My list of contracts I would like to unload:
1. Clinton Portis - will be 29. doesn't stay in great offseason shape like Green or Monk did to see him as a player that is effective into his 30's. outspoken often but usually for the wrong reasons.
2. Andre Carter - Carter will be 31. His sacks this year have come because of the presence of the other new faces in the front seven. Orakpo and Jarmon look to be keepers at DE. If there is going to be a rebuilding process as appears necessary, might as well develop the young DEs right off the bat.
3. Antwaan Randle El - ARE will be 32. He has slowed down. He gets no separation as a WR and he has never been effective as a returner in DC. Whatever else happens in a re-evaluation of the WR position in the offseason this is one player that has 'downside' written all over him.
4. Fred Smoot - Smoot at 31 has fallen faster than a meteor. He was signed for a $7M bonus at 29 and a year and a half later has fallen from solid #3 corner and part-time starter to being the #4 corner behind Justin Tryon, who has not exactly lit the world on fire this season.
5. Todd Collins - Collins, 38, has one season left on his contract but will be of little value to the new coaching staff. He was brought here to help install Al Saunders' offense much as you would bring in Jeff Garcia to help install a WCO. But the next administration is sure to bring in a new system and with everyone learning from scratch we might as well get younger here.
Those were the picks most of you are probably nodding your heads with me over.
Now for the surprises.
6. DeAngelo Hall - I liked Hall based on the 7 games he played here last year but his performance this season has been uneven and he has reverted to his penchant for criticizing his teammates and the club in the media. He is still MeAngelo and that doesn't add up to a player you expect to see helping the Redskins to a Super Bowl down the road. I would much rather admit the mistake and resign Carlos Rogers who at 27 and who cost the team a #9 overall pick in 2005, is still the team's best cover corner.
7. Hunter Smith - Smith has great career numbers. But now we know why the Colts didn't resign him after 2008, at 31 his body is starting to break down with nagging injuries. We need to find someone younger here. Perhaps a guy that can kick off as well?
8. Mike Sellers - Sellers will be 34 years old heading into 2010. His play has slipped this year and his seeming inability to be comfortable with his blocking role on the club, constantly lobbying for an increased role, has been a distraction at times. If you look around the NFL there are capable fullbacks out there that are making much less than Sellers and they don't bring half the attitude issues. Fullback like punter is just not a position you want to invest a lot of dollars in under the cap, only to go short at RB or WR.
Players Who I Would Let Go As Free Agents:
9. Jason Campbell - he was a #1 draft choice and when he signs with another club the Redskins are going to get a decent comp pick in April for him.
10. Rocky McIntosh - ditto for McIntosh. As a former #2 pick, he will net a comp pick for the Skins in April. I like Rocky's aggressiveness this year but his knees would prevent me from offering him a long-term deal.
11. Anthony Montgomery - the Redskins were looking to deal him this season and for good reason. Montgomery is a very inconsistent player. He thinks he is a starting tackle but hasn't shown enough on the field to warrant that type of promotion. Golston has outplayed him. It's that simple. Another former Redskins draft pick, #5, that will net a comp pick.
12. Casey Rabach - Rabach will be unrestricted and none too soon for Redskins fans. At 33 and only 289, Casey has been overmatched the past couple of years in his matchups with the DTs on the Giants and Cowboys. We lose those inside matchups each year and consequently haven't been close to the Giants in a couple of years.
13. Randy Thomas - Thomas will be 33 and his injury history is almost as long as Jansen's was when he was released. Randy was one of the better guards in the NFC 3-4 years ago, but he is a shell of his former self. I think he may retire if released.
14. Mike Williams - back to the couch for Mike. Seriously, I wish him well with the businesses he owns and manages, but he is done as an NFL football player. That was clear in 2005.
1. Clinton Portis - will be 29. doesn't stay in great offseason shape like Green or Monk did to see him as a player that is effective into his 30's. outspoken often but usually for the wrong reasons.
2. Andre Carter - Carter will be 31. His sacks this year have come because of the presence of the other new faces in the front seven. Orakpo and Jarmon look to be keepers at DE. If there is going to be a rebuilding process as appears necessary, might as well develop the young DEs right off the bat.
3. Antwaan Randle El - ARE will be 32. He has slowed down. He gets no separation as a WR and he has never been effective as a returner in DC. Whatever else happens in a re-evaluation of the WR position in the offseason this is one player that has 'downside' written all over him.
4. Fred Smoot - Smoot at 31 has fallen faster than a meteor. He was signed for a $7M bonus at 29 and a year and a half later has fallen from solid #3 corner and part-time starter to being the #4 corner behind Justin Tryon, who has not exactly lit the world on fire this season.
5. Todd Collins - Collins, 38, has one season left on his contract but will be of little value to the new coaching staff. He was brought here to help install Al Saunders' offense much as you would bring in Jeff Garcia to help install a WCO. But the next administration is sure to bring in a new system and with everyone learning from scratch we might as well get younger here.
Those were the picks most of you are probably nodding your heads with me over.
Now for the surprises.
6. DeAngelo Hall - I liked Hall based on the 7 games he played here last year but his performance this season has been uneven and he has reverted to his penchant for criticizing his teammates and the club in the media. He is still MeAngelo and that doesn't add up to a player you expect to see helping the Redskins to a Super Bowl down the road. I would much rather admit the mistake and resign Carlos Rogers who at 27 and who cost the team a #9 overall pick in 2005, is still the team's best cover corner.
7. Hunter Smith - Smith has great career numbers. But now we know why the Colts didn't resign him after 2008, at 31 his body is starting to break down with nagging injuries. We need to find someone younger here. Perhaps a guy that can kick off as well?
8. Mike Sellers - Sellers will be 34 years old heading into 2010. His play has slipped this year and his seeming inability to be comfortable with his blocking role on the club, constantly lobbying for an increased role, has been a distraction at times. If you look around the NFL there are capable fullbacks out there that are making much less than Sellers and they don't bring half the attitude issues. Fullback like punter is just not a position you want to invest a lot of dollars in under the cap, only to go short at RB or WR.
Players Who I Would Let Go As Free Agents:
9. Jason Campbell - he was a #1 draft choice and when he signs with another club the Redskins are going to get a decent comp pick in April for him.
10. Rocky McIntosh - ditto for McIntosh. As a former #2 pick, he will net a comp pick for the Skins in April. I like Rocky's aggressiveness this year but his knees would prevent me from offering him a long-term deal.
11. Anthony Montgomery - the Redskins were looking to deal him this season and for good reason. Montgomery is a very inconsistent player. He thinks he is a starting tackle but hasn't shown enough on the field to warrant that type of promotion. Golston has outplayed him. It's that simple. Another former Redskins draft pick, #5, that will net a comp pick.
12. Casey Rabach - Rabach will be unrestricted and none too soon for Redskins fans. At 33 and only 289, Casey has been overmatched the past couple of years in his matchups with the DTs on the Giants and Cowboys. We lose those inside matchups each year and consequently haven't been close to the Giants in a couple of years.
13. Randy Thomas - Thomas will be 33 and his injury history is almost as long as Jansen's was when he was released. Randy was one of the better guards in the NFC 3-4 years ago, but he is a shell of his former self. I think he may retire if released.
14. Mike Williams - back to the couch for Mike. Seriously, I wish him well with the businesses he owns and manages, but he is done as an NFL football player. That was clear in 2005.
