Todd F. Dixon's Washington Redskins fan blog

     In my last post I stated that I was hopeful we were going to release some players.  All but two of the players I listed were released today, and a few more I didn't even think about were released as well.  Only two other teams released players thus far, and those teams (The Jets and The Bengals) released only one player each (laveranues coles and Thomas Jones). 

     The Redskins don't like to do things calmy, under the radar, or undramatically.  The Redskins are the "American Idol" of professional football, we are a soap opera, and it's exciting to watch how the team puts itself together.  Let's take a look at the players we released.

Ladell Betts - RB - Iowa

2nd round pick by the Redskins (#56 overall) in the 2002 draft.  Betts spent his career backing up Clinton Portis, and compiled 3,176 yards and 13 TDs in 7 seasons with the skins.  Betts was a very solid backup, and stepped in with great success when Portis got injured.  Betts suffered a horrible injury last year, ending his season.   Betts is the only Redskins Running back in team history to rush for consecutive 150+ yard games.  My memory of Betts was in a game against the Ravens in the preseason where his jersey read "Bettis."

Continue reading "Redskins Drop The Middle Men, Cut 10 players"

Ok, I know it's been awhile since I've posted, but I've been asked about the draft, and I decided to break the silence and post an entry. 

 I haven't posted in awhile because of my disgust of where the franchise was going, and how angry me and the rest of the fans have been with the organization.  The hiring of Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan, and firing of Vin Dieseldorf have provided some hope though.  The fact that The Danny might be taking a step back from involvement has made us all a little less angry. 

So, with that said lets talk about the next step for the Redskins, the draft. Free agency is obviously gonna be rough this year without a new CBA agreement reached.  Which basically means all the unrestricted free-agents will now be restricted free-agents.  Here is what I think we should do with free-agency and the draft.

Continue reading "Upcoming NFL Draft"

So, the newest little rumor going around is about the draft.  Apparently, Mel Piper has Mark Sanchez going to the Redskins at the 13th pick.  According to rumors, management with the Skins wants Campbell out.  They tried trading the 5th year veteran for draft picks during the whole Jay Cutler shabaz.  They tried trading Campbell for Cutler and failed.  Now, apparently the Washington Redskins want Jason Campbell out of Washington.

The slow rise of Mark Sanchez apparently has The Danny and Vin Dieseldorf intrigued.  We all want a franchise quarterback, we all want a Dan Marino, a Joe Montana, a John Elway.  The problem is that it happens a couple of times a decade.  Unfortunately for the Redskins it hasn't happened since I was born in 1982.

Continue reading "Skins want Campbell out, Sanchez in"

The redskins have announced that they came to terms on a deal with free agent middle linebacker Robert Thomas. 

Thomas was not re-signed by the Raiders, for whom he played for the last three seasons.  He only played in two games last year for the Raiders who were one of the worst teams in the league.  Want to know why he didn't play much?  Want to know why the Raiders of all teams didn't want him back?  He is a 3rd-stringer at best, and he had a knee injury that kept him out of 14 games last year.  Since when did we start signing Raiders rejects?

Thomas was also let go by the Rams in 2004.  The Rams drafted Thomas in the First-Round (31st overall) in 2002, he played 2 seasons, was ineffective, and was released.  He spent the 2005 campaign with the Green Bay Packers.

Continue reading "Redskins add yet another reserve for linebacking competition"

New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg 4 months ago, apparently in more ways than one.  With charges pending, the possibility of spending 3 years in jail was a little too much for the Giants.  Its hard to let your superbowl hero and number one receiver go, but the Giants just had enough.

 "I am an optimist, and I believe most situations can be worked out," Giants general manager Jerry Reese said in announcing the decision. "We hung in there as long as we could in hopes that there could be a resolution to this situation other than the decision we made today to release Plaxico.

"It wasn't to be, so now we have to move on. Like everybody else here, we want nothing but the best for Plaxico, and we are appreciative of the contributions he made to this franchise."

Continue reading "Giants release Plaxico, Redskins talking to Leftwich"

Disgruntled quarterback Jay Cutler is being sent to the bears in exchange for Chicago Bears quarterback Kyle Orton, a first (18th overall) round pick, and a third (84th overall) round pick this year, and a first round pick next year.  In addition the broncos will receive a 5th rounder this year (whoopdee doo).  Now that I have seen the details of the exchange, i'm glad the Redskins didn't go through with it.  First of all, the Redskins only had 4 total picks this year, trading away 2 of them would have left us with nothing.  I did want Cutler, but that is a price even the Danny couldn't do.  Luckily for us, Campbell is very composed, very mature, and dealing with the situation very well. 

“This has taught me a valuable lesson about the business side of things, and the playing side of things,” said Campbell, who added that he was contacted by several of his teammates and coaches, “and that means a lot.”  He is dealing with the situation very well, and yes Brandon, better than Cutler.  You were right about his swelled head, and his arrogance, I was just blinded by his ability and what he could be for us.  I'm tired of not having a "franchise" quarterback, as the Bears were, and they have a quarterback to build upon.  They signed aging Orlando Pace to protect Cutler's blindside, and are already a better team.  The Broncos on the otherhand are falling apart, and won't have a winning record with Kyle Orton.

Continue reading "Redskins miss out on Cutler, and Titans accuse Skins of "Tampering""

Apparently the rumors are flying all over the place, and Vinny Cerrato is actually talking to Denver now.  I said it last time, the Redskins should go get Cutler.  We need a franchise quarterback, and he is exactly that. 

The Redskins apparently want to get the deal done as quickly as possible.  The list of pursuers is mighty long, and the Skins want to get it done before other offers are on the table.  How much would it take to get him?  Most likely Jason Campbell, and a first round pick.  That will hurt us a bit, because we needed that pick for a linebacker, end, or O-lineman.  But, if we look at the bigger picture, we have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades.

The Redskins haven't commented the last few days, and Coach Zorn and Cerrato came out and said that the Skins weren't interested when the rumors first surfaced.  The only issue I have with all of this is exactly what happened in Denver.  If the Skins pursue him and don't get him, Campbell will not be happy and his confidence will be hurt.  Cerrato didn't commit to him after next season, and doesn't feel like he's gonna be a franchise quarterback.  I don't either.

Continue reading "Redskins actively pursuing Jay Cutler"

Apparently the rumors are flying all over the place, and Vinny Cerrato is actually talking to Denver now.  I said it last time, the Redskins should go get Cutler.  We need a franchise quarterback, and he is exactly that. 

The Redskins apparently want to get the deal done as quickly as possible.  The list of pursuers is mighty long, and the Skins want to get it done before other offers are on the table.  How much would it take to get him?  Most likely Jason Campbell, and a first round pick.  That will hurt us a bit, because we needed that pick for a linebacker, end, or O-lineman.  But, if we look at the bigger picture, we have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades.

The Redskins haven't commented the last few days, and Coach Zorn and Cerrato came out and said that the Skins weren't interested when the rumors first surfaced.  The only issue I have with all of this is exactly what happened in Denver.  If the Skins pursue him and don't get him, Campbell will not be happy and his confidence will be hurt.  Cerrato didn't commit to him after next season, and doesn't feel like he's gonna be a franchise quarterback.  I don't either.

Continue reading "Redskins actively pursuing Jay Cutler"

    Ah, the preseason, the time of year that aspiring undrafted and late-round rookies hope to make a team.  How often does this happen?  More NOT often than not, undrafted rookies have a smaller chance at making the team than Dan Snyder does at having the economy problem affect him.  Yes I know, Stephon Heyer made the team as an undrafted rookie from Maryland.  He was the only Redskins exception in who knows how many years.  Haha, yea I know I'm a freakin blogger and I should know when right? WRONG!  My job is not to throw numbers out there, its to write what I think, and what I gather talking to the real fan on the streets. 

    Tony Kornheiser, Michael Wilbon, Mike Wise, Jason La Conforna, blah blah blah.  These guys are bigtime, they have been disconnected from the real fans for so long they are thinking hollywood.  By that I mean that they are not speaking for the true redskins fan, because they haven't talked to one in a long time.  They are writing and talking for the sake of writing, talking, and cha ching!  I'm out there everyday talking to Joe the Redskins fan, and gathering all the info I can and going on here at night and blah blah blogging about it. 

Continue reading "Redskins Preseason is in the air"

    Ok, I touched on the draft and free agency.  Now its time to talk about the big rumor floating around the league.  Jay Cutler is unhappy in Denver because his new coach tried to get another quarterback for the team.  Although I don't agree with the way Josh Mcdaniels handled the situation, he is entitled to try and improve his team as he sees fit.  I don't think Matt Cassel is anywhere near as good a quarterback as Cutler is, but its his team.

    Jay Cutler passed for over 4500 yards, 25 touchdowns, and a 62 percent completion percentage.  Matt Cassel passed for 3600 yards, 21 touchdowns, and did have a better completion percentage and rating.  His team was 10 times better though, on every side of the ball.  Tyler Thigpen would have had the same year in New England if he had that team.  Mcdaniels just wanted his guy there with him.  Its understandable, he trusts him, knows him, and believes in him.  It didn't work out, now he needs to repair his relationship with one of the best quarterbacks in the league.

Continue reading "Redskins Rumored to be interested in Disgruntled Jay Cutler"