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."
Antwaan Randle El - WR/PR- Indiana
2nd round pick by the Steelers (#63 overall) in the 2002 draft. Signed to a 7-year 31 million dollar deal as a free agent in 2006. El was supposed to bolster the Redskins receiving core and help with the return game, but struggled in both positions. El as a person is a great guy, very important to whatever community he is in, but is just past his prime and it was time we parted ways. My memory of El was when we faked an end-around to him and he passed to Santana Moss on a 48 yard touchdown in week 17, 2006.
Rock Cartwright - RB/KR - Kansas State
7th round pick by the Redskins (#257 overall) in the 2002 draft. Rock compiled 889 yards rushing for a mind-boggling average of 7.2 YPC. Rock was a very steady Kick Returner, very reliable, not exciting but solid. He compiled 5,332 return yards and 9 total touchdowns as a Redskin (good for 2nd behind the one and only Brian Mitchell). Rock did however break the Redskins single-season return yards record previously held by Mitchell with 64 returns for 1,154 yards. My memory of Rock was in 2006 when he returned a Kickoff return 100 yards for a touchdown the same year he broke the record.
Fred Smoot - CB - Mississippi State
2nd round pick by the Redskins (#45 overall) in the 2001 draft. Smoot compiled 444 tackles, 0 sacks, and 21 interceptions with the Redskins and Vikings. To me, Smoot was a nickelback at best and maybe in the end a waste of money. Smoot was only good when he was opposite Champ Bailey (arguably the best Corner ever behind DG). My memory of Smoot? One word....."Loveboat"
Randy Thomas - G - Mississippi State
2nd round pick by the Jets (#57 overall) in the 1999 draft. Thomas came to the Skins in 2003 as part of the "Jetskins" which included Chad Morton, John Hall, and Thomas (Free-agency class that all left the Jets for the Redskins the same year). Thomas solidified the right side of the line with Jon Jansen, and with recently-retired Chris Samuels made up one of the best O-lines we ever had. Thomas struggled with injuries to his triceps which eventually ended his career. My memory of Randy Thomas was when he knocked one defender down in a game in 2006, went to the left and knocked another down, then moved back to the right and fell down blocking a third on route to paving a lane by himself for Portis to rush for a huge gain.
Todd Collins - QB - Michigan (Go Blue!!)
2nd round pick by the Buffalo Bills (#45 overall) was signed to the Skins in 2006 to help with then new offensive coordinator Al Saunders' 700 page playbook. On December 6, 2007, Collins replaced Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell who left with a dislocated patella tendon. Taking charge of a team depleted by injuries and drained by the shooting death of safety Sean Taylor nine days earlier, Collins completed 15 of 20 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Redskins to a 24-16 victory. Collins won NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance against the Chicago Bears. Collins finished the year 4-0 and leadin the Skins to the playoffs in dramatic fashion. My memory of Collins was the playoff game against Matt Hasselback and the Seahawks where he threw two interceptions and got us kicked outta the playoffs.
Cornelius Griffin - DT - Alabama
2nd round pick by the New York Giants (#42 overall) was signed to the rival Skins in 2004. Griffin has compiled 425 tackles, 2 interceptions, and 29 sacks in his career. Underrated player who has been solid since he was signed, and a great person overall. Met him at the Greenbelt Marriot before a game against the Giants and is just a great guy. My memory of Griffin was my birthday game. My brother took me to a Redskins-Cowboys game that was on my birthday, the Skins won big. Cooley had 3 TD receptions, and Griffin had 4 sacks, 4 SACKS!!
Among the released were Bethesda native RB Marcus Mason (Georgetown Prep), FB Edwin Williams, and DE J.D. Skolnitski.
If you read into this, lots of 2nd round picks huh? Teams are built around young drafted talent, that's where we need to move. Check back here tomorrow for an update on free-agency, it begins at midnight!!
