Good read about final cutdowns...

[RavenScallywag]

http://www.baltimoreravens.com/News/...he_Ravens.aspx

Saw this blog on the Ravens website...I've been following the Ravens obsessively for the past 5-6 years (to the point of tracking the UDFAs and the guys really fighting to get on P Sq). But this is the first year I've heard a lot of people harping about how tough it is mentally and emotionally on players at the end like this. There are a lot of guys who have gone out and given 110% this whole summer who will not only be told they didn't make the team, but hey, this isn't the job for you because you aren't making ANYONE's club either. True, there's some other options like the UFL and CFL...but really, this has to be TREMENDOUSLY hard. If this is it for a player, they've got to start facing reality and figure out what else to do with their life.

I just think it really puts things in perspective well. We can all throw around names easily saying this guy is a definite cut, or that guy is a definite cut, but I don't think you realize how much impact that statement has. I'll admit, since Week 1 of preseason, I've been saying Figurs is gone. True, he may not have excited many of us as a football player, but that's a person you're saying is about to be out of a job and, likely, out of a career. Just puts things in good perspective for me.

Wish all the 70 players on this roster luck with the final cutdown.

[Rxdoxx]

Thanks for the link.

I'm not that far from where you are with all this.
I'm still saddened that Matt Willis didn't get to make it.
It is always the tension of wanting the best team, best players, and not being a calloused SOB who can't mourn a little when Stills is told to leave.

And the article doesn't mention those like Isaiah Williams who got an early exit. I still like to see Lamont Jordan do well, but it is even tougher when we have followed the player in College.

[RavenScallywag]

True...I feel kind've sad for Drew Willy...he got cut in rookie minicamps once we brought in Beck. Came back when Beck was thought to be injured, but since he wasn't, Willy never really got a chance to show the Ravens anything. Harbaugh mentioned it too, I think he's someone we may try to put on P Sq if there's not too many other players we need to put on there before him.

[festivus]

As I recall, _Next Man Up_ dealt in some detail with how the Ravens cope with this difficult time. 100% class under Brian Billick, I hope it's the same now.

[Raven Nurse]

Yeah...hope it is not like the Bungles...(in the middle of the hallway)....hey kid, your on waivers....give me your playbook...heres your plane ticket....WTF?

[RavenScallywag]

kind've on an unrelated note, anyone remember Jason Brookins? He was a RB here for a few years, then went to the Eagles or Packers...anyway, right around cutdown time, he got a call on his cell phone that the coaches wanted to see him before he left for the weekend and bring your playbook with you. He assumed it was a cut meeting, so in his anger, he kept his playbook with him and just up and went MIA for a few days. Turns out...the meeting was to add some new plays to his playbook...But with his reaction, they decided to reconsider and cut him anyway.

Just one of those cases where you need to let cooler head prevail.