NFL tries to make cuts less painful

Source: The Palm Beach Post, Fla.迷你倉Aug. 28--DAVIE -- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is a hard-liner when it comes to matters such as player misconduct, but in one of his more benevolent moments, he said in May that he wants to make roster cuts a more "humane" process.Hundreds of players are about to find out exactly how humane it is.Cut-down time is upon us, meaning that by 4 p.m. Tuesday, teams can carry no more than 75 players. By 6 p.m. Saturday, the clubs must reach the 53-man regular-season limit. The Dolphins began Monday with 84 players."It's a tough deal," said Dimitri Patterson, a Dolphins starting cornerback. "I mean, telling somebody they're going to no longer be with you -- I don't know how nicely you can say that. Writing a postcard?"Or a Christmas card. A week before last Christmas, Patterson was called into the offices of the Cleveland Browns, who informed him that even though he had been a part-time starter, he was being released. It could have been worse."I've heard stories from guys that have found out through other sources before they were told themselves," said Patterson, who was claimed by the Dolphins the next day.Speaking at owners' meetings in Boston, Goodell said, "How do we make the process more dignified? It is in some cases the last experience a player has with a team or any team in the NFL. So we have to do a better job of doing that in a humane way."Brian McCarthy, the NFL's vice president of corporate communications, said Goodell's concern was directed largely at what happens after a player walks out the door. The NFL has a rookie symposium to help players get acclimated as they enter the league, McCarthy said, but there was no similar mechanism in place for their exit.That's where a couple of former Dolphins come in. Ex-cornerback Troy Vincent, Miami's first-round pick in 1992, heads the league's player development division and is assisted by Dwight Hollier, a Dolphins linebacker from 1992-99 and a licensed counselor. Vincent refers to his work as the "fifth quarter."Former Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Polian doubts that much can be done to make the waiver process more palatable. The Dolphins summon waived players to General Manager Jeff Ireland's office. From there, the player sees head coach Joe Philbin and then h文件倉s position coach.Philbin said he has "a lot of respect" for the sacrifices players have made since the off-season program began April 15."There's not a ton to discuss, but typically I thank them for their contributions and the way they've acted on and off the field and wish them the best of luck," Philbin said.That's not unusual, said Polian, now a host on SiriusXM radio."All the teams I've been with tried to do it with dignity and with an idea that we understand that the player's going through a hard time," Polian said. "It's the most difficult time in a young man's life and in many cases, this has never happened to them before. They've never failed at anything."Polian took one of three approaches to cutting a player. If he has potential: "Don't lose heart." If not: "It's a terminal league for everybody in it at some point and this may be your time, but that doesn't mean you can't have a successful life."The third approach?"The most difficult one of all was a veteran who's given you great service and bled for you and helped you win," Polian said. "... You see these guys grow up. They come in at 21 or 22. They're single. They fall in love. They get married. They have children. ... In many cases you've been to their weddings. They become family."So letting a veteran go is a hard, hard thing for those of us with clubs and to think that someone wouldn't treat them with courtesy and with gratitude and dignity -- I can't imagine."Like Patterson, receiver Marvin McNutt was claimed by the Dolphins a day after being waived."It is an eye-opener, but it picks you up, because you know how the business goes and you also understand it's time for you to step your game up," said McNutt, who was cut by Philadelphia in May.Cornerback R.J.Stanford was about to enter his third NFL season a year ago when Carolina cut him. He, too, was claimed by Miami the next day."Always take it with a positive attitude," Stanford said. "Just because you don't make it at this particular ballclub, there are 31 other teams that are able to pick you up. ... Just get excited for the next step in your journey."Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Fla.) Visit The Palm Beach Post (West Palm Beach, Fla.) at .palmbeachpost.com Distributed by MCT Information Services存倉