Eagles

From Starter to Street: Birds Cut Rolle

Brian Rolle started 13 games at weakside linebacker for the Eagles last season. Coaches considered him a gritty overachiever as a sixth-round draft choice from Ohio State.

40 comments

From Starter to Street: Birds Cut Rolle

POSTED: Tuesday, October 2, 2012, 10:46 AM

Les Bowen

Brian Rolle, left, has been released by the Eagles. (Yong Kim/Staff Photographer)

Brian Rolle started 13 games at weakside linebacker for the Eagles last season. Coaches considered him a gritty overachiever as a sixth-round draft choice from Ohio State.

But Rolle, generously listed at 5-10, lost his starting job in training camp, and never really showed his rookie tenacity when demoted to special teams. Two days after allowing the New York Giants to average 36.2 yards on six kickoff returns, the Eagles cut Rolle Tuesday, bringing back Adrian Moten, a linebacker they'd cut in the preseason. It seems pretty likely Moten's main role will be special teams, which haven't covered kicks or punts well this season.

Also returning is another 2011 Eagles sixth-round pick, offensive lineman Julian Vandervelde, who is joining the Eagles' practice squad after having been released from the Tampa Bay practice squad. Vandervelde's Eagles highlight so far is his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner before the Flight Night practice in August.

Released was longsnapper Kyle Nelson, who was on the practice squad just in case Jon Dorenbos' ankle didn't allow him to play last week.

40 comments

Comments (40)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:59 PM, 10/02/2012

The Eagles brought in Bobby April who was supposed to be one of the best special teams coaches. Since he has been here we haven't been very good on special teams. John Harbal was the last coach who had great special teams here. Reed needs to scrape Booby April off his shoes and get someone who can coach them.

— Bobbyeagle

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 6:08 PM, 10/02/2012

Please post again, but this time misspell even more names.

— blaqjaq

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 9:02 PM, 10/02/2012

He sucked

— Jay Grace 69

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 9:25 PM, 10/02/2012

I dont know what people mean by"sending a messege" or "the rest of story".Do your freakin job or hit the freakin road is not some new concept,they obviousely have a need there and took a step to correct it, that is the story,and if anybody on special teams needed to be "sent that messege" then they need to be sent packing too!

— greensob

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 9:25 PM, 10/02/2012

— greensob

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:17 PM, 10/02/2012

he's got new england written all over him

— SyddBarrett

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 10:34 PM, 10/02/2012

they should bring back that bubble gum chewing Danny Smith as Special Teams coach.

— watsonmr

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 11:00 PM, 10/02/2012

the coverage units havent been that terrible this season, until the other night. bobby april is a veteran coach who is well regarded in this league. u dont can him over one game.

— AFJAY

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:35 AM, 10/03/2012

and tothink reid kept him over keenan clayton,a player with talent, height awho could actually play . one more example of reid not being a good judge of talent.rolle missed far too many tackles and commited far too many penalties. i agree with wampwamp, they should have kept clayton,by the way, jordan, matthews,and chaney stink too.

— swgaston49