2010 Free Agency Open Thread

2010 starts today

Updates...

2200 Saturday 6 March 2010: There has been a signing, and it is a good one, history will now always remember that the first incoming free agent signed by the new Redskins management regime of new real actual general manager Bruce Allen and head coach Mike Shanahan was... an offensive lineman. Say hello to Artis Hicks, 31 years old, late of the Minnesota Vikings and earlier with the Eagles, Artis has played both guard and tackle. Artis at one point was a regular starter, his last two years with Philadelphia and his first with the Vikings, and has been a reliable backup the past two years. Jason Reid is already penciling him in at right guard where the Redskins started five different players in seven different starting offensive line combinations, I would say there is a decent chance we could see him at either right guard or right tackle. Welcome Artis, Curly R is already working on your introduction.

1730 Saturday 6 March 2010: The Offseason of Cautious Moves continues as the Redskins visit with fourteen year veteran center slash guard Casey Wiegmann, Casey played for coach Shanahan in Denver but was let go last month after new coach Josh McDaniels' first year. Casey did not sign a contract and he may be on the market later. At that age he may be a good depth player.

1700 Saturday 6 March 2010: The team still has not reached out to unrestricted free agent longsnapper Ethan Albright, I hope they are just taking care of other business, Ethan is a mainstay and even at 38 with fifteen years in the league, nine in Washington, there is no reason to switch up now. The team brought in a your guy, Nick Sundberg for competition, I have to think it will end up Ethan's job, he is a consummate pro, he is like the guys that walk around with headsets and clipboards but never get on camera, the show could not go on without them. His annual re signings are a humorous subject, he has no agent and every year they FedEx him a standard one year contract for the veteran minimum, he signs it and sends it back. The difference between Nick's presumed one season veteran minimum of four hundred thousand dollars and Ethan's ten-plus season veteran maximum of 860 thousand dollars cannot possibly be a stopping point in this uncapped season.

1500 Saturday 6 March 2010: Scuttlebutt from Pittsburgh brought to you by the Washington Post is saying that recently released Steelers tailback Willie Parker might be headed to Washington for a visit next week, with Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright, Marcus Mason and Quinton Ganther all gone, by the way those four guys teamed up for 214 carries or 63 percent of all 338 running back carries and 766 yards or 61 percent of all 1260 running back yards last season, there will need to be someone back there besides Clinton Portis.

1100 Saturday 6 March 2010: Linebacker Larry Foote looks like a good idea the more I read about it, if the Redskins are going to go 3-4 let's go all the way and do it with 3-4 experienced players. Washington cannot continue to go it with converted linemen at the linebacker positions.

0730 Saturday 6 March 2010: I wake to find no earth shattering signings by the Redskins, wonder if this is what it is like to root for a normal team. My parents are coming to brunch but all I want to do is sit in front of my computer hitting Command-R over and over.

0015 Saturday 6 March 2010: After one last look around there is no news and as far as I can tell there are no late night negotiations or signings expected to happen, we will pick it up tomorrow, stay tuned and drop me a comment or an email if you hear something I missed.

2350 Friday 5 March 2010: Ouch, it would suck to be a Cardinals fan right now, that team has lost quarterback Kurt Warner to retirement, linebacker Karlos Dansby to free agency, safety Antrel Rolle, who they had cut to avoid paying a roster bonus of four million dollars but wanted back, Antrel has signed with the Giants, and now the final insult, the team has traded disgruntled yet productive receiver Anquan Boldin to the Ravens. Reason number 7,683,444 why being a Cardinals fan would suck. Hey Anquan, say hi to Jim Zorn for me when you get to Baltimore.

2100 Friday 5 March 2010: Oh for three, Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby has signed with the Miami Dolphins and it looks as though either a) The Redskins really did have a philosophy this year of appear to be interested in only the biggest names and then do nothing and confuse the opposition or b) The Redskins blew another one and they are just playing it off.

There is also word that former Steelers and current Lions linebacker Larry Foote will be visiting Ashburn on Monday, Larry played under former Steelers and new Redskins linebackers coach Lou Spanos in Pittsburgh.

2030 Friday 5 March 2010: Green Bay left tackle Chad Clifton, at 33 one of the prized if underwhelming unrestricted free agents, visited Ashburn today but left without a contract and now word on the street is Chad has re signed with the Packers. In fairness to Chad, he is a good player, after a decade of Chris Samuels Redskins fans are going to think any replacement left tackle short of Bryant McKinney or is somewhat chumpish. Oh for two.

1830 Friday 5 March 2010: In a bad omen that Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby is not destined for Washington, Miami has released linebacker Joey Porter. No official word on Karlos, ESPN's Adam Schefter was all over Karlos to the Dolphins about six hours ago.

1730 Friday 5 March 2010: While I believe a lack of on strings attached free agents in the marketplace, to the tune of over 300 players that would have been unrestricted free agents last season, has as much to do with the Redskins low profile as does Some Big New Philosophy around Ashburn, the apparent attention the team is paying to the long term

...is a significant departure from focusing on reworking contracts of aging, unproductive veterans to remain under the salary cap in hopes of playoff runs that never occurred. In a league where 30 is considered old, the Redskins have been too old for too long. Allen and Shanahan began to address the age issue with the cuts.

Excellent stuff from Jason Reid at the Washington Post.

1500 Friday 5 March 2010: In the annals of I meant to do that, here is a good one: Redskins new real actual general manager Bruce Allen said about an hour ago on Dan Snyder owned ESPravda 980 that, get this, the Redskins were never interested in Julius Peppers, that it was all rumors and haha can you believe how fast they spread. I think an argument like that is just plausible walkback from missing out.

1445 Friday 5 March 2010: Julius Peppers is off the market, signing a something something year deal for something something million dollars with the Bears, it turns out Chicago was going Peppers all the way and Washington may never have been a serious player for his services. Oh for one. Interestingly, the same Mark Maske piece in the Washington Post reports that the Eagles offered Julius a contract, that would seem to go against the Eagles philosophies and as such I would guess their money was not as competitive.

1430 Friday 5 March 2010: Pro Football Talk is reporting and the Washington Post is retweeting that the Redskins are looking at quarterback Rex Grossman as a possible backup. With the backup the past four years, Todd Collins, shown the door yesterday, six foot tall maybe Colt Brennan coming off a season erasing quote hip injury unquote and incumbent starter Jason Campbell a restricted free agent the team has sought to do no more with than tender a one year, first round compensation offer, it raises a legitimate question, which would be who would Rex be backing up?

1415 Friday 5 March 2010: Restricted free agent Lorenzo Alexander aka Scarface has re signed with the team, Lorenzo in the past has played defensive end and defensive tackle and was prepped for emergency duty on the offensive line in 2007. In the presumed new 3-4 defensive scheme Lorenzo will join Chris Wilson and Brian Orakpo as linebackers converted from defensive ends. Might want to throw a real linebacker in there at some point in this offseason.

1400 Friday 5 March 2010: The Redskins have re signed former 400 pound man right tackle slash right guard Mike Williams, Mike was thrust into action last season among the line shuffling and injuries. This proves the team cannot find a worse lineman.

1230 Friday 5 March 2010: While sitting in Famous Dave's for lunch I heard ESPN's Adam Schefter reporting that Julius Peppers is heading for Chicago and Karlos Dansby is heading for Miami, no final word on contracts for either at this point, it looks like the Redskins may not land either of their top two targets.

1200 Friday 5 March 2010: Defensive end Phillip Daniels, one of the Redskins four unrestricted free agents, has signed with the team, after coming back from a torn ACL in 2008 training camp Phillip played on a one year deal in 2009. With center Casey Rabach signed that leaves longsnapper Ethan Albright and punter Hunter the Punter Smith as the team's only remaining unrestricted free agents, and I think the team wants to keep both.

1030 Friday 5 March 2010: Left tackles Chad Clifton of Green Bay and Tony Pashos of San Francisco both will be visiting Ashburn today. I would take either or both.

0900 Friday 5 March 2010: Remember that I am taking today off just to track the Redskins free agency activity, everyone fed, kids on the bus, now the two year old and I are sitting here waiting for something to happen.

0700 Friday 5 March 2010: The first thing I notice when I woke up is that ZOMG TEH REDSINS DIS NOT SIGN EVERY JUAN!!!1! Ahh for the days when the team could work out a one hundred million dollar contract from midnight to five am and still not be in violation of tampering rules...

=====

Original post...

Happy Football New Year people, the great uncertainty that is the NFL 2010 offseason is upon us, all completed contracts terminated at midnight. Normally, as was the case in 2007 and 2009 as examples, the Redskins would be the team roaring out the gate with money and high profile players.

This year though things are different. With the salary cap disappearing and a weak version of the reserve clause in place, free agency will be different this year. For those that still do not understand how it is working this year versus any other year since the salary cap went into effect in 1994, here is a primer:

Under regular Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) rules, if your contract is expired and your team has not released you and you have four or more years of service, you are an unrestricted free agent. There is no right of refusal from your original team, tender offers are not applicable, the losing team has no recourse. You sign with anyone you want. The losing team will get some draft pick compensation, but it will be low round and will be granted by the league as additional pick(s) and will not come out of the losing team's pocket.

If your contract has expired and you have not been released by your team and you have three or fewer years of service, you are a restricted free agent. Your team assigns your relative worth in draft picks, and any other team that signs you must surrender that pick or picks to the losing team. The draft pick(s) may be in higher or lower rounds, the original round or a combination. In addition, your current team has the right to match any contract offer from another team and retain your services for that price.

In exchange for making it harder for you to leave the team by requiring other teams surrender picks, the team must offer you a one year contract at a salary commensurate with the draft pick compensation the team has placed on you. To avoid teams assigning artificially low picks and salaries to try and devalue a player a team believes other teams may not have interest in, years of service, draft position and playing time all factor into a formula for a minimum required salary offer in that one year deal.

So if the team assigns a third round pick to your value, the team must also offer you a one year deal within the range of a third round pick with your experience. A first round requirement will yield a higher salary and combinations higher still. This entire process is known as tendering.

A Redskins example: Last offseason, 2006 sixth round pick Reed Doughty's contract expired and he was coming off season ending back surgery. He had three years of service. The minimum tender offer based on his draft position, years of service and playing time would have been one million dollars. The team did not feel Reed was worth that and extended him a contract at less than the tender value. This offer was not considered qualifying and therefore the team forfeited its restricted claim on Reed and he became a free agent. When no other team was interested in Reed, he was brought back at less than the tender value, about a half million dollars, which turned out to be a great deal for the Redskins. Even better now that this offseason, with four years of service, the team has tendered Reed at a second round pick, four rounds higher than where he was drafted. He is due for a raise.


Under this year's special rules as the CBA crumbles, the restricted free agency rules have been extended to free agent players with four or five years or service, meaning a player must complete his sixth year of service in order to reach unrestricted free agency. This then adds the entire draft classes of 2005 and 2006 to the list of players that have not earned freedom of movement in the league, in essence a previously negotiated right has been taken away from them, and those guys are pissed.

The tendering rules apply to these players this year as they would to players of three or fewer seasons last year. This means that if a team decides to tender an offer, it must be of no less dollar value than the matrix of draft position, years of service and playing time would dictate. In terms of draft picks, it can be as high as the team feels is fair compensation for losing the player.

Another team then, signing one of the players in this class, would be obligated to surrender draft picks specified in the tender offer. But first the losing team would have the right to match the offering team's contract to retain the player. If a team does not tender an eligible restricted free agent, it signals the team does not feel the player is worth the minimum tender and the player becomes an unrestricted free agent.

So the net effect of these special rules for this year should be a reduction in the movement of players in the primes of their careers. For the Redskins, this scenario affects linebacker Rocky McIntosh, safety Reed Doughty, cornerback Carlos Rogers and quarterback Jason Campbell, each of whom has been tendered by the team.

This fact does not mean the player will play for the team in 2010, or even that the player will be signed. All it signifies is the Redskins are seeking compensation and right of first refusal from any team that wishes to sign these players.


So heading into today the Redskins pretty much need one of everything, with Chris Samuels retired and Randy Thomas cut, they could use a lineman or two. If the team is switching from the 4-3 base defense to the 3-4, they are likely to need some real linebackers, not simply converted linemen. With Fred Smoot cut (op. cit.) and Carlos Rogers not worth his first round pedigree, they could use another starting corner. Clinton Portis is coming off a concussion-shortened season and has Methuselah Syndrome for a player of his age, and Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright and Marcus Mason were all released (ibid.), so I guess you could say the team could use a tailback or two.

I can go on and on about the Redskins needs but I won't, let's just see how it works out. Defensive end Julius Peppers of the Panthers and linebacker Karlos Dansby of the Cardinals have been the principle names associated in the press with the Redskins, I would take both of them though Julius is going to cost a pretty penny.

Free agent left tackles Chad Clifton of Green Bay and Tony Pashos of San Francisco appear to be the top tackles available and should be in the mix. The team has already re signed center Casey Rabach, which means mediocrity is guaranteed to continue at that position, along the line last season mediocrity was superior so we will take what we can get.

Let the games begin.


Other Curly R Free Agency Open Threads: 2007 :: 2009



Free Agent BMX logo gaffled from here.

THURSDAY NIGHT MASSACRE

Shit bummer

The Redskins closed out football year 2009 with slash and burn, the reality of new management, a new coach and no NFL salary cap all smashed into Redskins Park together last night as the team released ten players., two of them career Redskins and five with six or more seasons in Washington. The team will save seventeen million dollars against the cap in salary. The released players:

Tailback Ladell Betts, career Redskin, eight seasons, Ladell was drafted in 2002 in head coach Steve Spurrier's first year. Ladell's career highlight is the 2006 season when he stepped in for an injured Clinton Portis and ran over 1100 yards on just nine starts, and whipped off an incredible five game stretch of one hundred yards or more rushing, a bright spot in an otherwise dreary 5-11 2006 season. Ladell suffered ACL and MCL tears in 2009 game ten against the Cowboys.

Right guard Randy Thomas, eleven seasons overall, seven as a Redskin, Randy was one of the Jetskins arriving in 2003 along with Laveranues Coles, Chad Morton and John Hall, Randy went out on injured reserve early in the season two of the last three years.

Tailback and kick returner Rock Cartwright, career Redskin, eight seasons (drafted in 2002), Rock was the epitome of a team player, carrying the ball when asked, then taking a back seat when Clinton Portis arrived, then finding a late career niche as a successful kick returner.

Receiver Antwaan Randle El, eight seasons total, four as a Redskin, Antwaan was among the the group of extremely high profile free agents signed before the 2006 season, along with Brandon Jacobs, Adam Archuleta and Andre Carter, Antwaan's production was steady though his effectiveness seemed to wane, he will be remembered for being flexible enough to play all three receiver positions and for being a terrible punt returner.

Defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin, ten seasons overall, the past six as a Redskin, Cornelius was in the class of free agents signed by head coach Joe Gibbs his first year back in 2004.

Quarterback Todd Collins, fifteen seasons total, four as a Redskin, Todd swept in with offensive coordinator Al Saunders in 2006 as a veteran of Al's system from Kansas City. Todd, the Pride of Walpole Massachusetts, will always be revered in this town for his four game run propelling Washington into the 2007 playoffs after starter Jason Campbell went down with a dislocated kneecap.

Cornerback Fred Smoot, boomerang Redskin, nine seasons total, seven as a Redskin in two separate stints, Fred left Washington before the 2005 season as a brash, trash talking cover corner with sticky fingers. He returned in 2007 as a role playing butterfingers with a large cushion between him and the receiver.

Curly R favorite tailback Marcus Mason, three years total, parts of two as a Redskin, Marcus burst onto the scene as an undrafted free agent in 2007, made the cut, was moved to the practice squad, returned in 2008, was cut in a bullshit political move just before the season, spent that season with Baltimore and the New York Jets, was back in the 2009 offseason, made the cut, was let go then brought back with injuries to Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts. A strong ball carrier, his blocking improved over three seasons but was never up to par and he never ingratiated with the staff(s).

Fullback Eddie Williams, 2009 seventh round pick, did not make final cuts, was signed back to practice squad and then brought over to the active roster after tight end Chris Cooley broke his ankle in game seven versus the Eagles, Eddie did not see any live action.

Defensive end JD Skolnitsky, rookie free agent long shot free agent defensive end, did not make final cuts in 2009 and was signed back to the practice squad, he did not see any live game action.


That is quite a list of casualties. But with no salary cap and therefore a chance to unload anyone you want with no cap penalty or dead cap space implications for the future, the team let them all go. Perhaps some of these players will be back at a reduced rate, if the team has openings at the margins heading into training camp and wants veterans for continuity.

Kind of a bummer when things like this happen, even when you know they are coming and even when you know some of these players need to move on.

Curly R will look at each of the veterans and long time Redskins individually, and each will receive a fitting farewell.



Ladell Betts celebrating his fourth quarter touchdown in the Redskins 27-17 2009 game nine victory over the Broncos: Gerald Herbert / AP photo from here.

Are the Redskins Guilty of Tampering in the Albert Haynesworth Deal?

Boy you're a regular Colombo

A story I have been following since the NFL combine last month is making some news and we may hear more about it this week: are the Redskins guilty of tampering in the acquisition of free agent score Albert Haynesworth?

Albert's old team the Tennessee Titans seem to think so. In honor of my brother, the author and newly frocked US Marine Lieutenant Colonel, I will give you the BLUF (bottom line up front): Hell yes. And hell no.

=====

The Redskins were sort of always in the mix for Albert Haynesworth, for at least four reasons, in no particular order:

1. Washington has a genuine need at the defensive tackle spot. And has for so long that overkill is justified.

2. All top drawer free agent representatives float the Redskins as a possible destination. This is because Dan Snyder is wealthy enough that his cash position is never in conflict with his cap position. Cash solves cap.

3. The Redskins are conspicuous for dipping into the market for top drawer talent in more years than not. And they set the market.

4. Dan Snyder prefers outside players to his own. He tires of his toys before they wear out. Perhaps number three is actually a corollary of this one.

So it was no surprise to me that Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato were spotted the evening of Sunday 22 February dining at Morton's in Indianapolis with Albert Haynesworth's agent Chad Speck during the NFL combine.

Two days later on 24 February Lance Zeirlein at the Houston Chronicle reported that his well connected and usually accurate source inside the NFL had told him Albert Haynesworth to the Redskins was a done deal, in a contract that would be worth upwards of 100 million dollars. This was still nearly 72 hours before free agency started.

In case you do not know the rules, free agents are not technically free agents until midnight on the last day of the football year, the last Thursday in February. One minute after midnight on that Friday, all expiring contracts are no longer in effect.

But up until that moment, players are still under contract to their old teams and they and their agents and representatives are not permitted to negotiate with other teams. To do so for the player represents breach of contract and for the prospective team represents tampering. Tampering charges are adjudicated by the office of the commissioner and when upheld result in fines and loss of draft picks for the tampering tam, often to be given to the losing team.

So under the rules of the system the free agent is not even free to begin to discuss the contours of a deal, much less the particulars of bonuses and incentives, escalators and weigh ins, until that moment.

Which makes it all that much more interesting that the Redskins were able to get every little thing about Albert's seven year 100 million dollar deal done between midnight Thursday and 5:30 am Friday.

Three days earlier there was already some speculation that the Titans might be interested in pursuing a tampering case. And Tennessee head coach Jeff Fisher is a member of the competition committee. Could the team let this go even if it was business as usual in the NFL?

Ten days later, on 7 March Jim Wyatt at the Tennessean reported that the Titans were interested in pursuing a tampering case against the Redskins, that the scuttlebutt and timing were just too suspect for a deal that size (hat tip to the ubiquitous Michael David Smith at Fanhouse for the link).

At this point most knowledgeable football fans would have to think this is bluster, that this is all sturm und drang over a player Tennessee could never convince to come back for a reasonable amount of money. One more case of a team complaining about the system that it is a part of.

And think about it. Morton's is not exactly a private location. If Chad Speck and Dan Snyder thought that being seen in public five days ahead of the big day would constitute a tampering risk, there are no doubt hundreds of private hotel conference rooms around Indianapolis. It is the quote everybody does it unquote mentality.

But then the Redskins threw some fresh wood on the fire, on their own radio station no less. On Friday morning 27 February, the first day of free agency, Redskins tailback and kick returner Rock Cartwright did an interview with Andy Pollin on WTEM 980, the Washington area sports talk station owned by Dan Snyder's Red Zebra Broadcasting. The same Dan Snyder that owns the Redskins. In the interview Rock appears to admit that he knew, along with at least one other player, that Washington's and Albert's representatives were negotiating before the start of free agency.

The audio is here, the key section is right at the beginning, emphasis mine:

Andy Pollin: At what time did you learn that Albert Haynesworth was going to be a teammate, Rock?

Rock Cartwright: Pretty much this morning when I woke up, put on NFL Network, they had breaking news going across the bottom of the screen, that he had signed for 100 million. But I kind of had an idea they were going to sign him anyway because one of my teammates, they have the same agent and he said they had been talking so...

Note carefully that this interview was conducted in the morning of the first day of free agency, meaning that quote had been talking unquote could reasonably be interpreted to be prior to midnight the night before.

It has also been reported that Redskins receiver Malcolm Kelly is also represented by Chad Speck (op. cit.).

=====

So what does all this mean? Did the Redskins tamper with Albert Haynesworth in order to ensure he would up with Washington? Yes they did. And it happens all the time. Off the record conversations, plausible deniability and outright lies make it all possible. And the Redskins are not the only team to do it.

But is it tampering practically speaking? No it is not, and that is precisely because every team has access to the same practice and they all would like to reserve the right to deploy it. I also have a larger question and that is, why prevent a player from negotiating with another team if he has no intention of re signing with his current team? A reasonable rules change would allow a player to declare whether he intended to sign with another team and if he did not then he could begin talks with other teams. He would still not be permitted to sign with any team until free agency starts, but it would negate the lie that teams and players do not talk when they should not.

What would I like as a Redskins fan? Not to believe my team breaks the rules, and beyond that not to believe the rules do not matter. If there is tampering, then catch it and punish the team. If the rules do not matter then change them.



Loose lips sink ships from here.

2009 Free Agency Open Thread

2009 starts today

Saturday 28 February 2009
0700: when I left base and wandered to the Garage last night at about 9pm ET, Derrick Dockery was just leaving Detroit without a deal, I commented below that unless the Lions were ready to throw a pile of money at Derrick that he likely would not sign. Then when I woke up this morning I read that Derrick had signed with the Redskins just a couple of hours later, five years 27 million dollars with 8.5 million guaranteed and 11.5 million over the first two years. This signing reunites Derrick with the team that drafted him in the third round of the 2003 draft, Derrick was a solid left guard for Washington before leaving for a huge deal with Buffalo before the 2007 season, the Bills cut him unexpectedly this week. He becomes the immediate starter at left guard, rendering Pete Kendall as a backup if needed at all. After the debacle of trying to replace Derrick in 2006 it is likely the team will not take him as much for granted this time around.

Friday 27 February 2009
1230: Derrick Dockery is in Detroit right now but that does not mean he will sign with them, all things being equal Detroit will need to way overpay this year to get starting quality veteran talent off the street, unless they want to start shoveling money out the door the Lions will need to do a season's penitence before coming around.

Albert Haynesworth is in the Ashburn house, Redskins press conference scheduled for 5pm today, get in front of a TV, I will see if I can find it on the web, I would guess Redskins.com.

Something I have observed over the years that Jason La Canfora has covered the Redskins as the Washington Post's beat writer, many Redskins fans do not like him, my guess is principally because he is critic as much as scribe and if you get out there on message boards and chat rooms there are a whole bunch of Redskins fans that think any form of criticism of the team operation makes you a hater. I think it goes without saying but bears repeating that I do not agree with this position and now that I have made a straw man for Jason it can go ahead and hate on him for his first look at the 100 million dollar gamble, wherein Jason has the nerve to point out that in post season meetings Vinny Cerrato pressed coaches to explain 2-6 second half and the consensus was a need for three young, starter quality offensive linemen.

Instead on the first day of free agency the Redskins went out and spent a spaceship full of money on a guy that has never played sixteen games in a season, never takes 100 percent of the snaps at his position, has had anger management problems, may have motivation and or weight problems and by virtue of a five game suspension for stomping his now twice yearly opponent in the face will be a repeat offender next time Mr. Goody Goody Goodell has to weigh in on a discipline problem...

... to play defense.


1045: the Redskins will release cornerback Shawn Springs today, Shawn was headed into the final year of his contract and was imminently cuttable, something he was not two years ago when the team first began to tire of him. Washington will save six million dollars in salary cap room with this cut which I am sure they will sign right over to Albert.

Matt Terl over at the ORB (Official Redskins Blog) sums up Vinny Cerrato's interview on state owned radio ESPN 980, he talks about signing DeAngelo and Albert, as well a reference to creating more cap room. I got a hilarious bacn mail message from the state owned ESPN 980 yesterday, beat reporter Frank Hanrahan is a guest on every show all day so clearly the team knew they were going to make big news and wanted to be sure they controlled the message on the radio outlet where they control the message.


0900: are the Redskins trying out Cleveland Browns veteran safety 6-3 210 30 year old Nick Sorenson? Bob Pappa and Randy Cross on Sirius NFL Radio just did a segment with Nick, they asked how things were at the Browns' Berea Ohio facility on the morning of free agency, Nick responded that he was in a car in Virginia heading for a workout. Could be a private workout for anyone I suppose, or is he at Ashburn right now? With Reed Dought likely gone this could be a third tier free agent the team was talking about.

Also, as I read the morning reporting on Ashburn's dealing I note that Cowboys free agent defensive end Chris Canty (Wahoowa!), what with the Redskins landing Albert Haynesworth, has canceled his trip to Redskins Park and the team is no longer pursuing him.


0800: the Redskins Insider story on the signing of DT Albert Haynesworth has been updated, looks like his deal is seven years, 55 million dollars, more details to come...


0700: I go to sleep with the knowledge that the Redskins had locked up a young and skilled cornerback and awake to the news that Washington in fact did manage to land the prize of the free agent market, Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. Barring a complete Dana Stubblefield class flameout the Redskins defense suddenly got a lot better. No word yet on Albert's deal, we will hear about that later today.

The team also continues to talk with free agent and former Redskin left guard Derrick Dockery and free agent defensive end Chris Canty (Wahoowa!) is expected to visit today, Chris is arriving on Dan Snyder's jet.


1220: so it begins, at seventeen minutes past midnight Jason La Canfora reports on Redskins Insider than the Redskins have signed cornerback DeAngelo Hall to a six year 55 million dollar deal with up to 23 million dollars guaranteed. Wowzers. That is huge bad news for Shawn Springs.

Stay with Curly R as we follow Washington's free agency splurge.


Other Curly R Free Agency Open Threads: 2007 :: 2010



Free Agent BMX logo purloined from here.

Is This Guy Insane?

Take two smart pills and call me in the morning

The Washington Post is amping up their interactivity, giving readers ever more opportunities to get in on the discussion and get in the paper through online comments and now, video responses to WaPo content which I think is pretty cool.

Anyway this morning Sports published the best Redskins comment of the day (note: this link appears to reflect the current week's entries and changes, the original reader comment came from Redskins Insider here, see 8:20am) and I think it must have been a slow day, or else the WaPo is trying to get my dander up, I will respond to these in order:

=====

Here's what I think the Redskins need to do:

1. Since [Daniel Snyder] doesn't seem to be able to part ways with Vinny [Cerrato], at least hire a proven scout/consultant.

Curly R: not going to happen, for the same reason that there will never be a Bill Cowher or Bill Parcells in Washington and that reason is why the fuck would Vinny Cerrato ever advocate for someone to get near his office, someone that would want to do things his way or might even make Vinny look bad? If Vinny is going to fail he will want it to happen one degree from Dan Snyder and not through the lens of someone else's performance or ideas. No one will get between Dan and Vinny. Insane meter: pretty far out there.


2. Draft the best available tackle at the 13th pick or trade it for two lower picks. Cut [Jon] Jansen.

Curly R: not as insane as the previous comment but still of questionable origin principally because there are two action items here. First, to draft the best tackle is a gimme, that is not insane at all, the Redskins should be able to get some talent with the number thirteen pick, I would simply not restrain the pick to offensive tackle, I would expand to offensive guard and defensive line as well, take the best offensive lineman or defensive line anything, granted offensive and defensive guards do not play as well in the high first round the Redskins are looking and an end or tackle. As far as trading down, Redskins fans have been advocating moving out of the first round for years, then what happens the first time the Redskins do in 2008? Come up with three second round busts so make of that what you will. I think the Redskins will stand pat this year in the first round.

As far as the second half of the comment, Jon Jansen may be getting up there but at roughly five million dollars cap number and an 8.5 million dollar cap hit to cut, is no reason to get rid of him. The key is depth, Stephon Heyer needs to make it real next season. Jon is turning into a backup, short term use tackle and unless Stephon can turn into a starter then you have a problem. Keep Jon unless there is a compelling depth reason to cut him. Insane meter: borderline personality.


3. Put [Malcolm] Kelly at the No. 1 WR, [Devin] Thomas at the No. 2 WR, and [Santana] Moss in the slot.

Curly R: I did a coffee spit take when I read that this morning. Move Malcolm Kelly to the number one receiver spot, put Devin Thomas in at number two and put Santana Moss in the slot. Really. That is your idea? Are you freaking insane? Malcolm and Devin were near total busts in 2008 though that is not to say they will not get better, so far it does not look like we have a Terrell Owens and a Marvin Harrison on our hands. If you put Malcolm and Devin in there at the starting spots in training camp all that will happen is they will get beat out by Santana and Antwaan Randle El and you will look silly for putting them there in the first place. Anyone is years away from deposing Santana on the outside and WTF with the slot, Santana is a wideout, not a slot player, that shows you do not know this team. Insane meter: freaking looney bin.


4. Explore possible trades to get two decent draft picks.

Curly R: this seems to be an advisory of some sort and not really an action item, I think it goes without saying that every team is on the lookout for good trades, look at last year's draft, the Redskins managed to pick up two decent draft picks in the second round and look what happened, three black holes on the roster. If I know Dan Snyder as well as I think I do there is no way Vinny will get the go ahead to do that again. Insane meter: skipped scheduled meds.


5. Do not re-sign Jason Taylor, unless he is willing to renegotiate his deal.

Curly R: a mixed message here, Jason Taylor is already signed for 2009 with an eight million dollar salary. If what you are saying is threaten to cut him, well cutting him entails little or no salary cap hit so there is no downside. I would think it unlikely that he would accept a lower salary, he has a contract and no one put a gun to the Redskins' head and made them offer it. He either plays for eight million next season or not at all. What is missing from this comment is that Jason's status and relevance may be determined by the first round pick, if the Redskins go defensive end and not offensive tackle. Insane meter: worrying friends and family.


6. Do not sign Jason Campbell to an extension until six games into the season.

Curly R: why? To heighten the suspense? The wisdom, to which the team leadership currently appears to subscribe, would seem to be that Jason Campbell is not going to get an extension this offseason. I think this is wrong, Jason is not only the best the team can do right now, he is actually the guy for the job. He needs an extension and advocating to give it to him... but not yet is simply unproductive. Insane meter: a danger to himself.


6. 7. Do not sign [Terrell] Suggs or [Albert] Haynesworth.

Curly R: probably the smartest thing you wrote all day. Insane meter: like a super villian.



My all time favorite comic image of the Joker from here.