It is just pain sad that it can't be admitted that draft status has a large effect on who is kept on a roster. I think back to Ahmad Carroll, Jamal Reynolds, Derek Sherrod, etc. You pay these guys a bunch of money and you're just going to cut them? Their draft status and money given to them makes cutting them over a better undrafted player all but impossible. To not recognize this as a way of life in the NFL?

Lots of respect to you, Barfarn...I love how you cut and paste from some of the pay sites to provide backing for your statement. Thornton was kept because he was a 3rd rounder. No other reason. Had he been a UDFA he's long gone.

Originally Posted by: uffda udfa 

First, I dont subscribe to any pay sites. There's a lot of free content out there.

Second, the Thornton stuff was 100% original. Some of what is written you'll find no where else but maybe in TT's confidential files. LOL

Third, ya gotta watch the game!!!! when watching try to understand the player's assignment; then evaluate how he did in the context of that assignment. If CM3 was supposed to maintain outside contain and he dives inside grabs the RB by foot for a 3 yard loss; he'll get big grades from PFF and the announcers; but he gets an F from the position coaches; well they may give him a D because it worked.

Fourth, one cant evaluate a move by Ted Thompson based on info that could only be learned in hindsight. Doing so only further evidences a Ted Thompson bias. The decision to not cut Sherrod looks good in hindsight. But what if the same decision was made on Mike Flanagan, Neal, Perry or Aaron Rodgers [none of these guys showed much in their early years]. If Thornton makes the team in 2015, it'll have nothing to do w/ where he was picked.

Fifth, oops i just remembered I subscribe to one pay site: "Siri Premium." I asked her if Ted Thompson keeps draft picks over UDFA and her response was: "Barfarn, are you a dumba$$; if Ted Thompson kept draft picks over UDFA; why in 2011 did Ted Thompson cut Elmore and keep Vic So'to [as well as walden, Zombo, Francis]; Cut Datko in favor of Adams and Vujonovich and Barclay; cut DJ smith and T.Manning and keep Lattimore; cut McMillian keep MD jennings; Cut Alex Green and keep D. Harris? shall i go on Barfarn?"

Originally Posted by: Barfarn 

This is by far your best work to date. Kudos. Elmore is the most compelling evidence he doesn't always keep the draft choice over the UDFA. You have to look at the draft choice for that current season... not a guy who'd proven over a season, or two, that he sucked like Alex Green, TM, and McMillian. All guys who showed they blowed. DJ Smith wasn't cut in favor of new draftee who outplayed him, he was dropped due to past injury and failing a physical. Elmore was just freaking terrible but if he'd been a 3rd round choice, he still would've stuck or stashed on IR like Thornton due to his draft status.

Originally Posted by: uffda udfa 

Dreams and goals are a necessary motivation to achieve. Demetri Goodson's goal should be to wake up from this Dream and realize that he'll lucky if he makes this seasons practice squad.

Originally Posted by: Smokey 

2005:
Ted Thompson drafted WR Craig Bragg (6th / 195th overall), waived Bragg to the practice squad and then cut him that year. He never made the 53 man roster for the Packers.

That year, two UDFA second year WR's made the team: Jamal Jones and Andrae Thurman. Neither had played a snap their rookies years in 2004 yet that didn't stop Ted Thompson from keeping both over Craig.

In spite of being a draft pick that year, Ted Thompson didn't even keep Bragg on the practice squad. That in a year riddled with undrafted free agents filling roster spots due to the utter lack of depth left at the end of the Sherman GM years. Notable UDFA's that year included Samkon Gado and Atari Bigby.

Originally Posted by: mi_keys 

No fair bringing up 2005 UDFAs!! Everyone knows Ted Thompson was just sabotaging Mike Sherman that year. :crazy:

Originally Posted by: greengold 

I remember most members being surprised that Goods on was kept over Rolle on final cut downs.

Originally Posted by: buckeyepackfan