AFC West teams made final roster moves on Saturday to meet the 6 p.m NFL deadline to have rosters cut down to 53. Here is a list of the transactions that brought the Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders and Chargers to the magic number of 53.
Denver Broncos: Released two 2013 draft picks in fifth-round wide receiver Tavarres King ans sixth-round tackle Vinston Painter. Placed starting linebacker Von Miller on reserve/suspended list while placing linebackers Stewart Bradley and Lerentee McCray along with defensive end Delano Johnson on Injured Reserve. They also released running back Lance Ball, center/guard C.J Davis, Running back Jeremiah Johnson, center/guard Ryan Lilja and tight end Jake O'Connell. The Broncos also waived defensive end Jeremy Beal, center/guard Philip Blake, tackle Paul Cornick, defensive tackles Romney Fuga and Ben Garland, Cornerback Aaron Hester, linebacker Damien Holmes, safety Ross Rasner, wide receivers Gerell Robinson and Lamaar Thomas and defensive end John Youboty.
A couple of observations to make from the moves on Saturday. Placing Von Miller on the reserve/suspended list freed up a spot until he returns to the active roster in week seven. He is serving a suspension for violating the leagues substance abuse program. Lance Ball was released confirming Knowshon Moreno will be the Bronco's third down back. Losing the battle for a roster spot to injury plagued Moreno won't do him any favors in generating interest.
Kansas City Chiefs: Released tight end Tony Moeaki. Guard Ricky Henry was waived/injured and the team released defensive end AustenLane, tackle Steven Baker, wide receiver Josh Bellamy, safety Malcolm Bronson, safety Greg Castillo, cornerback Kennard Cox, defensive lineman Marcus Dixon, offensive lineman Tommie Draheim, linebacker Darin Drakeford, running back Shaun Draughn, wide receiver Frankie Hammond, tight end Demetrius Harris, defensive back Tysyn Hartman, linebacker Orie Lemon, cornerback Semaj Moody, fullback Toben Opurum, tackle Matt Reynolds, wide receiver Rico Richardson, guard Rokevious Watkins and linebacker Ridge Wilson.
The most notable of these players is fourth year tight end Tony Moeaki. Moeaki had a productive rookie season hauling in 47 receptions for 556 yards and three touchdowns. He suffered a torn ACL and missed the entire 2011 season. In training camp Moeaki suffered a fractured shoulder making the decision for the Chiefs to move on an easy one. Veteran Anthony Fasano who has 205 receptions 2,373 and 24 career touchdowns will be the starting tight end.
Oakland Raiders: Released defensive end Andre Carter, linebacker Omar Gaither, cornerback Joselio Hanson, tackle Tony Hills, safety Reggie Smith, defensive lineman Ryan Baker, defensive end David Bass, linebacker Billy Boyko, cornerback Chance Casey, guard Jason Foster, tight end Richard Gordon, receiver Greg Jenkins, safety Shelton Johnson, tight end Brian Leonhardt, guard Lamar Mady, kicker Justin Medlock, defensive tackle Kurt Tausa'asau, linebacker Chase Thomas, receiver Conner Vernon, and running back Deonte Williams. Wavered tackle Willie Smith with the "injured"designation. Placed receiver Andre Holmes on the reserve/suspended list.
Andre Carter at one point in his career produced double digit sacks with his best season being 2002 when he had 12. Fast forward to 2012 where Carter only managed two sacks in 12 games played for the Raiders. For the Raiders depth at defensive line is a concern and Carter not impressing the coaching staff on a team who is desperate for help indicates this may be the end of the line. Oakland showed how indecisive the coaching staff is with the quarterback position by keeping Terrelle Pryor, Matt Flynn, Matt McGloin and Tyler Wilson on the 53 man roster. It is also noteworthy that the Raiders kept two punters which may indicate they have gained interest in a possible trade.
San Diego Chargers: Released tackle MaxStarks, cornerback Cornelius Brown, safety Sean Cattouse, linebacker Phillip Dillard, cornerback Greg Gatson, linebacker Jerrell Harris, cornerback William Middleton, linebacker Daniel Molls, tackle Randy Richards, guard Steve Schilling and wide receiver Luke Tasker. Released wide receiver Robert Meachem, tackle Nick Becton, linebacker Frank Beltre, tight end Ben Cotton, cornerback Marcus Cromartie. defensive end Logan Harrell, running back Michael Hill, cornerback Josh Johnson, linebacker Thomas Keiser, center David Molk and tight end David Rolf.
Robert Meachem without question is the most notable on this list. Meachem's release is the most notable, because San Diego made the decision they would rather just pay him his $5 million guaranteed and release him than have him on their roster. Early in camp details emerged that Meachem was physically done and the speed he was once known for is now non-existent. In total Meachem will cost the Chargers $6.875 million in cap money, and this most recent chapter likely means the end of Meachem's five year career.
This recent setback does not mark the end for all of the players that were cut on Saturday. Players will now go through waivers and could either be picked up by another team, or they may be designated to the practice squad of the team that cut them. As long as the player has not been designated to a teams practice squad for two years, they are eligible to be one of eight players on a teams practice squad.
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Denver Broncos: Released two 2013 draft picks in fifth-round wide receiver Tavarres King ans sixth-round tackle Vinston Painter. Placed starting linebacker Von Miller on reserve/suspended list while placing linebackers Stewart Bradley and Lerentee McCray along with defensive end Delano Johnson on Injured Reserve. They also released running back Lance Ball, center/guard C.J Davis, Running back Jeremiah Johnson, center/guard Ryan Lilja and tight end Jake O'Connell. The Broncos also waived defensive end Jeremy Beal, center/guard Philip Blake, tackle Paul Cornick, defensive tackles Romney Fuga and Ben Garland, Cornerback Aaron Hester, linebacker Damien Holmes, safety Ross Rasner, wide receivers Gerell Robinson and Lamaar Thomas and defensive end John Youboty.
A couple of observations to make from the moves on Saturday. Placing Von Miller on the reserve/suspended list freed up a spot until he returns to the active roster in week seven. He is serving a suspension for violating the leagues substance abuse program. Lance Ball was released confirming Knowshon Moreno will be the Bronco's third down back. Losing the battle for a roster spot to injury plagued Moreno won't do him any favors in generating interest.
Kansas City Chiefs: Released tight end Tony Moeaki. Guard Ricky Henry was waived/injured and the team released defensive end AustenLane, tackle Steven Baker, wide receiver Josh Bellamy, safety Malcolm Bronson, safety Greg Castillo, cornerback Kennard Cox, defensive lineman Marcus Dixon, offensive lineman Tommie Draheim, linebacker Darin Drakeford, running back Shaun Draughn, wide receiver Frankie Hammond, tight end Demetrius Harris, defensive back Tysyn Hartman, linebacker Orie Lemon, cornerback Semaj Moody, fullback Toben Opurum, tackle Matt Reynolds, wide receiver Rico Richardson, guard Rokevious Watkins and linebacker Ridge Wilson.
The most notable of these players is fourth year tight end Tony Moeaki. Moeaki had a productive rookie season hauling in 47 receptions for 556 yards and three touchdowns. He suffered a torn ACL and missed the entire 2011 season. In training camp Moeaki suffered a fractured shoulder making the decision for the Chiefs to move on an easy one. Veteran Anthony Fasano who has 205 receptions 2,373 and 24 career touchdowns will be the starting tight end.
Oakland Raiders: Released defensive end Andre Carter, linebacker Omar Gaither, cornerback Joselio Hanson, tackle Tony Hills, safety Reggie Smith, defensive lineman Ryan Baker, defensive end David Bass, linebacker Billy Boyko, cornerback Chance Casey, guard Jason Foster, tight end Richard Gordon, receiver Greg Jenkins, safety Shelton Johnson, tight end Brian Leonhardt, guard Lamar Mady, kicker Justin Medlock, defensive tackle Kurt Tausa'asau, linebacker Chase Thomas, receiver Conner Vernon, and running back Deonte Williams. Wavered tackle Willie Smith with the "injured"designation. Placed receiver Andre Holmes on the reserve/suspended list.
Andre Carter at one point in his career produced double digit sacks with his best season being 2002 when he had 12. Fast forward to 2012 where Carter only managed two sacks in 12 games played for the Raiders. For the Raiders depth at defensive line is a concern and Carter not impressing the coaching staff on a team who is desperate for help indicates this may be the end of the line. Oakland showed how indecisive the coaching staff is with the quarterback position by keeping Terrelle Pryor, Matt Flynn, Matt McGloin and Tyler Wilson on the 53 man roster. It is also noteworthy that the Raiders kept two punters which may indicate they have gained interest in a possible trade.
San Diego Chargers: Released tackle MaxStarks, cornerback Cornelius Brown, safety Sean Cattouse, linebacker Phillip Dillard, cornerback Greg Gatson, linebacker Jerrell Harris, cornerback William Middleton, linebacker Daniel Molls, tackle Randy Richards, guard Steve Schilling and wide receiver Luke Tasker. Released wide receiver Robert Meachem, tackle Nick Becton, linebacker Frank Beltre, tight end Ben Cotton, cornerback Marcus Cromartie. defensive end Logan Harrell, running back Michael Hill, cornerback Josh Johnson, linebacker Thomas Keiser, center David Molk and tight end David Rolf.
Robert Meachem without question is the most notable on this list. Meachem's release is the most notable, because San Diego made the decision they would rather just pay him his $5 million guaranteed and release him than have him on their roster. Early in camp details emerged that Meachem was physically done and the speed he was once known for is now non-existent. In total Meachem will cost the Chargers $6.875 million in cap money, and this most recent chapter likely means the end of Meachem's five year career.
This recent setback does not mark the end for all of the players that were cut on Saturday. Players will now go through waivers and could either be picked up by another team, or they may be designated to the practice squad of the team that cut them. As long as the player has not been designated to a teams practice squad for two years, they are eligible to be one of eight players on a teams practice squad.
Follow me on Twitter @okisasquatch
Follow @TheNFLInjuryRpt
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