Free Agent and Trade Frenzy Brings More Help to the Defense

At last, the talk of the NFL Lockout is behind us and the fun has begun.  Much like they did at the NFL draft in April, Redskins' fans have watched the team take a very different approach to free agency.  Instead of going out and signing one or two of the highest paid veteran free agents in the middle or second half of their career, the team has focused on adding quality, young, up and coming players who still have potential to improve.

First, however, the Redskins had some unfinished business to take care of.  Namely, Donovan McNabb and Albert Haynesworth, and they were smart to resolve both of these issues quickly and quietly and not letting them become a distraction yet again this year.  Regardless of only receiving 6th and 5th round picks respectively for them, the important thing is they are gone.  The only other option was to release them so they at least got something in return for them.  Per the Penguins of Madagascar said, "Smile and wave boys, smile and wave."

Now, on to the Free Agents!

Defense:

Former New York Giant, Barry Cofield, adds some much needed toughness at Nose Tackle where the team struggled last year.

Adding former Cowboys' Defensive End, Stephen Bowen, adds even more depth to the defensive line, which could quickly be becoming a strength.  Between Bowen, Cofield, and 2nd round draft pick, Jarvis Jenkins, the defensive front should be much improved.

With Carlos Rogers departing as a free agent, the Redskins made an excellent move and added Defensive Back, Josh Wilson, from the Ravens who is only 26 and steadily improving.  This could prove to be their best overall move in free agency.


Offense:

Versatile Guard / Center, Chris Chester, does add flexibility, but he has primarily been a backup player this far in his career.

Guard Sean Locklear is a 30 year old veteran from Seattle who is more of a finesse lineman.  It will be interesting to see if he can challenge for a starting job.  He does add more badly needed depth to the line.

Trading for Wide Receiver Jabar Gafney does add some more needed veteran leadership for the young, up and coming receiving corps.  He is not a star, but he is a consistent player who can and will contribute.

Donte Stallworth is the most bizarre signing of the offseason.  When you are trying to rebuild with younger players and guys that can bring a positive influence to the lockeroom, why in the world would you sign a 30 year old, inconsistent, injury plagued player who actually killed someone while he was driving drunk and stoned. On top of that, after having to deal with the McNabb and Haynesworth fiascos  for the last year, why would you possibly sign a guy like this?  It makes no sense at all.


Re-Signings:

Two of the Redskins' own free agents that they simply had to re-sign were Offensive Tackle, Jammal Brown, and Wide Receiver, Santana Moss.  If either of these players had signed with another team, it would have been absolutely devastating to the offense.

Two other very smart re-signings were Safety, Reed Doughty, and Linebacker, Rocky McIntosh.  When healthy, Reed Doughty is a quality reserve player with starting experience and, while he may not be the most ideal fit in a 3-4 defense, Rocky McIntosh is still only 28 and was very productive with 110 tackles.


What is Missing?

As if Redskins' fans need anyone to point it out, we still have no Quarterback.  One of the top free agent targets that the team should have gone after, IF they wanted to have a chance to compete this year, is Matt Moore who has signed with the Dolphins.  Moore is a young Quarterback who is still improving and has valuable starting experience.  So far, reports are he is having a fantastic preseason and could be replacing incumbent starter Chad Henne.  Moore's performance is no doubt part of the reason they have backed off of their potential trade for Broncos' Quarterback Kyle Orton.

The top trade target of this offseason, IF they wanted to have a chance to compete this season, was the above mentioned Quarterback Kyle Orton.  The Miami Dolphins were pursuing a trade for Orton who is better than most people give him credit for, but the teams could not agree to terms and the Broncos appear to be set on keeping him now that Tim Tebow has performed poorly so far this preseason.  Had the Redskins gotten involved early, they may have had a chance at landing Orton for a draft pick.

Instead, they said last year's 3rd string Quarterback John Beck would be this year's starter and they settled for signing free agent Quarterback Rex Grossman, who probably would not be signed by any other team in the NFL.  However, Beck has been so inaccurate in the preseason, it would be surprising if Grossman was not the team's starter in week 1.


What Does It All mean?

It means that the Redskins have made a substantial upgrade to their defense and they should be much improved on that side of the ball.  With that said, their numbers may not be as good as expected by the end of the year.  Why?  Because they are going to spend the majority of the season on the field due to a horrible offense that has potential to be really, really bad.

The only reason I can see completely ignoring the Quarterback position in the college draft and in free agency is that Mike Shanahan is planning on a horrific season in 2011 and he is putting all of his football eggs in next year's expected top draft pick, Andrew Luck's, Quarterback basket.

Since the team did not go crazy in free agency like they usually do, they may be saving up for next year.  In 2012, the Redskins could potentially land Quarterback Andrew Luck in the draft and a top free agent Wide Receiver like Vincent Jackson, DeSean Jackson, or possibly even Larry Fitzgerald.  At least Dan Snyder can't take away our dreams.

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog

2011 Free Agency & Trade Targets

After adding some badly needed depth to the team through the college draft, the Redskins still have a number of glaring holes that must be filled through free agency.  Here are the team's biggest remaining needs.


QUARTERBACK

While Shanahan and company did a good job of using the draft to add depth to several key positions, they completely ignored the most important position...quarterback.  If the Redskins hope to compete at all in the upcoming 2011 season, they must acquire a veteran quarterback to be their starter.  Last year's third string QB, John Beck, is (or will be shortly) the only QB on the roster and with all respect to John, he is not the answer.

There are two immediate targets at the quarterback position.  The top free agent target should be Matt Moore of the Carolina Panthers who has starting experience and, at 26, is still young and improving.  The other top target is Kyle Orton who may vary well be available by trade.  Carson Palmer would be another potential trade target, however, the Cincinnati Bengals have stated emphatically that he will not be traded.

Obviously, the team must trade Donovan McNabb as quickly as possible to eliminate distractions.  Players are tired of hearing about and dealing with the turmoil surrounding McNabb and Albert Haynesworth.  The quicker he is moved the better and the Redskins would be wise to take whatever draft pick they can get for him and move on.

If the Redskins do not make an aggressive move to land a legitimate starting quarterback to lead the team, it will become clear that Shanahan is sandbagging the 2011 season in hopes of landing the #1 pick in the 2012 draft, which will be Stanford QB Andrew Luck.


OFFENSIVE LINE

First and foremost, the Redskins must re-sign their own free agent starting Right Tackle, Jammal Brown.  Jamaal came back from injury last year and is a key to holding the offensive line together.  If Jammal is allowed leave and sign with another team, it would be a huge blow and could lead to the beginning of a long, long year for the offensive line.

The team also needs to strengthen the inner portion of their line.  Center, Casey Rabach, is passed his prime and right guards Will Montgomery and Artis Hicks are backups.

The top targets here is free agent Guard Marshal Yanda of the Baltimore Ravens followed by Davin Joseph of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.


WIDE RECEIVER

The annual desperate search for wide receivers continues on in 2011.  The top priority is to re-sign Wide Receiver Santana Moss.  Santana is really a # 2 wideout, but he has played as the the Redskins' # 1 wideout for several years now.  If Moss signs with another team, it could be a disastrous year for the Redskins offense.  The Redskins did draft wide receivers Leonard Hankerson and Niles Paul in the draft.  Both receivers have potential, but we Redskins fans have a hard time relying on potential.  Especially, after both 2008 second round wide receiver picks, Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, both flopped terribly.

There are a number of free agent targets here including Sidney Rice of the Minnesota Vikings, Braylan Edwards of the New York Jets, Chad Ochocinco of the Cincinnati Bengals, and Steve Breaston of the Arizona Cardinals.


DEFENSIVE LINE

One of the weakest areas of the defense in 2011 was the Defensive Line.  In order for the defense to continue to improve, the Redskins need to add more depth and more pass rush capability.  A popular name that would be a good fit here is Cullen Jenkins of the Green Bay Packers.

Of course, there is still the never ending Albert Haynesworth issue.  Mike Shanahan must resolve this issue just as quickly as the McNabb issue.  If there is anyone willing to take Haynesworth in a trade, outside of the NFC East, they must take whatever they can get for him, even a bag of donuts.  They just need to be rid of him.  If they cannot find any trade partners, they must find a way to keep him away from the team.


LINEBACKER

The team added young stud Ryan Kerrigan through the draft to man the outside linebacker position.  However, the team still needs to add depth and possibly a starter at the Middle Linebacker position.

Free agent linebacker, Rocky McIntosh, was not a good fit in the 3-4 defense and will most likely be sign with another team.  The top targets here are Barrett Ruud of the Tampa Bay Buccanears, Stephen Tulloch of the Tennessee Titans, and Paul Posluszny of the Buffalo Bills.


CORNERBACK

This is probably the most difficult situation to figure out for the team.  Carlos Rogers is a solid cover corner, but he has never lived up to expectations and he simply cannot catch the football to create turnovers. In order to keep Carlos, the Redskins would most likely have to overpay for him and he just is not worth it.  Especially if the team is going to enter into an official rebuilding mode.

Probably the wisest move here is to allow Carlos to leave, re-sign free agent cornerback Philip Buchanon, and add another veteran free agent to the mix.


Let the frenzy begin!

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog

Post NFL Draft Review

Well, for Redskins' fans, this NFL draft was a very different experience as we watched the Redskins brain trust take a very different approach.  The Redskins' brain trust traded back in the draft multiple times to obtain additional picks in the later rounds in order to fill a long list of needs on the roster. The team needed an infusion of both depth and youth at almost every position and Mike Shanahan and company did accomplish several of the team's goals.

Surprisingly, Shanahan and Bruce Allen focused on the defense early, which struggled mightily last year with the switch to a 3-4 defense.  While first round pick Ryan Kerrigan is not generally considered an elite level player, he should be a very good player for the team and an excellent fit in the 3-4 defense at Outside Linebacker and, possibly, Defensive End in certain situations.  With London Flether getting close to retirement and Rocky McIntosh set to be a free agent, the Redskins needed to add help at Linebacker and this was a solid move.

Another glaring need was depth on the Defensive Line and the Redskins helped address that need by selecting Jarvis Jenkins.  Some analysts consider Jenkins a bit of a reach in the 2nd round, but the team believes he has potential and flexibility playing defensive end and some defensive tackle.

Once again, the Redskins also continued their tradition of drafting Wide Receivers beginning with Leonard Hankerson, a good size wideout with potential, in the 3rd round.  But that was not enough for Mike Shanahan so he added Niles Paul in the 5th round and Aldrick Robinson in the 6th round.  This may mark the end of the road for Wide Receiver, and former 2nd round pick, Malcolm Kelly, who has been a huge disappointment to put it politely.

With Clinton Portis gone and Ryan Torain still an injury risk, the Redskins also needed to add depth to the running back corps.  After all the excitement last preseason when the Redskins had 3 aging veterans in Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson and Willy Parker on the roster, the Redskins went with the youth movement this year and drafted Running Back Roy Helu in the 4th round and Evan Royster in the 6th round.  Helu is thought to be a good fit in coach Shanahan's  running scheme, but Royster is most likely an emergency back and special team's player.

The team also added more help to the defensive side of ball by selecting Safety Dejon Gomes, Cornerback Brandyn Thompson, Defensive End Markus White, and Defensive Tackle Christopher Neild.  Shanahan also selected Offensive Guard Maurice Hurt to round out the draft.

It was a welcome change to see the Redskins trade down in the draft and accumulate picks in the later rounds.  One of the questions now is, did they use those additional picks wisely?  Several of the later round picks, like Dejon Gomes, were considered reaches and some of them may have a difficult time making the team.  It is clear that this is a team in transition and there is no way to fill all of the team's needs in one draft so Mike Shanahan and company chose to focus on improving the team's defense and it appears they have accomplished that.

Of course, it would not be Dan Snyder's Redskins if there wasn't some type of controversy.  As every Redskins' fan knows all to well, the team's biggest need is at Quarterback and that position was completely ignored.  Most fans thought the team would use their 1st round pick, or at least, their 2nd round pick on a Quarterback and it did not happen.

QB Blaine Gabbert was available when the Redskins selected their 1st round pick at number 10, but the team passed on him along with everyone else.  If Mike Shanahan did not think Gabbert or any of the other available Quarterbacks were potential franchise Quarterbacks, it is understandable that they did not draft one in the 1st round.  However, what does not make sense is that they did not draft any Quarterback at all even for developmental purposes.  While the Redskins need a starting Quarterback, the team should also be looking for a young backup Quarterback they can develop over time.  Surely, one of the many Quarterbacks selected in this year's draft could have fit the bill.

After painfully watching Shanahan ignore the Quarterback and Offensive Line positions, where the team needs help at both Guard and Center, we can't help but think Shanahan is planning a run at next year's projected #1 draft pick, Quarterback Andrew Luck.  Unfortunately, that could mean a brutal season for the team in 2011.  They have some pieces in place on the defense now.  Perhaps, they will focus on the offense when the free agent period begins.  We can only hope.

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog

2011 Redskins NFL Draft Preview

At long last, the draft is here.  After all the negative talk about the lockout and worrying about what free agents may be available, we can finally sit down and add some much needed players to our team.


This year, the Redskins have 4 Primary Needs (not necessarily in order):

1. Quarterback
2. Offensive Line
3. Defensive Line
4. Linebacker

Here are the Secondary Needs:

1. Cornerback
2. Safety - Thanks to Oshiomogho Atogwe
3. Runningback
4. Wide Receiver

Let's take a look at this year's positional needs.

Quarterback - This is a major priority.  Rex Grossman is a free agent.  Donovan McNabb, one way or another, is gone.  That leaves John Beck as the only QB on the roster, not a good situation.  Make that, a very bad situation.


Offensive Line - The Redskins must resign Right Tackle Jammal Brown.  Then, they must upgrade the interior of the line.  The Redskins could not run the ball up the middle much at all in 2010.  Guard is a glaring weak spot and Casey Rabach is a serviceable Center at best at this stage of his career.


Wide Receiver - Santana Moss and Anthony Armstrong, who was a lucky find, must both be resigned.  At this point, the best option would be to pursue a WR in free agency.  Given the horrible history the Redskins have had drafting WR's and the fact that they have no one to throw the ball to them, this should not be the focus of the draft.

Runningback - Ryan Torain may be a legitmate starter, but the team must add depth due to his injury history.

Defensive Line - In the 3-4 defense, you must have an anchor in the middle at Nose Tackle and the Redskins did not have one in the 2010 season.  Hopefully, Ma'ake Kemoeatu can continue his comeback from his previous achilles injury and be at least a part-time force in the middle.  Albert Haynesworth is a complete loss and will not be with the team in 2011.  If Jeremy Jarmon is not ready to step up, depth at Defensive End is needed as well.


Linebacker - Brian Orakpo is the young star of the defense and somehow London Fletcher continues to play at a high level, but at 35 we must plan for the future.  Rocky Macintosh was solid in the 4-3 defense, but does not seem well suited for the 3-4.


Cornerback - DeAngelo Hall is solid on one side, but Carlos Rogers has never lived up to his high draft pick status.  He is not a bad coverage corner, but his inability to get any turnovers at all is a major negative.  There may be too many other needs to address cornerback this offseason.

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog

Oshiomogho Atogwe, Welcome to the Redskins

The Redskins have made a very nice early offseason addition to their roster right before the beginning of the CBA lockout.  The team has signed Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe who will line up as a starter alongside LeRon Landry and provide the Redskins with a big upgrade in the secondary.


A number of Redskins' analysts and fans have questioned the signing due to the fact that Atogwe is 29 years old and that Mike Shanahan has declared a youth movement for the team.  The fact is, if it was possible to sign 24 year old stars at every position, every NFL team would do it.  Atogwe is only 29 years old and while a lot of RB's do not make it past 30 years old in the league anymore, many players at other positions do play well into their thirties.

The team is moving in the right direction, at least in some respects.  The roster is slowly getting younger with the cuts of Clinton Portis, Derrick Dockery, and Andre Carter.  That trend will continue once the lockout is over.  Other older players such as Philip Daniels and Mike Sellers may also very well be two of the next players to be released.

As a player, Atogwe brings one specific dynamic to the team that the Redskins have not had in a long time...Turnovers.  The man makes interceptions and causes fumbles at an extremely high rate compared to most safeties in the NFL.  And, he had his best seasons under Defensive Coordinator Jim Haslett while he was in St. Louis.

With all of the uncertainty the Redskins have at Quarterback, Wide Receiver and the Offensive Line, the Redskins need turnovers.  Hopefully, the combination of Atogwe, LeRon Landry, and Deangelo Hall in the secondary, there will be plenty of interception opportunities in 2011.

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog

No Thank You Bob Sanders

We appreciate you stopping by the Redskins facility Mr. Sanders and we wish you well as you continue your NFL career.  Enough said.

Simply put, Bob Sanders is a backup at this point in his career.  He has been an elite level player and would surely be a great addition to any team, if he could stay healthy.  Unfortunately, he cannot do that.  He gets hurt every single year and misses half of the season.  A playoff team looking for extra part-time depth, yes.  A rebuilding team trying to build an identity like the Redskins, absolutely not.

If the Redskins are serious about upgrading the Free Safety position, Oshiomogho Atogwe, is a good answer and he happens to be making a visit to D.C. right now.  Atogwe may not be considered an elite safety, but he has a knack for ending up with the ball in his hands.  He makes interceptions and has turned forced fumbles into an art form.  The Redskins desperately need to create more turnovers.  Atogwe also played for Jim Haslett in St. Louis and had his best season under him so there is a connection.

Any pieces the Redskins can put in place before the March 4 deadline would be huge so time is of the essence.

If the Redskins and Atogwe cannot come to terms, another target is Eric Weddle (Chargers).  Weddle is another very solid free safety who does have one other advantage on his side, his age.  Weddle is only 26 while Atogwe is 29 so, barring injury, Weddle would seem to have a few more years left in his prime.

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog

Shaun Rogers Visits the Redskins

Defensive Tackle Shaun Rogers visited the Redskins this past week along with the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints.  Rogers is a very large man at about 6'4" and 350 lbs and is an excellent albeit inconsistent player.

The Redskins do need to add depth to the DT position, but it is not nearly as dire as the QB and offensive line positions.  The Redskins will need to focus their few draft picks on those two priority needs first so signing Rogers would definitely help to solidify the interior of the defensive line, which struggled against the run.  The Redskins still have Maake Kemoeatu signed as their starting DT.  Rogers and Kemoeatu together would make a nice rotation for the team in the middle.

While Rogers would be a welcome addition to the team and a definite upgrade, he is not a player to "break the bank" on.  As I mentioned above, Rogers has also visited the Chiefs and Saints and the Saints, especially could also really use help at DT.  So if you received comparable offers from a team that is rebuilding and a perennial Super Bowl contender, which would you choose?

The Redskins would most likely have to overpay to get Rogers.  If they can get him at a reasonable price, they should sign him.  If not, move on and see who else comes available later on.

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog

Brandon Banks and NFL Youngsters Clubbing at 3:00AM

By now, most Redskins fans have heard about what happened to Redskins' KR Brandon Banks.  If you have not heard the story, the version most commonly told to the media is that there was an altercation between a friend of Banks and a third party.  The third party pulled out a knife and Banks came to the aid of his friend.  Of course, this altercation took place at none other than an "upscale" nightclub at about 3:00AM on a Saturday.

At first, we were told Banks had only a scratch.  Now, the truth has come out that he has a collapsed lung.  Who knows what the truth is?  All I know is you can't return punts with a tube sticking out of your lung.

First, I certainly hope Brandon makes a full recovery.  He is a young guy who caught a break catching on with the Redskins as an undrafted free agent.  Then, he took that break and converted it into an impressive rookie year as a kick returner.  He had a 96 yard kickoff return for a touchdown and had a couple other big returns as well.  It would be a real shame if all that came to an abrupt end because of this incident.

I just have to ask myself what it will take to get it through the heads of some of these younger NFL players and NFL hopefuls to stay out of the nightclubs, at least after midnight.  I am not saying stay home and never go out, but be reasonable.  I know we would all love to go out and celebrate and be a big shot every once in a while, but you have to understand one thing if nothing else.  Nothing good happens in a nightclub after 2:00AM!

Generally, a lot of what happens after about 2:00AM includes some form of drugs, DUI, prostitution, sexual assault, and a whole lot of fist, knife and gun fights.  Even if you are completely innocent and are not involved in any of this, it will be all around you and you are putting yourself, your career, and ultimately your loved ones that count on you the most at risk.

I will say a prayer for Brandon, get well soon.

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog

2011 Redskins Offseason Overhaul

And so begins another offseason overhaul for our beloved team.  Like every other offseason since the Dan Snyder era began, the Redskins have a myriad of holes to fill on their team.  While we would love to fill all of those holes with long-term impact players, it simply cannot be done in one offseason so we have to prioritize those needs.

Here are a few of the most pressing needs the Redskins must address this offseason if they hope to improve in the 2011 season (assuming there is one).  These are not in order of importance, these are the positions that Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen simply must address and improve upon.

Quarterback - No big surprise here, we still need a QB.

• First Step:  Resign Rex Grossman - As painful as it may be, we should have at least 1 QB with some experience under the Shanahan's.
• Top Free Agent Targets:  Matt Hasselbeck (Seahawks), Matt Moore (Panthers)
• Watch List:  Carson Palmer (Bengals), Kyle Orton (Broncos) - Both may be released for various reasons.

Running Back - The Clinton Portis era is over.  The team has too many other big holes to fill to go all out for a star RB.  We should stick with the 2010 combination of Torain and Williams and let them develop.  Add a little depth to round out the position.

• First Step:  Resign Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams;  Say Goodbye to Clinton Portis
• Top Free Agent Targets:   Darren Sproles (Chargers) - Excellent receiving back with kick returning skills, Ronnie Brown (Dolphins)

Full Back - With a weak offensive line, the running game would greatly benefit from a dominant FB blocker who can also catch a few passes.

• First Step:  Say Fond Farewell to Redskins' fan favorite Mike Sellers.
• Top Free Agent Targets:  Le'Ron McClain (Ravens) - McClain is one of the best FB's in the league and has also played RB. He would add stability and versatility to the backfield.  The Redskins should be All-In on McClain.

Wide Receiver - The annual search for a 6'0"+ WR continues.  Anthony Armstrong was a great find last season and he should be rewarded for his efforts.  Imagine if we did not have him and Joey Galloway and Roydell Williams played even more!  In any case, with Moss and Armstrong, the team has one of the smaller WR corps yet again and we need to add a taller possession and touchdown catching receiver.

• First Step:  Must Resign Santana Moss and Anthony Armstrong
• Top Free Agent Target:  Vincent Jackson (Chargers), James Jones (Packers), Chad Johnson (Bengals), Braylon Edwards (Jets), Mark Clayton (Rams)

Offensive Line - The biggest need this year along the offensive line is both the Left and Right Guard positions. An upgrade at Center would be helpful if one becomes available as Casey Rabach appears to be on the decline.

• First Step:  Resign Jammal Brown
  
• Top Free Agent Targets:  Logan Mankins (Patriots), Carl Nicks (Saints), Ryan Kalil (Panthers)
  
• Update:  Mankins was franchise tagged by New England.  There is no chance to trade for him with our lack of draft picks.

Linebacker - The team needs to add depth to the linebacker corp and they need to add players who are already familiar with the 3-4 defense.  No more converting players to new positions!

• First Step:  Resign Rocky McIntosh
• Top Free Agent Targets:  Lamar Woodley (Steelers), Tamba Hali (Chiefs), Barrett Ruud (Bucs), Paul Posluszny (Bills)
• Update:  Both Woodley and Hali have been franchise tagged as expected.

Cornerback - The end of another era, the disappointing Carlos Rogers era.  He is not a bad corner, but he has not lived up to the First Round draft pick expectations that were expected of him to say the least.  And he simply cannot make interceptions.  If you cannot catch the football and make interceptions, you will never be a top CB.

• First Step:  Let Carlos Rogers depart as a free agent.
• Top Free Agent Targets:  Champ Bailey (Broncos) - A Reunion?, Johnathon Joseph (Bengals), Antonio Cromartie (Jets), Brent Grimes (Falcons), Richard Marshall (Panthers)

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JacksGhost
Washington Redskins Hog Blog