Redskins Hold on Against Cowboys, Give Shanahan His First Win

The Mike Shanahan/Donovan McNabb era began last night with a 13-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys. It was a sloppy game that was more a Dallas loss than a Redskin win, but they are still 1-0.

It was a rather odd game for the Skins offensively. They never were able to get the running game going despite Shanahan's ability with the running game. McNabb's numbers look pretty average going 15/32 for 171 yards, but he managed the game very well. You watched the game and saw the offense keep making plays and then at half time you wondered how they had not managed to get it into the end zone. As he settles into this offense he will continue to improve.

One of the biggest improvements was the offensive line. They allowed a single sack all night and McNabb was able to scramble out of trouble on occasion, something Jason Campbell was certainly not able to do. Rookie Trent Williams played extremely well for his first game. There were a few rookie mistakes, but those were to be expected. There were other times when he literally blocked a defensive lineman 10 yards down the field.

Defensively the Redskins looked stout until the last almost game winning drive. This really was due to bad play calling from Dallas. They completely abandoned the run despite how well Marion Barber was running against the 3-4. Everytime they took out defensive linemen and brought on the blitz, Barber ran straight up the middle for 10-20 yards. Yet the Cowboys decided to force the pass. LeRon Landry had an incredible game with 17 tackles, but the Cowboys never challenged the Redskins deep which has been Landry's Achilles' heel. I am certainly thrilled with the game he had, but I worry what this means for Houston. Will he cheat up again to get high tackles and shut down the surprising Arian Foster who rushed for 231 yards and 3 touchdowns? If he does then Andre Johnson is going to embarrass him all day long.

What was encouraging about the defense was the outside rush. Brian Orakpo looked incredible. He was held all night long because they had no answer for him. This leads me to the minor controversy of the end. On the last play of the game, Tony Romo was forced out of the pocket and threw to Roy Williams for the game winning touchdown. The play, however, was negated by a holding penalty. Since there was no time left on the clock, the game was declared over. Yes, I understand the argument that referees should not decide a game, that on the last play the referees should put away their whistles. Very true. But there is a line that Alex Barron, the player who held Orakpo crossed. You cannot commit a blatant penalty and expect the referees not to call it. Watch it, Barron was strangling Orakpo. He held him by the neck because there was nothing else he could do. This is not controversy what so ever. It was the right call.

I thought all summer that Dallas was overrated, but I never really knew what we were going to get from the Redskins. In all probability Houston is a better team than what we saw against Dallas, so this Sunday will be a much bigger test for the Redskins. It will give everyone a much better idea of where this team stands.

McNabb's Ankle Still Sore, Cause for Concern?

Donovan McNabb will not play in the Redskins' final preseason game against Arizona the team has announced. There is no real reason to be concerned about his anlke at this point, however. Coach Mike Shanahan rarely plays his starting quarterback in the final preseason game and there is no real point in risking further injury to your starting quarterback. So this ankle injury is probably nothing to worry about, but it does bring into question what the Redskins will do if McNabb should go down sometime during the season.

Throughout his career, McNabb has had injury problems. McNabb has been a starter since 2000 and has only played 4 full seasons out of 10. He is also 33 years old, which is older for a quarterback. He will gradually become less mobile and more injury prone. The question is if the team is prepared to play 2, 3, 4, or even 5 or more games without him.

Along with McNabb, the team also acquired quarterback Rex Grossman as the backup in the offseason. Grossman used to start for the Chicago Bears and the team made it as far as the Super Bowl. He, however, was less than impressive. Most people thought Chicago made it in spite of Grossman, not because of him. While I feel very comfortable with Grossman as a backup, the question with McNabb starting is whether I am comfortable with Grossman starting 2-5 games a season. Backups can be tricky because a quarterback that you feel comfortable with playing several games usually leaves to start for another team. A good example is Matt Cassel. In 2008 Tom Brady was injured in the first game of the season and Cassel had to start for the Patriots the rest of the year. He led the team to 11 wins and was immediately traded to Kansas City the next season to be their starter. The Redskins used to have Todd Collins as a backup and he played extremely well every time Jason Campbell went down and more importantly he played well when he was needed to start, but he was released by the team in March. The reality is that Grossman will probably need to start 2 games this season at least and the team cannot afford to lose every game in which he plays. Judging by his preseason performance, however, he has yet to fill me with confidence.

So while McNabb's ankle is no reason for concern and Grossman appears to be an excellent backup quarterback, what I wonder is whether he is good enough to lead the team for an extended period of time. With McNabb as the starter, that is the role Grossman will have to fill as the backup.

Ravens Bring Redskins Back to Earth, Haynesworth Still Unhappy

The Redskins had a bit of a reality check Saturday night with a 23-3 preseason loss to the Balitmore Ravens. After their big win over Buffalo, fans began to raise their expectations dramatically and this loss may have brought them back down to Earth. The headlines have been stolen however by the latest bizarre chapter in the Albert Haynesworth saga, but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

The way to evaluate a preseason game is to throw out the score, evaluate how the first team offense and defense played, and then look at the individual performances of the backups. The score is meaningless so despite how one-sided it was, it really is not a big deal. The first team offense did not look too bad, but they still need some work. Donovan McNabb looked good, but his timing was a bit off. He under threw several passes, but that is to be expected with all the different receivers the team is trying out and it is easily fixable when the roster gets set. Speaking of receivers, Anthony Armstrong had another strong performance. I would be surprised if he did not earn a roster spot at this point. Santana Moss also had a good game, but Devin Thomas still has failed to impress. The problem facing this team is that they have one solid starter in Moss, but no one has established themselves as the number 2. Joey Galloway and Malcolm Kelly have had injury problems in the offseason, but Shanahan knows what he gets in Galloway, where as Kelly has shown nothing since he was drafted. If I were to pick the top 4 receivers heading into the season I would say it would be Moss, Thomas, Galloway, and Armstrong.

Clinton Portis looked very good, but his spot is not in question. Larry Johnson may have left the door open for the previously thought "odd man out" Willie Parker after a lack luster performance. And then we come to the offensive line. First round pick Trent Williams had no answer for Terrell Suggs. The offensive line as a whole looked pretty weak. McNabb and Grossman were obviously briefed about it as they reacted to pressure by quickly getting rid of the ball. Still, with an older quarterback who has faced injury problems through out his career you would like to see better protection.

Defensively the team looked pretty solid. The starters only allowed one touchdown and that was after a fake punt that was taken 51 yards to the goal line. Brian Orakpo, who always seemed to be a defensive end/linebacker hybrid is now thriving in the new 3-4 defense. The team constantly pressured quarterback Joe Flacco who was only saved by multiple uncalled holding penalties. LaRon Landry has clearly worked on committing too early. He reacted well to the run, as he always has, but he also seemed more cautious. It is a good step forward. The secondary did take a hit, however, as the only true free safety on the team, Kareem Moore, suffered a knee injury that will keep him out 4-6 weeks.

And then we get to Haynesworth. After the game, Haynesworth let loose saying that he was angry about playing with the backups and then released the big bomb shell saying that the team intentionally underplayed his "condition" to make him look bad for not practicing. Haynesworth is claiming that last week he suffered a muscle condition called rhabdomyolysis. Haynesworth sat out of practice last week with what the team called dehydration and head aches. Before we get into exactly what this condition is, let's take Haynesworth at his word. Has the team done something wrong? No. NFL teams constantly underplay injuries. Teams want opponents to prepare for players who may or may not be playing. What's more, Hayneworth has been enough of a media headache. Why would the team come out and say he has some random muscle condition that would spark another media circus?

So did he have it? Well, there is some speculation. You have a player who does not want to practice who is now claiming he has a condition that will not allow him to practice and it clears up just in time for him to get angry about not starting. Sound suspicious? Sure. When I used to play football in high school you would constantly see magical injuries and illnesses that would last all week and disappear on game day so there is definitely some question as to whether he is telling the truth, especially when the team was completely unaware of what can be a serious condition.

Rhabdomyolysis is a muscle condition that causes an abnormal amount of muscle breakdown that releases a large amount of protein into the blood stream that can be very dangerous to the kidneys. It can be serious if not treated and it would certainly prevent a player from practicing or playing. Its symptoms include dehydration and headaches so they are consistent with what has kept Haynesworth out. The most important thing to know about this condition is who gets it. According to Dr. Michael Kaplan of ESPN, "Typically we see it more often in someone who's not as well conditioned and particularly if they have sudden and significant onset of exertion...." So Haynesworth refuses to work out with the team in the offseason saying he can get in better shape with his own personal trainer. He comes to camp and repeatedly fails the conditioning test. When he does begin to practice he gets a muscle condition that is brought on when someone that is "not as well conditioned" faces significant exertion. Essentially, if he had this condition, he got it because he is out of shape. Period. And, what is even more perplexing is that in his little temper tantrum he already said that he's not going to offseason work outs next year either. You have failed the conditioning test and faced a potentially serious condition because you are out of shape. This guy just doesn't get it.

At this point what can you do with him? He's getting paid too much money to simply cut unfortunately. I thought heading into the season that if both sides resigned themselves to working with each other they could make it work, but Haynesworth's immaturity will not allow for this to happen and his conditioning is so bad that he constantly needs to be subbed out. Best case scenario at this point would be for another team to lose their starting defensive tackle for the season with an injury that would force them to make a deal for Haynesworth. If we're lucky we could turn it into a 2nd round pick, but my guess is that at best we get a 3rd round pick. After all the money we've paid this guy, we are now keeping our fingers crossed for a 3rd round pick, that's sad.

Handling Haynesworth

Despite all the demands for trades, despite all the outcry against him, despite all the desperate attempts to unload him, Albert Haynesworth remains a member of the Washington Redskins and is set to report the training camp with the team this week. In a very positive offseason for the team, Haynesworth has been the one negative story that has hung over the Redskins. After all the different chapters to this story, both sides find themselves stuck with one another and Mike Shanahan has to figure out how to dissolve the situation.

Just to briefly sum up the situation, Haynesworth was given a seven year $100 million dollar contract and has failed to live up to expectations in his first season with the team. After the 2009 season, the team reportedly shopped around to see what they could possibly get in a trade, angering Haynesworth. Haynesworth was also upset at the hiring of Jim Haslett as the team's defensive coordinator because he was going to use a 3-4 defensive scheme with Haynesworth at nose tackle, a position he adamantly does not want to play. So despite his enormous contract and receiving checks from the team, Haynesworth refused to show up to offseason workouts, including a mandatory mini camp, and has been widely criticized by teammates, coaches, and the media. He demanded a trade, but his price tag has been just too high and the team was unable to unload him.

The situations seems awkward and volatile, but it is actually pretty easily fixeable for head coach Mike Shanahan. Haynesworth has realized that a trade is not forthcoming and has said that he is coming to training camp so now the ball is in Shanahan's court. He has to realize that for the time being, Haynesworth is not going anywhere. This may not be such a bad thing if he can difuse the situation. Despite all the offseason nonsense, Haynesworth has apparently been training very hard and has lost about 30 lbs. Ok, so 2009 was not a great year. Instead of being the defensive monster we had hoped for, he seemed more like a big baby that ran to the sideline for a blanket and a juice box after taking one or two snaps. If he's in better shape now, then he'll be able to last longer out on the field. The simple truth is that our defensive line is better with Haynesworth than it is without him. It looks like he's resigned himself to playing another year in Washington so why not use him?

Using a big man that will pout all season and is unliked by all of his teammates does not help, so simply acting like nothing has happened is not an option. When Haynesworth reports, Shanahan should bring him into his office and explain the situation. He chose to come to Washington and he's getting a lot of money to play football. If he wants to be traded, it is in his best interest to prove he can still play and who knows? If he plays the season like a monster and regains the respect of his teammates and fans, then he may find out he actually likes it in DC and he can build on that next season. But if he is going to play, it will be as a nose tackle in the 3-4 and there is nothing he can do about it. Shanahan also needs to tell him to speak to the media once and tell them he's ready to play football this season and then not talk to them again for the rest of the season. Haynesworth got into a lot of trouble mouthing off about former coodrinator Greg Blache's scheme last season. Once the Redskins get a loss under their belt this season, Haynesworth may find the urge to vent to the media and say "I told you so" and "This just doesn't work" and whatever else he may think about the 3-4.

After talking to Haynesworth, Shanahan then needs to get the players together and give Haynesworth the chance to explain himself to his teammates in a players only meeting. Let all the players air out their grievances and get it all out before hand. Team is such an important part of football and you cannot have this kind of thing hanging over everyone's head the whole season. At some point, it will explode and it will be a lot uglier than talking about it before you even get into the swing of things. Once this is done, Haynesworth and the team can tell the media it's resolved and we're moving on, and everyone can put it all behind them and start thinking about the season.

Haynesworth might not want to get a talking to from his coach or be paraded in front of the team, but it needs to happen. It is better for everyone involved to solve this issue now, early on. If he wants a trade, no one will take him if he continues to pout, play at less than 100%, and complain about his team. The defense will be better with Hayneworth leading rather than dividing and with a brand new coaching staff it is better to solve these problems quickly and quietly rather than allow them to plague the team in their first season in charge. This would be an easy way to nip it in the bud and the team would find themselves with a formidable defensive line to go with the much improved (hopefully) team.

Donovan McNabb Continues Trying to Build the Redskins

Former Eagles' running back Michael Westbrook just visited the Washington Redskins and is now headed to Denver for another team visit. Westbrook was invited at the behest of his former teammate Donovan McNabb, the newly acquired Redskins' quarterback. Despite the fact that the Redskins have already signed Larry Johnson and Willie Parker this offseason to backup Clinton Portis, McNabb thought Westbrook would be just a super fit. Mr. McNabb, with respect, please focus on throwing the football and let the front office worry about what players to sign.

Since coming to the team, McNabb has suggested bringing in loudmouth wide receiver Terrell Owens and now Michael Westbrook. Now I understand that McNabb was brought in to be a vocal team leader, that I have no problem with. As a prominent leader and acquisition for the team, the Redskins cannot simply discount the suggestions he makes, but the reality is that McNabb has not played a single game for the Redskins and his suggestions stink.

As soon as I heard McNabb talking about Owens I was terrified. If there was any owner in the league that would over pay a controversial wide receiver who constantly drops the ball and struggles to make an impact it would of course be Daniel Snyder. While Owens clearly has talent, he expects to receive a superstar contract and the offense to revolve around him. At this point in his career Owens is a number two receiver and deserves a comparable contract. He will never accept that and so he finds himself currently out of a job. Snyder has a history of overpaying big name players (Deion Sanders, Albert Haynesworth, etc) and so I thought this might happen. Luckily the team came out and said they had no interest.

McNabb, however, is talking again! To be fair, I thought Westbrook would be a great acquisition when the offseason began. Portis is getting older and the team needed a more reliable backup than Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright. I think Portis is still good enough to be a great running back in the league, but last season made it clear he needed another running back to handle some of the offensive load and take some of the pressure off. Westbrooks' injury concerns are what led him to be cut by Philadelphia and I think his future in the league will be as the number two running back. This made him a great fit for the Redskins. Now he's not. The team should be dismissing this as quickly as they did with Owens, not inviting him to visit. Washington's need for a running back ended when the team signed both Johnson and Parker. Both will contribute, both will make an immediate impact, both have already signed, and both will struggle for as many carries as they feel they should be getting. Both of these players are former starters who were let go by their former teams. Sometimes starters can struggle accepting reduced roles. I expect that by the end of the season, between Portis, Johnson, and Parker, one of them will be unhappy believing their talents are not being fully utilized. Now you're talking about bringing in a fourth running back? This makes no sense.

McNabb was signed after Johnson and Parker. He knows he has three backs ready to play and he is still talking about Westbrook. What does this say about the confidence he has in the running backs? What must Johnson and Parker be thinking now that McNabb is talking about bringing in another guy? I understand trying to help out a friend, but McNabb has been a Redskin for about a month. He has not played a single game. He is also on a team with a new head coach and new general manager. The Redskins do not need McNabb talking about who he thinks they should bring in.

Because McNabb is a quarterback and very talented, he is constantly interviewed and what he says quickly becomes very public and teams have to take note. I hope that the Redskins brought in Westbrook just out of respect for McNabb and are not seriously considering signing him. If they do, the Redskins will have two or three upset running backs by the end of the season thanks to a quarterback who has yet to prove himself in DC.

Not Enough for the Redskins

After wrapping up the draft last weekend, the Redskins appear to have achieved a complete transformation from their 2009 team. They now head into the summer with a new general manager, head coach, offensive and defensive coordinators, new quarterback, and many new players as they attempt to rebound from a dismal 4-12 season. The Redskins, however, have barley addressed their offensive line. This was by far their biggest weakness from last season and, while they have made some changes, it will take more to fix a line that allowed their quarterback to be hit 97 times and sacked 46 times.

Heading into the offseason, the Redskins seemed committed to changing their ways and developing a team rather than just bringing in big name players. They then proceeded to bring in big name players and ignore the offensive line. To add depth on offense, the Redskins signed running backs Larry Johnson and Willie Parker. This will allow some rushing flexibility for a team that seemed lost whenever Clinton Portis went out with an injury. Ladell Betts, Rock Cartwright, and Quinton Ganther performed admirably in relief, but just did not provide much of a threat.

Of course the biggest moves came at quarterback. The Redskins looked ready to give Jason Campbell a short leash this season replacing backup Todd Collins with Rex Grossman, but then shocked the NFL with a trade for Donovan McNabb. While many questioned this move, I felt it was a welcome change. Yes, I have always been vocal in my criticism of Campbell, but the move allowed for the Redskins to focus squarely on the offensive line during the draft. Without trading for McNabb, the Redskins most likely would have had to take quarterback Jimmy Clausen with their first round pick. While we know now that Clausen fell considerably in the draft going midway in the second round, it is unlikely the Redskins would have risked losing him. This would mean not getting an lineman until the beginning of the second round, the best of which available was Zane Beadles from Utah, who in his four years at Utah played primarily from a two point stance. This was not a player you could guarantee would be ready to start in the NFL right away. With McNabb, the Redskins were free to draft Trent Williams who will be a starter come week 1 against the Cowboys.

By now, no doubt, you've heard the questions surrounding the decision to take Williams over Russell Okung, who many thought was the safer pick, but Williams made a lot more sense for the scheme Mike Shanahan wants to run. This is not the problem I have. In a recent interview, Chris Foerster, new offensive line coach for the team, gave his projected starting line: LT Trent Williams, LG Derrick Dockery, C Casey Rabach, RG Mike Williams, and RT Artis Hicks. Looking at this lineup have the Redskins really done enough to fix the problems on the offensive line? Trent Williams replaces the now retired Chris Samuels, the best lineman the Redskins had. Artis Hicks comes from Minnesota to take over the right tackle position and Mike Williams is switching over to right guard. Otherwise, we see a very similar offensive line. The Redskins have a rookie playing in place of their best player, a solid lineman from Minnesota, and three starters from last season. Is that really enough?

The offensive line was a huge factor last season, but with McNabb it could prove disastrous. The constant pressure on the quarterback really hurt Campbell's performance. Granted, McNabb is a much better quarterback, but he is also injury prone. Injuries have plagued him his entire career. I may not have liked Campbell, but the man could take a beating. McNabb is more mobile, but he can't take nearly the same pounding Campbell took last season or he'll be out really quickly. Isn't bringing in one seasoned veteran and one rookie starter to replace your best player and to fix the offensive line like trying to fix the Titanic with duct tape? What good is a new offense if you can't protect it? I sure hope Shanahan has a few tricks up his sleeve.

McNabb Traded To Redskins in Curious Move, Could it FINALLY Be the End of Campbell?

On the day of Tiger Woods' press conference and baseball's opening day (Nationals already coming out swinging with an 11-1 loss to Philadelphia) the big story in Washington is...football. Last night the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins reached a deal sending quarterback Donovan McNabb to the Redskins for a second round draft pick and a fourth round pick in 2011 which could turn into a third round pick.

This trade caught many completely offguard. Last week Oakland and Buffalo emerged as the front runners and even if they couldn't close the deal, who would have expected that Philadelphia would trade McNabb to a division opponent? The Eagles will now have to face the best quarterback in franchise history twice in 2010 as both teams are in the NFC East. Usually teams will not make big trades within their division. Take for example, Green Bay, who refused to trade Brett Favre to a team within the NFC Conference in an attempt to avoid playing against him at all. But Philadelphia decided to take the plunge after McNabb's agent made it clear that he did not want to go to Oakland or Buffalo. Still, you have to wonder. Ok, so it was clear Philadelphia wanted to move forward with Kevin Kolb so McNabb needed to go. That's understandable. But even with McNabb making objections and encouraging talks with Washington, Philadelphia still needs to look after its best interests. I'm sure that Philadelphia could have found someone outside of the division willing to make a deal other than Oakland and Buffalo so why help make a division opponent better with a major trade? If Philadelphia really made this deal strictly because of McNabb's wishes, that's honorable I guess, but it's pretty foolish.

Another possibility is that they know something that the rest of the NFL doesn't. I'm not into conspiracy theories, what I'm saying is that Andy Reid and the Eagles' organization know McNabb better than anyone in the NFL. They may be expecting a dramatic drop off in play, which would explain setting up a Kolb/McNabb matchup and putting together a trade package that included a 2011 draft pick. Just a thought.

What also made this deal surprising was the fact that this did not seem to be the route the Redskins were taking this offseason. With quarterbacks Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen, Colt McCoy, and Tim Tebow all available in the draft and the Redskins in full rebuilding mode, most expected the team to bring in a young quarterback to replace Jason Campbell or at least force him to perform. Instead they brought in a veteran quarterback who most likely has already peaked.

This trade will certainly change their tactics come draft day. Both Bradford and Clausen have met with the Redskins, so perhaps head coach Mike Shanahan didn't see what he wanted to out of the pair. In any case, the Redskins now have to take an offensive lineman with their number one pick. There can be no debate here. Their offensive line was absolutely atrocious last season. McNabb is 33 years old, which is advanced for most NFL players, and has been plagued with injuries throughout his career. Without building that offensive line up then the Redskins are playing with fire. They need to start taking a look at Russell Okung from Oklahoma State, Trent Williams from Oklahoma, and Bryan Bulaga from Iowa. Any of the three would provide a major boost to that weak offensive line.

So was this the right move? One worrying aspect is that this trade reeks of Dan Snyder. Trading for a big name player already in his 30s as a quick fix? I certainly hope this is the work of Bruce Allen and Shanahan, but it really seems to have Snyder's finger prints all over it and we've seen how well those moves have worked. Even so I like this trade if the Redskins follow through and build that offensive line. If they don't then this trade was a waste of time, draft picks, and money. McNabb can't take the kind of beating Campell did last season. While McNabb may be a more mobile quarterback, this does not make up for the complete lack of consistent blocking up front. Sitting with that number four overall pick, the Redskins may well find themselves having to choose between an offensive lineman and the real popular Ndamukong Suh, but they MUST ignore the flashy pick and take what they need. I like this trade only if you get the line to protect McNabb, otherwise it's only a matter of time before Campbell is called in as McNabb is carted off the field.

A lot of curious thinking allowed for this big trade. With one trade the Redskins took a big step forward towards making themselves competitive again. I've been very vocal with my criticism of Campbell and I truly believe he was holding this team back. I will also admit, however, that the offensive line was an even bigger problem. Bringing in McNabb means nothing if they do not continue to improve on the line because McNabb cannot handle the pressure and the beating he will receive throughout the season without it.

Chris Samuels Retires, Others Shown the Door

Chris Samuels, 32, announced today that he will be retiring from the NFL. He announced with his retirement that he has been dealing with a spinal condition called stenosis through out his career and after an injury against Carolina in the 2009 season, a doctor told him it was time to retire. "A lot of people, they've been praying for me to receive a miracle," he said. "But they really don't realize that I received a miracle when I got up off the field in North Carolina."

Samuels has been a starter ever since he was drafted number 3 overall in 2000. Since that time he has made the Pro Bowl six times. While he has already been given an internship to work with the team as a coach in the offseason, Samuels presence on the line will be sorely missed. The Redskins are a team already looking to rebuild and now they have to account for one of the few stable players on this team. Samuels leaves behind an already depleted offensive line.

Samuels wasn't the only departure today. Randy Thomas, Antwaan Randle El, Rock Cartwright, Fred Smoot, Cornelius Griffin, Ladell Betts, and Todd Collins were all among the players cut today. In a clear effort to clear up cap space, the Redskins released several veterans to make ready to rebuild the team. Some of these moves make little sense. I don't understand Randle El at all. Ok, so the Redskins have been trying to give more time to young receivers Malcom Kelly and Devin Thomas. Yet, Randle El had as big of an impact as both receivers last season even with reduced playing time. I really think the Redskins are seeing what they want to see here and not reality. Kelly and Thomas are not proven commodities yet and the Redskins are really gambling here with the assumption that they can handle the load.

Three of these cuts give us a great preview of what Washington will be looking for in free agency and the draft. Betts has been a dependable back up for Clinton Portis and Cartwright has been a huge asset on the special teams. Releasing them both tells me the Redskins are looking to make some moves for a running back. Brian Westbrook is available, but it would make little sense to sign him to backup Portis. He would be a great as a number two guy, but the Redskins need a guy who can also carry the load when Portis goes down. His durability does not make him a good fit, but it will be interesting to see what they try to do. Ladainian Tomlinson is also available, but he will come with a hefty price tag and I'm not sure he'll be too eager to come to a team that already has a number one back. The most important cut is that of Collins. Collins has stepped into several games in relief of a struggling Jason Campbell. I don't read his departure as an endorsement of Campbell, however. I believe it signals that the Redskins will be looking for Sam Bradford or Jimmy Clausen at the draft. Dare I hope that this is the beginning of the end for Campbell?

The question now for Daniel Snyder, Bruce Allen, and Mike Shanahann is how to begin rebuilding. With free agency set to start at midnight, Snyder is no doubt licking his chops again. While he has proven repeatedly that buying agents is not the way to build a winner, Samuels' departure may force his hand. The Redskins only get so many picks and we are all crossing our fingers that they will be taking a quarterback in the first round (at least I am). With an offensive line this bad, they may need Snyder to open up the check book and bring in some talent. He will probably have to have his arm twisted a bit though since he seems to hate spending money (sarcasm). A lot of the cuts made today, however, signal that the Redskins are looking to buy more than just an offensive line. Once again, they will try to buy their way out of the hole they've dug. How many more times will we have to watch this before Snyder learns it doesn't work? Let's hope Allen and Shanahan will know what moves to make and disconnect Snyder's phone.

Hail to the Racially and Ethnically Diverse People?

Hail Victory!
Diplomats on the path to negotiation!
Compromise for Old DC!

Doesn't have the same ring to it as the Skins original fight song does it? Well it does to many people. It's no secret that the Redskins have once again been dragged into court over their name, but the controversy even goes to Chief Zee. You've probably seen him, he has become the unofficial mascot of the team, showing up in his red jacket and Indian headdress. While many love to see the guy cheer on his team, others find it terrible. The Washington Post published an article yesterday written by Courtland Milloy about Chief Zee. In it, Milloy claims that the Redskins need to retire Zee. He claims that "Having a black man hobbling around on national TV in an Indian costume trivializes both of America's original sins-- the enslavement of Africans and the genocide of indigenous peoples." In his desperate attempt to be politically correct, Milloy has one very important fact. Chief Zee is the unofficial mascot. Why is he unofficial? Because he does this on his own. He goes to games dressed like this to support his team and eventually the Redskins recognized him because he has become a symbol for all Redskin fans. Why does he continue to do this...hmmm...let me think.....BECAUSE HE WANTS TO! The article even quotes Chief Zee as he says "I'm leaning towards retirement, but I'm going to wait until the Redskins win another Super Bowl." Sound like a pitiful old man being unfairly marched around by an evil organization? Not to me. It sounds to me like a guy who wants to continue to support his team. How can you sit there and claim this is racist against African Americans when this poor guy is doing it BECAUSE HE WANTS TO? Yes, he's old. So what? Are old people not allowed to publicly support their team? Ok, old people are no longer allowed outside because some may interpret them as a sign of racial weakness. Give me a break.

The fact that Milloy has a paying job while I'm unemployed isn't all that bothers me, it's the whole debate over the "offensive" team names and mascots. Sometimes people are just looking for things to be offended about. The Redskins, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Cleveland Indians, the Atlanta Braves, the Florida State Seminoles, the Fighting Illini, the William and Mary Tribe, all have names that people complain about. Do these names really trivialize Native Americans? No, they don't. And you can bring up all sorts of people who are offended and people who are upset, but I don't care. If you are offended, it's because you want to be and because you aren't looking at this the right way.

Look at Notre Dame. I have no reason to like them or follow them. I know very few people who have gone there and I've never been to South Bend. Why do I follow Notre Dame? Why do I cheer for them? Because I'm Irish. There are numerous legends for the origin of the nickname, but what we do know for certain is that Irish people in the early 1900s found the team to be a source of inspiration and rallied around them. The fanatical devotion to Notre Dame football started because people saw a win as a win for all Irish. Think that Notre Dame is a totally different matter? Look at the often criticized Cleveland Indian's mascot and then look at the little fighting Irishman. Either could be seen as offensive, but only one is because only one is a hot topic for people who love to be politically correct. One could choose to be offended by Notre Dame or one could use it as a source of inspiration. I'm a lot happier cheering the Irish on instead of being upset by them and trying to end their great tradition.

These teams do not trivialize Native Americans but bring awareness of them. Without them, I would have no idea what a Seminole is or know anything about the Illini. As for Chief Zee, maybe Milloy should be the one to tell him, to his face, that he is an embarrassment to his race and his team and that he no longer should be allowed to publicly cheer his team on. See what he says. But while Chief Zee is still on the field with the team, I'm still going to cheer for him.