Being and Becoming the Team Fans Want

Bet his first film study was this press conference

Mike Shanahan has begun his tenure as head coach of the Washington Redskins. It is true, that is a true fact. And that guy seated next to him at Wendesday's introductory press conference was not team owner Dan Snyder, it was new actual general manager Bruce Allen. The Redskins have a real actual general manager, also a true fact, that actually happened.

You are not dreaming. Rub your eyes, it is all still there.

Will it work out? Impossible to tell and for Curly R this is not the time to deconstruct the reasons why not.

The owner is mad with power, that much we know, the last time he did this step aside gig head coach and president of football operations Marty Schottenheimer fired Dan's toadie shadow general manager Vinny Cerrato within days of taking the job and as the 2001 season waned and with the team on an 8-3 tear after an 0-5 start when Dan asked Marty if he was ready to cede some of his contractual authority back to the owner and Marty said GTFO it was worth nearly eight million dollars to Dan to shitcan Marty and take it back.

So no, it may not work out, we will get hints all along the way, how coach Shanahan's staff is formed, how current players and coaches are dealt with, if coach Shanahan's operations muck with tradition or history, how the team handles free agency and the draft, offseason workouts, by training camp in July observers will have a legitimate body of evidence to start making informed judgments on early returns.

On the surface though you have to look at this as clear progress: a real actual general manager and a real actual coach with real actual Super Bowl experience, neither of which have real actual reasons to kiss Dan Snyder's ass and both of which have real actual reasons for wanting to succeed and show the world they can succeed.

I have been a Redskins fan long enough to know that Dan Snyder does not care much about anyone outside his bubble or what they have to say so the notion that any of what has happened over the past two years has been fan driven or the result of pressure by the media or football tastemakers still seems far fetched to me, there is a paper trail forming:

Jim Fassel gets one hair from being named head coach of the Redskins during the search without end in January and February 2008. When word leaks out that Jim Fassel was the quote mystery candidate unquote there is a fan uprising that is so severe the Washington Post reports on it in the Sports section. After Jim did not get the job he blamed bloggers, message board posters and sports talk radio callers for influencing Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato. Dan Dan the Sports Bog Man singles out four bloggers for behavior detrimental to Jim Fassel's candidacy.

Then all through the fall and collapse of 2009, the fights with fans over signs, the stripping down of the head coach, the failure, the lack of talent, spark and execution, a common thread formed outside the Ashburn bubble: Dan Snyder needed to get out of the way and turn the business over to professionals, like a small businessman with too much success too fast and not enough skill or confidence to delegate, Dan was stuck trying to shove too much through a small pipe and was making bad decisions. Enter professional management and a gentle invitation for the owner to go spend some time on his private island.

Dan's kneejerk reaction to go from trying to hold the status quo in the face of a customer revolt to becoming a humble man of deference in itself is suspect. After firing Norval Turner at 7-6 and still in the playoff hunt pissed off Redskins fans, his kneejerk reaction then was to throw it all at Marty Schottenheimer, then when the team was 0-2 then 0-3 then 0-4 then 0-5 Dan, who was then still engaging the media and the public, made his message basically, don't look at me guys, you wanted me to find a football guy and put him in charge, none of this is my fault.

And because he did not give Marty even two years of his three year plan in his mind Dan gets to rescue the team from a problem he does not realize he has created.

The same thing could happen this time, it would cost him a lot more money and this time he is not playing with Monopoly money, Redskins fans are seriously ready to drop their tickets, something they were not ready to do in 2001.

We can quibble and oh believe you me I intend to address the disastrous end of the Jim Zorn era next week, we can quibble over how we go to this moment, the journey to becoming a good NFL owner starts with hiring a general manager to oversee operations and a head coach who has the vision and capacity to shape the team on his own. There will be other hires designed to bolster this new power structure and we will analyze them all. Maybe Dan Snyder will let them work.


Today, I am happy with my team's owner.



Mike Shanahan: AP Photo from here.

Department of Bad News: Mike Williams

Done

The Redskins placed their twelfth and hopefully final player on injured reserve yesterday, right tackle former 400 pound man Mike Williams tore foot muscles near his toe in the first half of the game fifteen loss versus the Cowboys, Mike was placed on the season ending list at the same time as teammate safety Reed Doughty, who suffered a high ankle sprain in the same game. To take Mike's and Reed's roster spots the team signed a tailback and a cornerback.

In a wide ranging and at times downright baffling April pre draft radio interview on ESPravda 980 with owner Dan Snyder, then shadow general manager Vinny Cerrato and head coach Jim Zorn, the Redskins announced they had signed a player but were unable to announce who the player actually was. We were told it was a right tackle, which would become more germane a month later when the Redskins released ten year Redskin right tackle Jon Jansen.

The right tackle teased in the radio interview turned out to be then still 400 pound Mike Williams, a former 2002 fourth overall pick selected by the Bills out of the University of Texas. Mike made thirteen or more starts his first three seasons in Buffalo, was a part time player his fourth year in Buffalo and was released after the 2005 season. He signed with Jacksonville before the 2006 season but was placed on injured reserve with a back injury in August, before the season had even started.

Mike spent the next two years away from football, he stayed close with his former college teammate and boomerang Redskin left guard Derrick Dockery, a series of personal commitments to healthy living and life events like having children conspired to put Mike on former shadow general manager Vinny Cerrato's radar, the team brought him in for a tryout and signed him to a contract on a hunch.

Mike worked his ass off in camp, literally, losing 68 pounds through the end of July and 111 total through the end of August. Mike suffered a few lingering injuries in camp, which is not surprising what he put his body through to lose the weight while playing football in the Virginia summer, and had problems in pass protection, he made final cuts, if only barely.

He got what he wanted, and that was a chance to play football. When right guard Randy Thomas went down for the season with a torn triceps in game two versus the Rams and left tackle Chris Samuels suffered what would become a season and likely career ending neck stinger in game five at the Panthers, it set off a chain reaction of offensive line shuffling, when it was all said and done Mike Williams had made five starts at right guard and three at right tackle.

Not bad considering Mike missed three games in the middle of the season with a ligament tear in his ankle and will be ineligible for the season finale at San Diego, not bad for a guy that was not penciled in at starter at either position and barely made the team.

Mike's toe injury is not expected to be serious and Mike should make a full recovery, go heal up Mike, you will be back to compete for your job in 2010, with a full season to knock the rust off perhaps you can elevate your game, we need starters and depth players.



Mike Williams: Getty Images from here.

Department of Bad News: Reed Doughty

Done

Safety Reed Doughty yesterday became the eleventh Redskins player to be placed on injured reserve in this injury plagued 2009 season, Sunday in the second quarter of the game fifteen loss versus the Cowboys Reed leaped for a tipped Tony Romo pass, he came down with the interception and returned it twelve yards, he was hit at the sideline and rolled his leg, suffering a high ankle sprain.

Reed said he had never had this type of injury before and said to start the week he was going to try and play through it, by Tuesday there was no chance and yesterday the team went ahead and put Reed on injured reserve, Reed will miss the final game of the season.

Reed was a sixth round draft pick in 2006, despite the flameout of Adam Archuleta that season Reed saw little playing time. The 2007 offseason saw the Redskins draft safety LaRon Landry with their first round pick, Reed was again relegated to the bench, until Sean Taylor was shot and killed, as the team regrouped LaRon moved into Sean Taylor's free safety position and Reed moved into the strong safety position, in six starts Reed was credited with 53 tackles, 32 solo.

Heading into 2008 the Redskins drafted safeties Kareem Moore in the sixth round and Chris Horton in the seventh round, Reed still easily earned the starting strong safety spot, before game two of the 2008 season versus New Orleans, Reed became ill with a stomach bug, Chris Horton got the last second start and made the best of it with a fumble recovery two interceptions in the Redskins win, Chris was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance.

Reed regained his starting job the next week and was gracious in praise of Chris, saying that he would do anything he could to help Chris or any other player, even those that might beat him out for playing time because it was about the team, not him. Reed did not start the next game at the Cowboys and although he does not appear in the injury report for that game, and he came back for one more start that season at the Eagles, my recollection is by this point Reed seemed to be slow and constantly behind the play, after Chris' early performance my cohort of Redskins fans was ready to see Chris Horton back in the game.

Reed's back was bothering him and he did not play in the next game versus the Rams, best known as the PETE KENDALL SHOULD NEVER PICK UP A FUMBLE AND TRY TO RUN WITH IT GAME, the day after that game the team announced Reed had nerve problems in his back causing numbness in his legs and feet, a week later Reed was placed on injured reserve, Reed seemed to complain about the decision, perhaps hinting the team was too ready to move on to Chris Horton and to make a roster spot for tailback Shaun Alexander, a former player for head coach Jim Zorn's in Seattle.

Reed had back surgery and was hopeful to return to the team. In the 2009 offseason the team made Reed less than the tender offer, making him an unrestricted free agent, by March Reed was back with the team.

Heading into the 2009 season Chris Horton won the starting strong safety spot, three games in after a number of defensive miscues by Chris, defensive coordinator Greg Blache benched Chris and reinserted Reed into the starting lineup, through those three games and after recovering the starting spot there is simply no question Reed was back in football form and better than ever, his hitting and ability to move side to side near the line were much improved from 2007 and 2008 and it looked like the Redskins were going to have two good strong safeties all season.

Which they did as Chris and Reed flip flopped all season in the starting jobs, both are outstanding and both are now on injured reserve.

With only one game left in the season this was by no means a necessary move, the team could have simply placed Reed on the inactive list. New actual general manager Bruce Allen and the team though wanted to take the time to see some other players strictly for evaluation purposes, with former 400 pound man Mike Williams also heading to injured reserve the team signed tailback PJ Hill and cornerback Marcus McCauley.

This is not by any means a serious injury and Reed will be back and ready to go for the 2010 season.



Reed Doughty: Getty Images from here.

Department of Bad News: Clinton Portis

Done

The Redskins have finally placed injured tailback Clinton Portis on the season ending injured reserve list, since suffering a massive concussion on his fifth carry of game eight at the Atlanta Falcons exactly one month ago on 8 November 2009 Clinton has not played, missing four games, now he will miss the final four games of the season.

While disappointing so some, the move was not entirely unexpected, the team had hoped Clinton would come back, his recovery has been slow and with the team mired in a 1-3 streak since Clinton went down the team just decided to shut him down. Clinton had been cleared to play by his local doctor on Tuesday 1 December, he and the team waited until his examination by a brain trauma specialist in Pittsburgh yesterday. That medical team did not clear him to play (op. cit.) and the team decided it had to move on.

As with teammate and now fellow injured reserve player tight end Chris Cooley, the initial optimism that Clinton could be back quickly and better than evar steadily gave way to the reality that his injury was worse than expected, despite the hopeful tones struck by the Redskins organization, over here at Curly R and in and amongst some Redskins fan circles, no one ever bought the happy talk, as far back as 22 November and again here and here, we predicted 2009 was over for Clinton. This does not make me smart, it simply means I read what the team wasn't saying as much as what it was.

Clinton has a ginormous contract, he renegotiated his deal in March of 2008 and if the team were to cut him before 1 June 2010 it would face a salary cap hit of nearly fifteen million dollars. With running backs more fungible than ever these days it would seem tough decisions are ahead for the Redskins. I just hope Clinton gets better and takes care of himself.

Clinton Portis becomes the tenth Redskins player to hit injured reserve, joining quarterback Colt Brennan, right guard Randy Thomas, left tackle Chris Samuels, safety Chris Horton, tailback Ladell Betts, tight end Chris Cooley, defensive end Jeremy Jarmon, right guard Chad Rinehart and fullback Eddie Williams. When it rains it pours.



A trainer attending to Clinton Portis in game eight on 8 November 2009: AP Photo from here.

Happy Birthday Cornelius Griffin

Hi I'm Cornelius

Please join me in wishing Redskins defensive tackle Cornelius, that is cor-nell-yus mind you, Griffin, a happy birthday, Cornelius turned 33 years old yesterday.

Cornelius is in his sixth season with the Redskins after four with the New York Giants to start his career, Cornelius was a second round draft pick out of the University of Alabama in 2000 and his arrival in Washington was coincident with the return of Joe Gibbs to the Redskins sideline.

No question Cornelius' best year was 2004 when he pulled down a career best 56 solo tackles, 70 overall, and had six sacks playing on a defensive line featuring Cornelius, Joe Salave'a, Renaldo Wynn and Demetric Evans. Cornelius had two two-sack games, both road wins and Washington's defense was ranked in the top ten as measured in rushing yards allowed, passing yards allowed and total yards allowed.

Cornelius is listed at six feet four inches and 303 pounds and is fit as hell, in all Cornelius has been a durable player, he has missed only nine of a possible 96 games, he has continued to anchor the middle of the defensive line as a space eater and the addition of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth distributes some of the attention away from Cornelius, Washington has established a good tackle rotation along the line.

Happy birthday Cornelius!


Other Curly R Cornelius Griffin birthday wishes: 2008

Other Cornelius Griffin 33rd birthday wishes: Fatpickled



Cornelius Griffin meeting Charlie Batch: Peter Diana / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette from here.

Happy Birthday Rock Cartwright

True Redskin

Please join me and the entire staff of The Curly R in wishing Roderick Rashaun also known as Rock Cartwright a happy birthday, Rock turns 30, the big three oh today.

Rock attended Conroe High School in his home town of Conroe Texas where he was a four sport letterman, in his senior season in 1997 Rock had over 2000 yards rushing and was named a Parade All-American. Rock attended Trinity Valley Community College in Texas for two seasons, helping carry the Cardinals to the Southwest Junior College Conference title his sophomore year in 1999.

Moving on to Kansas State for his final two years in 2000 and 2001, Rock was never higher than the third leading rusher for the Wildcats, playing mainly fullback and catching passes out of the backfield.

Rock was also a terrific special teams contributor, a factor in attracting Washington's attention in the 2002 draft, Washington used a seventh round pick to select Rock, and he appeared in all sixteen games that season on special teams, even returning ten kicks.

The following season, 2003 saw Rock's first serious action in the Redskins backfield. For most of the season Rock was way down the tailback depth chart, Trung Candidate having won the starting job in Steve Spurrier's second and final year as head coach. Top reserve Ladell Betts suffered a freak forearm fracture seven weeks into the season and missed four games before re injuring the arm and factoring out of the season.

When Trung suffered a foot sprain in game thirteen at the Giants, primary kick and punt returner Chad Morton filled in, complicating Chad's 2.3 yards per carry average was a case of the flu that week, and the door opened for Rock, just as they would six years later in the second half of a season all the guys ahead of him would go down and he would be there ready to step in, Rock started the final three games of the 2003 season, rushing for 178 of his 411 yards for the year.

In the 2004 offseason the Redskins pulled off their big trade with the Denver Broncos, bringing tailback Clinton Portis into town. Rock carried the ball all of two yards, had no catches and returned no kicks of any kind.

The following season, 2005, Rock began to see some spot duty in the backfield, though still solidly behind Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts as the Redskins won their final five games on the way to their first playoff berth in five seasons. That was also the season Rock changed his jersey number from 40 to 31 to honor his mother who had died unexpectedly that offseason.

It was in 2006 that the team finally figured out where Rock Cartwright could best help the team. With Clinton Portis ailing due to a shoulder separation suffered in the preseason, Ladell Betts was the team's primary back for the majority of the season, and Rock still saw almost no time on first, second or third down. No, 2006 was the season Rock emerged as a premier kickoff returner, fielding 64 kicks for over 1500 yards and a 24.1 yards per return, only two players returned more kicks than Rock in 2006, and only one had more kick return yards. Rock's greatest moment in 2006 without question was the one hundred yard kickoff return for a touchdown in game two against the Cowboys, it was the Redskins only touchdown of the game.

Two thousand seven continued the trend in Rock's utilization, virtually no appearances in the backfield and returning 52 kicks for over 1300 yards, Rock was again top ten in total kickoff returns and in yards. No change in 2008 which is to say no backfield action and another top ten season in both total kickoff returns and return yards.

This season, 2009, seemed to be on pace for the same treatment for Rock, no backfield action and lots of kickoff returns, though total number and yards are down so far as the defense has improved and held teams to fewer points and therefore fewer kickoffs, Washington may still be the number one passing defense in the league right now as measured by passing yards per game, the most important statistic though is scoring and the Washington defense currently rank tenth in the league, or in other words only nine teams have allowed fewer points so far this season than the Redskins.

Curly R aside: Wouldn't it be great if we had an offense that could score? With that defense?

Then Atlanta happened. Clinton Portis took two helmets to the head and went out with a concussion in game eight, in support of new primary back Ladell Betts Rock had seven carries. In game nine against the Broncos Rock had nine carries and Ladell appeared to cement his argument as feature back with 114 yards on 26 carries.

Then Dallas happened, on the road the next week against the Cowboys, Ladell tore an ACL and MCL, Rock stepped up and thirteen times in a 7-6 loss. With Ladell lost for the season Rock assumed the position for game eleven at the Eagles, carrying the ball fifteen times.

Rock is set to be a primary option in the backfield for the rest of the season, ready and waiting for the call, just like he was back in his second season of 2003. Rock has been a great player for Washington and spent his career doing whatever the team needed him to do. I hope he sticks around Washington for the rest of his career.

Happy birthday Rock!


Other Curly R Rock Cartwright birthday wishes: 2008

Other Rock Cartwright Happy 30th Birthday wishes: Fatpickled.



Rock Cartwright against the Broncos: Getty Images from here.

Department of Bad News: Chris Cooley

Done

The inevitable became evitable yesterday as the Redskins placed injured Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley on the season ending injured reserve list, his broken ankle did not heal as fast as had been hoped and Chris is now guaranteed to miss the team's final five games of the season. He joins the parade of what is now nine players on injured reserve so far in the 2009 season.

Chris injured his ankle in a crossing pattern in the second quarter of game seven, the home Monday Night Football loss against the Eagles on 26 October 2009, the instant reporting on the injury predicted Chris was lost for the season, after seeing a specialist talk got happy about Chris' return, the post surgery prediction was a month out, meaning that with the bye the following week Chris would have been back as soon as... this past Sunday, the game eleven loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia.

Recovery was not as quick or as easy as the delayed reporting back in October, a week ago on 24 November 2009 Chris even admitted that he was probably done for the season, openly questioning whether there was any purpose in the team insisting he come back in 2009.

Many Redskins fans were not buying that initial sunshine anyway, with the team tanking, the season lost and Chris still a vital part of this offense for the forseeable future, the decision was made to shut him down for the year.

Before the injury, Chris was Jason Campbell's favorite target, through six full games this season Jason had connected with Chris Cooley 23 times, compared to Santana Moss with 21 catches through six games and eighteen catches through six for Antwaan Randle El. Replacement tight end Fred Davis had seven catches in the first six games, and has had 20 in the following five.

These nine games are the first nine games Chris will have missed in his professional career. Get it well, get it back, see you in 2010.



Chris Cooley on the field after his ankle injury in October: AP Photo from here.

Department of Bad News: Jeremy Jarmon

Done

Sunday in game eleven at Philadelphia, second quarter on the Redskins kickoff following the Santana Moss four yard touchdown catch from quarterback Jason Campbell, rookie defensive end Jeremy Jarmon, in kickoff coverage, fell awkwardly and tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, he has been placed on injured reserve and will miss the final five games of the season.

As previously described in Ladell Betts' injury piece, the ACL's job, like all knee ligaments, is to connect bone to bone and stabilize the knee, the ACL's specific duty is to keep the the lower leg moving forward and backward in line and to prevent rotation of the upper leg relative to the lower leg.

Jeremy was the Redskins first ever pick in July's supplemental draft, giving up a 2010 third round pick to acquire him. Jeremy has had no starts though he has looked promising on the field, he is projected as a left defensive end, against a right handed quarterback generally the NFL position responsible for sealing the line against the running game to give the strongside linebacker and strong safety a read, this position is currently held down admirably by 36 year old Phillip Daniels.

Jeremy will undergo surgery and rehabilitation and should be ready to go for 2010 training camp, Jeremy joins quarterback Colt Brennan, right guard Randy Thomas, left tackle Chris Samuels, strong safety Chris Horton, tailback Ladell Betts, right guard Chad Rinehart, fullback Eddie Williams, and tight end Chris Cooley, that makes nine players out with five games to go.



Jeremy Jarmon after sacking Chris Simms: Getty Images from here.

Department of Bad News: Chad Rinehart

Done

Ladell Betts was not the only Redskin to be lost for the season two weeks ago in game ten against Dallas, Redskins second year right guard Chad Rinehart suffered a broken right fibula early in the third quarter, he too was placed on the injured reserve list on Monday 23 November 2009 and will miss the final six games of the season, he was rolled in the pile after a play.

The fibula, or calf bone, is there mainly to serve as an attachment for musculature and does not support weight. As such it is considerably more fragile than its partner, the tibia or shin bone.

After 33 year old right guard Randy Thomas tore a triceps in game two against the St. Louis Rams, Chad, a third round draft pick in 2008, stepped in and started two games, a bad loss at the Lions and a meager win against the Buccaneers, former 400 pound man Mike Williams then started one game, a loss against the Panthers, thereafter head coach Jim Zorn opened up a competition between Chad and fifth year free agent Will Montgomery, Will ultimately won and Chad was demoted to the inactive list by all accounts Chad took the demotion very hard, an anonymous NFL talent evaluator even going so far as to call Chad quote just a guy unquote.

Will started three games, all losses, before offensive line coach Joe Bugel lobbied the coaching staff to give Chad another chance, Chad got the start at right guard against Denver and helped to propel promoted tailback Ladell Betts to 114 yards.

All of Redskinsland was united in joy, even if a limited type of joy, that the same five offensive linemen would be starting the next game at Dallas, and in that game Chad was injured.

The surgery to repair this injury is routine and Chad should be back and ready to go for the 2010 season.

=====

Rookie reserve fullback Eddie Williams was also moved to injured reserve Monday (op. cit.), he broke a fibula Friday in practice, Eddie was a practice squad player and was promoted to the roster to provide blocking and pass catching support in the absence of tight end Chris Cooley, he was never active in a game.



Chad Rinehart: AP Photo from here.

Department of Bad News: Ladell Betts

Done

Eighth year Redskins tailback Ladell Betts suffered serious knee injuries two weeks ago in game ten against the Dallas Cowboys, Ladell was injured in the first quarter of that game, his second start in place of primary back Clinton Portis who is still out after suffering a concussion in game eight against the Falcons, in the cutback on a left side run Ladell was tackled by Dallas linebacker Bradie James and tore both the anterior cruciate ligament and the medial collateral ligament in his left knee, Ladell was placed on injured reserve on Monday 23 November 2009 and will miss the final six games of the season.

Like all ligaments, the ACL and MCL connect bone to bone, as opposed to tendons, which connect bone to muscle. While both ligaments' jobs are to stabilize the knee, the ACL's primary function is to hold the tibia, or lower leg bone, in line and limit rotation of the knee joint. The MCL is on the inside of the knee and its primary function is to prevent the lower leg bone from swinging out, or quote opening up unquote.

These are serious knee injuries, the same injuries suffered by teammates Rocky McIntosh and Carlos Rogers in 2007 and will require surgery and months of rehabilitation.

Despite assuming a nominal role this season as third down back, Ladell's numbers in 2009 through seven games were not much different from his 2008 or 2007 numbers, with Clinton Portis healthy the past two seasons the touches simply are not there. After Clinton went down against the Falcons, Ladell ramped up quickly as the feature back, with numbers to match, 70 yards on fifteen carries, a 4.7 yards per carry average in Atlanta and 114 yards on 26 carries, a 4.4 yards per carry average at home against Denver.

Ladell has experience as the starter, in 2006 Clinton Portis suffered a separated shoulder on the first possession of the first preseason game and was never himself on the field, Ladell managed to rack up over 1100 yards on only nine starts that season, including a remarkable stretch in November and December of five games with one hundred yards or more rushing, in that stretch he became the only running back in Redskins history to post back to back rushing games of 150 yards or more. Despite Clinton's woes that season and the general malaise afflicting the team, the running game was a huge bright spot in 2006.

Ladell has spent his entire eight year NFL career in Washington, signing a five year contract extension toward the end of that 2006 season, he then reworked his contract before the 2008 season to give the team some additional salary cap room and him some more cash.

I am not alone among Redskins fans hoping Ladell makes a full recovery and returns to the sideline for the 2010 season.



Ladell Betts: AP Photo from here.

Department of Bad News: Chris Horton

Done

Second year safety Chris Horton suffered ligament damage in his toe late in game eight against the Falcons, on Wednesday 11 November Chris had surgery and went onto season ending injured reserve, his roster spot was assumed by rookie free agent safety Lendy Holmes.

After a stellar and surprising 2008 rookie season that saw Chris pull in three interceptions and be named NFC Defensive Player of the Week for week two and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month for September, Chris was the incumbent strong safety coming into the 2009 season, he was benched from the starting spot after a few early season struggles, notably a missed tackle on Rams tailback Stephen Jackson in game two against St. Louis and a late pass interference penalty against the Lions in game three that set up the decisive score, in that latter play head coach Jim Zorn went berzerk defending Chris (ibid.), making it all the much stranger that he would then be benched.

I thought the benching was more window dressing than statement on talent (op. cit.) though it is unassailable that fourth year safety Reed Doughty is back and much improved from back surgery, and there are still those out there that believe Chris has lots of room for improvement (op. cit.).

After his benching he got caught permitting a fan to publish a blog post critical of the team and its decision to give his job to Reed Doughty, the post was quickly taken down and marked only the latest example of a Redskins player flubbing fan outreach in 2009.

Hopefully he will make a full recovery and come back to prowl the line for 2010. Chris Horton is a Curly R favorite.



Chris Horton: Washington Post photo from here.

Department of Bad News: Chris Samuels

Done. Probably for good.

Redskins fans got some expected bad news back on Halloween, long time left tackle Chris Samuels was placed on injured reserve, the neck stinger he took in game five of this season back on 11 October against the Panthers caused Chris some extended numbness, in short order we learned that Chris had been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a condition characterized by the narrowing of the spine in the neck, thereby making it more vulnerable to injury.

In the nearly three weeks since that game Chris has consulted with specialists and weighed his options, and there was really no question, with the risk of paralysis looming and a solid NFL career under his belt, Chris decided to shut it down, likely calling it a career.

It was in part due to the stenosis that Chris wore the big neck brace rising from his shoulder pads all this time. This condition was diagnosed while Chris was still in high school and was manageable, Chris eventually became an All-American and Outland Trophy winner at the University of Alabama before becoming the number three overall selection to the Redskins in the 2000 NFL draft, the Redskins having given up two first round picks in that draft, their own and the one acquired from Carolina in the 1998 trade of defensive end Sean Gilbert to the Panthers (thank you Sean).

Chris became the Redskins starting left tackle immediately, replacing Tre' Johnson and has been the team's anchor at the second most important position on the field for a decade. In ten seasons Chris started 146 of a possible 165 games, including playoffs and those he will not be eligible to start this season.

Chris was amazingly durable during his career, at six feet five and better than 310 pounds he continually tangled with the opponents' best pass rushers. He was selected to six Pro Bowls in his ten seasons, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006 when the team was 5-11 but propelled backup tailback Ladell Betts to 1100 yards on nine starts, 2007 when Chris and Pro Bowl teammates tight end Chris Cooley and long snapper Ethan Albright all wore jersey number 21 in honor of fallen teammate safety Sean Taylor and last season in 2008 when he ended the season on injured reserve with a torn triceps.

Redskins success in the 2009 season was to be largely premised on aging veterans Chris Samuels and right guard Randy Thomas staying healthy, and now both are on injured reserve. Right now Redskins fans are stuck in the void loop of this season, forced to watch it play out slowly and painfully.

We will not fully realize what it means for this team to be without Chris Samuels ever again until the offseason when as expected he announces his retirement and then the team faces a serious rebuilding.

Thank you Chris, you were a hell of a left tackle and did your part to keep quarterback jerseys clean all these years, and Redskins fans will never forget it.


Curly R's Department of Bad News previous announcements on Chris Samuels: 2008



Chris Samuels: AP photo from here.

Department of Bad News: Randy Thomas

Done

Redskins Right guard Randy Thomas tore his right triceps in the second quarter of the home game against the Rams on Sunday, he has had surgery and was placed on injured reserve, he is lost for the season.

The Redskins went into the 2009 season paper thin along the offensive line, now the team will play the next fourteen games without a stalwart starter, albeit one with accumulating surgeries.

=====

Randy Thomas came to the Redskins as a free agent from the New York Jets in the 2003 offseason, playing alongside Jon Jansen at right tackle he solidified the right side of the offensive line, in 2002 the Redskins had thrown a patchwork of right guards at the problem, starting Tre Johnson three times, Wilbert Brown eight times and Brendan Stai five times.

Randy was durable, playing all sixteen games in 2003, fifteen in 2004, fourteen in 2005 and all sixteen in 2006 as Ladell Betts ran for more than eleven hundred yards in place of an injured Clinton Portis.

For his solid performance and durability Randy was granted a contract extension in the 2007 offseason with ten million dollars guaranteed and keeping him under contract until 2011. In January of 2008 the team, as they regularly do with high priced veterans, renegotiated Randy's contract to add two years the deal (op. cit.), Randy is currently under contract to the Redskins until 2013.

In the second game of 2007 Randy tore his left triceps and missed ten games, he returned for game thirteen of 2007 only to injure his elbow and be placed on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.

In 2008 Randy played all sixteen games, though had a subpar season, later we learned Randy had a bulging disc in his neck, a condition that was not only career threatening, if it had not been treated correctly it may have left Randy paralyzed. Randy had that surgery on his neck in February of this year, then had arthroscopic surgery to remove floating objects from his knee in June, the soreness in his knees from this second offseason surgery affected Randy's 2009 training camp, offensive line coach Joe Bugel expressed concerns that Randy might not be able to go sixteen games this season, though in retrospect Joe's concern was ultimately unrelated to Randy's current injury.

Randy now heads out for his third surgery of the year and ends the season on injured reserve for the second time in three seasons. Randy will be 34 when 2010 training camp starts and have a salary cap number, assuming there is a salary cap, of 5.6 million dollars.

Good luck Randy, get in there, get it done and get back, I believe you can come back and continue to play football for this team.

=====

Randy was replaced by third year tackle Will Montgomery against the Rams, second year tackle Chad Rinehart was the depth chart backup to Randy however Chad was inactive for the game, as he was the week before.

Chad and Will competed this week for the job, Chad is a 2008 draftee and was poorly evaluated by the coaches last season, his play has been rated as improved by the team.

It was a close race, the starting right guard position ultimately went to Chad, principally according to head coach Jim Zorn because Will is needed as both backup center and tackle, therefore if something were to happen to Will at right guard the team would also lose its backup center.

Interestingly a name that came up in team internal discussions this week was Pete Kendall, the Redskins left guard the past two seasons and currently a free agent at age 36. In commemorating Pete's birthday in July I wondered right here at Curly R whether Pete may could come back as a backup, he received no offers to compete for a starting job and may yet be able to extend his career by a few seasons if he were willing to take a backup role. A month later Jason Reid at the Washington Post wondered the same thing. Pete's knees are apparently bad and he would have a hard time practicing and so far there has been no contact between Pete and the team. It should be noted Pete did not miss a game, maybe not even a snap over his two seasons with the Redskins.

Away we go into game three with a new right guard.



Randy Thomas in the Rams game: AP photo from here.

Almost - Part Two

Free advice is worth what you paid for it

In the wake of New York's Super Bowl 42 victory over the Patriots, Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo was a hot property. And Dan Snyder wanted him. Curly R concludes its two part series on Steve Spagnuolo's 2008 brush with the Redskins.

Part One: How Steve Became Spags
Part Two: Almost the Redskins Coach

=====

In the wake of Joe Gibbs' retirement following the 2007 season, Redskins owner Dan Snyder inquired after Steve Spagnuolo, the first mention of Steve's name in the media was 21 January 2009, nearly two weeks after Joe's announcement and nearly two weeks before Super Bowl 42.

For the next ten days coverage of the Redskins coaching search is pregnant with Steve Spagnuolo.

Committing the tactical error of not requesting an interview with Steve for the pre Super Bowl bye week, Dan would be stymied by league rules as Steve would otherwise be unable to talk to the Redskins while the Giants were still in the playoffs, being that the Giants went all the way to the Super Bowl, Dan was forced to wait until 3 February 2008 to announce Steve would be interviewing for the head coaching position.

The following day Steve has a phone interview with Dan, then flies in to Washington the day after that, spending the night at Dan Snyder's palace at Xanadu. After three days of interviews in which Washington conventional wisdom has annointed him as the next coach, Steve leaves Washington without a contract.

Steve Spagnuolo would not be the Redskins coach after all.

Reports, confirmed locally but vigorously denied by league sources, indicate Steve and Redskins leadership came away from the interviews agreeing that Steve was still a year or two from being ready for an NFL head coaching position.

By noon the next day Steve was in possession of a new three year contract to stay on board as defensive coordinator in New York.

Stories swirl around the circumstances of Steve not taking the Redskins job, anecdotally it seems equal parts Steve honestly not being sure he was ready and the Redskins sensing this, and Steve hoping to wring a bigger payday out of the team he never wanted to leave, the Giants.

No small amount of speculation also has the pre existing condition of the Redskins coordinators, Greg Blache on defense and Jim Zorn on offense as a condition Steve was not eager to accept, all parties have denied this was a factor in the process.

Steve Spagnuolo would stay one more season in New York, then take the Rams head coaching position in the wake of the firing of Scott Linehan. That the Rams are a reclamation project is something of an understatement.


It is a final irony of the infamous Redskins 2008 coaching search that it was in fact Steve Spagnulo, during his 28 hours of interviews with Dan Snyder and the sycophant brigade, that first cast Jim Zorn as a legitmate head coaching candidate, rationalizing that like Steve himself, Jim's lack of experience in the top spot was offset by his experience and pedigree. In fact, the very night Steve left Washington is the night Jim Zorn had his first interview for the Redskins head coaching position.

When Steve Spagnulo, the last serious candidate pursued before the Jim Zorn endgame, declined, the Redskins took Steve's advice and hired Jim Zorn. For better or for worse we have Steve to thank for coach Zorn.


Reference: Curly R's Chronology of a New Redskins Head Coach



Steve Spagnuolo: AP photo from here.

Almost - Part One

Could have been our coach

Sunday the Redskins play the St. Louis Rams, led by their new head coach Steve Spagnulo, the former defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, beyond wanting some get back for what happened last season against the Rams, this game will also be infused with a certain sense of what if, for you see Steve very nearly was the Redskins head coach. Today Curly R begins a two part series on Steve Spagnulo's Redskins fly by on the way to head coach.

Part One: How Steve Became Spags
Part Two: Almost the Redskins Coach

=====

Steve Spagnuolo was a wide receiver at Springfield College in Springfield Massachusetts, the football field there is called Stagg Field after Amos Alonzo Stagg, the football pioneer that brought such radical ideas to football as names on uniforms, the lateral, the man in motion, the tackling dummy, the Statue of Liberty play and not insignificantly, helmets. Springfield College was Amos' first full time coaching gig in 1890 and 1891 after graduating from Yale in 1889.

Steve graduated in 1982 and joined the University of Massachusetts that fall as a graduate assistant, nearly lost in the sands of time is that Steve is also a former member of the Redskins staff, he was a player personnel intern in 1983.

Who joined the Redskins in 1983? Babe Laufenberg, Charles Mann, Darrell Green and Kelvin Bryant.

Steve got back into coaching in 1984 at Lafayette College and then and forever after was a defensive coach. By 1999 Steve had made the jump full time to the NFL, Andy Reid hired Steve as a defensive assistant, in 2001 Steve became the Eagles defensive backs coach and in 2004 was became the linebackers coach in Philadelphia. In all Steve spent eight years under Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.

Before the 2007 season Tom Coughlin came calling and Steve left Philadelphia to become the defensive coordinator in New York, replacing Tim Lewis who had cultivated an aggressive scheme in Pittsburgh but moved the Giants' defense to a read-react scheme, coach Coughlin wanted to bring some aggression to his team and went calling for a Jim Johnson disciple.

While in New York, Steve's defenses were elite, in 2007, the year New York won the Super Bowl, the Giants defense was seventh in fewest yards per game, eighth in fewest rushing yards per game, eleventh in fewest passing yards per game, fifth in lowest opponents' passing percentage, and get this number one in the league in sacks with 53, six more than the next team.

They won the freaking Super Bowl! They put down the Patriots, 2007's version of the Evil Empire. And they did it on the strength of a defense coached by Steve.

It is understandable with his pedigree and experience that Steve Spagnuolo would soon attract attention as a head coaching candidate. First among Steve's suitors in the 2008 offseason was Redskins owner Dan Snyder.


Steve Spagnulo's Almost concludes tomorrow with part two, Almost the Redskins Coach.



Steve Spagnuolo: AP photo from here.

Thank You James Thrash

Real Redskin

Though Jon Jansen was technically the longest tenured Redskin at the time of his release in May having been with the team since 1999, James Thrash was the senior Redskin. Now James has been released, unable to pass a phyiscal and the team needs to move on. James had not participated in June OTAs with a bulging disc in his neck, foreshadowing the injury that would end his tenure with the team.

James was an undrafted free agent out of Missouri Southern University in 1997, the Philadelphia Eagles originally signed him in April of 1997, then released him in July just before training camp. Three days later James was signed by the Redskins.

James played his first four seasons for the Redskins, mainly as a reserve, his breakout year came in 2000 when he started nine games and caught 50 passes for 653 yards and two touchdowns, James was moved up in the depth chart when receiver Michael Westbrook tore knee ligaments in the game two against Detroit.

In the 2001 offseason James signed a five year deal with the Eagles as a free agent and returned to the team that cut him before rookie training camp and spent three seasons there, statistically his best years were in Philadelphia, James was part of three straight NFC Championship teams as an Eagle. When Philadelphia made their move in the 2004 offseason and signed receiver Terrell Owens, the team traded James back to the Redskins for a fifth round pick in the 2005 NFL draft, a pick the Eagles shrewdly used to select defensive end Trent Cole, a leading Eagle to this day.

I asked lifetime Eagles fan, season ticket holder and Curly R reader/lurker Wilbert Montgomery for his take on James' time in Philadelphia. Here is what he had to say:

I liked the guy... [James] worked hard in practice and in games and brought very little ego to the game. I wish there were more guys like him at the skill positions in the NFL.

Curly R aside: read into these Eagle fan comments what you will considering that James was directly replaced in 2004 by Terrell Owens, who seems to be the opposite of this description of James Thrash.


In Joe Gibbs' second go round with the team starting in 2004, James would join receivers Laveranues Coles and Rod Gardner and would play a different role, one he would continue through last season: the gutty guy.

In the five seasons, 2004 through 2008, James played in his second stint with the Redskins, he never caught more than seventeen passes, and only caught nine each of his past two. His role evolved into so much more, and he became a glue for this team:

The big play. The Redskins have never been able to find a suitable complement to receiver Santana Moss. Antwaan Randle El became a role player and none of the legion of receivers tried out or signed by the Redskins the past five seasons was able to displace James as number three. If Santana or Antwaan got dinged and came out of the game, or if you ever found yourself yelling at the TV, we could really use a big play here, it was usually James Thrash that went downfield and out of character, gave up the body and made the play. Some examples:

2008 game eight at Lions: second quarter, Lions lead 10-3, Redskins ball at the Washington 17 with 36 seconds left in the half, on third and nineteen Jason Campbell goes deep to James for 29 yards, the Redskins are able to hang on and score a field goal as the half expires to cut the Lions lead to 10-6.

2007 game nine versus Eagles: in a barnburner at home James catches two second quarter 31 yard bombs from Jason Campbell before pulling in his second touchdown reception of the game to put the Redskins ahead 12-7.

2006 game eight versus Cowboys: with no timeouts and the game tied 19 all in the fourth quarter, two minutes left in the game and the Redskins at midfield, Mark Brunell finds James short over the middle on third and seven, James crosses and reaches for seventeen yards to keep the drive alive and set up a tying field goal try.


Blocking. It had almost become a caricature the past three seasons, when you saw James Thrash in the game, that usually meant run play. An outstanding blocker at the line and downfield, James helped spring his teammates and particularly Clinton Portis. Even when you knew James was in the game as a blocker he was still going to knock your ass down.


Special teams. Back with Rock Cartwright on nearly every kickoff and rushing downfield on kickoffs and punts, James knew the value of hustle. Even as he became less valuable to the team as a receiver he maintained a key role on a unit where youth dominates and future starters are stashed.

James finishes his playing career with the Redskins having played nine seasons, played in 118 games, starting 24 of them, caught 126 passes for 1620 yards and pulled in seven touchdowns, made countless blocks and had limitless hustle.


Good luck, we will miss you James, thank you for all you did for the Washington Redskins.



James Thrash celebrating a touchdown early last season in Dallas: AP photo from here.

Happy Birthday Santana Moss

Lights out

Please join me in wishing a hearty happy birthday to Redskins receiver Santana Moss, Santana turns 30 today, the big three oh.

Santana came from the New York Jets in a straight up trade for Laveranues Coles, himself acquired in 2003 from the Jets, Laveranues had battled through toe injuries his two years in Washington and wanted a big contract, Joe Gibbs and the Redskins were ready to move on and in March 2005 sent Laveranues back to New York in exchange for a four year receiver very much in the physical mold of Laveranues.

And Santana has been nothing like that other guy, quite the opposite, Santana has carved for himself a place in the pantheon of the greatest Redskins receivers. A threat any time he touches the ball and from anywhere on the field, in four seasons Santana Moss has electrified Redskins fans and confounded opponents.

He plays hurt, with no reliable foil at the other receiver spot he fights through double teams. He runs like a tailback in traffic and is not self conscious on the football field, as happy with a slant or receiver screen or end around as he is with the deep ball.

But it is the deep ball that is Santana's first love, he has given us some of the most thrilling moments as Redskins fans in recent years. The Monday night miracle in Dallas, game two of 2005, a game I am still ashamed to say I turned off before it was over (that was before DVR, luckily neighbor Bill recorded the fourth quarter before he turned in that night), a 39 yard catch and run and a 70 yard bomb from Mark Brunell, both in the fourth quarter to bring the Redskins back from 13-0 to win 14-13. Another one, 68 yards from Mark Brunell in overtime to beat the Jaguars in game four of the 2006 season. Send Santana deep and you have to account for him. Let us hope the Redskins can figure out how to use that to their advantage this year.

Santana Moss currently holds the Redskins single season receiving yards record with 1483 yards in 2005. It is his number I wear on gameday.

Happy birthday Santana!



Santana Moss scoring the winning touchdown in overtime against the Jaguars on 1 October 2006: Nick Waas / AP photo from here.

Story Update: Jack Pardee

Did just about everything

While the staff here at worldwide headquarters is heads down preparing a slew of offseason wrap up pieces, I have an update to a previously run Curly R story.

Two years ago The Curly R ran a multi part summer tent pole series on the career of former Redskins player and coach Jack Pardee, a story told through the lens of the game played between Jack's Oilers and Joe Gibbs' Redskins in November 1991 when both teams were Super Bowl contenders.

For those that do not remember this epic game between the Warren Moon Drew Hill Haywood Jeffires run and shoot Oilers and the Mark Rypien Earnest Byner Gary Clark line up and knock you around Redskins, it was the first time Jack Pardee had been back to RFK Stadium since Jack Jent Cooke and Bobby Beathard fired him after the 1980 season, Houston kicker Ian Howfield missed a 33 yard field goal to win with four seconds left in the game, Darrell Green intercepted Warren Moon in overtime and Chip Lohmiller sealed the win to move the Redskins to 9-0 on their way to 14-2 then victory in Super Bowl 26.

I researched this piece meticuously over more than six months and had no direct input from anyone associated with Jack Pardee or the Redskins, I wanted to get Jack's story right and get it on the record for today's Redskins fans, an appreciation for history is very much part of what being a Redskins fan is all about.

Fast forward two years to last week when I got an email from Jack's son Ted Pardee, a former University of Houston linebacker himself:

I am sorry I did not see this posting before now – what a great account of my father’s experience with the Redskins and a summary of what happened after. Thanks for writing – too bad my dad was not considered for the all-Redskin team a few years ago.

We Pardee’s will always love the time we lived in Washington, and Dad’s experience as a Player and Coach – both experiences were great.

Writing about people is always a more personal experience than writing about games and sport, words never die, emotions are involved and someone always has a different opinion. When I started work on this piece I set out to tell a story about a game and the story I wound up writing was about a man. I am very proud of this series, and the thought that it might invoke smiles or happy memories in the minds of the people closest to this story makes me happy.

If you have not yet read Redskins Greatest Games Volume One: Oilers at Redskins November 3 1991, head over and give it a read, as is often the case in life, football serves as a convenient metaphor, in this case for the career of Jack Pardee.

Jack, if you are reading this, thank you again for everything you did for the Redskins and for football.



Jack Pardee in 1992: Ken Levine / Getty Images from here via here.

Happy Birthday Fred Smoot

21 turns 30

Please join me and the entire staff of The Curly R in wishing Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot a happy birthday, Fred turns 30 years old today.

Fred is a boomerang Redskin, he was drafted by Washington in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft and proclaimed himself the steal of the draft, promising big things, even taking recently departed Redskin Deion Sanders' number 21 jersey.

A native of Jackson Mississippi, Fred played at Provine High in Jackson, after graduating in 1998 went to Hinds Community College in Raymond Mississippi and played a year there before signing with Mississippi State in 1999.

With Fred in the lineup Mississippi State had the nation's top defense his first year on the team in 1999 as the Bulldogs went 10-2, Fred pulled in five interceptions and the team earned a berth in the New Year's Eve Cotton Bowl against Clemson, a game Mississippi State won 17-7 despite committing 21 penalties.

In 2000 the Bulldogs slipped to 8-4 and Fred, despite his great performance on the field with five interceptions in eleven games, was ruled academically ineligible and was not permitted to travel with the team to play in the Independence Bowl in always raining Shreveport Louisiana where the Texas A&M Aggies fell to Mississippi State in a barnburner 43-41. Fred had first round talent but scouts were trying to figure out if his head was in the game.

Declaring himself eligible for the 2001 draft, Fred was considered confident and unafraid to challenge the opposing team's top receiver. When draft day came many mocks and draft boards had Fred rated as the top cornerback in a draft deep in the position. Up came the Bills at number 21 in the first round but passed on Fred for Oklahoma State University corner Nate Clements, whom Buffalo preferred for both his size and his strength.

Buffalo's decision proved beneficial to the Redskins as Fred hung around until the fourteenth pick of the second round, a round that included Drew Brees, Alge Crumpler, Chad Johnson, Kris Jenkins, Aaron Schobel, Matt Light, LaMont Jordan, Chris Chambers, Travis Henry and Shaun Rogers.

Fresh with a four year contract in 2001, Fred cracked the starting lineup immediately in Washington, playing alongside Champ Bailey and with future Hall of Famer Darrell Green. Fred continued his productivity from college in 2001 with the Redskins, pulling down an interception and scooping up a fumble in his first NFL game and earning NFL Rookie of the Month honors in September on his way to a 30 tackle, five interception season.

Marty Schottenheimer was gone, making way for Steve Spurrier in 2002, defensively Champ Bailey and Fred Smoot were not worried about the offense, they had visions of going to the Pro Bowl together, in a live chat with the Washington Post in August 2002, Fred set his sights high for the Redskins: a Super Bowl for the team and a Pro Bowl for him. Although 2002 was a challenge for the team overall with a 7-9 record, the defense improved from 10th overall to 5th as Fred racked up 49 tackles and four interceptions.

Heading into the 2003 offseason rumors began flying that the Redskins were going to package up Fred and Washington's number thirteen overall pick and trade them to Detroit for the Lions number two overall pick, presumably so the Redskins could select a receiver for Steve Spurrier's offense, either Charles Rogers or Andre Johnson. The trade did not happen and despite being knocked unconscious in practice in September and suffering a fractured sternum in October, Fred still managed to start fourteen games, register 50 tackles and pull down four interceptions. Overall the Redskins defensive unit suffered an embarrassing and dismal season as the team went 5-11 and the defense fell from 5th to 25th overall.

In 2004 Joe Gibbs returned to the Redskins and traded cornerback Champ Bailey to the Broncos for tailback Clinton Portis, Shawn Springs and Walt Harris were brought in to shore up the position and compete with incumbent Fred. As the 2004 season approached the pressure was mounting what with coach Joe back in town and Fred was not afraid to predict great things for himself and for the Redskins. Although the 2004 Redskins finished 6-10, Fred finished with 63 tackles and three interceptions as the Redskins and new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams climbed from 25th overall to third overall in defense.

For the 2005 offseason, the Redskins had quite a dilemma: twenty free agents, including Fred Smoot. From the very first of the year Fred had a gut feeling he would not be back with Washington, that feeling became a self fulfilling prophesy when Fred and the team could not agree on a contract, the principle sticking point being the size of the signing bonus, Joe Gibbs and the team were not preprared to offer the player more than eleven million dollars up front (op. cit.), Fred had requested a fourteen million dollar bonus, and the franchise tag number, the average of the top five salaries at the position, came in higher than expected at 8.8 million dollars for cornerback, causing the team not to apply the tag to Fred. The first day of free agency saw the team standing firm on its now ten million dollar bonus offer and Fred shopping for another deal. That deal came four days later, from the Vikings in the form of a six year 34 million dollar contract with an eleven million dollar signing bonus, the same eleven million dollars by the way that Joe Gibbs had said he was willing to give Fred. Between losing Fred along with linebacker Antonio Pierce and trading away receiver Laveranues Coles, it looked like the Redskins were flailing at personnel management.

Fred had two years in Minnesota, seasons I imagine personally and professionally Fred wishes he could have back. Over 2005 and 2006 Fred endured a number of challenges, his relationship with the Vikings soured and the team cut him the night before the start of 2007 free agency.

Forty-eight hours later Fred was back in Washington, along with London Fletcher the Redskins other top free agent target for the 2007 season, Fred came back to Washington for five years and twenty-five million dollars, Joe Gibbs brought back the player he let go two years earlier over money.

The 2007 season saw Fred join Shawn Springs and Carlos Rogers, the player Washington drafted after losing Fred, in the defensive backfield. Fred started eleven games and made 44 tackles as Washington rotated cornerbacks and finished 9-7 on the way to a playoff berth. With Fred back on the team Washington's defense improved from a dismal number 31 overall to a familiar spot in the top ten, number eight overall.

That rotation of Shawn, Fred and Carlos stayed in place for the 2008 season and saw Fred start eight games, make 43 tackles and grab one interception as the team started strong and ended weakly to finish 8-8. The defense though cannot be blamed for that record as the unit overall improved from number eight overall to number four overall.

Going into the 2009 season Shawn Springs is gone, Carlos Rogers is in his contract year and the Redskins signed cornerback DeAngelo Hall to a long term deal. No doubt Washington even in the best situation Washington will continue to rotate cornerbacks and Fred will be an important role player, with these three players the Redskins are loaded at cornerback.

Happy birthday Fred!



Fred Smoot from the Redskins 2008 training camp: AP photo from here.