Roster Moves: Ex-Browns LBs Cut Today By Other Teams
The Cleveland Browns join the rest of the league in looking to get to 53 men on their active roster by 4PM tomorrow. The Browns have yet to make any moves after last night’s 4th Pre-Season game, though we did predict the starters and 53 man roster here (new window). In fact very few teams have made any roster moves so far.
Yet two moves jumped out to us as names you know from their time with the Browns: L.J. Fort and Quentin Groves. Both ex-Browns were cut today in their teams’ roster moves.
Broncos are cutting linebacker L.J. Fort, according to a source. Fort had several offers in the offseason, so should draw interest
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) August 29, 2014
The #Texans cut LB Quentin Groves, per a league source.
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) August 29, 2014
Fort was cut by Joe Banner at the end of last year’s Pre-Season. He was an undrafted free agent when the Browns signed him, even starting the opening game of his rookie season for the team. Fort wasn’t picked up until the end of the season, signing a futures deal with the Broncos at the end of 2013. Interesting that Wilson states there was interest in the off-season as Fort was signed to the deal long before this past off-season started. Looks like the Browns made the right move releasing Fort.
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Groves was released by Ray Farmer this off-season. Thoughts were that he would reunite with ex-Browns defensive coordinator Ray Horton with the Tennessee Titans but instead he went to the Houston Texans a month and a half after the Browns cut him. Groves played stellar special teams for the Browns and had the occasional big play from the outside linebacker spot. It wasn’t enough to keep him around in Cleveland and obviously now not enough to keep him in Houston. Again looks like the Browns made the right choice with Groves.
So why the post about two Browns linebackers released in the past two off-seasons. Primarily it is to celebrate the Browns not getting bitten by cutting the wrong players. Often the Browns are burnt by cutting loose a player only to have him succeed elsewhere. Even this off-season the Browns were looked at as making a poor choice as Brian Tyms showed good production in the New England offense. Though his 4 game suspension does minimize that bite.
Far to often fit, chemistry, timing and system are overlooked when a player succeeds or doesn’t succeed. Yet it is those things that often make the difference between a good player and a mediocre one. In the cases of Fort and Groves it looks like the Browns found 2 players that just may not be good enough to make it in the league.
Who is one player you wish the Browns hadn’t let go of?