[MIJB#19]

Merchantmen Release Seven Players
The Merchantmen management is dissapointed to have to announce the termination of contracts for seven players after training camp to get the roster down to the preseason requirement of 60 players. Some were expected cuts, others were emotional goodbyes to players with mixed roles in the 2004 season. The seven players are: Arnulfo Arnett, Steven David, Willie Dudley, Mitch Groh, Roy Kesler, Zack Kinney, Darrin Nellums, Graham Stevens and Albert Young. The reasons of release per player are a bit different, but we wish all seven good luck in their remaining careers and hope to see them find a new team in the IHOF.

Exclusive: Reasoning Behind Pre-Preseason Cuts
Today, we let go of seven players. Although they are in the same boat, reasoning behind the cuts are different for every one of them. We'll try to run down the situations player by player.

Wide receiver Arnulfo Arnett was not expected to be a first or second stringer as wide receiver. We projected him as second kickoff returner, but we think that's not enough to earn a roster spot for another year.

Cornerback Steven David has the skills to become a 53-men roster cornerback in the future, specifically in intercepting passes and his stamina, but his lack of talent in other areas compared to other cornerbacks, Davis had no shot at making the roster.

Tackle Willie Dudley was 2-on-2 on key run blocks, but also allowed 2 sacks in his limited playing time. Dudley is a young tackle and we regret splitting him and his buddy Russell Malave, but Dudley showed too little progress over camp to keep him around as fifth tackle. With his size and potential as run blocker we think he could contribute as a backup in a few years in the IHOF, but with our project Leonard Lyon we can't have too much linemen who can't protect the passer.

Linebacker Mitch Groh showed he's a potential roster player, even a backup, but lost out on the hard competition with other outside linebackers acquired this offseason and kept from last season. Groh will walk away with a big signing bonus and even cost us cap space this and next season.

Running Back Roy Kesler has been unlucky as he was part of six players at the running back position with four of them pretty similiar in talent. Eventually the least experienced had to go and with his Dutch blood this really is a dissapointing move. We suspect that if we hadn't drafted Montoya and won the bidding war on Colwell, Kesler had made the roster as a future project on the inactive roster. We hope to see him set foot on land in the USA, getting a new job in the IHOF as a player,

Cornerback Zack Kinney has emerged as a hard hitting corner, who forced 2 fumbles, defended 2 passes and made 22 tackles in 2004. Kinney was a victim of the big competition at the cornerback position and lost out on his level of development. Kinney seems to have the potential for making a 53-men roster, but has to learn a lot more to be able to get there.


Guard Darrin Nellums has been an interesting player with his size, yet the addition of Butch White and Alvin Causey forced us to make room at the guard position. We wish Nellums the best of luck, but fear he will never be an IHOF player again.

Safety Graham Stevens had no chance making the roster at the safety position after we acquired two aged veterans during the off season. Stevens lost the battle with John Cole as the fifth satefy going into the preseason.

Guard Albert Young was a starter last year in 10 games, but missed 6 due to injuries. Young didn't have the stats to prove he's worth another year of starting and we will likely step to tackle Russell Malave or guard Devin McDaniel as the new right guard until Alvin Causey has recovered. We think Young is big and strong enough to get another chance in a training camp next season elsewhere in the league to earn a roster spot.

For the second wave of cuts, it depends on injuries and preseason performance but more then likely the seven casualties will be found at the following positions: quarterback, running back, tight end, center, defensive tackle, cornerback and safety.