NFL insider
Undated file photo of Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Belichick explained why coaches don't look forward to cutdown day. Credit: AP
A coach's toughest task
NFL coaches go through a lot over the course of a season, but one annual chore never gets easier: telling a player on cutdown day he's no longer wanted.
It happened throughout the league Saturday when teams had to get down to the 53-man roster limit.
"It's the worst part of the job," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "You start with 90 players and you know you're going to have to release 37 of them or 37 of them can't make your roster. Guys work hard, they give you everything they've got, they go out there and compete, and not everybody can make it. It's something you have to deal with every year. It doesn't really get any easier. It's always a grouping of people and you're affecting their lives and their families and their careers and trying to do what's best for the team, but that still can be tough."
Giants coach Tom Coughlin agreed. Asked if it gets any easier over the years, he said: "No. Saturday is a three-Advil morning."
Build-a-bully in Oakland
Raiders first-year head coach Hue Jackson is trying to establish a mentality of toughness this season, and he makes no apologies for wanting the Raiders to come off as a bunch of bullies.
"Trust me when I tell you. I'm going to build this bully," Jackson told reporters. "I know people don't see it yet but that's OK. I am going to build a bully, we're going to be a bully, we have the ingredients to be a bully and I expect this team to be a bully."
Jackson can start by building a bully along the defensive line, especially against the run. The Raiders were 29th in rush defense last year, a major reason they couldn't get to the playoffs after sweeping (6-0) their AFC West schedule.
