The Redskin Report

Redskins Insider blog reports that the Redskins 1st pick in the 2008 draft, 2nd rounder Devin Thomas has agreed to a four year deal with the team.  The deal is worth up to 4.8 million over 4 years with a 2.75 million dollar signing bonus.  A contract like this shows why hitting on these 2nd round picks is important, if one or two of these guys become starters you have them locked in for four years at a very reasonable rate.

Fred Davis is the only unsigned draft pick, but the team is confident everyone will be signed before training camp.  Considering Davis was drafted in the same round as Malcolm Kelly and Thomas in the 1st round, it shouldn’t be hard to work out a contract somewhere inbetween those two contracts (Kelly got 4 years-3.36 million with 1.65 million guaranteed).

Image from domehead13 via Flickr

The Washington Redskins are coming off a playoff berth, basically returning the entire roster, added a few weapons through the draft and have some key veterans fully healthy after missing time last year.   So can someone explain to me why they are the typical choice for last place in the NFC East this year?

There was a change in the head coaching spot and I don’t think anyone is prepared to argue that Jim Zorn is a better coach that Joe Gibbs at this point, but the hiring of Zorn also brings an offense that should be able to produce many more points than Gibbs’ out of date offensive strategies.   Gregg Williams is gone, but the defensive staff is pretty well intact and all the players are returning.  I don’t see a huge downgrade there.

The Redskins made the playoffs last year despite losing a ton of players to injuries - two starting offensive lineman, the starting quarterback, and three starters on defense - McIntosh, Rogers and Taylor.  Add in the tragic murder of Sean Taylor and you can’t imagine a team having more adversity than the 2007-08 Washington Redskins.   This year is bound to be easier, it can’t get much worse.

So call me crazy but last place just doesn’t add up.  In the last three games of the regular season the Redskins beat both the Giants and Vikings handily on the road and then smoked Dallas at home.  They were closer to the best team in the division when last year ended than the worst, and there’s just no reason to think this year is going to be any different. 

Training camp starts on Sunday?  Guess someone better get out of summer vacation mode and start writing again.   Once the team got past the Joe Gibbs retirement and the coaching search semi-fiasco this has been a very quiet off-season.  The only free agent signing of any note was re-upping with Todd Collins to back-up Jason Campbell at quarterback.   But there was a bit of news, so let’s recap:

Draft Pick Signings

As of today all draft picks excluding Devin Thomas and Fred Davis have signed.  Of course those are the top two picks but you’d have to think Davis at the very least would want to be in camp on-time after his mini-camp ‘issue’.  The latest player signed was Colt Brennan, who it appears will be given a clear shot at being the #3 QB after the team released Sam Hollenstein.  Thomas is another guy who should be demanding his agent get his deal done ASAP.  Malcolm Kelly has already signed and the wide receiver depth chart is pretty full.  Missing any time in training camp could hinder his chances to see playing time this year.

Other draft picks to watch in training camp are Justin Tyron, who could see duty at nickel back if Carlos Rogers isn’t ready to start the season and punter Durant Brooks, who is competing with Derrick Frost for the punters role.  The other rookies will need injuries or a miracle to earn much playing time.

Zorn Settles In           

Let’s face it, the announcement of Jim Zorn as the new head coach of the Washington Redskins didn’t exactly inspire a ton of confidence.  Then when Santana Moss missed a day of OTA due to a hang-over and LaRon Landry no-showed the first day of mini-camp, the doubt grew. 

These concerns haven’t gone away, but the players are quickly turning into fans of Zorn.  Clinton Portis has made a few comments about Zorn being ‘clearly in charge’ and he’s a fan of the new offense.  Hopefully the days of ‘score 14 and pray the defense can hold’ are over in Washington.

Brett Favre

There have been a few mummers about the Redskins going after Favre, but place me firmly in the ‘not going to happen’ camp.  The Redskins have committed to Jason Campbell and quite frankly having a QB that could throw 25 interceptions next year starting isn’t exactly a great plan.

I will say this; Aaron Rodgers has quickly become the Scott Mitchell/Rob Johnson (ex-Redskin, bet you blocked that from your memory) of 2008.  He’s played one good half of football and gets injured every time he’s ever seen the field and you want Favre to be the back-up?  Rodgers might be good, but if I were a team that could compete in 2008 I’d rather have Favre.

About a month ago, I asked for comments on how we’re going to run the annual Pigskin Pick’em contest this year; at the moment, it’s still too early for me to use ESPN’s services, but not too early to start setting it up using one of the various Pool Tools out there.  But I need comments to know which way you folks want it… I realize this is the deadest part of the season… the only news the last three weeks has been the signing of two more draft picks, and the release of two.  We’re still 6 picks shy of having them all signed for camp, and we’re still two weeks from camp.  So now is the time to make up your my mind for me, folks… do we go with ESPN’s pool, or do we go with a pool that’s locally hosted this year, like we did for the overflow (only three folks used the overflow last year).  I’ll have the pool up early enough for everyone who is a regular here to easily get signed up one way or the other before it starts.