Redskins Cut Marcus Mason ... aka the Preseason's Leading Rusher

What do you have to do to win a job?

You'd think that being the leading rusher during the preseason would help. Apparently not. The Washington Redskins released Marcus Mason as part of Cut Day.

Mason led the NFL ... albeit in the preseason ... with 317 yards rushing. Sure, that number is kind of misleading since the Redskins played five preseason games while everyone else (but the Colts) played just four. But Mason was netting a 4.8 yards-per-carry average -- and that's not too shabby no matter when you do it.

The issue is another number: roster openings. Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts are locked in to the top two spots. Rock Cartwright was re-signed this offseason for his outstanding return duties (plus, he is an underrated running back who averaged 7.9 ypc this preseason). There really isn't another spot for Mason ... no matter how well he played.

Still, it won't be for nothing. Mason's rushing this preseason (which was 12 less yards than the rest of the Redskins combined) could get him a job somewhere else in the league.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

8-30-2008 @ 3:27PM

mike said...

how can you be so dumb as to release a running back like mason. some how you find another spot on your roster for him even if it means cutting a wide receiver. team does not need 6 wide receivers.

8-30-2008 @ 3:55PM

bob said...

whoever said the redskins are smart. this will come back to haunt to haunt them big time. what has Portis done. mr. "i'm too good to play in pre-season". oh yeah he scored a touchdown. 4 plays to go 3 yards

8-30-2008 @ 4:07PM

8-31-2008 @ 1:41PM

Chris said...

skins only kept 5 receivers retard

8-31-2008 @ 7:51PM

Jack said...

Um, we only kept 5 WRs

9-01-2008 @ 1:57PM

Jeff said...

He does not play special teams. That is the area he could have helped himself, but that is not his forte. I have been a life long Redskins fan, this happens all the time. Someone shines in preseason, every fan thinks he will be the next Emmit Smith. Anybody remember Timmy Smith, one game wonder, Super Bowl, but gone after that. Where did he go, oh a crack house to sell drugs.There was another running back, back in the day named Reggie Evans did the same exact thing as Mason, they did not keep him either, this was during Joe Gibbs first era here. Not saying Mason will do that, but there is a reason he was not drafted. The only one I can remember who did well in preseason that stayed after leading team in rushing in preaseason that was not drafted is Kenny Watson who was here for a year or two, now with the Bengals......

9-07-2008 @ 11:08PM

Philip said...

I just have to say that Keith was 100% right,Portis is awesome,In his prime and the BEST blocking running back in the leauge.not to mention all of the extras that come along with portis like his ability to catch the ball for todd collins,"which is why collins looked so good"alot of screens..And if youve noticed usually when portis gets hurt its because he's giving every play his all..like last year on a pick return when he closelined the returner,,Betts is in the top three backup running backs in the league,anytime portis gets hurt betts still gets like 5 ypc,and cartwright had a couple kick-returns in the last couple seasons..They made the right decision in cutting mason...Let him get some playing time somewhere else..HTTR #21

8-30-2008 @ 3:30PM

ryan said...

Why cut the best running back in the preseason ???????DUMB DUMB DUMB move from the skins...........................

9-03-2008 @ 2:25PM

keith said...

How can anyone say that mason is soooo good, hes never done anything in the regular season, he was rushing against backups and players that were released just like he was, As for clinton portis, he got hurt in last years pre-season so why would he want to risk it again this year? how many downs do you see LT playing in pre season? A running back doesnt need pre-season, either you know how to run or you dont, But for anyone to say we should have kept Marcus Mason is completely stupid, Portis is in his prime, Betts is a solid #2 and Cartwright is our return man, why take up a roster spot for someone whos never even going to see the field???

8-30-2008 @ 4:05PM

steve said...

somehow i think this will come back to haunt us. i hope i'm wrong.

9-01-2008 @ 10:39AM

Dave Kessler said...

You have to look at Mason's upside..Portis and Betts are gone in two more years. Rock Cartwright is a great special teams player and locker room guy but is he goingt o get any better? No! so you make a move for the future nad cut Rock and Keep Mason..Look for Cinn. to pick him up..

8-30-2008 @ 4:46PM

Wade said...

portis did set our single season rushing record........

8-30-2008 @ 4:51PM

jason said...

Nice to be cought up on things mike. He would get 0 carries and is better off on another team, not to mention the redskins only kept 5 receivers.

8-30-2008 @ 7:42PM

jerry said...

ceratto is soooooooooooooooooooooo stooooooooooooooopid

8-31-2008 @ 10:04PM

j said...

Maybe they should have let ceratto go!

8-31-2008 @ 10:31AM

Lee said...

like most of you probably, i am a lifer SKINS fan but at this point i have very little confidence in some of the decisions the brass is making lately. Portis had better blow it up this season or its time to call a bust a bust. and Marcus Mason? get ready people he's going to be special and everyone will say in retro- "Mason is the man- the skins let another gem slip away"

9-02-2008 @ 5:19PM

Jahbird said...

A Bust? You have your head up your ass...Portis is a top 30 back of all time, and one more 1000+ yard season puts him second to only Riggins in franchise RB numbers. Marcus Mason would have been another Lavar "Mr. Cant Get Right" Arrington. He was cut because he sucks at picking up the blitz, cant or wont play special teams, and doesnt have the intellect to master the offense. Let him run right and left for the offensively challenged ravens.

8-31-2008 @ 11:17AM

phillip said...

im starting to wonder if at this point in his career portis is over rated.yeah he had one outstanding season with the skins,but can he continue to produce? i only know he is injury prone and seems to be focused on other things in life like his alter egos which in my opinion indicates less of a sense of humor and more of a child like and over bearing mental state.but thats just me. JUST PLAY CLINTON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8-31-2008 @ 11:20AM

all i can say to that jerry is right on

8-31-2008 @ 2:09PM

acadian said...

so many stupid comments here. the point of him being cut is probably that he couldn't cut it out as a special teams player.

he never was competing for a running back roster spot, it was all about the special teams.

and yes, he will catch on with somebody else, but i have a feeling it will be on the practice squad, rather then on the rb depth charts