Cut Day

Not to be

Coach wants to see you, bring your playbook

The Turk came back to the Redskins locker room this week, final cuts are in, training camp is a wrap, the regular season is here, no huge surprises in the lists of cuts, Brandon Banks and Anthony Armstrong both made it, Keiland Williams is also in, I personally thought Ryan Torain was a better option, they were very close. And the team is going with three quarterbacks.

Full list of cuts:

Round of 75 cuts, Tuesday 31 August 2010

OL Edwin Williams
S Lendy Holmes
LS James Dearth
LB Hall Davis

Offensive lineman Edwin Williams was an undrafted free agent signed after the 2009 draft, he made the roster as a backup center and guard, he played in three games last season including two starts in the right guard wood chipper at Philadelphia and at San Diego, both games were losses, Washington signed Kory Lichtensteiger in January to compete for the backup center position and Kory won out.

Safety Lendy Holmes was also an undrafted free agent signed following the 2009 draft (op. cit.), Lendy was released on Cut Day 2009 then re signed back to the practice squad, he was promoted to the regular roster following safety Chris Horton's torn toe ligament on 11 November 2009, he appeared in the final eight games last season mostly on special teams, the team signaled a lack of confidence in Lendy when safety Tyrone Carter was signed off the street following the injury to free safety Kareem Moore.

Veteran long snapper James Dearth was signed two weeks into training camp this year when the team wanted some competition for new incumbent Nick Sundberg.

Linebacker Hall Davis was acquired in trade from Saint Louis on Monday, had one practice and was cut, the union, the NFL Players Association is looking at this cut as a violation of the rule that says a team must pay a drafted rookie 85 percent of the rookie minimum of $310,000, it looks like tight end Dennis Morris was shipped out to Saint Louis to suffer the same fate.

WR Malcolm Kelly was placed on injured reserve to bring the total roster moves from this day to five.


Round of 53 cuts, Saturday 4 September 2010

WR Terrence Austin (signed to Redskins practice squad)
QB Richard Bartel
OL Selvish Capers (signed to Redskins practice squad)
S Tyrone Carter
OL Erik Cook (signed to Redskins practice squad)
FB Carey Davis
LB Curtis Gatewood
DL Howard Green
LB Robert Henson
WR Shay Hodge
DE/LB Rob Jackson (signed to Redskins practice squad)
OL Clint Oldenburg
TB Willie Parker
OL Chad Rinehart
CB Ramzee Robinson
OL Will Robinson (signed to Redskins practice squad)
S Anderson Russell (signed to Redskins practice squad)
DL Darrion Scott
TB Ryan Torain (signed to Redskins practice squad)
TE Lee Vickers
WR Bobby Wade

Receiver Terrence Austin was a seventh round draft pick that made some great plays in a training camp and preseason populated by a bunch of young, eager and unproven receivers, Terrence stood out particularly in the third and fourth games, although I thought he did enough to make the team, the brass must have thought they had all the five eleven receivers it needed on the roster in Anthony Armstrong, Joey Galloway and Santana Moss. Terrence was signed to the practice squad and something tells me we will see him on the roster at some point this season.

Quarterback Richard Bartel was signed by the Redskins back in November of 2009 to be the number three behind Jason Campbell and Todd Collins, after the team traded for John Beck who offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan was supposably high on coming out of college, then gave him a contract extension, Richard was behind the eight ball. Richard has been with Dallas, Cleveland, Jacksonville and now Washington.

Linebacker Robert Henson started camp quietly amidst higher profile position player, Robert ended the preseason tackling everything in sight, he injured his knee at the end of the Cardinals preseason game four and was released with an injury settlement. Robert will most be remembered by Redskins fans as the dumbass that insulted Redskins fans.

Defensive end slash linebacker Rob Jackson is another of the sad 2008 draft class, he was a little used defensive end the past two seasons and was slated to convert to outside linebacker in the new 3-4 scheme. He did not turn many heads in camp though he was invited back to the practice squad.

Tailback Willie Parker did not distinguish himself in the three man race with Clinton Portis and Larry Johnson to carry the ball this season, Clinton simply looks terrific and while I did not think Larry was all that great shakes, Willie was definitely the third of three.

Offensive lineman Chad Rinehart, yet another member of the Redskins doomed 2008 draft, was never rated highly, did not play at all in 2008 and went into the grinder at right guard in 2009, he started two games then lost the spot and went all the way to the end of the bench, offensive line coach Joe Bugel lobbied hard to get Chad back in the game and he got another two games before being pulled again. I do not think the team was ever planning on keeping Chad.

Tackle Will Robinson was on the Redskins practice squad last season after signing as an undrafted rookie free agent with Seattle in 2008 and saw some action in the second half of the 2009 schedule as a reserve, the team likes his athleticism, Will is apparently very raw, he was signed back to the practice squad.

Two year veteran tailback Ryan Torain was never really dueling with Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson or Willie Parker, Ryan's main competition was rookie Keiland William, the team was never going to keep three backs with as much experience as Clinton, Larry and Willie and Keiland got the spot for the developing guy, Ryan was signed back to the practice squad.

Cornerback Justin Tryon, another misfit from the Redskins 2008 draft, was traded to the Colts for an as yet undisclosed draft pick to bring the total roster moves this day to 22.


Of the 34 players selected in the draft by the Redskins since 2006, fifteen or 44 percent are no longer with the team. If we extend only to include players on the active roster and not on the practice squad or injured reserve, the number jumps to 20 or 59 percent of players selected that are not in an immediate position to help the team.


Previous Cut Days: 2009 2008 2007 2006



Willie Parker in his final preseason game with the Redskins: Getty Images from here.

The Receivers Situation Is Really Much Ado About Nothing

Out though

Since the Thursday Night Massacre when Antwaan Randle El was released, Redskins fans knew receiver was going to be sore spot for Washington in 2010. Santana Moss is now five years past his franchise record for receiving yards¹ and Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly made no significant strides as franchise receivers in their second years in 2009.

The 2010 free agency crop of receivers was not terrific, even adjusting for the fact that in the current collective bargaining agreement environment team owners are more inclined to stay out of the market. There was some quality there, check the names (op. cit.), aside from Antonio Bryant and Vincent Jackson though the Redskins never seriously went into the top drawer.

This past April's draft was also not bursting at the seams with receiver talent, in the first round only two receivers were selected and none higher than number 22, and there were only four selected in the first two rounds; the Redskins never even mentioned a receiver's name in draft consideration that I can think of.

So heading into camp the team had a motley collection of receivers in camp, from classic cars like Joey Galloway to untested coupes like Brandon Banks, with a bunch of sport wagons and a couple of beaters in between.

One of the big stories, maybe the biggest story in a camp where many positions are all but settled, has been the competition among these receivers, who will make the team and who will be on his way. Depth charts change by the day, playing time in preseason game one may or may not be an indicator.

One guy muffed the opening kickoff and then caught a 44 yard second half touchdown. Another caught quarterback Donovan McNabb's first competitive touchdown pass as a Redskin except he bobbled it and if the game had been live the Bills would have challenged the score and won (or maybe they would have just lied there a bit longer and let the Redskins finish before taking a shower). One guy dashed 77 yards for a dazzling second half punt return score, but not before muffing the punt return before that one. A bunch of other guys got one or two ball tossed at them, nothing enough to evaluate and one guy has been hurt all camp and cannot play.

I am ready to make a couple of early predictions about who makes the team and they are based on a couple of factors.

First, I think head coach Mike Shanahan might keep four ball carriers. Now that Brian Westbrook is out of the picture coach is free to execute his plan. All three Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson and Willie Parker will make the team, barring a complete meltdown or some revelation that one or more of them simply cannot play at this level. Both Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams looked good in action Friday, and coach Shanahan may want a young set of legs to mix it up and get some experience. If not then both Ryan and Keiland look to be eligible for the practice squad, which of course would mean that either or both would have to be cut and then pass through waivers and not be signed by another team which they would be if they were scouted as quality by the rest of the league but I digress.

So four ball carriers would imply a higher likelihood of five receivers instead of six. There is also a natural economics to NFL football, in most offenses there is really not room for more than three receivers at most, and you know the tight ends and or tailbacks will count for many of the passing yards in Dono's first year in Washington.

So in my opinion to a great extent there is no benefit to keeping more than five receivers on the roster, you can always find a body to put on the practice squad and in the event you are down to playing your fourth and fifth or practice squad players then you have had serious injuries or the bottom has dropped out of your season and you are auditioning for next year anyway.

So who do I think will make the team? Well one is easy, Santana Moss, this season will be his swan song in Washington.

The next is easy as well, Devin Thomas. Even though his place on the depth chart has fluctuated that is because coach Shanahan is playing mindgames with Devin, trying to tease out a motivation that has been lacking the last two years and find out once and for all if Devin looks so mediocre because he is not talented or because he has not been properly motivated. One of those conditions can be corrected by a guy like Mike Shanahan.

The next is the hard working everyman, Bobby Wade. Bobby is only 29 and has put up consistent number three receiver production the past four season. He can step by pushed into the number two spot if Devin pulls another disappearing act. Bobby gets the nod over Roydell Williams on experience, Roydell has been out of the game for two seasons and there are a lot of guys with more experience in his salary band, and over Mike Furrey on production, Mike has number four receiver numbers.

The fourth is the grizzled veteran, Joey Galloway. Every team needs an Art Monk or a Henry Ellard, a wily vet that can put out just enough production to keep the chains moving and can tutor the guys on the sideline in the ways of the NFL. Plus Joey has a relationship with new real actual general manager Bruce Allen from Tampa Bay days, I think Bruce considers Joey a quote character guy unquote and you like to have these guys around your team.

The fifth is the wild card, it will be one of the three musketeers, Brandon Banks, Anthony Armstrong and Terence Austin, whichever distinguishes himself in preseason play, as both a receiver and special teams player.

And Malcolm Kelly is done, his Redskins career will be over. That he has been unable to play is bad enough, I also think Mike Shanahan will be looking for other examples of old guard players to turn out as he remakes the team in his image. That process started with the aforementioned Thursday Night Massacre, continued with quarterback Colt Brennan and will conclude on cut day with Malcolm Kelly.

One or two of the young guys will land on the practice squad, unless they are claimed by another team in which case it will be time to go to market and nab some other team's castoffs.

There are some caveats here, this configuration I have put together has only one receiver over six feet tall, Devin Thomas at six feet two inches. If coach Shanahan wants more height explicitly his options are Malcolm Kelly at six feet five, Mike Furrey at six feet zero and rookie Shay Hodge at six feet two.

And of course it may be that the team has no intention if jettisoning Malcolm yet, they could keep him at number five and play a four receiver rotation until Malcolm's hamstring heals.

I just tend to think back to something I heard Randy Cross say on Sirius NFL Radio's Opening Drive years ago, and that is guys usually are what they are, and Malcolm has shown no signs of being a legitimate number one or number two receiver. So with hungrier guys out there why keep him?


1. Official NFL Record and Fact Book 2009 (New York: Time Life Books, 2009), 227.



Malcolm Kelly: AP photo from here.

Redskins Training Camp Day Five: GUNSLINGER FOR HIRE

Into every life a little rain must fall

Monday 2 August 2010 | Forty-one days until kickoff

Looks like the Redskins finally found a story to knock Albert Haynesworth off the front page: Third year quarterback and fan favorite former University of Hawaii Warrior Colt Brennan was cut today, the Cult of Colt is leaving town.

After what he described as a good morning practice, the team called Colt in and gave him the news, Washington had acquired another quarterback and was going in another direction, the team indicated to Colt that they thought he could play in the NFL, just not with the Redskins this season, and they decided to release him so early in camp to give him the most time to catch on with another team. The whole thing was a complete surprise to Colt. It was all about John Beck, offensive coordinator and coach son Kyle Shanahan apparently has had his eye on John since his BYU days, not in a gay way or anything.

Colt leaves Washington taking with him a large and fanatical fanbase, I literally say UH gear at every Redskins game I went to in 2008 and 2009, including road games in Philadelphia. The instant media take on Colt's Washington legacy is the Hall of Fame Game to open the preseason in 2008 (ibid.), Colt was nine for ten in a 30-16 win, I will always remember Colt for his performance in 2008 preseason game three at the New York Jets, it was Brett Favre's first game as a Jet, Colt came in to start the fourth quarter, after two disappointing drives, in each of which the line gave up a big sack, Colt drew his six shooters and blasted his way to a final game winning drive, bombs to receiver Billy McMullen and tight end Jason Goode sealed the 13-10 victory. Neither Billy nor Jason would make the team.

Thank you Colt and thank you to the Coltrollers that will move on from Curly R to the media properties covering Colt's next team, because I think Colt will get a job in the NFL.


There was related news, the quarterback acquired to replace Colt Brennan is John Beck (op. cit.), second year from Brigham Young University, drafted by Miami in the second round of the 2007 draft, started four games that year under head coach and former Redskins quarterbacks coach Cam Cameron after former Redskins quarterback Trent Green suffered what turned out to be a season ending concussion and elevated backup Cleo Lemon became the latest example of how names make people, see also UNC's Duke basketball's Eric Meek and hockey's Garth Butcher, John played three complete games then was pulled in the fourth game in the first quarter after fumbling untouched, the resulting turnover was returned for a touchdown. (hat tip to reader terry in comments for correcting the UNC-Duke confusion, Eric Montross is the center that played at the same time for UNC, as a Wahoo I am filled with a bitterness over the success of those rival teams in those years, a bitterness that only whiskey can wash away and only temporarily. -Ben)

Bill Parcells joined the Dolphins as head honcho before the 2008 season which saw John sit as third string quarterback behind Chad Pennington and Chad Henne, John saw no game action in 2008. Miami released their former second round pick in the 2009 offseason.

John subsequently signed with the Ravens for the 2009 season reuniting him with new Baltimore offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, John again saw no game action last year behind Joe Flacco and Troy Smith.

The Ravens, already worried about number two cornerback Fabian Washington coming off an anterior cruciate ligament tear in 2009, lost number one cornerback Domonique Foxworth for the 2010 season when he tore an ACL in a non contact drill on the third day of camp and began an immediate search for help on the corners.

Fast forward to today. Washington made a straight up trade of cornerback Doug Dutch to Baltimore for quarterback John Beck. The Ravens are so desperate for cornerback help that they gave away a former second round draft pick with NFL starting experience and familiarity with the offensive coordinator's system for an undrafted free agent that was released by the Redskins on Cut Day last season, was out of football for ten weeks then signed back to the Redskins practice squad in November as the team spiraled into misery.

Which leads me to wonder aloud, WHAT THE FUCK ARE THE RAVENS THINKING?! Even if John Beck was panning out to nothing, this seems like an unusually hard up move for the Ravens and Ozzie Newsome, a general manager with a long history of savvy player moves.

Was Doug Dutch that strong a prospect in his second season? Is John beck that much of a washout? Do the Ravens have a secret plan B for getting a higher quality player to start at cornerback? If there is a Raven writer out there reading this, please let me know your take on this.

Alternate title for this post: Redskins Training Camp Day Five: Washington Screws Another Team in Trade for a Change


Blah blah blah, former NFL offensive lineman turned analyst Brian Baldinger thinks quarterback Donovan McNabb is one of the most overrated players in the history of the NFL. *YAAAWNNNN*


Filling out the quarterback news, Rex Grossman appears to have the lead on the backup spot, in other news the sky is blue and water is wet for the only other quarterback on the roster besides Dono with more than four games starting experience and with a full year working in Kyle Shanahan's offense. Fucking duh.


Are we entering an end game in the Albert Haynesworth saga? Before 8:00 am we already knew Albert would not test his knee with the conditioning test.

By noon the story had changed. For the first time since conditioning test saga started Thursday on day one of camp, head coach Mike Shanahan hinted that Albert may be cleared to practice even without passing the test. Since camp started, Albert has taken the test three times and failed all three, and sat out of the test twice, including today, he has missed eight practices.

My bet is on Albert to milk this knee thing for all it is worth, we have already heard coach Shanahan say that this is not a serious injury, that Albert would be practicing on it if he were cleared to practice, Albert is right at the crossroads of don't give a shit and I think I can I think I can. The problem for Albert here is that he has already been rendered moot in this equation. His legacy as a malcontent is already hardening, the best he will ever be able to do is generate some goodwill at the margins.

As I have said many times before this offseason, coach Shanahan and the new kids in team leadership are playing with house money, there is nothing they can do to screw this up. Let Albert twist, be generally mean and risk looking bad? To whom? Media types drolly clinking highballs? Who exactly thinks the worst coach Shanahan can possibly do is worse than Albert Haynesworth taking twenty-one million dollars and then no showing for a room full of new bosses?

Relent, take Albert back, cave like a pussy whipped jellyfish and risk looking bad? To whom? The fans are not that sadistic and serious football watchers know the game has to end at some point and Albert has to get back in the game.

Mike Shanahan cannot screw this up, how it ends does not matter to me.


The safety positions are going to look different this year. LaRon Landry, 2007 first round pick, was forced to move from strong safety his rookie year to free safety after the slaying of Redskins safety Sean Taylor. LaRon made some big hits, committed a few unsportsmanlikes and seemed to hold the center field position down fairly well for two seasons given circumstances. Over time though LaRon's performance at strong safety, a position he does not naturally play, has degraded to the point where LaRon was a punchline last season, overpursuing the play and getting burned on receiver stutter steps, which are now apparently called double moves.

This season LaRon is moving back to his more familiar strong safety position, where he will play closer to the line and more like a small linebacker. He will be looking to get into plays closer to the line of scrimmage rather than twenty yards downfield at the snap, over his three year career LaRon has only three sacks! Got to do better!

LaRon was not always solid in the strong safety position at the end of last season, he was moved there out of frustration by former defensive coordinator Greg Blache more than anything else, hopefully with an offseason to concentrate on strong safety he can get his head back in the game, LaRon played like a borderline first round bust season.

LaRon's move from free safety to strong safety has repercussions, 2008 sixth round draft pick Kareem Moore is expected to move into the free safety spot full time, I was impressed with Kareem last season, he saw action in all sixteen games, and Kareem's biggest weakness prior to this season has been that he got drafted after LaRon Landry moved to free safety, Kareem is a natural free safety and never had a chance to shine until LaRon revealed himself as a terrible strong safety last season.

The other and perhaps more salient impacts of LaRon moving to strong safety will fall on safeties Reed Doughty and Chris Horton. Reed, a 2006 sixth round pick, has moved from strong safety to free safety and back to strong safety, where he has excelled since coming back from back surgery in 2008. Chris, a 2008 seventh round pick stormed onto the scene in game two of that season against the New Orleans Saints with two interceptions, two solo tackles and a fumble recovery while subbing for an ill Reed Doughty, that performance earned Chris Defensive Player of the Week honors in only his second NFL game.

Chris won the starting strong safety job to start 2009, then lost it back to Reed after a game three loss at Detroit in a decision I have no other words for except bunch of fucking bullshit. Chris ended 2009 six weeks later on injured reserve with torn toe ligaments, and truth to say, I think Reed is right now the better of the two safeties. This does not guarantee the end for anyone, the calculus looks tough right now, the Redskins have plenty of strong safeties with a first round pick that never gets injured taking the lead. There may not be room for two others, even two with starting grade experience.


It has been hard to wrap my head around Joey Galloway as a Redskin, not because he played for Dallas or New England, not because he has more than ten thousand yards receiving in the NFL and not because his average yards per catch is over fifteen yards, no the thing that gets me here is this dude was drafted in 1995, that was fifteen years ago!

The dude knows the deal, he may not make the team and I have no idea what he plans to do after football, I can say with confidence that he would not even be this far with the Redskins if new real actual general manager Bruce Allen and head coach Mike Shanahan thought Joey had nothing to contribute, whether as a receiver on the field or a player-coach on the sideline, Joey is well past the point in his career of resenting younger players as the league inevitably turns over to youth, if he is smart he wants to cement a legacy and go out with his head high, playing the game he loves and communicating that passion to a new generation of players.

I hope Joey makes the team, he will need to be able to contribute and not just ride on his name, after all Mike Shanahan is the coach the ended Jerry Rice's career because he would not hold Jerry for name value, Joey will need to be able to play and I hope he can and he does (hat tip to Matt Terl at the ORB [Official Redskins Blog] for the link).


After playing nine years with the Redskins, the team did not attempt to re sign long snapper Ethan Albright aka the Red Snapper, after last season, Ethan was a consistent if low key player who made the Pro Bowl in 2007, he will be remembered for being the lowest rated player in EA Sports Madden 2007 and for the football wonks, for how he re upped with the team every year: A FedEx letter would arrive in the mail with a standard veteran minimum contract, Ethan would sign it and send it back, with so few complications Ethan did not need an agent.

So I cannot understand why the team would not at least bring Ethan back, and maybe they yet shall as new presumed long snapper Nick Sundberg is off to a shaky start (op. cit.), the team using guard slash center Will Montgomery at long snapper yesterday would tend to indicate they are not confident in Nick, all of 23 years old and with no NFL game experience. Maybe new real actual general manager Bruce Allen needs to keep 39 year old and with 15 years experience Ethan on speed dial.


Washington Post Training Camp Tracker: Offensive lineman Chad Rinehart, Washington's 2008 third round draft pick out of Northern Iowa did not play in 2008, he did not seem to progress from offseason to preseason to regular season, going into 2009 Chad was not projected into the lineup, when right guard Randy Thomas went down with a season ending injury for the second time in three seasons Chad was pressed into duty in what became a sad meat grinder at the right guard position.

Chad started two games after Randy went down and was unimpressive, he was replaced by former 400 pound man Mike Williams for a game, Mike was even worse. Head coach Jim Zorn then opened a competition between Chad and fifth year free agent Will Montgomery, Will won and started three games, all losses before offensive line coach Joe Bugel lobbied hard for Chad to be given another chance.

Coach Zorn bent over agreed and Chad started the next game, the Redskins best win in 2009, at home against the Broncos, tailback Ladell Betts ran for 114 yards as the Redskins played one game worthy of the jersey. Chad kept it going with the next game against Dallas... where he suffered a broken fibula in his right leg and was placed on injured reserve, missing the final five weeks of the season.

Wait it gets worse for Chad, in January of this year he was arrested for public drunkenness at a pizza joint in Cedar Falls Iowa, home of his alma mater Northern Iowa. The Redskins Insider piece from the time (op. cit.) is short on detail and sure makes it sound like Chad was arrested for the high crime of attempting to order pizza at 2:00 am.

Back in the now, Chad feels one hundred percent recovered from his injury and has dropped ten pounds, consistent with head coach Mike Shanahan's preference for lean and quick offensive linemen. Chad is currently slotted behind offseason free agent signing Artis Hicks at right guard, I have no idea how Chad is playing or where he will land as far as the roster, I would have to look at him as a borderline player and with the stench of last year's debacle on him, through no fault of his own, that is just how it played out. However with former 400 pound man Mike Williams on injured reserve with blood clots near his heart, Chad may have an opening to make the team.



Colt Brennan practicing early on his last day with the Redskins: AP photo from here.

Redskins Training Camp Day Four: And Albert Said He Was Sick of This Shit on Thursday

Trash that takes you out

Sunday 1 August 2010 | Forty-two days until kickoff

The story is turning into a saga as neither side was able to meet the other's terms again today on day four of Redskins 2010 training camp: Defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth rested his sore knee another day, did not take the required conditioning test for the second straight day after failing it on days one and two. He has now missed four days of practice and is taking valuable one on one time from defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and defensive line coach Jacob Burney that would much better be spent on the full defense.

Albert is still lining up against trash cans. They still do not even give him a tackling sled. And he is pissed (ibid.).

And an interesting aspect if this whole drama broke today, one that might ultimately make everyone look silly here: In every sideline trashbin session with coaches Haslett and or Burney, Albert has been focusing on right defensive end, not nose tackle (op. cit).

So what does that mean? Not too sure at this point, it was principally Albert's objection to the position he thought he was going to play, that being nose tackle, and the hints and foreshadowings of head coach Mike Shanahan to that effect, that set Albert off onto his spring and summer no show show. Albert wanted the team to want Albert to be Albert so badly that any hint of the team not letting Albert be Albert, which is shorthand for line up and go that he got all big baby and went away.

Meanwhile back at the ranch it was all a ruse or early reflection by the coaches on where Albert might fit, and either their position on Albert playing nose tackle has softened, or we have not seen the Albert practicing nose tackle portion of camp yet. The other guy at nose tackle, Maake Kemoeatu is still less than one hundred percent in a return from an Achilles tendon rupture, so with no other perfect nose tackle on the roster make of that what you will.

I think the coaches know and always knew that Albert would be playing different positions in scenarios and once they heard of his opposition to nose tackle they just let that story ride to see if it would get under his skin, how he would handle it and whether he would trust the team to play him in a way that maximizes his abilities. The old thou doth protest too much strategy.

Something has to give here, either Albert has to buck up and pass the test or coach Shanahan has to give him a pass or lengthen the running times.


Talk of a contract extension for quarterback Donovan McNabb continues to build, this time columnist Mike Wise of the Washington Post advocates for a three or four year deal in the thirty million dollar range for Dono, he deserves it and I hope he gets it, I would like to see Dono stay in Washington at least a couple of years. I will say again, back after the Dono trade I read somewhere that Dono was ineligible for a contract extension until this month, August, due to contract actions with the Eagles last year, something about players not being able to rework some or all of a contract twice in the same year. I have not been able to find anything on this, anyone with a link or info drop a comment or shoot me a note.

There was also some other interesting Donovan McNabb news. Seems last week Dono got together with a bunch of business leaders and executives, not to give them a motivational speech or to fish for endorsement deals, but rather to start getting to know the Washington area, network with the movers and shakers and start looking at potenial business partners in which to invest money. This piece, from the new awesome Washington Post Capital Business weekly, seems to portray Dono as interested in potentially any kind of venture, and also as surrounded tightly by a coterie of family and managers, all of whom work for Team Donovan, this family as team concept is also featured in the Sunday WaPo Sports anchor piece from Sunday.


Receiver Malcolm Kelly got some more bad news today (op. cit.), no not his hamstring, that injury kept Malcolm out of action for a third consecutive day, and fellow third year second round pick receiver Devin Thomas is making the best of it with strong camp performances. Devin would appear to be moving up from the depth chart basement while Malcolm sits there. Come cut day some veterans are going to get their papers and I would not want to be a guy on the line dealing with an injury, at least one that was not season ending because then they have to keep you and pay you.


In other news we are hearing more about details of Jim Haslett's 3-4 defense, one aspect of it is more blitzing, former Redskins defensive coordinators Gregg Williams and Greg Blache were both averse to continual blitzing, philosophically Gregg and Greg believe too much blitzing actually exposes weaknesses more than hiding them. Both love a good blitz to be sure, you were more likely to get a blitz heavy game every so often from those guys than a philosophy of finding the holes and getting through them right at the snap.

Jim Haslett on the other hand wants to force the opposing offense to make bad decisions early, so he has multiple blitz packages built into the base defense. Players like cornerback Carlos Rogers will be blitzing more often than ever before (op. cit.) which is probably just as well, we have established that he cannot catch a ball thrown into his hands so maybe playing him more like a small strong safety would make sense.


CEO Mike Shanahan canceled the afternoon practice, instead the team held player meetings, presumably inside in the air conditioning.


Washington Post Training Camp Tracker: Cornerback Justin Tryon, 2008 fourth round pick, was stuck behind Carlos Rogers, DeAngelo Hall and Fred Smoot for his first two years, by the end of last season we saw Justin as the regular nickel back in place of Fred Smoot, and it was largely Justin's improvement that rendered Fred Smoot moot. This season Justin will still be playing behind Carlos and DeAngelo on the front line, and competing for time at third cornerback with 2009 third round pick Kevin Barnes and free agent signee and 2002 first round pick Phillip Buchanon, Phillip has morphed into a journeyman. Among the Redskinserati, Justin looked better than Kevin Barnes last season, I confess I was unable to distinguish one from the other.



Image macro by lifetime Eagles fan, season ticket holder and Curly R reader/lurker Wilbert Montgomery from an image by John McDonnell / Washington Post from here. From left to right is Philadelphia's offensive line featuring left tackle Winston Justice, left guard Stacy Andrews, center Nick Cole, right guard Todd Herremans and right tackle Jason Peters, an awesome front five that Albert will see twice this season.

Redskins Training Camp Day Three: When Your Setback Has a Setback

First I was like go then I was like no

Saturday 31 July 2010 | Forty-three days until kickoff

Maybe too early to call it the downward spiral, maybe too early to call it a pissing contest, how else rationally to look at what is happening to defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth? After missing the entire offseason program, Albert failed the dual twelve increment, 300 yard shuttle runs Thursday and Friday and when he reported in Saturday, talked to the coaches and decided not to take the test, it was first assumed that Albert would pass on his third time charm time to rest his legs. A couple of hours later we discovered the real ostensible reason, a swollen knee.

So he did not take the test. Do you know what that means?

More trashcans. More sideline time with high level coaches that should be dealing with issues larger than Albert. More time for this story to fester and another step toward it becoming the caricature of Redskins 2010 training camp. It means Albert has missed three days of work with teammates and five practices. Nota bene: If things work out well and the Redskins have a good season it will be an awkward situation that worked itself out for the benefit of the team.

Making matters worse of course is now that the media smells a story they are all over it, here Dan Dan the Sports Bog Man finds DC FOX 5's Lindsay Murphy trying the test, she passed the first part and failed the second part, and former Washington Post and current Comcast SportsNet's Ivan Carter passing it with relative ease. Forget that neither Lindsay, maybe 110 pounds with her briefcase, nor Ivan, a former St. Olaf's Division III football receiver (PDF), would have been timed like a defensive lineman for this drill, at 70 and 73.

If things do not then this is head coach Mike Shanahan's slip and slide. Lucky for coach Shanahan that Titans coach Jeff Fisher walked in quietly and said I'll just leave this here.


As is often the case with Redskins training camp, other things happened besides Albert not taking or passing a test. Quarterback Donovan McNabb's agent, Fletcher Smith, visited Ashburn and expounded upon heretofore ephemeral plans to do a contract extension, Dono's current deal expires after this season and irrelevant of the trade terms, those two draft picks, a second rounder and a third or fourth rounder, it would be a tragedy to see Dono depart after on year.

As you might expect, Dono's agent said Dono wanted to stay in Washington for years to come blah blah blah and a deal would get done in due time (op. cit.). I wonder if the reference in the Washington Post Redskins Insider piece to the agent being escorted off the field by a Redskins public relations rep means the team was treating Dono's agent like a VIP, or if they were collaring him to keep from negotiating in the media.

Back not long after Dono came here there was some discussion about the extension and why it could not happen immediately, as the Redskins are wont to do, I would assume the team braintrust an exact idea of what they want to pay Dono, and irrespective of any league rules on collusion that the team and agent are all good on this matter.

I remember reading somehwere, and I am unable to find a reference now, that due to the timing of Dono's last contract renegotiation in Philadelphia that he would be ineligible for a second contract renegotiation in the same calendar year. I have not read this in mainstream reporting that I have perused and I wonder if this is a league rules constraint that no one wants to talk about for some reason. Any lurkers out there that can drop a comment or shoot me a note with a hard reference to this rule, I will put you on the front page.

Dono was also the subject of an enterprise profile in Sunday's Washington Post, in his first season in Washington Donovan is seeking to present himself as hungry and capable as he ever was in Philadelphia, he is a pretty well put together operation and has managed to capture a difficult to bottle essence among top drawer established athletes and that is a student of a particular type of competitive spirit that seeks to lift all those around him, even when it means he will draw personal criticism. Washington area sports fans have not had a player like this since Cal Ripken.


Speaking of quarterbacks, there are four on the roster now, Dono, Rex Grossman, Colt Brennan and late 2009 signee Richard Bartel. It would seem historically that Mike Shanahan prefers to go with two quarterbacks on the roster, meaning a problem for two guys currently on staff. The rules of the practice squad dictate who can be on it, and the politics dictate that if a guy was truly good another team would claim him.

In the immediate term all four are probably safe, one thing that former head coach Jim Zorn was very upfront about was the need for quote camp arms unquote, there is so much happening on a full team practice field that even three quarterbacks is not enough arm to feed the beast.

In the longer term though, likely by first cuts, both Richard and Colt should be concerned. We know nothing about Richard Bartel and Colt Brennan is an undersized freespirit chucker with an emerging pattern of injury. That Colt and Richard are camp roommates is all you need to know about the grim realities of NFL life below the line.


Over in the world of receivers, third year second round pick Malcolm Kelly is still watching his career stall with a hamstring injury (op. cit.), suffered in Hell Week three weeks ago in Arizona with Donovan McNabb, Malcolm was on the sideline getting one on one attention and not with his teammates for the early practice Saturday.

As with Albert Haynesworth it is still too early to say Malcolm is circling the drain, here are the facts: Malcolm is not coach Shanahan's draft pick; Malcolm has underperformed in two seasons with the Redskins; there are eleven receivers on the roster which means coach Shanahan is serious about competition; every rep Malcolm misses is a rep someone else gets. Add it all up and if Malcolm's hammy does not brighten up this week... dot dot dot...


The afternoon practice was a quote jog through unquote, Mike Shanahan's first training camp is shaping up to be hard charging morning sessions followed by lighter non contact work in the afternoons.


Washington Post Training Camp Tracker: Defensive end Jeremy Jarmon, the 2009 third round pick in the supplemental draft was thought not to be a factor in the 2009 season, saw action late in the year and like about everyone else in Washington last season had a serious injury, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Jeremy is back and has put on twenty pounds, now at 295 pounds and is projecting as a defensive end rather than a linebacker in the new 3-4 defensive scheme. How this is all going to work with none of these players accustomed to playing in a 3-4 and players floating between positions... I trust Jim Haslett and these guys know what they are doing.


Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, possible player Albert Haynesworth and defensive line coach Jacob Burney: AP photo from here.

Redskins Training Camp Day Two: The Silver and Back

Just fit in baby

Friday 30 July 2010 | Forty-four days until kickoff

Though real news of players and performance began trickling through on day two of the Redskins 2010 training camp in Ashburn, two stories dominated coverage, both about guys making a lot of money and in totally different places right now.

First Redskins fans awoke to learn that presumed left tackle rookie number four overall pick Trent Williams aka Silverback had ended negotiations and signed with the team, it happened in the wee hours, around 4:30 am, Trent's agents and the team agreed to a six year, 60 million dollar deal that features 36.5 million dollars guaranteed. Trent, already not sleeping well in anticipation of this moment, was at Redskins Park by 6:00 am to sign the deal and get to work (op. cit.).

This story parallels last year's latenight signing of first round pick hybrid defensive endbacker Brian Orakpo following the first day of camp, hopefully as with Brian having Trent in camp this early will bode well for his conditioning, performance and spot on the depth chart. Trent was the first top five pick from the 2010 draft to sign, though by the time I could fact check this, number five pick safety Eric Berry had signed with the Titans. All the top picks will now fall into place with a market set by Trent. Trent went right to work and practiced with his teammates, today...


...Which is more than can be said about defensive slash nose tackle Albert Haynesworth.

After failing his first conditioning test on day one of camp due to a potty break then being forced to suffer the humiliation of lining up alone opposite overturned trashcans, Albert came loaded for bear on day two... and failed the test again and was barred from practicing with the team at large. Cue game show fail music, wanh-wah.

This time there was no potty break, he did not fall for that one, this time Albert missed the time by one second, coming in at 71 seconds on the first set of twelve twenty-five yard shuttles, he needed to do it in 70 seconds and as such there was no opportunity to run the second half of the test.

Albert will get a third attempt, Saturday morning, to pass the test.

We will find out soon if this is purely procedural, if it is vindictive on coach Shanahan's part or if three times is enough groveling for Albert to join the team, coach Shanahan seemed to indicate that he is fine with Albert taking the test every day until he passes (op. cit.), when asked about it again at the end of the second day coach said he was done talking about it. Albert obviously thinks it is all bullshit, he told NBC 4 in Washington that he was quote tired of this shit (op. cit.), and that was after failing only one test.


As indicated at the top, there was other news of the team. Receiver Malcolm Kelly, who hurt his hamstring at Hell Week in Arizona with quarterback Donovan McNabb then surprised me and others by going full speed on day one of camp, was slowed by the hammy today (op. cit.). The Redskins, perhaps more or less like any other NFL team, I have no idea, have had a problem in recent years with players suffering strained hammys in camp and having them linger all year. Of course Malcolm Kelly is a borderline NFL player so maybe it is not surprising.

Too early to make a sourpuss prediction, Malcolm is a guy that cannot afford to miss any time. He and fellow underperforming receiver Devin Thomas have started camp as not-starters, with 38 year old Joey Galloway and 2005 fourth round pick Roydell Williams tied for one spot with Santana Moss firmly in the other. It is of note that while the Redskins traded their 2008 first round pick to set up the second round picks of Malcolm and Devin, Roydell's career statistics in five seasons are not even one season's worth of production for Andre Johnson, Reggie Wayne, Wes Welker, Steve Smith, Hines Ward or Roddy White. Frickin Roddy White!


Presumptive right tackle Jammal Brown, acquired in trade from New Orleans in June, has a new position, right tackle. In looking at that sentence I did not adequately communicate the core concept so let us try again: Two time Pro Bowl left tackle Jammal Brown is now a right tackle. For the life of me I cannot figure out why Trent Williams, a right tackle in college is now on the left and Jammal is on the right. Maybe both will line up in both places, maybe performance will dictate, maybe the talent guys know what they are talking about. Seems to me whether you have a rookie or a veteran that you have an easier time leaving a guy at his natural spot if is better than average at that spot BUT WHAT THE HELL DO I KNOW I'M JUST A BLOGGER.


Meanwhile out in Oakland, former Redskin Jason Campbell has been named the Raiders starting quarterback, no word on whether head coach Tom Cable has yet tried to break Jason's jaw, this Q&A with Jason, recorded after he was traded but before he reported to camp, shows a guy in the dumps, bummed about doing his best, doing his part and still being misunderstood. Good luck to Jason and we will be following his AFC West exploits with great interest.



Newly signed rookie tackle Trent Williams signing autographs on day two of Redskins training camp: Getty Images from here.

Redskins Training Camp Day One: Taking In the Garbage

Don't forget the [excuse] recycling

Today Curly R begins coverage of its fifth Redskins season, yes we have been here since 2006, we will bring you daily roundups of camp activity, if there is something I missed, drop it in comments or shoot me a note.

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Thursday 29 July 2010 | Forty-five days until kickoff

The Washington Redskins began the 2010 season today, and there was news. Not like 2009's first day of camp when number thirteen overall pick hybrid defensive endbacker Brian Orakpo ended contract negotiations and signed with the team late in the day, this year we had no such luck with number four overall pick [projected] left tackle Trent Williams, who as of midnight Thursay had not signed.

Also not like 2008's first day of camp when defensive ends Phillip Daniels and Alex Buzbee both suffered season ending injuries and Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato engineered a hurried trade of second round and sixth round picks to the Miami Dolphins for defensive end Jason Taylor, that turned out to be such a bad move in the grand scheme that when I saw a guy wearing a number fifty-five Taylor jersey in the DC Metro last month I wondered if I should give him my Uno's leftovers.


The second biggest story of training camp day one was actually a story from before training camp opened. Third year receiver Malcolm Kelly, a guy in definite need of a good season, hurt his hamstring at Hell Week out in Arizona last week with quarterback Donovan McNabb, and was expected to miss at least a day, maybe two of practice. This is of course a big bummer for Malcolm, a guy the Redskins drafted injured, struggled in year one, had surgery in the offseason after not playing much, entered year two with some really put-on OMG HES GOINH TO BE SO AWSUM hype that saw him win the starting spot then lose it to fellow underachiever Devin Thomas. Malcolm is a suspect route runner and I have no sense that head coach Mike Shanahan believes Malcolm will be anything more than just a guy. He ended the day practicing, I wonder if that was because his leg was better or if Malcolm cowboyed up and went in, competition can make you heal fast.


In offensive line news, as expected the team placed right guard slash right tackle and former 400 pound man Mike Williams on injured reserve, Mike was diagnosed early this month with blood clots near his heart and will be on blood thinners for the immediate future, the heart is nothing to fuck with and football or no football I hope Mike takes care of himself and is ok, and if he is cleared to play football again next season or in the future, we will welcome him back to the fray.


But BY FAR the most compelling story of training camp day one was of course Albert Haynesworth. Mister twenty one million dollar check waltzed into Ashburn Wednesday after missing the entire offseason program except for the day he stopped by to say he was going to miss the entire offseason program which does not really count as attending, he has lost either thirty five or forty pounds, depending on who you ask, this photo appears to show a trimmer lardass, as do these two from Dan Dan the Sports Bog Man.

Once he realized he was not going to be traded, Albert resigned himself to showing up and playing, and just hoping for the best. And he got it all right, fans have a new milestone and answer to the future trivia question, Who was the first Redskins player to get the Mike Shanahan treatment?

Albert showed up, and coach Shanahan said we need you to run a little conditioning test, no big deal, if you are as in shape as we have been hearing all offseason from third parties then you will have no problems: two shuttle runs, each series of sprints of differing lengths and objectives totaling three hundred yards. Albert pass the first test then, and get this, asked for a potty break between tests.

When he came back from the potty, he discovered his results from the first test were void and he had to run both tests again and was unable to pass the test on the second try. I read this today and split my sides, join me:

What was the potty break? To puke? To go and vapor lock in private? To take a dump?

Did Albert know that taking a break between tests would result in negating the first run, thereby requiring him to run both again? Because I am betting he did not.

Ostensibly the reason Albert had to take these tests, and no one else today ran this test, was because Albert missed every chance he would have had in the offseason program to run. According to the coaches, every other player took this test at some point in the offseason and passed it (op. cit.), meaning even though it looks like Albert was being singled out, Albert was actually the one to single himself out. Apparently Albert and coach Shanahan exchanged words after Albert was assigned the failing grade (ibid.).

Wait it gets better. Failing the test rendered him ineligible to practice with his teammates (op. cit.). But Albert did not sit on his big hands, oh no idle hands are the devil's tools, he got direct reps with defensive line coach Jacob Burney... lining up against overturned trashcans!

You read that right, look again at the image above, Albert was not even allowed to have tackling sleds, the coaches turned five trashcans over, each one representing an offensive lineman, and made Albert walk through his putative assignments against trashcans. And from the image above, you can see on that particular play that Albert is in the nose tackle position.

Whether this will continue into day two and beyond I cannot say, what I can say is that Albert showed up and tried to be cool and do his thing and Mike Shanahan made sure Albert's first day back with the team was spent in public humiliation. Albert will get to take the conditioning test again Friday.

Never forget AH also stands for asshat.



Albert Haynesworth and defensive line coach Jacob Burney: John McDonnell / Washington Post from here.

Cut Day

Hoya Saxa

Coach wants to see you. Bring your playbook.

The Turk came to visit the Redskins locker room, final cuts are in, training camp is a wrap, everything after this is for real. No big surprises in the veteran department, tailback Marcus Mason made the roster for the second time in three years, in 2007 he was cut after game one and spent the rest of the season on the practice squad.

Full list of cuts:

Round of 75 cuts, Tuesday 1 September 2009:

OL Devin Clark
DT Michael Marquardt
WR Marques Hagans (Wahoowa!)
LB Alfred Fincher
S Michael Grant

Offensive lineman Devin Clark was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent before last season, was let go on 2008 cut day and was signed back to the practice squad. He was promoted from the practice squad before the dreadful game fourteen against the Bengals, Devin appeared in that game and game fifteen against the Eagles.

Linebacker Alfred Fincher was a late 2008 training camp signee, he was a sparkplug and appeared in a few games mainly on special teams, his best moment in a Redskins uniform came in the Terrible Towel game nine of last season, the Monday Night Football debacle at Redskins Stadium against the Steelers, Pittsburgh bizarrely opened the game with an onsides kick, Alfred grabbed the ball in heavy Steelers traffic.

Round of 53 cuts, Saturday 5 September 2009:

TE Robbie Agnone
TB Anthony Aldridge
OL Jeremy Bridges
OL Scott Burley
DE Alex Buzbee
QB Chase Daniel (signed to Saints practice squad)
DT Antonio Dixon (signed to Eagles active roster)
TB Dominique Dorsey
CB Doug Dutch
WR Keith Eloi
LB Cody Glenn (signed to Colts active roster)
WR DJ Hackett
S Lendy Holmes (signed to Redskins practice squad)
DE Rob Jackson (signed to Redskins practice squad)
K Dave Rayner
OL Ruben Riley
WR Trent Shelton (signed to Redskins practice squad)
DE JD Skolnitsky (signed to Redskins practice squad)
LB Robert Thomas
TE/FB Eddie Williams (signed to Redskins practice squad)
LB Darrel Young

Tailbacks Dominique Dorsey and Anthony Aldridge suffered from injuries and fumblitis in training camp, Anthony also dropped the opening kickoff in the final preseason game against the Jaguars, that is sure to get you cut if you are on the bubble. These guys were let go in favor of my man Marcus Mason.

Offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges was signed in May with the hope that he would challenge for the starting right tackle spot in the wake of Jon Jansen's release. He was uneven in camp and released in favor of former 400 pound man Mike Williams.

Defensive end Alex Buzbee was an undrafted free agent in 2007, he was the first NFL player from Georgetown University since the 1950s, Alex made the team against long odds. He tore his achilles tendon in the first practice of 2008 training camp, the same day Phillip Daniels was injured, it was Phillip's and Alex's loss that spurred the Redskins to trade two draft picks for Jason Taylor.

Quarterback Chase Daniel was the sensation of 2009 training camp, challenging 2008 sensation Colt Brennan for the number three quarterback spot. Chase's play was solid all preseason, his problems are his inexperience (curable) and his size, he is maybe five feet ten inches (not curable). With his cut we all thought he would sign back with the practice squad, which we now know would not happen.

Linebacker Cody Glenn was a 2009 draft pick, fifth round, and along with free agent signee Robert Thomas was beaten out by wildman Robert Henson. With the departure of Marcus Washington the Redskins were suddenly lacking linebackers, with those players and the addition slash conversion of Brian Orakpo and Chris Wilson suddenly there was a logjam at linebacker.

Defensive end Rob Jackson was a 2008 draft pick, seventh round, Rob was on the active roster last season but saw very limited action, this season add back Phillip Daniels and newly hybridized defensive endbackers Brian Orakpo and Chris Wilson and there was no place for Rob, another draft pick is shown the door. Practice squad signings are next.


With these cuts, two of six 2009 draft picks and two of ten 2008 draft picks are no longer in uniform. FYI the Redskins are still holding two of five 2007 draft picks and four of six 2006 draft picks.


Previous cut days: 2008 2007 2006



Alex Buzbee: AP photo from here, this is a picture of Alex peering down the tunnel at the field at Redskins Stadium before the 2007 preseason game versus the Ravens at Redskins Stadium, this game was ultimately rained out amidst a terrible electrical storm.

It's Complicated

Nothing complicated about that. Might even call that easy.

Takeaway drill: A slopfest only for the hardest of the hard core, some obvious roster calls and some not so obvious takeaways, on balance we learn nothing new, bring on the real games.

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Monday Saturday walkthrough: The starting unit on offense gets all of one drive, the starting defense gets about two and that is it, all evaluation and last gasp tryouts from there as the Redskins lose 24-17 to end the preseason 1-3. Many players stood out, most the good way, a couple the bad way. Cuts are next.

The Jaguars won the toss and elected to receive to start the first quarter, David Garrard and the Jacksonville offense moved easily on their first drive over seventy yards, the Redskins held at the goal line and the Jaguars were forced to kick a 23 yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Washington's first possession... never happened, Anthony Aldridge took the kickoff at the two yard line, took it thirteen yards and fumbled trying to switch the ball to his outside hand, Jaguars defensive back Tryon Breckinridge scooped up the fumble and took it back for the touchdown, Jaguars now lead 10-0 with more than seven minutes still left in the quarter. Anthony managed not to fumble the next time and the Redskins actually started their first possession, Jason Campbell in the game, it is a hard fought drive, ten plays over only 30 yards, penalties help to cut it short and the Redskins are punting. The Jaguars begin their second possession, starting offense still in the game, starting defense still in the game, the Redskins serve up some punishment and the Jaguars are three and outing. Chase Daniel comes in for the Redskins second possession, along with Marcus Mason, one play and that was it, quarter ends 10-0 Jaguars.

The Redskins continued their second possession into the second quarter, on third and ten on their own territory Chase throws a four yard route and the Redskins are three and out. The Jaguars third possession sees the Redskins second team defense come out and it showed on the first five plays but not the next three as the Washington defense poured into the Jacksonville backfield, the Jaguars then kick an improbably long 52 yard field goal to move ahead 13-0. Washington comes out for their third possession and laid another egg, a busted play forces Chase Daniel to scramble for one yard, then Marcus Mason is hit in the backfield then Chase is hit for a sack, he fumbles, the ball is recovered by Jacksonville at the Redskins fifteen. The Jaguars fourth possession starts with a short field, Jacksonville only needs three plays to score, with the two point conversion the Jaguars now lead 21-0. The Redskins fourth possession is scrap and claw, another penalty, this one a block in the back by Marko Mitchell, helps cut it short and the Redskins are punting after moving the ball nine yards. Jacksonville starts its fifth possession, this drive is characterized by solid Redskins defense at the line and spotty defense in the secondary, Jacksonville moved down the field to the Redskins two yard line and with a touch of preseason politeness opt to keep driving and not kick the field goal, time runs in the half before the Jaguars can score, Jacksonville leads 21-0.

The Redskins get the ball to start the third quarter, Washington's fifth possession, Chase Daniel still in the game, Rock Cartwright now in at tailback, this drive starts out well and stalls at midfield, time to punt. The Jaguars get the ball for the sixth time, it is starting to get hard even for me to evaluate play and individual players, the Jaguars seem to be moving easily until Justin Tryon stepped easily in front of receiver Jarrett Dillard and returns it 24 yards but a personal foul on linebacker Robert Henson called it back fifteen yards. Washington's sixth possession starts with excellent field position, Colt Brennan is in the game, all passes and not good ones at that, the Redskins set up and kick a 48 yard field goal, incumbent Shaun Suisham, the Redskins get on the board 21-3 Jaguars. Jacksonville's seventh possession looks good... for the Redskins defense, Chris Wilson and Robert Henson are everywhere, then facing second and thirty (30!) from the Washington 38, Todd Bouman hooks up with tailback Rashad Jennings on a 21 yard catch and run, Rashad simply ran over everyone in his path, including Doug Dutch and Robert Henson, that's it for the third quarter, Jaguars lead 21-3.

The fourth quarter starts with the Jaguars continuing their seventh possession, one more play and Jacksonville kicks a 42 yard field goal to extend its lead to 24-3. The Redskins get the ball for the seventh time, Colt Brennan still in the game, and DAMN Washington's offense comes to life, Dominique Dorsey on the ground, four carries for eighteen yards, and Colt Brennan, 4-5 for 58 yards, Dominique carries it in from three yards out for the touchdown, 21-10 Jaguars. Jacksonville gets the ball for the eighth time, Alvin Pearman in the game for Jaguars (Wahoowa!) and he looks good, on first and ten in Washington territory quarterback Todd Bouman trips trying to hand the ball off and fumbles, linebacker Robert Henson is once again in the right place and scoops up the ball, Washington gets the ball for eighth time. Clearly the coaches have made their decisions on tailbacks and are making Colt throw on every down, he appears hurt, is clearly favoring his left side, Colt comes out of the game and is replaced by Chase Daniel, wait, why is Colt on the trainer's table on the sideline? A turnover on downs and the Jaguars get the ball for the ninth time, there is nothing happening, Jacksonville turns it over on useless downs and the Redskins get the ball for the ninth and final time. Chase Daniel is on the field as Colt Brennan limps along the sideline, Chase moves the team 63 yards in one minute on an awesome drive, ending with a four yard touchdown pass to Marko Mitchell, Redskins pull to 24-17 Jaguars, it is now a one score game with under a minute to go. The Redskins line up for the onsides kick, Jaguars receiver Ernest Wilford pulls it down, two kneeldowns comprise Jacksonville's tenth and final drive, game over, Jaguars win 24-17, and that's a wrap on the preseason.

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Soapbox: Not much to go on with this game, it produced lots of, as we say in he consulting world, bad data. I really think at this point in the season management and the coaches have their minds made up and are just going through the motions, waiting for someone or something to come along and change their minds. As a result it is hard to view the game critically as anything other than a bunch of people running around.

The competition for number three quarterback was not decisive, Chase Daniel was midding against the Jaguars starting defense, Colt Brennan was good against the backups until he got hurt, then Chase was good against the scrubs. I think it has to come down to your gut if you are head coach Jim Zorn, who has the better upside and I think that is still Colt Brennan.

And speaking, how bad was Colt hurt? He says it is not serious (op. cit.) but Joe Theismann in the broadcast booth started talking about how putting Colt on injured reserve could create problems for the Redskins, did Joe know something. As we now know, Colt was in fact put on IR with hip and hamstring problems.

Receiver Malcolm Kelly appears to have won the starting spot opposite Santana Moss (op. cit.), Malcolm was out with the starters.

There are other decisions down the depth chart, will the Redskins keep a fourth tailback? Marcus Mason has been a Curly R fave the past three training camps so count us as a hopefully yes on this one.

Defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery has been an on and off starter since the team drafted him in the fifth round of the 2006 draft, last year he fell to backup of Kedric Golston after supplanting Kedric as starter in 2007. Now he is the number four defensive tackle, will the team keep him for depth, knowing Albert Haynesworth has not played sixteen games in a season since his rookie year and that he cannot go every play on every game?

All in all, hard to argue with a training camp and preseason with no major injuries (ibid.).

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Chattering class: Of all the pundit pieces written about the Redskins the day after this game, the first one I read was this one from Tom Boswell, it is about the Redskins ticket scandal, the selling of tickets directly to brokers, tickets that do not go to Redskins fans on the waiting list and which end up in the hands of fans of opposing team; the suing of season ticket holders that have defaulted on multi year packages in this age of mega recession. It is one of the most damning pieces ever written about Dan Snyder. And for the record, I agree that some of these rich guys buy professional sports teams to fill holes, to get the attention they missed as a child or to fill some outsize ego that comes from privilege, yes that is true and I think that is true in Dan Snyder's case. However I think there is a much simpler, more elegant explanation for why an organization like the Redskins would take our generations of goodwill and routinely and seemingly for no reason try their hardest to squander it: they are bad businessmen, bad football people, bad managers, shortsighted and greedy with the belief that the Redskins have an infinitely elastic demand, Dan Snyder chief among them.

They will get theirs, one day very soon, maybe even this year we will learn the truth about the sham season ticket waiting list, as the Redskins approach blackout status you will see them get increasingly desperate, realizing too late that trying to harvest every single dollar out of every single sucker with a burgundy and gold hat was not a smart way to run a business that depends ultimately on fannies in seats.

Let me reiterate something about the Redskins and all the other entities occupying similar places in society and in the hearts of their fans and supporters: the Redskins do not belong to Dan Snyder, they belong to us, the fans, Dan Snyder and his crew of overpaid hack managers are just the stewards. The Redskins will still be a part of the DNA of this city and the of the legions of displaced and distant fans when Dan Snyder is long long gone.

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Omnibus: Mike Patrick was gone from the broadcasting team, replaced by Kenny Albert, teamed up with Joe Theismann. Kelli Johnson from Comcast SportsNet and Lindsey Czarniak from NBC-4 as usual are on the sidelines, is it me or is it inappropriate for the broadcast team to wear Redskins attire? It is preseason and it is a production of the team so maybe, it just seems awkward to me.

Seventy-eight degrees at kickoff and the stadium was empty, does not seem like the Jaguars have the attention of Jacksonville, at least from that pregame shot. Maybe the parking lots are full of Floridians getting drunk.

Amateur broadcast coverage: on the opening play David Garrard went back to pass, threw the ball... and the camera stayed on David. The pass was caught but we did not see it. This is why the big networks do this stuff for real.

On defense London Fletcher, Carlos Rogers and Albert Haynesworth did not play, London I assume is a veteran getting the night off, Albert we knew had a stomach bug and Carlos was sketchy. I am worried about Carlos being ready for game one next week. On the offense Clinton Portis and Randy Thomas did not play.

Anthony Aldridge fumbling Washington's opening kickoff? Buh bye, that's a cut.

Although back to back penalties against Washington helped to kill Jason Campbell's only drive, penalties were not as prevalent in this game. Good looking last pass by Jason on that first drive, a deep one to Antwaan Randle El, it was not tipped and was right on the money, Antwaan just missed it.

Nice Redskins defense to start the Jaguars second drive, Brian Orakpo coming across from the backside of the play forced the fullback to commit a hold. The second play was a coverage sack, then punt. Love it.

Effusive praise by Joe Theismann for linebacker HB Blades? That he has done everything he needs to emulate London Fletcher? Has HB become that good of a linebacker?

Oofuh, on the Jaguars third possession Torry Holt showed why he has been in the league so long by simply torching rookie cornerback Kevin Barnes.

Damn! Was that Reed Doughty in the second quarter sneaking through the line then coming up to sack David Garrard from behind the play? And damn was that Chris Wilson forcing a near intentional grounding on the next play? And was that Reed Doughty again on the next play, hitting David Garrard as he threw?

Washington's third possession was brutal, on third down former 400 pound man right tackle Mike Williams lets defensive tackle Derek Landri go wide and get back to Chase Daniel, causing the fumble. Not quick against the edge players that Mike Williams.

Joe Theismann made a good comment, with six minutes left in the second quarter the game already looked like it was the end of the fourth quarter of a preseason game, slop.

Great halftime Redskins Legacy piece on Charley Taylor, Hall of Fame receiver from 1964 to 1977, I did not know that he was drafted and started his NFL career as a tailback before switching to receiver. When Charley retired in 1977 he was the all time leading receiver in NFL history with 649 catches. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1984. Great piece, but where was Charley? The only spot of him talking looked to be filmed in the 70s. Charley still lives in the DC area, is he still bitter about being fired from the receivers coach position under Norval Turner in 1994? If so, that was before Dan Snyder, he would have had plenty of opportunity to rebuild bridges.

As Washington came out for the second half it appeared as though the blocking schemes were changed to run quicker plays requiring less protection. Which is good because there was not a lot of protection going on back there. The one time on that first drive of the second half that blocking was needed, the second and twelve deep pass to DJ Hackett, it was not there and forced Chase Daniel to throw up a pass before he was ready.

Thanks to the broadcast team for reminding me, I had forgotten that the Jaguars had the draft the Redskins should have had, Jacksonville pulled down Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton, it looks like these two rookie tackles will be starting on opening day and if they work out, the team is set for five years or more at the tackle positions.

Jaguars sixth possession, third quarter, receiver Jarrett Dillard was not even looking for Todd Bouman's pass, Justin Tryon had no competition for the ball, man is he fast on the return, I hope to see him have some more opportunities to do that trick in the future.

We did not get a great look at the Todd Bouman fumble on a hit by Chris Wilson on the Jaguars seventh possession third quarter, due to the inane Lindsay Czarniak interview with injured cornerback Carlos Rogers, the holding penalty on Jacksonville was obvious, Chris Wilson still fought through it to force the fumble but we never saw the illegal contact by Redskins rookie linebacker Robert Henson. That was Robert's second penalty of the night. Two plays later Robert makes a head up play to stop a catch short, then on the next play gets caught out of position for a long Jaguars catch, then on the very next play Chris Wilson again is in the Jacksonville backfield, this time forcing an intentional grounding. Great work for both players, Robert is a good prospect and needs to keep his head., Chris is of course a Curly R favorite.

Does Joe Theismann know something we do not? Colt Brennan was obviously hurt on the Redskins eighth drive, fourth quarter, stayed in a couple of plays and then came out and limped over to the trainer's table. Immediately Joe Theismann begins to talk about what were to happen if Colt were to go on injured reserve. At this point they are calling it a hamstring, we know Colt has had hip problems.

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Shooter: One series for quarterback Jason Campbell, back to back penalties against tight ends Robbie Agnone and Todd Yoder put Jason in a bad spot, he almost erased all that with a deep post to Antwaan Randle El, Antwaan could have caught the ball but heard footsteps and it went off his fingertips. Jason is rock hard and ready to go.

Fat Contract Albert: Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth did not make the trip to America's City, he was balled up with cramps, I offered him some of my wife's Midol.

OH CRAPPO: As with the previous game, hybrid defensive endbacker Brian Orakpo was in the game with the starters, he hustled but did not stand out, I think the team was keeping the defense under wrap.

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Washington Post recap, photos. NFL recap, box score, full play by play, Gamebook (PDF), photos, video highlights.

Next up, a live game kids, the Redskins take on NFC Beast division rival New York Giants and beady eyed Tom Coughlin in game one of the 2009 NFL season.



The high class ladies of Jacksonville, Rick Wilson / Jacksonville Times-Union from here. Tom Coughlin tenderly caressing the Super Bowl trophy: John McDonough / Sports Illustrated from here.