32 Dishes from the NFL Buffet

Here are some morsels I picked up scanning through the opening day NFL rosters:

The Bills have 4 new starters on the OL; including two rookies and Karl Malone’s estranged son.
The Dolphins have the tallest CB in the NFL. 6′3″ Sean Smith – a rookie from Utah.
As of Thursday 9/10, Tom Brady’s back-up is rookie FA Brian Hoyer of Michigan St.
The Jets have no WRs drafted earlier than the 4th round.
Steve Haushka is the first new kicker for Baltimore since 1991 when Matt Stover joined the then Cleveland Browns.
Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga are the only LB team-mates in the NFL that went to the same school (USC).
10 of the 22 starters for the Browns are new to the team this year. The entire roster has had a 43% turn-over.
CB William Gay is the only new starter for the Steeler’s defense.
The Texans have the only 3rd string QB to start in a Super Bowl (Rex Grossman)
The Colts have a league high 16 players there were undrafted.
The Jaguars will start a league-high 4 rookies.
All 3 of the Titan’s QB were 1st round draft picks.
The Broncos have three WRs named Brandon – and 2 OTs named Ryan.
The Chiefs have 5 former Patriots on their roster.
The Raiders will start a league-high 9 1st round draft picks – 10 if you include Sea-Bass.
All of the Chargers’ WRs are 6′1″ or taller.
WR Jesse Holley – winner of Michael Irvin’s reality show “Fourth and Long” – made the Cowboys’ practice squad
The NY Giants only have 3 former 1st rounders on their offense – Eli Manning, David Carr, and Hakeem Nicks
At 6′ and 5′10″ respectively, Kevin Curtis and DeSean Jackson are the shortest starting WR combo in the NFL.
Former Bills 1st rounder OT Mike Williams made the Redskins roster after being out of football for more than 2 years.
Bears’ players Jay Cutler, Earl Bennett, Chris Williams, and Hunter Hillenmeyer all went to Vanderbilt.
Lions DT Orien Harris was involved in 2 separate off-season trades. Bengals to Rams, Rams to Lions.
EJ and Erin Henderson of the Vikings (both LBs) are one of two sets of brothers to play for the same team. The Andrews’ brothers play for the Eagles.
Tony Gonzalez has been to the Pro Bowl 10 times. The next closest Falcon is John Abraham with 3.
All 7 Panthers 2009 draft picks made the team. Corey Irvin was placed on IR, but would have likely started at DT.
4 of the 5 offensive line starters are original Saints, as are 2 of the 4 back-ups.
The Buccaneers kept a league-high 4 rookie FAs.
The Cardinals have one of the largest players in the NFL (6′7″ 382 Herman Johnson) and one of the smallest (5′7″ 180 LaRod Stephens-Howling).
The 49ers, Rams, and Cardinals all have starting QBs that were late round/rookie FAs and that are backed up by 1st round picks. Shaun Hill & Alex Smith, Marc Bulger & Kyle Boller, Kurt Warner & Matt Leinart.
Jason Smith of the Rams is the first Baylor player selected in the first round since 1996 (Daryl Gardener – Dolphins).
For the 4th straight season, a 7th rounder has made the Seahawks roster. In latest to earliest – Cameron Morrah/Nick Reed, Justin Forsett, Steve Vallos, and Ben Obamanu.