NFC East Roundup: Finalizing Rosters

Here’s a look at how roster cutdown weekend treated the rest of the division, as well as a few other storylines.

Mike Jones of the Washington Post gives his thoughts on the Redskins’ 53-man roster by position.

Quarterback

It seemed hard to envision Griffin remaining on the roster, but cutting him didn’t make sense. For one, the Redskins couldn’t control where he goes. Secondly, people within the organization said as recently as Friday night that they’re comfortable having him on the roster, and if something happens to Cousins and Griffin winds up playing, so be it.

However, Griffin making the initial 53-man roster doesn’t seal his fate for this season. A trade remains a possibility. The question for now is when will he receive clearance from the neurologists, and when he does, is he second string or third?

During his weekly radio appearance, Kirk Cousins discussed how he’ll alter his approach now that he’s the starter.

“I’ve always felt it’s very important as a backup quarterback to not overstep your bounds,” said Cousins, who has backed up Robert Griffin III for most of his career since the two were drafted in 2012. “It’s not your team. It’s not necessarily your offense, and so to be strong and opinionated and say this is how it should be, I think that that’s reserved for the starting quarterback. Or if you have an opinion, I think you need to defer to the starting quarterback.”

Cousins, who praised the way Griffin has handled the situation since losing his starting job, gave examples such as naming a play call or determining protection and cadences.

The New York Post’s Paul Schwartz offers up some of his thoughts on the Giants’ more intriguing roster cuts.

Only five players remain from the Super Bowl XLVI roster: Eli Manning, Prince Amukamara, Victor Cruz, Zak DeOssie and Mark Herzlich.

Clearly, the Giants are thinking younger and cheaper with their moves. On final cut-down day, they also released receiver James Jones, the 31-year old former Packers and Raiders wideout who led the Giants in the preseason with 11 receptions for 148 yards.

It was not enough to impress the coaching staff. It hurt Jones that he did not play on special teams, a requirement for the fourth, fifth and sixth receivers. Jones was signed during training camp.

According to NJ.com’s Jordan Raanan, the Giants have had talks with the Seahawks about safety Kam Chancellor.

The Giants are on the lookout for safety help. They’ve inquired about and expressed serious interest in the availability of Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl safety Kam Chancellor, an individual with knowledge of the situation told NJ Advance Media.

The individual requested anonymity because there were only preliminary talks between the clubs.

Chancellor, 27, is currently holding out. He missed all of training camp and the preseason because he’s unhappy with the four-year, $28 million deal he signed in 2013.

The price to acquire such an accomplished player is obviously steep. He won’t come cheap. The Seahawks gave a first-round pick and their starting center to the New Orleans Saints for tight end Jimmy Graham this offseason. It would likely cost the Giants two high draft picks for Chancellor.

Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News has the latest on the Cowboys’ trade with the Seahawks for Christine Michael.

In their continued effort to replace DeMarco Murray, the Cowboys made it known that they would add another running back if the right deal presented itself.

They made one Sunday, trading a 2016 conditional seventh-round draft pick to Seattle in exchange for 2013 second-round pick Christine Michael, according to a source. To make room for the transaction, the Cowboys released defensive end Lavar Edwards from their 53-man roster.

Michael, who rushed for 2,791 yards and 34 touchdowns in four years at Texas A&M, played in 14 games over the last two seasons in Seattle. The 5-10, 221-pound back ran for 175 yards on 34 carries last season.

ESPN Dallas’s Todd Archer answers pressing questions about the Cowboys’ roster before the season begins.

How will Byron Jones contribute in the secondary this season?

If I had to make my best guess right now, I think Byron Jones will eventually start at safety this year. Just a hunch. He’s not a nickel defense guy. He is more of a dime, over the tight end. He could be a corner if something happened to Brandon Carr or Morris Claiborne.

We hear coaches all the time talk about getting the best 11 players on the field. Eventually, I think the Cowboys will view Jones as one of their 11 best players and he will be at safety.