NFL practice squads

[DangerDan]

Are these filled with guys who have skill and strength but just not enough to make the roster and are only an injury away from making the roster?

Or can just anybody be on the practice squad?

Does the practice squad run that week's opponet's offense or defense?

How much do they get paid?

Thanks.

Any other info. is aprectiated too.

[HenryHill]

from wikipedia-

Each NFL team may keep up to eight members on their "practice squad" in addition to their 53-member main roster. They consist mostly of rookies who were cut in training camps and borderline NFL-caliber players. Both rookies and young veterans are eligible for the practice squad. However, a player cannot participate on the practice squad for more than two seasons. Practice squad players practice alongside regular roster players during the week; however they are not allowed to play in actual games. They are paid considerably less that active squad players ($4000 per week or $64,000 per season, in comparison to the NFL minimum rookie salary of $225,000). They are also ineligible for many fringe benefits such as service time, pensions, and the like. They hope to be promoted to the active roster either by their current team, or by another team who is scouting them. They retain free agent status and may sign with any team they wish without compensation to the original team. Many are former college players living in the surrounding city area, and the vast majority of them are forced to take other jobs to help support themselves during the season and off-season.

[fballplyer90]

everything in that summary is right except for the end, they dont work side jobs, there is not time for it and they dont need to financially, even in the offseason they only have like 2-3 months (even less then this if they get sent to NFL Europe) off until offseason workouts start up

they get moved up if a guy isnt getting it done on the regular roster and the team releases him and gives a practice squad guy a chance (usually a special teams player/backup) or injuries, a decent amount of practice squad guys that start at the begining of the season get moved up, others will get signed to the practice squad later in the year (even the last few weeks) to fill spots and also get sent to NFL Europe for more evaluation

[ProWrestleFan]

This is my current goal. To either land an arena spot or a spot on an NFL practice squad. Right now I play semi pro in the CFL for the Wichita Cougars. (CFleague.com/ WichitaCougars.Com)

[Ace50]

i read in the article the practice squad does like nothing with the team, they don't get to eat with the team, they don't go to games, they basically are dummies for the team to practice on. They wear different jerseys.

THe players on the practice squad are still good tho and could probobly start soon.

[doubledee]

up to 64,000 for a PS player!! sweet mother of jehosophat!! thats a heckuva deal!

[fballplyer90]

i read in the article the practice squad does like nothing with the team, they don't get to eat with the team, they don't go to games, they basically are dummies for the team to practice on. They wear different jerseys.

THe players on the practice squad are still good tho and could probobly start soon.

thats not true, they do everything with the team except travel to away games and go to the walk thru before an away game, if its a home game they are on the sidelines during the game.

as far as the pay i think its getting up to around 70,000 now, the only thing that sucks is your future is always up in the air from week to week, like if a player at another position gets hurt and cant play, a team might have to make roster moves that could result in you getting released

[ProWrestleFan]

Yeah, you can get signed to a practice squad and be there for one week, get released and never return to the NFL at all. That is what happened to the GM of my semi pro team. Now he runs a consulting business and trys to help us/others make it.

[2kool4skool]

It is hard to make a practice squad, they aren't going to take you unless you are a serious player.

Just to give you an idea of how competitive it is(not trying to discourage you though if you want it as a goal)

Omar Jacobs is one of the all-time best QB's in MAC conference history. Broke every school record, invited to many all-star games, great physical stats, big, strong arm, fats for a QB, even came out a year early from college.

He made the Pittsburgh Steelers practice squad for about 2-3 weeks and got cut.

[watchandsee23]

I thought omar jacobs was the 3rd QB behind charlie batch? The only reason I think he wasn't drafted earlier b/c of his age and throwing motion.

[ProWrestleFan]

I personally think Arena is where its at if you wanna make it to a pro level. It is the easiest to get into. I just barely missed the cut for a local pro team here that is highly scouted by the KC AFL team.

[fballplyer90]

I personally think Arena is where its at if you wanna make it to a pro level. It is the easiest to get into. I just barely missed the cut for a local pro team here that is highly scouted by the KC AFL team.

its easier then the NFL, but is still hard as hell to stick, especially with the new rule changes. I would say 80 percent of the guys have been in NFL camps or practice squad and tons have been on active rosters of NFL teams, but it is nice that they still scout develpomental leagues, there are a lot of guys from the AF2 that get a shot in AFL camps every year (as well as other leagues)

[ProWrestleFan]

Yeah, the league I play in gets scouts to come out. There is a guy in NFL Europe right now that was picked up from my league... I just really wanna make it somewhere. Any level. So long as it is considered pro and I keep developing. That would make me happy...

[m dot holla]

Marcus Vick is on the practice squad for the dolphins as a WR