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We are going to see a lot of 53-man roster predictions in the coming weeks.
Every year at around this time, the first 53-man roster projections pop up. And (almost) every year we dutifully chronicle those first roster projections. I usually preface these summaries with an introduction like this:
“Not to be a killjoy here, but if the past 15 years or so that I’ve been intensely following the Dallas Cowboys training camp have taught me anything, it’s that rosters are largely set before the offseason program even begins, and most of the extra players brought in are little more than sparring and training partners for the roster locks.
That is the stark reality of NFL life.
Injuries and standout performances in camp provide the opportunity for maybe a handful of players each year to work their way onto the roster, but that’s pretty much it.”
That sure sounds nice and sufficiently nonchalant to perhaps even appear insightful, but is that actually true?
