured Reserve and can be placed back on the active roster after 8 weeks on the same list.
After Golson goes on IR, I see a CB being added back, likely Doran Grant. But that prediction is based on numbers at boundary-slot CB. They very well could cut Garner initially and then bring him back.
In all candor, I don’t see Grant, Garner or Dangerfield as worthy of an NFL roster spot either. I see Dangerfield as a lock to make it initially because Shamarko Thomas injured his groin last night in Carolina. Frankly there aren’t 10 DBs worth keeping, but someone has to make it. My hope is that the Steelers are looking for this year’s Ross Cockrell. He was serviceable last season and had a nice upside. I’d take that over the three players I mentioned above.
Fire away in the comments if you wish.
