By WILL GRAVES, AP National Writer

On the day of cuts in late August, Eric Rowe’s phone received a notification, causing confusion for the experienced safety.

The response was surprising.

The Carolina Panthers, who brought on Rowe for a one-year agreement in April to assist a team looking to revamp with rookie quarterback Bryce Young, planned to release Rowe and place him on the practice squad if he was unable to secure another position.

Ummm, what?

“I thought to myself, ‘I have experience in this league. I performed well during the 2022 season with Miami, had a successful training camp, and even played and started in the Super Bowl – one of the biggest games in football,'” stated Rowe, who had previously won two championships with New England. “So why am I only on the practice squad?”

Rowe did not see the practice squad as inferior. He did take the job and has always seen practice squad members as the most dedicated players on the team. However, he grew up during a time in the NFL when the practice squad was mainly made up of unknown, young players who coaches felt were not quite ready for the 53-man roster. These players were determined to do whatever it took to stay in the league.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the NFL made changes to the rules regarding the practice squad. The size was increased from 10 to 16 and eligibility was expanded to include players of all experience levels, rather than just those with three years or less. However, the negative perception of being on the practice squad and not part of the 53-man roster remained.

Rowe admitted that it took some time for his ego to subside.

Rowe’s grin widens as he recounts the tale, perhaps due to his current location in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ locker room. The athlete, who was caught off guard when he was placed on the practice squad for the Carolina team, quickly accepted the offer when the Steelers reached out to him before Thanksgiving, seeking his assistance for their struggling secondary unit.

Rowe urged the Pittsburgh front office, saying “Please include me in the lineup. I am eager to get back on the field and play.”

Rowe is not the only one in this situation. The lists of players on most teams competing during the wild-card weekend are filled with talented individuals who would have most likely retired under the previous practice squad regulations before the pandemic.

Former players from the practice squad, such as Cleveland’s Joe Flacco and Pittsburgh’s Myles Jack, are hoping for a chance to play in the Super Bowl. Jack, who had previously retired and was managing his minor-league hockey team in the northern Dallas suburbs, was signed by Pittsburgh on the same day they also added Rowe to their team.

“I fully embrace the ‘off the couch’ mentality,” stated Jack, a former second-round draft pick for Jacksonville who has earned close to $50 million in their career. “There are moments in life where you have to start from the bottom and work your way back up.”

Leonard Fournette, a running back for the Bills, achieved a Super Bowl victory with Tampa Bay in 2018. However, this fall the 28-year-old questioned if his football career was coming to an end. But on Halloween, the Bills offered him a spot on their practice squad. This Sunday, he will be sharing playing time with James Cook as Buffalo aims to end both Rowe’s and Pittsburgh’s season.

The transition from being a first-round pick and a two-time 1,000-yard rusher to being considered an “emergency only” option was not a simple adjustment.

Fournette, who has only gained 40 yards on 12 carries over two games, expressed that it is still challenging for him. However, he is willing to do it for the team and their ultimate goal. He believes in putting the team’s needs above his own, rather than focusing on individual success.

A mindset that has long defined what it means to be one of the players who exist on the NFL fringe, players often asked to do a little of everything. Work on the scout team, a job that requires them to learn both their plays — and the opponent’s — simultaneously. Fill in intermittently for the starters or the second string during practice when they need a break. And do it well enough they earn the right to stick around, hardly a given in a profession given to relentless roster churn.

This is a big request. San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan is exhausted by the idea that practice squad players are seen as inferior to those selected for the limited 53 roster spots on game days.

Shanahan expressed his dislike for the term “practice squad,” as it conveys the idea of being a mere walk-on. However, he acknowledges that these players are an integral part of the team, as demonstrated by their inclusion in team activities and travel.

This perception may still be present in certain areas of the locker room and among the general public. However, it is not true for coaching staffs who have utilized larger practice squads to form 16-player teams consisting of both up-and-coming young players and experienced veterans such as Fournette and Flacco, who have a history of winning championships.

Miami’s offensive coordinator Frank Smith acknowledges the importance of having experienced veterans on the team, especially those who have faced challenging situations and have playoff experience. He believes that these individuals bring a valuable perspective and understanding when they join the team, as well as a drive to contribute to the success of the team. Smith recognizes the value in having a mix of both veteran players and new talent.

The new system has also given teams something that is usually lacking in January: energized players.

Pittsburgh’s defensive coordinator, Teryl Austin, suggested that it may not have been necessary for the players to attend camp. This would have saved them from the physical strain and fatigue. As a result, they would be in better shape for the last few weeks of the season and have a positive impact on the team.

After being released by the Steelers in March and leaving the game during training camp with the Eagles in August, Jack took six weeks to return to his previous level of physical fitness for football. This was necessary as he had spent most of the fall playing pickup basketball at a YMCA in the Dallas area.

It took some time and a lot of patience for him to fully re-engage with the demands of the NFL. However, this process also reignited a passion that he thought had faded away. He and Rowe had a blast trying to intimidate the first-string players during practice, rediscovering the confidence that they were afraid had disappeared.

Jack appears to have returned to form. He has recorded 17 tackles and a sack while playing in 77% of the snaps since being added to the 53-man roster for the last three games. This resurgence is unexpected, as three months ago he did not anticipate such success.

Jack stated that he enjoys watching the film “Scarface” because it depicts a rags to riches story. He felt like he was personally experiencing the journey while watching it, up until the conclusion.

Reworded: Show appreciation for a journey that was previously not accessible to players like him, but is now being embraced by Jack and many others along the way.

“I am representing P-squad until the very end,” Jack declared.

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This report was contributed to by AP Pro Football Writers Josh Dubow and Schuyler Dixon, as well as AP Sports Writers John Wawrow, Tom Withers, Steve Megargee, and Alanis Thames.

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NFL news from the Associated Press: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Source: wralsportsfan.com