The Chicago Bears released a pair of 2007 first-day draft picks Saturday.
The Chicago Bears released a pair of 2007 first-day draft picks Saturday. When they made the final roster cut to 53 players.
Second-round draft pick Dan Bazuin, a defensive end from Central Michigan, and third-round pick Michael Okwo, a linebacker from Stanford, were cut.
Bazuin was the 30th pick last year but missed the season after injuring a knee during offseason workouts. Okwo went on injured reserve with a shoulder injury before the start of last season.
Wide receivers Mike Hass and Brandon Rideau, who spent most of last year on the practice squad and had impressed coaches in preseason games, were also released.
Fullback Lousaka Polite, a five-year veteran, and guard Anthony Oakley were the only players released after playing in more than one game last year.
Also cut were tight end Fontel Mines, punter Zacrey Atterberry, defensive end Ervin Baldwin, tackle Cody Balogh, defensive back Trey Brown, defensive end Joe Clermond, long snapper Thomas Gafford, linebacker Joey LaRoque, defensive end Nick Osborn, safety Leonard Peters, guards Ryan Poles and Chester Adams, running back P.J. Pope, guard Tyler Reed and tight end Marcus Stone.
Baldwin, a seventh-round pick, was the only 2008 draft choice released Saturday.
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Simms among cuts as Bucs trim to 53.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released former starting quarterback Chris Simms on Saturday as they trimmed to the roster list of 53 players.
Other notable cuts were linebacker Ryan Nece and receiver Michael Spurlock, who last season became the first player to return a kickoff for a touchdown in the Bucs’ 31-year history.
The 28-year-old Simms has not played in a regular-season game in nearly two years and entered training camp fourth on the depth chart behind Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese and Luke McCown. Saturday’s move left rookie Josh Johnson as the fourth quarterback.
Simms missed the final 13 games of 2005 after taking several hard hits and having his spleen removed hours after a loss to the Carolina Panthers. He spent much of last season on injured reserve when he was slow to regain his pre-injury form.
The sixth-year pro, who took over for an injured Griese and helped the Bucs win the NFC South in 2005, asked to be released during the offeason, saying a soured relationship with coach Jon Gruden was beyond repair.
He appeared in three preseason games, completing 19 of 30 passes for 155 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.
The Bucs also released receivers Brian Clark and Chad Lucas; running backs Kenneth Darby and Clifton Smith; fullback Carl Stewart; guards Phil bogle, Chris Denman and Brian Johnson; tackles Dennis Roland and Chris Clark; cornerbacks Marcus Hamilton and Darrell Hunter; defensive tackles Dre Moore and Chris Bradwell; defensive ends Charles Bennett and Patrick Chukwurah, and tight end Daniel Fells.
Receiver Cortez Hankton was placed on injured reserve. Cornerback Sammy Davis was released from the IR list.
