Two, most club executives share information about whom they will cut in June so the interested teams can study the players and be ready to pounce the day they are let go. Finally, in some of these cases, older veterans can bring leadership to a team. That was certainly the case with Brian Mitchell joining the Eagles. Mitchell is well known as an intense competitor with a great work ethic. That's the kind of guy Andy Reid really wants on his team.
Most teams operate very close to the top of the salary cap.
DT Ariz. Last week, Detroit quarterback Charlie Batch went down with a knee injury at minicamp and could miss up to half the season. With little cap room to work with, the Lions signed career backup Stoney Case. Case will not help this team compete in the tough NFC Central. J.R. Redmond's groin injury could hamper him all year. The Patriots are tight in the cap, have already cut veterans Bruce Armstrong and Terry Allen for financial reasons, and can't afford down time from the rookies hurt in minicamp.