Webster Slaughter and Jay Leeuwenburg, a couple of old pros, are looking for jobs with new NFL teams.
Slaughter was released by the Baltimore Ravens and Leeuwenburg by the Indianapolis Colts as NFL teams trimmed down to the league-imposed 65-player roster limit on Tuesday."It was very tough," Ravens coach Brian Billick said of releasing Slaughter, a wide receiver with 13 years of NFL experience. "And he handled it with typical class and professionalism. He was great for us while we were in camp. He was great for those young players. It's tough because he was a good friend, but he understands the nature of the business."
Slaughter, who turns 35 in October, was signed in June and was one of a large number of receivers the Ravens took to training camp. However, Slaughter was unable to distinguish himself in the preseason and caught just three passes for 11 yards.
In his career, he has caught 563 passes, 44 for touchdowns, and has 8,111 yards as a receiver. The Colts, meanwhile, continued rebuilding their offense with the release of Leeuwenburg. The Colts' most experienced offensive lineman lost his starting job during training camp.
Leeuwenburg, who started 37 consecutive games for the Colts, made every offensive snap last year at center for a line that allowed only 22 sacks. He was replaced in the starting lineup by second-year pro Larry Moore, who was moved from guard. Moore's spot on the starting line was taken by Waverly Jackson, another second-year lineman.
"I told Jay that the guys we have are playing better at this time of their careers than he was," Colts coach Jim Mora said.
Leeuwenburg, 30, was starting his eighth NFL season. He started 48 consecutive games for the Chicago Bears before signing with the Colts.
The league's last preseason cuts will come Sunday, when NFL teams must trim down to 53 players.
DOLPHINS: After weeks of wavering, rookie defensive end Dimitrius Underwood returned to football Tuesday and pledged his 100 percent commitment to the Dolphins. To show he meant it, Underwood even showed up for practice.
The workout was the first for the unpredictable rookie since Aug. 2, when he walked out on the Minnesota Vikings after one practice to focus on his religious faith. Underwood said his career with Miami will last longer.
LIONS: The Lions, desperate for a running back since Barry Sanders' unexpected retirement, picked up Greg Hill from St. Louis for two undisclosed picks in the 2000 draft.
Hill, 27, rushed for 240 yards and four touchdowns for the Rams before his 1998 season was cut short by a broken ankle. He spent his first four NFL seasons with Kansas City, rushing for 2,126 yards.
BROWNS: Cleveland claimed wide receiver Zola Davis from the waiver list on Tuesday. On Monday, Green Bay waived Davis, an undrafted free agent who signed with the Packers in April.
CHIEFS: Brian Shay, the fireplug running back from Division II who broke all NCAA rushing records, was cut by the Chiefs.
BRONCOS: Fullback Ryan Christopherson was one of six players waived by the two-time defending Super Bowl champions.
Also waived were quarterback Chuck Clements, safeties Jason Moore and Brad Trout, center Clay Shiver and wide receiver Shawn Turner.