Lions Cuts: Andrew Fluellen, Everette Brown among second wave of cuts

On Friday afternoon, the Lions released the names of seven more players from the cut list, including DT Andrew Fluellen and DE Everette Brown.

By John Kreger

Aug 31, 2012 at 5:20 pm ET • 3 min read

For players who lose their chance at making an NFL roster on deadline day, the business of football can be very cruel indeed. CB Alphonso Smith and P Ryan Donahue both started their Lions' careers by being part of tough roster deadline day choices. This season, they were the notable names who were notified of their expected release early Friday.

Later Friday afternoon, the Lions announced released the names of seven more players who were notified of roster decisions Friday afternoon. Several players on the list would've easily made the roster in previous seasons,leaving the team with three more decisions to make before Friday's deadline. The quality of players that the team was expected to release Friday -- like longtime Lion Andre Fluellen -- is a tangible sign of the franchise's improvement.

Notable cuts: WR Maurice Stovall (7th year, Notre Dame) was a special teams regular last season, but his reps diminished as camp progressed. The fact that DE Everette Brown (3rd year, Florida State) had his name released well before the deadline is surprising, since he had a productive camp. Brown was a victim of the numbers game along the DLs, but there was speculation that GM Martin Mayhew would try to trade him before the deadline. CB Justin Miller (5th year, Clemson) is an interesting choice. His reps increased as camp progressed, and he was a player capable of handling special teams duties. His release leaves the Lions with five CBs on the roster, an indication that rookie Jonte Green's job may be safe for now. ... CB Alphonso Smith (4th year, Wake Forest) was acquired from Denver in a deadline-day trade in 2010. Although Smith had the big-play potential required of an NFL CB, his performance was streaky at best. He was outplayed near the end of camp by Justin Miller, and the arrival of Kevin Barnes from Washington may have sealed his fate. The writing for Smith's release was on the wall when he didn't start Detroit's preseason finale despite injuries to Bill Bentley and Chris Houston. P Ryan Donahue (2nd year, Iowa) beat out veteran P Nick Harris on deadline day last season and had every chance to win the job this year. He was outperformed by Ben Graham in each of Detroit's last two preseason games. When Graham nailed a key punt late in Thursday's preseason finale -- earning rare special teams plaudits from Jim Schwartz -- Donahue saw his roster bubble burst.

Complete cut list

G Rodney Austin (rookie, undrafted, Elon) , DE Everette Brown (3rd year, 2nd round in 2009 draft, Florida State), CB Reshard Langford (3rd year, undrafted, Vanderbilt), WR Lance Long (2nd year, undrafted, Mississippi State), CB Justin Miller (5th year, 2nd round in 2005 draft, Clemson), WR Maurice Stovall (7th year, 3rd round in 2006 draft, Notre Dame), DT Andre Fluellen (5th year, 3rd round of 2008 draft, Florida State), G Pat Boyle (rookie, undrafted, Temple), P Ryan Donahue (2nd year, undrafted, Iowa), CB Alphonso Smith (4th year, 2ndround in 2009 draft, Wake Forest), DE Ugo Chinasa (2nd year, undrafted, Oklahoma State), TE Alex Gottlieb (rookie, undrafted, William & Mary), WR Nate Hughes (4th year, undrafted, Alcorn St.), DT Edmon McClam (rookie, undrafted, Old Dominion), LB Carmen Messina (rookie, undrafted, New Mexico), WR Wallace Miles (rookie, undrafted. North Carolina A & T), DT Tracy Robertson (rookie, undrafted, Baylor), CB Ross Weaver (3rd year, undrafted, Michigan State), TE Austin Wells (rookie, undrafted, Northern Iowa). G Dan Gerberry (1st year, Ball State); WR Patrick Edwards (rookie, undrafted, Houston).