There was plenty of wheeling and dealing on Saturday around the NFL as teams faced a deadline to trim their rosters to 53 players ahead of the opening of the regular season.

Quarterback Casey Printers, the CFL's most outstanding player in 2004, was among the players released by the Kansas City Chiefs.

Casey Printers was released for the second straight season by Kansas City but could find his way onto their practice roster.Casey Printers was released for the second straight season by Kansas City but could find his way onto their practice roster.
(Bill Kostroun/Associated Press)

Printers was cut by the Chiefs last year but later placed on their practice roster, which could again occur, as early as Sunday.

Contrary to published reports in Canada that had him potentially returning to the CFL, Printers has not refused to consider a spot on the practice roster.

The Cincinnati Bengals traded for St. Louis backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The University of Harvard product had seen limited duty with the Rams behind Marc Bulger.

To make room, the Bengals released veteran quarterback Doug Johnson.

In another trade, the Seattle Seahawks sent safety Michael Boulware to the Houston Texans for defensive end Jason Babin.

The Seahawks also acquired running back Alvin Pearman from the Jacksonville Jaguars for an undisclosed draft pick.

Several veterans and aspiring players were also released.

As hinted by Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio on Friday, veteran quarterback Byron Leftwich was let go.

The Dallas Cowboys cut cornerback Aaron Glenn, a 13-year veteran with three Pro Bowl appearances.

The Buffalo Bills released quarterback Craig Nall. The veteran appeared to have a lock on the No. 2 spot behind J. P. Losman heading into training camp, but the club has been impressed with the pre-season play of rookie Trent Edwards.

The Bills also released rookie defensive end C. J. Ah You. The University of Oklahoma product is the nephew of Junior Ah You, who played the same position for the Montreal Alouettes in the 1970s and is enshrined in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Nall's former club, the Green Bay Packers, parted ways with veteran safety Marquand Manuel.

Crockett released by Raiders

The Oakland Raiders cut veteran fullback Zack Crockett, who has appeared in 109 consecutive games dating back to 1999. Crockett was made expendable by the off-season acquisition of Justin Griffith, formerly of Atlanta.

Chris Leak, who led the University of Florida to the NCAA football title in January, could not find a spot as quarterback for the Chicago Bears.

The Philadelphia Eagles released two-time Olympian Jeremy Bloom, who was looking to latch on as a kick returner. Bloom, whose greatest athletic success came as a freestyle skier, played football in college.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers kept quarterback Chris Simms, whose status was rumoured to be in jeopardy. The Bucs currently have four pivots on their roster, and figure to trade or place one on injured reserve.

Former CFL great Jeff Garcia, who resurrected his NFL career in Philadelphia last season, is the starter, ahead of Bruce Gradkowski and Luke McCown.

Players put on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list and who are ineligible to play for the first six games of the season include Tennessee Titans wide receiver David Givens, New England Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour, and running back Priest Holmes, who is attempting a comeback with Kansas City after two years out of the league.

Indianapolis and New Orleans will kick off the NFL season on Thursday, with most other teams making their debuts on Sept. 9.

Other notable players who were waived or had their contracts terminated included:

  • Billy Cundiff, kicker, Atlanta Falcons.
  • Ken Dorsey, quarterback, Cleveland Browns.
  • Az-Zahir Hakim, wide receiver/returner, Miami Dolphins.
  • Tim Hasselbeck, quarterback, New York Giants.
  • Verron Haynes, running back, Pittsburgh Steelers.
  • Dhani Jones, linebacker, New Orleans Saints.
  • Clarence Moore, wide receiver, Baltimore Ravens.
  • Artose Pinner, running back, Minnesota Vikings.
  • Antonio Pittman, running back, New Orleans Saints.
  • Will Poole, cornerback, Kansas City Chiefs.
  • Tim Rattay, quarterback, Tennessee Titans.
  • Sam Rayburn, defensive tackle, San Francisco 49ers.
  • Corey Schlesinger, fullback, Miami Dolphins.
  • Omar Stoutmire, safety, Washington Redskins.
  • Joey Thomas, cornerback, Dallas Cowboys.

  • Kimo von Oelhoffen, defensive lineman, New York Jets.