Local products among those on Nighthawks' roster bubble

Omaha Nighthawks players Tierre Green and Jeff Souder are prepared for the worst and hoping for the best.

A couple of Nighthawks with local ties, Green and Souder are among the players who probably rest squarely on the bubble heading into final decisions on the make-up of Omaha’s roster.

United Football League teams have to reduce their rosters to 52 players by 3 p.m. Thursday. Teams also will be able to retain the rights to four other players who may or may not have been in training camp.

Green, the former Nebraska player and cousin of Nighthawk running back Ahman Green, is trying to make the squad as a running back. Souder, who played collegiately at both Nebraska and UNO, is trying to earn a spot at linebacker, although he started training camp as a fullback.

“I’ve been playing special teams, and that might help out a little bit, too," Souder said. “I’ll have to see what happens. I know they have to make some tough decisions because there are a lot of good players here."

Asked if he would sleep well Wednesday or give in to nerves, Green smiled.

“I’m not going to worry," he said. “I feel good about what I’ve done in camp, and I know that there are things that I could have done better. But you really can’t look back on the past; you have to keep looking to the future.

“I think they’ve given me ample opportunity, and I’ve tried to do my best that I could do with this chance. I’m happy with what I’ve done, and I’m glad that I’ve had this opportunity. You can’t ask for much more than that."

The Nighthawks had 62 players on the roster when they practiced Wednesday. The team had waived six players Monday and two more Tuesday, but also added five players. The latest addition — former Wisconsin center Donovan Raiola — joined the team Wednesday.

Raiola is the younger brother of former Husker Dominic Raiola, who plays for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League.

Ted Sundquist, the Nighthawks’ player personnel director, said the coaching staff and front office personnel planned to meet Wednesday night to hash out the final decisions. He said about 90 percent of the decisions had already been made.

Sundquist, who spent the past six of his 16 years with the Denver Broncos as the team’s general manager, said that’s probably comparable to what it would be for an NFL team heading into the final 24 hours before cut-down day.

“The last ones are always the toughest," he said.

Sundquist did offer a peek at what the final roster could be in terms of the number of players the Nighthawks probably will keep at each position.

According to Sundquist, the Nighthawks probably will keep three quarterbacks, three running backs, a fullback, three tight ends, six wide receivers and nine linemen on offense. On the defensive side, the likely breakdown will be nine linemen, nine defensive backs and six linebackers.

The Nighthawks also probably will keep three specialists — a punter, a kicker and a long snapper. The numbers could change, Sundquist said, if players with multiple skills are selected.

“If you have a linebacker that can also long snap, that could change things a bit," he said. “Or a cornerback that could also play wide receiver. It always help to be versatile."

Based on Sundquist’s projections, the positions that will be most affected by cuts are running back, linebacker and wide receiver. As of Wednesday, the Nighthawks still had five running backs, 10 wide receivers and nine linebackers on the roster.

Souder said he’s noticed an increase in intensity in the past couple of practices given what’s at stake.

“Guys don’t really talk about it but there seems to have been more grit and grime and hard work," he said. “(Cuts) are in the back of everyone’s heads, especially the young guys. You know you can’t do anything about it but we all know judgment day is coming."

Souder, whose final season at UNO was in 2008, is going through his first training camp. Regardless of what happens, he said, the experience has rekindled a desire to stay in the game.

“I’m only 23," he said. “A lot of these guys are eight- and nine-year pros. I’ve seen how they haven’t given up. That’s a lot of motivation to keep working hard and staying involved.

“But being young, I still want to play right now."

Tierre Green, too, has been re-energized from a football standpoint. After completing his Husker career in 2007, Green participated in the Green Bay Packers’ rookie camp in 2008 but was not offered a contract.

He returned to Omaha and started preparing for life after football. The Nighthawks gave him a chance to get back into the game. Whether it works out, Green said, he’s grateful for the opportunity.

“I’m not nervous about it, but I am waiting to see what the outcome will be," he said. “I’ve gotten another opportunity to play the sport I love. To say I got a chance to play it professionally, not a whole lot of people get that chance."

NOTES: Work has started on preparing Rosenblatt Stadium for the Nighthawks’ first game on Sept. 24. The protective net behind home plate has been removed and the support poles will soon come down. The pitching mound has been removed and the infield and warning tracks are being prepared for sodding. The UFL has agreed to pay the cost of sodding those areas, Nighthawks General Manager Rick Mueller said ... Donovan Raiola joins the Nighthawks after spending training camp with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was among the players cut Saturday when the NFL team reduced its roster to 53.

Contact the writer:

679-2298, steve.pivovar@owh.com

« Sports - Main

Share