Roster Cuts Coming for Albany Empire

A week and a couple of days from now, the Albany Empire will kick off its second season in the Arena Football League and the toughest task right now is making decisions on how to trim the roster.

Empire quarterback Tommy Grady told me during the recording of this coming Saturday's The Albany Empire Express show on MY4 that this is probably the most talented wide receiving group he's ever played with; that's despite the offseason loss of Joe Hills to Baltimore. That group has returning players like Malachi Jones, Collin Taylor and Jordan Williams. Add in a wideout who was playing in the Alliance of American Football, Christian Briggs, and a rookie like AJ Coney and it has been an intense competition in camp at that position.

There has been significant turnover in the secondary from last season. An influx of young talent now fills the defensive backfield with some tough roster decisions to make there along with at wide receiver.

Friday, when the Empire front office and coaching staff makes the final cuts to get down to 24 on the active roster, most of the names and faces familiar to fans from a year ago should be on it. Familiarity with the system and the city are of value on and off the field.