The first wave of cuts came in yesterday, and I'd like to personally thank the handful of teams that didn't make us wait until 4 p.m. today. A shame more teams didn't follow suit. What's the hold up? Last games were played Thursday night, and even those games mostly featured cuts. But here are quick thoughts on what we do have.
Brock Osweiler. It's still hard to get my head around the fact that the Browns essentially paid $16 million for a second-round pick. Did they ever actually think he'd be a quarterback option for them? Hard to say. Anyway, he'll make more money this season not to play than most people (even many NFL players) will see in a lifetime. I suspect he will find a backup job somewhere at some point, but if I were him I'd think about seeing the world this fall.
Victor Cruz. His career burned brightly for a short time but he's spent the last two years being on the verge of being released. Maybe the Jets sign him at some point this year as a PR move, in hopes they can get him to score a touchdown (there won't be many to go around for the Jets) at the Meadowlands and thrill the fans (won't be many of those either, thrills or fans) with a salsa dance. Realistically though, Cut by the Bears might well be his football epitaph.
Fitzgerald Toussaint. This frees up James Conner to be the backup, reassuring to people who have been drafting him as LeVeon Bell's backup all summer. Saw speculation the team might bring back DeAngelo Williams. If you're drafting today, it's Conner.
Tim Hightower. This was clearly coming when Hightower played extensively in the final preseason game. He looked OK in that one, actually, so I suspect he'll find a job at some point this season. When guys get cut some of them I move to "Unrestricted Free Agents" in our depth chart file and some I just delete. Hightower got moved to UFA. Maybe the Saints will sign him just to screw with us.
Aaron Dobson. Mentioning him only because I was unaware he was on a roster. Congrats if you know which one.
Chris Johnson. This one was actually a little surprising since he ran as the Cardinals' No. 2 running back all preseason. But watching the third preseason game I saw him 1) drop an easy pass, 2) go nowhere on most of his carries and 3) fumble after the one good run he had. I have a soft spot in my heart for Johnson who was without question my best ever rookie draft pick (took him at 1.09 way back in 2008) and he helped me win 3 championships in four seasons. If Johnson still wants to play, he'll get a look from some team, but this might be it for him. Certainly his days of rushing for 100 yards are over. Great talent and a maybe Hall of Famer?
Larry Donnell. Nothing to see here. Ravens keep shedding tight ends to injury, suspension and release, and still don't have few enough to suggest there's one that can be reasonably used in fantasy.
Other notes from yesterday: Jets acquire Jermaine Kearse, but mostly this deal was about getting a second-round pick for Sheldon Richardson. Seahawks get a great defensive player, Jets get a pick for a player they didn't want to pay, Kearse goes from one of the league's best teams (which was going to cut him) to its worst. Willie Snead hit with a three-game suspension by league. My dynasty receiving corps have really taken a beating this summer: Meredith, John Brown, Snead. I also have Allen Hurns, who potentially could be cut today.
Plenty more cuts coming today -- some 1,200 players in all, if you can believe it. Buckle up.