Super Bowl heroes, Pro Bowlers and No. 1 draft picks were once again making news. This time, they are losing their jobs.
Wide receivers Cris Collinsworth and Steve Watson, running back Paul Palmer, linebacker Bob Brudzinski and punter Brian Hansen all received pink slips Monday as NFL teams cut down to the 47-man roster limits for the start of the season."Quite frankly, this is probably one of the saddest days in Bengals history," Cincinnati quarterback Boomer Esiason said upon learning that Collinsworth, the Bengals' No. 2 career receiver, and Jim Breech, the team's kicker since 1980, had been let go.
"There comes a time when cold, hard, tough decisions have to be made, and you make them," Coach Sam Wyche said.
Brudzinski was released by Miami along with cornerback Don McNeal and safety Bud Brown. All were members of the Dolphins' last Super Bowl team five seasons ago.
"The tough decisions involved the veterans that have contributed to any success the Dolphins have had in the past," Coach Don Shula said. "They're guys that have given you everything that they have to give in the practices and when they line up and play."
Kansas City cut Palmer, its No. 1 draft pick in 1987 and runner-up to Vinny Testaverde in voting for the 1986 Heisman Trophy after rushing for 1,866 yards at Temple. He was the No. 2 rusher and receiver for the Chiefs last year and led the AFC in kickoff returns as a rookie.
"It didn't quite work out the way I wanted it to, I have to say that," Palmer said. "I can't really say it hasn't gone well. It just hasn't gone as well as I hoped it would. In most cases, when opportunity permitted, I think I ran fairly well."
Joe Morris, who ran for 1,516 yards in leading the New York Giants' drive to the NFL title in 1986, and All-Pro linebacker Andre Tippett of New England are lost for the season, each a victim of the league's new injured-reserve rules.
Morris, the Giants' career rushing leader with 5,296 yards, broke a bone in his right foot in Saturday night's 13-10 exhibition loss to Pittsburgh and was placed on injured reserve before the team got down to its limit of 47 players.
Tippett, the mainstay of the Patriot defense, was placed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery to repair muscle damage in his right shoulder. Two other New England starters, cornerback Ronnie Lippett and defensive end Garin Veris, also went on injured reserve after undegoing knee surgery on Saturday.
Brian Washington, who started 14 of 16 games at free safety for Cleveland last year, also went on the list with a broken nose and elbow injury. Miami put placekicker Fuad Reveiz on IR, and Buffalo lost all-purpose running back Robb Riddick the same way.
In previous seasons, players placed on injured reserve before the final cuts could be activated after six games if healthy. Beginning this year, those inactivated before the 47-man limit is established can't return during the season or practice with the team unless they go through waivers.
Thus, rookie quarterback Rodney Peete of Detroit, who would have been the Lions' starter, was kept on the roster although his sprained left knee will keep him out three to five weeks.
A half-dozen Denver Broncos who played key roles for the two Super Bowl teams were cut, including Watson and running back Gerald Willhite.
Another player from those Denver teams, linebacker Ricky Hunley, was cut by the Phoenix Cardinals. Hunley, obtained in a trade last year, was expected to start at middle linebacker, but missed 12 days in a contract dispute and then played poorly in exhibition games.
There were other casualties among name players as the league's 28 teams got down to the regular-season limit.
Many of those cut, however, could be brought back quickly as teams manuever with the injured reserve list. Many teams will put players on the regular-season IR - making them eligible to come back - and will re-sign released players if they pass through waivers.
Younger players - rookies and first-year free agents - could also return if they clear waivers on a six-man developmental squad established by the league. They will receive $1,000 a week and be permitted to practice.
Other name players released were linebacker Barry Krauss of Cleveland, an 11-year veteran picked up as a "Plan B" free agent this year; Hansen, a Pro Bowler for New Orleans in 1984; Matt Bouza, who caught 71 passes for the Indianapolis Colts in 1986, and Ray Alexander, who caught 54 passes as a starter last year for Dallas.
Denver's cuts included six former regulars - Watson, Willhite, linebacker Jim Ryan, offensive tackle Dave Studdard, defensive back Mike Harden and defensive end Freddie Gilbert.
Buffalo cut wide receiver Trumaine Johnson, a one-time USFL star, and Gordie Lockbaum, a celebrated two-way player during his college days at Holy Cross who had been switched from running back to safety. Lockbaum also failed to make the Pittsburgh Steelers last year.
In addition to Hunley, Phoenix released linebacker Richard Tardits, a fifth-round draft pick who was trying to become the first French player to make it in the NFL. Tardits played in college at Georgia.
Veteran kicker Chuck Nelson, who missed seven of nine field goal attempts in exhibition games, was one of 14 players cut by the Minnesota Vikings.
Coach Jerry Burns was especially upset with Nelson's performance in the Vikings' 17-10 victory Friday night over the Cincinnati Bengals. Nelson missed field goals of 34 and 33 yards and cost the team a delay-of-game penalty.
The Giants cut wide receivers Stacy Robinson and Phil McConkey, both of whom have been cut before and brought back. McConkey returned from Green Bay in 1986 in time to catch a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl.
Green Bay, starting almost from scratch, released quarterback Randy Wright and wide receivers Phillip Epps and Walter Stanley, a combination that started most of the team's games the past three years.
Detroit cut three players who started at least part-time last year - quarterback Rusty Hilger, wide receiver Pete Mandley and defensive back Devon Mitchell.
Chicago released four veteran backups, guard Kurt Becker, defensive lineman Sean Smith, center John Adickes and safety Toddy Krumm. The Bears also released rookie quarterback Brent Snyder, leaving Mike Tomczak and Jim Harbaugh as the only quarterbacks on the roster. Pittsburgh cut Preston Gothard, its starting tight end for much of the past three seasons.
In addition to Collinsworth and Breech, Cincinnati released its third-round draft pick, Freddie Childress, a guard from Arkansas who reported to training camp at 379 pounds and weighed 340 when he was released. Breech, accurate but not noted for length, will be replaced by journeyman Jim Gallery, who played 13 games with the Cardinals in 1987.
Wide receiver Terry Greer, safety Tom Holmoe and linebacker Ron Hadley, all members of last season's Super Bowl championship team, were among the 12 players waived by the San Francisco 49ers.
Greer, 31, a former Canadian Football League star who also played for one year with the Cleveland Browns, caught 14 passes in two seasons with the 49ers. Holmoe, in his sixth year out of Brigham Young, has been with the team since 1983.
Hadley, an injury-hampered special teams player, played in six games for the 49ers over two years.
The Houston Oilers cut 13 players, including second-year safety Quintin Jones, and added wide receiver Drew Hill.
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Utahns cut in NFL
Sixteen players from local colleges lasted until Monday's final cuts in the NFL. Among the more notable veterans released were BYU's Tom Holmoe, a defensive back cut by San Francisco, and Chuck Ehin, a defensive tackle released by Dallas.
Utah players cut were tackle Dave Cullity, by San Francisco; tight end Craig McEwen and received Carl Harry, by Washington; fullback Bryan Bero, by Chicago; and offensive tackle Darryl Haley, by Cleveland.
Other BYU players included running back Lakei Heimuli, by Philadelphia, offensive guard Warren Wheat, by the LA Rams; offensive linemen Vince Stroth of Houston and John Hunter of Minnesota and receiver Mark Bellini, by Phoenix. Other locals cut were Utah State quarterback Brent Snyder, by Chicago; USU offensive tackle Navy Tuiasosopo, by the Rams; Weber State quarterback Jeff Carlson, by the Rams; and Snow College quarterback Mike Norseth by Cleveland.