According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Green Bay Packers have informed rookie receiver Tori Gurley that he has been released. After cutting fellow roster hopeful Chastin West earlier this morning, the Packers will almost certainly keep just five receivers to open the 2011 season.
Many believed that the Packers could keep as many as six receivers, especially after the emergence of both West and Gurley this preseason.
West was praised on several occasions by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and his 134-yard performance against the Cardinals helped put his name on the 53-man radar. While unlikely, he could clear waivers and wind up back on the Packers practice squad for the second straight season.
Gurley (6-4, 230 lbs.) continued to get better through training camp. He blocked a handful of punts on special teams and has the kind of big frame that you can’t teach in a receiver. He might get claimed on waivers, too, but the Packers would love to have him back on the practice squad.
Here are some other recent releases:
NT Jay Ross: Spent time on the Packers practice squad in the past but was never really a challenger for a roster spot in camp. Ross would have needed to beat out Howard Green to make the 53.
DE Lawrence Guy: The Packers want to bring Guy back then put him on IR. He’s a developmental guy along the defensive line who probably needed a year to get his feet underneath him.
FB Jon Hoese: If the Packers decide to cut Quinn Johnson and go with one active fullback, Hoese is a solid candidate to return on the practice squad.
S Anthony Bratton: Thought he had a chance at the beginning of camp to steal a roster spot at safety. His performance just never brought that opportunity to light.
——————Zach Kruse is a 23-year-old sports journalist with a passion for the Green Bay Packers. He currently lives in Wisconsin and is working on his journalism degree, while also covering prep sports for The Dunn Co. News.
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one question:
“DE Lawrence Guy: The Packers want to bring Guy back then put him on IR.”
If the intent is to put Lawrence Guy on IR, why would the Packers first cut him, and therefore expose him to the waiver wire? I would think the answer would be to just IR him right now, before cut downs, and then he doesn’t have the opportunity to be snatched up and he doesn’t count against the 53 man roster limit. Am I missing something?
Also, if he’s on IR, he can not practice with the team, if I’m not mistaken. He would be able to work out, I guess, and that would help his physical development, but my understanding was that Guy’s development needs were more technique. Not that he couldn’t stand to gain some muscle, mind you.
All in all, I still think this young player has the -potential- to become a Cullen Jenkins-like presence at DE and/or inside. I truly hope the Packers have the ability to retain him on P.S. or through other avenues.
Elmore is hanging in there.
Only God knows why… He’s somewhat 6th on the depth chart at OLB.
Dom Capers recently made a comment that may apply to Elmore, though he did not specify.
He was talking about DE’s converting to OLB, and how it’s a very difficult transition for many players.
He said he’s seen guys who struggle for a year, and show no improvement, then all of the sudden, the lights flip on, and it all comes together. He went on to say that you hate to give up on a guy to soon who’s going through that transition, especially if he’s got the physical tools for the job.
Perhaps it is Capers who pushed for Elmore in the first place, and maybe he’s pushing for the team to retain him? Who knows.
All I know is Elmore has been a major disappointment for me. I really thought he was going to be a very strong player.
Ya he is, but WHY? Elmore didn’t even get his name mentioned in the pre-season, and he didn’t do anything! What’s up with this, how could you keep Elmore over Gurley? I don’t care what position the play, almost everyone has shown more than Elmore.
Just checked Tom Silverstein’s (of Milwaukee JSO) running list of cuts, he lists Graham Harrell and Nick McDonals as a cut, and doesn’t have Guy Lawrence listed. It was updated within the last 15 mins. (2:08 p.m. central time)
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/129182703.html
I suspect TT’s up to something. He has freed up roster space for a reason. I’m hoping it’s to get some Oline help in. However, a more likely scenario is keep Neal and Zombo on the roster while they recuperate (hopefully) and not send them to IR yet.
Mac Donald? Just another Breno/Moll