| 21 August 2009
There has been some discussion recently about who is still eligible for the practice squad and who might or might not fit there this season for the Seahawks. Mike Sando has detailed all the practice squad eligible players for the NFC West. Here is the report for the Seahawks.
A lot of the curiosity centered on which of the receivers was still eligible. The answer is Hass, Bumpus, Payne, and of course Butler. Butler is going to make the 53 man roster. Depending on whether we keep 5 or 6 receivers, there are one or two spots open on the roster. Right now it looks as if the leading candidates to fill those roster spots are Kent, Obomanu, and Taylor. There was a lot of speculation that the Seahawks were going to lose two or three of their young receivers who they've been nursing along on the practice squad for a couple of years now. Actually, if they keep six receivers on the active roster this season, they could only lose one player if they want to load up the practice squad with receivers.
Considering that they would choose two of the three mentioned leading candidates (Kent, Obomanu, and Taylor), the other one would be cut and then Hass, Payne, and Bumpus could remain on the practice squad as insurance. My bet is that they would cut one of the three eligible practice squad candidates other than Butler and go with two insurance receivers on the practice squad. What do you Addicts think they will do with respect to the receivers this season? If it came down to keeping two of the three practice squad eligible receivers outside of Butler (Hass, Bumpus, and Payne), who would they be? Which two of the leading candidates will make the roster? To continue reading this article, press Read more... below.Just for grins, I'll chime in now and say that I think Kent and Taylor make the roster and Payne and Hass make the practice squad. Bumpus and Obomanu get cut. My reasoning is that once again, Taylor is looking like a real receiver and making more good plays than any of the hopefuls on the field and Kent is not only a physical specimen at 6' 4" and a real speed burner but he's developed into a prime head hunter on kickoffs and punts. I think it's his special teams work that will put him on the roster ahead of Obomanu. His development as a receiver after only playing college football for two years and none before that has been spectacular. His ability to show substantial improvement every year will allow the Seahawks to feel good about making that decision. Payne and Hass have the best hands of the three practice squad candidates outside of Butler and that's the basis for my thinking that Bumpus will get cut. That's actually a shaky guess on my part because I think there's very little that separate those three players. So, you Addicts join the party and give us your best guess.
As to other players who have a good chance at the practice squad, I think Devin Moore, Jeff Rowe, Kyle Williams, Kevin Brown, Nick Reed, Michael Bennett, Courtney Greene, and Na'Shan Goddard all have a chance. Some of those players like Greene, Williams, and Reed or Bennett have a shot at making the roster too. The Seahawks can set their practice squad on September 6th at 9:00 am Seattle time. The NFL rules for being practice squad eligible are:
After 12 noon, New York time, clubs may establish a practice squad of eight players by signing free agents who do not have an accrued season of free-agency credit or who were on the 45-player active list for less than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season(s). A player cannot participate on the practice squad for more than three seasons.
Practice squad players must clear waivers in order to be placed on the squad and can be claimed and signed by any other club to their 53 man active roster. Last season, we lost Justin Forsett to the Indianapolis Colts who claimed him when Seattle tried to place him on the practice squad. Later in the season the Colts cut him and he was re-signed to the Seahawks practice squad and then the active roster to return punts. The practice squad gives teams the luxury of having players who practice with the team and are ready to be moved to the actice roster and play in case of injury to any players on the 53 man active roster as well as to develop players who need more experience to be NFL ready. Tim Ruskell keeps up on who is on other teams practice squad as do other General Managers in case they need replacement players. Practice squad players are always at risk of being claimed by other teams but have to be signed directly to their actice roster. You cannot claim a practice squad player and place him on your practice squad.
Hasta,
BillT
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
