Big Whit?

[George Cantstandya]

(12-25-2022, 11:38 PM)Dean_Gilberry95 Wrote: I thought after so many years in the league you don’t have to pass through waivers?  Don’t they become free agents?

(12-26-2022, 12:09 AM)Luvnit2 Wrote: Yes you are correct. Rama could cut Whitt or Ramsey and they would be free agents.
I don't see it happening, but stranger things have happened.

I would love to see Whitt retire officially as a Bengal

I get confused on that as well.  But according to the NFL website he would be subject to waivers.  The veteran status only applies before the trade deadline.  After the trade deadline veteran players are also subject to waivers.

https://operations.nfl.com/updates/the-players/nfl-waiver-system-overview/

Quote:Once the waiver period starts each year through the trading deadline, a vested veteran — a player who has acquired four years of pension credit — is not subject to the waiver system if the club decides to release him. That means if a team decides to release a vested veteran, the league considers his contract to be terminated immediately and he is free to negotiate and sign with any other club. From the trading deadline through the end of the regular season, vested veterans are subject to the waiver process.

So even if the Rams cut him a team the Bengals may face later on with a higher waiver orders than the Bengals could claim him just to screw the Bengals.  Or a team that also needs a tackle.  Even if Whit refused to play for them I think he would still be unavailable to other teams.  So given that and we also don't know what kind of shape Whit is in after traveling all season with the Thursday football broadcast team I don't think Whit playing here is very likely.  But as stated above stranger things have happened so who knows.