Hmm. The Vikings waived Erasmus James, rescinded the transaction, and then sent their 2005 first-rounder to the Redskins for Washington's first-round picks in 2009, 20011 and 2012.* Or maybe all the 'Skins had to give up was a 2009 conditional seventh-rounder. Either way, this is the first time I've heard a team fake-waiving a player before trading him. Maybe Minnesota discovered there was a market for James, hence the change of heart, but a conditional seventh-rounder hardly seems worth the paperwork.
Washington, a team that has been looking to add depth to the defensive line for a few years now, gets a guy with an extensive injury history, but who also has some upside:
We really liked Erasmus coming out of college," executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said. "He's young and talented, and he has a great deal of potential. We like the fact that his defensive line coach at the University of Wisconsin--John Palermo--is our current defensive line coach."Well, Erasmus is an every-down player when he's healthy, something he hasn't been throughout his three-year NFL career. He's appeared in just eight games the last two seasons, and has had three surgeries on his left knee.
Said Palermo: "Erasmus is an every down player. He's tough enough to play on first and second down and fast enough to give you a good pass rush on third down.
Despite the health concerns, the Redskins continue to make shrewd personnel moves this offseason, which is, well, mind-blowing. If anything, it just reinforces the fact that Vinny Cerrato is much smarter than he looks.
*bald-faced lie
Hat tip: PFT
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-09-2008 @ 3:43PM
guru13 said...
The sad thing is, when I read the Skins traded their 1st round picks for the next 3 years or w.e, i actually worried it was true for a second
oh d. snyder
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