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NFL Week One: How the former Bulls fared
Not sure we'll do this every week, but with the NFL season opening, we'll check in with the seven former USF players on NFL rosters and see how they fared on the opening weekend. USF had 14 former players in NFL camps, but six were cut, with just linebacker Tyrone McKenzie latching on with a practice squad, in New England. Veteran linebacker Kawika Mitchell, who missed 11 games with a knee injury last season, will miss the entire 2010 season after getting placed on injured reserve Friday by the Bills due to a foot injury. Here are the rest:
Nate Allen, S, Eagles: Had a nice center-field interception on a high throw by Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the fourth quarter, helping Philadelphia try to rally late in its 27-20 loss. Allen started at free safety and finished second on the team with five total tackles.
Mike Jenkins, CB, Cowboys: Started at corner and had two tackles and one pass defensed Sunday night in Dallas' loss to the Redskins. ... Read more
Preseason done, ex-Bulls await final NFL cuts
Time for one last roundup of former Bulls in NFL camps, with the preseason finishing Thursday night and all NFL teams making the big cut from 75 to 53 players by Saturday. That could claim a handful of USF alums -- receiver Taurus Johnson, cut by the Browns this past week, is hopeful of landing on an NFL practice squad next week. One more transaction -- former USF defensive end Jarriett Buie was among the cuts announced Friday by the UFL's Florida Tuskers, who still have Matt Grothe, J.R. Reed and Huey Whittaker in camp. Onto the NFL guys ...
First, three USF alums -- Cowboys cornerback Mike Jenkins, Bills linebacker Kawika Mitchell and Eagles safety Nate Allen -- got Thursday night off and didn't play, as many NFL teams hold their starters and key veterans out from the final preseason game. Here's the rest, starting with those most likely to stick around for the regular season:
Stephen Nicholas, LB, Falcons: Playing in his hometown of Jacksonville, Nicholas had two tackles including one for a loss while coming off the bench against the Jaguars. ... Read more
NFL preseason: Bulls on the bubble
Another quiet weekend for former Bulls trying to earn spots on NFL rosters -- the league requires teams to cut from 80 players to 75 today, then the big cut down to the regular-season limit of 53 players on Saturday after Thursday's final games. Wouldn't surprise me if a USF player or two were cut loose today -- here's a full rundown of all 14 players, starting with established players then onto the bubble guys:
-- Mike Jenkins, CB, Cowboys: Started against Texans, made three tackles with one pass defensed.
-- Stephen Nicholas, LB, Falcons: Started at OLB vs. Dolphins, had three tackles, all in the fourth quarter.
-- Kawika Mitchell, LB, Bills: Came off bench vs. Bengals, with three tackles.
-- Tyrone McKenzie, LB, Patriots: Two tackles off the bench vs. Rams, both in fourth quarter.
-- Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, Giants: First-rounder was held out with a groin injury. Here's a recent pic from Star-Ledger. ... Read more
NFL preseason: How the former Bulls fared
Headed over to USF FanFest at Raymond James Stadium shortly, but first, a quick run through how the 14 former USF football players fared in NFL preseason action on Saturday, first with the non-rookies likely to make their opening-day rosters:
Mike Jenkins, CB, Cowboys: Four tackles in early action vs. Chargers.
Tyrone McKenzie, LB, Patriots: Three tackles vs. Atlanta, plus a fumble recovery.
Stephen Nicholas, LB, Falcons: Three tackles vs. New England.
Kawika Mitchell, LB, Bills: One tackle vs. Colts, bouncing back after extended time on injured reserve last season.
Now the rookies and bubble guys:
Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, Giants: One assisted tackle in limited action vs. Steelers.
Nate Allen, S, Eagles: One tackle in limited work in loss to Bengals.
Marc Dile, OL, Bucs: Played off the bench in Bucs' win against Chiefs.
Trae Williams, CB, Bucs: One pass defensed, played sparingly vs. Chiefs. ... Read more
Links and notes: Back to Vero on Saturday
Lots of links and notes to catch up on while I'm back in Tampa -- I'll drive back over to Vero Beach on Saturday morning to see USF's first football scrimmage of the fall. Skip Holtz has said he'll make his initial decisions as to depth charts, position changes and freshmen redshirting based on what he sees there, so it's a big opportunity for players to show what they've been working toward.
-- Got the Sports Illustrated college football preview in the mail Thursday, and SI is projecting USF to go 6-6 overall and 3-4 in the Big East for a sixth-place finish. SI has four USF opponents ranked in its preseason top 25 -- No. 7 Florida, No. 15 Miami, No. 16 Pittsburgh and No. 18 Cincinnati. ... Read more
Pierre-Paul signs $20-million deal with Giants
It's not quite the biggest contract ever signed by a former USF football player, but it's still a huge day for defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, the first-round draft pick who signed Saturday with the New York Giants. According to NFL.com and ESPN.com, he signed a five-year deal worth $20-million, with $11.6-million guaranteed.
The only bigger contract for a USF player was the $25-million deal that cornerback Anthony Henry signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2005, which included a $10-million signing bonus. Pierre-Paul is the last of five USF draft picks to sign, and gets his deal done in time to report with the rest of the team for preseason camp, which starts Sunday.
Former USF punter Alvarado cut by Cowboys
With many NFL preseason camps opening up this week and the last remaining draft picks signing, undrafted rookies are losing their roster spots, and former USF punter Delbert Alvarado has been released by the Dallas Cowboys.
The Bulls still have 13 former players on NFL rosters going into camp, and it's reasonable to think that at least half should make the final cuts for the upcoming NFL season: veterans Mike Jenkins (Cowboys), Kawika Mitchell (Bills), Stephen Nicholas (Falcons) are almost assured of spots, as are high draft picks Jason Pierre-Paul (Giants), Nate Allen (Eagles) and Jerome Murphy (Rams).
Rookies Carlton Mitchell (Browns) and George Selvie (Rams) and second-year linebacker Tyrone McKenzie (Patriots) should stick as well, but others face tougher odds -- returning players with limited experience like Marc Dile (Bucs), Chad Simpson (Bills) and Taurus Johnson (Dolphins), and undrafted rookie Kion Wilson (Chargers). Veteran cornerback Anthony Henry remains a free agent, unsigned after playing last season with Detroit. ... Read more
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