Good performances in exhibition games didn't necessarily guarantee a roster spot for NFL players. Gary Blanchard found that out with the New Orleans Saints. As did Darrick Owens with Denver. And Tyrone Rush and Olanda Truitt with Washington.
Those players were among numerous cuts Sunday, the day NFL teams trimmed their rosters to 53 in preparation for the opening of the 1995 season next weekend.Among Sunday's victims were several players with Utah ties. Former BYU quarterback Jim McMahon was one of the biggest names cut. He was released by the Cleveland Browns, but coach Bill Belichick said the veteran may be re-signed within days once he decides what to do with some injured players.
The well-traveled McMahon, 36, signed with the Browns in early August as insurance in case third-round draft pick Eric Zeier did not pan out. Zeier, however, had an excellent exhibition season and became No. 2 on the Browns' depth chart behind Vinny Testaverde.
The Jacksonville Jaguars trimmed three players with Utah ties from their roster, including Curtis Marsh, a former Utah receiver; Brant Boyer, a linebacker from North Summit High; and guard Rick Tylski of Utah State. If Marsh clears waivers, however, he could end up on Jacksonville's practice squad.
Former Utes Lance Scott and Bronzell Miller were also cut from Arizona and Los Angeles, respectively. Though not cut, defensive tackle Tau Pupua from Weber State, was placed on injured reserve by the Browns because of an ankle injury.
Not all cuts had a negative impact, though, as former BYU running back Jamal Willis survived to make the San Francisco 49ers after they dropped Marion Butts.
Butts, a six-year veteran who rushed for 1,225 yards with San Diego in 1990, was among seven players cut by San Francisco. Butts struggled in exhibition games, gaining only 28 yards on 13 carries.
Also cut by San Francisco was defensive end Burt Grossman, who had hoped to make a mark as a pass rusher, but saw limited duty in exhibition games."It was a surprise," Grossman said of his pink slip. "But I wasn't put into many nickel situations, so you have to wonder."
Blanchard was cut despite making four of six field goals and all of his tries inside the 50. Instead, the Saints kept Chip Lohmiller, who had missed a 27-yarder, a 50-yarder and an extra point.
"I'm upset," Blanchard said. "I wish I could come in and miss four field goals inside the 50 and still make the team."
Owens also felt his cut was unkind, even though he had been hampered by injuries and was trying to break in at a position where the Broncos are deep in talent, wide receiver. Owens was MVP of the American Bowl exhibition game in Tokyo with five pass receptions for 78 yards, including a 6-yard touchdown.
Rush and Truitt were among the Redskins' leading receivers in exhibition play but didn't fit into Washington's plans.
Rush had 270 multi-purpose yards in the first two exhibitions but was hampered by a hamstring pull.
"I'm not healthy, and they have to do what's best for the team," Rush said. "Hopefully next Sunday, if I'm not playing here, I'll be playing somewhere else. Offseason I worked hard getting ready for this, and I'm not going to quit now."
Truitt caught 10 passes for 176 yards and two touchdowns in exhibition games, but Washington coach Norv Turner decided to keep just four wideouts while retaining seven running backs.
The Kansas City Chiefs released fullback James Saxon and placed safety Ronnie Lott on injured reserve. Lott, a 10-time Pro Bowl selection in his 15th year, was signed as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason but fractured a leg bone in an exhibition game. By being placed on injured reserve, Lott can't play for the Chiefs this year. When he recovers, he can be waived and could sign with another team, the club said.
Final cuts for the Dallas Cowboys included four-year veteran Bucky Richardson, a former Houston Oilers quarterback who had hoped to make the roster as a backup fullback and a special teams player.
"Bucky made three tackles on special teams against Houston Saturday night (in a 10-0 win), but we needed better blocking from him at fullback, so we decided to keep David Lang," coach Barry Switzer said. "Bucky just didn't fit our (backup) fullback situation."
The New England Patriots cut veteran defensive ends Mike Pitts and Jon Hand and one-time starting offensive guard Doug Skene.