49ers Practice Squad/J. Cohen, J. Moore to IR

by David Fucillo on Sep 2, 2007 6:13 PM PDT in San Francisco 49ers News

So I have not posted any comments on the team waiving Thomas Clayton in the final cut down. While not totally shocking, I was still a bit stunned. I understand the numbers game, but when one of those numbers on the outside looking in performs like Clayton did, I get a little annoyed.

But fear not campers. Some of you pointed that Clayton could end up on the practice squad, and he in fact has done just that. The 49ers released their list of 8 practice squad players:

RB Thomas Clayton
S Darnell Bing
T Harvey Dahl
T Damane Duckett
TE Zac Herold
FB Zak Keasey
LB Mark Washington
WR Dominique Ziegler

Considering the team's fortunes in the past, many of those guys would have been prominent members of our starting lineup. So, the talent has definitely thickened up finally. I'm still disappointed Clayton didn't make the roster, but the practice squad is better than nothing. If he can bust his butt in practice, maybe he can make the squad over Maurice Hicks next year.

For those curious about the practice squad rules, I mentioned them before but here's information straight from the CBA, Article XXXIV:

Section 2. Signing With Other Clubs:
(a) Any player under contract to a Club as a practice squad player shall be completely free to negotiate and sign a Player Contract with any club at any time during the League Year, to serve as a player on any Club's Active or Inactive List, and any Club is completely free to negotiate and sign such a Player Contract with such player, without penalty or restriction, including, but not limited to, Draft Choice Compensation between Clubs or First Refusal Rights of any kind, or any signing period, except that such a player shall not be permitted to sign a Player Contract with another Club to serve as a practice squad player while under contract as a practice squad player.

Also, Mike Nolan made it more or less official that Jay Moore and Joe Cohen are going on injured reserve.

Considering I've now lost Thomas Clayton AND Jay Moore from the regular roster, I may very well be driven to drink. My two boys have gone down and I don't know WHAT I'll do with myself. I'll have to resign myself to just rooting on a playoff contender!

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If I read the regs correctly

if, say, the Rams want to sign Clayton to their regular squad, the Niners can't stop 'em. Hopefully, Hicks will pull a hamstring before then.

by Bob In Pacifica on Sep 2, 2007 8:48 PM PDT reply actions

Signings

That's correct. In the open thread about the NFL Europe championship game, I believe someone mentioned when Marcus Maxwell was on our practice squad, he turned down offers from other teams so he could stay on our practice squad.

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by David Fucillo on Sep 2, 2007 8:58 PM PDT up reply actions

re

" My two boys have gone down and I don't know WHAT I'll do with myself. I'll have to resign myself to just rooting on a playoff contender!"

Or just do what I did, pick up someone else to root for distinctively. I'm with B-Will.

Merton Hanks forever and ever.

by jtoj on Sep 2, 2007 9:35 PM PDT reply actions

players

I can always rely on my boy Arnaz Battle. Not an exciting performer, but he gets the job done time and again.

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by David Fucillo on Sep 3, 2007 12:35 AM PDT up reply actions

Practice squad good enough for now

I guess that Clayton being on the practice squad is good enough for now. Someone named Spiketronic posted this at Matt Maiocco's site:

Temporal backs rating system: The hole to run thru gets open 'today'. Mrob gets to the hole 'tomorrow', hence runs into his linemen, tacklers, etc. Gore hits the hole 'yesterday' when it is waaaaay large. Clayton is mostly on time, but could learn to be there 'last nite'.

Those holes in preseason that Clayton got to Gore will jet through. Robinson will get there at closing time, maybe. My guess is that Robinson is a much better blocker.

This may also be part of Nolan's motivation plan. If Clayton was half-stepping at the beginning of camp he's got to know now that that won't cut it in the NFL. If Gore goes down with any kind of long-term injury then Clayton will very likely quickly become the featured runner.

by Bob In Pacifica on Sep 3, 2007 8:25 AM PDT reply actions

our practice squad rules!

no really. those guys aren't all scrubs. Clayton and Keasey very well could end up as permanent roster players. Bing, too. It was really a "numbers game" with those guys.

I'm a little interested in what happened to Luke Getsy, as he didn't even get a snap in the preseason and isn't on the P-squad. They must have thought he was garbage.

Lott's Prayer: Almost as many words as the Lord's Prayer, but the Lord wouldn't recognize any of them.

by Nosetackle Supreme on Sep 3, 2007 9:11 PM PDT reply actions