Sights Set

The UFL made a bold move Monday, holding their draft while free agents are unable to sign with NFL teams due to the lockout. A few of the notable names that didn't get called over the weekend were called on Monday, but the UFL draft was not solely limited to players coming out of college. Case in point: the Virginia Destroyers used the 4th pick to select Martail Burnett, a defensive end out of Utah who played most recently on the practice squad for the San Francisco 49ers. Burnett and the other players drafted now face a quandary: remain in limbo, or sign with a UFL team and possibly miss an opportunity with an NFL team if and when the lockout is lifted?

Burnett was an undrafted free agent who signed on with the Minnesota Vikings before joining the 49ers. San Francisco used its first round pick on Missouri's Aldon Smith, a similar type of player. Both played defensive end in college but transition to rush linebacker in the NFL. Burnett could return to defensive end in the UFL and have more of an impact. The Virginia Destroyers will be coached by Marty Schottenheimer, so Burnett would still benefit from NFL level coaching. It is an expansion franchise, but it received the rights to the players of the now defunct Florida Tuskers, a competitive team that played in the first two UFL Championship games. Burnett's best move might be to jump ship.

Practice Squad

Freddie Brown, Brett Ratliff and R.J. Stanford were relegated to the practice squad as NFL teams cut down to their final 53 man rosters this weekend. Brown was waived by the Bengals during the summer, then brought into the Vikings' camp to fill in for injured players. Ratliff was waived by the Browns later than expected, then signed by the Jaguars. Stanford showed some promising plays for the Panthers, but was the odd man out of the crowd. Kelly Talavou (Ravens) joined Martail Burnett (49ers) on IR and is done for the season.

David Reed secured a spot on the Ravens' roster with his sure hands and kick returning ability. Baltimore waived Demetrius Williams prior to the deadline, then traded Mark Clayton to St. Louis when they signed free agent T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Reed is now listed as a third-string receiver behind Derrick Mason and Donte Stallworth, as well as the second-string kick returner (Stallworth is out with an injury, but Houshmandzadeh has yet to be added to the depth chart).

Quinton Ganther's DUI stop did not stop him from making the Seahawks as a first-string fullback and fourth-string running back. Robert Johnson made Tennessee's team, beating out fellow rookie (and Rhodes scholar) Myron Rolle, and Stevenson Sylvester earned one of many linebacker spots with Pittsburgh.

Off Season

It's been a disappointing off-season for three ProUtes: Freddie Brown, Martail Burnett, and Quinton Ganther. Brown was waived by the Bengals at the end of July, then signed by the Vikings to take some reps while other receivers recover. Burnett injured his left knee and was waived by the 49ers. The team placed him on injured reserve once he cleared waivers. Ganther, pictured here being tackled by a former Tennessee teammate in a recent preseason game, followed his running backs coach from Washington to Seattle. The running back position is still unsettled in Seattle, with LenDale White (another of Ganther's former Tennessee teammates) getting released by his old college coach, Pete Carroll. Ganther was arrested for DUI in Sacramento this summer. He had a hearing on Wednesday, which did not prevent him from playing this weekend. He may yet make the team, pending any legal or league-imposed discipline.

Ganther Back In, Gross Out

Quinton Ganther is healthy and playing in the NFL again, now as a member of the Washington Redskins. With Clinton Portis injured Ganther saw a few plays in relief of Ladell Betts, carrying three times for four yards and catching one pass for 18 yards. Those stats weren't enough to warrant a nomination for ProUte of the Week 10, but still worth mentioning! Ganther had a better week than Jordan Gross, who suffered a broken ankle when another player fell on his leg. Gross joined fellow ProUte Panther lineman Ma'ake Kemoeatu on the injured list. I regret predicting an outcome like this in a preseason post on Aug. 12th. Gross has been a stalwart tackle for the Panthers and a generous donor to the University of Utah; it's a shame to see his season end this way.

In addition to Ganther two other ProUtes have resurfaced in the league: Freddie Brown with the Bengals and Martail Burnett with the 49ers. They are members of the practice squads of those respective teams.

Final Cuts

Running back Quinton Ganther posted 10 rushes for 18 yards and 3 receptions for 49 yards during the preseason before he injured his right calf in the final preseason game. Tough luck, poor timing, and a crowded backfield resulted in his being waived-injured by the Tennessee Titans. Also casualties of the final 53-man roster cut were wide receiver Freddie Brown (Bengals) and defensive end Martail Burnett (Vikings).