ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Cardinals Player Released on Cutdown Pos. Current Team Capacity Aaron Francisco DB Colts Active Roster Onrea Jones WR Redskins Practice Squad Trevor Canfield OL Cardinals Practice Squad Keilen Dykes DL Cardinals Practice Squad Alex Field DL Cardinals Practice Squad Ed Gant WR Cardinals Practice Squad Wilrey Fontenot DB Cardinals Injured reserve Chase Bullock LB -- -- Tim Castille RB -- -- Jameel Dowling DB -- -- David Holloway LB -- -- Reagan Maui'a RB -- -- Carlton Medder OL -- -- Tyler Palko QB -- -- Leonard Pope TE -- -- Steve Sanders WR -- -- Pago Togafau LB -- -- Chris Vincent RB -- -- Melvin Fowler OL -- -- Victor Hobson LB -- -- Rodney Leisle DL x x Oliver Ross OL x x

The tough decisions teams face in reducing their rosters to 53 players sometimes aren't so tough.

I've gone through the initial NFC West cut lists -- those players released at the 53-man deadline -- to see which ones have returned to their teams or caught on elsewhere.

The chart shows results for Arizona.

Veteran safety Aaron Francisco signed with the Colts. Receiver Onrea Jones signed with the Redskins' practice squad. Arizona re-signed four players to its practice squad.

Four others -- Wilrey Fontenot, Chris Vincent, Carlton Medder and Pago Togafau -- were injured when the Cardinals released them. All but Fontenot have reached injury settlements, leaving the roster. Fontenot remains on injured reserve. Update: Fontenot has also reached an injury settlement.

Some veterans on the list might have an easier time finding work after Week 1. Rules require teams to guarantee salaries to some veterans who are active for Week 1 and then released.

Ex-Cardinals eligible for practice squad Pos. Chase Bullock LB Trevor Canfield OL Jameel Dowling DB Keilen Dykes DL Alex Field DE Wilrey Fontenot* DB Ed Gant WR David Holloway LB Onrea Jones WR Carlton Medder* OL Tyler Palko QB Steve Sanders WR Pago Togafau* LB Chris Vincent RB

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

NFL teams can begin forming eight-man practice squads once released players clear waivers this afternoon.

I've put together a list of recently released Cardinals players with eligibility for the practice squad. Each was released on the reduction to 53 players. Wilrey Fontenot, Carlton Medder and Pago Togafau were injured when they were released. I've placed asterisks next to their names.

Quarterback Tyler Palko showed enough during preseason for consideration, although the Cardinals have not been inclined to carry a fourth quarterback during the regular season. Guard Trevor Canfield was a draft choice. Defensive end Keilen Dykes appeared to make a strong run early in camp. Receiver Onrea Jones showed promise at times.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Thoughts and observations from the Cardinals' exhibition game Thursday night against the Broncos:

• Fitzgerald cares. The Cardinals' first-team offense made little apparent progress following an "embarrassing" effort a week earlier, but receiver Larry Fitzgerald showed the unwavering focus and professionalism that help maximize his talents. He ran after the catch the way he would have in a Super Bowl. Receiver Steve Breaston, meanwhile, couldn't even get lined up properly, drawing two penalties for illegal formations. This is a recurring issue for Breaston and one that gets annoying if you watch enough Cardinals games. He committed three such penalties during the 2008 regular season. Details matter.
• Action for Toler. I was a little surprised to read coach Ken Whisenhunt's comments about how the Cardinals' rookie defensive backs, including cornerback Greg Toler, have a long ways to go. Toler competes. He battled hard against Broncos receiver Brandon Lloyd, closing hard on the ball to break up a sideline pass. Lloyd did beat Toler for a long completion to the Arizona 1-yard line, but Lloyd used his left arm to push Toler past the play. It was a veteran move and one that worked, but Toler was there all the way. Officials flagged him for illegal contact on a deep pass in the third quarter. The contact was came early in the route as an act of aggressiveness, not panic. Toler was there all the way and nearly picked off the pass.
• Updating Long. Receiver Lance Long didn't seem to make an emphatic statement in his quest to earn one of the final spots at receiver. Only Jerheme Urban played more than Long among Arizona receivers in the first half. Long finished the game with one reception for 9 yards. Officials flagged him for holding deep in Cardinals territory and it was a good call.
• Playing time. First-half snap counts for the Cardinals' skill players broke down this way: Urban 20, Long 14, Warner 12, Stephen Spach 10, Breaston 10, Fitzgerald 10, Jason Wright 9, Beanie Wells 9, Sean Morey 8, Anthony Becht 7, Dan Kreider 6, Tim Hightower 6, Matt Leinart 6, Tyler Palko 6, Ben Patrick 4, Onrea Jones 4, Reagan Maui'a 2 and Tim Castille 1.
• Wells catches naturally. The Cardinals' first-round choice made a reception out of the backfield for 12 yards, gathering the ball naturally and gaining several yards after the catch. It wasn't much to go on, but nothing about Wells seems to stand out as negative or limiting. We haven't seen enough to know for sure how he'll hold up in pass protection, a key variable for playing time.
• Losing Pope. Tight end Leonard Pope's long-term future with the team appears shaky. The team could keep an extra player at the position while Ben Patrick serves a four-game suspension to open the season. Even that might not be enough for Pope, who did not play in the first half. When Pope finally got a chance, he showed zero tenacity while missing a block against Broncos defensive end Jarvis Moss. The early third-quarter play allowed Moss to tackle running back Chris Vincent for a loss.
• Hobson shows. Cardinals linebacker Victor Hobson made a positive impression on a few plays. He was aggressive and put a big hit on the quarterback in the third quarter.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seahawks' decision to sign 31-year-old Edgerrin James and confer upon him "complementary" status behind "workhorse" Julius Jones showed what the team thought about its quality depth at running back: not a great deal.

The move upgraded the position, in my view, because James is better suited than was T.J. Duckett to step into the lineup on a full-time basis if needed.

But the Seahawks still might be chasing the rest of the NFC West at the position.

James' signing provides an opportunity to size up the position across the division.

I ranked each team's situation at running back in my mind before calling Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. to talk through each situation. He felt more strongly than I did about ranking the Rams' situation No. 1, ahead of the 49ers' situation. We agreed on ranking the Cardinals' running backs third, ahead of the Seahawks' backs.

Rankings and explanations follow:


1. St. Louis Rams


Current backs: Steven Jackson, Samkon Gado, Antonio Pittman, Kenneth Darby, Chris Ogbonnaya, Mike Karney (FB), Jerome Johnson (FB)


Williamson's take: "Adrian Peterson is the best back in the league and I would probably give the No. 2 honor to DeAngelo Williams right now, but then Steven Jackson is right there -- if healthy, of course. I think he'll get a ton of touches there. They are installing more of an Eagles-type offense. He'll be a bigger, badder version of Brian Westbrook and catch a lot of balls. He will also be the focus of every defense and there could be a greater chance of injury. Karney is a little more athletic than some of the pure straight-ahead hammer blockers. He has had injury problems, too."


My take: The 49ers' overall depth at running back appeals, but Jackson is unquestionably a special player athletically, more so than any back in the division. Special traits always appeal to the scout, which might explain why Williamson was quick to rank the Rams' running backs ahead of those in San Francisco. From my perspective, the Rams' situation at running back might be best in the division while it lasts. I question whether Jackson can hold up for a full season. The drop-off from Jackson to the next guy -- whoever it might be -- will be more dramatic than elsewhere in the division. That's another reason I'm a little nervous about ranking the Rams' running backs No. 1.


2. San Francisco 49ers



Current backs: Frank Gore, Glen Coffee, Michael Robinson, Kory Sheets, Moran Norris (FB), Bill Rentmeester (FB), Brit Miller (FB)


Williamson's take: "I like Gore as well. I would say he is more of the fifth- to 10th-best back in the league. I do not think his skills are as impressive as Jackson's skills. He is also going to be a jack-of-all-trades and get a ton of touches, but his job will be a little easier because I think their passing game will be more respectable than St. Louis' passing game. Of the fullbacks, I like Norris probably the best in the division. He will help Gore's cause. I don't think that is a determining factor one way or another, though."


My take: Gore has shown signs of wearing down late in seasons. He could be at additional risk as the team commits more fully to a run-oriented power scheme. But his toughness and running style earn him high marks. He's enjoying a sensational summer and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye has said Gore will matter more than the quarterback. All signs point to Gore revisiting the production level he enjoyed during the 2006 season. And with Coffee breaking out in the preseason, the 49ers appear better protected than the Rams if their starter gets hurt.


3. Arizona Cardinals



Current backs: Tim Hightower, Beanie Wells, Jason Wright, LaRod Stephens-Howling, Chris Vincent, Dan Kreider (FB), Tim Castille (FB), Reagan Maui'a (FB)


Williamson's take: "James is more proven than Hightower, but Hightower is cheaper. I don't think he is a special player at all. He has had a better preseason than I expected, but he does not bring any special quality to the table. He is not an extremely powerful player, he is not going to wear down defense, his pass-catching skills are ordinary, he is not a make-you-miss guy and he is not a speed player. Wells has the most talent of any back in Arizona or Seattle."


My take: Cutting James and adding Wells is like moving money from a savings account into something riskier. James was never going to pay off big at this stage of his career. Wells has the talent to complete an already productive offense, but it's tough to believe he'll be healthier in the NFL than he was in college. I know he didn't miss many games at Ohio State, but he's already missed a bunch of training camp. The burden of proof is on Wells at this point. Hightower has been more productive in the preseason because he has taken the opportunity seriously. He looks leaner and quicker than he was last season. The Cardinals can get more from this position by resisting the temptation to throw so frequently.


4. Seattle Seahawks


Current backs: Julius Jones, Edgerrin James, Justin Forsett, Devin Moore, Owen Schmitt (FB), Justin Griffith (FB), Dan Curran (FB), David Kirtman (FB)


Williamson's take: "I don't trust Jones to carry the load. I probably like him better than Hightower, though. I don't like him as a No. 1, but I don't know if either team has a No. 1 right now. Wells has the best chance. Jones is a complementary player, a gets-what-is-there kind of back. I don't think he is a great receiver or anything. He is not tremendously powerful or elusive. Justin Forsett is probably the most intriguing back between Arizona and Seattle. With Edgerrin James, I don't have a lot of faith in him. One thing people don't understand about his game, though, is that he is a great pass-protection back. He will be used more out of the backfield than he was the last couple years, especially with Seattle's offensive line being shaky. He can grind out some yards and could be good in the red zone."


My take: The Seahawks haven't targeted the position early in the draft recently and it shows. Paying Shaun Alexander all that money a few years ago set back the position. The team wasn't going to immediately invest as much in a replacement. Jones and James are both very good in pass protection, though, and I think that will help the offense more than the running stats will show. This looks like a pass-first team on paper. We'll find out whether the zone blocking scheme can manufacture production. Having the same five offensive linemen for more than a week or two would certainly help. Forsett has been the Seahawks' most impressive back this summer.

Cardinals eligible for practice squad Pos. Perceived Status Michael Adams DB Bubble Jameel Dowling DB Likely cut Wilrey Fontenot DB Likely cut Rashad Johnson DB Keeper Greg Toler DB Keeper Alex Field DL Likely cut Keilen Dykes DL Bubble Cody Brown LB Keeper Chase Bullock LB Likely cut Will Davis LB Bubble Ali Highsmith LB Bubble Pago Togafau LB Bubble Reggie Walker LB Likely cut Trevor Canfield OL Likely cut Ben Claxton OL Likely cut Herman Johnson OL Keeper Carlton Medder OL Likely cut Brandon Keith OL Keeper Brandon Pearce OL Likely cut Elliot Vallejo OL Bubble Tyler Palko QB Likely cut Brian St. Pierre QB Keeper LaRod Stephens-Howling RB Bubble Chris Vincent RB Likely cut Beanie Wells RB Keeper Early Doucet WR Keeper Ed Gant WR Likely cut Michael Ray Garvin WR Bubble Onrea Jones WR Likely cut Lance Long WR Bubble Steve Sanders WR Likely cut

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt's recent comments about LaRod Stephens-Howling highlight a subject likely to shape the team's plans for its practice squad.

What to do with a talented player who doesn't fit neatly into a general position, in this case, running back?

Stephens-Howling would be a prime candidate for the practice squad if the Cardinals did not initially make room for him on their 53-man roster. Specialist Michael Ray Garvin also could be a factor depending on how he recovers from knee surgery.

Quarterback Tyler Palko made an impression during the Cardinals' exhibition opener, but the team generally does not keep a quarterback on its practice squad. The need for an additional arm seems diminished with new quarterbacks coach Chris Miller sometimes throwing during practice.

Defensive end Keilen Dykes was making a strong push for a roster spot before suffering an injury. His status seems a bit less settled.

Receivers Onrea Jones and Lance Long could also be strong candidates for the practice squad if they do not land spots on the 53-man roster.

The chart shows all 31 current Cardinals players with eligibility, arranged by position.

NFL teams must reduce rosters from 80 to 75 players Sept. 1. They must reduce to 53 players Sept. 5. They can begin forming eight-man practice squads Sept. 6 at noon ET.

As the NFL puts it:

After 12 noon, New York ti
me, clubs may establish a practice squad of eight players by signing free agents who do not have an accrued season of free-agency credit or who were on the 45-player active list for less than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season(s). A player cannot participate on the practice squad for more than three seasons.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Cardinals have gotten dramatically younger at running back this offseason. Edgerrin James and Terrelle Smith are gone, leaving Tim Hightower and Dan Kreider as the only current Cardinals running backs with starting experience.

The team kept three halfbacks and two fullbacks on its Week 1 roster last season. Nine other teams also kept more than one fullback for the opener.

Hightower, Chris Wells, Jason Wright, Kreider and Tim Castille entered camp as the likely choices for those spots, should the team keep five. LaRod Stephens-Howling would have to significantly liven up the return game to earn a spot, most likely.

Arizona Cardinals Week 1 Roster Counts since 2003 QB RB WR TE OL DL LB DB ST Fewest 2 4 5 2 8 5 6 7 2 Most 4 7 7 4 10 9 8 10 3 Average 3.0 5.3 6.0 3.2 8.8 7.7 7.0 8.8 2.8 Currently on roster 4 8 10 5 15 10 11 14 3

The chart provides a framework for how many players the Cardinals might keep at each position heading into the regular-season opener against the 49ers.

Here's a quick look at which Cardinals players I might keep on the cutdown to 53 players:

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

A quick look at 53-man rosters from Feb. 1, date of Super Bowl XLIII, provides a reference point for seeing how NFC West teams have changed so far this offseason.

I'll continue with Arizona.

Gone from the Cardinals' 53-man roster and injured reserve list in the 58 days since the Super Bowl (9):

Offense

Pat Ross, C

J.J. Arrington, RB

Terrelle Smith, FB

Jerame Tuman, TE

Scott Peters, OL

Defense

Eric Green, CB

Monty Beisel, LB

Antonio Smith, DE

Special teams

Nathan Hodel, LS

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Wright

Former Browns running back Jason Wright could conceivably fill J.J. Arrington's former role on the Cardinals now that Arizona has agreed to contract terms with him. Though Wright is not a return specialist, his contributions on special teams also made him attractive to the Cardinals.

The agreement, announced by the team, would not appear to affect the Cardinals' draft plans at the position. The team could still use a starting-caliber halfback. Edgerrin James remains on the roster for now. His eventual release still appears likely.

James, Tim Hightower, Chris Vincent, Justin Green and Tim Castille are the Cardinals' current running backs. Castille is a fullback, as is unrestricted free agent Terrelle Smith.

The Scouts Inc. profile for Wright describes him this way:

While he certainly isn't flashy and doesn't have exceptional physical prowess, Wright is tough, determined and very reliable in all facets, including special teams -- where he shines. He doesn't get a lot of action, but is a change of pace to the bruising [Jamal] Lewis. He isn't particularly big, strong, nifty or fast, but he studies the game and gets the very most out of his abilities. He sees the hole and attacks it. He also shows good patience, balance and keeps his feet churning on contact. He has soft hands and consistently secures the ball away from his frame, dropping very few passes. He is very impressive in pass protection.

Wright will not run away from anyone at this level and doesn't have the girth or power to carry the load for an extended period of time. He isn't real abrupt in his cuts and lacks the explosiveness you look for from this position. As a special teams player, he shows grit and enthusiasm. He is also a good tackler and a core contributor in all facets. His best role would be as a No. 3 running back, rather than a No. 2, and a valuable contributor on special teams.

NFC West RB Team Age Edgerrin James Cards 30 T.J. Duckett Hawks 28 Chris Vincent Cards 27 Julius Jones Hawks 27 Justin Green Cards 26 Samkon Gado Rams 26 Kenneth Darby Rams 26 Michael Robinson 49ers 26 Frank Gore 49ers 25 Steven Jackson Rams 25 Thomas Clayton 49ers 24 Justin Forsett Hawks 23 Antonio Pittman Rams 23 Tim Hightower Cards 23

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Jon Rand's story about Larry Johnson's prospects in Kansas City past age 30 got me thinking about decisions teams face with older running backs.

The Cardinals' Edgerrin James is the only NFC West halfback in his 30s. He almost certainly will not return for another season in Arizona.

The second-oldest halfback in the division, 28-year-old T.J. Duckett, is not an every-down runner. He's built more like a fullback and he spent last season as a short-yardage specialist.

The two best backs in the division -- the Rams' Steven Jackson and the 49ers' Frank Gore -- are 25 years old. And we all know what happened to Shaun Alexander as he approached 30.

By my count, NFL teams feature only 10 halfbacks in their 30s: James, Ricky Williams (Dolphins), Thomas Jones (Jets), Sammy Morris (Patriots), Fred Taylor (Patriots), Kevin Faulk (Patriots), Kenny Watson (Bengals), Correll Buckhalter (Broncos), LaMont Jordan (Broncos) and Michael Bennett (Chargers).

Three of the 10 play for the Patriots and five of the 10 are in the AFC East.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Clare Farnsworth of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says the Seahawks will not be big players in the early stages of free agency, according to general manager Tim Ruskell. Farnsworth: "[Leroy] Hill was priority No. 1. But the Seahawks won't be as free-spending when it comes to the others -- a group of 16 that includes fullback Leonard Weaver, offensive linemen Floyd Womack and Ray Willis, wide receiver Bobby Engram, linebacker D.D. Lewis and defensive tackle Rocky Bernard." Willis could appeal to the Redskins, who need a physical right tackle to replace Jon Jansen.

Also from Farnsworth: Honesty is the best policy for the Seahawks' new defensive staff.

Rob Staton of Seahawks Draft Blog passes along updated information from the mock drafts of Rob Rang and Chad Reuter. Rang still has the Seahawks taking receiver Michael Crabtree. Reuter has changed his forecast to Virginia tackle Eugene Monroe.

Chris Sullivan of Seahawk Addicts thinks an increased salary cap will help the Seahawks. He also lists Kelly Jennings among players he might consider releasing. Releasing Jennings would actually cost the Seahawks slightly more against the cap than if he were to remain on the roster.

John Morgan of Field Gulls wonders how long Seahawks center Chris Spencer might last in the draft if he were coming out of college in 2009. Seattle selected Spencer in the first round of the 2005 draft, Tim Ruskell's first with the team. Morgan: "Spencer finally showed some life in 2008. He can still be great if injuries haven't taken the edge off his power and athleticism, but the time to prove that in Seattle blue is ending."

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch holds up Drew Bennett's signing as the signature move for the Rams' previous front-office regime. He questions whether the Rams could quickly replace Orlando Pace and Torry Holt if the team released them. Also: "The old regime made another titanic gaffe by failing to secure a contract extension with the emerging cornerback, Ron Bartell. He will probably command elite (and possibly insane) dollars on the free-agent market, and the Rams could have gotten Bartell for a lower price had they acted sooner."

Revenge of the Birds' Andrew602 says the expected addition of former 49ers special-teamer Keith Lewis is consistent with other mid-level acquisitions in Arizona. The Cardinals have also signed defensive end Jason Banks, running back Chris Vincent and tight end Alex Shor.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Lewis' expected signing is a surprise because the Cardinals have depth at safety. I would see Lewis as more of a special-teams contributor. Somers also notes that the Cardinals' college scouts are in the final year of their contracts.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat expects the 49ers to take things slowly when free agency opens Thursday night at 9 p.m. PT. Maiocco: "The 49ers have compiled a list of 10 to 15 free agents to target, but the club plans to move much slower at the start of free agency to let the market settle down, one league source said." Team president Jed York: "You're always overpaying in free agency when you get that first-day guy. What we want to do is make sure we're building through the draft. And if we're going to spend a lot of money it's going to be on re-signing our own players and getting the right guys, as opposed to big flashy guys."

Alex Marvez of Foxsports.com says the Dolphins have agreed to terms with former Raiders safety Gibril Wilson, a player some NFC West fans -- particularly 49ers fans -- had asked about for their teams.

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider thinks the 2009 draft sets up nicely for the 49ers because they need outside linebackers, running backs and fast receivers.

Cardinals eligible for practice squad Pos. Cardinals Status Calais Campbell DE 53-man roster Tim Castille FB 53-man roster Dominique Rodgers- Cromartie CB 53-man roster Early Doucet WR 53-man roster Tim Hightower RB 53-man roster Kenny Iwebema WR 53-man roster Brandon Keith OL 53-man roster Ben Patrick TE 53-man roster Elliot Vallejo T 53-man roster Brian St. Pierre QB 53-man roster Ali Highsmith LB 53-man roster Lance Long WR Practice Squad Pat Ross OL Practice Squad Michael Adams CB Practice Squad Jason Banks DL Practice Squad Keilen Dykes DL Practice Squad Onrea Jones WR Practice Squad Wilrey Fontenot CB Practice Squad Dennis Keyes S Waived Carlton Medder OL Waived Brent Miller TE Waived DeMario Minter CB Waived Anthony Morelli QB Waived Alex Shor TE Waived Chris Vincent RB Waived Travarous Bain CB Waived Steve Baylark RB Waived Peter Clifford OL Waived Chris Harrington LB Waived Jasper Harvey OL Waived

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Cardinals' practice squad is coming together with the signing of seven players. One spot remains open. Five of the seven spent training camp with Arizona. Two others, receiver Onrea Jones and cornerback Wilrey Fontenot, were elsewhere.

The chart shows every Cardinals player with practice-squad eligibility.

Re-signing Pat Ross to the practice squad gives the Cardinals needed depth at the position. The team couldn't justify setting aside a spot on its 53-man roster for him, and that made sense. Ross isn't one of the Cardinals' 53 best players.

But with starting center Al Johnson sidelined for the short term, the team wasn't going to proceed with only Lyle Sendlein at the position.

The Cardinals
liked offensive lineman Elliot Vallejo's potential enough to carry him on the 53-man roster. They also thought linebacker Ali Highsmith, though undrafted, played well enough this summer to catch scouts' attention around the league.

This is the tough part for NFL teams. They tend to overvalue their own practice-squad-eligible prospects -- not enough to sign them to the 53-man roster, but enough to sweat the time it takes for these players to pass through waivers. The fear isn't justified most of the time.

Lance Long had a very good rookie camp for the Cardinals. No one signed him. Jamar Adams and Michael Bumpus had strong camps for Seattle. The 49ers like running back Thomas Clayton and receiver Dominique Zeigler.

Yet, these players made it through waivers. Other teams can sign them at any time, but teams get comfortable with their own players. They rarely sign players from another team's practice squad. When they do, it's usually a short-term fix.

Cardinals eligible for practice squad Pos. Probable Status Calais Campbell DE Keeper Tim Castille FB Keeper Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Keeper Early Doucet WR Keeper Tim Hightower RB Keeper Kenny Iwebema WR Keeper Brandon Keith OL Keeper Ben Patrick TE Keeper Pat Ross C Keeper Brian St. Pierre QB Keeper Ali Highsmith LB Bubble Dennis Keyes S Bubble Lance Long WR Bubble Carlton Medder OL Likely cut Brent Miller TE Likely cut Demario Minter CB Likely cut Anthony Morelli QB Likely cut Alex Shor TE Likely cut Elliot Vallejo OL Likely cut Chris Vincent RB Likely cut Michael Adams CB Likely cut Travarous Bain CB Likely cut Jason Banks DL Likely cut Steve Baylark RB Likely cut Peter Clifford OL Likely cut Keilen Dykes DL Likely cut Chris Harrington LB Likely cut Jasper Harvey OL Likely cut

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The chart shows each of the Cardinals' players with practice-squad eligibility, according to the team.

Practice-squad rules can be confusing, and exceptions sometimes apply to relatively experienced players. Brian St. Pierre has been around longer than most players with eligibility. He'll make the 53-man roster, though, so the practice squad won't be an issue for him.

I've categorized each player based on his perceived likelihood of earning a spot on the 53-man roster. Those are rough characterizations. Teams still have not made decisions. It's conceivable that a player listed as a "keeper" could face his release.

As noted: Rosters spots are serious business for NFL players lacking job security. For some, the next 30 hours or so will determine whether they'll earn $17,352.94 per week or whatever the real world pays.

The minimum NFL salary is $295,000. Players get paid in 17 installments, one for every week they spend as a paid member of the organization.

NFL teams must trim rosters from 75 players to 53 players by Saturday afternoon. Teams can establish eight-man practice squads beginning Sunday. Practice-squad players earn a minimum of $5,200 per week during the regular season and playoffs.

Once a player signs with a practice squad, he can practice with the team. He becomes eligible to play in games only if a team signs him to its 53-man roster. Practice-squad players are free to sign with any team's active roster at any time during the season.