Morstead wins starting P job with Saints

[mustangfan01]

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/20 ... unter.html


Congrats to Thomas! It will be nice to see another Mustang on Sundays -- it couldn't have happened to a better guy.

[SMU89]

Great news - happy for him.

[George S. Patton]

That is great news. Just had a feeling he was going to be punting somewhere on Sundays this year. He just changes the field position. And if the Saints traded up for him in the draft, that pretty much sealed the free agent's fate.

Are we down to him being the only SMU alum in the NFL or does Justin Rogers still have a job? Can't remember on Justin.

Thanks in advance.

[SMU89]

Are we down to him being the only SMU alum in the NFL or does Justin Rogers still have a job? Can't remember on Justin.

Thanks in advance.

Not to get off Morstead subject, but you asked about Justin Roger -- stats / info on the Cowboys site are interesting:

http://www.dallascowboys.com/team/team_ ... 0282A6DF39

50 Rogers, Justin
Linebacker
Height: 6-4
Weight: 250
College: SMU
Years: 3

PRO: With the availability of veteran linebacker Greg Ellis (heel) in question leading up to the 2007 season opener, the Dallas Cowboys claimed Justin Rogers off waivers from the New England Patriots on Sept. 2, 2007. Rogers provided depth at linebacker while seeing full-time action on Dallas' special teams units through the entire season. He spent most of his second season as a special teams coverage specialist and will be counted on once again in 2009 to continue his coverage abilities while also serving as a reserve linebacker. Upon signing with Dallas, Rogers returned to Texas where he played college ball at Southern Methodist University and attended Commerce High School in Greenville, Texas.

TRANSACTION SUMMARY:
9/2/07: Claimed off waivers (New England) by Dallas.
9/1/07: Waived by New England.
4/29/07: Drafted in the sixth round (180th overall) by New England.

2008:

* Finished his second pro season third on the team with 18 special teams tackles, playing in 15 games.
* Opened the season at Cleveland (9/7) with one special teams tackle before leading the squad with four stops at Green Bay (9/21).
* Tied for second on the team with two tackles on special teams against Washington (9/28) and tied for the team lead with two more against Cincinnati (10/5).
* Had one special teams tackle against Tampa Bay (10/26) and at the N.Y. Giants (11/2).
* Inactive with a back injury against San Francisco (11/23) then returned on Thanksgiving Day against Seattle (11/27) with a team-best four special teams tackles.
* Tied for the team lead with two special teams stops against Baltimore (12/20) in the final game at Texas Stadium.
* Closed out the season with a special teams tackle at Philadelphia (12/28).

2007:

* Played in four preseason games for the Patriots and logged 11 tackles and two sacks before his release on the final cut date.
* Arrived in Dallas prior to the season opener and played in all 16 games for the Cowboys, mainly on special teams.
* Finished fifth on the squad - tops among club rookies - with 16 special teams tackles. Also added three tackles on defense.
* Made his Cowboys and NFL debut on special teams in the season-opening win against the N.Y. Giants (9/9).
* Recorded his first career special teams tackle the next week at Miami (9/16).
* Saw action on defense, spelling DeMarcus Ware, against New England (10/14), and notched his first career defensive stop.
* Led the team with two special teams tackles in the Divisional Playoff Game against the N.Y. Giants (1/13/08).

COLLEGE:

* Started 33 of the 43 games he played at SMU and tallied 184 tackles - 32 for losses - 19.5 sacks, five forced fumbles and a blocked kick.
* His 19.5 sacks ranked second in school history.
* As a senior in 2006, earned first-team All-Conference USA honors, leading the team with 9.5 sacks along with 59 tackles and 15 tackles for losses.
* In 2005 as a junior, shared team Defensive MVP honors with a conference-best seven sacks along with 64 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles.
* As a sophomore in 2004, started nine games and finished with 27 tackles, 5.5 for loss with a team-high tying 2.5 sacks.
* As a redshirt freshman in 2003, played defensive end in all 12 games with two starts and recorded 34 �tackles.

PERSONAL:

* Justin Bullock Rogers was a two-time all-district first-team selection at Commerce High School.
* Was a key part in helping the school bring home state championships in 1999 and 2001.
* Also competed for the school's basketball and track teams and was an all-district selection in baseball.

COMMUNITY:

* 2007 Dallas Cowboys Rookie Club.
* Annual team Holiday Hospital Visits.
* Salvation Army Angel Tree Christmas Program.
* Dallas Cowboys Kickoff Luncheon and Cowboys Family and Cookbook benefitting Happy Hill Farm.
* Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas.

[MustangLaxer]

Justin Rogers was cut

[SMU_is_bowling]

Congrats Thomas!

[Big Hoss]

Fantastic! I guess I will have to continue to Tivo Saints game just to speed through them to watch him punt.

[ponyboy]

Justin Rogers was cut

This was apparently done reluctantly this week, but Justin was injured.

Great news on Morstead, the punter who looks more like a starting NFL QB than a punter.

[birddogger]

I'm a Saints fan (no comments please...), and was really excited to see Morstead drafted. But the front office caught a great deal of heat for trading up to get him (swapped 5th rounders and gave up a seventh). I think he will find the Superdome to his liking, and that the pick will be vindicated. The fans are beginning to warm up to him, as he's impressed with his ability to drop the ball inside the twenty. He's kicked a few short ones, but they have been unreturnable owing to the height.