Not Completely Pointless: Five Washington Redskins Whose Futures Will Be Decided Sunday

It's next to impossible to be excited about the Redskins game this weekend. They have been out of the playoff running for a long time and can't even say they're playing for respect, since it's likely the Chargers will be resting their starters for most the game.

I don't see me watching this whole game, and this is from the guy who froze his butt off watching the whole Skins-Cowboys game till the end. While this may not matter much to the fans or the franchise, for a few men, this may be one of the most important games of their career.

In this list, I try to choose people who are on the bubble. I obviously don't have the likes of Orakpo, Hanyesworth, or Dockery, who will play and start next year no matter what, and I try to avoid people like Campbell, Randel El, or Zorn who have more or less zero chance of returning next year.

Some of the choices may surprise you, but hey, that's the point.

Mike Sellers

That Pro Bowl seems so long ago. Since then, Mike Sellers has gone from brutal lead blocker to sometimes seeming to be almost afraid of contact. While Portis was being a crybaby when he asked for Sellers to be benched, there was some foundation to those accusations.

He hasn't carried the ball this year. The only bright side for him is he's made a couple of nice catches. The Skins also have a young Fullback waiting in the wings with Eddie Williams.

While Sellers has admittedly been playing more as a tight end then he's probably comfortable with, a player's got to do what he's asked to do. He's got to prove he still has enough upside to be kept this Sunday.

Carlos Rogers

This picture is of an extremely rare occurrence, Carlos Rogers holding on to the football. I put him on this list tentatively, since I feel pretty sure he will be gone next year. He was picked in the first round, 9th overall, in 2005, but frankly hasn't played well enough to earn that choice. He has shown flashes, like in 2006 and the first half of 2008, but he has really regressed this year. His hands have never been good, but at least last year he played shutdown corner. Now, teams are abusing him and he's being outplayed in man coverage by Hall, which is saying something.

Despite these things against him, he may be kept because he has potential to be an excellent corner and while there are some other decent corners on the team, with the exception of Hall, they all are either past when they can play as a starter (Smoot) or not ready yet (Tryon, Barnes). Like everyone on this list, it could come down to Sunday.

Casey Rabach

This is the only currently playing member of the offensive line who really has something to prove. Levi Jones is gone, and Mike Williams probably won't be given the chance to start. Dockery will stay and start, and while I considered putting Heyer here, since he's young and Allen and the new coach won't want to overhaul the whole line, Heyer will most likely stay.

Casey Rabach is the x-factor. Every offseason he's that guy who's ok but upgradable. The fact that he isn't on IR is helpful, and he's played solidly. But a youth movement on this line is inevitable.

A veteran or two will be kept, but both Thomas and Samuels are better then Rabach when they are healthy. Come Sunday, Casey Rabach will have to prove he deserves a place on this team.

Cornelius Griffin

This is another case of a competent veteran who may be considered expendable. With Hanyesworth a definite for next year and Kedric Golston playing very well when Hanyesworth is out, the 33 year old Cornelius Griffin may have trouble keeping his job or even his roster spot.

Griffin been playing solidly, but I can't remember the last time he mad a big play. His fate will be determined this Sunday.

Fred Davis

This may surprise or confuse some people. I'm not saying Fred Davis won't be on the team. That is pretty much a given. What he's trying to prove is that he shouldn't just come back, but that he should be a major contributor.

While he is a beast in the end zone and pretty good at picking up yards after the catch, he is not great at catching in traffic, and has a few big drops. If he wants the basic package for the Skins next year to be two tight end, he needs a big day this Sunday.