The Redskin Offseason Thread (1 Viewer)

The list of Redskins who agreed to restructure their contracts to provide cap relief if need be is known to include quarterback Mark Brunell, running back Clinton Portis, cornerback Sean Springs, guard Randy Thomas, tackle Jon Jansen, and defensive ends Renaldo Wynn and Phillip Daniels. The team was negotiating with linebacker LaVar Arrington as well.

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I find it really interesting that teams like SF and Dallas go into cap hell. The Redskins spend and spend and never do.

A couple of years ago I changed my mind on this. I think Snyder can keep borrowing cap dollars from the future to pay players now and never go into cap hell.

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I find it really interesting that teams like SF and Dallas go into cap hell.  The Redskins spend and spend and never do. 

A couple of years ago I changed my mind on this.  I think Snyder can keep borrowing cap dollars from the future to pay players now and never go into cap hell.

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It would appear that the is a method to the madness. Everyone used keep saying that the 'Skins would be in BIG cap trouble, but they never seem to be there. Does Danny and his front office staff have the golden key to making the cap work for them, maybe not 100% fool proof...but it does seem that they know what they are doing opposed to being reckless.

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It seems to me that teams get themselves in trouble when they have those big radicall coaching changes. We have had our fair share of coaching changes, but no coach ever purged the roster right away to get "his guys" in. Snyder's involvement and business mind is a huge asset to our team

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Exactly, and I think the need for stability was a lesson that Snyder needed to learn. Had he to do it all over again, I think he'd have stuck with Schottenheimer for longer, and perhaps let Norv coach out the 2000 season before firing him. The unfortunate effect has been that the team has been one of the biggest underachievers in the NFL given the level of talent on its rosters during that time. But there's no denying that the team under him has been masterful at manipulating the cap rules to maximize that talent.

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Rick Smith, Jansen's agent, said yesterday the Redskins contacted him about a week ago and termed the talks "pretty easy. They have a plan and they'll get it done," he said. "They weren't desperate. I don't know why there was this big doomsday [outlook] for them. They'll get to where they need to get."

Peter Schaffer, the agent for Wynn, said talks between him the Redskins were seamless. "There were no negotiations," he said.

If the salary cap is $105 million, the Redskins are likely to still cut veterans Matt Bowen ($2 million savings), Cory Raymer ($985,000), Brandon Noble ($1.7 million), Walt Harris ($2 million), Tom Tupa ($232,000) and possibly Patrick Ramsey ($1.688 million), James Thrash ($750,000) and Taylor Jacobs ($176,000). Either way, no front-line starters are expected to be released.

Ramsey is the most notable of the possible cuts. The New York Jets' interest in Ramsey may be waning -- they're expected to pursue unrestricted free agent quarterback Jon Kitna. If the Redskins are unable to trade him, they face a decision whether to cut him and create cap space or hold onto him and try to trade him before the NFL Draft on April 29.

Just being at the exact cap number -- whatever it ends up being -- would still hurt the Redskins. The team would like to retain unrestricted free agents Ryan Clark, Rock Cartwright and Robert Royal, but at the right price. And enough money has to be available to tender restricted free agents Derrick Dockery, Chris Clemons and Ade Jimoh, if the Redskins choose. Regardless of where the salary cap ends up, there will be plenty of new -- and probably young -- faces on the Redskins this fall.

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The question is gonna be now. Can we get under enought to get some big name Free Agents. Ty Law, Darren Howard, and Eric Moulds. Looks like Abraham will not be comming to us either.

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Arrington, in his first public comments since agreeing to a contract buyout with the Redskins, said the decision to depart the franchise after successive tumultuous seasons was emotionally trying but practically sound.

"The one thing that disheartens me the most about my experience here is basically how everybody tries to cast a negative light on everything," Arrington said Monday afternoon. "Why not focus on the positive of what this whole situation has brought about? The positive is the Redskins and myself had some difficult times together; I've pushed through them and Redskins have pushed through them, but we've come to a point where it's time to go our separate ways and there's nothing horribly wrong with that. They have an opportunity now to get more cap room, and re-sign some guys I really love, and I have the opportunity to get a fresh beginning."

As part of the agreement reached around midnight Sunday, Arrington agreed to forfeit $4.4 million in deferred signing bonus payments, according to sources who have reviewed the paperwork, which will now count as a salary cap credit on Washington's 2006 cap.........................

.......................Arrington said he plans to maintain ties to this area and continue community work here.

"If I hadn't been brought here by the Redskins I would never have had the opportunity to experience the great people of this area," Arrington said, "and it's an area I'm deeply rooted in. So I'll be around, not as a Washington Redskin, but I'll be around as LaVar Arrington, and to the fans that really matter -- and that I matter to -- that's what's important."

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I think just for the sake of insuring trust in the salary cap from some skeptical front offices, the league needs to make sure LaVar Arrington is really going to forego the $4 million in guaranteed money to get his freedom now. Not saying it didn't happen, but I am saying with all the money the Redskins have to spare and how convenient it was that the team could find this money after months of hand-wringing over the Arrington deal, the league needs to double check that the accounting of this is clean.

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Redskins Notes: Gibbs recently contacted defensive lineman Brandon Noble, cornerback Walt Harris and center Cory Raymer, among others, to inform them they would be released and thank them for their service, according to several of the players and their agents. The moves would be made regardless of the outcome of the CBA talks, the sources said. Quarterback Patrick Ramsey was not one of the players Gibbs called, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, and Gibbs said Monday that uncertainty about the CBA has put trade talks for Ramsey on hold. . . . The list of players known to have agreed to restructured contracts includes Arrington, Mark Brunell, Clinton Portis, Springs, Cornelius Griffin, Jon Jansen, Randy Thomas, Renaldo Wynn and Phillip Daniels. All deals but Arrington's are contingent on there not being a CBA extension.

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"I think as everybody knows what we have been trying to do for the last few weeks is get ready for either a CBA and get an agreement done or obviously we go without one. Most of the teams in the league had two plans. We certainly had two plans. We have been working hard on it. I know the one scenario without and agreement we have to work hard to get under the cap. I want to address that for a minute because it I think it is very important. The way I look at that is we are very aggressive. We are one of the aggressive teams in the league when it comes to signing free agents and doing the things that we need to do. I look at it as that is the way we want to be. Everybody has their own mode of operation but for us we feel like being aggressive when we see players that we can add through free agency, we want to do that. My way of looking at it is this, if we weren't aggressive in doing the things that we do over the last couple of years then we wouldn't have people like (defensive end) Phillip Daniels, (defensive tackle) Cornelius Griffin, and (linebacker) Marcus Washington. Our mode of operation has been aggressive and we are one of the teams that fall in that category. Having said that when we get ready for what is coming up with the collective bargaining agreement or we go without one, we are really praying on this end obviously that we wind up having an agreement. We have had several false starts. I think we are ready because we have been up late at night going hard all night trying to figure out are we going to go or are we going to postpone. Late night it got postponed at the last minute again. Our hope is that we get the collective bargaining agreement. Our preparation to get under the cap without an agreement came down to looking at a number of our players and their contracts, particularly the bigger contracts. You look to make moves there that help you get underneath the cap. We have had great cooperation with our players. I think you get a real appreciation for guys when you get in this scenario because what you are doing is going to them and in a lot of cases between them, our players, and their agents they make choices there. We have been very fortunate the last two years because in today's football many times a player can help you by adjusting their contract. They don't have to do it. It is voluntary. In most cases it does benefit the player. In some cases there are sacrifices made there. Our guys have been absolutely fantastic."

"First of all, we hope that the CBA goes which would help loosen it up for us. If not we kind of make a plan on where we think we would be active, what we could get done, and we have the draft which could be anywhere between six, seven or eight picks depending on what happens. I think you just make a plan. That is what we do. You spend hours and hours looking at the board and you try and project all the way to the final 53 from here and what that is going to look like. You are hoping for the agreement because it frees up a lot of money for all of us."

On if he has talked to any of the team's unrestricted free agents and restricted free agents and whether they are in the team's plans for next season:

"I've talked to every single guy where we feel like they would be in a category where we feel like we can't do something. I've talked to them personally."

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Gibbs said the Redskins have reached provisional agreements with "11 or 12" veterans over the past week to restructure their contracts so the team could get under the NFL's salary cap. The team will need to slash some $20 million of cap money if there is no new collective bargaining agreement before the start of free agency...............

...............The official told the AP that Arrington was the only Redskins player who refused to rework his deal. Arrington was disgruntled over playing time last season and wanted a chance to pursue free agency.

Yet the Redskins couldn't cut Arrington outright because it would have cost the team under the league's complex salary cap rules. He was due to count some $12 million against the cap in 2006, including a $6.5 million roster bonus.

So Arrington essentially agreed to give money back — and forfeit the upcoming roster bonus — to buy his freedom.

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Washington Redskins guard Derrick Dockery signed a qualifying offer from the team, he said, making him a restricted free agent and giving Washington the right to match any offer made to him.

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Strong safety Ryan Clark and tight end Robert Royal both started 25 of 34 games the past two seasons and both would like to remain in Washington. However, the Redskins' serious salary cap problems have prevented the team from making either of their unrestricted free agents starters a firm contract offer before the opening of the signing period.

"I want to be here and the Redskins have let me know they want me back, but we have a lot of cap trouble," Clark said. "We have to figure out a way to make something work that's in both of our best interests. The money doesn't even have to be equal. It just has to be close to what someone else offers for me to stay."

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Center Cory Raymer and aging cornerback Walt Harris will be among a group of five to seven players cut by the Washington Redskins tonight in an effort to get under the $94.5 million salary cap by the 9 p.m. deadline.

Defensive tackle Brandon Noble and punter Tom Tupa, who both missed all of last season with injuries, and safety Matt Bowen, like Raymer a starter in 2004 but an afterthought in 2005, also will be released.

All five have been told they will be waived even if NFL owners approve the deal on extending the collective bargaining agreement with the players association that commissioner Paul Tagliabue brought with him to their meeting in Grapevine, Texas.

Even though the Redskins reworked the contracts of at least a dozen high-priced players -- most of them contingent on the CBA extension being rejected -- they still could use some cap room to enable them to retain veterans and add free agents and draft picks.

So kicker John Hall, who missed 14 of the past 29 games with a succession of pulled leg muscles, and reserve receiver Taylor Jacobs, a major bust who caught just 30 passes in three years after being taken in the second round of the 2003 draft, also might be cut.

Waiving Raymer ($985,000), Bowen ($2 million), Harris ($2 million), Noble ($1.7 million) and Tupa ($770,000 or $661,000 depending on whether the CBA is extended) would save the Redskins more than $7 million. Hall ($1.5 million or $1.035 million) and Jacobs ($460,000 or $176,000) would clear additional cap room.

Quarterback Patrick Ramsey, who started 25 of 40 games from October 2002 through the 2005 opener, will not be cut. Washington hopes to trade Ramsey, who has one year left on his contract, for a second- or third-round draft pick. Chicago, Miami, Oakland and the New York Jets are believed to be interested in Ramsey but hope to acquire him for a lower-round selection.

While only two starters, strong safety Ryan Clark and tight end Robert Royal, are set to be unrestricted free agents, the Redskins would have little experienced depth under contract if they cut the seven aforementioned players. They would have only two linebackers (Marcus Washington and Lemar Marshall) who have played a snap on defense, two safeties (Sean Taylor and Pierson Prioleau) and one backup offensive lineman (Jim Molinaro).

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Here's what to expect if there is no new CBA:

Washington Times link

Center Cory Raymer and aging cornerback Walt Harris will be among a group of five to seven players cut by the Washington Redskins tonight in an effort to get under the $94.5 million salary cap by the 9 p.m. deadline.

    Defensive tackle Brandon Noble and punter Tom Tupa, who both missed all of last season with injuries, and safety Matt Bowen, like Raymer a starter in 2004 but an afterthought in 2005, also will be released.

    All five have been told they will be waived even if NFL owners approve the deal on extending the collective bargaining agreement with the players association that commissioner Paul Tagliabue brought with him to their meeting in Grapevine, Texas.

    Even though the Redskins reworked the contracts of at least a dozen high-priced players -- most of them contingent on the CBA extension being rejected -- they still could use some cap room to enable them to retain veterans and add free agents and draft picks.

    So kicker John Hall, who missed 14 of the past 29 games with a succession of pulled leg muscles, and reserve receiver Taylor Jacobs, a major bust who caught just 30 passes in three years after being taken in the second round of the 2003 draft, also might be cut.

    Waiving Raymer ($985,000), Bowen ($2 million), Harris ($2 million), Noble ($1.7 million) and Tupa ($770,000 or $661,000 depending on whether the CBA is extended) would save the Redskins more than $7 million. Hall ($1.5 million or $1.035 million) and Jacobs ($460,000 or $176,000) would clear additional cap room.

    Quarterback Patrick Ramsey, who started 25 of 40 games from October 2002 through the 2005 opener, will not be cut. Washington hopes to trade Ramsey, who has one year left on his contract, for a second- or third-round draft pick. Chicago, Miami, Oakland and the New York Jets are believed to be interested in Ramsey but hope to acquire him for a lower-round selection.

    While only two starters, strong safety Ryan Clark and tight end Robert Royal, are set to be unrestricted free agents, the Redskins would have little experienced depth under contract if they cut the seven aforementioned players. They would have only two linebackers (Marcus Washington and Lemar Marshall) who have played a snap on defense, two safeties (Sean Taylor and Pierson Prioleau) and one backup offensive lineman (Jim Molinaro).

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Here's what to expect if there is no new CBA:

Washington Times link

Center Cory Raymer and aging cornerback Walt Harris will be among a group of five to seven players cut by the Washington Redskins tonight in an effort to get under the $94.5 million salary cap by the 9 p.m. deadline.

    Defensive tackle Brandon Noble and punter Tom Tupa, who both missed all of last season with injuries, and safety Matt Bowen, like Raymer a starter in 2004 but an afterthought in 2005, also will be released.

    All five have been told they will be waived even if NFL owners approve the deal on extending the collective bargaining agreement with the players association that commissioner Paul Tagliabue brought with him to their meeting in Grapevine, Texas.

    Even though the Redskins reworked the contracts of at least a dozen high-priced players -- most of them contingent on the CBA extension being rejected -- they still could use some cap room to enable them to retain veterans and add free agents and draft picks.

    So kicker John Hall, who missed 14 of the past 29 games with a succession of pulled leg muscles, and reserve receiver Taylor Jacobs, a major bust who caught just 30 passes in three years after being taken in the second round of the 2003 draft, also might be cut.

    Waiving Raymer ($985,000), Bowen ($2 million), Harris ($2 million), Noble ($1.7 million) and Tupa ($770,000 or $661,000 depending on whether the CBA is extended) would save the Redskins more than $7 million. Hall ($1.5 million or $1.035 million) and Jacobs ($460,000 or $176,000) would clear additional cap room.

    Quarterback Patrick Ramsey, who started 25 of 40 games from October 2002 through the 2005 opener, will not be cut. Washington hopes to trade Ramsey, who has one year left on his contract, for a second- or third-round draft pick. Chicago, Miami, Oakland and the New York Jets are believed to be interested in Ramsey but hope to acquire him for a lower-round selection.

    While only two starters, strong safety Ryan Clark and tight end Robert Royal, are set to be unrestricted free agents, the Redskins would have little experienced depth under contract if they cut the seven aforementioned players. They would have only two linebackers (Marcus Washington and Lemar Marshall) who have played a snap on defense, two safeties (Sean Taylor and Pierson Prioleau) and one backup offensive lineman (Jim Molinaro).

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I still contend that the Skins will retain 20 of their 22 starters from last year; CBA or no CBA. Depth may be a problem...but starting talent-wise, they are coming back strong.

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Here's what to expect if there is no new CBA:

Washington Times link

Center Cory Raymer and aging cornerback Walt Harris will be among a group of five to seven players cut by the Washington Redskins tonight in an effort to get under the $94.5 million salary cap by the 9 p.m. deadline.

    Defensive tackle Brandon Noble and punter Tom Tupa, who both missed all of last season with injuries, and safety Matt Bowen, like Raymer a starter in 2004 but an afterthought in 2005, also will be released.

    All five have been told they will be waived even if NFL owners approve the deal on extending the collective bargaining agreement with the players association that commissioner Paul Tagliabue brought with him to their meeting in Grapevine, Texas.

    Even though the Redskins reworked the contracts of at least a dozen high-priced players -- most of them contingent on the CBA extension being rejected -- they still could use some cap room to enable them to retain veterans and add free agents and draft picks.

    So kicker John Hall, who missed 14 of the past 29 games with a succession of pulled leg muscles, and reserve receiver Taylor Jacobs, a major bust who caught just 30 passes in three years after being taken in the second round of the 2003 draft, also might be cut.

    Waiving Raymer ($985,000), Bowen ($2 million), Harris ($2 million), Noble ($1.7 million) and Tupa ($770,000 or $661,000 depending on whether the CBA is extended) would save the Redskins more than $7 million. Hall ($1.5 million or $1.035 million) and Jacobs ($460,000 or $176,000) would clear additional cap room.

    Quarterback Patrick Ramsey, who started 25 of 40 games from October 2002 through the 2005 opener, will not be cut. Washington hopes to trade Ramsey, who has one year left on his contract, for a second- or third-round draft pick. Chicago, Miami, Oakland and the New York Jets are believed to be interested in Ramsey but hope to acquire him for a lower-round selection.

    While only two starters, strong safety Ryan Clark and tight end Robert Royal, are set to be unrestricted free agents, the Redskins would have little experienced depth under contract if they cut the seven aforementioned players. They would have only two linebackers (Marcus Washington and Lemar Marshall) who have played a snap on defense, two safeties (Sean Taylor and Pierson Prioleau) and one backup offensive lineman (Jim Molinaro).

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I still contend that the Skins will retain 20 of their 22 starters from last year; CBA or no CBA. Depth may be a problem...but starting talent-wise, they are coming back strong.

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It's apparent that the team has been working on the CBA problem for at least two years since Gibbs returned. Also, Gibbs' top priority has been stability within the organization and on the team. I think this is where we put 2 and 2 together.

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And just for ####s and giggles, remember when the Redskins were behind the Cowboys for over 50 minutes of their first game, then came from behind to win on 2 TD bombs to Santana Moss? Of course you do.

Here is a Dallas Cowboy's message board thread that was going on during the second half of the game. Read it and enjoy, Skins fans.

Link

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And just for ####s and giggles, remember when the Redskins were behind the Cowboys for over 50 minutes of their first game, then came from behind to win on 2 TD bombs to Santana Moss? Of course you do. 

Here is a Dallas Cowboy's message board thread that was going on during the second half of the game. Read it and enjoy, Skins fans. 

Link

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hahahha, that's classic stuff

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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2359635

not that is any surprise......

Updated: March 8, 2006, 1:39 PM ET

Soon-to-be ex-'Skin Ramsey to visit Jets, Miami, LionsBy John Clayton

ESPN.com

The Redskins have given quarterback Patrick Ramsey permission to visit the New York Jets, Detroit Lions and the Miami Dolphins as part of a possible trade.

Patrick Ramsey

Quarterback

Washington Redskins

Profile

2005 SEASON STATISTICS

Att Comp Yds TD Int Rat

25 15 252 1 1 95.3

Ramsey has been shopped in trade discussions over the past few weeks but the Redskins had been asking for a second-round pick. Now, he likely will be traded in the next week for a draft choice in the second day of the draft.

Ramsey is in New York visiting the Jets on Wednesday and is in the process of scheduling visits with the Lions and Dolphins.

A former first-round choice, Ramsey lost the Redskins starting quarterback job to Mark Brunell in the past two seasons under Joe Gibbs.

The Redskins are trying to develop first-round choice Jason Campbell into a starter this season so moving Ramsey will give Campbell a better chance to develop and get time in practice and in games.

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I'd be pleased with anything at this point. Ramsey's days are done and if the Skins can get something for a QB who IMO will never pan out, then that's gravy.

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NFL owners agreed to a six-year extension of the Collective Bargaining Agreement on Wednesday evening. The vote was 30-2. The decision is expected to increase the 2006 salary cap substantially.

Free agency will now start on Friday morning, March 10, at 12:01 a.m. ET, according to NFL.com.

The salary cap is expected to be $102 million, an increase from the $94.5 million that would have gone into effect without an extension.

The lower salary cap figure would have forced several teams, including the Redskins, to release some veteran players. It's likely that the Redskins will still need to release some players, depending on the amount of the salary cap.

Head coach Joe Gibbs and team officials had worked diligently over the last few weeks to restructure contracts of veteran players, including quarterback Mark Brunell. It is expected that those contract restructurings will be voided now that a new Collective Bargaining Agreement has been approved.

Gibbs has said that he expects the team to be aggressive in free agency with an extension of the CBA. Team officials have identified wide receiver, defensive line and cornerback help as positions of need this offseason.

"The way I look at it is that we are one of the aggressive teams in the league when it comes to signing free agents and doing the things we need to do," Gibbs said earlier this week. "Everybody has their own mode of operation, but for us we feel like being aggressive when we see players that we can add through free agency."

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LaVar Arrington had been the face of the Washington Redskins and the most popular sports figure in the nation's capital. The outside linebacker loved the community and organized countless charity events. Yet, at 27, Arrington forfeited $4.4 million for the opportunity to leave.

Arrington's decision had salary-cap ramifications beneficial to both sides. However, the denouement to this two-year soap opera was personal as much as business.

Arrington's days were numbered once he accused owner Daniel Snyder of cheating him in an eight-year, $68 million extension signed in December 2003. Arrington contended that the club purposely removed an agreed-upon $6.5 million in guarantees from a final draft he signed at Redskins Park under deadline pressure. Arrington filed a grievance against the Redskins in March 2004 and a resolution came after several postponed arbitration hearings.

Although Arrington had patched up some aspects of his relationship with the organization, too many wounds remained. The acrimony had been so deep that the club stopped featuring its former marquee attraction in its marketing campaigns. Then the defensive staff that came in 2004 bristled at his star power while emphasizing a no-name unit.

"It wasn't just X's and O's last season," one of the Redskins's top players told me this week. "A lot of it was personal. I don't know exactly where it was coming from, but it was bigger than any of us."

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Clayton just mentioned on Mike and Mike the Skins will be going after Adam Archuleta.

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The Washington Redskins are close to reaching an agreement with running back Rock Cartwright, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, preventing him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Cartwright is popular among players and coaches for his attitude and work ethic, and he is a key contributor on special teams.

The Redskins have been negotiating with their other potential free agents as well: starting safety Ryan Clark, starting tight end Robert Royal and versatile defensive lineman Demetric Evans -- but have been constrained by the uncertainty surrounding the league's collective bargaining agreement and salary cap totals.

Coach Joe Gibbs has gone out of his way to praise Cartwright as a "core Redskin" on numerous occasions, and the team would very like to retain Clark, Evans and Royal as well. With the owners' vote to extend the collective bargaining agreement, Washington's cap situation improves greatly from $94.5 million to about $102 million.............

.....................Linebacker Chris Clemons, who played ahead of the departed LaVar Arrington in some situations last season, received a qualifying offer from the Redskins yesterday, his agent said, making him a restricted free agent. Washington has the right to match any offer, and receive draft pick compensation should Clemons depart. Cornerback Ade Jimoh and guard Derrick Dockery are restricted free agents as well.

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Washington Post

The Washington Redskins are close to reaching an agreement with running back Rock Cartwright, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, preventing him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Cartwright is popular among players and coaches for his attitude and work ethic, and he is a key contributor on special teams.

The Redskins have been negotiating with their other potential free agents as well: starting safety Ryan Clark, starting tight end Robert Royal and versatile defensive lineman Demetric Evans -- but have been constrained by the uncertainty surrounding the league's collective bargaining agreement and salary cap totals.

Coach Joe Gibbs has gone out of his way to praise Cartwright as a "core Redskin" on numerous occasions, and the team would very like to retain Clark, Evans and Royal as well. With the owners' vote to extend the collective bargaining agreement, Washington's cap situation improves greatly from $94.5 million to about $102 million.............

.....................Linebacker Chris Clemons, who played ahead of the departed LaVar Arrington in some situations last season, received a qualifying offer from the Redskins yesterday, his agent said, making him a restricted free agent. Washington has the right to match any offer, and receive draft pick compensation should Clemons depart. Cornerback Ade Jimoh and guard Derrick Dockery are restricted free agents as well.

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aight...who wants to make a guess who will be the first big name the skins land?

isaac bruce. 

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aight...who wants to make a guess who will be the first big name the skins land?

isaac bruce. 

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I already predicted this in an Isaac Bruce thread.

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Can't the Rams get Bruce back due to the new CBA?

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I'm going on a limb and saying Joe Jurevicus. (sp)

Tall...great hands...and can get downfield if necessary...and a decent red zone target.

I'd prefer Darren Howard, but I think he will be too much $.

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I'm going on a limb and saying Joe Jurevicus. (sp)

Tall...great hands...and can get downfield if necessary...and a decent red zone target.

I'd prefer Darren Howard, but I think he will be too much $.

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I'm also looking for Howard, I've been saying this for weeks. Also Will Witherspoon to fill Lavar's spot. Archuleta I love, but lets also check out Ty Law, and do you guys really want Bruce? I say Randle El 1st then Givens, Bryant.

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I'm going on a limb and saying Joe Jurevicus. (sp)

Tall...great hands...and can get downfield if necessary...and a decent red zone target.

I'd prefer Darren Howard, but I think he will be too much $.

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I'm also looking for Howard, I've been saying this for weeks. Also Will Witherspoon to fill Lavar's spot. Archuleta I love, but lets also check out Ty Law, and do you guys really want Bruce? I say Randle El 1st then Givens, Bryant.

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Adam Schefter on the NFL Network is really clueless about the Redskins and their upcoming cuts, renegotiations, and signings. He just keeps repeating that with the new CBA the Redskins narrowly averted having to decimate their team.

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With the chances of an extension to the CBA looking in the balance for the last week, the Redskins could have been looking at an offseason of restraint instead of aggressive buying. However, when the owners agreed to the last obstacle in the way of a new labor agreement - a revenue sharing deal – on Wednesday evening, the Redskins were back in an “aggressive mood”.

With the new labor agreement now in place, the restrictions of the 30 percent rule and the prorating of bonus monies for only 4 years are washed away, so the Redskins can look at creating cap space to be an active player if free agency.

The first order of business is getting under the new cap limit for 2006 which has been set at $102.0m and we will start at the figure of $115.5m. Three occurrences have helped the Skins already without having to barely raise a finger:

* The mutually agreed release of LaVar Arrington and his killer contract (saving nearly $4.3m off his previous cap figure)

* The automatic spreading of option bonuses due in 2006 over the next 5 years instead of 4 (for those players who will have 5+ years left on their contracts after the options are exercised), saving $1.2m. The players involved Santana Moss ([body].350m savings), Chris Samuels ([body].350m), Casey Rabach ([body].1m) and Carlos Rogers ([body].4m), and

* The automatic voiding of likely to be earned (LTBE) incentive clauses tied to “no new CBA” in the contracts of Samuels ($3.5m), David Patten ([body].6m), Rabach ($1.6m) and Renaldo Wynn (0.4m), totalling $6.0m in savings.

The team has also tendered offers to three of its restricted free agents at the lower tender of [body].712m – Dockery, Jimoh and Chris Clemons.

This would leave the team at a cap figure of $105.4m, just $3.4m over the cap.

The Redskins also have 8 key players who have large roster bonuses due in 2006 (totalling $13.650m) that could be guaranteed and spread out over the remaining life of the contract or to 2010 if the tenure is longer. This move would result in a further $10.4m in savings for 2006, bringing the Redskins into cap compliance with $7m in cap space already created.

All this and the team has yet to cut or trade a player in the process.

So what other moves could assist in creating additional cap space and potential free agent dollars? Those likely to happen are the following:

* Patrick Ramsey could be traded (saving $1.7m)

* Brandon Noble ($1.7m), Cory Raymer ($1.0m), Matt Bowen ($2.0m), Tom Tupa ([body].6m) and Walt Harris ($2.0m) will probably be released within the next 48 hours (saving $7.3m)

* Jon Jansen and Randy Thomas could undertake a basic 2006 base salary to bonus conversion restructure in thier contracts that could save a further $5.1m.

If all these moves were made (allowing for replacement of released players under the Rule of 51), another $12.2m would be saved, pushing the projected cap number down to $19.2m below the NFL limit.

The Redskins may also be eligible for LTBE incentive cap credits carried over from 2005 would increase this gap even further.

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The Washington Redskins are exploring available options for acquiring San Francisco wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, according to a source with knowledge of the situation, but completing such a deal could prove difficult because Lloyd is a restricted free agent.

Lloyd, 24, has been unable to agree to a long-term deal with the 49ers and is free to negotiate with any team, but he received a one-year qualifying offer from San Francisco that would require a first-round draft pick as compensation should he sign elsewhere. The Redskins do not have a first-round selection in next month's draft, but could work out a package of other assets for the player and sign him to a multiyear contract. No trades can be completed until 12:01 a.m. Saturday, when teams can also begin contact unrestricted free agents from other clubs.

The Redskins declined to comment for this story through a team spokesman, but club officials have not hidden their desire to add a wide receiver to complement Pro Bowler Santana Moss. Like Moss, Lloyd has a flair for acrobatic catches, can get downfield and is just entering his prime. Lloyd (6 feet, 184 pounds) led a lowly 49ers offense with a career-best 48 receptions for 733 yards, and also produced five touchdowns. He was a fourth-round pick in 2003.

There are few elite wide receivers available in unrestricted free agency, and Lloyd may come cheaper than some of the alternatives while possessing more "upside." Antwaan Randle El (Pittsburgh) is a versatile threat, but not the prototype possession receiver; Antonio Bryant (Cleveland) has clashed with coaches in the past; and Isaac Bruce (St. Louis), at 33, could be more of a fallback option for Washington. Seattle's Joe Jurevicius and New England's David Givens have the size, skill and body type to fill the Redskins' needs as well.

Lloyd, an aspiring recording artist, posted three 100-yard games last season for one of the NFL's weakest teams, and has been with San Francisco since leaving Illinois after his junior season.

Two league sources suggested Lloyd's teammate, linebacker Andre Carter, is a serious candidate to be pursued by Washington as well.

Carter, 26, whose father, Ruben, is a former NFL defensive lineman, is an unrestricted free agent and has played linebacker in a 3-4 system, which Washington employs in certain situations. The Redskins are seeking more of a pass rush from the outside, and Carter (6-4, 265 pounds), the seventh overall pick in 2001, posted a career-best 12 1/2 sacks in 2002, but was limited to seven games because of injury in 2004 and was not in peak form last season (4 1/2 sacks).

Defensive end John Abraham (New York Jets) is available via trade, but the Jets reportedly want at least a first-round pick in return, while free agents Darren Howard (New Orleans), Anthony Weaver (Baltimore) and Aaron Kampman (Green Bay) could be options as well.

A source close to Baltimore defensive tackle Maake Kemoeatu said the player anticipates interest from the Redskins once the free agency period begins. The Redskins could also add depth in the secondary (St. Louis safety Adam Archuleta has been linked with the team in various reports) and offensive line and perhaps pursue a kicker and/or punter as well.

With backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey being shopped, Washington could add insurance there as well by going after an experienced third-stringer to serve behind starter Mark Brunell and rookie Jason Campbell.

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March 10, 2006 -- The Jets, hell-bent on repairing their crippled quarterback situation, are acting quickly on Patrick Ramsey - so quickly that the former No. 1 draft pick out of Tulane could join Chad Pennington and Co. within days.

Two sources familiar with the goings on between the Jets and Redskins, told The Post last night that the Jets and Jimmy Sexton, the agent for the Washington backup quarterback, have been actively working on the parameters for a trade that would bring Ramsey to New York. Word is the Jets would give the Redskins a fifth-round draft pick in next month's NFL draft as well as a possible conditional pick in the 2007 draft, depending on how much and how well Ramsey plays. That pick, according to one of the sources, could be as high as a third-round pick should Ramsey start a certain number of games and perform to a certain level.

Ramsey, who has one year left on his contract worth $1.69 million, is Redskins' property, but they have no interest in retaining him. Washington initially had been seeking a second-round pick for him before realizing it had little leverage.

Initial reports had Ramsey, who was given permission by the Redskins to reach out to other teams and seek a trade, also visiting Detroit and Miami, but the sources said there are no plans for any other visits at the moment, further indicating that he's close to consummating a deal with the Jets.

Ramsey, 27, has been underwhelming in his NFL career, twice losing his starting job in Washington and compiling a 10-14 record as a starter. He's completed 480 of 861 passes for 5,649 yards with 34 TDs, 29 INTs and a 75.0 rating.

When asked about Ramsey, one highly placed NFC GM told The Post he didn't think Ramsey would be a good fit in New York. "I hope he doesn't go there," the GM said. "He's a great kid, but he wants to please so much that when he doesn't it really bothers him. He doesn't have the temperament to play there. You've got to be thick-skinned to play in New York. He'll be eaten [alive] up there."

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