We’re approaching the halfway point–remember, it’s a 17 game season.
The conclusion of Week 9 brings us the Release Draft, where each team, in reverse order in the standings, selects a position of need, and drafts a player in the free agent pool directly onto the active roster. A few of these could be impactful, each team’s choice is listed for posterity’s sake, along with the usual injury and roster roundup.
#RELEASE DRAFT
- BOS: Harold Green, RB.
- CTO: Rodney Harrison, DB.
- SFO: Dre Kirkpatrick, DB.
- ROM: Chris Dishman, DB.
- BER: Eric Parker, WR.
- SYD. Peter Boulware, LB.
- LOM. Harley Sewell, OL.
- BEI. Dick Anderson, DB.
- AAA. Rosey Taylor, DB.
- TOK. Kimble Anders, RB.
- AMS. Jack Snow, WR.
- DUB. Mark Stepnoski, OL.
- LON. Randall Godfrey, LB.
- RIO. John Randle, DL.
- NYG. Terrell Suggs, DL/LB.
- IST. Hunter Henry, TE.
Onto the team notes!
#AAA
If the Emperors are going to turn their season around, this is the start as they welcome 4 starters back from injury, including Year I All Pro John Jefferson, along with Tim Brown, Manti Te’o, and Doug Wilkerson.
#AMS
Having just gained the starting spot, Matthew Stafford is out for 4 months, giving the Lions QB spot back to Cam Newton, who has been inconsistent over the first half of the season. He’ll be without a key OL for a month as well, as Lomas Brown is sidelined.
#BER
With Brandon Marshall joining Alshon Jeffery on IR, the choice of a WR became clear for Berlin. Alfred Jenkins is now their #1 wideout. After a poor showing kicking over the past few weeks, Neil Rackers was shown the door, replaced by Jeff Wilkins.
#IST
Istanbul’s success is really remarkable given their injury troubles, which continued this week with Heath Miller, James Harrison, and Charles Johnson all set to miss time (and Harrison and Johnson likely done for the year). It leaves them leaning on Brett Keisel, Justin Bannan, and Greg Hardy behind Dwight White on the defensive line. The team is high on Shaquil Barrett, who should help fill in at LB.
#LON
There was an argument that Dat Nguyen was the defensive player of the week last week; now London is looking to be without him as both he and Percy Harvin hit IR. That forced their hand in the draft, and look for Godfrey to get snaps immediately.
#NYG
New York had been relatively healthy throughout the year, but this was a rough week as Michael Strahan, Telvin Smith, Bobby Johnson, and Ed Danowski are all set to miss time. Luckily, the most important of those–Strahan–should only be out for 1 week.
#RIO
Tony Gonzalez was due back this week, but complications arose and now he is out for 3 more months, and resurgent RB Abner Haynes is out for 6 weeks. Perhaps surprisingly, given all that, the Carnival went for defense in the draft, picking up a potential steal in Randle.