NFC East
Dallas Cowboys
Name Players on the Bubble: Keon Lattimore
Ray Lewis' little brother won't make the final roster unless the team decides to
keep four backs on the roster.
Should be Safe: Bobby Carpenter
Despite speculation to the contrary, the team is happy with the progress he made
in training camp. They also don't have enough at linebacker to risk cutting
their former first-round pick from the 2006 draft.
New York Giants
Name Players on the Bubble: Reuben Droughns, R.W. McQuarters
Unless the team decides to keep four backs, Droughns won't make the final
roster. And even then, he's being pushed by Danny Ware.
This team has solid depth at cornerback so McQuarters may have trouble sticking
around past this weekend.
Should be Safe: Sinorice Moss
Despite his ups and downs and the emergence of Domenik Hixon, the former
second-round pick has shown the coaches enough in practice to warrant a roster
spot at receiver.
Philadelphia Eagles
Name Players on the Bubble: Ryan Moats
The former third-round pick has run out of chances at the running back position
since he's languishing at No. 4 on the depth chart and would be No. 5 had Tony Hunt not been moved to fullback.
Should be Safe: Chris Clemons
While local reports have Clemons on the bubble because of a lingering calf
injury, Philadelphia has next to no safer solutions to replace him.
Washington Redskins
Name Players on the Bubble: Erasmus James
The former first-round pick of the Vikings still is far from a lock to make the
roster but it helps that his defensive line coach, John Palermo, coached him in
college.
Should be Safe: James Thrash
While Washington has better depth at receiver this season, Thrash is too
valuable to get rid of as he's able to fill a variety of roles.
NFC North
Chicago Bears
Name Players on the Bubble: Mark Bradley
Bradley was once an up and coming receiver with a good upside. However, nagging
injuries have curtailed a once promising career. The only thing in his favor the
fact that the team lacks quality depth at the position.
Should be Safe: Garrett Wolfe
While Wolfe struggles to find a role, he still has too much talent to give up
on.
Detroit Lions
Name Players on the Bubble: Darnell Bing
You may recall the former fourth-round pick of the Raiders was moved to
linebacker in his rookie season. He's still trying to learn that position at the
NFL level.
Should be Safe: Tatum Bell
Bell hasn't been too impressive in the pre-season but the team lacks quality
veteran depth at running back so he should stick around.
Green Bay Packers
Name Players on the Bubble: Noah Herron
The versatile back is still No. 4 on the depth chart at the position.
Should be Safe: Tramon Williams
While he got abused by Denver WR Brandon Marshall last week for a long score,
Williams has enough upside at cornerback to keep around.
Minnesota Vikings
Name Players on the Bubble: Robert Ferguson, Brooks Bollinger
Ferguson is being pushed for the No. 5 receiver role but Martin Nance who has
made some decent plays in some of the pre-season games.
Bollinger hasn't been very impressive during the pre-season so his roster spot
could be in jeopardy.
Should be Safe: John David Booty
Booty is a developmental player that the coaches see as a decent fit for the No.
3 quarterback role.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons
Name Players on the Bubble: D.J. Shockley
Unless the team decides to keep four quarterbacks, he could be out of a job.
Should be Safe: Brian Finneran
One of the main reasons why Finneran will make their final roster is because
he's a solid special teams player.
Carolina Panthers
Name Players on the Bubble: Troy Fleming
Fleming was an up and coming player but sixth-round pick of the Titans might be
out of a job unless the team decides to keep two fullbacks.
Should be Safe: Dwayne Jarrett
Despite speculation to the contrary, we're told Jarrett almost certainly be on
the roster this fall.
New Orleans Saints
Name Players on the Bubble: Martin Gramatica, Aaron Glenn
We would imagine the Chiefs are watching the kicker battle between the veteran
Gramatica and the rookie Tyler Mehlhaff.
Glenn is a long-shot at this point to make the final roster as it appears at
least five other cornerbacks are ahead of him.
Should be Safe: Deuce McAllister
McAllister seems healthy enough to handle at least a short-yardage role at
running back.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Name Players on the Bubble: Chris Simms, Michael Clayton
Simms is almost a lock to be jettisoned by Saturday considering he's no better
fourth on the depth chart at quarterback. He's also set to make $2 million in
base salary this season.
A league source notes that Clayton has a cap number of close to $3 million which
is a high price to pay for a backup receiver.
Should be Safe: Antonio Bryant
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals
Name Players on the Bubble: Ralph Brown
The journeyman cornerback fits in a dime role but Arizona has other younger
players who can handle that role.
Should be Safe: J.J. Arrington
The former second-round pick should make the final roster since the team
released veteran RB Marcel Shipp a few weeks ago.
San Francisco 49ers
Name Players on the Bubble: Ashley Lelie
Lelie offers great speed but he missed almost all of August due to a calf
injury. The rapid development of rookie Josh Morgan could also push Lelie off of
the roster.
Should be Safe: Mark Roman
Even if Roman loses the free safety job to Dashon Goldson, he's almost a lock to
make the team.
Seattle Seahawks
Name Players on the Bubble: Floyd Womack, T.J. Duckett, Jason Babin
The often-injured Womack is one of their most versatile offensive linemen but
can he really be counted on to be available for backup duty each week?
Duckett does one thing well and that's overpower defensive players in
short-yardage. But is he worth keeping over promising rookie back Justin Forsett
who offers more verstility?
Babin is pushing for a roster spot at defensive end but the former first-round
pick of the Texans is being pushed by Baraka Atkins
Should be Safe: Larry Tripplett
Because Seattle is thin on depth at the defensive tackle position, Tripplett has
a good shot at the making the final roster.
St. Louis Rams
Name Players on the Bubble: David Macklin, Reche Caldwell
The team is deep at cornerback so the journeyman Macklin might be on the outside
looking in soon.
With the team high on rookie receivers Donnie Avery and Keenan Burton, Caldwell
may be out of a job by the weekend.
Should be Safe: Dane Looker
He's had a long tenure with the team and he's offers good enough versatility
that the coaches seem to always want him around. It doesn't hurt that he can
hold on kicks.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills
Name Players on the Bubble: Aston Youboty, Courtney Anderson
It's not a secret that the former third-round pick Youboty's job is tenuous. A
team source said the team is still considering keeping six cornerbacks so
Youboty has a shot to stick--but not a good one.
Anderson was once highly thought of by the Raiders but the veteran tight end
could be a long-shot to make the final roster.
Should be Safe: William James
With the team expected to keep at least five cornerbacks, there's a decent
chance James will be one of them.
Miami Dolphins
Name Players on the Bubble: Josh McCown, John Beck
Plenty of teams will be keeping an eye on what happens at the quarterback
position with this team.
With Chad Pennington starting and second-round pick Chad Henne expected to make
the final roster, either McCown or Beck will likely be cut.
Should be Safe: Ernest Wilford
Wilford has been beaten out for a starting job by Derek Hagan but since the team
has little depth at receiver, he should still make the team.
New England Patriots
Name Players on the Bubble: Ray Ventrone, Chad Jackson, Kelley Washington, Sam Aiken
Ventrone, who is trying to make the conversion from safety to receiver, is a
true bubble player. His competition for a job is against the three other players
listed next to him.
Jackson, a former second-round pick, still trails veteran Jabar Gaffney for the
No. 3 role and the third-year player hasn't established a role yet.
Washington and Aiken are solid special teams players. Whether they make the
final roster or not could come down to the coaches deciding whether to keep five
or six players.
Should be Safe: John Welbourn, John Lynch
Because veteran OL Russ Hochstein is expected to miss a few more weeks due to a
groin injury, Welbourn should stick around a while longer.
New York Jets
Name Players on the Bubble: Erik Ainge, David Barrett, Ahmad Carroll
Ainge is being pushed by Brett Ratliff for the No. 3 quarterback job. And the
fact that Ratliff may have a better arm than the rookie Ainge could push Ainge
off the final roster.
Carroll, a former first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers, is thought to be a
long-shot to make the team since the team has decent depth at cornerback.
Should be Safe: Kellen Clemens
There has been speculation by some of the local media that Clemens' spot could
be in jeopardy but we don't buy it. If Brett Favre got hurt and Clemens was off
the roster, they wouldn't have anyone left who has ever started an NFL game.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens
Name Players on the Bubble: Gary Stills
Stills is a solid special teams player but he's had knee problems the past few
seasons.
Should be Safe: Lorenzo Neal, Frank Walker
With FB Le'Ron McClain seeing more time at running back lately, Neal has a
better chance at making the team.
While Walker's play in the pre-season has been up and down, he still has a good
chance to make the team. Keep in mind nickel CB Fabian Washington has to serve a
one-game suspension.
Cincinnati Bengals
Name Players on the Bubble: Antonio Chatman
Chatman does offer a veteran presence at the receiver position but he's had a
lot of injury problems the past few years. The coaches are expecting two
rookies, Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell, to push for playing time this season
to Chatman's roster spot could be in jeopardy.
Should be Safe: Rudi Johnson
Despite huge speculation, the team really would be taking a risk if they let him
go. Johnson really is the only true power runner on a team that runs a power
rushing scheme on offense. Keep in mind Chris Perry, who some believe is all the
way back from ankle problems, has only played in six games since the 2005
season.
Cleveland Browns
Name Players on the Bubble: Seth McKinney, David McMillan
If starting RG Ryan Tucker shows that he's ready for the start of the regular
season, McKinney could be out of a job.
McMillan has zero sacks in three seasons of play and hasn't flashed any
significant other than solid special teams play. And the fact that seventh-round
pick Alex Hall had a stellar training camp could be a reason why McMillan
doesn't hang around too much longer.
Should be Safe: Syndric Steptoe, Travis Wilson, Jerome Harrison
Steptoe has been a pleasant surprise for the team. The second-year receiver
should make the final roster considering the uncertainty at the position behind
starters Braylon Edwards and Donte' Stallworth. Steptoe also could fill in on
kick returns for Josh Cribbs who is out with a high ankle sprain.
Wilson appeared to be a lock to make the final roster a few weeks ago but his
play of late in their last two pre-season games leaves a lot left to be desired.
But because the team has next to no depth at the receiver position, he'll likely
make the team.
Harrison clearly has the best speed at the running back position and he's
getting better as an inside runner. However, being asked to block in passing
situations and a role on special teams are still issues in him making the final
roster. And the fact that rookie Travis Thomas, who was impressive in training
camp, is still on the roster is interesting.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Name Players on the Bubble: Willie Reid, Orpheus Roye
Reid burst on the scene as a rookie but a broken foot set him back and he's been
languishing on the roster since 2006. He's being challenged by second-year pro
Dallas Baker.
Roye just signed last week so the coaches have to justify keeping a 35-year old
player on the roster who probably would only be available for limited snaps.
Should be Safe: Mewelde Moore, Gary Russell
While Pittsburgh is deep at the running position, Moore offers solid versatility
on special teams and in passing situations. Moore is also the fastest back on
the roster.
Russell is a solid inside runner and should make it as their fourth back.
AFC South
Houston Texans
Name Players on the Bubble: Chris Brown, Marcel Shipp, Darius Walker
Brown has been dealing with back problems for the past two weeks and has a long
injury history so he can't be counted on.
Shipp is a decent special teams player but he was beaten out in Arizona by a
fifth-round pick for a backup RB job.
Walker hasn't really been too impressive and has been surpassed by rookie RB
Steve Slaton on the depth chart.
Should be Safe: Rosevelt Colvin
Houston has a poor pass rush to begin with so whatever they can get from Colvin
is a plus.
Indianapolis Colts
Name Players on the Bubble: Courtney Roby, Jared Lorenzen, Quinn Gray,
Kenton Keith
Roby was once well thought of by the Titans but he was out of the league last
season and he faces an uphill battle to beat out Roy Hall for the fifth receiver
job.
Lorenzen or Gray will most likely be released. What gives Gray a possible small
advantage over Lorenzen is his starting experience from last season with
Jacksonville.
Hart probably offers more versatility than Keith.
Should be Safe: Mike Hart
Hart is well liked by the coaches and might offer more upside than Keith.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Name Players on the Bubble: Jimmy Kennedy, Troy Williamson
Kennedy, a former first-round pick of the St. Louis Rams, is trying to handle
the No. 5 role at defensive tackle--that's if they decide they want to keep five
players at that position.
Williamson looked during off-season workouts but his play regressed a bit during
training camp. The one reason why he might stick is because starting WR Jerry Porter likely won't be ready to play at the start of the regular season. If he's
released, it will likely be due to the development of Mike Walker who the team
is high on.
Should be Safe: Cleo Lemon
While Lemon had an inconsistent training camp by most accounts, their only other
option is 36-year old Todd Bouman.
Tennessee Titans
Name Players on the Bubble: Roydell Williams, Chris Henry
Williams, who was a starter before breaking his ankle late last season, is still
dealing with the injury and is no lock to make the final roster.
Incredibly, Henry, a former 2007 second-round pick, is in real danger of making
the final roster. At the start of training camp, rookie RB Chris Johnson
surpassed Henry on the depth chart. Henry is competing against Quinton Ganther
for the No. 3 role.
Should be Safe: Brandon Jones
While there have been some rumblings out of the local media about the stability
of his roster spot, Jones gives the team a badly needed physical presence at the
receiver position.
AFC West
Denver Broncos
Name Players on the Bubble: Keary Colbert, Tyrone Poole
Colbert, despite getting a solid opportunity for playing time at the receiver
position, hasn't taken advantage of it at all and is in serious danger of not
taking it through the weekend. The emergence of rookie Eddie Royal probably has
a lot to do with it.
Poole was out of the league in 2007 so the 36-year old cornerback has to prove
he's worth taking up a roster spot.
Should be Safe: Niko Koutouvides, Darrell Jackson
Koutouvides lost the middle linebacker job to Nate Webster but he has an
acceptable cap number of around $1.3 million. A league source points out that a
roster bonus of nearly $1.8 million due next season could end Koutouvides' stay
in Denver after just one season.
Jackson hasn't impressed anyone thus far but the fact that starting WR Brandon
Marshall will be serving at least a two-game suspension to start the regular
season could keep Jackson on the roster for awhile.
Kansas City Chiefs
Name Players on the Bubble: Nick Novak, Napoleon Harris
Novak is embroiled in a battle for the kicker job against rookie Connor Barth.
Neither player has taken hold of the job but the veteran Novak hasn't taken
advantage of his opportunities previously with the Arizona Cardinals, Chicago
Bears, and Washington Redskins.
Harris has been beaten out for the middle linebacker job by the unheralded Pat
Thomas. A league source notes what may keep Harris on the roster is the fact
that he was paid a $1.7 million roster bonus earlier this year.
Should be Safe: Bernard Pollard, Jon McGraw
There were rumblings locally about Pollard being challenged by rookie DaJuan Morgan but that didn't happen so Pollard will keep the starting strong safety
job at least for another season. He's also carrying a low cap number of just
over $700,000.
McGraw has bounced around a bit in his six seasons of play but he should stick
as FS Jarrad Page's backup.
Oakland Raiders
Name Players on the Bubble: Adam Archuleta
He signed only a one-year deal and is making the move from safety to weak-side
linebacker. The problem is he's a bit undersized for the position.
Should be Safe: Kalimba Edwards
While Edwards hasn't made any headlines, they have no depth at end so it's hard
to see them parting ways with him. Edwards' cap number is at an acceptable level
for this season (about $1.3 million) but jumps up to about $3.2 million in 2009.
So if he doesn't play well this season, he may not be back for his second season
with the team.
San Diego Chargers
Name Players on the Bubble: Cory Withrow, Malcom Floyd
With veteran C Jeremy Newberry filling in for injured starter Nick Hardwick
(foot), Withrow's roster spot isn't reserved just yet.
Floyd, who generally is regarded as their fifth receiver, might not make the
final roster if the coaches decide that special teams ace Kassim Osgood will be
in their receiver rotation this season.
Should be Safe: Derek Smith
Even though the team is high on some of their younger linebackers such as
Brandon Siler and Anthony Waters, it's Smith who will fill in for ILB Stephen Cooper who miss the first four regular season games due to suspension.