SB Nation - Rashad Barksdale

Arizona Cardinals Finalize Practice Squad and Add Veteran Offensive Tackle

Hawkwind — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:59:46 -0000

When the Arizona Cardinals cut their roster down to 53 players, head coach Ken Whisenhunt said that there could still be some 'tweaking' once the dust settled from other team's cuts and it didn't take long for him to take action. The Red Birds added veteran offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges, a former Cardinal who played here in 2004 and 2005. Bridges, a 29 year old former sixth round pick, has also played for the Eagles (who drafted him), Panthers and spent the summer and past couple of months with the Redskins. Over the past three seasons he started 28 games over the past three seasons at both guard and tackle (although not at the same time obviously). He was signed by the Redskins and expected to compete for the starting right tackle job but when he lost the job, he also lost a roster spot. Bridges gives the Cardinals much improved depth at offensive tackle and some flexibility should either Mike Gandy or Levi Brown suffer some type of injury. To make room for Bridges the Cardinals cut Elton Brown.

That wasn't the only move the Cardinals made yesterday though because they also filled out their eight man practice squad, finally. Almost immediately they added four players of their own, Ed Gant (WR), Trevor Canfield (G/C) and Alex Field (DE) and Keilen Dykes (DT/DE) and the team finally announced the remaining four players yesterday, OLB/DE Chris Harrington (cut by the Bengals), FB Fui Vakapuna (cut by the Bengals), ILB Lee Robinson (cut by the Broncos) and CB Rashad Barksdale (cut by the Jets). We should all be familiar with Chris Harrington as he was the Cardinals sixth round pick in 2008 and he quickly became an ROTB favorite (here and here). We'll have more on each of the new faces after the jump.....

Fui Vakapuna - Vakapuna was a seventh round pick of the Bengals this season after coming out of BYU where he split time as a power running back and a lead blocking fullback. By all accounts the Bengals were absolutely enamored with Vakapuna leading up to the draft and it was a surprise to some when he was cut. The 5-11, 250 pound fullback is considered to be a powerful lead blocker and an adequate pass catcher out of the backfield. He also has the athleticism to contribute on special teams.

Lee Robinson - Robinson is an undrafted rookie who spent the entire training camp and preseason with the Broncos, which means that he did play in the preseason finale against the Cards (2 tackles). The official site is listing Robinson as an inside linebacker and the Broncos did use him on the inside but most scouts projected him as a outside pass rush linebacker coming out of the draft so he has some versatility. He has good size (6-3, 245) and was a very productive four year starter at Alcorn State. Here is one very complimentary video discussing Robinson's potential.

Rashad Barksdale - Barksdale, a former 6th round pick of the Eagles in 2007, has good size (6-0, 208) and has actually appeared in six NFL games for the Chiefs back in 2007. In the past two seasons he's been a member of the Eagles, Chiefs, Giants and most recently the Jets, although his stop in Kansas City was his only time spent on the 53 man roster.

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Now that the practice squad is finalized we can see that they've got two defensive lineman and two linebackers comprising half of the eight man squad. It's pretty clear where the team sees themselves lacking depth. I'm still a bit surprised that the Cards would carry another wide receiver on their practice squad even though they already have seven on the active roster but these things can still be tweaked. Thoughts?

Jets Acquire Rashad Barksdale

John B — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:38:47 -0000

Claimed off waivers from the Giants:

Barksdale (CB/6-0/208/Albany/Hudson, NY) originally entered the NFL as a sixth-round selection (201st overall) by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2007 NFL Draft and was released on Sept. 1, 2007. He signed with Kansas City on Sept. 2, 2007 and recorded nine total tackles in six games. He was released by the Chiefs on Aug. 30, 2008. Barksdale signed with the Giants practice squad, Sept. 1, 2008, and was waived on June 20.

The Jets are a great location for marginal players this year. There is almost no depth on the roster, which means plenty of chances to compete for a backup role and a roster spot. Cornerback and running back are the two exceptions. With Revis, Sheppard, Strickland, and Lowery already in the fold, Barksale will have to turn heads to make the roster. The fifth corner, Ahmad Carroll, is a special teams standout.

Still, having Rex Ryan as a coach has to make you at least a little hopeful. Rex really does get the most of his players. Lost in his family ties, the stars he coached, and his schemes in Baltimore is his ability to develop players. Bart Scott and Jim Leonhard turned from marginal undrafted defenders into hot free agent commodities when Ryan got his hands on them. There's always a chance he can turn a scrap heap guy into a real player.

Ugly ouster for Barksdale

Ed Valentine — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:15:14 -0000

Have you head the story of the ugly way in which former Giants' cornerback Rashad Barksdale found out he had been cut by the team?

Via text message from a player.

"I heard you got released," Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas wrote to Barksdale. "Sorry about that."

Barksdale's agent said this kind of thing is not unheard of.

"This is the business side of the NFL," said Tony Agnone, Barksdale's agent. "Most teams contact you before they release you, but not all the time. It's the ugly side nobody talks about."

It should be unheard of. As Barksdale noted, telling someone directly is the "classy thing to do."

-- 'Kudos' to True Blue for the find.

Random thoughts for a Sunday

Ed Valentine — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 11:00:19 -0000

Here are a few of the things I am thinking about on this glorious Father's Day. Of course, we'll skip putting the dock in at camp and that nice, marinated steak that is going to be on my barbecue grill later on this afternoon.

We are. after all, here to talk sports.

I think I am not going to worry about those Eli Manning contract talks. They will get done eventually, and eli will sign a gargantuan contract that will make him the Giants' quarterback for the rest of his career. Then everyone will scream that he is overpaid. So, who cares?
I think I got a chuckle out of some writers being concerned about the Giants cutting Rashad Barksdale when they signed Stoney Woodson the other day. Yeah, Barksdale had a great impact on the practice squad in 2008. Reality is, I like Barksdale and I root for him since he went to UAlbany. But, the Giants are a good football team. A very good football team. By the time they are down to a 53-man roster they will cut a lot of very good players who will wind up on the rosters of other NFL teams.
I think the stuff about the Cowboys asking tubby Tony Romo to lose weight, and the job our man Jim did in dealing with that in the Wednesday Walk, is funny stuff. I know you hate the Cowboys, but you have to admit they are great entertainment.
I think The National Football Post is the best football Web site on the planet. If you claim to be a football fan and you aren't reading it, I am questioning your football fan membership card.
I think all this conspiracy theory stuff about why Alex Rodriguez is taking a couple of days off while the Yankees are playing the Marlins -- in A-Rod's hometown of South Florida -- is just a bunch of foolishness.
I think I don't care how many shots behind the leader Tiger Woods is heading into play today at the U.S. Open. If the world's greatest golfer makes a couple of birdies early in the round everyone will be paying attention. If he doesn't everyone -- especially network TV execs -- will be disappointed.
I think that when an agent like Scott Boras thinks he is within his rights to publicly criticize a manager's lineup decisions it's an example of how screwed up sports has become.

Land of the Giants: Woodson signs

Ed Valentine — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:00:17 -0000

Here are a few interesting New York Giants' stories for you on what promises to be a rainy Saturday here in upstate New York.

The Giants signed 7th-round pick Stoney Woodson Friday, and cut cornerback Rashad Barksdale. Ralph Vacchiano reminds that since the Giants can only bring 80 players to training camp (a really stupid limit), each signed draft pick will lead to a player being cut.
I dropped a picture on you the other day of linebacker Danny Clark and his tricked-out Smart car. Well, I got a note from tight end George Wrighster the other day to let me know that the players have some thoughts of their own about the car.

Players tell him they are gonna "pick his car up and put it in the back of their pickup trucks". Osi Umenyiora, Justin Tuck, and Chris Canty all think they can not only pick up his smart car but if it were a running back coming through the hole they could tackle it. I know it's not possible because it's a car, but there's a small piece of me that feels the same way.

That's funny stuff. Yes, I do kinda like Wrighster. And yes, he really did shoot me an e-mail to point out his blog post.

How do you feel about the Giants adding corporate logos to their practice jerseys? I really don't care, but I don't look forward to the day when this kind of stuff finds its way on to game uniforms.

The Waiver Diaspora

Chris Thorman — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 12:51:50 -0000

No! The Herm bobble heads are on the mezzanine level! Come on Curl! Why do I even have you around?

The dust has settled after 48 hours of waiver wire action in the NFL after teams cut down their rosters to 53 players on Saturday evening. For those of you who were clamoring for XYZ player to make the Kansas City Chiefs roster, here's a chance for a little free market capitalism to quietly make the argument against your favorite fringe player. Only one, one player has been signed to the practice squad of another team. That's out of twenty-two players cut over the weekend.

You have to feel a bit of sympathy for guys like Bobby Sippio and Will Svitek, both of whom are ineligible for any practice squad and are likely looking at the end of any sort of regular play in the NFL. Of the other players the Chiefs cut, a couple may jump on a team in the next few weeks but most will come back next spring and summer and try out all over again and not necessarily for the Chiefs.

FB Chris Manderino - Not much movement and the only sort of an update I can find is this Rotoworld blurb about the Chiefs' final cuts being eligible for the AF2.

OC Rob Smith - No update
OG Tre Stallings - No update
OG Travis Leffew - No update
OG Edwin Harrison - Practice squad
OT Anthony Alabi - No update
OT Will Svitek - No update

TE Michael Allan - No update

WR Kevin McMahan - Practice squad
WR Sergiori Joachim - No update
WR Jabari Arthur - No update
WR Bobby Sippio - No update

DE Jason Parker - Practice squad
DE Johnny Dingle - No update
DT Derek Lokey - Practice squad

LB EJ Kuale - No Upate
LB Steve Octavien - No update
LB LeRue Rumph - No update
LB Weston Dacus - No update; possible practice squad candidate

CB Rashad Barksdale - NY Giants Practice squad
CB Tyron Brackenridge - No update

S Khayyam Burns - No update

PK Connor Barth - No update

In other former Chief news, Mr. Versatile TE/HB/FB/Cross-country traveler Kris Wilson signed with San Diego over the weekend and the Browns are considering Ty Law as an option as corner. Brief Chief Jay Feely worked out for the Bucs a few days ago but nothing has come of that quite yet.

Rounding out a few more updates on names you might remember - OG John Welbourn was released by New England; the Steelers cut "KR" Eddie Drummond; massive '04 draft bust Junior Siavii was let go by the Cowboys; and DE Jimmy Wilkerson, signed by the Bucs in the off-season, is doing quite well.