So, as the Patriots are getting ready to trim 19 players from their roster before Saturday’s league-imposed deadline, here is who I see sticking with the team.
Defensive Linemen (7)
Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork, Ty Warren, Derrick Burgess, Jarvis Green, Ron Brace, Mike Wright
Note: I removed rookie Myron Pryor, who has been hurt recently and didn’t play in either of the Patriots’ last two preseason games. My guess is he’ll end up on the PUP list, or Bill Belichick will waive him with the slim hopes he clears and lands on the practice squad.
Linebackers (8)
Jerod Mayo, Adalius Thomas, Gary Guyton, Pierre Woods, Eric Alexander, Tully Banta-Cain, Rob Ninkovich, Shawn Crable
Note: I exchanged Rob Ninkovich for Paris Lenon, and added Shawn Crable. Belichick has dropped Ninkovich’s name on a few different occasions in recent weeks, which is rare for the head coach to do. Plus, Ninkovich has been in on a number of tackles and might not be a bad option as a backup. As with Crable, I think he gets helped with Bruschi’s retirement and my decision (prediction) to leave Pryor off the roster.
Cornerbacks (5)
Leigh Bodden, Shawn Springs, Jonathan Wilhite, Darius Butler, Terrence Wheatley
Note: No changes here. By the way, let’s take it easy on the Thursday night performance of the Patriots’ secondary. They were playing guys who had no chance of making the team — Jamar Love and Roderick Rogers, for instance — against the Giants’ starting offense. What did everyone expect would happen?
Safeties (4)
Brandon Meriweather, James Sanders, Pat Chung, Brandon McGowan
Note: Matthew Slater is taken off the list because of the gruesome left arm injury he suffered against the Giants. He’ll start the season on the PUP list or injured reserve.
Offensive Line (9)
Matt Light, Logan Mankins, Dan Koppen, Stephen Neal, Nick Kaczur, Sebastian Vollmer, Ryan Wendell, Rich Ohrnberger, Ryan O’Callaghan
Note: I added O’Callaghan to the mix here.
Quarterbacks (2)
Tom Brady, Brian Hoyer
Note: At some point, I do believe Belichick will sign a third quarterback, but that’s not a pressing issue with roster cuts coming nine days before the Patriots’ regular-season opener. With Hoyer’s performance Thursday, there is no way — repeat, no way — he clears waivers and lands on the practice squad, and the Patriots have invested too much time into the rookie to take that gamble anyway. Andrew Walter, who I originally believed would make the team, was in camp for a full month but never got a great look in preseason action. Wouldn’t it make sense to give Walter some extended live reps if he had a place with the team?
Update: It was reported after publication that Walter has been released by the Patriots.
Wide Receivers (7)
Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Joey Galloway, Greg Lewis, Julian Edelman, Sam Aiken, Ray Ventrone
Note: Big mistake on my part not to include Ventrone the first time around. Slater’s injury only heightens the need for a versatile player who excels on special teams and can also play both sides of the ball if called upon.
Running backs (5)
Fred Taylor, Laurence Maroney, Sammy Morris, Kevin Faulk, BenJarvus Green-Ellis
Note: It’s definitely conceivable one of these backs gets the pink slip, and that was a popular notion with some people Thursday night. Maroney, Taylor and Faulk should be locks, and Morris and Green-Ellis have been speculated as bubble players. I just think Morris has too much value, and Green-Ellis has too much potential.
Tight ends (3)
Chris Baker, Ben Watson, David Thomas
Note: No changes here. The last spot comes down to Watson and Alex Smith. Even though I wrote earlier Friday that Watson was wary about his future with the Patriots, I think he’d have more value over Smith with his five additional years in the Patriots’ system.
Kicker (1)
Stephen Gostkowski
Note: Gostkowski knotted Thursday’s game with a 46-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
Punter (1)
Chris Hanson
Note: Nice 45.4-yard average on five punts Thursday night.
Long Snapper (1)
Jake Ingram
Note: Gostkowski lauded Ingram’s work Thursday, particularly the long snapper’s chemistry with holder/punter Hanson.
Injured Reserve
Linebacker Tyrone McKenzie
Note: McKenzie is done for the year after suffering a knee injury during rookie camp.
Reserve/Military List
Wide receiver Tyree Barnes, wide receiver Shun White, running back Eric Kettani
Note: The trio from Navy were called to report for active duty.
Reserve/PUP List
Tackle Mark LeVoir
Note: LeVoir cannot come off the physically-unable-to-perform list until after Week 6.
Reserve/Non-Football Injury List
Wide receiver Brandon Tate
Note: While Tate’s injury occurred during North Carolina’s game against Notre Dame during the last college football season, the injury didn’t happen under the Patriots’ watch, making him eligible for this list, which has similar rules to the PUP list.
