4 Most Overpaid and 4 Most Underpaid Washington Redskins

It's Fourth of July week in the nation's capital and I'm typing this Redskins column as fast as I can, because I may lose electricity at any minute. Last Friday's devastating "derecho" storm left one million residents without power in DC and mine has been in and out.

So without further ado, here's a slideshow of the most overpaid and underpaid members of the Washington Redskins (with salary assistance from our friends at Spotrac.com and TheHogs.net).

I chose four of each to coincide with the holiday and with the four candles my wife bought, in case the lights go out again.

Most Overpaid Redskin: Trent Williams

Bleacher Report recently asked NFL readers to debate "Who is the Most Overpaid Redskin".

One specific player garnered a number of snarls and one fan fired away.

"

Trent Williams hands down. [He] has the talent to be one of the best tackles in the NFL. Has a huge contract and what does he do??.......smokes the J and gets suspended when we needed him the most. He will have to Dominate this year and protect RG3 for me to change my mind.

"

That's a strong statement and Williams should pay attention to people who help pay his salary. 

Coaches and fans have little sympathy for inconsiderate players who make astronomical salaries (see Albert Haynesworth and the average cash he earned per snap as a Redskin). But if a guy is set to earn $11 million and risks it all by smoking marijuana, he has a real problem that needs fixing.

Since last year's NFL lockout, courtrooms have been dramatic backdrops for everything from bounties to DUIs. But in the court of public opinion, Williams and teammate Fred Davis ($5.4 million salary) should have their heads examined for smoking grass last summer.

Both decided to roll the dice and were surprised to learn that positive drug tests were punishable, during and after the lockout. They even failed two separate tests when practices resumed and now have three failures on their records.

According to the Washington Post, three strikes normally gets a player a one-year suspension, but Williams and Davis caught a break, "because one of the offenses came during the grace period."

Another failed test will bring both players the one-year layoff. Two more and they're gone forever.

It hasn't happened yet, but don't be surprised if Redskins owner Daniel Snyder adds an additional punishment for stupidity.

Fining Williams and Davis would send another stern message.

2nd Most Overpaid Redskin: DeAngelo Hall

DeAngelo Hall is a native of Chesapeake, Va., and played his college ball at Virginia Tech. So in "these parts," he usually gets the benefit of the doubt. But Hall may not be in familiar surroundings too much longer because he is costing the Washington Redskins far too much.

At 28, Hall can still command top dollar as a lockdown corner, but he needs to play like one more often. Although he matched his career high with 90 tackles last season, Hall gambled and lost one too many times in one-on-one battles with receivers.

He and Trent Williams made the NFL's "11 Worst Contracts" list, compiled by former Washington Post writer Jason LaCanfora. LaCanfora, who is now with NFL Network, had this to say about Hall:

"

Hall is prone to outbursts, gambles far too often on routes and gets burned a ton. The Redskins dumped about $19 million in cash in his contract into the 2010 uncapped year, which led to the eventual sanctions by the NFL that included a $36 million cap hit over two seasons. So, yeah, um, that's a prohibitive contract under any standard.

"

3rd Most Overpaid Redskin: Pierre Garcon

Okay. This one simply doesn't make any sense. How can the Redskins pay a free agent receiver, who has never caught more than 70 passes in a season, $42.5 million over five years?

Pierre Garçon is an honorable man and has shown a human side that NFL players should emulate. But in Indianapolis, he was inconsistent at times. For three of his four seasons, Pierre caught bullets from Peyton Manning, but he never posted a 1,000 yard season.

According to NBC's ProFootballTalk, Pierre Garçon's "base salaries for 2015 and 2016 are $7.1 million and $7.6 million, respectively," and the overall deal is comparable to the new contract DeSean Jackson got from the Philadelphia Eagles.

This writer does not believe Jackson is worth $47 million deal over five years and Garçon may only see half of his overall deal, if he doesn't show well early. Then again, $20.5 million is nothing to sneeze at. 

Finally, there is the pressure factor of being Washington's No. 1 receiver, when Garçon is used to being No. 2. Rookie-wonder Robert Griffin III can use a touchdown-maker, but Garçon may take time to develop into one.

Last year, the 25-year-old did an admirable job, when he caught a career-high 70 balls from three different quarterbacks not named Peyton Manning. But Garçon only averaged four touchdowns a year as a "second-fiddle" to Reggie Wayne in Indianapolis.

According to CSNwashington:

"

Big free agent contracts are usually given out based on proven production, not on potential. The Redskins rolled the dice with Garçon.

"

And CBSSports.com offers this interesting tidbit: "Garçon had three games with double digits in touchdowns, which were the only games he scored."

4th Most Overpaid Redskin: Chris Cooley

Chris Cooley's fall from grace began with a broken ankle, when Jim Zorn was fizzling out in his final year as Washington's head coach. Then there was a strained groin and a knee problem in 2011. Kick in a surgery for a left index finger and Cooley's future seems questionable.

"Captain Chaos" has always represented the heart and soul of the Redskins and he is one of the most down-to-earth athletes you can ever meet. But it is becoming painfully obvious that he cannot stay healthy and Washington is suffering from it. 

With Cooley's $3.8 million salary in 2012, the Redskins will suffer a $6.2 million cap hit to retain his services. Daniel Snyder could keep the two-time Pro Bowler because of the wayward ways of Fred Davis. But there's an outside chance he will not, if Niles Paul has something to do with it.

Cooley is scheduled to earn another $3.85 million in 2013, so if he does stick around, this could be his last hurrah in Washington.   

A healthy Chris could coexist with Davis and Paul. He just needs to avoid another aggravating injury to be worth his weight in gold.  

Most Underpaid Redskin: Roy Helu

He has played just one year in the NFL, but most Redskins fans would agree that Roy Helu deserves a hefty pay raise, after showing that he alone can carry the load.

As a rookie last year, the former Nebraska star was called upon to pick up the slack, when Tim Hightower tore an ACL in Week 5 and was lost for the season. Helu answered the bell in a big way and Washington's running game didn't miss a beat.

In his five games, Hightower was impressive, with 399 all-purpose yards, a 3.8 yard rushing average and two touchdowns. But Helu turned heads in Washington, with 505 all-purpose yards, a 5.5 yard rushing average and two touchdowns in the team's last four games.

Three consecutive 100-yard contests also stood out for Helu, who is expected to share time with Evan Royster and Hightower, who hopes to return to his starting role. If Hightower needs more time, expect Helu to be the Redskins' opening day starter, based on potential and some recently released statistics.

According to ProFootball Focus, Helu ranked first among Washington backs in blocking efficiency last year and was fourth best in the entire NFL.

Not bad for a guy that is signed and sealed for 2012, at a bargain basement price of $465,000.

2nd Most Underpaid Redskin: Brian Orakpo

The NFL's new collective bargaining agreement is supposed to improve the earnings of proven veterans, while taking guaranteed cash and long-term agreements away from unproven rookies. But that may not be the case for some.

Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo has obviously outperformed his current contract, be his dream of a huge payday may need to be postponed by the Burgundy and Gold.

The problems for the Redskins are two-fold. First, they have to bow to the CBA's revenue-sharing rule, which imposes a 10 percent tax on teams with the highest revenues. Then there is a league penalty that was cast on Washington for dumping salary into an uncapped year (in 2010).

The Cowboys got caught too, but Dallas was fined just $10 million in cap space, compared to a $36 million penalty (over two years) for Washington.

Thanks to the tax and the fine, the Redskins have little choice but to bargain with players and calm the nerves of fans on their long-standing wait list. Daniel Snyder is so frustrated, he chose to rip out seats at FedEx Field, so he could pocket more profits. Some would say that's Dan being Dan, but in reality, it was almost necessary to help recoup the loss.

Orakpo will get his pay day and should remain a Redskin for years. But the two-time Pro Bowler will not be a free agent until 2014 and Snyder will probably balk at the thought of negotiating sooner.

"The good news is that the Redskins $36 million cap penalty will [be] 'paid off' in full by 2014," according to RealRedskins.com writer Rich Tandler. "So that will not be a hinderance to getting Orakpo, who will be turning 28 then, a fair deal." 

For now, Orakpo will have to settle for a base salaries of $765,000 this year and $1.6 million in the final year of his rookie contract. 

3rd Most Underpaid Redskin: Lorenzo Alexander

From 2007 through 2011, Lorenzo Alexander has been one of the Redskins hardest working players. He is not the most talented player on the roster, but he may be the most versatile. He is also underpaid, despite a propensity for volunteerism.

According to Washington's CBSLocal.com, Alexander has "made a career of filling every hole imaginable on the team. [He] has shined on special teams, played on both the offensive and defensive lines and even had a previous stint at tight end."

Last year, Alexander agreed to be a backup outside linebacker and this year, the plan is to move him inside.

It's all in a day's work for the former Cal star, who just feels lucky to have a job. But he may be in for yet another surprise. At the team's minicamp in June, Washington's coaching staff asked him to line up as a blocking tight end.

It seems like a lot to ask of a veteran who will make a "paltry" sum of $650,000 this year. But Alexander is happy to oblige, because he will be an unrestricted free agent at season's end.

4th Most Underpaid Redskin: Brandon Banks

Would you raise your hand if somebody asked you to catch footballs out of mid-air and run for your life, while being chased by eleven ferocious opponents?

That role is precisely the one Brandon Banks has with the Washington Redskins, but in order to earn more, he'll have to do more. He may even have to stand out among his competitors or he could find himself out of a job.

It has become clear that the Redskins are looking to cut costs. That means specialty players will be at a minimum and if you have been asked to perform at more than one position, you better jump at the chance and make the most of the opportunity.

There is no doubting the fact that Banks is electric as a return man on special teams. He is one of the few players on Washington's roster that can make you gasp every time he touches the ball. But he is not exactly versatile and has suffered from a slew of mistakes and bone-headed plays that have dearly cost the Redskins.

Banks is by no means breaking the bank in Washington. He will only cost the team a base salary of $490,000 in 2012. But when head coach Mike Shanahan said in June that Banks will be expected to contribute at wide receiver, it was a sure sign that "the hand-writing is on the wall."