http://101sports.com/category/tsoftli-blogs/20110824/Finalizing-Rosters-Can-Be-Tricky/ Snippet: ...The following information is updated several times a year: Team history, scouting reports on players, character (arrest, DUI, drugs), league suspensions, injury history, current coaching staff, advance scouting reports, division updates, and college scouting evaluations of pro players (summer assignments). When I ran the pro department, I broke the data down into three areas: AFC, NFC, and lastly, division. Tracking player personnel is extremely important at any time of the year, especially when you're looking to upgrade the bottom of your roster. It is imperative that data is tracked year by year and season by season on roster movement (team and player statistics and off-field issues along with security background). Keeping all this information current is the key to a successful pro scouting department. The main goal for acquiring the opponent and player data is to identify all personnel in the National Football League and track player performance on and off the field along with team results. The cut from 90-80 is important but easy. However, cutting to 53 is extremely challenging. Because the goal is to upgrade your depth and the back end of the roster, you must do your homework. Teams must feel good about the player's character, injury history, playtime, and production. When adding an aged veteran with double-digit accrued seasons, questions must be asked. Does he have a chip on his shoulder? Can he help develop our youth? You need to get a feel for his desire to still compete at a championship level. For all players that are possible additions to the roster, both general managers and vice presidents make sure coaches and personnel people agree on the level of comfort within the system that is currently in place. Question what system the player presently operates in (offense - pro style vs. West Coast; or Defense - 3-4 vs. 4-3; and is the terminology the same as yours or close) and does he fit the team's philosophy. Is the football player smart enough to pick up the scheme with little to no issues to allow for a smooth transition? The Wonderlic test score carries some weight here. The bottom line: Are they "football smart" with the ability to absorb the offense and defense quickly?...
