NFL notes: Seattle goes with 2 QBs cutting Pryor, Daniels; Michael Sam cut
The Seattle Seahawks will begin the season with only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster after letting go of Terrelle Pryor and B.J. Daniels as part of their final roster cuts on Saturday.
Seattle announced its final roster decisions ahead of Thursday’s season opener against Green Bay. Seattle’s two QBs for the opener will be starter Russell Wilson and veteran backup Tarvaris Jackson, but the Seahawks will likely try and add a quarterback to the practice squad.
Seattle also terminated the veteran contracts of tackle Eric Winston, the NFLPA president, and cornerback Phillip Adams. Winston was signed at the start of training camp to compete at right tackle, a job that was won by rookie Justin Britt. Adams was in competition to be the Seahawks fourth cornerback. Instead, Seattle traded a late-round pick to Indianapolis for cornerback Marcus Burley on Saturday.
Also released were defensive end Benson Mayowa, who played at Idaho, guard Caylin Hauptmann and wide receiver Bryan Walters, all three were on the roster for last February’s Super Bowl win over Denver. Seattle opted for seven receivers, keeping Phil Bates, Ricardo Lockette and rookies Paul Richardson and Kevin Norwood.
The only major surprise came at wide receiver where Seattle kept seven – the largest contingent of coach Pete Carroll’s tenure – but the group did not include Walters. Norwood missed most of training camp after having surgery to remove a bone spur from his foot, but the Seahawks remain high on the fourth-round pick and kept him on the active roster likely knowing he would not make it through waivers.
Two undrafted rookies made the final roster, continuing Seattle’s trend of giving those overlooked in the draft chances to make the team. Former Montana linebacker Brock Coyle’s spot was seemingly assured when veteran Heath Farwell suffered a groin injury in the third preseason game. Offensive tackle Garry Gilliam is a project, but flashed enough promise in camp that he was a preferred option over keeping a veteran such as Winston.
Michael Sam falls short of making Rams
The St. Louis Rams cut Michael Sam, the first openly gay player drafted by an NFL team. Coach Jeff Fisher repeated over and over that it was purely a football decision.
“I will tell you this: I was pulling for Mike,” Fisher said at news conference. “I really was, and I don’t say that very often. Mike came in here and did everything we asked him to do.”
The seventh-round pick has been forthright and confident as his progress was watched as closely as any rookie in the league. In the end, the defensive end couldn’t make a team stocked with pass rushers and lost out to undrafted Ethan Westbrooks, who proved more productive and more versatile.
Sam still has a chance to get picked up by another team or to make the Rams’ practice squad.
Around the league
The Saints included 12-time Pro Bowl CB Champ Bailey and veteran WR Robert Meachem among their roster cuts. … The Bills signed veteran QB Kyle Orton and cut second-year QB Jeff Tuel, who played at Washington State. … The Jets waived WR Stephen Hill, parting ways with the 2012 second-round draft pick after two seasons marked by injuries and inconsistent play. The Jets also released suspended CB Dimitri Patterson, ending a bizarre week that began when he left the team before its preseason game against the Giants on Aug. 22. … OT Jonathan Martin, who had a tumultuous departure from the Dolphins last October amid a bullying scandal, made the 49ers. He started all four preseason games at right tackle for San Francisco. … The Colts officially put DE Robert Mathis on the reserve-suspended list. The reigning sacks champion will miss the first four games after violating the NFL’s performance-enhancing substance policy.