Should I Stay Or Should I Go: Now It's For Real

If you've been hanging around these parts during the off season you're probably familiar with this running series (if not click here, here, here, and especially here). Well it's become apparent that I'm not the only one out there thinking this way; the Redskins front office has begun their own evaluations.

In this morning's Washington Post the indispensable Jason La Canfora informed us that the Redskins are ready to to set the salary cap wheels in motion, their first task--James Thrash. OK, he's not the most interesting case study of the off-season but the team expects to shave a reported $380,000 off of the wide receiver/special teamer's 2007 cap number. Remember, this doesn't mean he took some kind of pay-cut, all they've done is move around some bonus money to create room under next year's salary cap. In exchange for his willingness to do almost nothing the franchise rewarded Thrash by tacking two more years onto the back end of his contract.

Obviously this is a positive move for the Skins. At times I've been a bit of a Thrash hater (actually I just hate the single wide formation they run with him... way to sell the illusion of the pass Mr. Saunders!) but it's become clear that he's a great leader and part of the ever-so-fragile "core" of the team. He's never going to standout for his leaping ability, speed, or size but he makes plays every damn week without fail.

It's the first of many steps the Skins brass (as well as the capologist they keep locked in the closet 10 months a year) will take towards fielding a competitive team next year. According to La Canfora you can expect to see several of Thrash's more noteworthy teammates restructure their contracts. So far the team has been in contact with the representatives for such players as Mark Brunell, Shawn Springs, and Jon Jansen. Stay tuned for more...