First we bring back Fred Smoot. Then Derrick Dockery. Next may be Renaldo Wynn.

With the release of DEs Jason Taylor and Demetric Evans signing with the Niners, the Redskins are looking to put a bookend on the line that finally found someone in the middle who should collapse the pocket. The Redskins may resign Daniels as well as bring back Wynn to fill that void for now.


UPDATE: Redskins made an offer to DE Phillip Daniels, and he's going to think about it...

Remember back in the day when former Saints head coach Mike Ditka traded all his draft picks to the Redskins so he can draft RB Ricky Williams? There were snickers, sure, but the real question was can one person really be worth it? Apparently it wasn't Ricky. And remember Herschel Walker going to Minnesota for what ended up being the trade that brought to Dallas the key ingredients for their Super Bowl run? The Vikes were watching at home.

Well, after reading about how only Grif is left from the 2004 class of defensive signings, I was wondering if getting rid of Demetric Evans, Marcus Washington, Phillip Daniels and Shawn Springs and signing Albert Haynesworth was not about the same scenario?

What if Haynesworth can penetrate the pocket, but a corner loses containment on the slot receiver running a hot route? Or Haynesworth clogs the middle of the line up just for the RB to bounce outside and run around the LBs? Or worse yet, with all the dinking and dunking, Haynesworth needs a breather from being on the field for 8 minutes just as the opponents reach the red zone and they run right through the run defense for a TD while Haynesworth is on the sidelines sucking air and still counting his millions?

I didn't pay much attention to him in Tennessee so I can't say whether or not he's in shape or not, if he's as dominant as Reggie White was or if he's the equivalent of a Marcus Washington, Demetric Evans, Phillip Daniels, Shawn Springs trade if that's what was being offered, but I sure do hope our top 10 ranked defense stays in the top 10 without some of the core guys gone and a new multiple millionaire filling in for just one of those positions.

I have a confession to make. As optimistic as I wish to be, there are some reservations about signing someone to $100 million, though it's obviously it's only a $48 million/4 year contract. And there's some reservations about signing a guy who stomped on someone's defenseless face on national TV and played stupid about it. And some reservations about a guy who drives his Ferrari 100+ mph, clipping someone causing a crash that puts the victim in the hospital.

Newly minted DT Albert Haynesworth's victim's lawyer is claiming the victim of the crash can't walk, and Haynesworth just signed a $100 million contract. Now Albert obviously isn't the only one speeding recklessly on the highways or receiving large chunks of money before earning it [AIG being another example], but when you put the two together, it kind of makes you feel guilty as a Redskins fan for signing him.

Just had to get that out my system as I send out a word of encouragement to Corey Edmondson to recover quickly from his tragic experience.

Isn't it amazing that no matter how solid of a career former Buffalo Bill kicker Scott Norwood had, he will always be remembered for one kick? He went to the Pro Bowl in 1988, leading the league in scoring that year; ranked in the top 10 for scoring four years in a year; helped the Bills to four consecutive Super Bowl appearances — but it was the missed FG against the Giants that cost the Bills a Super Bowl victory that he'll be remembered for.

Luckily for the Redskins, we're still in the league and can redeem ourselves. Somehow, though, we can't shake a label either. The label of being a permanent resident of salary cap hell.

After several years of splurging on signing lucrative contracts, the Redskins are always predicted to be doomed by the salary cap. And yet, we still sign huge contracts and get huge names to suit up in burgundy and gold. Or is it maroon and black?

Why exactly the label sticks can be obvious, but seriously, I look at it as excellent money management. Just because Daniel Snyder wants to spend his money freely doesn't make him a bad person. Or ignorant one. If we won a Super Bowl off of it, everyone would copy the strategy. The point isn't to save money; the point is to get the best available talent.

This year three players signed contracts totaling a mind-boggling $180+ million! What salary cap hell are they talking about? Why wouldn't every team want to be in that position?

Ahhh! Our favorite time of the year. The time when we always show the world we are the next contender for the trophy by flexing our financial muscles and signing the best of the best. Right? We always get the big names, minus T.O., fortunately. This year, of course, it's Albert Haynesworth and $100 million of Daniel Snyder's money.

And then near the end of the season, it's always a question of whether or not it was a wise signing or not. Hindsight is 20/20 though. Who would've known Brandon Lloyd is the league's greatest highlight reel performer, but not that good in regular game time situations? Or that Adam Archuleta was, well, what did we see in him again?

But maybe the problem isn't just who we're signing. Maybe it's who we're letting go. Antonio Pierce and Ryan Clark were both strong, solid contributors in defenses saturated with big names, but they now have Super Bowl rings. Any chance of the Niners winning one with Demetric Evans?

Wow! In 2000 we were the first team to have a payroll of $100,000,000. In less than 10 years we sign the first defensive player [or is it first non-QB?] to a $100,000,000 contract. Have we learned anything?

Apparently Daniel Snyder has...

Something tells me Clinton Portis whispered to Daniel Snyder that the secret to success was in Colorado, implying the running game that made him the star that he is. Instead of taking notes on the way Denver could open holes for Portis back in the day, they keep signing players out of Northern Colorado, as in Reed Doughty's alma mater...

Speaking of T.O. former Redskins CB Shawn Springs, known to shut down [not shut up, just shut down] T.O., has signed with the place where players go when they're not being offered endorsement deals geared towards the young folk...

One of my co-workers, who is a Cowboys fan, mentioned to me at lunch that it looked like the Redskins were going to get T.O. Indigestation started immediately. And as I was interviewing candidates [I work for a staffing agency] I kept wanting to ask the one question that would determine if they were hired or not: Are you a Cowboys fan?

Luckily, before I started heading home with this dark cloud over my head, I hear that Snyder and company has decided not to bring the toxic material to the nation's capital.

Whew!

For a split second, though, I was daydreaming about what if T.O. could keep his mouth shut for one year [ok, that's fantasizing; how about six months] and simply lined up with Santana Moss, Antwan Randle-El at receiver, Clinton Portis in the backfield behind a slightly improved O-line with Derrick Dockery back and a QB who has upgraded options and a year down in the system. How in the world does a defense defend against that? We weren't potent last year, but we were only one rookie receiver away, or three, from creating matchup problems. Remember what Marques Colston did for the Saints or even DeSean Jackson in Philly?

I was actually looking forward to another two games of Owens-Hall trash talking. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end. I mean, what was better than watching T.O. single-handedly take the Cowboys down? He was more effective playing for them than against them. With an offense as potent as theirs, they were sitting at home during the playoffs packing up all those magazines predicting them to be in the Super Bowl.

I mean, what better gift than hearing about T.O.'s jealousy not of Romo's relationship with what's-her-name, but with his manfriend, Jason Witten? T.O. didn't have an issue with not getting the ball; he had an issue because Romo and Witten were BFFs! Blessing! And when it seemed like people were getting tired of his mouth, he started using it for others, such as when he started crying for WR Roy Williams' lack of opportunities. Huh? Lovely!

And he dropped balls. And he had 20 thrown at him and said he didn't get enough TLC. And he cried on TV. And he, well, he did exactly everyone thought he'd do when the Cowboys signed him. He split the locker room, like he did in Philly, and now, unfortunately for us, the party is over.

With the release of T.O., the debate moves on to who's going to sign him. ProFootballTalk.com is guessing a bidding war between the Redskins and Giants...

For years, I admit, I was getting that bad bitter beer taste in my mouth from all the spending over the years. Not just the kind of spending you do when you're out of milk. I means that spending as if you just won the lottery! It was as if Daniel Snyder had a $1,000,000 bill with a hole and string attached to it; he never ran out of money!

Today, though, I don't even care about how much Snyder spends. All I want is to return to the glory days. If adding a fourth Lombardi Trophy means spending more wisely or refinancing the stadium, let's do it. Just get the right people in the nation's capital and let's make it happen, cap'n!

When we signed Sean Gilbert, Jeremiah Trotter, Adam Archuleta, Brandon Lloyd, Deion Sanders, Mark Carrier and what's-his-name from the Giants who never even suited up, even for practice, well, it wasn't the money that kept us from going to the playoffs. It was the decisions to bring in the duds. Who cares how much was spent? Every year they say we'll be in salary cap hell, we turn around and ink another high-priced player. We're going to be in trouble in 2009? How about $100 million to the most sought after free agent!

Sally Jenkins, though, addressed the issue of cutting back on the staff in the name of "it's a recession" then spending $182 million on three new players as the recession gets worse. I'm not sure if those 20 people add up to $182 million dollars worth of savings, but the two don't go together. In sales, there are revenue generating positions and then, the rest of them. Whoever was answering the calls from the media about Danny's wild spending habits wasn't bringing in the dough. A winning team brings in the dough.

At first glance, sure, I was wondering what was the science behind claiming DE Jason Taylor was going to be a part of this upcoming season, then sending him shaking a tailfeather back to Florida. I also thought the point was to put a Head Smashin' beast in the middle so DEs Andre Carter and Jason Taylor could start justifying their salaries. I mean, what's the science of filling a much needed hole just to create another on the same line?

But then again, who's still trying to figure out the strategy our Skins have been using since, well, Danny came to town? I still haven't figured out the 2000 class of [not-so] free agents. And nearly every FA class since.

I did just read on ProFootballTalk that the Skins actually didn't sign CB DeAngelo Hall until Monday, well after the free agency period began. Maybe after inking DL [as in Defensive Line] Albert Haynesworth and letting CB Shawn Springs go, Danny didn't have as much money in the bank as he thought. So, instead of making this about whether or not the Redskins wanted Jason Taylor back or not, they figured out a way to make it look like it was Taylor who essentially made the decision to leave [they didn't even ask for a pay cut!].

Though it's hard for me to believe a professional athlete can't work 25 days for $8 million, maybe it interfered with his dancing lessons?

Hey, is there any science behind cutting Jason Taylor? Probably and probably not. The defense was ranked number four in the league last year. The issue wasn't the defense; it was stopping the run late in the games when we either had a small lead or needed the rock back, and really, Taylor is a pass rush specialist and not a run stopper.

If cutting Taylor means signing Haynesworth, Hall and bringing OL Big Derrick Dockery back, I can get Jiggy with it.

When I was younger my dad had noticed I had this desire to write. Though I've always considered myself more of a mathematical and critical thinker, there was never a joy a numbers as there is in words. He signed me up for a journalism class and I got addicted to spreading knowledge [more like propaganda!], seeing the reactions to the way people responded to those words. In college, I was the editor in chief of the paper and started writing a book [which had only three readers: me, myself and I].

Then I was introduced to the Internet. I created an egotistical-serving website like everyone else where I posted photos of myself. I'd write about my day as if my teachers didn't see it and realize why I was never in class. And if I had an issue with some policy, I'd voice my opinions in my dry humor until the VP of Student Affairs started calling me to his office.

Anyway, the point is, blogging has been a blessing. It has allowed me to speak my mind and let the world decide if it wants to agree or disagree, enjoy or loathe, read my writing or not.

I recently was doing a search to see what sites out there link to my personal blog. Doing a search for my name, I came across a site that did, but it had nothing to do with my personal blog. The site was Curly R written by Ben Folsom, and ironically, it was about how I stopped writing! Stopped writing about the Redskins.

Shame on me! And I cannot express the honor it was to read about my failure!

I've been planning to get Skinsaphrenia! back up and running, but for whatever reason, Father Time hasn't been waited for me. Really, I have no idea what I'm waiting on. Maybe a DE that doesn't need a GPS to find the QB, or a productive WR taller than me, and I'm barely taller than Rock Cartwright. Or maybe a kicker who actually kicks, as in, to the other side of the field.

Or maybe I was waiting to find a post somewhere online wondering what I'm waiting on. I'm coming back, sooner rather than later, but have to fix some technical issues first.

Thanks Ben for your post and adding me to your Inaugural Missing Blogger Report!

HTTR,
David the Skinsaphrenic!

A chart from the Washington Post about Clinton Portis' carries per game:

Who'd've thunk it!?

With the Redskins being led by someone no one was considering for a head coaching position (mainly because he wasn't even at an offensive coordinator position yet) and the Cowboys beginning the year as early favorites to go to the Super Bowl, if not win it — just going into the weekend with a better record than the Cowboys still has some people scratching their heads.

Of course they're wondering whether or not we're for real. We're wondering why Wade Phillips is still the coach. Everyone is wondering where in the world is T.O.

Either-or, as usual, ESPN does a thorough job previewing yet another game guaranteed to be a thriller