PROJECTED 53 MAN ROSTER + PS BS

[Riffer X]

Okay folks, I'm putting up my final roster prediction after cuts. I keep seeing people wanting to keep all these guys at different positions and just want to show how difficult it is to do this. This team is vastly improved and will be cutting some good players. Keep in mind, the Practice Squad guys are exposed, so think about that when wanting to throw a big potential guy on there like Carlton Mitchell. I could get all cutesy with Excel but I don't feel like figuring it out right now. Also, I'm not including UDFA's or figuring in injuries etc. This is assuming all draft picks are signed of course. BTW, if anybody knows who is PS eligible (John and Alo are good at that stuff) fill us in please!! You will notice that I am cutting some pretty good special teamers too, but camp injuries etc. will probably keep a few of them like Costanzo around. Feel free to pick this apart that's what it is here for :-)

QB {3}
1) Jake Delhomme---starter
2) Seneca Wallace---backup but will see action in Cyclone/Flash Packages
3) Colt McCoy---third string scout team will not see a lick of action barring something bizarre
Brett Ratliff---camp arm will be released final cuts (could maybe be part of a package for picks etc)

RB {3}
4) Jerome Harrison---starter
5) Monterio Hardesty---backup but will get plenty of touches
6) James Davis---backup and special teams. He can't be exposed to PS.
*Chris Jennings---may be PS if eligible. Davis has the upside and Jennings had the bar fight incident.

FB {2}
7) Lawrence Vickers---starter but will be more involved in passing game
8) Peyton Hillis---this is where we keep an extra guy but Hillis' versatility gives us that luxury

WR {5}
9) Mohamed Massaquoi---starting vertical threat
10) Brian Robiskie---starting number two move the chains guy
11) Chansi Stuckey---starting slot guy
12) Josh Cribbs---will move around a lot in different packages
13) Carlton Mitchell---should play a lot of specials but hopefully won't see a ton of action
*Jonathan Haggerty---PS and won't be stolen cuz nobody know who he is
Jake Allen---cut
Syndrick Steptoe---cut

TE {4}
14) Ben Watson---starter but injury proneness keeps 4TE's
15) Evan Moore---will see slot action and almost counts as 6th WR
16) Robert Royal---run packages (sorry folks, he will still be here)
17) Alex Smith---too talented to let go, a backup in passing situations
Greg Estandia-----already cut

OL {8}
18) Joe Thomas---starting LT (doiyyyuy)
19) Eric Steinbach---still starting at LG even though people acted like he was Orlando Bobo last year before camp.
20) Alex Mack---starter at center
21) Poke Chop Womack---starter at RG until Lauvao eventually takes over
22) Tony Pashos---starter at RT until he gets injured or replaced by Womack when Lauvao starts at RG
23) Shawn Lauvao---sixth man of the line out the gate. At least for the interior.
24) John St. Clair---tackle backup. Sorry folks, he is still valuable there.
25) Billy Yates---just a Butchie gyutt feeling, but this spot is up for grabs.
* Joel Reinders---PS based on raw talent and no exposure
Casey Bender---cut
Paul Fanaika---cut
Scott Kooistra---cut
Pat Murray---cut
-----One more of these guys could be PS fodder over a UDFA

PK {1}
26) Phil Dawson---may get a little contract boost too

LS {1)
27) Ryan Pontbriand---nuff said. BTW, no more Heiden as a backup.

KR/PR {1}
--) Josh Cribbs---he starts believe it or not

P {1}
28) Dave Zastudil---no Punty McOnebar needed

DL {7}
29) Shaun Rogers---DE starter but probable 1 or 2 game suspension
30) Ahtyba Rubin---NT starter
31) Robaire Smith---DE starter but probably 1 or 2 game suspension
32) Kenyon Coleman---DE backup in run situations
33) CJ Mosley---DE backup and forgotten man
34) Brian Schaefering---NT and DE backup high motor guy
35) Clifton Geathers---All around backup but possible PS
*Kwako Danso---PS with that size, age won't matter
Titus Adams---cut
Brian Sanford---cut
Derreck Robinson---cut
Keith Grennan---cut
Swanson Miller---cut

LB {9}
36) Matt Roth---OLB starter
37) Scott Fujita---OLB starter
38) D'Qwell Jackson---ILB starter
39) David Bowens---ILB starter
40) Chris Gocong---OLB rotation guy
41) David Veikune---ILB rotation guy
42) Jason Trusnik---all around rotation guy
43) Marcus Benard---OLB backup
44) Kaluka Maiava---ILB backup and special teamer Possible cut in lieu of Costanzo
**Eric Barton---PUP list
*Titus Brown---PS
*Blake Costanzo---PS if eligible. Here is a guy that is a numbers victim along with Ventrone for special teams.

S {4}
45) TJ Ward---FS starter
46) Abe Elam---SS starter--he could get cut and change everything. Depends if he responds or not.
47) Larry Asante---SS backup
48) Mike Adams---rotation guy plus at corner
*Gerard Lawson---PS if eligible. Emergency return guy.
Nick Sorenson---cut and another special team's hit
Ray Ventrone---cut and see Sorenson

CB {4}
49) Eric Wright---CB starter
50) Sheldon Brown---CB starter early on and possible switch to safety.
51) Joe Haden---NB to start with
52) Brandon McDonald---CB backup
53) Coye Francies---Could make switch to safety if Elam gets nixed and proves he is intelligent enough.
*DeAngelo Smith---PS
Chris Chancellor---cut
Chris Roberson---cut

SOME PRACTICE SQUAD EXPLANATION:

An NFL practice squad consists of a maximum of eight players, and those eight players are actually free to negotiate with any other team in the NFL. The only catch is if a team signs a player off your practice squad that player must be placed on their active roster, they can not be signed off 1 practice squad only to go on another. If a team wants to keep their practice squad player from signing elsewhere they must promote them to their 53 man roster. If you do lose or promote one of your eight practice squad players you may sign another, just don't over eight. (You can add a 9th if said player is from outside the United States)
The NFL is very strict with teams not going over the max of eight players. In 2004 the Redskins were caught making a change in their practice squad and for a brief moment they had 9 under contract, this led to them getting slapped with a $45,000 fine.
One important restriction on signing a player from some other teams practice squad is the following:

... a practice squad player may not sign an NFL Player Contract with his Club's next opponent later than 4:00 p.m. , New York time, on the sixth day preceding the game (except in bye weeks, when the prohibition commences on the tenth day preceding the game).

This is to prevent teams from signing a guy for the sole intent of picking their brain. If this rule weren't in place some renegade maverick owner like, let's say... Jerry Jones of the Cowboys... would keep a roster spot open for a revolving door of opposing players.
In theory a team could sign a player away from an upcoming opponent 7 days prior to extract some info, but there is a rule in place to try and prevent teams from doing this. If a team signs a practice squad player that team;

... is required to count the player on its 53-player Active/Inactive List for three games (a bye week counts as a game) even if he is terminated or assigned via waivers to another club or is signed as a free agent to another club's 53-player roster or another club's Practice Squad prior to that time.

I guess if a team were really desperate for some inside scouting they could bite the bullet and sign a guy and deal with him counting towards their 53 man roster for a few weeks, but with football being so specialized these days you'd be hard pressed to find a team that would do this.
This year practice squad players will make a minimum of $5,200 per week. Not bad, but far from what the real rostered players bring home. Add the fact that their pay isn't guaranteed, they get no benefits and no pension, and you see how their lifestyle could be one bad day, make that one bad play, away from the unemployment line. On a positive spin, they could also be one play away from getting promoted to the active roster. Their game-days are spent sometimes at home and sometimes, if they play for a team with good ownership, in a luxury box taking in the action. While an NFL teams practice week will vary slightly from team to team, most practice squad players spend their week doing the exact same thing their active team-mates do. Monday they sit in their positional team meetings breaking down film from the previous game. Tuesdays they look at film for the upcoming weeks opponent and start getting the game-plan. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, they do their best to play their role on the scout team, getting their team ready to play.
What type of elegibility requirements are there for the practice squad?

Section 4. Eligibility: (a) The practice squad shall consist of the following players, provided that they have not served more than two previous seasons on a Practice Squad: (i) players who do not have an Accrued Season of NFL experience; and (ii) free agent players who were on the Active List for fewer than nine regular season games during their only Accrued Season(s). An otherwise eligible player may be a practice squad player for a third season only if the Club by which he is employed that season has at least 53 players on its Active/Inactive List during the entire period of his employment. (b) A player shall be deemed to have served on a Practice Squad in a season if he has passed the club's physical and been a member of the club's Practice Squad for at least three regular season or postseason games during his first two Practice Squad seasons, and for at least one regular season or postseason game during his third Practice Squad season. (A bye week counts as a game provided that the player is not terminated until after the regular season or postseason weekend in question.)

Got it? Simple right? I'll try and put some of "Section 4:" in English;
Two years on a practice squad means that team can't have you serve a 3rd year, unless... the team never has their active roster go below 53 players during the two years you serve on the practice squad, then you can get a 3rd year. That's why Brandon Rideau is ineligible, he's already had 2 years with the Bears practice squad.
If your player has spent an accrued year on your active roster he can't go on your practice squad. Which is why Craig Steltz is ineligible for the practice squad.
Free Agent players that play more than nine regular season games are ineligible for the practrice squad. Which is why Brett Basanez is eligible for the practice squad.
I like using examples for some of this stuff so here goes;
1) Let's say the Kansas City Chiefs really had a need for a fullback and their scouts had their eye on Chicago rookie Will Ta'ufo'ou, who is on the Bears practice squad. The Chiefs are free to negotiate with him, and the Bears would lose him unless they decide to promote him to their active roster. If the Bears wanted to promote him, they would then have to cut a player to make room for Ta'ufo'ou. The Bears then could negotiate with the Chiefs and work out a trade for his services.
2) Let's say Jay Cutler stubs his big toe (yes I'm keeping the hypothetical injury minor as not to jinx anything) and has to miss one week of action. The Bears could promote Basanez to be the back-up to Caleb Hanie for a week, then try and put him back on the practice squad. Keeping Basanez on the practice squad is really a smart move. His value to the league as a 3rd QB is limited, so the Bears should be able to keep him there all season. Of course if a team or two has some bad luck at the QB position the Bears could see Basanez signed away, but my guess is the Bears would promote him and cut someone else.
3) Say for example the Packers lost a couple DB's in a freak cheese curd avalanche, and really had their sights set on Bears rookie Woodny Tureene. Since the Bears play Green Bay this week they would have to wait until after this weeks game before offering Tureene a deal.

[Danamal]

Good stuff Riff,
Hard to argue anything you put up there but my homerism screams out Costanza!
That kid has been money on Kickoffs,probably a team record for tackles on ST's
Good work nonetheless...

[TheBestPlayersPlay]

I agree with pretty much everything you have @ this point, although I fully expect to change my mind on a few things after training camp.

Only things I might disagree with you on to this point is I see Pashos @ RG and Womack @ RT, Royal as our #2 TE, (his hand was in shambles last season) Rogers still starts @ NT, but is moved all over the line with Rubin gettings lots of minutes.

Titus Brown could surprise some folks this year, but maybe only due to injuries, or if a FA signing is disappointing. Also, I just don't know about Elam ...what happens to him I think depends a lot on how the rooks look with pads on.

[Flugel]

Originally Posted by Riffer X

Okay folks, I'm putting up my final roster prediction after cuts. I keep seeing people wanting to keep all these guys at different positions and just want to show how difficult it is to do this. This team is vastly improved and will be cutting some good players. Keep in mind, the Practice Squad guys are exposed, so think about that when wanting to throw a big potential guy on there like Carlton Mitchell. I could get all cutesy with Excel but I don't feel like figuring it out right now. Also, I'm not including UDFA's or figuring in injuries etc. This is assuming all draft picks are signed of course. BTW, if anybody knows who is PS eligible (John and Alo are good at that stuff) fill us in please!! you will notice that I am cutting some pretty good special teamers too, but camp injuries etc. will probably keep a few of them like Costanzo around. Feel free to pick this apart that's what it is here for :-)

WOW! That's a masterpiece - great job!

It's hard to add much but here's a couple things to have a little fun with. I'm going to predict Eric Ghiaciuc makes the team over Billy Yates. I think his ability to play Center gives us a younger version of Hank Fraley backing up our Center and OGs. I'm also going to predict South Dakota State's Casey Bender makes the practice squad. I've read some good stuff about him in a draft pub and I remembered one of the guys covering the draft on tv was saying he thought he might get drafted before the final pick. That's nothing more than a pinyatta swing from blindfolds though without seeing any of his highlights. With linemen I always like to see how well they can bend and play with leverage and technique. Alot of the stiff guys can't their legs working as well as the upper torsoe. For instance, that Campbell kid from Maryland that went Conan at the Indy workouts. If they can coach him up so that his lower body gels better with the upper body, he'll get much more impressive on film. It all has to work in unison.

I know the linemen stuff gets boring to people; but I had to throw a former lineman like Riff a biscuit for this thread!
- Tom F. (2010 is all about the sic em, sock em and sack em!)

[Riffer X]

Originally Posted by Flugel

WOW! That's a masterpiece - great job!

It's hard to add much but here's a couple things to have a little fun with. I'm going to predict Eric Ghiaciuc makes the team over Billy Yates. I think his ability to play Center gives us a younger version of Hank Fraley backing up our Center and OGs. I'm also going to predict South Dakota State's Casey Bender makes the practice squad. I've read some good stuff about him in a draft pub and I remembered one of the guys covering the draft on tv was saying he thought he might get drafted before the final pick. That's nothing more than a pinyatta swing from blindfolds though without seeing any of his highlights. With linemen I always like to see how well they can bend and play with leverage and technique. Alot of the stiff guys can't their legs working as well as the upper torsoe. For instance, that Campbell kid from Maryland that went Conan at the Indy workouts. If they can coach him up so that his lower body gels better with the upper body, he'll get much more impressive on film. It all has to work in unison.

I know the linemen stuff gets boring to people; but I had to throw a former lineman like Riff a biscuit for this thread!
- Tom F. (2010 is all about the sic em, sock em and sack em!)

Cept Eric Ghiaciuc got waived I believe....or am I missin sumtin?

[Vegasdogg]

You know what makes that list tough? The number of players we don't want to see gone, but will possibly be picked up by other teams. Now we know those teams have players they don't want to lose either, so their going to concentrate on keeping their own PS player and those slots.

I can't see us keeping 4 TE's. I would take away one of those TE's and add another OL. Other than that it is very hard to argue against what you have here. That is a very good list Riff.

[golfer704u]

Great list I see only one thing that jumps out and me and can't tell you where I'd change to make it work. But they find a way to keep Sorensen around as a vet back up and ST player.

[Riffer X]

Originally Posted by golfer704u

Great list I see only one thing that jumps out and me and can't tell you where I'd change to make it work. But they find a way to keep Sorensen around as a vet back up and ST player.

That would be Elam. As I said, a lot hinges on how he shows up. Dude makes good coin but Mangie likes him, so it will be interesting to see if he can hang onto his starting job. I find it hard to believe they will want to let someone go with promise and keep Elam as a backup---plus paying him. I also have a feeling they were slightly irked about the whole RFA thing.

To me he is on the bubble big time before camp starts.

[golfer704u]

Originally Posted by Riffer X

That would be Elam. As I said, a lot hinges on how he shows up. Dude makes good coin but Mangie likes him, so it will be interesting to see if he can hang onto his starting job. I find it hard to believe they will want to let someone go with promise and keep Elam as a backup---plus paying him. I also have a feeling they were slightly irked about the whole RFA thing.

To me he is on the bubble big time before camp starts.

Well actually I could see them sacrificing a LB or OL to get sorensen on the team.

[Riffer X]

Originally Posted by golfer704u

Well actually I could see them sacrificing a LB or OL to get sorensen on the team.

Ah....but which one? That's kind of the point of this whole thing and I think it shows the overall improvement of the roster.

[DeadWombat]

Great job on the roster and thanks a lot on the explanation of how the practice squad functions.... I never really knew how it works.

Anyway I am quite suprised to see so many of Mangini's "special teams beasts" go: Sorensen, Ventrone, and Costanzo.... Yea, I don't see that happening. Mangini apparently loves these guys, especially Sorensen and Costanzo. Don't ask me how they would stay: I don't want to end up making my own roster predicitons, lol. Obviously there's a lot of tough decisions to make here and I understand why you had them being cut, Riff... but I think some of those guys are gonna stay on the active roster somehow.

I wouldn't mind if we cut Jennings, personally. I don't think we'd keep 4 TEs on the active roster either.

Oh, and Josh Cribbs is counted twice.

[Riffer X]

Originally Posted by DeadWombat

Great job on the roster and thanks a lot on the explanation of how the practice squad functions.... I never really knew how it works.

Anyway I am quite suprised to see so many of Mangini's "special teams beasts" go: Sorensen, Ventrone, and Costanzo.... Yea, I don't see that happening. Mangini apparently loves these guys, especially Sorensen and Costanzo. Don't ask me how they would stay: I don't want to end up making my own roster predicitons, lol. Obviously there's a lot of tough decisions to make here and I understand why you had them being cut, Riff... but I think some of those guys are gonna stay on the active roster somehow.

I wouldn't mind if we cut Jennings, personally. I don't think we'd keep 4 TEs on the active roster either.

Oh, and Josh Cribbs is counted twice.

Doh!!! That helps immensely then. Now, who is the guy we keep? Another lineman, Costanzo, Francies, Ventrone? Nice job there DW, ironically my whole point with Cribbs was to show he could save us a roster spot by playing WR also.

It was late....I was tired....had a good porn going....you know how it is?