|
I've been hesitant to sound off about the cuts that the Redskins made late last week, considering the beginning of free agency. After hearing that Bruce Allen had shed several players over the age of thirty, my initial reaction was that of excitement.
"They're finally doing things the right way," I thought.
But my enthusiasm turned to nervousness as the start of free agency approached. Did Allen shed the salary to go on a spending spree or was he willing to do the right thing and start to develop some in-house talent? As I drove home from the Caps game that night, I wondered whether or not I would wake up to news of shiny new contracts for Julius Peppers, Karlos Dansby or Antrel Rolle. Not this time...THANK GOD.
I'll get into critiquing the free agency period once it settles down, but I feel like we should say goodbye to the guys on their way out of town. There was some good, some bad, and some downright ugly out of the group, so let's give out some superlatives to honor their time in the district and make some predictions about the things to come for the new free agents.
Most Likely to Succeed- Cornelius Griffin, DT
Griff was a guy that always seemed to be banged up throughout his tenure in the district, but he always played well when he made it on the field. He was one of the most underrated guys on Greg Blache's stout unit last season, and he didn't really show many signs of slowing down. He played in fourteen games and was a reliable block-eater in the middle of the defense. He turns 34 in December, but some team will pick him up for a reasonable price in the coming weeks. Expect him to continue to contribute for at least the next 2+ years. Pray that he doesn't end up in Philly or back in New York as a depth lineman.
Most Likely to Retire- Fred Smoot, CB or Todd Collins, QB
Smoot was a great Redskin by fan standards. He loved to express his hatred for Dallas, and he was always quotable. However, Smoot lost more than a step from his first tour in D.C., and he isn't even serviceable as a dime DB at this point in his career. If he makes it onto a roster (and he probably will), he could be a guy that gets cut at the end of the preseason.
Collins is 83 years old. Can he even throw a football? I'd be shocked if he catches on anywhere, and if he does, there's no way he's higher than a no. 3 guy on the depth chart.
Most Likely to Become a Redskin Killer- Ladell Betts, RB
Ladell finished the 2009 on injured reserve, but he should have some gas left in the tank. He might have been paid like a no. 1 back, but he was rarely given the playing time. I imagine he'll be out to prove that he deserved to start over the uber-spoiled Clinton Portis, and that alone could be trouble. If he goes anywhere in the NFC, he's sure to find a way to rush for 125+ on the Skins in the future.
Most Likely to Get a Contract and End Up on IR- Randy Thomas, G
Thomas is still a decent blocker when healthy, but it seems like he hasn't been healthy for the last five seasons or so. Someone will probably give him money, but there's no way he lasts more than half a season without going down with injury. Twenty bucks says it'll be some sort of arm injury.
Most Likely to Badmouth Management Down the Road- Rock Cartwright, RB
Rock was the consummate pro in D.C., but he got the short end of the stick at the end of last season when a bunch of no-names got the bulk of the carries when CP and Betts went on IR. Rock wasn't thrilled with CP's work habits, and his complaints fell on deaf ears (even though he was a captain). Rock is the kind of guy that has been classy enough to keep his mouth shut, but rest assured, he'll speak up if given the chance. He's also most likely to be the guy you didn't realize you'd miss so much.
Most Likely to Win a Super Bowl Next Season- Antwan Randle El, WR/KR
He'll go back to the Steelers on the cheap and they'll probably win "one for the other index finger" or something. That is if Ben Roethlisberger stays out of jail again. ARE probably wins the championship on a punt return for a touchdown. Crap.
 |
Bloguin is the revolutionary blog network specifically focused on helping bloggers get the most out of their websites. We're currently working on building a large network of online communities and hope to expand our blogging coverage to include a wide range of topics. 
The Bloguin Network allows advertisers to promote their products and services to our ever-growing number of visitors. We offer both site-specific ad placements as well as the ability to run a network-wide campaign. If you're interested in working with Bloguin to meet your advertising needs, please contact us.
The Bloguin Network is always looking to expand. We're specifically looking for blogs in the sports, entertainment, and video games field, but are open to adding any type of quality site. If you're a blogger and interested in joining our network, please fill out our application form.
The Bloguin Login gives you full access to everything our network has to offer. Your name and password will work for each and every one of our sites. Signing up is simple, and will allow you to post in all our forums, create member blogs, and access other cool features! What are you waiting for? Create an Account! 