****OFFICIAL 2009 Off Season Washington Redskins Thread**** (1 Viewer)

[Sidewinder16]

Steve Jackson tells us why Laron isn't played at SS.

That's a good question, and I hear it all the time too. With the style of defense that we play, the strong safety is more a box type player. He's gonna cover tight ends, and he has to be able to attack fullbacks and take the physical rigors of being down there. He's like a small linebacker.

"LaRon's biggest assets are his speed and his range. With the way we play our free safety, he has to be a guy that can run from sideline to sideline to protect the corners. If anybody breaks free, the free safety has to be the one to run that guy down. And that's what he does better than anybody we have on this team.

"As far as taking on fullbacks and just being the guy to get in there and get dirty and grimy and do all the dirty work, that's not LaRon. It's a waste of his particular talents to put him down in there. Nothing against the position, but he's better for our defense with his physical skills back there being the traffic cop and being the savior, the angel for anyone who gets into trouble.

 

[Sidewinder16]

COOL!

That is pretty sweet. I would especially like to see Super Bowl XVII as it was originally broadcasted. I was only 8 at the time and I can't discern any memory of watching the game live from just the numerous highlights I've seen of the game over the years.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Scott Wachenheim (new TEs coach) on Fred Davis:

Fred Davis has looked good to me so far this season. What's your sense of him?

Wachenheim: "I have nothing to compare him to. A lot of people are comparing Fred to himself last season. I came to him with a clean slate, starting from scratch, and I've been very happy with Fred. He's learned everything we've asked him to do -- we've actually increased what we're wanting him to learn as a tight end, as a second tight end or U-back [or H-back], and also as a fullback, and he's done very well learning all of his assignments and performing them fast on the football field.

"We got to spend some time during weightlifting watching a little bit of extra film and going out to the field throwing a little bit with the quarterbacks, and I think Fred's a whole lot more confident in what he's doing, and any time you're confident in what you're doing, you move faster.

"If he keeps progressing the way he performed in our first minicamp and OTAs, I think he'll be ready to be a big help to us next year."

That's pretty impressive, that the coaches are so comfortable with how much he's improved that he's not just learning how to backup Cooley (i.e., be TE1), but he's learning how to be TE2, H-back and FB, as well.

 

[Sidewinder16]

Jim Zorn, on the decision process that went in to cutting Jansen:

"But to me, in evaluating the situation with Joe, with Sherman, myself, just sitting down and talking about and watching, I didn't see a difference [from last season]. I'm looking for differences. 'Okay, this is different, and that's different.' I didn't necessarily see that."

Given that, Zorn said, the coaches tried to envision where Jansen - who began last year as a backup, rose to the starting job, lost it again and then regained it at the end of the season - might fit in going forward.

"What we try to do is look at all the offensive linemen," Zorn said. "You not only grade them, but you rank them. You go back and forth. What's the future look like here? The future looks more like it's the battle of Stephon Heyer, Mike Williams and Jeremy Bridges."

Thus, they tried Jansen at center and guard, where he would have served as a backup.

"I didn't feel comfortable with how I perceived him backing up all those positions," Zorn said. "I was looking for the younger guys to take a lot of snaps to improve them instead of keeping Jon in a new position for him."

 

[Sidewinder16]

Why not wait until June 1?

Rather take the full hit right now because the room is there. No dead money next year.

Assuming the dead money would be the same or less next year, I'd always prefer to have it the next year. But, I'm not sure what all the rules are for the possible "uncapped" year in 2010.

Still some uncertainty out there as to the actual numbers. JLC is reporting that there's a "cap hit of a little more than $6 million". John Keim reports that Jansen will "count approximately $4.6 million against the salary cap this season and next, about the same amount that he would have had he remained a Redskin."

 

[T Bell]

Jon Jansen

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/sports/R...n-46472752.html

ASHBURN — Washington Redskins offensive tackle Jon Jansen was released on Friday in a surprising move that costs the team nearly $900,000 against the salary cap.

The senior Redskin, the 1999 second-round pick lost his starting job during the 2008 preseason only to regain it when replacement Stephon Heyer was injured. The Redskins signed former first-rounder Mike Williams over the offseason to compete with Heyer for the job this summer.

"It's upsetting," Jansen told The Washington Examiner.

Hopefully this means they really like what the y are seeing from the other Tackles.

Great move. Because we're so deep at OL. I think Jansen still has some football left and will catch on with another team. Sad news, the end of an era. I wish the team had been more competitive during his tenure.

I disagree. First of all, RT was our deepest position, so if you're going to cut somewhere, RT was it. Any other OL position and I'd agree.Second, Jansen was a shell of his former self. He used to give Strahan a game when both guys were in their prime, but Jansen's feet were in concrete anymore when it came to pass blocking. It was time.

 

[fatness]

I really like Jon Jansen, and I'm sorry to see his career with the Skins end. He was a hardworking guy, and played to the best of his ability even when hurt. I wish I could find that old picture of him with both thumbs in casts and an arm in a sling.

But it was time for him to go. His ability had declined noticeably to a fan like me, and if I was seeing it then the coaches were seeing it even more. He was downright embarrassing on some pass protection.

I do wonder why they released him now. Maybe it's got something to do with what cap hit to take when. Or maybe his skills were even worse that we thought. Or maybe there was something else, attitude or personality conflict or something (no, I've heard nothing like that, I'm just guessing).

The only bad part of this is that it's just more eggs thrown in the Mike Williams basket.

 

[fatness]

JLC

Once the coaches came to a consensus, Zorn said he took his recommendation to owner Daniel Snyder. "How do you release a guy like this?" Zorn said. "And Mr. Snyder said, 'Let's do it as right as we can.' The right way to do it is talk to him face to face."With that, Snyder sent his plane to pick up Jansen, who makes his offseason home in Michigan. Zorn and Jansen met this morning."Was that hard?" Zorn said. "Yep. No doubt. He's a man, and it was one person's opinion about what his future was going to be with this organization. Absolutely he was disappointed."

 

[fatness]

Zorn's analysis of the right tackles, according to JLC

Stephon Heyer, 25, 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, entering third season:

"Heyer has really improved himself," Zorn said. "He hasn't missed anything in our offseason program. He's trying to change his body style and the way he moves. I have seen some improvement. He's got a ways to go. That's why I wouldn't clearly name him the starter. He's working on his technique, his strength, his suddenness. Obviously, there's a lot to work on, but he's on his way."

Mike Williams, 29, 6-6, 384 pounds (Zorn said), entering sixth season (with two years off):

"Mike Williams has got tremendous potential right now," Zorn said, "and that's what it is because he hasn't played in two years. But when I watch him move, and I watch him move his feet, I mean, he can really move a lot of weight.

"He's down to 384 today. How comfortable can you be with a guy who's 384? But he's coming down. And that's a sign that he's making himself into a better football player. He's allowing himself to give himself a chance. My biggest concern is: Can he function at a high level at the weight he is for 70 plays? You can't just have it for 10 plays. You got to have it for 70."

Jeremy Bridges, 29, 6-4, 326 pounds, entering seventh season:

"I don't know much about Jeremy Bridges yet, but I watch him, and I see another athlete that can really change direction. I think he's got a toughness about him that we're certainly looking for with the Redskins."

 

[Harjiran]

I disagree. First of all, RT was our deepest position, so if you're going to cut somewhere, RT was it. Any other OL position and I'd agree.Second, Jansen was a shell of his former self. He used to give Strahan a game when both guys were in their prime, but Jansen's feet were in concrete anymore when it came to pass blocking. It was time.

I may be overlooking something but I don't see our depth at RT or any position along the OL as being particularly great, and I don't have a lot of confidence that a starting caliber RT will emerge from Heyer, Mike Williams, Bridges et al. Seems to me that the smart move would have been to keep a savvy veteran like Jansen for depth or a spot start due to injury. An even smarter move would have been to address RT and the OL during the draft, but that's another issue. Granted, Jansen is a shell of himself, as you say. But I think he's still as good or better than what we have. On top of that, I guess I'm just bummed to see him go. He was a real Redskin and a latter day Hog.

 

[fatness]

Time for Santana Moss to get drunk again

It's his birthday, and he's known for his birthday bashes. I can't be the only one who remembers he showed up sick last year due to his birthday celebrating.

 

[T Bell]

I disagree. First of all, RT was our deepest position, so if you're going to cut somewhere, RT was it. Any other OL position and I'd agree.

Second, Jansen was a shell of his former self. He used to give Strahan a game when both guys were in their prime, but Jansen's feet were in concrete anymore when it came to pass blocking. It was time.

I may be overlooking something but I don't see our depth at RT or any position along the OL as being particularly great, and I don't have a lot of confidence that a starting caliber RT will emerge from Heyer, Mike Williams, Bridges et al. Seems to me that the smart move would have been to keep a savvy veteran like Jansen for depth or a spot start due to injury. An even smarter move would have been to address RT and the OL during the draft, but that's another issue. Granted, Jansen is a shell of himself, as you say. But I think he's still as good or better than what we have. On top of that, I guess I'm just bummed to see him go. He was a real Redskin and a latter day Hog.

No doubt about that. I'll always remember him playing an entire season with two broken thumbs. The guy was as much of a gamer as there was.

 

[Sebowski]

I disagree. First of all, RT was our deepest position, so if you're going to cut somewhere, RT was it. Any other OL position and I'd agree.Second, Jansen was a shell of his former self. He used to give Strahan a game when both guys were in their prime, but Jansen's feet were in concrete anymore when it came to pass blocking. It was time.

I may be overlooking something but I don't see our depth at RT or any position along the OL as being particularly great, and I don't have a lot of confidence that a starting caliber RT will emerge from Heyer, Mike Williams, Bridges et al. Seems to me that the smart move would have been to keep a savvy veteran like Jansen for depth or a spot start due to injury. An even smarter move would have been to address RT and the OL during the draft, but that's another issue. Granted, Jansen is a shell of himself, as you say. But I think he's still as good or better than what we have. On top of that, I guess I'm just bummed to see him go. He was a real Redskin and a latter day Hog.

I think what it came down to was:Obviously Heyer and Williams have shown enough to warrant a spot so is Jansen clearly better than Bridges? If it is close you have to give it to the younger guy. Too bad we didn't have the same philosophy with Evans/Jason Taylor last year.

 

[buster c]

Steve Jackson tells us why Laron isn't played at SS.

That's a good question, and I hear it all the time too. With the style of defense that we play, the strong safety is more a box type player. He's gonna cover tight ends, and he has to be able to attack fullbacks and take the physical rigors of being down there. He's like a small linebacker.

"LaRon's biggest assets are his speed and his range. With the way we play our free safety, he has to be a guy that can run from sideline to sideline to protect the corners. If anybody breaks free, the free safety has to be the one to run that guy down. And that's what he does better than anybody we have on this team.

"As far as taking on fullbacks and just being the guy to get in there and get dirty and grimy and do all the dirty work, that's not LaRon. It's a waste of his particular talents to put him down in there. Nothing against the position, but he's better for our defense with his physical skills back there being the traffic cop and being the savior, the angel for anyone who gets into trouble.

this makes perfect sense to me. on the D -after fletcher- this guy is next on the 'can't afford to lose him' list. I wonder if Steve Jackson & Jerry Gray are still splitting up the DB's in meetings/drills. I recall that was one shocking disfunction that was revealed year before last in the Tom Friend 'expose'

 

[buster c]

COOL!

That is pretty sweet. I would especially like to see Super Bowl XVII as it was originally broadcasted. I was only 8 at the time and I can't discern any memory of watching the game live from just the numerous highlights I've seen of the game over the years.

ordered

this saves me converting each of these games from tape

 

[T Bell]

COOL!

That is pretty sweet. I would especially like to see Super Bowl XVII as it was originally broadcasted. I was only 8 at the time and I can't discern any memory of watching the game live from just the numerous highlights I've seen of the game over the years.

ordered :X

this saves me converting each of these games from tape

I have a pirated version on DVD somewhere. **** Enberg is in his prime there, but Merlin Olson is about as bad of a color man as I've ever heard, and it's astounding that he was working a Super Bowl.

 

[Marvelous]

Why not wait until June 1?

Rather take the full hit right now because the room is there. No dead money next year.

Since this is the last year of the salary cap, the cap hit all hits this year, even after June 1. There is no benefit to waiting until June 1 to make a cut.

 

[fatness]

Washington Times

Offensive tackle Jon Jansen, a longtime rock of the Washington Redskins, was cut Friday after declining an offer from owner Dan Snyder to retire with the team.

 

[T Bell]

Washington Times

Offensive tackle Jon Jansen, a longtime rock of the Washington Redskins, was cut Friday after declining an offer from owner Dan Snyder to retire with the team.

He still believes he can play football . . . and for the Lions, maybe he can.

 

[fatness]

It was awkward for both Jansen and Snyder. And what Snyder probably meant as a show-of-loyalty thing ("hey, you can retire a Redskin, we'll have a ceremony and everything) probably came across badly to Jansen who still thinks he can play. Just an awkward situtation, with no bad guy.

 

[fatness]

The timing of Jansen's release

By releasing Jansen the Redskins took a cap hit of some $6 million. On the surface the timing is somewhat puzzling but once you dig a little deeper it makes more sense.

Apparently this is a move that Zorn has wanted to make since the end of last year. However, had the move been made at the start of free agency it would have been very difficult to fit the contracts of Albert Haynesworth, Derrick Dockery and DeAngelo Hall in under the cap.

Also, at that time, Jansen was the only experienced depth the Redskins had at the tackle spot. Even though, in the view of Zorn and just about anybody who watched more than five minutes of the 2008 Redskins' offense with Jansen in the lineup, his skills had slipped considerably from his prime seasons it would have been foolhardy to release him and leave nothing in reserve. The fact that the penciled-in starter is Stephon Heyer, who still is a work in progress, make it even more important for the Redskins to have a solid reserve at right tackle.

Then, just before the draft, one shoe dropped for Jansen. The Redskins signed Mike Williams. The fourth overall pick in the 2002 draft was about 70 pounds overweight and hasn't played since 2006. He's a veteran project but a warm body (actually, Zorn said that he was as big as two bodies) nonetheless.

The other shoe fell when the team signed Jeremy Bridges. The Southern Mississippi product has started 39 games in six seasons with the Eagles, Cardinals, and Panthers. At his low end he represents quality depth and at the high end he could beat out Heyer for the starting job.

So the Redskins had two potential replacements for Jansen. During minicamp and OTA's they tried him at backup center but he failed to impress there.

They may have given him a shot in training camp but he was due a $1.5 million roster bonus in July. If they had him participate in the second round of OTA's starting on Monday to give him a last shot they would have been gambling. If he were to sustain a serious injury during the OTA's the team would have been on the hook for the roster bonus and his 2009 salary.

Some have asked why they didn't wait until after June 1 to spread the cap hit out. Since 2010 currently is an uncapped year, June 1 doesn't exist. Well, it's on your calendar but there is no cap hit break for releasing a player after June 1. They don't want teams prematurely dumping dead cap in next year.

 

[T Bell]

The timing of Jansen's release

By releasing Jansen the Redskins took a cap hit of some $6 million. On the surface the timing is somewhat puzzling but once you dig a little deeper it makes more sense.

Apparently this is a move that Zorn has wanted to make since the end of last year. However, had the move been made at the start of free agency it would have been very difficult to fit the contracts of Albert Haynesworth, Derrick Dockery and DeAngelo Hall in under the cap.

Also, at that time, Jansen was the only experienced depth the Redskins had at the tackle spot. Even though, in the view of Zorn and just about anybody who watched more than five minutes of the 2008 Redskins' offense with Jansen in the lineup, his skills had slipped considerably from his prime seasons it would have been foolhardy to release him and leave nothing in reserve. The fact that the penciled-in starter is Stephon Heyer, who still is a work in progress, make it even more important for the Redskins to have a solid reserve at right tackle.

Then, just before the draft, one shoe dropped for Jansen. The Redskins signed Mike Williams. The fourth overall pick in the 2002 draft was about 70 pounds overweight and hasn't played since 2006. He's a veteran project but a warm body (actually, Zorn said that he was as big as two bodies) nonetheless.

The other shoe fell when the team signed Jeremy Bridges. The Southern Mississippi product has started 39 games in six seasons with the Eagles, Cardinals, and Panthers. At his low end he represents quality depth and at the high end he could beat out Heyer for the starting job.

So the Redskins had two potential replacements for Jansen. During minicamp and OTA's they tried him at backup center but he failed to impress there.

They may have given him a shot in training camp but he was due a $1.5 million roster bonus in July. If they had him participate in the second round of OTA's starting on Monday to give him a last shot they would have been gambling. If he were to sustain a serious injury during the OTA's the team would have been on the hook for the roster bonus and his 2009 salary.

Some have asked why they didn't wait until after June 1 to spread the cap hit out. Since 2010 currently is an uncapped year, June 1 doesn't exist. Well, it's on your calendar but there is no cap hit break for releasing a player after June 1. They don't want teams prematurely dumping dead cap in next year.

Good explanation. I have no problem with the move, and the cap hit doesn't bother me either. Aside from aquiring another SLB or more OL depth, I'm not sure where they'd spend the money anyway at this point. Also, everybody points to 2010 as "an uncapped year" and of course technically it is given that there's no CBA in place for 2010 and beyond, but I don't expect that to remain the case.

 

[dgreen]

Somehow ARE didn't make Sporting News' top 15 return men.

 

[Bizkiteer]

Somehow ARE didn't make Sporting News' top 15 return men.

I doubt he'd make the top 32 either!

 

[Sidewinder16]

Redskins beat writer Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post is heading the NFL Network, a source with knowledge of the situation tells us.

That sucks.

JLC posts a classy good-bye on RI. Despite my opinion of his opinions , I wish him all the best at NFLN. I only wish I still had the channel to see how he does covering the league as a whole.

 

[Sidewinder16]

OTAs!!!!

No show and injury reports:

RI

The players missing from today's organized team activity were cornerback Carlos Rogers, running back Clinton Portis, cornerback Kevin Barnes, safety LaRon Landry, fullback Mike Sellers, linebacker London Fletcher and receiver James Thrash.

Barnes, a third-round pick from a Maryland, has the flu. His 103-degree temperature kept him inside Monday.

Elfin

Cornerback Carlos Rogers joined the now-usual list of suspects absent from organized team activities that included running back Clinton Portis, fullback Mike Sellers, linebacker London Fletcher and safety LaRon Landry.

Receiver Santana Moss was back -- on his 30th birthday -- with a new, short haircut and healthy shins after sitting out the May OTAs. However, fellow receiver James Thrash remains sidelined with a neck injury.

Tackle Chris Samuels (triceps) took some work in team drills but guard Randy Thomas (knee), tackle Devin Clark (knee) and rookie fullback Eddie Williams (knee) did not.

Terl

Absent from today's session -- which is optional, after all -- were Carlos Rogers, Kevin Barnes (out with a 103 degree fever, according to Coach Zorn), Clinton Portis, LaRon Landry, Mike Sellers, and London Fletcher. Rookie FB Eddie Williams was doing light work with the trainers as expected; he continues to rehab his predraft injury.

 

[fatness]

JLC posts a classy good-bye on RI.

Despite my opinion of his opinions , I wish him all the best at NFLN. I only wish I still had the channel to see how he does covering the league as a whole.

I hope he does well at NFL Network but he'll probably become some faceless guy there. Too bad newspapers are doing so poorly financially; it would have been nice if the Post gave him a raise to try to keep him. Despite the dislike of him here I think he's been pretty darn good, the most consistently informative Redskin beat writer.

 

[fatness]

From various JLC blog entries about today's OTA's:

Santana Moss cut off his cornrows

"The season went so bad the second half, I was like, 'Man, I'll do something different. I'll cut my hair to get all the bad funk off me,'" Moss said.

Malcolm Kelly finally practiced.

"When I rolled out of bed this morning, I was like, 'Man, this has been a long time coming.' ... I was just anxious to go out there and run a route and feel the ball hit my hands."

Orakpo still working at LB.

"I'm still trying to get acclimated to [linebacker], but I'm doing okay right now," Orakpo said. "I know I can do better at pass drops and reading coverages better and stuff, but that just all comes over time. So once OTAs get going and come training camp I should be full go."

 

[fatness]

Ryan O'Halloran on today's OTA's

Stephon Heyer has worked on his lower body strength in order to become a better run blocker.

Right guard Randy Thomas did not practice and Jim Zorn said the veteran recently had his knee scoped. This after neck surgery after the season. "Randy Thomas is on schedule," Zorn said. "He had something floating around in his knee"

Zorn spoke to the offensive linemen before practice to explain the reasoning behind Jansen's release. "I didn't want them to have any speculation as to what may have happened and why and all that," Zorn said.

Jeremy Bridges is an intriguing player on the line because of his versatility. He has 39 career starts and has started games at right tackle, right guard and left guard. "Here's what I see in Jeremy: He has tremendous feet and a sense of toughness," Zorn said. "Those are two [things] you have to have. We'll see where that comfort zone is. It may not be right tackle. It may be inside."

Zorn on if he would have confidence playing Chad Rinehart at right guard if Thomas went down. "I don't know if I would feel great because he has to show me something," Zorn said

 

[fatness]

A reader's comments on LaCanfora:

LaCanfora had a disputatious relationship with the Redskins management for years. GM/Butler Vinny Cerrato refused to talk to Cerrato and blasted him constantly on that godawful radio show he had on WTEM. Witless Redskins mouthpiece Larry Michaels had a brain-dead segment on his Redskins cable TV show devoted to mocking LaCanfora. However, LaCanfora frequently broke important stories and remained a tenacious chronicler of the Redskins doings and mis-doings. Perhaps LaCanfora should have been the bigger man and not responded to the insults from Redskins management, but he did -- often -- and it led some Redskins fans to regard LaCanfora as hostile to the team. [He wasn't, only hostile to the incompetent and hyper-sensitive team management.]

 

[Sidewinder16]

From RI:

Clinton Portis and Carlos Rogers returned to practice today, on the second day of the Redskins' June organized team activities. Rogers said he was throwing up yesterday.

 

[fatness]

Jason La Canfora, Redskins beat writer for The Washington Post, will join NFL Network and NFL.com as a reporter. La Canfora will be providing on-air reports on national stories for NFL Network in addition to writing stories and blogging for NFL.com when he starts in mid-June. La Canfora contributed Redskins and NFL features, news stories, analysis and commentaries for The Post.

La Canfora will appear on NFL Network's signature news program NFL Total Access, the Sunday morning pregame show NFL GameDay Morning, NFL GameDay Final, NFL Draft, NFL Scouting Combine, Hall of Fame and Super Bowl coverage. He is based in Baltimore and will travel to cover games, training camps, practices and other NFL events for the network and website.

In addition to appearing on NFL Network, La Canfora who had a popular blog for The Washington Post, will also be blogging and writing stories for NFL.com.

La Canfora graduated magna cum laude from Syracuse University with degrees in print journalism and policy studies.

NFL.com

 

[fatness]

Samuels is doing something smart --- reducing the load his knee has to carry.

Samuels, who battled a nagging knee injury last year, is entering his 10th season, and with the release of fellow tackle Jon Jansen last week, has now been a Redskin longer than any current player. He will turn 32 the day before the team reports to training camp, and said he took care of himself this offseason - working out in Arizona -- in an effort to extend his career. He looks noticeably slimmer, and said he's down to 308 pounds.

"I haven't been this weight in years," he said. "It's just a different program. I'm being more serious about my diet, and I'm trying some different kinds of training. So far, it's working."

Barry Surluga in JLC's blog.And from the comments:

If 2 linemen go into Thunderdome and 1 is Chris Samuels, he's the one that leaves

I dunno I think MWilliams may try and eat Samuels

 

[fatness]

Veteran Shawn Springs was released, and is now with New England, and veteran Fred Smoot will likely serve as the third cornerback, with rookie Kevin Barnes, a third-round pick from Maryland, likely to make the team.

Barry Surluga

 

[T Bell]

From RI:

Clinton Portis and Carlos Rogers returned to practice today, on the second day of the Redskins' June organized team activities. Rogers said he was throwing up yesterday.

Somebody obviously needs to stop throwing him his food.

 

[Bizkiteer]

From RI:

Clinton Portis and Carlos Rogers returned to practice today, on the second day of the Redskins' June organized team activities. Rogers said he was throwing up yesterday.

Somebody obviously needs to stop throwing him his food.

The story has to be fake!!! For Carlos to be sick, he had to actually catch the flu or a cold. That is the problem, catching!

 

[dgreen]

Offensive Coordinators ranked in today's SN. Sherm Smith not in the top 20.

 

[fatness]

He ate a football and his allergy kicked in.

 

[fatness]

The team did rework Moss's contract weeks before they cut Jansen, both sources said, so one wasn't necessarily related to the other. If they were related, one of the sources said, then the Skins knew for almost a month they were in position to release Jansen, and minimize the cap hit, and just waited to make a move. My guess is that the Skins would have rather saved the increased cap space (about $1.7 million) to apply elsewhere down the road, rather than just offset the Jansen cap hit. But they finally decided to cut Jansen, who was a major liability in pass protection and probably should have been released before the start of the 2008 season, so the Moss restructure helped their cap situation now rather than later. The Skins currently have $6 million in cap room, one source said, which is about where teams like to be at this time of the year with having draft picks to sign and planning for potential in-season signings because of injuries.

Jason Reid

 

[fatness]

Linebacker London Fletcher attended his first voluntary activity of the off-season. Fletcher has two years remaining on the contract signed in March 2007 but his absence can be seen as a negotiating ploy.

Defensive end Andre Carter said he hasn't worked much with rookie Brian Orakpo but intends to during camp. "His head's in the books [studying] to play linebacker," Carter said. "Once training camp starts, we'll get more 1-on-1 time with him and talk about pass rushing. But now, he has to focus on SAM linebacker."

O'Halloran

 

[buster c]

The team did rework Moss's contract weeks before they cut Jansen, both sources said, so one wasn't necessarily related to the other. If they were related, one of the sources said, then the Skins knew for almost a month they were in position to release Jansen, and minimize the cap hit, and just waited to make a move. My guess is that the Skins would have rather saved the increased cap space (about $1.7 million) to apply elsewhere down the road, rather than just offset the Jansen cap hit. But they finally decided to cut Jansen, who was a major liability in pass protection and probably should have been released before the start of the 2008 season, so the Moss restructure helped their cap situation now rather than later. The Skins currently have $6 million in cap room, one source said, which is about where teams like to be at this time of the year with having draft picks to sign and planning for potential in-season signings because of injuries.

Jason Reid

PFTA league source tells us that the Washington Redskins quietly extended the contract of receiver Santana Moss last month, creating nearly the same amount of cap space that was burned up when tackle Jon Jansen recently was cut.

Per the source, the Redskins converted his base salary of $3.7 million in 2009 and $4.3 million in 2010 into a signing bonus, less salaries of $745,000 this year and $968,500 next year.

The difference is a guaranteed payment of $6.28 million.

The new deal adds three additional seasons beyond 2010, at base salaries of $1.192 million in 2011, $1.4155 million in 2012, and $1.639 million in 2013. But we’re told that the three new years automatically void at the end of the 2010 season.

So why were the new years added? To allow the guaranteed payment to be spread over five years.

As a result, the total cap savings was $1.7477 million. And the Jansen cap charge was $1.726 million.

There also was a benefit for Moss; he received all of his 2009 pay and most of his 2010 compensation now.

another Portis-like deal. we'll be paying this one off in dead money long after #89's useful life

 

[Sidewinder16]

James Thrash is considering retirement.

Washington Redskins receiver James Thrash is considering whether to undergo surgery on his injured neck and attempt to play again this season or decline the surgery and retire from football.

Multiple sources told The Washington Times that Thrash, who has missed all the club's offseason workouts because of the injury, might choose to quit football rather than have the operation to play a 13th season, in which he would be used largely as a backup.

 

[Sidewinder16]

From the FBGs magazine content, Chris Smith gives the Redskin OL an "A" grade (and the 2nd highest overall score).



How they warrant a 10 (out of a possible 10) rating for pass blocking is beyond me. Cohesion and run blocking shouldn't be 10s either.

 

[Marvelous]

The team did rework Moss's contract weeks before they cut Jansen, both sources said, so one wasn't necessarily related to the other. If they were related, one of the sources said, then the Skins knew for almost a month they were in position to release Jansen, and minimize the cap hit, and just waited to make a move. My guess is that the Skins would have rather saved the increased cap space (about $1.7 million) to apply elsewhere down the road, rather than just offset the Jansen cap hit. But they finally decided to cut Jansen, who was a major liability in pass protection and probably should have been released before the start of the 2008 season, so the Moss restructure helped their cap situation now rather than later. The Skins currently have $6 million in cap room, one source said, which is about where teams like to be at this time of the year with having draft picks to sign and planning for potential in-season signings because of injuries.

Jason Reid

PFTA league source tells us that the Washington Redskins quietly extended the contract of receiver Santana Moss last month, creating nearly the same amount of cap space that was burned up when tackle Jon Jansen recently was cut.

Per the source, the Redskins converted his base salary of $3.7 million in 2009 and $4.3 million in 2010 into a signing bonus, less salaries of $745,000 this year and $968,500 next year.

The difference is a guaranteed payment of $6.28 million.

The new deal adds three additional seasons beyond 2010, at base salaries of $1.192 million in 2011, $1.4155 million in 2012, and $1.639 million in 2013. But we’re told that the three new years automatically void at the end of the 2010 season.

So why were the new years added? To allow the guaranteed payment to be spread over five years.

As a result, the total cap savings was $1.7477 million. And the Jansen cap charge was $1.726 million.

There also was a benefit for Moss; he received all of his 2009 pay and most of his 2010 compensation now.

another Portis-like deal. we'll be paying this one off in dead money long after #89's useful life

I really think the Redskins are banking on no salary cap next year. Then when they make a ridiculous contract move and it does not work out, there are no other ramifications to the team except that Danny forked over some extra money to a player.

 

[dgreen]

I really think the Redskins are banking on no salary cap next year. Then when they make a ridiculous contract move and it does not work out, there are no other ramifications to the team except that Danny forked over some extra money to a player.

I've heard the "uncapped year" isn't necessarily as free as it sounds. A lot of different rules kick in that probably won't make it a huge spending spree that some have made it out to be.

 

[fatness]

My (limited) understanding of the uncapped year is that money will be available to spend, but that there will be far fewer free agents to potentially spend it on. Most players become FA's after 5 years under the current bargaining agreement I believe. With no agreement, that becomes 6 years. So a lot of players who would be FA's next year if there's a collective bargaining agreement won't become FA's until a year later if there's no agreement.

 

[fatness]

Interesting stuff from Sherman Smith.

I asked Smith who, after one previous set of organized team activities and a mini-camp, stands out to him offensively.

"The guy that's been standing out to me is Ladell Betts," Smith said of the running back who serves as Clinton Portis's backup. "To me, he's stepped his game up. He's preparing like he's a starter. He's taken a leadership role, which I'm not saying he wasn't a leader before, but I just think he's a very good player. He's jumped out to me.

"Chris Cooley, I mean, he's Chris Cooley. He's a football player. There's a difference between a guy who plays football and a football player. He's a football player. I love him."

"Malcolm," Smith continued, speaking of second-year receiver Malcolm Kelly. "Just seeing Malcolm running around, boy that's better. And no question, the quarterback. No doubt. His game is taking off. And what he went through this offseason, my respect for him, I can't even measure it."

LinkAnd since I mentioned him, what does Sherman Smith actually do? I know he's the OC but he doesn't call plays. What does he actually do?

 

[Dexter Manley]

My (limited) understanding of the uncapped year is that money will be available to spend, but that there will be far fewer free agents to potentially spend it on. Most players become FA's after 5 years under the current bargaining agreement I believe. With no agreement, that becomes 6 years. So a lot of players who would be FA's next year if there's a collective bargaining agreement won't become FA's until a year later if there's no agreement.

The other big change is that there are limitations on FA signings for teams who advance to the Super Bowl and championship games, IIRC.Hopefully, the Skins are hit with the hardest limitations there.

 

[Dexter Manley]

Interesting stuff from Sherman Smith.

I asked Smith who, after one previous set of organized team activities and a mini-camp, stands out to him offensively.

"The guy that's been standing out to me is Ladell Betts," Smith said of the running back who serves as Clinton Portis's backup. "To me, he's stepped his game up. He's preparing like he's a starter. He's taken a leadership role, which I'm not saying he wasn't a leader before, but I just think he's a very good player. He's jumped out to me.

"Chris Cooley, I mean, he's Chris Cooley. He's a football player. There's a difference between a guy who plays football and a football player. He's a football player. I love him."

"Malcolm," Smith continued, speaking of second-year receiver Malcolm Kelly. "Just seeing Malcolm running around, boy that's better. And no question, the quarterback. No doubt. His game is taking off. And what he went through this offseason, my respect for him, I can't even measure it."

LinkAnd since I mentioned him, what does Sherman Smith actually do? I know he's the OC but he doesn't call plays. What does he actually do?

SS is up in the box during games, right? I'm sure he's communicating with Zorn during the game what he sees up there, and giving him suggestions on what plays to run. That's usually how it works when the HC calls the plays.

 

[Bizkiteer]

Interesting stuff from Sherman Smith.

I asked Smith who, after one previous set of organized team activities and a mini-camp, stands out to him offensively.

"The guy that's been standing out to me is Ladell Betts," Smith said of the running back who serves as Clinton Portis's backup. "To me, he's stepped his game up. He's preparing like he's a starter. He's taken a leadership role, which I'm not saying he wasn't a leader before, but I just think he's a very good player. He's jumped out to me.

"Chris Cooley, I mean, he's Chris Cooley. He's a football player. There's a difference between a guy who plays football and a football player. He's a football player. I love him."

"Malcolm," Smith continued, speaking of second-year receiver Malcolm Kelly. "Just seeing Malcolm running around, boy that's better. And no question, the quarterback. No doubt. His game is taking off. And what he went through this offseason, my respect for him, I can't even measure it."

LinkAnd since I mentioned him, what does Sherman Smith actually do? I know he's the OC but he doesn't call plays. What does he actually do?

WOW, man-o-man are we in trouble!!! When the OC mentions a back-up RB when he first thinks of who has impressed him the most, we are in serious trouble. Now, this would be great if the starter is Trung Canidate or Tatum Bell, but CP is a legit featured RB and an impressive back-up is not what is needed. I know it's early, but his feedback does nothing to make me feel better.