Looks like we’ve got our first off field controversy of the season, post draft. Second round pick Tight End Fred Davis “missed” practice Sunday morning. Early reports are that he overslept after being out very late partying Saturday night. In the “You only get to make a first impression once” category, we now know Mr. Davis’ first impression with the staff; it’s not good.
As a second round pick, Davis is looking at a payday of ~$2-3M over a 3-5 year rookie contract. He’s probably going to lose a bit of that now, as serious issues are raised about his maturity when he pulls a stunt like that. There’s a time to be young and stupid; there’s a time to be young and smart. Looks like Fred Davis has started on the wrong foot, by taking the Young and Stupid route. At the very least, he’s now going to have clauses inserted into his contract with penalties for things like this.
Of course, money isn’t involved, yet, because he hasn’t signed a contract. But for the Redskins part, they’re counting on a player that can be depended on to take some heat off Cooley and provide needed depth at the position. Let’s hope he grows up fast, because otherwise his stay in DC could be short.
The Washington Times Redskins 360 blog threw up some good info late last night concerning injured players who will not be on the field at this weekend’s mini-camp. Players not expected to participate include:
Rocky McIntosh
Carlos Rogers
Tyler Ecker
Kareem Moore
Colt Brennan
Rogers, McIntosh and Brennan were expected. McIntosh is hopeful that he will be able to return in time for training camp, while Rogers is aiming for the season opener for his return. Brennan is likely going to be stashed on IR for the entire season. Ecker and Moore were surprises. Ecker was a late round draft pick last year who spent the entire season on IR, with the drafting of Fred Davis he’s an extreme long shot to make the roster. Moore was just drafted on Sunday, but there was no reports on any injuries. You’d have to assume he’ll be ready to go in training camp.
After months of coaching searches, free agency inactivity and draft maneuver, the Washington Redskins get together this weekend to actually play some football. That’s right; it’s the 25th most exciting time of the year for the football fan - mini camp.
This weekend will serve as a get to know session for new coach Jim Zorn. All the players are going to be wearing names on their jerseys to help Zorn identify everyone. The team will work with from a portion of Zorn’s playbook and start to get used to all the new plays and terminology.
Mini-camp also serves as a chance for all the newly drafted players and undrafted free agents to make an impression with the coaching staff. For some of the undrafted players, it may be their only chance to prove themselves. One bad weekend and you could be replaced by another undrafted rookie before training camp.
You’ll also get your fill of feel-good articles in all the local papers. Spoiler alert: You’ll hear about Jason Campbell looking good, the young receivers show promise, hurt players like Carlos Rogers and Rocky McIntosh are progressing well, and some underachieving veteran (Cornelius Griffin?) is in the best shape of his career.
Mini-camp might not be the most exciting time of the year, but it’s still nice to see the team back on the field. And hey, training camp is only 3 months away.
Suffering from a bit of a post-draft hangover, so instead of throwing up some half-assed content, here’s a video of our newly drafted punter, Durant Brooks, blasting a 76 yard punt out of his own endzone. Eat it Derrick Frost.
