Weslye Saunders Released

More people need to be looking at this.

What we've seen in Saunders so far is potential. Remember the coaches will have seen a lot more.

I'm still surprised by the move, but I'm not about to condemn it UNTIL Saunders actually does develop into the big game threat we seem to be taking it for granted he will blossom into.

 

I don't get it either. The only thing I can think is that it must be something behind the scenes. Maybe they were really upset about his suspension. I also get that Pope is Haley's guy, but Saunders is head and shoulders above him in every phase. Even Haley has to recognize this. Pope's play has landed him on the bench. He can't block worth crap (kind of important for a 3rd tight end, don't you think?), and he doesn't have any of the same receiving skills as Saunders, including speed, hands, quickness... He's got nothing on Wes. And that's just if you compare the two players right now. Once you factor in the upside Saunders has and the upside Pope doesn't have, it's not even close.

This has to be more about Saunders than it is about Pope. Otherwise, how is it Tomlin benches Haley's guy, but Haley makes the call about who to cut? Why would Tomlin choose to keep the guy he just benched over a guy clearly better in every way? They must be having serious problems with Wes, because if they had even a decent relationship with him, he'd be on the field in the next game.

 

Saunders played better as a rookie than Pope has played this year. Even if his potential never comes through and we don't see that massive upside, he'd have to get substantially worse to be legitimately beaten out by Pope.

 

When did Pope get benched? I saw him all through the Titans game.

HACK

 

There could very well be more to it than we think. They took a chance on Saunders, he was kicked of his college team....his baggage led some to believe he didn't have the mental focus for the NFL. They might have gave him a one-strike rule when he was brought in.

If the story is the coaches had some problems with him I would not be surprised.

 

During training camp I remember reading something about him getting a reputation for always being in the trainers room, complaining about this and that.

 

It is amazing to me that Pope can't block. If you see him in person he is a MAMMOTH!!! I think he's 6'8 actually isn't he? How can a guy like that NOT be able to block?! He oughtta be able to just lay dudes out with size like that.

 

I would be surprised if there were not some closed door issues going on here. I agree with Snack that Saunders has shown a lot (certainly compared to Pope's far longer career). But given th current situation with injuries and whatnot, it just points to there being extracurricular things at stake.

 

Yeah if you see him standing beside the other guys it's pretty amazing. But I don't think he's what you would call a good player. Noone wants him and doesn't he only have like 1 touchdown his whole career?

 

Not too many TE's are like Gronk. But Saunders sure seems to better fit the bill than Pope.

 

In the last couple games he was demoted to the #3 TE role...I think using "benched" may have been the wrong word choice by whoever said it. But I dont think he played at all versus the Eagles...and he wasnt in the game but a few snaps (late in the game I think) versus the Titans....3 to be exact...now that I checked. Where the previous weeks he was the #2 TE and Paulson #3.

 

How is that not getting benched?

 

He'll make another team for sure.

 

will he be brought back when the steelers waive taamu?

 

The reason the team Pope was he's a vested veteran even if he was waived the team would still owe him 840,000 salary. They really like the rookie TE Paulson he's playing more than Pope now.