Steelers roster cuts: Releasing Landry Jones makes some sense

The suggestion of keeping six running backs and four wide receivers is a popular notion, as it turns out.

Tribune Review reporter Mark Kaboly floated the same notion in a blog entry Friday, but he added an interesting and understandable twist.

Releasing rookie quarterback Landry Jones.

Writes Kaboly:

"The rookie Jones gives them roster flexibility (practice squad eligibility) at the position – something the Steelers didn’t have when they had veterans like Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich as their backups. The Steelers will take advantage of that with Jones."

It's an excellent point. The only issue is the idea of keeping a quarterback on the practice squad. Teams don't do this very often because the minute another quarterback goes down, practice squad players from other teams are prime targets. Plus, if it's a player from a team on their schedule, he becomes even more attractive.

Not to mention the notion of putting a fourth-round pick who was a known project in the first place in harm's way seems a bit too flippant of a mentality.

That doesn't mean it won't happen, though. He played the entire game against Carolina for a reason - partially due to there not being a point to test Ben Roethlisberger and barely much more of a reason to put in Bruce Gradkowski.

Many people clamored for Jerrod Johnson to be selected as the team's third quarterback last season, and when he wasn't (losing out to veteran Charlie Batch), they said he should have been placed on the practice squad.

In many ways a team won't expose themselves to the risk and effort to develop a quarterback who can be taken away just as quickly, negating all the work put in and money spent. If he's good enough to develop, he's good enough to be on the roster.

But as Kaboly points out, having position flexibility is a valuable thing, especially on a team that has so much young talent.

More from Behind the Steel Curtain:

• Steelers vs. Panthers Postgame News and Updates
• Keeping six running backs, Felix Jones in particular, adds special teams depth
• Little has changed in running backs group
• Final 53 man roster predictions
• Colbert: No contracts being negotiated
• 5 things we learned this preseason
• Chris Carter named Steelers Digest Player of the Week
• Steelers fans reactions to loss to Carolina
• Winners and Losers from Steelers loss to Panthers
• Steelers lose 25-10 to Panthers in preseason finale
• Will Johnson injury update
• Steelers vs. Panthers: Linebackers are what to watch
• NFL settles concussion suit
• Which Panthers player would you want on the Steelers roster?
• 2014 NFL Mock Draft
• Steelers Film Room: Redman should start
• 5 Questions with Cat Scratch Reader
• Mike Adams sounds off on Johnny Manziel
• Steelers vs. Panthers: Last-ditch effort for several Steelers first-year players
• Steelers Film Room: The boom or bust running back

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