The NFL cuts are coming thick and fast.
As teams continue to trim their rosters ahead of Tuesday’s deadline for 53-man squads, one player who’s been ruthlessly waived is Shilo Sanders.
Sanders, the older brother of the Cleveland Browns’ Shedeur Sanders, was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.
Shilo Sanders cut after punch and ejection
The news came after Sanders was ejected from Tampa Bay’s final preseason game against the Buffalo Bills.
Sanders was thrown out of the game after he punched Bills tight end Zach Davison after he was blocking him.
Bucs linebacker John Bullock tried to mediate the situation, but to no avail as Sanders walked off the field with head coach Todd Bowles looking at him.
“You can’t throw punches in this league — that’s inexcusable,” Bowles said after their 23-19 lost to the Bills.
“They’re going to get you every time. You’ve got to grow from that.”
Sanders wasn’t enjoying a great game anyway.
In the first quarter, he was flagged for a pass interference.
It’s probably his outburst played into the Bucs’ decision to waive Sanders given he was already fighting for the fourth and final safety spot.
He was competing with Kaevon Merriweather and Rashad Wisdom to provide backup to Antoine Winfield Jr., Tykee Smith and Christian Izien.
Despite Sanders now being without a contract or team, he would have been well compensated for his time in Tampa.
According to reports, the Bucs are still open to ‘doing business’ with the rookie, and could offer him a way back onto the team, likely on the team’s practice squad.
Released NFL players leave with a good paycheck
Shilo’s brother Deion Sanders Jr took to Instagram to share the financial realities of players who find themselves on practice squads.
It comes amid Shilo’s looming $12m bankruptcy case.
Deion’s post highlighted that said players earn around $13,000 per week, which leaves them with around $234,000 after training camp is over.
Meanwhile, veterans pick up $17,500 and $22,000 weekly, amounting to $315,000 and $396,000.
Below the contract information, Deion wrote: “People go to school for 6–8 years to make that kind of money.
“Y’all better go be scout-team warriors.”
Deion’s commentary suggests players who find themselves on practice squads still represents a significant opportunity that can them make more money in 18 weeks than many do in several years.
The NFL‘s roster structure is known to be brutal, with the teams starting camp with 90 players but ending with 53.
It leads to fierce competition, as witnessed in Cleveland with Shedeur and his fellow quarterbacks, and means many talented players are left high and dry.
NFL legend and Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe is confident that Shilo will find a new team following his cut.
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