Projo Pats Blog

Well, it appears I effectively mangled my mathematics when doing my roster projections story for today's print edition.

Thanks to the posters at patsfans.com who noticed it.

Clarifying: I stated there were 70 active players. When I wrote it, there were. Bethel Johnson has been moved from PUP to active so now there's 71.

That means the Pats need to cut 18 players to get down to 53.

Anyway, in today's piece - for whatever reason - I then subtracted the three specialists (kicker, punter, long-snapper) from 70 leaving me with 67 and then I theorized the Pats needed to cut 14 more guys.

What? Subtracting the three specialists from 70 was like cutting them. Dope.

Anyway, I'll do the math again here for you (adding in Bethel).

The Patriots have 71 players on the roster: 33 on defense, 35 on offense and three specialists.

The Pats need to cut 18 players to get down to 53 for the Oakland game.

After breaking down the roster, comparing it to last year and assessing this year's needs, these 21 players are close to the edge:

* Offensive linemen Billy Yates, Victor Leyva and Jeff Roehl.

* Tight ends Joel Jacobs and Christian Fauria.

* Running backs Kyle Eckel and Kory Chapman.

* Wide receivers David Terrell, P.K. Sam, Bam Childress, Andre Davis and Eugene Baker.

* Defensive linemen Mike Wright and Tom Sverchek.

* Linebackers Wesley Mallard, Grant Steen, Eric Alexander and Andre Torrey.

* Cornerbacks Duane Starks and Chad Scott and safety Ray Ventrone.

So we have 21 guys for 3 spots.

Front-runners for those spots are probably Chapman, Mallard, Alexander, Davis and Scott.

The next group would be Fauria, Starks, Torrey, Wright, Sam, Terrell, Yates and Roehl.

Who's pretty much gone? Sverchek, Leyva, Jacobs, Steen, Eckel, Baker, Ventrone and Childress.

Anyway, nice mess by me. Sorry for the confusion.

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