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The Redskins Historian checking in
2008-03-05 19:00:00
Like yesterday, I'm absolutely destroyed this week in terms of things I must do prior to leaving town. Work constantly expands to fill the time available, and somewhere in there Hogs Haven gets neglected. Fortunately, this is your place as much as it is mine, and I strongly encourage all of you to hit up the diaries in my brief absence. I promise to make it up to you next week. In the interim, Michael Richman, The Redskins Historian, sent me a letter he wanted to get out to Redskins fans, which includes you, and I'm posting it below. Extremely loyal and favored reader CptChaosSidekick is still due a free copy of the Encyclopedia that Mike sent to me, and I promise to get that shipped out to you no later than next week. I'm swamped but there is a calm subsequent the storm, so I'm told at least. You'll get your book. Cheers, and this per Mike, who is awesome, good people: With the NFL free agency period upon us and the draft soon to come, we're all focused on the offseason and w...

Favre Retires
2008-03-04 16:00:00
[editor's note, by Skin Patrol] I'm too busy today to post, but this is big news for all NFL fans. You can go console our Packers blogger. Keep enjoying the diaries today, as I will be largely unavailable until tomorrow. Cheers. I'm actually a little teary-eyed... SI.com reports that Brett Favre has retired...woe is me!!!  If they had only gotten Moss like Mr. Favre wanted...ugh...the agony!  Someone get details...I'm already over on my break...back to work!!!

Will Demps be a Redskin?
2008-03-03 23:34:00
See what I did thar? His first name is Will (like mine!) and then I simultaneously used it as a verb. Very, very sharp rhetoric by yours truly. My mother says I'm handsome as well. That's enough. Per Redskin s Insider: Houston free agent safety Will Demps has scheduled a visit to Redskins Park for sometime next week. league sources said. Demps, 28, is a former starting safety with the Ravens, Giants and Texans. I've just learned that Will Demps was an AFC alternate for the Pro Bowl: Given the stupendous seasons being had by several other Texans, why is DeMeco the only one packing for Hawaii?  Sure, Mario Williams, Kris Brown, and Will Demps (not bad for a dude who was signed off the street after the season started) were named "alternates" for the AFC squad.  That's better than nothing, I guess. Alternate behind a gentleman by the name of Ed Reed, who happens to be pretty good at football. Redskins 360 calls this a starter move, which doesn't bode well for Reed Doughty:...

Quarterback news
2008-03-03 19:24:00
You already knew that Todd Collins was in. Jason Campbell is very much in but he's also very much recovered from a knee injury suffered late last season. Per an interview with the 'Stache at the official site: Q: How is your knee feeling two months removed from the dislocated patella injury? A: "I don't feel [the injury] at all. I feel like I'm 100 percent. I'm healthy. I'm back working out and trying to get myself in the best shape possible." Good, good, good, good, good. Cannot be said enough. Knee injuries terrify me for their special likelihood -- as opposed to say hurt pinkies or bruised whatever -- of being degenerative. Quarterback s particularly need to be capable of planting that knee in order to deliver the ball down the field. And you also need that knee when you are ignoring good advice: Q: Coach Zorn is famous for his "Slip 'n' Slide" drills with his quarterbacks. Are you ready for that? A: "I haven't done that in a while. [Laughs] Maybe this year I might slide ...
More About: News

Zorn and Greg Blache on our offense
2008-02-29 18:02:00
Per a Yahoo! Sports Redskins team report: "This whole game, I believe, is about rhythm," Zorn said. "I don't think it's about hanging onto the ball until you see a guy already open and then (say robotically), `He is open. I think I should throw him the ball.' Because in this game, you're going to get knocked down. You're going to get the ball knocked out of your hand."... "We have speed," Zorn said. "Santana, I'm just hoping he's ready to go deep, to break routes off and catch a lot of footballs. He's a tremendous talent. ... In this particular offense, you've got to have a great inside receiver. Antwaan (tapping his head like a no-brainer), I'm just hoping that he really excels. You've got to have a great tight end to be able to become balanced. (Tight end) Chris Cooley is in the Pro Bowl."... "If you have a running back that can come out of the backfield, he has to be able to get himself open," Zorn said. "The quarterback has to be able to look downfield and throw the...
More About: Greg

Vinny Cerrato's not saying we won't get Lance Briggs, but he's just sayin'
2008-02-29 17:15:00
Interesting quote from Vinny over at Covering the Redskins regarding how much action we'll see during this free agency at linebacker: As for Briggs, who was a target last off-season, that ship appears to have sailed.. Briggs is expected to land a huge deal and as Cerrato put it, "I can't talk specifically about certain free agents but let me put it this way, we like our linebackers." I'm kind of a big fan too; London Fletcher is the leader on this defense, Marcus Washington still has it as far as I'm concerned and Rocky McIntosh had a phenomenal year. The post identifies our team needs at offensive line (which Bram says Vinny says we'll deal with in the draft) and receiver. More on this quiet offseason: Cerrato was calling the money that will be put out there with numerous teams well under the cap "crazy." Ironic coming from the Redskins point of view that others will pay "crazy" money but the Skins have been at the forefront of large bonus/back-loaded deals, so this off-season...
More About: Lance

Todd Collins inks 3 year, 9M dollar deal with Redskins
2008-02-29 16:59:00
Update [2008-2-29 11:1:33 by Skin Patrol]: It's on ESPN so it might as well be called. Hat tip to Turf Show Times for tracking down this article: The Washington Redskins fought off the advances of Jacksonville, the New York Giants and the St. Louis Rams to keep backup quarterback Todd Collins . Collins agreed to a three-year, $9 million deal to stay in Washington. Though the Giants and Rams made hard pushes after the 12:01 a.m. Friday morning opening of free agency, the Jaguars made the hardest push to pull Collins away from the Redskins. There was some sort of bidding war between us and the Jags, as we kept having to match and exceed their ever rising bids. Good for Todd Collins for getting paid. CptChaosSidekick and TexSkins got me hunting for it. Though official word isn't out yet, Jason said this morning that it was between the Redskins and the Jaguars. The most definitive word I could find comes via Redskins 360: It looks like Todd Collins has chosen to re-sign with the...
More About: Dollar , Deal , Year

Redskins now under the cap
2008-02-28 23:47:00
Per enough sources to call it, though by the very nature of the beast, salary cap predictions vary from source to source. Also, I think there was some kind of cap deadline just passed that had to be met. Anyways, it appears that the Redskins are below the cap. First, PFT takes the opportunity to contrast us with the Bucs: At a time when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are more than $44 million under the per-team spending limit for 2008, the Redskins have narrowly made it under the $116 million salary cap. I'm sure that amount pleases Buc Em to no end. Florio also notes at PFT that simply being below the cap isn't good enough; in order to sign draft picks and pursue free agents, we'll need to free up more space. Even if we have a quiet free agency, every team necessarily needs to sign a few players to replace outgoing personnel and fill gaps. Rock Cartwright, for instance: RB Rock Cartwright expects to hit the market; perhaps he'll come back but he wants at least $2 million guaranteed a...

Jason Campbell will be treated like a starter
2008-02-28 19:56:00
Per this very fascinating ESPN article (hat tip: dr WNC) that is mostly praising new head coach Jim Zorn: "I don't want Jason Campbell to feel like, 'Oh my gosh, if I make one mistake, I'm going to be pulled,''' Zorn said during the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. "That's not the way to go into this. That's not the way to go into any camp and it's not the way to go into any football season.'' Which is precisely how starters should be treated. Campbell cannot go out this year operating like Patrick Ramsey, thinking that the starting position he earned will be ripped from underneath him at any moment. In any event, the threat of job loss isn't credible if we lose Todd Collins. Elsewhere: Hiring Zorn, who last worked as quarterbacks coach for the Seattle Seahawks, might give the impression that Snyder was looking for a puppet. Snyder's been accused of being a fantasy football player in the past, known for doing what he wants at the expense of his coaches and the team...
More About: Starter , Jason Campbell

Millions and millions and millions is all it will cost to pay Brandon Lloyd
2008-02-28 19:38:00
The Washington Post: His release, long anticipated, does not save Washington any immediate salary cap space, with the free agency and trade period beginning at 12:01 a.m. Friday, but will create additional room this June. Lloyd , who could not be reached to comment, was designated a June 1 cut for salary cap purposes, executive vice president Vinny Cerrato said, which means his salary cap figure of $4.2 million will drop to $1.8 million on June 1. (Lloyd will count $5.5 million in dead cap space in 2009.) I tend to agree with Ben that heaping big blame needs to be placed on Lloyd for his own inability to do anything right, though I'm still pissed at the team's inability to sniff out a problem child before dishing him millions and trading away some draft picks. I understand money is tight this year, but I'd just as soon cut ties immediately rather than spread out the moneys we'll be penalized for Lloyd over the next two years. Generally it always makes sense to pay tomorrow what y...
More About: Cost , Millions , Brandon Lloyd

Gus Frerotte is Fr'Real
2008-02-28 19:13:00
I'm not that clever. Taken from Yardbarker, though I think I saw it first at Mister Irrelevant, where either Chris or Jamie or both the brothers blog have a perfectly healthy and endearing semi-obsession for the great Gus. This t-shirt slams: Fr' serious Want to know what else Gus Frerotte was? A Washington Redskins Pro Bowl quarterback. So maybe he's more famous for injuring himself during a celebratory head butt -- which earned him a top 5 spot on ESPN's prestigious Top 10 Jackass Moments -- but for some time Gus was a legit Redskins qb on the up-and-up. He never recovered from his entertaining fight with the wall and has spent the remainder of his career outside of Washington going from city to city with little effect. The latest indignity is that he can't even make it in St. Louis. Per Redskins 360: Old pal Gus Frerotte has said that St. Louis coach Scott Linehan told him that he's going to be cut. That leaves the door wide open for erstwhile Redskins quarterback Todd Col...

Draft: Campbell, Harvey, Phillips, Manningham?
2008-02-27 19:14:00
[editor's note, by Skin Patrol] It's been a while since I've promoted a diary, and this is a worthy candidate. Enjoy mmford10's draft analysis on Campbell , Harvey, Phillips , and Manningham. Also a big fan of the discussion started by JustinU804's diary. I'm busy the rest of the day so you guys are very much on your own, cheers. I think these may be our top 4 targets for our pick next month (obviously unless a top 10 guy slides out to us). I'm gonna exploit my ESPN insider for you guys and also supplement it with what knowledge I have. Here goes. Calais Campbell, a DE from the U, is a guy who's absolutely massive -- over 6'7.5 inches tall and 279 pounds. That's a pretty huge size for a lineman (Andre Carter is 6'4 and 250). He is viewed as an extremely good athlete and a versatile lineman. A post on this website had a scout said he had the skill set of Daniels and the athleticism of Andre Carter. I'm pretty well sold on that! Scouts Inc. says, "he lacks the top-en...
More About: Draft

Brandon Lloyd no longer a Redskin
2008-02-27 01:00:00
Brandon Lloyd was cut, released, let go, scape goated, discharged, etc. CptChaosSidekick said it and indeed, the national nightmare is finally over. Redskin s.com: Lloyd's two-year stint with the Redskins proved to be a disappointment. He was never able to establish himself in the Redskins' offense. Redskins Insider: As expected. The final stats: 25 receptions, zero touchdowns. For $10 million in guaranteed money. Ryan Wilson at Fanhouse: And so ends another chapter in the forgettable 2006 Redskins off-season. Safety Adam Archuleta barely made it through one season before getting shipped to Chicago (after collecting $10 million in guarantees, of course), and now Lloyd, the guy some Redskins coach/front-office type thought would complement Santana Moss nicely and give Jason Campbell another deep weapon, is free to work on his freestylin' skillz 24/7. DC Sports Bog: Lllllllllloyd... Ouch. Redskins 360: The moody receiver was arguably the biggest bust in Redskins history. He cost Was...
More About: Brandon Lloyd

Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen restructured
2008-02-26 23:01:00
Predictably, as it is now an annual event (we should make t-shirts!), Jon Jansen and Chris Samuels saw their contracts restructured in order to accomodate the Redskins financial strategy. Per a quick update from a sorely missed Redskins Insider: the Skins redid Chris Samuels's contract the other day after doing Jansen's as well - combined the deals created $6.3 million in cap space, so the Skins are roughly $3 million under and still have 3-4 other contracts they could rework to create more room. Not a lot of details available on how that gets worked out though it permits speculation. Using PC's cap page, updated today because the man never sleeps, it already appears he's factored in the changes. Jansen and Samuels both appear to have base salaries ~730K. For Jansen, that's about half a million lower than his '09 base and over 3M lower than his '10 salary, telling me his base moneys this year were transferred in large part to guaranteed moneys. Ditto on Samuels, though the ex...

Some guy who might know: Redskins broken coaching search may not affect bro
2008-02-26 19:18:00
First let's introduce Russ Lande: He is a former scout for the Cleveland Browns who also publishes GM Jr, which is the self-proclaimed best guide to the draft. Some testimonials: "Russ's ability to evaluate talent and report on what he sees accurately is outstanding!! -- Dick Vermeil, Head Coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. Notice the two exclamation marks. As you well know, Vermeil is a subdued man not inclined to unnecessary theatrics, so when he utilizes expressive punctuation, you know he means it. About halfway through this video you'll see a typically moderated Dick Vermiel grinning ear to ear while congratulating players, including a very sex-offender looking Ron Jaworski (the mustache says, "Who wants candy!): More testimonials here from the likes of Jim Nantz and Ernie Accorsi and Pete Prisco and isn't that all nice. I don't say this to convince you Russ Lande is a genius -- I don't know anything about him -- but rather just to suggest he knows a thing or two about ...
More About: Coaching , Search , Broken , Redskins

Zorn's initial reaction to getting head coach interview: Ack, ack
2008-02-25 20:57:00
Look, even I can't make this shit up. Per Hometown Annapolis which alleges to be the web site of The Capital: ...because Redskins owner Daniel Snyder was unable to find a candidate who suited him and because Zorn so impressed him during their brief time together, Zorn was given an opportunity he never saw coming. "When I got the news I was even going to get interviewed, I couldn't even get it out to my wife. I was like, "Ack, ack,' " Zorn said. "She said, "What's wrong?' I couldn't get it out for a few seconds that I was going to be interviewed for the head coaching position now. We just kind of went, "Can you believe it?'" To his enormous credit, neither could many fans, who had no idea that someone else's quarterbacks coach could go from that to our offensive coordinator to our head coach in a matter of weeks. The article also mentions another point that didn't get much carriage here but probably should have, that being that Zorn's former employers must've also been a b...
More About: Interview , Coach , Head , Reaction

The NFL Combine coverage here is outstanding
2008-02-25 19:05:00
I don't mean to brag, but you really can't get more in depth combine coverage anywhere else. With exactly zero words committed to what I'm told is an important event, you'd be hard pressed to find deeper analysis elsewhere. My failure to address the combine contrasts nicely with last year, where I at least had open threads up. Treat this as your open thread, if the combine is something you'd like to discuss. If you are really interested in the combine, you probably shouldn't be here, anyways. NFL.com is the place. Or go to The Times. I am not alone in my indifference to the combine. The cleverly titled Internet is for Zorn website takes it a step further in this exchange with his wife: I'm not 100% sure what we tuned in on -- either O-linemen or tight ends, I guess, as it was a bunch of white guys -- doing the vertical jump.  If you're unfamiliar, this drill consists of exactly what it sounds like: the guys jump straight up, pushing those measuring things out of the wa...
More About: Coverage , Outstanding

Mark Brunell makes/is history
2008-02-25 01:32:00
I'm not really sure what this is. It claims to be a Timeline of the Santa Maria Valley (something to do with wine) since 1824. Exciting entries include: March 18, 1881: A heavy sandstorm in Guadalupe blew down trees and buildings. No bullshit, huh? Trees? And who could forget: March 1901: The Ladies Literary Club sent its first letter to Andrew Carnegie asking for his help in building a community library. But the biggest news in this slice of America's history: March 4, 2004: Quarterback Mark Brunell (St. Joseph High School graduate) signed a contract with the Washington Redskins. As The Redskin Report points out in a lengthy FA and Cap post, Santa Maria's timeline may soon be added to with: March 1, 2008: Quarterback Mark Brunell (St. Joseph High School graduate) no longer with the Washington Redskins. As Lee Gibbons TRR contributor Bill points out: The "good" news, however, is that on March 1st, Mark Brunnell's remaining contract voids (I call this good news only because of th...
More About: History

DeAngelo Hall to Redskins?
2008-02-25 01:18:00
Per Mark Maske: The Washington Redskins are among the teams being linked to cornerback DeAngelo Hall in a potential trade with the Atlanta Falcons, but an NFL source said Saturday it is unlikely the Redskins will be involved in such a deal. The Redskins consider a trade for Hall too costly both in terms of what they would have to surrender to get him and what they would have to pay Hall, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because no trade discussions involving Hall have been acknowledged publicly. The Falcons reportedly are seeking a first-round draft choice for Hall, who is attending the scouting combine and said here in recent days that he doesn't think he will be back in Atlanta next season. The New York Giants reportedly are willing to surrender their first-round pick for Hall. Both Giants General Manager Jerry Reese and Falcons Coach Mike Smith declined to comment Saturday. Such a move would not square with what Vinny Cerrato told Mark Maske (per Redski...

Jim Zorn on everything, including Jason Campbell
2008-02-25 00:34:00
Doug Farrar of Seahawks.NET has a fantastic article up right now on Jim Zorn on everything, including starting quarterback Jason Campbell . The piece is mostly concerned with the offensive plan and how that will fit given the personnel we have in place, with Zorn commenting on, among other things, how great it is to have a running back who also happens to be a reliable pass blocker (Clinton Portis). Warning on the following video: I didn't pick the music, which is NSFW. I found the clip a while ago and decided not to post it on account of the lyrical content, but after rewatching it I just can't refrain because the hits Clinton Portis lays on would be tacklers (of quarterbacks, receivers, whomever) are simply too good to ignore. Enjoy, but you might turn the volume down, just FYI: That's not really the part of the article I want to focus on, however. Jim Zorn has previously criticized some aspects of Jason's game and that's fine; it is precisely what a head coach/quarterbacks c...
More About: Jason Campbell

Sean Taylor still visits Children's Hospital
2008-02-25 00:14:00
Artist Jason Swain recently produced a large Sean Taylor oil painting that is, I'm told, currently hanging up at the Children's Hospital (ostensibly the one in DC). Per Jason: I just wanted to pass on some info about a portrait I had painted of Sean Taylor a couple of months back. The painting is a 6ft by 5 ft canvas showing a collection of 7 different images of Sean from his Miami days to the Pro Bowl and all three different Redskins uniforms. The painting was unveiled at the atrium of Childrens hospital on Jan24th and will remain there till March 21st. The painting is up for sale and a percentage of the sale goes to Childrens hospital. There will be some limited edition prints coming up on smaller canvasses and I want to tie these into Seans foundation in some way so I will let everyone know. Below you'll find a video of the different stages of the painting. As you well know, I'm a big sucker for charitable givings and as Jason pointed out, a portion of the proceeds go toward...

Redskins approaching compliance with salary cap
2008-02-22 18:28:00
Though Jason La Canfora at Redskins Insider says we're effectively there. He checks in with a big post on an otherwise quiet week, so head over there and read up. How did we get to below the cap? The Redskins have restructured tackle Jon Jansen's contract, converting base salary to bonuses and saving about $3.1 million against the cap, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. The team is now about $4 million over the cap but with the contracts of Mark Brunell and Rock Cartwright voiding next week, they are essentially in compliance. The team can still re-do as many as six other contracts if necessary. Expect meetings with the agents of several players to happen at the combine, including the agent for cornerback Shawn Springs. I've already had my rant on restructures and won't bore you with them again. They are a necessary evil in a year where we were grossly over the cap to begin with, though paint me pleased we're now within normal limits again. Until next year. ...
More About: Salary , Compliance

NFL Combine Open Thread
2008-02-22 00:38:00
[editor's note, by Skin Patrol] TexSkins should've just posted up front. Here's your NFL Combine Open Thread . I won't be watching the combine (I don't have NFL Network like I did a year ago), so if anyone will, let us know who looked good and who didn't.  Here's a list of the participants. Also, here's the link to the NFL.com page dedicated to said combine.  The workouts begin on Saturday with the O Line (should be an interesting group for Skins fans), TEs, and specialists. Anyways, here's your spot for all things Combine.

Still no formal talks between Redskins and DC Mayor
2008-02-21 20:34:00
Last month Deuce of Davenport said: Adrian Fenty said on Wednesday that he is going to present a proposal to Redskins owner Dan Snyder for a possible a 100,000-seat domed stadium that also could be used for Super Bowls and other major events. DC's Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi has gotten involved and will do a financial analysis of the impact that building this stadium and the return of the Redskins to town will have on the city. I was hopeful of the proposition, not because I'm a DC area resident, but because I want the largest stadium in the NFL as a matter of bragging rights. Ben made the compelling case why this should happen way back last October, and I'm on board with him. (Even if he did expose me as an NFL fraud.) Unfortunately, it hasn't moved anywhere yet, per the Georgetown Voice: Once the decrepit RFK Stadium is vacant, Fenty might look to build a new stadium in its place, in hopes of luring the Washington Redskins back into the city. The Redskins originally ...
More About: Mayor , Formal

What about Andre Caldwell?
2008-02-21 20:25:00
I definitely think it is a stretch to take a WR in the first round and remain committed to that position even through the 2nd round (I simply feel that there is better value at that position to be had by waiting) but ran across a familiar name looking for later-than-first round wide receivers who happened to be over 6 feet tall. Andre Caldwell: 45. Andre Caldwell, WR, Florida, 6-1, 207, 4.41, 2: The younger brother of Washington Redskins receiver Reche Caldwell, Andre has quick feet and straight-line speed. He may be close to his potential already after improving each year in one of college football's most pass-happy offenses. Injuries have been a recurring issue. Forty fifth projects as a 2nd rounder, which is where NFL Draft Scout places him. Mocking The Draft has him at 99th though back in December he was the fifth best WR per that site. For reader(s) who think a WR is just what the team needs, any thoughts on Andre Caldwell? I thought we've had an unusual amount of success wit...

When common sense isn't common
2008-02-21 20:16:00
Last week you all got a chance to see the 1958 Marlboro commercial here, and elsewhere, that depicted a Native American in a manner typically described as racist, and it probably was. I'm not a Native American history buff or even knowledgeable on the history of the apparent controversy over these apparently controversial images. The fact is that I am not a Native American so I really don't know one way or the other how much images of the Washington Redskins or the Cleveland Indians really affects people of that persuasion. The thrust of this article, which is noteworthy because it is a typical of anti-Redskins logo articles, is that organizations and schools shouldn't be conflicted over the issue, because there isn't anything really conflicting to decide. Images of Native Americans by sports teams (in this instance, the author is commenting on a High School with a Native American mascot; for reasons not clearly stated, "Warriors" is the offensive school name in question) is of...
More About: Sense , Common , Common Sense

Redskins draft projections, too soon?
2008-02-20 19:12:00
Hell yes it is too soon but I've got nothing else. The only news today is that Ethan Albright officially signed with the team today and that's no news at all. Or, better yet, Redskins legends on segways. Here are some pertinent first round projections for the Redskins per the Hail Redskins Mock Draft Database which is, as far as I can tell, one of the bigger, badder, better mock draft databases on the internet. DE Phillip Merling (CLEM) DT Kentwan Balmer (UNC) DE Lawrence Jackson (USC) WR Mario Manningham (MICH) DE Calais Campbell (MIA) DE Calais Campbell [MIA] DE Phillip Merling (CLEM) DE Calais Campbell [MIA] S Kenny Phillips (MIA) DE Derrick Harvey (FLA) LB Keith Rivers DE Phillip Merling (CLEM) OT Gosder Cherilus (BC) DE Derrick Harvey (FLA) Etc. The trend is for defensive linemen, specifically defensive ends. I'd vote a big no on linebackers, I think we have plenty of money, talent, and youth tied up to that position and it just feels like an unnecessary expenditure of a val...

A quiet offseason?
2008-02-19 23:39:00
It's been long enough for me to doubt even well documented suggestions that the Redskins will take it easy this offseason. Surely they have reason to do so, as the team is now only 3.8M over the cap per PC, though I think he's counting 11M of Chris Cooley's salary as guaranteed which, as far as I can tell, has yet to happen (but we all know it will). Steve Czaban has an unusually coherent rant here where he discusses a number of topics, our proclivity for offseason wheeling and dealing to marginal success among them. First, though: I'm not saying that dead cap money is fatal. A recent article pointed out that the Giants actually led the league last year in that stat -- $18 million -- and it worked out pretty well for them, didn't it? So obviously we're going to win the Super Bowl. To clarify what Steve is saying, dead cap space doesn't necessitate failure, but it can't (doesn't, shouldn't, wouldn't) correlate with winning. All things equal teams want less dead cap space a...
More About: Offseason , Quiet

Contract rant, sports agents should not be encouraged by team representativ
2008-02-19 20:16:00
Very fascinating article from Fox Business about Kristen Kuliga, a female sports agent. More appropriately the female sports agent, as it is not an industry merely favored by men but rather almost entirely dominated by them. If not for Kristen Kuliga. Her credentials: Kuliga is one of a handful of females certified by the National Football League Player's Association to be a sports agent. She currently has eight football players as clients, including Tennessee Titan Linebacker Jeremy Cain and Jets Punter Ben Graham. In 2001, she became a certified agent and negotiated Doug Flutie's contract--becoming the first woman to negotiate a starting NFL quarterback's contract. Reasons why this might be a male dominated industry range from the obvious -- the NFL is played entirely by men, though I've heard there is no rule in place prohibiting women from competition -- to the subtle, such as: When another agent, Tony Agone, says his daughter was thinking about becoming a sports agent, he t...
More About: Sports , Agents , Rant , Team , Contract

D.J. Hackett a possible Redskins wide reciever in 2008?
2008-02-19 19:41:00
It wasn't my idea originally so I lay no claim to it. Rather, newcomer Redskins blogger Internet is for Zorn (hat tip: The Bog) last week tackled receivers not-named Chad Johnson. On Hackett: D.J. Hackett Free agent? Yes. Stylish hair, fake teeth, etc? No, nothing of note, although he has at times seemed to made out of spun sugar. Bigger WR than current? 6-2, 208. Yeppers. Younger than 30? 26. A total jackass? Not by any accounts, but he was on the Colorado rape football team, which is not an inspiring beginning. Snyder heard of him? Almost certainly not, but new head coach Zorn really should've, as Hackett has been one of the WRs that the QBs Zorn's been coaching out in Seattle were throwing to. Positives: Height for a receiving unit sorely lacking, familiarity with this offensive system, and youth. Is D.J. Hackett of 1,394 career receiving yards going to be prohibitively expensive? Doubtful. This isn't mere blogger-conjecture, either. Over at the Official Site, Gary Fit...
More About: Wide , Reciever , 2008