| ProFootballWeekly.com asked
contributing editor Joel Buchsbaum for his thoughts on some of the hot topics around the
NFL. 
Buchsbaum analyzes recent roster cuts
PFW: Bills keep Rob Johnson, cut Doug Flutie.
Buchsbaum: I think basically it came down to three factors. One was the coaches, the
offensive coordinator and the head coach, favor Johnson if he wanted to be there. The
second was Johnson showed a willingness to restructure his contract. And the third was I
think the Bills looked at what was available in the QB market at an affordable price, what
was at the scouting combine and decided this would not be a good year to get their
quarterback of the future, so they better gamble that Rob Johnson could become that
quarterback of the future. And Mike Sheppard, the offensive coordinator, seems to think
that he can bring Johnson to that level. I think there are places for Flutie to fight for
a job. It wouldn’t surprise me if he ends up in Tampa Bay or Washington. He’s
more for a club that needs a veteran, ball-control quarterback who can make plays happen
and show poise in a difficult situation.
PFW: Chiefs cut Elvis Grbac
Buchsbaum: I think it’s a terrible move by Grbac and his agent by not playing ball
and renegotiating a fair deal with the Chiefs. I don’t think he can find a better
situation when you look at the clubs that need quarterbacks, their cap situation and the
types of offenses they’re running. For the Chiefs, the obvious is to try and trade
for Trent Green, but it still would not totally shock me if they end up getting Grbac back
because I think Grbac will see that his agent overrated his value. It also wouldn’t
shock me if, for a year, they go with somebody like Doug Flutie.
PFW: Ryan Leaf cut by Chargers
Buchsbaum: I think the ideal situation for him is to go to a place like Seattle, where
he’s more at home, with a coach such as Mike Holmgren, who’s got a great
reputation for developing great quarterbacks. Even if he has to play for the minimum.
PFW: Niners part ways with Ken Norton Jr., Winfred Tubbs
Buchsbaum: Norton is a good leader, still a fairly effective linebacker, but he has
lost a step and they’re a young, rebuilding team. Tubbs played well last year at
times, but the bottom line is that he just makes too much money for that team.
PFW: Cowboys cut Ryan McNeil
Buchsbaum: McNeil was by far and away their best cornerback last year. He’s a
solid player, not a super player, but the way his contract was structured, he’d have
been paid as a super player this year.
PFW: Saints cut Doug Brien
Buchsbaum: I thought he was a solid kicker. Not a great kicker, but a good kicker. And
I think it just came down to dollars and cents there, in a tight situation with the cap.
PFW: Steelers dump Dermontti Dawson
Buchsbaum: I think it’s a shame that they had to. I think he’s an all-time
great, a potential Hall of Famer who should retire as a Steeler. But I also think they
just couldn’t count on him after all the hamstring injuries he’s had the last
two years.
PFW: Carolina cuts Eric Davis, William Floyd, Lee Woodall
Buchsbaum: Davis is still a really good player. He doesn’t have speed, but
he’s very smart and intuitive, and anticipates well. Woodall slipped, but is still
halfway decent. Floyd has never been the same since his knee injury.
PFW: Vikings agree to release John Randle
Buchsbaum: Basically, John Randle doesn’t realize he’s no longer an elite
player and will not negotiate his contract down to a fair level.
Terrell has stress fracture in his foot
Michigan WR David Terrell, a projected first-round pick, has a stress fracture in his
right foot. Doctors at the scouting combine detected the injury last weekend. Terrell is
to work out for NFL scouts in Ann Arbor, Mich., on March 16. The 6-foot-3 wide receiver
entered the April draft after his junior year at Michigan.
PFW: Comment on Terrell’s injury and how it might hurt his draft position.
Buchsbaum: It depends on if he’s going to need a pin inserted or not and if he
will be able to workout after the draft. If he’s able to work out, works out well,
runs well, it has no effect on his status — otherwise, it could (hurt his status).
People always will remember that there are some foot injuries that just don’t heal,
or don’t heal the same, or don’t heal quickly. Remember when the Eagles took
Keith Byars? Obviously that was a more serious foot injury, but still, it gives you pause.
PFW: Do you think this injury explains why Terrell may have not looked as
explosive last year at times?
Buchsbaum: Very much so. I didn’t see the burst I saw in previous years, and the
great burst coming out of his cuts (wasn’t there). |
