NFL FanHouse

Pocket Presence: JaMarcus Russell May Keep Starting Job in Oakland

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Browns, Panthers, Raiders, Redskins, Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

How would you feel if you were an ineffective starter who may only keep his job one more week because the backup is injured? Worse, what if you were so bad that you lost your job to a guy who was injured? Well, Oakland's JaMarcus Russell may be on the verge of finding out how that feels.

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

Russell has been nothing short of miserable this season, completing just 46 percent of his throws over his first nine starts. The Raiders are 2-7, have no playoff hope, and they stand just a mathematical chance of finishing even close to .500.

Things are so bad in Oakland that they're considering giving the start Sunday to Gradkowski, who has a career passer rating of 58.7 and threw two picks in just nine passes last week against Kansas City. Oh, and he's injured, battling a hamstring strain.

It's entirely conceivable that Russell could actually keep his job only because his backup is dinged up. It would be the perfect way to continue this amazing string of futility by the former No. 1 overall pick.
Status update: White-hot

Cleveland Browns: Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson

Quinn was awful Monday night, but let's face it: He didn't get any help. The Browns can't run the ball, they don't have any great playmakers on the perimeter, and they can't figure out ways to get their best player -- Joshua Cribbs -- the ball more often. Seven touches in 61 offensive plays doesn't seem like enough for Cribbs, especially when only one of those touches came on a reception.

The Browns have to solve that issue (assuming Cribbs is going to play after that nasty shot he took at the end of the game), and they have to convince Quinn that it's okay to throw a 40-yard bomb and give someone a chance to make a play -- even if the odds are against them. One thing should be clear by now, and that is that Anderson will only return if Quinn gets hurt. It would be a huge error for coach Eric Mangini to overreact and go back in that direction, though anything is possible.
Status update: Very warm

Buffalo Bills: Ryan Fitzpatrick and Trent Edwards

Perhaps a coaching change will turn the Bills around. On the other hand, the quarterback situation there seems to dictate that any coach will fail in Buffalo. Perry Fewell isn't going to magically make either of these guys any good, and he's not going to suddenly revamp a moribund offense into something passable. The Bills, despite their skill-position personnel, are a failure on that side of the ball. Fewell might rescue them from the abyss, but he's not going to get the offense averaging 25 points a game at the snap of a finger.

For now, it appears Fitzpatrick is the starter. That doesn't appear to be a bad call, given the situation and the competition he faces. However, Edwards could very easily end up playing again, as it's not like Fitzpatrick lit the world on fire while Edwards was out.
Status update: Very warm

Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme and Matt Moore
Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell and Todd Collins
Tennessee Titans: Vince Young and Kerry Collins

These guys are listed together because the starters are all playing pretty well right now after having been listed here earlier in the season. It doesn't mean they won't show up in the crosshairs again, but it looks like there are at least some teams who have answered questions at the quarterback position, whether it was by making a change or avoiding the great temptation to do so.

Pocket Presence: JaMarcus Russell May Keep Starting Job in Oakland originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Simms Flops, Broncos Lose Again

Chris Burke — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:10:00 EST

Filed under: Broncos, Redskins, NFL Injuries

Denver led Washington 17-14 when Chris Simms replaced Kyle Orton at quarterback, after Orton injured his ankle on the final offensive play of the first half. The Broncos picked up just three first downs the rest of the game, and the Redskins rallied for a 27-17 victory.

Simms, seeing his first meaningful action since suffering a serious spleen injury in 2006, completed just 3 of 13 passes and threw a very costly interception.

Denver has now lost three straight games since starting the season 6-0.

More: Check Box Score | Saints Stay Undefeated | Panthers Dump Falcons

With the clock winding down in the first half, Orton took off scrambling on a pass play deep in Washington territory. Redskins rookie Brian Orakpo hauled Orton down, and Denver's QB came up limping. He came back out with his team after halftime, and stood on the Denver sideline in full gear, but never reentered the game.

"I was hoping to come back out, and I just wasn't able to," said Orton, who hit on 11 of 18 passes for 183 yards before the injury.

Denver's first third quarter series started off well enough -- running back Knowshon Moreno broke off a couple of nice runs, Simms hit Brandon Marshall for a first down at the Redskins' 48, and it looked briefly like the Broncos might not miss a beat without Orton.

But three straight Simms incompletions killed that drive, and the Broncos went three-and-out on their next possession. After Washington tied the game at 17, Simms then made his worst mistake of the day. With Denver enjoying a 1st-and-10 at the Redskins 46, Simms tried to connect with Brandon Marshall -- who caught two long TDs from Orton earlier -- on a bomb. Instead, Simms horribly overthrew the pass, and it was intercepted by DeAngelo Hall.

Washington took the subsequent possession 60 yards for a go-ahead touchdown.

Simms had thrown just two passes -- late in Week 17 last season for the Titans -- after having his spleen removed in an emergency procedure back in September 2006. Simms, then with Tampa Bay, took a hard hit in the second quarter of a 26-24 loss to Carolina, but played the remainder of the game. Afterward, he was taken to the hospital, where he underwent surgery.

Despite being on Tampa Bay's roster through 2007, Simms never played another snap for the Bucs.

In Simms' defense, Washington manhandled both Denver lines in the second half. Simms found himself under constant pressure -- he was sacked three times and chased from the pocket frequently -- while the Redskins rolled up 174 yards rushing, despite the absence of starting running back Clinton Portis.

Denver hosts San Diego next Sunday in a huge AFC West showdown. Orton was reportedly on crutches following the game, and his status for Week 11 is unclear.

"We'll see what happens with Kyle. If I get a full week of reps in practice under my belt, I'll be able to go next Sunday," Simms said.

Chris Simms Flops, Broncos Lose Again originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hunter Smith, Redskins Punter, Throws TD Pass for Second Score This Year

Will Brinson — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Video

The Washington Redskins don't have much going well for them this season (see: the current state of stadium signage). But, they have at least had a few bright moments on the year -- including wins over Tampa Bay and St. Louis!

Or, if you want to be less sarcastic, the awesomeness that is Hunter Smith, punter, scoring touchdowns on fake kicks.

Sunday, as the 'Skins struggled against comprehending football and/or guarding Brandon Marshall, Smith was the bright spot again, taking a fake field goal and heaving it for a TD pass. I might add it was a pretty freaking awesome pass, too. Scope the vid, via Fansided, after the jump.

Redskins 27, Broncos 17: Recap | Box | Full NFL Scoreboard

"It's not the element of surprise we were going for," said Smith, who practiced the play only three times because a groin injury kept him out. "We had a strategy. We were trying to scheme against them, and it worked.

"There was a moment when you stand up and you're in shotgun and you kind of look at the defense, and you go, 'Wow, I haven't seen this in about 12 to 14 years.' "

The 'Skins went on to beat the Broncos, 27-17, for their third win of the year.

Hunter Smith, Redskins Punter, Throws TD Pass for Second Score This Year originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redskins Reverse Stadium Sign Policy

Will Brinson — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:56:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Fans

Dan Snyder, in making absolutely sure that no one was aware how horrible a job he was doing with the Redskins, recently banned signs from FedEx Field under the pretense of "safety." Local media -- particularly Dan Steinberg -- and fans were outraged (the latter so mad they even drove to Atlanta to protest) ... and rightly so.

It appears now, too, that their effort was worth it -- Snyder and the Redskins announced today that they were reversing the sign policy at FedEx Field.

"We have no intention of trying to control our fans' varied ways of expressing their views on the Redskins organization and the team's performance," said David Donovan, the team's Chief Operating Officer, who has overall responsibility for the stadium.

"We've disappointed our fans so far this season, and I'm as disappointed as they are," said team Owner Daniel M. Snyder. "I understand that some fans want to express their feelings with signs and they should do so, as long as they stay within the boundaries of good taste and don't block the view of other fans."

Of course, it's unlikely you'll see many signs today; the Redskins released the news at approximately 10:30 Sunday morning, just a scant 2 1/2 hours before kickoff against Denver -- given the proximity of the stadium to D.C. and the propensity of 'Skins fans to tailgate, well, yeah, it'll be a signless game except for the folks that thought to bring markers and posters out in their cars.

Additionally, there's two more pseudo-sneaky issues involved here: first, the 'Skins are on the road the following two weeks before returning home for a game against New Orleans, at which time most fans probably will have lost the will to actually be creative. And secondly, the signs must be "within the boundaries of good taste" and not "block the view of other fans." Something tells me anything really nasty about Snyder won't be considered in good taste.

Still, it's at least somewhat refreshing to see Snyder take responsibility as owner and actually admit that Washington's football team is a total embarrassment.

Redskins Reverse Stadium Sign Policy originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:56:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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At Least Two Redskins Fined for Melee

Matt Snyder — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East

In light of a brief brawl that broke out Sunday on the Atlanta sideline between a few Redskins and what seemed to be a large group of Falcons -- whom were protecting their quarterback who had just been hit late -- it is no surprise that some fines have been handed out.

Jason Reid of the Washington Post has learned that both Albert Haynesworth and LaRon Landry have been fined for their roles in the skirmish. He's also reporting that Landry -- who was fined for starting the issue with his hit on an out-of-bounds Matt Ryan -- plans to appeal the decision.

The incident itself seems to have brought on a bit of a divide in the Redskins' locker room. DeAngelo Hall, who was right in the middle of the melee is and likely to be fined as well, took issue with so few of his teammates getting involved.

"I can't speak for those other guys that's out there on the field, but whoever's out there with me, I'm ready to go to battle for 'em," Hall said on "The Lavar Arrington Show" on 106.7 The Fan. "That's just how I am, whether it's a verbal sparring or a physical sparring, I'm always ready to mix it up. And to see those guys kind of linger over there, yeah, I don't know what was going through their minds."

Haynesworth apparently agrees.

"That's my teammate. I'm not going to let my teammate get jumped or beat up or anything like that," Haynesworth said today. He cracked a smile and continued: "I mean, [Atlanta coach] Mike Smith did have him pinned up over there. I can't let the old man beat up my cornerback, so I had to go over there and save him."

On the other hand, not many guys in the league make as much money as Haynesworth. Defensive end Phillip Daniels doesn't, and he was one of the guys who didn't go get involved.

"The fewer guys over there the better. I really feel that way," Daniels continued. "I know D-Hall wanted the guys to come support him and everything, but you have to look at the whole picture. They say if you go over there you could get kicked out of the game or get fined. Of course, he explained what happened. I was on the sidelines, so I wasn't going to come over there. Albert came over and helped out. It really wasn't about that. It was about getting off the sideline. I saw their coaches putting their hands on our guys. You put your hands on your own guys.

"I'm just glad it didn't escalate into something bigger. If more guys would've went over there, it would've," Daniels said.

Both Daniels and Haynesworth have legitimate points. Sure, Atlanta had every reason to be upset about Landry's hit, but it wasn't so egregious that they needed to have coaches in the middle of a fight over it. The flag -- which was correctly thrown by the officials -- was all they needed. Ryan got up unscathed. Instead, Smith and a few other coaches were right in the middle of what easily could have become a full-scale brawl. It's hard to blame Haynesworth for standing up for his teammate and it's equally hard to blame the Redskins who weren't in the game for not sprinting all the way across the field, which would have surely resulted in harsh penalties.

No word yet on any possible Atlanta fines, though Smith is expected to take a hit to the wallet.

At Least Two Redskins Fined for Melee originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pocket Presence: Browns Complete Quarterback Cycle

Bruce Ciskie — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: 49ers, Browns, Raiders, Redskins, Titans, NFL Quarterbacks

It's often said that a team with two quarterbacks really doesn't have any. With that spirit in mind, FanHouse will keep you updated weekly on NFL teams facing potential quarterback controversies.

After weeks of embarrassing, historic, and somewhat hysterical futility under the guidance of Derek Anderson, the Cleveland Browns have finally completed their quarterback cycle.

Cleveland Browns: Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson

Quinn gets the start Monday night, as the Browns host Baltimore. He has virtually no shot at contractual incentives now that Anderson has started so much of the season, so Quinn is just playing for the job now. Yes, the Browns are horrible, but there is still significance to these games. Cleveland is not a playoff team, but it needs to figure out what it have in Quinn, and whether or not he can be the Browns' guy moving forward.

Baltimore is probably not the best opponent for him to face in his first start back, but the Ravens aren't quite as dangerous on defense as they used to be. Quinn is likely to face a solid assortment of blitz and coverage packages, so we'll find out quickly if he has a chance to make things work.

He sure didn't play very well over his first three starts this season, but he didn't get a lot of help either, and he still managed to be far superior to Anderson.

Now that the Browns have gone full-circle this season, it's up to Quinn to show head coach Eric Mangini enough to retain the gig for the last eight games.

Status update: Very warm

Oakland Raiders: JaMarcus Russell and Bruce Gradkowski

As the Raiders come off their bye week, it will be interesting to see how much rope head coach Tom Cable gives Russell. At 2-6, there's no question the Raiders qualify as one of the truly bad teams in the NFL. They don't have anything to lose at this point, so why stick with Russell just because he makes a lot of money?

Gradkowski may not be anything special, but it's hard to imagine he leaves the team in a worse position than Russell has. When the Raiders host Kansas City this Sunday, it's one of the rare times they'll have a better record than their opponent. If Russell can't figure out a way to keep them in the game, look out.

Status update: Warm

San Francisco 49ers: Alex Smith and Shaun Hill

Smith got his second start of the season against Tennessee Sunday, and he did a respectable job. He showed a willingness to throw downfield more, which was needed in an offense that had become somewhat stagnant in recent weeks.

Where Smith showed the most need for improvement was in ball security. He threw three picks in the loss, and spent a bit too much time locking down on receivers, a huge no-no in the NFL. Smith did enough in these last two losses, though, to keep himself secure. Of course, if he continues to struggle with turnovers, coach Mike Singletary may be forced to do something.

Status update: Warm

Washington Redskins: Jason Campbell and Todd Collins

No, Campbell didn't come out of the game at Atlanta because he stunk -- even though he did stink. Again.

Instead, Campbell was banged up by the Falcons' pass rush, and Collins took over for a time, throwing five passes (completing four) for 12 yards.

Even though the Redskins are well on their way to the tank, it's hard to imagine they'd make this move. Were Collins a promising quarterback for the future, they'd do it almost immediately. Instead, he's on the downside of his career, and there's no point in benching Campbell, because it's not like Collins is good enough to lift this team back into contention.

Status update: Cool

Tennessee Titans: Vince Young and Kerry Collins

Young has been very good over his two starts. He's made pretty good decisions, thrown much more effectively than he did last year, and it seems the Titans have rallied around him.

Barring injury, the job has to be his from here on in.

Status update: Cool

Pocket Presence: Browns Complete Quarterback Cycle originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Larry Johnson Not Going to Washington

Matt Snyder — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East, NFL Free Agency, NFL Rumors

In the days since his release, speculation has been rampant as to where former Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson would eventually end up. Almost immediately, the Washington Redskins were a hot rumor. The shoe fit because Dan Snyder likes signing big names -- even if they are washed up has-beens -- and starting running back Clinton Portis recently went down with a concussion.

Wednesday, though, head coach Jim Zorn ruled out the possibility of the 'Skins bringing in the maligned veteran from Penn State.

Considering this is a guy who once cried because Dick Vermeil yelled at him, you have to wonder about Johnson's psyche about now. Remember, Tuesday he cleared through waivers as not one single team placed a claim on him. Of course, as with everything else that's ever "happened to" Johnson, I'm sure it's not his fault. Nothing ever is.

It's entirely possible this could be a Cedric Benson-like wake-up call for Johnson, but the circumstances are much different. Johnson turns 30 a week from Thursday, which is over the hill for running backs (just ask LaDainian Tomlinson). Benson is much younger and had never carried a full load for an entire season. Johnson had an outrageous 416-carry campaign back in 2006, which seems to have worn his body down for good (he's been either injured or unproductive since).

Someone is bound, eventually, to take a shot at the disgruntled back -- who had back-to-back 1,700-yard rushing seasons in 2005-2006 -- but it's not going to be the Redskins. They appear content to use Ladell Betts in place of Portis for the next week or two until CP26 returns.

Larry Johnson Not Going to Washington originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zebra Report: Know Your Surroundings

Matt Snyder — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Chargers, Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Panthers, Raiders, Redskins, Saints, Texans, NFL Referees

Zebra Report is FanHouse's analysis of actual NFL rules and how they are to be applied ... because most fans think they could do a better job than the NFL officials, yet definitely could not. Click here for an introduction as to how we do things.

This past week of NFL play was relatively quiet in terms of complaints about the officiating. Note I said "relatively," because there are always a bevy of complaints -- many warranted and many ridiculously unwarranted. We know that. Regardless, we're still here to sift through some of the more intriguing rules-type interpretations, so let's dive in.

- A loyal reader (Dave B.) submitted this question on a play that caused a bit of a scrap on the Falcons' sideline:

"I was hoping you might take a look at the late hit by LaRon Landry in the 'Skins-Falcons game. I've tried to look at it, and it seems that Matt Ryan hadn't stepped out of bounds yet (his body was over the line, but neither of his feet had touched) when Landry made contact with him. If that were true, isn't Ryan still technically in bounds? The hit did seem pretty unnecessary, but wasn't against the rules if Ryan's foot hadn't touched yet."

Watch the play in this highlight package, it starts at the 1:09 mark.

This is one of the tougher judgment calls officials have to make, especially in full-speed and in a split-second. Here is the portion of the rule (12-2-8, p. 82) which applies here.

"(Unnecessary roughness includes ... ) contacting a runner out of bounds. Defensive players must make an effort to avoid contact. Players on defense are responsible for knowing when a runner has crossed the boundary line, except in doubtful cases where he might step on a boundary line and continue parallel with it."

This is a part of the rules constantly taught to lower-level officials in clinics by the NFL guys. At every level, it is the responsibility of the defender to avoid contact on a player entering the end zone is clearly going out of bounds. In the case of Ryan, there was no danger of him cutting back into the field of play. When someone is slowing down and clearly looking straight out of bounds and heading that way, the defenders need to avoid contact. He's not cutting back and staying in bounds, so just let him run out. It harms no one.

This call becomes extremely tough when a player isn't necessarily showing signs of wanting to go out and may still make a cut up-field. It's all discretionary, but the rules of football are very clear in that the burden is on the defensive player to know his surroundings.

In this specific case, I don't even think there's a question that Ryan was clearly headed straight out of bounds -- and was already there -- by the time Landry hit him.

- In the Colts-Texans game, Ryan Moats is tackled just shy of the end zone and the ball comes loose. Upon further review the officials rule that it was a fumble and the ball was never out of bounds. You can watch the play by clicking here and watching at the 35-second mark and beyond. There are several elements here that must be reviewed.

First of all, was it a fumble? It does appear the ball is coming loose before a knee hits the ground. Was it conclusive? I think so, but others may have a different opinion.

Secondly, was any player out of bounds when touching the ball -- even if he doesn't have possession? If so, the ball is dead. You might think the ball was definitely touching Moats when he was out of bounds, but was he legally out of bounds? I point you to the definition of being out of bounds (rule 3-21, p. 11), where it says that someone -- or the ball -- is out of bounds when touching "anything other than a player, an official or a pylon on or outside the boundary line." That means that, since Moats was laying on top of Antoine Bethea, he was not out of bounds when he crossed the sideline.

From the Texans' point of view, they don't seem to be questioning the part about Moats being out (though that's the main complaint of fans). They have offered up that they believe Bethea -- who was definitely on the ground and out of bounds -- touched the ball. There are some still photos and an argument that Bethea touched the ball when he was out of bounds contained in this linked article. We've included a poll to let us know what you think, and feel free to drop comments. This was a very close one.

- As I've said before, you can't exactly trust announcers to know the rules. We can add former-Super-Bowl-champion-coaches-turned-announcers to that list. During the fourth quarter, the Saints punted the ball near their own end zone. A member of the Saints' coverage team accidentally ran into the end zone, but got himself back out before touching the ball. It was downed on the one. "He can't be the first one to touch that!" Brian Billick screamed. Um, Brian, yes he can. It's not the sideline. Here is the only stipulation involving coverage team contact with the goal line on a punt (rule 9-2-2, p. 63):

Item 2: If a player of the kicking team touches the goal line with any part of his body while touching the ball, the ball is dead, and the result of the play is a touchback.

He doesn't even have to get both feet established, as play-by-play announcer Thom Brennaman tried to tell Billick. Just don't be touching the goal line with anything.

- Reader James G. submitted this question. In the Raiders-Chargers Week 8 game, there was a questionable play followed by a false start. After the five-yard penalty was marked off, there ended up being a challenge. The simple answer to the question, "how can you challenge the previous play after a false start" is precisely that a false start doesn't constitute an actual play. It's not a play. So there still hasn't been a play run since the questionable (and still reviewable) play. Of course, James didn't make it easy on me. He asked a legitimate question as a follow up. What if the play is reversed and the spot is changed? Would the false start still be assessed? I searched through the entire enforcement and instant replay sections of the rulebook and found absolutely nothing resembling direction on this question. I have no idea. I would guess that the penalty is not assessed and is simply ignored because they altered the previous result, but that's just an educated guess. Well, as educated as you consider me, at least.

- Vikings fans/Steelers haters, there was a tripping call on Arizona in the Bears-Cardinals game for the exact same action as was called on Minnesota in Pittsburgh a few weeks back. Seriously, it was like the lineman was trying to emulate Jeff Dugan by whipping both legs back up at the leaping defender. What happened there? Was this game fixed, too? Are the Bears "stealers," too?

- Finally, in that same game, Tommie Harris was ejected for punching a Cardinals lineman in the first quarter. This was an absolute no-brainer. Good decision by Ed Hochuli.

Got a rules-related question? Whether it's elementary, high school or NFL, email TZR and he'll see what he can do.

Zebra Report: Know Your Surroundings originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Larry Johnson Released, Redskins Already Expressing Interest

Will Brinson — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST

Filed under: Chiefs, Redskins, NFL Rumors, NFL Analysis

Larry Johnson had been a free agent for all of a few hours Monday when it was reported that the Washington Redskins might have some interest in signing the ex-Chief.

Which, really, shouldn't come as a surprise -- mainly because Clinton Portis is injured with a concussion and considered questionable for Sunday's game ... actually, you know what? Check that -- the Redskins are interested in Johnson because he's a big name, he's available on the market and signing him would generate some "buzz," which is something that Dan Snyder is quite fond of.

More Coverage: Chiefs Cut Johnson

Of course, there's no guaranteed that the Skins will ink L.J., but they've obviously been talking about, as noted by the Washington Post's Redskins Insider Jason Reid, who spoke with head coach Jim Zorn following practice Monday.

Zorn said the team will likely sign a running back if Portis can't play -- he specifically mention Quinton Ganther, whom the team released last Friday. As for Johnson, "I don't know," Zorn said.

"I need to have a longer conversation than I've had to make a decision," Zorn said.

Haha -- it's kind of amusing that Zorn still thinks he's in charge of whether or not Washington will sign a certain player. That aside, though, would it be really surprising at all if Washington went after LJ? Absolutely not.

In fact, the only thing that would be more surprising was if the Skins managed to pursue Johnson without a) angering the fans and b) making a giant public debacle out of the whole thing. But both of things will happen, the Skins will likely end up signing Johnson and he'll probably underperform in Washington for a few games before doing something that really makes everyone happy. Like start Tweeting again.

Larry Johnson Released, Redskins Already Expressing Interest originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DeAngelo Hall Accuses Falcons Assistant Of Throwing Punches

Knox Bardeen — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:48:00 EST

Filed under: Atlanta Falcons, Redskins, NFC East, NFC South

ATLANTA -- When the NFL schedule came out at the beginning of the year, the Washington Redskins game at the Atlanta Falcons wasn't necessarily a matchup you expected to be volatile. But DeAngelo Hall sure did.

Hall, who spent the first four seasons of his career playing in Atlanta, did a lot of trash-talking this week. He claimed that Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff lied to him on multiple occasions regarding roster issues, and he dared the Falcons to make him a target this week -- since he knew they probably would anyway.

Was there any doubt that if a skirmish broke out between the two teams that Hall would be involved?

That's exactly what happened. Late in the first half, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was hit after going out of bounds on the Falcons sideline and a melee ensued. The result was a 15-yard penalty against Washington and a lot of pushing and shoving. According to Hall, a Falcons coach even threw punches.

Hall said Atlanta strength coach Jeff Fish took a swing at him: "As a strength coach you going to come in and get [expletive] licks in?"

Hall even added that Atlanta head coach Mike Smith was among the Atlanta coaches who were grabbing at him on the Falcons' sideline. "I was trying to get [Redskins safety] LaRon Landry out of there, and guys started coming at me," Hall said. "Guys on their coaching staff, and not in a mindset to break up a fight."

Hall said he plans to file a complaint with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about the sideline incident, "I'm going to go to Goodell and try to nip this thing in the bud."

Smith had a different take on the incident.

"Our quarterback was hit late, there was a skirmish, and all I was trying to do was restore order," Smith said.

When asked if he got into Hall's face, Smith said, "There were a bunch of guys on that sideline. Some of them were wearing black helmets and some of them were wearing maroon helmets. I can't tell you anything more about it because it was very, very hectic on that sideline."

Smith squashed any further questions by saying, "I can't tell you who was on that sideline. All I can tell you is that I was trying to restore order."

DeAngelo Hall Accuses Falcons Assistant Of Throwing Punches originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Concussion Sidelines Clinton Portis

Chris Burke — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:35:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Injuries

As if the slumping Redskins needed any more bad news, running back Clinton Portis left Washington's game in the first quarter after suffering a concussion.

Portis took a couple of hard shots on a running play, with Atlanta's Chevis Jackson and Thomas DeCoud each landing blows -- at least one of which appeared to be helmet-to-helmet. No penalty was called on the play.

Portis stayed down on the field at the end of the play, then walked unsteadily to the sideline. He sat on the Redskins' sideline with a towel over his head while backup running back Ladell Betts replaced him. Jason Campbell threw an interception on the next play that was returned by the Falcons' Tye Hill for a touchdown.

More: Redskins Fall in Atlanta | Bengals' Chris Henry Breaks Forearm

Portis finished the day with just four yards on four carries.

There was no immediate word about the severity of Portis' concussion, though he did appear to remain conscious and stayed on the Redskins' bench for the remainder of the first half.

Earlier Sunday, news broke that Philadelphia running back Brian Westbrook would likely miss his second straight game with post-concussion symptoms. Westbrook suffered a Grade 3 concussion in a Week 7 Monday night win at Washington.

Washington quarterback Jason Campbell also had to leave Sunday's game late in the first half with a chest contusion -- an injury that occurred on Atlanta's fifth sack of the game. Todd Collins replaced him for one play, but Campbell returned after halftime. Collins subbed in for Campbell again in the second half after Campbell appeared to roll his ankle.

Concussion Sidelines Clinton Portis originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:35:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Greg Blache Defends Daniel Snyder

Matt Snyder — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:10:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East

Former Redskins player John Riggins has been increasingly critical of current Redskins owner Dan Snyder over the course of the 2009 season. Most recently he took to Showtime's Inside the NFL to air his grievances against Snyder and the Redskins.

Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache, who apparently is an ardent Snyder supporter, took some serious issue with Riggins and his constant criticism. So serious an issue, in fact, that the Redskins sent out an incredibly lengthy press release courtesy of Blache early Thursday afternoon.

Some highlights:

- On why he felt compelled to defend Snyder -- "This is a man I've known for six years, since I've been here. And in the six years, I've never seen John Riggins here. I met him once at the Beach Blitz down in Virginia Beach - never seen him in the building. So, to hear such a vicious criticism of somebody I consider not just my employer, but a good friend, bothered me."

- On whether or not Snyder has a "dark heart" -- "The problem is the fans don't get to know Mr. Snyder like we do. They get an impression from things that are written and from things that people say. Let me just tell you something, for a person that's been here for six years, that's gone to him for things that I needed in my family - there's times he's come to me when he's heard about issues in my family and offered his assistance - is unsurpassed. He's one of the most generous, kind individuals you'll ever meet.

"My wife and I are involved in Hospice and there've been countless times he's come and helped us with issues and stuff with Hospice. To see that and get the feeling that that's what everyone on the outside is hearing about this person, I decided it was time to come and set the record straight. It's enough. It really is. We've had criticisms from people outside the building saying who Dan Snyder is and who is isn't. They don't know Dan Snyder and that's the problem."

- And, more on why Blache felt compelled to defend Snyder so adamantly -- "I just felt like it was time for somebody to come and throw a little truth out there. We keep hearing these other sides, these other factions, and to be quite candid, the third side - the truth - is that this person, all he wants to do is win. That's all he wants to do. He will spend his money, he will spend his time, he wants to win, he is here for the people, for the fans, for the Washington Redskins. Nobody pains more when we are unsuccessful than Dan Snyder. There is nobody that cares more about the fans than Dan Snyder. There is nobody that wants to win here, more than Dan Snyder. I just think that its time to put out there, for you guys to understand, that everything that is wrong with this organization is not Dan Snyder."

So, to sum things up, Blache really feels like Snyder -- his boss, mind you -- isn't getting a fair shake in the eyes of the fans and the general public. Hearing Riggins' constant public scrutinizing of Snyder seemed to have struck a chord with Blache, so he decided to send out an 800-word press release in defense of the maligned owner.

So, is Snyder really the humanitarian Blache makes him out to be, or is Blache just trying to ensure he keeps his job for the rest of the his life?

As with most discussions like this, the answer probably lies somewhere in the middle.

Greg Blache Defends Daniel Snyder originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dan Snyder 'Sorry' for Redskins' Fans

Matt Snyder — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:51:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East

In what has been an incredibly disappointing 2009 campaign, to this point, maligned Redskins owner Daniel Snyder had been noticeably quiet. This movement was pretty shocking because, in the past, Snyder has been a relatively vocal and hands-on owner. His silence opened the door for all kinds of theories as to why he wasn't talking and what he may have been planning.

Tuesday, he finally said a few words about his 2-5 'Skins, who -- in addition to having to climb out of a crater-sized hole in the NFC East -- face a much tougher schedule than they've already played. He managed to come off sounding like a caring and remorseful owner.

"I think, number one, I feel bad for the fans," Snyder said. "I feel sorry for the fans. We're very, very appreciative of our great, loyal fan base. And I'm understanding. I mean, we just feel terrible. We're disappointed and we're embarrassed. And we hope to get it going soon."

Asked how the team's struggles have impacted him personally, Snyder replied: "It hurts. I mean, it really hurts. We are really trying very, very hard. Everyone at Redskins Park--the coaches, the players, the organization--quite frankly has held up well. I think we have an opportunity the rest of the season to hopefully get it going.

"But to date we have let everyone down, including ourselves. We know that. We're just apologetic. We've blown some games that obviously we think we should have won."

I'm not sure many fans will be ready to accept Mr. Snyder's apology, judging from the ample venom we see in his direction on any Redskins' message or comment board. Though Vinny Cerrato, Jason Campbell and Jim Zorn all seem to share some of the blame among the general public, Snyder is still usually front-and-center when it comes to discussing the problems of this once-great franchise.

To Snyder's credit, in the present tense, he sounds contrite and determined to turn things around. It is possible for people to change after reflecting upon their past indiscretions. He'll have to do a lot more to prove himself, if this is indeed a new Dan Snyder, but it could be a start.

As for the 2009 team, you'll note Snyder said they hope to "get it going." Their only two wins are against two of the worst teams in football and three of their losses are against teams with losing records. The rest of the way, eight of the Redskins' nine upcoming opponents currently have a winning record.

Thus, they better have fixed a lot during the bye week.

Dan Snyder 'Sorry' for Redskins' Fans originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:51:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dirty Dozen: Redskins Keep Sinking

Dave Goldberg — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:15:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Analysis

The Washington Redskins aren't the worst team in the NFL, but they're certainly the most chaotic. And the most disdainful of their paying customers.

They flounder on the field and they flounder off it -- especially off it, where owner Daniel Snyder, a self-absorbed billionaire who views his employees as pawns to be manipulated and eventually discarded, is loathed now by fans who are among the most loyal in sports.

Consider this tweet Tuesday night from a fan who calls himself @kn0nothing: "Had to sneak in our Sean Taylor memorial banner last 3 games.''

Why? Because Snyder and his minions have banned banners, many of which were uncomplimentary to them and their 2-5 team.

Kevin Blackistone: Snyder Running a Repressive Regime

Redskins general counsel David Donahue then went on the radio show of Washington Post columnist Mike Wise and said the reason was not the critical comments, but complaints from fans that the signs blocked their view or that they got hit in the head by same.

Oh.

"Over the past 24 hours, I've gotten dozens and dozens of e-mails and other messages expressing outrage about this new policy,'' wrote Dan Steinberg on the Post's DC Sports Bog. "In the past four years, I believe I've gotten zero messages from fans of any local team complaining about obstructed views due to signs and zero messages from any fans of any local team complaining about being poked in the head by signs.''

Nor presumably any messages about NOT honoring the memory of Sean Taylor.

It's one thing to put a bad product on the field or court. Plenty of teams in all sports do that -- in most cases because the owner/front office don't get it. I've rooted all my life for the New York Knicks, but I'm apathetic now, made that way by embarrassing behavior off the court and a front office whose forlorn hope is that LeBron James, Dwyane Wade or some other superstar will take its money and come running next season to play in the big city and turn around the franchise.

Snyderesque..

But this is about football.

In a year in which there are a plethora of bad teams, the Dirty Dozen this week goes from the bottom up. The Skins are at the bottom for their combination of on-field ineptitude and off-field callousness. Unfortunately, it will remain that way until Snyder either withdraws into the background or goes away.

32. Washington (2-5): The defense actually is pretty good, fifth in the NFL in yards allowed at 283 a game. But the offense is a mess, compounded by the demotion of coach Jim Zorn while Sherman Lewis, brought in from calling Michigan bingo games, calls the plays. Actually, I respect Lewis. Fifteen years ago, he was a legitimate head-coaching candidate, a respected coordinator for Mike Holmgren's Packers, whose skin color in those pre-Rooney rule days might have cost him a better job.

And here's a head scratcher: Vinny Cerrato, Snyder's lackey and nominal GM, said this week that the Skins actually expected to be 3-3 going into Monday night's game with the Eagles. That presupposes that he expected them to lose either to Kansas City or Detroit, two games that Redskins fans had tallied as wins when the season began -- conventional wisdom was they'd be 5-1, losing to the Giants on opening day, then beating the Rams, Lions, Bucs, Panthers and Chiefs.

Solve it? Hire a real football person Dan and go back to firing "nonessential" personnel.

31. St. Louis (0-7): Probably the least talent in the NFL. Since we're on the Redskins theme, their closest game was at FedEx Field, a 9-7 loss in Week 2. Zorn almost gave them that one.

30. Tampa Bay (0-7): Jon Gruden and Bruce Allen left the cupboard pretty bare for Raheem Morris. He cleaned it out even more.

29. Cleveland (1-6): Cleveland fans might want to blame Art Modell. The old Browns in Baltimore are 117-108-1 since opening shop as the Ravens. The new Browns are 54-113 since returning in 1999.

28. Detroit (1-5): After 0-16, fans in Detroit are just grateful for the "1" -- courtesy of Washington, of course.

27. Oakland (2-5): How did the Raiders beat the Eagles between losses to both New York teams by a combined 82-7? Sure has Richard Seymour confused.

26. Kansas City (1-6): The Chiefs should have told Larry Johnson to go away before the season. He's been trouble off the field and no longer much good on it. They might even have gotten something for him.

25. Tennessee (0-6): This has to be a one-year aberration doesn't it? The organization and coaching has been solid for 15 years. Although Chuck Cecil as the replacement for Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator hasn't exactly worked out.

24. Carolina (2-4): Maybe things would be better if the Panthers hadn't taken Dwayne Jarrett in the second round of the 2007 draft instead of his Southern Cal teammate, Steve Smith. Maybe someone thought it would confuse the fans. Jarrett has 19 career catches for 218 yards; the "other'' Steve Smith has 110 for 1,231 with the Giants and would be the perfect compliment for his complaining Carolina namesake.

23. Chicago (3-3): Kyle Orton AND high draft picks for Jay Cutler?

22. Jacksonville (3-3): Maybe the Jags shouldn't have fired Tom Coughlin way back when. Except Tom was no good at being a ticket salesman.

21. Buffalo (3-4): Two straight wins with Ryan Fitzpatrick at quarterback? Probably not a trend that will last.

Dirty Dozen: Redskins Keep Sinking originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redskins: Joe Gibbs Not Returning, TE Chris Cooley Could

Thomas George — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:03:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins

There was a Joe Gibbs sighting at a restaurant near the Washington Redskins complex on Tuesday that fueled more speculation that Gibbs might soon take an official role with the team.

Redskins general manager Vinny Cerrato said that was not happening.

"Joe has a place in the area," Cerrato said. "He remains a friend of the Redskins. But no, he was not here today as part of something where he is coming aboard. Joe is too busy for that. He is not coming back."

Cerrato reaffirmed that coach Jim Zorn will remain coach for the rest of the season. Cerrato said of Washington's 27-17 loss at home to Philadelphia on Monday night: "We had some turnovers that hurt us and mistakes that cost us. But I thought the defense played hard and the offense took some good steps with Sherman Lewis calling the plays. We have a bye this week and we're hoping that can help us continue to take inventory on ways to improve this season."

Cerrato also confirmed that tight end Chris Cooley's broken bone in his right ankle could heal soon enough for Cooley's return in a month or less. The injury was considered season-ending when it occurred on Monday night.

"There is some good news in there after all," Cerrato said.

Redskins: Joe Gibbs Not Returning, TE Chris Cooley Could originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Washington Redskins' Chris Cooley May Miss Just 4 Weeks

Michael David Smith — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:53:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins

Washington Redskins tight end Chris Cooley was initially thought to be out for the season after he was carted off the field during Monday night's loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. But now the Redskins appear to have something that has been sorely missing this season: Good news.

Adam Schefter of ESPN tweeted Tuesday (via PFT) that a foot specialist said Cooley's fractured ankle is not as bad as initially thought, and that he may play again in just four weeks. So the Redskins could have one of their top players back around Thanksgiving.

Of course, the Redskins are 2-5 after going through one of the easiest early schedules in NFL history, and considering how much harder their schedule is over their final nine games, they likely will be eliminated from playoff contention by Thanksgiving. That raises the question of whether they ought to just put Cooley on injured reserve anyway, rather than have him rush back to play out the string.

Still, the mere thought that Cooley could play again this year is a tiny thing for Redskins fans to be happy about. There's not much else to choose from.

Washington Redskins' Chris Cooley May Miss Just 4 Weeks originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:53:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redskins' Effort a Troubling Sign

Chris Burke — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:40:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Analysis

Compared to their losses to Detroit, Carolina and Kansas City, the Redskins' 27-17 defeat at the hands of the Eagles doesn't look half bad. It might wind up being the fiasco against Philadelphia, though, that convinces Washington's higher-ups to make some changes.

Monday night, in front of a national-TV audience, Washington simply went through the motions. Physical mistakes, lack of talent, bad breaks -- those are all forgivable. Half-hearted efforts aren't, especially when a team is playing for an embattled head coach. And the Redskins, now 2-5 on the season, are fooling themselves if they think they gave all they could against the Eagles.

"You can say but so much," said Albert Haynesworth, the team's $100 million offseason addition. "You've got to actually want to. So once we get to that point -- where we want to do something -- then we'll do something. But if we just keep going our separate ways, then we'll just keep getting slaughtered like we have."

As has often been the case in Washington this season, there was plenty of blame to go around Monday.

Quarterback Jason Campbell, despite some strong overall stats (29 of 43 for 283 yards and two touchdowns), struggled to get his team in the end zone until it was too late, and committed two bad turnovers that led to 10 Philadelphia points -- the eventual margin of victory, for the record.

The Redskins' banged-up offensive line was miserable again, leaving Campbell at Philadelphia's mercy all night. The Eagles recorded six sacks and held Washington to 62 yards rushing.

Even the Washington defense isn't immune to criticism, despite playing relatively solid. For the most part, the D slowed Donovan McNabb and the Eagles. But with Washington needing to get off to a good start, the Redskins also allowed a 67-yard DeSean Jackson touchdown on the game's fourth play. Then later, with Washington still within striking distance at 20-7, the defense allowed Jackson to get wide open on a 3rd-and-22 for a killer 57-yard touchdown.

All of that pales in comparison, however, to the overall picture Monday. By the time Washington's first possession was over, with the Eagles up 7-0, you got the sense that the game was over. There was no fire, no emotion from the Redskins' sideline. Even ESPN commentator Ron Jaworski noted, on multiple occasions, that Washington looked like a team with no sense of urgency.

And the blame for that level of lackadaisical involvement, fair or not, falls on head coach Jim Zorn. This script has played out time and time again in the sports world -- franchises stick with struggling coaches for as long as their teams are playing hard. As soon as that effort ceases, though ... well, that's often the end of the line.

"I have no idea, no idea," cornerback DeAngelo Hall said after the game, according to the Washington Post, when asked what Washington needed to change. "Different day, same results."

Those similar results include Washington's offensive output. Despite stripping Zorn of play-calling duties in favor of Sherm Lewis, the Redskins mustered just 17 points -- including a garbage-time touchdown by Fred Davis in the final two minutes of the game. Through seven games, Washington has yet to top that 17-point plateau.

"Well, the result was the same. We got 17 points," Zorn said. "It was difficult for me. It was difficult to stand and watch. The hard part is to keep your mouth shut."

It's not hard to see why Washington's adrift at the moment -- beyond being in last place in the competitive NFC East, they're dealing with several injuries (now including Chris Cooley's broken ankle) and trying to rally behind a head coach that has less power over game-day decisions than maybe any other coach in the league. The Redskins are a team without a direction at the moment, and the lack of leadership was front and center against Philadelphia.

"Guys got to understand the game plan," defensive lineman Cornelius Griffin told the Post. "Doesn't matter who calls the plays, doesn't matter what's called. You got to block somebody. You got to move somebody off the line of scrimmage -- on both sides of the ball."

Situations can change rapidly in the NFL, but the possibility certainly exists for Washington's outlook to become much, much gloomier before it gets brighter. After a Week 8 bye, the Redskins face Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Philadelphia and New Orleans, in order. That's five playoff contenders and at least a pair of, so far, Super Bowl-caliber teams.

Could the Redskins turn their season around after the bye? Sure.

But there's no chance of that happening if they just mail it in like they did Monday night. And it's that absent effort, even more than the growing number of losses, that could eventually force Washington to turn the page.

"Urgency, heart, 'want-to,' whatever. I don't know," Haynesworth said. "We're lacking a lot of stuff right now."

Redskins' Effort a Troubling Sign originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chris Cooley Reportedly Out for Season

Matt Snyder — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:40:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFC East, NFL Injuries

After sustaining an ankle injury on the first play of the second quarter Monday night, Redskins tight end Chris Cooley will reportedly miss the remainder of 2009. The Pro Bowl tight end will finish his season with 29 catches (a career low), 332 yards and two touchdowns, as he hauled in a pair of passes for 21 yards before leaving with the injury Monday night in the Redskins' 27-17 loss to the Eagles.

Head coach Jim Zorn would not confirm that Cooley's year is over, but did note that Cooley will "be out for a while."

""He's got a break in his ankle," Zorn said. "It's on the inner side of his tibia. I haven't seen the X-rays yet, but we're quite certain it's broke or fractured in some way; we'll have a better diagnosis tomorrow."

Fantasy Football Spin: Five Replacements for Chris Cooley

Losing Cooley is a big blow to the Redskins' already maligned offense, which has struggled to score points all season and is now on its second play-caller. He will be replaced in the lineup by the young Fred Davis.

The Redskins may not lose a ton in terms of pass-catching when it comes to inserting Davis for Cooley. Davis is more athletic, and finished Monday night with the best stat-line among Redskins' receivers. He caught eight passes for 78 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Jason Campbell definitely appeared to like throwing Davis' way.

On the other hand, the biggest problem for the Redskins' offense thus far this season has been blocking, and Cooley is a much more adept blocker than Davis. It will be interesting to see what the 'Skins do in running situations moving forward, because Davis can't help to clear the path very well for Clinton Portis. And, obviously, if they only play Davis in passing situations, they are tipping off the defense that they are passing. Thus, it's easy to see why the Cooley injury is such a big blow for the Redskins, who are already going through an incredibly disappointing 2009 campaign.

Washington is currently 2-5 and will have a bye in Week 8. They will travel to Atlanta to face the 4-2 Falcons in Week 9.

Chris Cooley Reportedly Out for Season originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Football Live Chat: Eagles vs. Redskins

Adam Gretz — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, Redskins, NFC East

The Jim Zorn watch is officially on, and Monday night we get to watch the drama unfold as the Redskins host their NFC East rivals from Philadelphia. As always, we'll be discussing all of the action in our Monday Night Football Live Chat, and the fun starts at 8:30 PM ET, so please stop by and join us.

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;altcast_code=36697eb279" &amp;gt;Monday Night Football Live Chat&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

Monday Night Football Live Chat: Eagles vs. Redskins originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Redskins Will Need to Look to Draft to Replace Chris Samuels

JJ Cooper — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:43:00 EST

Filed under: Redskins, NFL Analysis

The news that Redskins left tackle Chris Samuels may have to retire because of the neck injury that has sidelined him this year is just the cherry on the top of a miserable season in Washington. The team has become where everyone else goes for their first win. Fans are chanting at games for the owner to sell the team and the head coach just had his play calling duties taken away from him.

But for the long-term success of the Redskins, the Samuels news may be the worst thing that's happened to Washington all year. With Samuels gone, the Redskins will depend on right tackle Stephen Heyer to play the left side for the rest of the season, but they don't have a long-term answer on the roster.

Report: Six-Time Pro Bowler Samuels Planning to Retire

WHERE LTs COME FROM
First Round	14
Second/Third Round	8
Fourth Round Or Later	5
Free Agents	2
Trade	1
Undrafted Free Agent	1

Normally owner Dan Snyder would buy his way out of the problem on the free agent market. But there is one problem -- it's almost impossible to buy a left tackle in free agency. Of the 32 starting left tackles in the league, only two were signed as free agents--Chicago's Orlando Pace (signed this year as an aging stopgap) and Arizona's Mike Gandy, while the Eagles traded a first and fourth-round pick for left tackle Jason Peters. The other 29 starting left tackles have only played for one team. Once a team finds a left tackle, even a mediocre one, they make sure to lock him up long-term before he hits free agency.

And where do you find a left tackle? Usually it's in the first three rounds of the draft. Half of the 32 starting left tackles were taken in the first round. Another eight were taken in the second or third round. The Redskins have drafted one offensive lineman in the first three rounds since taking Samuel in 2000, which is a pretty simple explanation for why the Redskins offensive line is lacking in depth and talent.

So Washington will have a choice this offseason: it can sign a Levi Jones/Orlando Pace/Tra Thomas type who is on the tail-end of their career or it can draft a new left tackle. Washington has lost its 2010 third-round pick, but held on to its first and second-round picks. Washington will likely need to find a replacement for quarterback Jason Campbell as well, but if Samuels does retire, it would be wise for Washington to take a left tackle early in next year's draft.

Redskins Will Need to Look to Draft to Replace Chris Samuels originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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