Final Cuts Made

Here's the list.  Only a couple of surprises:

• Jerome McDougle -- I guess the team just had no faith in his ability to stay healthy.  He sure looked good this preseason though.
• Kris Wilson -- IgglesBlog readers won't find this surprising.
• Andy Studebaker -- I'm not sure about this one.  This kid looks like a football player.  Interestingly, his description isn't in the past tense: "Small-school defensive end learning linebacker spot."  That's in contrast to most of the other guys on that list (had, was, etc.).  Wonder if there's a handshake deal there on the practice squad?

Tony Hunt is your starting fullback, at least for the next 48 hours.  I guess we're going to see a lot of one-back / split backs in the early part of the season. 

Two rookie offensive lineman (Dunlap and Gibson) stashed on IR.  Neither one mentioned in Andy's post-game injury report on Thursday.  I'm sure that was just an oversight...

Comments

[Andrew]

McDougle = Mike Mamula

Always coming into frame just after the QB released the ball.

He simply was not all over the field like Bryan Smith was.

Wilson looked better in games than Schobel. And he could have played fullback.

[Tracer Bullet]

Am I the only one irritated Dorenbros is still here? They could have kept McDougle, Davis or Arrington instead of burning a spot on a guy who's on the field for about two minutes per game. They couldn't find a position player who could long snap?

[Eagles Fan in San Fran]

Thanks for bringing Dorenbros up Tracer Bullet.
My question is: How many other teams out there do the same thing in burning a roster spot for a long snapper?
If a fair amount do so, OK, but if not...

[phxphilly]

Without looking at each teams' roster I would guess that more than half the teams have a designated long snapper. I hate it too. That why I loved the Mike McGlynn draft pick. He did long snapping in college. I really think the Eagles should make a high draft pick (4th Rd or so) on a position player who is a good snapper. At least you have a value added roster spot. (See Giants, New York last year)
Did Studebaker do anything great in any games? I like his size/speed but Mays definitely outplayed him. I doubt Boiman did any more but at least Boiman has a resume on a championship caliber team. The other 4 LBs were locks. I just wonder why Studebaker did not get a 'stinger' just like Gocong.
On the injury front I actually made the effort to listen to Reid's post game to listen for phantom injuries to Dunlap, Studebaker, and maybe Bryan Smith or McGlynn.

[Eagles Fan in San Fran]

Thanks for the info phxphilly - you learn something new every day!
Just a note on McDougle: While I've seen other boards fear his ending up with the G-men, no way that happens, as he'll never make it that far up the waiver tree to them.
In fact, I bet he ends up out here on the Niners as their pass rush was pathetic last year and they really haven't upgraded it. They already have one of our discards (Spikes), so why not another?

[David]

Is it against NFL rules to make up injuries? Something not quite kosher about putting someone on IR for a hangnail, it seems. I never thought I would say this but I miss Mike Bartrum because he was not only the long snapper, he also could be the third TE. I would have kept McDougle and gotten rid of either Boiman or Schobel. If anything, the Giants showed you can never have to many pass rushers. I also hope this Tony Hunt FB situation doesn't end up(a) akin to Greg Lewis returning punts vs Packers or (b) with McNabb or Westbrook injured from a missed block. Hopefully the string of poor starts ends this year.

[Andrew2]

Giants signed McDougle. F!!!!!

[Eagles Fan in San Fran]

As it turns out, if you have 4 or more years of experience, you don't have to pass thru waivers first before signing with any team - that's how the G-men got McDougle. Funny thing is, due to the shooting in '05 and the triceps injury last year, he really only has 3 years of experience (playing in the regular season just in '03, '04, '06). Just our luck!

It appears this was a cost-cutting move. He was scheduled to earn $950k (base salary) in this the last year of his 6-year contract. According to Eagletarian (Bowen/Hoffman), the Eagles wanted him to take a pay cut down to about $500k, but he didn't bite - he will get his million, though, as that's evidently what the G-men are going to pay him under the one-year deal he signed with them.

Looking at it in total, he's going to end up with $8.5 million in the bank from the Eagles (base pay plus signing bonuses) and in return played in just 33 regular season games, recording a grand total of 36 tackles and 3 sacks. Nice work if you can get it!

[Tracer Bullet]

Let's not go nuts over McDougle. He looked good against 2nd and 3rd teamers this year, but he didn't do much here even on the rare occasions he was healthy. I doubt Runyan is losing sleep over lining up against him.

[phxphilly]

Agree that McDougle is not a huge loss. We really should've gotten something for him though! We knew NYG were going to sign him. Just ask for 7th Rd. If they said no, cut Boiman, send McDougle out there against StL and get a sack then ask for 6th Rd after NYG lose! Then to spite them further sign Daniels of their Practice Squad! Oh well, would've been nice.

My question is: How many other teams out there do the same thing in burning a roster spot for a long snapper?

The Cowboys do it with L.P. Ladouceur.