The annual yearly cutdown of NFL rosters began in earnest on Friday and will continue into today. Teams were allowed to carry 90 players on their rosters throughout training camp but can only keep 53 for the season. 47 players are activated for each regular season game. By 4pm today, teams must have no more than 53 men on their roster. In the past, there were a series of cutdown dates, which gradually pared rosters. Beginning in 2017, the NFL changed the system so that there is only one cut. Some teams have already released some players during camp. Consider the chaos that could result in as many as 1,200 players being released on one day.
When a player with less than four years of service is released by a team, they are put on waivers. For the next 24 hours, any other NFL team can claim them. When these players signed their contracts, they agreed to report to a team that claims them with the same contract. If no team claims a player, he has "cleared" waivers and becomes a free agent. If one team claims the player, he reports to that team. If there are multiple claims on a player, he is awarded via draft order, with the worst teams having the best chance to be awarded players. If a player with four years of service is put on waivers, he immediately can become a free agent.
NFL teams have a Director of Pro Personnel who is responsible for rating and keeping track of players on other teams. A talent-laden team's waiver wire may be scoured by lesser teams. The theory is that the 54th player on a team like the New England Patriots may be more talented than the 40th player on a losing team. The NFL is the most systemic of major sports. A player may not fit the skill set a given team looks for, but is perfect and may star for a team with a different theory of how to win.
What does a player who has cleared waivers do to further his career? Teams are allowed to keep a practice squad of ten players. These players are paid $7,600 a week and practice with the team. They can be activated by their incumbent team during the season and added to the squad or they are free to sign with any other team. Players are only eligible to stay on a practice squad for two years.
The NFL does not have a minor Leagues. Lower round rookies and undrafted free agents may not get a great chance in training camp to showcase their talent. They also are adjusting and learning. Arena Football is entertaining but not the same rules as the NFL. The Canadian Football League has been a source for NFL players, but it is three down football played on a larger field. One opportunity for these players could come in the new AAF League. Television executive Charlie Ebersol and NFL management icon Bill Polian will be looking to sign these players into their League, which does play by NFL rules. This could become a new training ground for potential NFL players of the future.
Keep your eye on the changing rosters because waiver-mania has begun.
The author
No comments: