JET NOTES
As a former player who worked his way into the NFL as a rookie free agent, the task of cutting players has always been one that eats away at Herman Edwards.
But that time is rapidly approaching for him as a head coach for the first time, with the first mandatory cutdown date Tuesday, when teams must pare down to 65 players.
“We’ll probably let some guys go [tomorrow],” Edwards said. “We’ll have a staff meeting on personnel [today] and make some decisions.”
Edwards is so sensitive to his players that he calls around to other leagues like in Canada or the Arena League to put good words in for them.
“The toughest part has always been for me to let guys go, players that have really bought into your program and done everything they can possibly do to make team,” Edwards said. “I tell players, ‘Don’t give up. There are 80 guys here and everyone won’t make it, but what I’m going to try to go is get you in the game so people can watch you on film.'”
The final cutdown to 53 players is Sept. 2.
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Tom Tupa, who’s been handled gingerly this summer after he had surgery for a sports hernia in the offseason, was expected to punt for the first time in the preseason last night.
“He was a little sore, but he wants to punt this week,” Edwards said. “We’d like for him to punt.”
Edwards is still seeking a fifth linebacker emerge from the pack of backups. “We’re solid with four guys right now,” Edwards said, referring to Mo Lewis, Marvin Jones, James Farrior and James Darling.
It seems only a matter of time before veteran T Jumbo Elliott is re-signed as an insurance backup on the offensive line.
“We’ve had some talks with him and I think things are going to work out one way or another,” he said, declining to elaborate. “If we had to bring Jumbo back here in middle of halftime of a game he’d be ready to do it.”