From Starter to Street: Birds Cut Rolle
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
From Starter to Street: Birds Cut Rolle
Les Bowen
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.
This guy was their best linebacker last season.. How do you go from that, to on the street in months?— FetchDixon- Fetch: I think you answered your own question. The LBs stunk last year.— Vituperator
- I don't like the move, there has to be more to this story. He will be signed and play for another team, I hope not in the NFC East. Bad move by the Eagles!— richrose97
- He was cut to send a message to the special teams unit and the team as a whole.— Tom Crymes
- I think Rolle has a future in the NFL. I wonder what the rest of the story is here.— Paul SoTX
- Has to be more is right. I liked him last year because he could tackle.
d1955h- I think our draft this year was excellent.— hawk18 - He let a down attitude shine through and nobody can tolerate that situation. He probably mouthed off and Reid sent a message— JIM IAQUINTO
yeah he probly mouthed off with something like "SEE we WIN when we RUN", or "who doesnt love himself some ICING" (icing on cakes get it..) or "we rule the CAP!" yeah AR probly sending a message because very nasty manager commonly has a whipping boy that he exploits to try and make himself look tough .. im glad we were 30/30 ish run/pass ..but i still dooooont like fatty and definitely DONT trust him to do anythign but keep makin himself rich.— daveH- Chaney is a much better tackler and much bigger than Rolle. . Chaney, Ryans and kendricks with Jordan as 4th guy is best set of LB's we had a LONG LONG time.— howardp
- I am going to watch the film on the kickoff coverage. Something clearly broke down. I agree, Chaney, Ryans and Kendricks are the best group since....Trotter, Emmons and Caldwell/Gardner— willbert31
- you're going to watch the film??? Haha, did AR and Lurie invite you in for film session since you're so knowledgeable of special teams?
There's a differenc ebetween watching a DVR copy of the game and actually film of it. You're the kind who make Philly Phans look like idiots.— doza4 - Wow 36 yards a return. It's all about keeping in your lanes. SO why wasn't the special teams coach put out in the street? The guy had what 6 friggin KO returns and April did nothing to prevent his own kicker from kicking to him? I mean WTF!!!!— mainstreet
- This sends a key message to the locker room. Bobby April should have his bags packed and sat next to the door. Mediocre can not be accepted. Next get rid of some of those loafer Offensive Linemen. Boy, are they a disappointment.— Dexter
- There are so many good o linemen out on the market right now right? I bet it would be easy to replace our bums. Thanks for the idiot comment. — j-ritch
