CONLEY COMMENTARY (WSAU) – The Green Bay Packers cut 32 players on Sunday. Most of the decisions were not surprising. Yesterday was the day teams needed to finalize their rosters for the start of the regular football season in two weeks.
A handful of players will be signed by other teams. But that’s a longshot. More than 900 players were let go on Sunday. And, like musical chairs, there isn’t a seat for everyone.
Some players will be signed to their team’s practice squad. Each NFL team is allowed to keep 17 players… sort of a low-pay spare parts warehouse in case of injuries.
Many of these cut players will make a very difficult and very personal decision. Their football careers are over. Oh, some may try to keep their hopes alive through the arena football league or through the XFL, but those are low-paying, low chance options. Those who have college degrees may decide it’s time to seek employment in those areas. Some will take unglamorous jobs in factories or warehouses.
I will tell you this, each one of them is an outstanding football player. They made it through each part of the funnel, from junior football, to college, to an NFL training camp. What will be difficult to process is this: they came one step away from playing football in the NFL. And then it didn’t happen. And now, young men in their 20s, need to decide what comes next in their lives.
When to give up on your dreams is a very personal decision. I feel for those young men who are making that decision today.
Chris Conley
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