Clearing Up The PUP

May 30, 2008 at 3:17 pm | Article by Paul Hickey |

A term that gets thrown around very loosely without explanation these days is the “PUP.” In short, the Physically Unable To Perform list is used as a middle ground of sorts for players who aren’t healthy enough to be on the active roster, yet not unhealthy enough to be on injured reserve. As it relates to fantasy owners, guys like Cadillac Williams and Deion Branch could begin 2008 on the PUP list. But what does that really mean?

For clarification, if a player begins training camp on the PUP list, it just means he can’t practice with the team until he’s activated. He can however, rehab and participate in team meetings. When can he be activated? If it’s training camp - any time. However, if they start training camp on the active roster, they can’t be moved to the PUP list - only injured reserve.

A player who begins the regular season on the PUP list must sit out the team’s first six regular season games. After the first six games, the team does not have to make a decision regarding his status. They can activate him for games, but they don’t have to. He can practice with the team until Week 10. If the team still hasn’t activated him by the Week 10 ballgame, he’s automatically on injured reserve for the rest of the season, and thus unavailable to play.

This is important when analyzing guys like Williams, Branch, and even players like Kevin Jones, Kenny Irons and others recovering from significant injuries. Bengals RB Chris Perry has frequented the PUP list over the past two seasons, meaning Cincy hasn’t wanted to give up the hope that he could return from nagging ankle, knee and hammy injuries. Unfortunately he didn’t, but he’s been 100 percent cleared to play already in 2008, and Cincy expects him to compete for a significant role in their backfield once again.

Basically, the Bucs have taken a 50/50 stance on Caddy this off-season, saying he’s shown significant progress and could play in 2008 in one breath, but then turning around and saying that he “has a long way to go before getting back on the field” in another breath. Folks, this has PUP list written all over it.

I’m here to tell you that Caddy will start training camp on the PUP list, but that doesn’t mean anything. Tampa would be stupid not to put him on the PUP to start training camp - it’s a no-brainer. If they had him active, then decided he wasn’t healthy enough, they’d have to put him on I.R., ending his season. However, the pre-training camp PUP means that there’s still a shot he could start the season active, or return after Week 6. In Caddy’s case, the training camp PUP announcement means hope.

In Branch’s case, however, the training camp PUP would be a negative. Yes, he could still be activated and start the season, or come back and play after Week 6, but the Seattle Seahawks organization is hoping for much more from him. There’s a chance he could be active entering training camp. If he is, treat him as if he’ll enter the starting line-up no later than Week 3, barring a setback. If he’s on the PUP to start training camp though, look for him to remain there and start his season after Week 6.

As it stands now, both guys are high risk/high reward, as Tampa is looking for an RB to step up in their west coast offense, and Seattle enters this season looking to fling the rock all over the field.

We’ll of course keep you updated on the status of both guys, and many more who may find themselves in this situation. In the meantime, hopefully we’ve cleared up the PUP.

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