By Zac Jackson
Posted 9-4-10
11:59 a.m.
Thought I'd take a minute to help provide a guide to understanding some of the things that are going to go on over the next 24 hours and over the next week, really.
The difference between waiving a player and releasing a player is that vested veterans -- players with more than four years experience -- are released and free to explore their options. Players waived are subject to the waiver system.
Today is the day rosters must be cut to the 53-man regular-season size, but rarely do teams think they're setting their final rosters today. Every team scans the waiver wire, even if they don't actually put in a claim. And the other thing you see at this time of year with vested veterans is them being cut because a vested veteran who's on a roster in Week One is entitled (once in his career) to collect his whole salary for the season, even if he's released and even if he later catches on with another team.
So, some cuts are temporary ones. Lots of guys who "make" the team today are in temporary spots, too, because they can quickly be replaced by players let go by another team. Suspended players don't count against the 53 during their suspensions. As I blogged about yesterday, PUP is an option for some injured players and the Ravens will reportedly put Ed Reed on PUP to start the year.
Teams can start signing young players to their practice squads Sunday.
MCDONALD CUT? -- Brandon McDonald tweeted what looked to be a goodbye message Saturday morning, which probably means the Browns released the former starting cornerback. Stay tuned.
