As for ratty we should keep him he is cheap and our best overall option if the unthinkable happens..and with our schedule it could...

@earl34 said:

Sometimes players need to retire, I agree.

@earl34 said:

QB- (3 or 4) They could go with four keeping both McCoy and Ratliff. McCoy will never clear waivers to the practice squad. Ratliff is ineligible for the practice squad. I don't know if there has been anything about Ratliff that screams to keep him but the front office may feel otherwise.

They keep three. I read Ratliff can be put on PS.

RB- (5) The injury to Hardesty clears this up unfortunately. I guess they keep Vickers and four TBs. Most teams don't carry more than five RBs. I suppose you could see four RBs but that would be due to Hillis' versatility

Harrison, Hillis, Davis and Vickers are locks. Jennings is on the bubble.

TE (?3)- I figure Moore and Watson are locks. They'll keep one more for sure.

Royals gets PUPed

WR (?6)- Cribbs, MoMass, Robiskie for sure. Stuckey stays as does Mitchell.

Ingram's the 5th, Mitchell is headed to the Practice Squad, unless the Browns figure he won't clear waivers.

OL (?8)- This will be interesting because besides Mack, Steinbach, Thomas, Lauvao and Pashos, I'm not sure which guys are least worst. I suppose Yates stays due to versatility. Please don't keep St. Clair.

StClair might make it because he''s less sucky as a backup RT than the other options.

DL (8) Coleman, Rubin, Rogers, Smith, Schaefering for sure. Geathers might be practice squad. I actually think Brian Sanford has looked very good (and better than Geathers). I'd like to see him make it but his chances are really marginal. Moseley will start on PUP most likely and that puts him out basically the first half of the year.

LB (8 or 9)- We discussed in another thread. This is going to be one of the more interesting debates. Do you rid yourself of the old guys (Bowens and Barton) because your talent is much better? Do you bother to carry a ninth guy? Trusnik, Maiava and Costanzo have been good on specials....how does that affect Veikune or Titus Brown? Is Benard a shoo-in?

Bernard is a mortal lock to make the roster- he may even be starting by the end of the year. I take Trusnik and Costanzo. My fave to get the boot is Veikune- followed by Maiava. And the old guys get the boot too unless they figure the Samoan connection has room for improvement- which I doubt.

DB (8)- I don't know where Sorensen stands at this point in terms of activity. Wright, Haden, Brown, Ward, Ventrone all stay. Does Elam get cut (I don't think he will)? Adams probably makes it (and I think will be the starter before mid season over Elam). I think Asante likely makes it because I don't think that he'll clear waivers to the practice squad

You forgot to mention everybody's favorite whipping boy Brandon McDonald has actually played pretty decently in preseason. He's not a #2 corner by a longshot- but I'll guarantee he's on the 53 man roster as a nickel or dime corner. Brown could get moved back to saftey, which would make Elam expendable.

Specialists (3) Dawson, Hodges, Pontbriand.

What's your breakdown guys? Obviously a lot of what we don't know is how well these guys contribute in practice and in meetings. In some of these position battles, it may come down to who is a better value on STs or in the locker room. We can't really know what's going through the GM's mind but it's fun to guess.

@roach said:

If he isn't then they are going to keep 5 because there are only six on the roster right now including Engram. (?trade).

@earl34 said:

i don't think Mitchell is a lock.