The Final Cutdown

By Chris

The Buffalo Bills trimmed their roster to 53 players today and put defensive end Al Wallace on the Injured Reserve. Cop beater Anthony Hargrove was also officially placed on the suspended reserve list because he violated the NFL's Substance Abuse Policy earlier in training camp. "The Franchise," Craig Nall, will be looking for a new home and so will Shaud Williams and Jonathan "Fast Freddy" Smith after all three were among those released by the team.

Cutting Nall is a testament to how well Trent Edwards has progressed during his rookie campaign. And even though Losman is the starting quarterback this season, the pressure to perform is real. If Edwards' performance forced the coaching staff to cut a veteran after only four "games," then who knows how soon it will be until they believe that Edwards can be a very capable starting NFL quarterback?

Roost favorite Fred Jackson made the team, proving that there is some justice in the world. Jackson played his heart out in the preseason and was able to break some good, hard earned runs. Having him around should be good for locker room morale, reminding guys what the game is about. Losing Shaud Williams is really no big loss.

And the special teams should once again be outstanding this season. Sam Aiken, Coy Wire, and Josh Stamer made the team, showing the influence of Special Teams Coach Bobby April (who, from what I've been told, looks like my dad).

Also getting the axe was H-Back Brad Cieslak. So it doesn't look like he'll be doing any touchdown dances in Arizona in a Bills uniform this season.