Survived For Another Day

The NFL had their first big cut of the preseason yesterday as all teams had to reduce their rosters to 75 by 4pm.  Yes everyday teams waive players who they know already are not working out and let them go.  Many players are still on pins and needles as the last major cut comes after the final preseason games finish up this weekend.  Come Tuesday of next week all teams will be down to their 53 man rosters and they will also announce their practice squad which is not the end of the world because those guys get $6,000 per week to run this week's scheduled opponent's plays in practice for the 1st team offense and defense.

Three players from Tarboro High have survived Tuesday's cut but nobody can breathe easy as of yet as a cut of 22 more will happen this weekend.

Takoby Cofield:  Played for Duke after helping the Viking win state championships.  Listed on the Washington Redskins depth chart as the third right tackle. These next few days will be crucial.  Doubt if he makes it unless a couple of injuries  to somebody else.  Practice squad is possible.

Shawn Draughn:  Third year since playing at Carolina.  Has not carried the ball all preseason due to an injured hand.  Looks like no problem however as the Cleveland Browns seem content to keep Draughn as a special teams player and as their 3rd down back.  Looks as if he will carry the ball this weekend.  Sure sounds me like he has made the team.

Todd Gurley: Fresh out of Georgia and looks fully recover from knee surgery which he had last November.  Has not played a down in preseason but is listed as the number two running back on the St Louis Rams.  His job is safe.

This past weekend two players one playing sports now and another while in high school played sports were shot.  One a SouthWest player shot right here in Rocky Mount.  The other a former Hertford County Bear visiting his brother for the weekend in Greensboro.   The Greensboro shooting resulted in death.

Both were very similar.  Both occurred around two am in the morning.  It seems at this point both were shot for no reason at all.  The SouthWest player looks as if he will recover and maybe by the end of the season be able to play for the Cougars.  Most cases athletes stay out of trouble because if they don't they probably will not be allowed to stay on the team.

Both cases the question has to best asked, why did they have to be out at 2am in the morning.  I don't know how many times I heard this over the years but nothing happens good at 11pm.  Don't know this to be so in either case but today's tough guys have to resort to being tough with a gun and most of the time have several guys behind them with more guns to really be tough.  I don't see if you got to have a gun that you are tough at all.  There you are standing there with a gun and the person you are shooting is unarmed and you still need you group behind you to back you up.  That doesn't sound like a tough guy to me.