Cutdown roundup Locals Molden, Rucker among those waived by NFL teams

FORMER HARDING PLAYERS CUT: On Feb. 5, Antuan Molden played in Super Bowl XLVI for the New England Patriots. After the season, the former Warren Harding standout signed with the New York Giants, the team that beat the Patriots, 21-17, in the Super Bowl. But Molden was among the Giants’ cuts on Monday as teams got down to their 75-man requirements. Chris Rucker, another former Harding player, was waived by the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. Molden played at Eastern Kentucky and Rucker at Michigan State.

YOUNG WAIVED: Vince Young is out of work. After Buffalo acquired Tarvaris Jackson from Seattle to back up quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, 2006 Offensive Rookie of the Year Young was released. “Vince, I don’t want to get into what he can do and can’t do, it just didn’t work out,” general manager Buddy Nix said. “We just need to move on and give this guy a try.” Young knew what was coming and tweeted earlier in the day: “Respect Bills fans. I want to thank the Bills organization for the opportunity and with the organization and my teammates good luck this season.”

PUP LIST FOR SUGGS: Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs comes off his best pro season, when he was voted Defensive Player of the Year. But he tore his right Achilles tendon in the offseason and isn’t expected back before November. By placing him on the physically unable to perform list, the Ravens must be without Suggs for the first six weeks of the season.

FOR THE BEST: Detroit placed on PUP running back Jahvid Best, who hasn’t played since October because of concussion problems.

KICKED OUT: Among the kickers given the boot were Olindo Mare by Carolina, Josh Brown by the Jets, and Neil Rackers by Washington. Mare has played 15 NFL seasons and got a four-year, $12 million contract last year. But Justin Medlock, last with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats, appears to have won the kicking job in Carolina Veteran punter Nick Harris was beaten out by sixth-round draft pick Brad Nortman. Brown lost out to incumbent Nick Folk in New York, and Rackers was beaten out by Graham Gano in Washington. Gano missed an NFL-high 10 field goal attempts in 2011; five were blocked. Coach Mike Shanahan said Gano “won the statistical battle in practice.”

Associated Press