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NFL roster cut deadline 2013 FAQs

The NFL's final roster cut deadline for the 2013 season is approaching. When is the deadline? How many players have to be cut? We break down all of the pertinent information.

By Kevin Nogle
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Currently, the Miami Dolphins have 75 players on the roster, but can only have a 53-man roster once the season starts. While we have been discussion potential cuts, building roster projections, and watching the "bubble" all week, we have not actually take a basic look at the rules around the actual cuts. We fix that with a look at the NFL cut down deadline frequently asked questions.

When is the deadline?

Saturday, August 31, 6:00pm ET.

When can cuts happen?

At any time. There is no set starting time for the cuts, and some teams have already begun. The Dolphins released five players before the cut deadline from 90 to 75 last week, then waited until just before the deadline to release the others. With the team having a night game last night, today will likely be a day of meetings between the scouting staff and the coaching staff, with cuts waiting until tonight or tomorrow to actually be announced.

What is the roster limit?

They are cutting down from 75 players to 53 players.

Who makes the decision on players to be cut?

It's a join decision that will come down to General Manager Jeff Ireland and Head Coach Joe Philbin. Players will have to turn in their iPad playbooks and will visit with Ireland, Philbin, and their position coach once the decision to release them happens.

Will that be the roster we see next week at the Cleveland Browns?

Probably not. Players with less than four accrued years of NFL experience must be waived, and are not outright released. All 31 other teams will then have a 24-hour period to place a claim on the player, adding him to their roster. After a player clears waivers, or if he is a veteran and simply was released, he can sign as a free agent. The Dolphins have historically be active on the trade market during this time of year, so that's a possibility as well.

What injuries could impact the Dolphins' roster plans?

Obviously, a lot of factors go into how to build a 53-man roster. For the Dolphins this year, the season injury to Dustin Keller will play a role on the roster, with players like Michael Egnew and Kyle Miller more likely to make the roster without the big named starter on top of the depth chart. Dion Jordan's shoulder will also play a part, as the team tries to plan for how much they can expect from the third overall pick early this season. Armon Binns' season ending injury also opened the door for some other receivers to try to make the roster.

What about the practice squad?

We will have more on the practice squad later, but the basics are, the Dolphins can sign up to eight players to be on their practice squad. These players do not count against the 53-man roster, and are typically younger players with limited to no experience in the NFL, but have potential if the coaching staff continues to work with them. Free agents may sign with any team's practice squad, meaning players will have to clear the waiver process discussed above in order to be added to a practice squad.

Who could get cut?

I posted this morning my final projection of the 53-man roster. Check it out, and feel free to discuss my predictions in the comments. You can also submit your own 53-man roster projection here, and we will compile all the submissions later today and breakdown the Phinsider Community's 53-man roster projection.

Who is currently on Miami's roster?

Here is the current 75-man roster for the Dolphins:

Number Player Position Height Weight Age Experience College
60 Jeff Adams T 6-7 305 23 1 Columbia
46 Antwan Applewhite DE 6-3 258 27 6 San Diego State
62 Chris Barker G 6-2 305 23 R Nevada
65 Sam Brenner C 6-2 301 23 R Utah
16 Chad Bumphis WR 5-10 196 23 R Mississippi State
28 Nolan Carroll CB 6-1 205 26 4 Maryland
77 Tyson Clabo T 6-6 329 31 9 Wake Forest
42 Charles Clay FB/TE 6-3 250 24 3 Tulsa
30 Chris Clemons S 6-1 214 27 5 Clemson
4 Aaron Corp QB 6-4 220 24 1 Richmond
3 Keenan Davis WR 6-3 215 22 R Iowa
29 Will Davis CB 5-11 186 23 R Utah State
92 John Denney LS 6-5 255 34 9 Brigham Young
7 Pat Devlin QB 6-3 225 25 3 Delaware
84 Michael Egnew TE 6-5 255 23 2 Missouri
59 Dannell Ellerbe LB 6-1 240 27 5 Georgia
2 Brandon Fields P 6-5 245 29 7 Michigan State
76 A.J. Francis DT 6-5 309 23 R Maryland
56 Jonathan Freeny LB 6-2 250 24 2 Rutgers
75 Nate Garner G 6-7 325 28 6 Arkansas
10 Brandon Gibson WR 6-0 205 26 5 Washington State
35 Mike Gillislee RB 5-11 208 22 R Florida
32 Jonas Gray RB 5-9 225 23 1 Notre Dame
21 Brent Grimes CB 5-10 183 30 7 Shippensburg
82 Brian Hartline WR 6-2 199 26 5 Ohio State
68 Richie Incognito G 6-3 319 30 9 Nebraska
43 Jelani Jenkins LB 6-0 243 21 R Florida
74 John Jerry G 6-5 345 27 4 Mississippi
40 Keelan Johnson S 5-11 209 23 R Arizona State
36 Don Jones CB 5-11 191 23 R Arkansas State
20 Reshad Jones S 6-1 210 25 4 Georgia
95 Dion Jordan DE 6-6 248 23 R Oregon
57 Josh Kaddu LB 6-3 242 23 2 Oregon
44 Jordan Kovacs S 5-10 205 23 R Michigan
71 Jonathan Martin T 6-5 312 24 2 Stanford
90 Vaughn Martin DL 6-4 308 27 5 Western Ontario (Canada)
18 Rishard Matthews WR 6-0 210 23 2 Nevada
37 Kelcie McCray S 6-1 200 24 2 Arkansas State
67 Andrew McDonald T 6-6 310 24 1 Indiana
87 Marvin McNutt WR 6-2 216 24 1 Iowa
86 Kyle Miller TE 6-5 260 25 2 Mount Union
26 Lamar Miller RB 5-10 218 22 2 Miami (Fla.)
55 Koa Misi LB 6-3 257 26 4 Utah
8 Matt Moore QB 6-3 216 29 7 Oregon State
98 Jared Odrick DE 6-5 302 25 4 Penn State
66 Tristan Okpalaugo DE 6-4 245 23 R Fresno State
24 Dimitri Patterson CB 5-10 200 30 7 Tuskegee
38 Julian Posey CB 5-11 187 25 2 Ohio
51 Mike Pouncey C 6-5 303 24 3 Florida
23 De'Andre Presley CB 5-10 185 23 1 Appalachian State
97 Kheeston Randall DT 6-5 309 23 2 Texas
89 Tracy Robertson DT 6-4 280 23 1 Baylor
58 Lee Robinson LB 6-2 253 26 1 Alcorn State
48 Evan Rodriguez RB 6-2 239 24 2 Temple
64 Josh Samuda G 6-3 315 24 2 Massachusetts
79 Derrick Shelby DE 6-2 270 24 2 Utah
80 Dion Sims TE 6-4 262 22 R Michigan State
96 Paul Soliai DT 6-4 345 29 7 Utah
53 Austin Spitler LB 6-2 250 26 4 Ohio State
25 R.J. Stanford CB 5-10 185 25 3 Utah
94 Randy Starks DT 6-3 305 29 10 Maryland
9 Caleb Sturgis K 5-9 188 24 R Florida
17 Ryan Tannehill QB 6-4 222 25 2 Texas A&M
22 Jamar Taylor CB 5-10 192 22 R Boise State
34 Marcus Thigpen RB 5-9 195 27 2 Indiana
70 Dallas Thomas G/T 6-5 306 23 R Tennessee
33 Daniel Thomas RB 6-1 233 25 3 Kansas State
93 Jason Trusnik LB 6-4 252 29 7 Ohio Northern
85 Brian Tyms WR 6-3 210 24 1 Florida A&M
50 Olivier Vernon DE 6-2 268 22 2 Miami (Fla.)
91 Cameron Wake DE 6-3 250 31 5 Penn State
11 Mike Wallace WR 6-0 199 27 5 Mississippi
52 Philip Wheeler LB 6-2 240 28 6 Georgia Tech
27 Jimmy Wilson S 5-11 205 27 3 Montana
72 Will Yeatman T 6-6 315 25 3 Maryland

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