Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/375862
GoldanDBlack express • volume 25, express 2 • 26 BY KYLE CHARTERS KCharters@GoldandBlack.com A couple weeks ago, Bruce Gaston looked like he might have an inside track toward mak- ing the Arizona Cardinals' roster this season. The undrafted defensive tackle was one of Arizona's few healthy interior linemen and he seemed to be getting the atten- tion of Bruce Arians and Co. But he also, it seems, was getting the attention of others, including the New England Patriots. So when the former Boiler- maker was cut from the Cardinals Saturday, he was quickly snatched up by the Pats, who placed him on their 53-man roster. The Patriots might have been impressed by Gaston's final performance of the preseason; on Aug. 28, in the Cardinals' last exhibition game, Gaston had six tackles and a quarterback hurry against the Chargers. Cut-down day — NFL teams had until 4 p.m. Saturday to get their rosters to 53 — wasn't as kind to others. Veteran Uche Nwaneri was waived by Dallas, where the former Jacksonville starter had signed after seven years as a Jaguar. Also, Curtis Painter was beaten out for the Giants' backup QB job, leaving New York to release him. And cornerback Ricardo Allen was cut by the Falcons but later signed to Atlanta's practice squad. OrtOn tO BuffalO Kyle Orton could have retired following his stint in Dallas, after forcing his release from the Cowboys earlier in the summer. But the veteran quarterback wasn't ready to call it a career. Instead, Orton signed with Buffalo, like- ly to become E.J. Manuel's backup with the Bills at the start and perhaps more later. "When this opportunity arose, I jumped at it," Orton told the Democrat and Chronicle. "This was the right team for me. This was the right organization for me." Orton, who signed a one-year deal in Buffalo and has a second-year player option, spent two years in Dallas as Tony Romo's backup but wanted out. He didn't show for offseason workouts and was released this summer. Since, he had been a free agent. But the opportunity in Buffalo is a good one. Manuel's not been sharp in the pre - season and the Bills had few other options. "Kyle is much better for us," Buffalo coach Doug Marrone told the newspaper, assessing the QB situation. "He's an experi- enced veteran. He's what we were looking for and we were fortunate to get him." Spencer MakeS rOSter Despite still rehabbing from knee sur- gery a year ago, Anthony Spencer will start the season on Dallas' 53-man roster. Spencer had season-ending microfrac- ture knee surgery last year and was on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list dur- ing the preseason. But he's off that list now, meaning he could play as soon as he's ready. Had the Cowboys put Spencer on the regular-season PUP list, he wouldn't have been available until Week 7. ninkOvich Snapping? The Patriots went into the week of prep- arations for their season opener without a veteran long-snapper on their roster. Gaston On The Move twin city dodge p r e s e n ts : b o i l e r m a k e r s i n t h e n f l Tom Campbell Bruce Gaston, a former Purdue D-tackle, is already a well-traveled profes- sional, having spent camp in Arizona before being signed by New England.