Late last year, Tori Gurley and Diondre Borel, two undrafted wide receivers on the Packers practice squad, turned down offers from other teams to join their 53-man rosters. The Packers gave both a pay raise, and each entered 2012 training camp aiming to convince the team he deserved to be the sixth wide receiver on the regular-season roster. Most people assumed the Packers would keep one of the two, but on Friday both were cut. According to ESPNMilwaukee.com, an NFL source confirmed the releases of Gurley and Borel. Both players have a shot at being signed off waivers.
Notable cuts: WR Tori Gurley (second year, South Carolina) -- The skinny on Gurley has always been that he’s big. At 6-foot-4, 232 pounds, Gurley is a physical presence who adds a sizeable dimension to the Packers offense, especially as a target in the red zone. He also seemed to be an asset on special teams, notably as a punt blocker. Ultimately, though, Gurley had a quiet camp. A groin injury hampered him early on and he never stood out until the preseason finale, when he caught two passes for 69 yards, including a 54-yard bomb. But he also dropped another deep pass in that game and doesn’t have great speed or separation ability. ... WR Borel (second year, Utah State) -- Borel was well-liked by coaches and especially quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who appreciated the way Borel, a college signal-caller, saw the game. He’s quick, runs crisp routes and is elusive after the catch. He struggled with drops in the preseason, with a couple critical ones in the second game. Though he started off camp strong, the drops and a groin injury set him back, and he didn’t do enough to earn a spot. DT Daniel Muir (fifth year, Kent State) -- One of the more notable names cut by the Packers on Friday was that of DT Daniel Muir. Often the loudest guy on the practice field, Muir brought intensity and enthusiasm to a defensive line that last season was a beleaguered and belittled for its struggles. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Muir’s agent confirmed the release. Signed as an unrestricted free agent in the offseason, Muir had a strong training camp and was lauded by coaches as a high-effort, energetic player. Earlier this week, coach Mike McCarthy said, “Daniel Muir has had a very good camp. What you always appreciate about Daniel is his energy level and what he brings to the table every single day. He works extremely hard … he’s got a lot of juice. He’s battling and I think he’s doing a nice job." The news was also surprising given that last week the Packers released fellow DT Anthony Hargrove, another voluble veteran, who was suspended the first eight games of the season. That move seemed to be good news for Muir, and when starting DT B.J. Raji sprained his ankle in the preseason finale Thursday against the Chiefs, most people assumed Muir would be on the 53-man roster.
Cut list
RB Marc Tyler (first year, undrafted free agent in 2012, USC); S Anthony Levine (second year, undrafted free agent in 2010, Tennessee State); C Sampson Genus (second year, undrafted free agent in 2011, South Florida); OT Andrew Datko (first year, drafted in seventh round in 2012, Florida State); OL Reggie Wells (10th year, unrestricted free agent in 2012, Clarion); OG Greg Van Roten (first year, undrafted free agent in 2012, Pennsylvania); WR Dale Moss (first year, undrafted free agent in 2012, South Dakota State); WR Diondre Borel (second year, undrafted free agent in 2011, Utah State); TE Brandon Bostick (first year, undrafted free agent in 2012, Newberry); WR Tori Gurley (second year, undrafted free agent in 2011, South Carolina); WR Curenski Gilleylen (first year, undrafted free agent in 2012, Nebraska); OT Shea Allard (first year, undrafted free agent in 2012, Delaware); C/G Tommie Draheim (first year, undrafted free agent in 2012, San Diego State); DT Daniel Muir(fifth year, unrestricted free agent in 2012, Kent State), CB Otis Merrill (first year, undrafted free agent in 2012, Illinois State); FB Nic Cooper (first year, undrafted free agent in 2012, Winston-Salem State).
Other moves: Waived WR Shaky Smithson (second year, undrafted free agent in 2011, Utah) from the injured reserve list with an injury settlement. Placed OT Derek Sherrod (second year, drafted in first round in 2011, Mississippi State) on reserve/physically unable to perform (PUP) list. Placed LB Vic So’oto (second year, undrafted free agent in 2011, Brigham Young) on injured reserve (IR) list.
For more updates on the Packers, follow correspondent James Carlton on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLGB and @jimmycarlton88.