Wolves prepare for final cuts
Roger Brown
nhfootballreport.com
The Manchester Wolves will finalize their 22-player roster Sunday or Monday morning, according to head coach Danton Barto.
"It's always tough to make cuts," Barto said following the team's intra-squad scrimmage Saturday. "I hate it because I've been in that position myself. It's never fun. We had a great group of guys who really worked hard in camp and you don't want to crush their dreams.
"I always go back to what my father told me and I truly believe it. He said that cutting a player is actually easier than keeping a player. The guys you keep reflect the organization and yourself and everything you stand for. When you cut a player, it's unfortunate for him, but fortunately for you, that's not your problem. The guys you keep reflect your decisions and your philosophy. I try to live by that, but it's never fun. I've told a lot of these guys that if any other team needs help at a certain position I will pick up the phone and go to bat for them. "
Another tough decision may be selecting the team's starting quarterback. Returning veteran James Pinkney, who came off the bench last season as a first-year player and led the Wolves into the playoffs, has been challenged in camp by rookie Mike Potts, who went to camp with the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers last summer and survived until the final NFL cut.
"Pinkney's been a big help to Mike," Barto said. "They've had a very professional competition where they both tried to help each other out. They congratulate each other when one's doing well and both have treated each other well. That's been very healthy for the team to see the guy who led us last year and the guy he's competing against both praising each other."
The Wolves will open the 2009 season Friday night against Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
