Lions Cut Former Top Pick Rogers

This is not what the Detroit Lions or Charles Rogers had in mind when the receiver was drafted second overall three years ago.

After being cut Saturday, his career in Detroit ended with only 36 receptions for 440 yards and four touchdowns along with two broken collarbones and a four-game suspension.

First-year Coach Rod Marinelli was unimpressed by Rogers’ work ethic and production during training camp, when he was slowed by a sore knee. The new staff also did not have a history with Rogers as did team President Matt Millen, who drafted the former Michigan State star and gave him a $14.2-million signing bonus.

Rogers simply wasn’t deemed good enough to make Marinelli’s team, which is valuing hard work over talent.

“We picked the men that are right for this football team,” Marinelli said. “It’s behind us. I wish him the very best. We just move on.”

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Jeff George’s comeback in the NFL is over for now. George, who has not played in an NFL game since 2001, was released by the Oakland Raiders.

The No. 1 overall pick by Indianapolis in 1990, George signed with the Raiders last week and was with the team in Seattle for Oakland’s final preseason game but did not play.

The Raiders also traded receiver Doug Gabriel to the New England Patriots, who face the uncertainty of whether holdout Deion Branch will return.

The Raiders announced the deal but did not say what they would receive as compensation.

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The Denver Broncos’ cuts ranged from the expected -- running back Ron Dayne -- to the unexpected, receiver Darius Watts.

Both players left team headquarters saying they’d been told they wouldn’t make the 53-man roster.

Dayne sat out 12 days of practices and the final three exhibition games because of turf toe, sealing his fate. In his absence, undrafted rookie Mike Bell, Cedric Cobbs and Tatum Bell all performed well.

Dayne, who won the Heisman Trophy at Wisconsin in 1999, when he finished his career as the NCAA’s all-time leading rusher, finished with only 12 yards in five carries in the preseason.

Watts is a second-round pick from Marshall in 2004 whose career has been marked more by his big drops than his sensational skills.

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Undrafted rookie Marcus Vick was released by the Miami Dolphins, who kept journeyman Cliff Russell as a fifth receiver instead.

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Quarterbacks Brian St. Pierre and Drew Olson were cut by the Baltimore Ravens, who also put guard Brian Rimpf on injured reserve, ending his season.

St. Pierre, who was the No. 3 quarterback last year, could be re-signed if he clears waivers. Olson, an undrafted quarterback from UCLA, played little during the preseason.

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Veteran receiver Todd Pinkston became the latest former Philadelphia Eagle to come to Minnesota when he signed a contract with the Vikings.

Pinkston spent his first six seasons with the Eagles, playing the last four under current Vikings Coach Brad Childress when he was an Eagles assistant.

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The Houston Texans put running back Domanick Davis on injured reserve, ending his season.

Davis, Houston’s top rusher for the last three seasons, has been out for a month because of a bone bruise that is causing soreness in his knee.

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The Cleveland Browns, who have gone through four starting centers since the start of training camp, acquired veteran Hank Fraley from the Eagles for a conditional pick in the 2008 draft.

The Browns waived running back Lee Suggs, their leading rusher in 2004 but slowed by injuries throughout his career.

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The Seattle Seahawks released veteran receiver and punt returner Peter Warrick, ending for now his attempt to jump-start his flagging career.... In addition to trading Fraley, the Eagles sent fullback Josh Parry to Seattle for an undisclosed pick in the 2008 draft. They also cut veteran receivers Jabar Gaffney and Darnerien McCants. Former UCLA cornerback Matt Ware, a third-round pick in 2004, also was cut.... Duce Staley made the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 53-man roster despite an uneven preseason.... The Tennessee Titans decided to keep both veteran quarterbacks Billy Volek and Kerry Collins on the roster, instead releasing Matt Mauck .... Andy Lee beat out 14-year veteran Tom Rouen to be the San Francisco 49ers’ punter.... The Dallas Cowboys said the NFL had suspended safety Marcus Coleman for the first four games of the season for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.... Former Pro Bowl receiver David Boston made the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ 53-man roster.