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Cuts Roundup Panthers QB Lewis, Jags S Lake cut; Bucs keep QB Leaf
Updated: Monday September 03, 2001 9:24 AM
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Jeff Lewis, projected as the Carolina Panthers' starting quarterback at the opening of training camp, was cut Sunday after a disappointing preseason. Lewis, 28, had been slated to take over for Steve Beuerlein, who was released during the offseason, but couldn't get the offense going in three preseason games. Lewis was 15-for-27 for 115 yards with four interceptions and no touchdowns during the preseason. Carolina scored just one touchdown in 13 drives with Lewis at quarterback. He was one of 14 players cut by Carolina as the team trimmed its roster to 53 players. "I think everybody would understand it's a difficult decision because he was slated to be the starter this year," Panthers head coach George Seifert said. "Things didn't work out, and at the same time we had a couple of other guys come to the front and we decided to go in that direction." By releasing Lewis, Carolina is left with three quarterbacks who haven't thrown a pass in a regular-season game. Chris Weinke, last year's Heisman Trophy winner, is expected to start, with Dameyune Craig and Matt Lytle as his backups. Lewis had two years remaining on a four-year, $12.4 million contract. Also released by the Panthers on Sunday were defensive tackle Tim Morabito, a two-year starter with the team; defensive end Robert Daniel; wide receivers Dialleo Burks, Kevin Coffey and Jim Turner; linebackers Michael Hawkes, Dusty Renfro and Matt Smith; tackle T.J. Washington; fullback Chad Dukes; cornerback Ray Green; safety Jarard White; and tight end Nathan Hodel. Carolina also acquired safety Perry Phenix from Tennessee in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick. Phenix, a four-year veteran, played in 47 games with four starts for the Titans. Running back Dee Brown, a sixth-round draft pick, was placed on injured reserve and defensive tackle Al Lucas was put on the physically unable to perform list. S Lake a victim of Jaguars' salary capJACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- Pinching pennies wherever they can, the Jacksonville Jaguars cut veteran safety Carnell Lake on Sunday, a move that will save the team $500,000 this season and about $2.3 million in 2002.
Backup quarterback Jamie Martin also got cut, along with four draft choices in this, a season in which the Jaguars needed several rookies to make the team because of their tight salary cap. The Jaguars signed Lake to a four-year, $18 million contract in 1999 and he had a Pro Bowl season, as Jacksonville made the AFC title game. But he missed all of 2000 with a foot injury, and when the Jaguars decided in June to keep him on the roster, it came as a mild surprise because it counted an extra $300,000 against the cap. Lake had a hamstring injury that slowed his recovery in training camp. That, plus the rapid ascension of seventh-round draft pick Marlon McCree, made the 13th-year veteran expendable. Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin said this move, like all the cuts he made, was "weighed on football first, then weighed on salary." Lake spent his first 10 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Jaguars will save up to $300,000 by cutting Martin and keeping Jonathan Quinn as the backup quarterback. Playing for the Berlin Thunder, Quinn led the NFL Europe in passing yardage and touchdowns, although Coughlin said neither Quinn nor Martin played well in training camp or the preseason. Among the draft picks waived were offensive lineman Chad Ward (sixth round), receiver Richmond Flowers (seventh), punter David Leaverton (fifth) and Randy Chevrier (seventh), who was drafted in the seventh round to be a long snapper. Only five of Jacksonville's 10 draft picks made the roster. Four undrafted rookies were on the roster as of Sunday. Bucs keep QB Leaf, waive OT HegaminTAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Ryan Leaf's sore right wrist didn't land him on injured reserve Sunday. Instead, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept four quarterbacks on their 53-man roster and face the prospect of going into the regular-season opener at Dallas with a lack of depth at several other positions. Leaf, who's trying to jump-start his career after three disappointing seasons in San Diego, had been competing with Joe Hamilton for the No. 3 quarterback job behind Brad Johnson and Shaun King. How long the Bucs will be able carry all four is subject to debate. Injuries to starting center Jeff Christy (sprained knee), reserve guard Russ Hochstein (fractured foot) and backup nose tackle James Cannida (sprained knee) have left the team without backups at those positions. The final roster also includes just two tight ends and three healthy cornerbacks. Bucs head coach Tony Dungy would not elaborate on the reasons he felt it was best to keep Leaf and Hamilton, a seventh-round draft pick last year. Leaf, the No. 2 pick overall in the 1998 draft behind Peyton Manning, was bothered off and on during training camp by a sore throwing wrist. He missed two days of practice last week, leading to speculation that he might be a candidate for injured reserve. The Bucs waived 17 players and placed one on injured reserve to trim the roster to 53 players. Offensive tackle George Hegamin, who left training camp for a short time because he reportedly was unhappy with his playing time, was the most recognizable name on the list. Also released were punter Andrew Bayes; center Leon Hires; guard Wilbert Brown; receivers Gerald Harris, Khori Ivy and Robert Kilow; tight ends Randy Palmer, Mike Roberg and Damian Vaughn; cornerback Corey Ivy; safety Than Merrill; running back Pepe Pearson; linebackers Al Rice and Byron Thweatt; and defensive linemen Terry Jolly and Joe Tafoya. Guard Kendall Mack (torn triceps) was placed on injured reserve. Chiefs cut WR Mayes, KR HorneKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- The Kansas City Chiefs put defensive tackle Dan Williams on the physically unable to perform list and placed cornerback Pat Dennis on injured reserve Sunday. In reaching the NFL roster limit of 53 players Sunday, they also released 20 players. "After reviewing Dan's physical progress, we do not believe he is ready for active participation at this time," said Chiefs president Carl Peterson. "His foot surgery is healing, but not complete. Dan is working very hard to get himself ready to join the active list after the sixth week of the regular season." Six-year defensive tackle Steve Martin was among those released. Martin was a backup last year, playing in all 16 games, and had 27 tackles. Wide receiver Derrick Mayes also was released, along with running back Frank Moreau and kick returner Tony Horne. Mayes played in 57 games over five years and had 145 catches for 1,823 yards and 16 touchdowns with Green Bay and Seattle. Moreau rushed for 179 yards with four touchdowns in 11 games with the Chiefs in 2000. Horne appeared in 39 games with the St. Louis Rams and returned five kickoffs for touchdowns. Steelers officially cut ties with QB GrahamPITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers cut five players Sunday, including quarterback Kent Graham, who beat out Kordell Stewart for the starting job last year. The Steelers also placed six-year defensive end Chris Sullivan on the injured reserve list after announcing he would be cut Friday. Sullivan had surgery on his right wrist and injured players cannot be released. Graham's release was expected after Steelers head coach Bill Cowher said the nine-year quarterback would be traded or cut by Sunday. In addition to cutting the roster to 53 players, the move and saves the Steelers nearly $1.5 million under the salary cap and opens a roster spot for Tommy Maddox, the MVP of the now-defunct XFL, who signed with the Steelers this year. Maddox hasn't played in the NFL since 1995, when he was a backup for the New York Giants. The Steelers also cut linebacker Donnel Thompson, safety Ainsley Battles, wide receiver Demetrius Brown and tight end Cory Geason. Johnson beats Zeier as Falcons' third-string QBATLANTA (AP) -- The Atlanta Falcons waived Eric Zeier on Sunday, deciding to keep Doug Johnson as the third-string quarterback behind Chris Chandler and Michael Vick. The Falcons also dumped kicker Jake Arians, who spent last season on the practice squad as Morten Andersen's apparent successor. Instead, rookie Jay Feely was given the job. Eleven other players were cut Sunday as the Falcons got down to the mandatory 53-player roster limit for next week's opener at San Francisco. Linebacker Jeff Kelly was placed on injured reserve with a knee problem and will miss the season. Johnson played four games last season and completed 54 percent of his passes for 406 yards, with two touchdowns and three interceptions. During the preseason, Johnson was 21-of-38 (55 percent) for 233 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Zeier, who was bothered in camp by a sprained ankle, was 13-of-21 (62 percent) for 112 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception. Johnson has a stronger arm than Zeier, which fits better in the Falcons' downfield passing game. "You look at Eric with the experience factor," Falcons head coach Dan Reeves said. "But when you look at Doug, he really played well and he's got a strong arm. That was what we looked at. He's a young guy on the rise and we wanted to see how far he could go." Raiders cut LB Phillips, QB Peete, PR MetcalfALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- Linebacker Ryan Phillips, who started 16 games last season for the NFC champion New York Giants, was released by the Oakland Raiders on Sunday. The Raiders also released veteran backup quarterback Rodney Peete, punt returner Eric Metcalf, tight end Andrew Glover, offensive linemen Toby Miles, Aaron Graham and Tony Hutson, wide receiver Andy McCullough, running back Derek Combs and safety Raymond Perryman. A starter for the Giants the past two seasons, Phillips played all three linebacker positions for the Raiders in the preseason but could not break into the rotation. With backups Eric Barton, Bobby Brooks and Travian Smith all key members of the Raiders' special teams unit, Phillips became the odd man out. Peete was Oakland's No. 3 quarterback last year, but the emergence of rookie Marques Tuiasosopo, the team's second-round draft pick, made the 35-year-old quarterback expendable. Metcalf was attempting a comeback after sitting out last season. The Raiders tried using him at running back and wide receiver but he didn't help his cause by fumbling away a punt return in Oakland's 24-13 preseason victory against Green Bay last Friday. On Saturday, Oakland cut running back Jabari Jackson, wide receiver Broderick McGrew, offensive lineman Josh Tucker, linebacker James Burgess, defensive linemen Jon Harris and Emil Ekiyor, and defensive backs Mark Tate and Corey Walker. Packers cut veteran DT MarylandGREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Russell Maryland refused to take a pay cut, so the Green Bay Packers waived him Sunday along with 13 others. Maryland, entering his 12th season in the NFL, was scheduled to make $1.4 million this year, and the Packers suggested a $500,000 contract with incentives that would not have reached the $1.4 million, according to his Maryland's agent, Leigh Steinberg. "He felt he's a starter and has viable years left in his career, so it was just difficult for him to feel like he could take that pay cut," Steinberg told The Associated Press later Sunday. "This was Russell's decision," Steinberg said. "Russell and I have talked a bunch today, and it wasn't really a situation we necessarily were expecting. It's not like he was making $5.6 million. He was making 1.4. That's not an outlandish number for a nose tackle." Maryland played just one season in Green Bay, but was often lauded for his work ethic and locker room leadership. The No. 1 overall pick in the 1991 draft, Maryland won three Super Bowl rings in Dallas after winning two national championships at the University of Miami. "It was the economics of it," Sherman said. "Russell Maryland, I personally went out to Oakland and recruited him, had very strong feelings about him and what he did for our football team last year in the locker room and on the field." Maryland shared snaps during training camp with trimmed-down Gilbert Brown ($485,000), who is making a comeback after spending last season out of football and ballooning to 400 pounds. With Cletidus Hunt beginning a month-long suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy and Steve Warren on the injured list for at least six weeks, the Packers acquired first-year defensive tackle Rod Walker (6-foot-3, 330 pounds) from Tennessee on Sunday for a conditional 2002 draft pick.
Bengals cut all-time leading KR MackCINCINNATI (AP) -- Tremain Mack, the Cincinnati Bengals' all-time leading kick returner who has a history of alcohol-related problems, was cut by the team on Sunday as it reduced its roster to 53 players. Mack, a fourth-round pick in 1997, was convicted of drunken driving in 1997 and 1998, resulting in jail sentences and an eight-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. He also spent a month in jail this past offseason for a probation violation. Mack has 3,583 career return yards with the Bengals and made the Pro Bowl following the 1999 season. Punter Daniel Pope, former starting fullback Clif Groce, and ex-Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Kevin Henry, also were released. Other cuts included wide receiver Malcolm Johnson, center Roger Roesler, defensive end Corey Moore, tight end Kirk McMullen, defensive tackle Jeff Boyle and linebackers Rashad Harris and Chris Edmonds. Wide receiver Damon Griffin and tight end Sean Brewer were put on injured reserve.
Autry, Pritchett among Eagles' eight cutsPHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Running back Darnell Autry, who returned to football after an acting career was cut short by a casting director who said he didn't look like a football player, was among eight players cut by the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. Also cut were veteran fullback Stanley Pritchett and seven-year defensive end Greg Jefferson, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. The Eagles' final cuts also included running back Anthony Gray, wide receivers Sean Scott and Elijah Thurmon, defensive end John Frank, and cornerback Jason Bostic. Jefferson started all 16 games in 1999, head coach Andy Reid's first season. Autry started seven games for the Eagles last season after starter Duce Staley went down with a season-ending foot injury, rushing for 334 yards and three touchdowns. Autry had been out of football but returned after not getting a part in the football movie Any Given Sunday after being told he didn't look right for the part. Pritchett, a six-year veteran, played in all 16 games for the Eagles last year. He ran for 225 yards and caught 25 passes for 193 yards.
Titans trade S Phenix, DT Walker; release FB FloydNASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- The Tennessee Titans traded safety Perry Phenix to Carolina and defensive tackle Rod Walker to Green Bay for draft choices, and cut veteran fullback William Floyd on Sunday as they reduced their roster to the 53-man limit. The Titans signed Floyd in July, hoping his experience could offset his repaired knee, but he was unable to practice more than once a day during training camp. His release leaves the Titans without a fullback for the first time since 1998. Unless they find someone off the waiver wire, the Titans appear set to use one of their four tight ends to help block for All-Pro running back Eddie George out of the backfield. The Titans kept four undrafted rookies: offensive tackle Barry Hall, safety Joe Walker, end Juqua Thomas and receiver Drew Bennett from UCLA. Bennett was a quarterback at UCLA before becoming a receiver. The Titans also waived defensive end Byron Frisch, their third-round draft pick of 2000. They waived injured safety Brandon McLemore, safety Marcus Spencer and offensive lineman Ian Rafferty. Phenix got his own start with the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 1998, and he had started four games in the past three seasons. The Titans had tried him at cornerback and both safety positions, but he couldn't beat out Bobby Myers for the starting free safety slot. Vikes cut RB Williams to make room for RB PrenticeEDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) -- Veteran running back and special teams standout Moe Williams was among 16 players waived Sunday by the Minnesota Vikings. The team also dealt future draft picks to Cleveland for running back Travis Prentice and quarterback Spergon Wynn. Williams, plagued by a foot injury during training camp, rushed five times for 52 yards in Minnesota's exhibition game against Miami on Friday. Entering his sixth season, Williams had only 195 yards rushing in his career, but was a valuable presence on the Vikings' kick return and coverage teams. The Vikings also released hobbled linebacker Craig Sauer, who has battled an inflamed arch for two seasons, and defensive tackle Fernando Smith. Smith, began training camp as a starter at nose tackle, but fell behind Fred Robbins and rookie Shawn Worthen on the depth chart after suffering a stomach injury. Prentice rushed for 512 yards and five touchdowns last season. He'll likely be the Vikings' third back behind rookie Michael Bennett and second-year player Doug Chapman, who are replacing the retired Robert Smith. Wynn will become the third-string quarterback behind Daunte Culpepper and Todd Bouman. He completed 22 of 54 passes for 167 yards and an interception for the Browns last year. Also cut by the Vikings Sunday: tight end Matt Cercone, linebackers Rahim Abdullah and Antonio Wilson, defensive lineman Tim Engelhardt, defensive back Brian Russell, offensive linemen Jay Humphrey and Mike Malano, running backs Dewayne Miles, Shawn Paga and James Wofford, wide receiver Kenny Clark and quarterback Romaro Miller. The Vikings placed defensive back Carey Scott on injured reserve.
Cardinals release 11, put K Blanchard on injured reserveTEMPE, Ariz. (AP) -- The Arizona Cardinals put placekicker Cary Blanchard on injured reserve along with two others and released 11 players Sunday to reach the NFL's 53-player limit. Blanchard has a torn tendon in his right big toe. Tackle Norberto Davidds-Garrido also went on the list because of hand and ankle injuries. Linebacker James Folston was put on injured reserve because of a back problem. Seven-year veteran Brad Ottis, who started 11 games at defensive end last year, was released. So were tackle Michael Cook, safety Deke Cooper, fullback Paul Shields, running back Clarence Williams, middle linebacker Michael Young, defensive end Andy Bowers, wide receivers Bryan Gilmore and Nathan Poole, and tight ends Tevita Ofahengaue and Jay Tant. WR Simmons among 16 Patriots cutsFOXBORO, Mass. (AP) -- Wide receiver Tony Simmons, who played in 12 games last season and started two, was among 16 players cut Sunday by the New England Patriots to get to the 53-player roster limit. Simmons, a four-year veteran who also returned kicks, had 14 catches for 231 yards and a touchdown last season. He has 56 catches for 981 yards and six touchdowns in his career. He was drafted by the Patriots in the second round in 1998, the 52nd player taken overall. In addition to the 16 cuts, the team placed running back Walter Williams on injured reserve. Also released were wide receivers Curtis Jackson and Sean Morey; offensive lineman Drew Inzer, Sale Isaia and Josh Rawlings; tight ends Johnny McWilliams and Chris Eitzmann; punter Brad Costello; linebackers Matt Chatham, Rob Holmberg and Marty Moore; nose tackle Garrett Johnson; defensive end David Nugent; kicker Owen Pochman; and cornerback Kato Serwanga. Dolphins place WR McDuffie on PUP list; cut S PorterMIAMI (AP) -- The Miami Dolphins put wide receiver O.J. McDuffie and tight end Alonzo Mayes on the physically unable to perform list and cut safety Daryl Porter and 12 other players Sunday as the team got down to the 53-player roster limit. McDuffie, a nine-year veteran who is ninth on the team's all-time touchdown list, has an injured left big toe. The same injury put him on the list last year and plagued him after he returned in October, only catching 14 passes for 143 yards. Mayes underwent shoulder surgery in May. Acquired in October from Chicago, he has yet to play in a regular-season game for the team. Porter, who signed with the team in March after three seasons with Buffalo, had led the team with 24 tackles during the preseason. Also cut were running back Vaughn Sanders, guards Jamie Nails and Ben Adams, offensive tackle Brandon Winey, wide receivers Robert Baker and Corey Bridges, linebackers Paris Johnson and Tyrus McCloud, defensive end Otis Leverette, cornerback Deshone Mallard. Quarterback Mike Quinn, who hurt his shoulder in Friday's preseason finale against Minnesota, was put on the waived/injured list. He would return to the Dolphins and be placed on injured reserve if he clears waivers. Tackle Anthony Cesario, who has an injured right knee, reached a settlement with the team and was also released. Rams cut S Bush for cap purposesST. LOUIS (AP) -- Safety Devin Bush, who started 12 games for the St. Louis Rams last season, was one of 13 players released Sunday as the team reached the 53-man roster. Bush took a salary cut to stay with the team as a backup this season, but it wasn't enough. He was released to keep the team under the salary cap. "It was very difficult for both of us," head coach Mike Martz said. "I really like Devin a lot; I feel close to Devin." Bush was a first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 1995. Last year, he was fourth on the team with 80 tackles, the second-highest total of his career. The Rams also cut two of this year's draft picks, fourth-rounder Milton Wynn and sixth-rounder Francis St. Paul, both wide receivers. Others cut were tight end Giles Cole, cornerbacks Chris Cummings and Damen Wheeler, safety Willie Gary, linebackers Dustin Cohen and Scott Zimmerman, wide receiver Darrius Blevins and Sherrod Gideon, center Mike Newell and defensive Jonathan Brown. The Rams also placed fullback Larry Bowie on injured reserve. Bowie suffered a knee injury in the preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs and could be out eight weeks. St. Paul and Blevins were released with injury settlements WR Green, QB Hobert among 16 released by ColtsINDIANAPOLIS (AP) -- The Indianapolis Colts released veteran wide receiver E.G. Green and quarterback Billy Joe Hobert as they cut 16 players Sunday to reach the NFL roster limit of 53. The Colts also released one of their draft choices, fifth-round pick Raymond Walls, who was injured much of training camp. Green was the Colts' third-round draft pick in 1998, but his career was plagued by injuries. He started four games for the Colts in 1999 and had 54 catches for 665 yards in three seasons. He missed all four preseason games this summer with a strained left calf. Hobert was expected to be Peyton Manning's primary backup this season until the Colts signed Mark Rypien in late July. Also released were offensive linemen Paul LaQuerre, Rob Murphy and John Merandi; defensive linemen Brandon Miller, Hans Olsen and David Warren; running backs Kevin McDougal and Brett Millican; tight end Josh Keur; linebacker Josh Gentry; defensive back Dempsey Dees; wide receiver Brad Freeman and kicker Eric Olsen. Veteran S Jones among Bills cutsORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) -- Safety Henry Jones, one of the last Buffalo Bills remaining from their Super Bowl teams, was released Sunday as the team got down to the 53-player limit. Jones, Buffalo's first-round draft choice in 1991, had made 61 consecutive starts, most among active players on the team. Along with recording 100 or more tackles in each of his last four seasons, Jones had appeared in 144 games with Buffalo, tied for the most with defensive end Phil Hansen and Steve Christie among current players. Without Jones, the most experienced player in the backfield is third-year veteran Keion Carpenter. Backing up Jones on the current depth chart is Raion Hill, who appeared in 16 games last season, mostly on special teams. Among those released the Bills released were defensive end David Bowens, acquired in a preseason deal with Green Bay, and linebacker Jimmy Williams, the third of Buffalo's three sixth-round selections in last April's draft. Also released were running back Curtis Alexander, offensive tackle Jon Carman, safety Brian Leigeb, defensive end Jarrett Procell, tight end Josh Whitman and receivers Reggie Allen and Kwame Cavil and Chris Rosier. Jets release veterans NT Wiltz, TE SlutzkerHEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (AP) -- The New York Jets released veterans Jason Wiltz and Scott Slutzer to get down to the NFL's 53-man roster limit Sunday. Wiltz was projected as the starter at nose tackle when regular Jason Ferguson tore his rotator cuff. But Wiltz had a weak preseason and the fourth-round pick in the 1999 draft was released. Rookie James Reed and first-year player Maurice Anderson beat out Wiltz, but the Jets have expressed interest in Russell Maryland, who was cut by Green Bay. Slutzker's release was something of a surprise because the Jets are slim at tight end. He played two seasons for the Colts and two with New Orleans, but sat out last year rehabilitating a right knee injury. Giants cut oft-injured RB Bennett, three veteransEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Oft-injured Halfback Sean Bennett was waived off the physically unable to perform list as the New York Giants were forced to weigh both the salary cap and talent in reaching the 53-man roster limit Sunday. Defensive tackle Ryan Hale, linebacker Kevin Lewis and offensive tackle Chris Ziemann, all backups with two-or-three years experience, also were among the 15 players waived. The waiver list included two fifth-round draft choices, place-kicker John Markham and receiver Jonathan Carter. Bennett, who started on opening day as a rookie in 1999, missed all of last season with a knee injury. A hamstring injury caused him to miss all of training camp this year. He also missed six games in his rookie season with a knee injury. "He had not passed his physical and we were going to try to hang on to him a little bit, but everything got real tight," Giants head coach Jim Fassel said of the cap situation. "If he could pass his physical some time I would like to bring him back." The payments for the injury settlements and players on injured reserve is costing the Giants more than $1 million, which is charged against the team's $67.4 million salary cap. Also released were running back Omar Bacon; defensive end Lavell Ellis, defensive back Kelly Herndon, guard Scott Kiernan; safety Clarence LeBlanc, defensive lineman DaMonte McKenzie; receiver Quinton Spotwood; offensive tackle Terrence Sykes and tight end Adam Young. Fullback Adam Wright was placed on injured reserve. Ravens cut 10, including 2001 draft pick RB BarnesOWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) -- The Baltimore Ravens cut 10 players Sunday, including fifth-round draft pick Chris Barnes, a running back out of New Mexico State. Barnes, the 161st pick overall, began training camp competing for a backup spot behind starter Jamal Lewis. But even after Lewis was injured, Barnes fell behind Jason Brookins on the depth chart and saw limited action during the preseason. In reaching the league-mandated 53-roster man limit, the Ravens also cut wide receivers Kenyon Hambrick and Germany Thompson; defensive backs Pete Destefano, Corey Gaines, Evan Howell and Delvin Hughley; running back Aaron Kernek; tight end Jonathan Burrough; and offensive tackle Damion Cook. Broncos cut S Clark; DE Toviessi to have more surgeryDENVER (AP) -- The Denver Broncos cut safety Darius Clark on Sunday to reach the 53-player roster limit. The Broncos announced 18 moves Saturday, waiving 17 players and placing defensive end Paul Toviessi, their second-round draft choice, on injured reserve. Toviessi, who had arthroscopic knee surgery Aug. 7, will require additional surgery, Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan said Sunday. The Broncos kept four quarterbacks because of Steve Beuerlein's uncertain health. He is coming off shoulder and elbow surgery. Brian Griese, Gus Frerotte and Jarious Jackson are the team's other quarterbacks. "We've got four quality players," Shanahan said. "You never know when a guy is going to go down, and that's one of the positions in the league right now that really doesn't have a lot of depth." Beuerlein stopped throwing 2 1/2 weeks ago after he experienced pain in his arm. He is scheduled to resume throwing later this week. "We'll get a chance to see where Steve is over the next three or four weeks," Shanahan said, indicating that the team might put Beuerlein on injured reserve if he can't recover. Saints end TE Mitchell's latest comeback attemptNEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Tight end Johnny Mitchell, a first-round draft pick in 1992, was cut by the New Orleans Saints on Sunday, ending his second comeback attempt in three years. Mitchell, selected by the New York Jets with the 15th overall pick, had not played since 1996. He signed with the Jets in 1999, but retired at the start of training camp. Also cut was third-year linebacker Phil Clarke, who started four games last season and played in 14. The only first-year free agent to make the team was Michael Lewis, a beer delivery man who played flag football in high school and did not go to college. His professional experience has been in semipro leagues, arena football and NFL Europe. Other cuts were: cornerbacks Renard Cox, Earthwind Moreland, and Trayvon Waller; defensive ends Marques Douglas, Jermaine Miles and Bobby Setzer; safeties Steve Gleason and Gerald Vaughn; fullback Joey Goodspeed; tackle Jay Hagood; linebacker Curtis Holden; punter Bill LaFleur; tight end Eddie "Boo" Williams; defensive tackle Richard Seals; wide receivers Jimmy Robinson and Richard Williams; guard Nick O'Brien; and quarterback Phil Stambaugh. WR Bailey among 20 cut by SeahawksKIRKLAND, Wash. (AP) -- The Seattle Seahawks cut third-year receiver Karsten Bailey on Sunday, a day after he caught a touchdown pass to help the Seahawks beat the New Orleans Saints. Bailey was one of 20 players released to bring Seattle to the NFL roster limit of 53. In addition to Bailey, the Seahawks waived veteran defensive end Matt LaBounty and veteran guard Frank Beede. Also cut were quarterback Josh Booty; defensive tackles Joe Brown, Kris Kocurek and Jeremy Staat; receivers Kerwin Cook and Dwaune Jones; cornerback Wade Davis; linebacker Dwan Epps; tackles Steve Estes and Chad Overhauser; fullback Lloyd Garden; running backs Jay Graham and Rodnick Phillips; kicker Shane Graham; tight ends James Hill and Scot Osborne; and guard Eric King. Chargers cut former second-round pick RB FazandeSAN DIEGO (AP) -- Running back Jermaine Fazande, a disappointment the past two seasons, was among the 15 players cut Sunday by the San Diego Chargers to get down to the 53-player limit. Fazande rushed for 733 yards and four touchdowns while starting 10 of 20 games the past two seasons. He was the Chargers' top draft pick in 1999, selected in the second round. That was Bobby Beathard's final draft as Chargers general manager. Fazande missed most of training camp with ankle and groin injuries. Also cut were cornerback Kecalf Bailey; wide receivers Pat Batteaux, Nate Turner and Rodney Williams; linebacker Eric Guenther; and safeties Armon Hatcher, Reggie Hunt and Rob Pate. Also, defensive tackles Scott Schultz and Dequincy Scott; running back Mukala Sikyala; guard Jason Thomas; defensive end Chris Ward; and fullback Witherspoon.
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