The New Orleans Saints were among the first to announce moves Wednesday, when coach Jim Haslett said the club would release linebacker Orlando Ruff.
Ruff, a six-year veteran, would have earned $1.1 million in the final year of his three-year contract this season. After he is released, he will count $125,000 against the Saints' salary cap -- one-third of the signing bonus he received in 2003, the Times-Picayune reported on Wednesday.
Ruff started 17 games in the past two seasons but did not win the job outright. He became expendable when the Saints drafted middle linebackers Courtney Watson and Alfred Fincher in the past two drafts.
<!-- add from Ticker sep -->The New England Patriots waived quarterback Chris Redman. Redman was signed by the Patriots in January after missing the entire 2004 season while recovering from back surgery.
His chances of making the team took a major hit when the Patriots signed veteran quarterback Doug Flutie in April to back up Tom Brady. The other quarterback spot will likely go to Rohan Davey, a backup for the last three years.
Rookie quarterback Matt Cassel, a seventh-round pick out of Southern California, might spend the year on the practice squad.
Redman, 27, played for the Baltimore Ravens from 2000 to 2003. He started six of 10 games and completed 106 of 198 passes for 1,111 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions. <!-- end (latest) Ticker add -->
The Redskins are also expected to be one of the teams that take advantage. Receiver Rod Gardner, linebacker Mike Barrow and returner Chad Morton most likely will be released to make room under the cap. Washington needs to sign two first-round picks -- cornerback Carlos Rogers and quarterback Jason Campbell.
Gardner, a 2001 first-round pick, was given permission to seek a trade after expressing unhappiness with his role in the offense. He caught 51 passes for 650 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Unable to work out a deal, the Redskins now may just release Gardner. In the offseason, Washington acquired receiver-returner Santana Moss from the New York Jets for receiver Laveranues Coles and signed receiver David Patten as a free agent. The acquisition of Moss also made expendable Morton, a veteran returner.
Barrow, a middle linebacker who is rehabilitating from a knee injury, may also be cut.
Releasing Gardner, Morton and Barrow would free up about $3 million in cap space for the Redskins.
Tackle Kyle Turley of the St. Louis Rams, receiver Johnnie Morton of the Kansas City Chiefs, cornerback Bobby Taylor of the Seattle Seahawks and safety Lance Schulters of the Tennessee Titans are some of the other veterans that could be cut after June 1.
Turley missed all of last season with a back injury, then criticized Rams coach Mike Martz. St. Louis used its first-round pick on tackle Alex Barron of Florida State.
Johnnie Morton is due to make $3 million in 2005, and the Chiefs are hoping he will accept a pay cut. He caught 55 passes for 795 yards and three scores last season.
Taylor was a bust after signing with Seattle as a free agent last season. The Seahawks added cornerbacks Andre Dyson and Kelly Herndon in the offseason, likely signaling the end for Taylor.
The Titans cut numerous players in March, including receiver Derrick Mason, cornerback Samari Rolle and tackle Fred Miller for salary cap purposes. Schulters may be the next to go since he has a $4.2 million cap figure in 2005 and lost his starting job to Lamont Thompson last season.
Ruff, a six-year veteran, would have earned $1.1 million in the final year of his three-year contract this season. After he is released, he will count $125,000 against the Saints' salary cap -- one-third of the signing bonus he received in 2003, the Times-Picayune reported on Wednesday.
Ruff started 17 games in the past two seasons but did not win the job outright. He became expendable when the Saints drafted middle linebackers Courtney Watson and Alfred Fincher in the past two drafts.
<!-- add from Ticker sep -->The New England Patriots waived quarterback Chris Redman. Redman was signed by the Patriots in January after missing the entire 2004 season while recovering from back surgery.
His chances of making the team took a major hit when the Patriots signed veteran quarterback Doug Flutie in April to back up Tom Brady. The other quarterback spot will likely go to Rohan Davey, a backup for the last three years.
Rookie quarterback Matt Cassel, a seventh-round pick out of Southern California, might spend the year on the practice squad.
Redman, 27, played for the Baltimore Ravens from 2000 to 2003. He started six of 10 games and completed 106 of 198 passes for 1,111 yards and seven touchdowns with five interceptions. <!-- end (latest) Ticker add -->
The Redskins are also expected to be one of the teams that take advantage. Receiver Rod Gardner, linebacker Mike Barrow and returner Chad Morton most likely will be released to make room under the cap. Washington needs to sign two first-round picks -- cornerback Carlos Rogers and quarterback Jason Campbell.
Gardner, a 2001 first-round pick, was given permission to seek a trade after expressing unhappiness with his role in the offense. He caught 51 passes for 650 yards and five touchdowns last season.
Unable to work out a deal, the Redskins now may just release Gardner. In the offseason, Washington acquired receiver-returner Santana Moss from the New York Jets for receiver Laveranues Coles and signed receiver David Patten as a free agent. The acquisition of Moss also made expendable Morton, a veteran returner.
Barrow, a middle linebacker who is rehabilitating from a knee injury, may also be cut.
Releasing Gardner, Morton and Barrow would free up about $3 million in cap space for the Redskins.
Tackle Kyle Turley of the St. Louis Rams, receiver Johnnie Morton of the Kansas City Chiefs, cornerback Bobby Taylor of the Seattle Seahawks and safety Lance Schulters of the Tennessee Titans are some of the other veterans that could be cut after June 1.
Turley missed all of last season with a back injury, then criticized Rams coach Mike Martz. St. Louis used its first-round pick on tackle Alex Barron of Florida State.
Johnnie Morton is due to make $3 million in 2005, and the Chiefs are hoping he will accept a pay cut. He caught 55 passes for 795 yards and three scores last season.
Taylor was a bust after signing with Seattle as a free agent last season. The Seahawks added cornerbacks Andre Dyson and Kelly Herndon in the offseason, likely signaling the end for Taylor.
The Titans cut numerous players in March, including receiver Derrick Mason, cornerback Samari Rolle and tackle Fred Miller for salary cap purposes. Schulters may be the next to go since he has a $4.2 million cap figure in 2005 and lost his starting job to Lamont Thompson last season.
WOW
The Titans cut numerous players in March, including receiver Derrick Mason, cornerback Samari Rolle and tackle Fred Miller for salary cap purposes. Schulters may be the next to go since he has a $4.2 million cap figure in 2005 and lost his starting job to Lamont Thompson last season
there are 2 good players in rolles and mason someone should pick up...I wish pitt would get rolles
The Titans cut numerous players in March, including receiver Derrick Mason, cornerback Samari Rolle and tackle Fred Miller for salary cap purposes. Schulters may be the next to go since he has a $4.2 million cap figure in 2005 and lost his starting job to Lamont Thompson last season
there are 2 good players in rolles and mason someone should pick up...I wish pitt would get rolles
