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:
(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!