Redskins Like Uncapped

It looks like Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder is really going to enjoy an uncapped year. We all know he likes to spend money, he’s done it time and time again since becoming the teams’ owner, with no success. With an uncapped year we all would expect him to go on a Steinbrenner family type spending spree and guess what? He’s not disappointing. There are already rumors that the ‘Skins are ready to deal with Julius Peppers and Darren Sproles.

Jason Reid of the Washington Post reported today that the ‘Skins are very high on Peppers as the team is looking to move to a 3-4 defense. Peppers is the best defensive end on the market and also a perfect fit for such a defense. Peppers knows he is such a fit that he earlier expressed his desire to join a team that plays the 3-4. Makes sense as we know he’s all about the dollar dollar bill. The question with such a signing is what happens with Albert Haynesworth, but we’ll get into that a little later in the post.

Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune says that the San Diego Chargers are hoping to bring back Sproles but that the team knows they’ll be bidding against the “deep-pocketed” Redskins. Just like in adding Peppers, adding Sproles would make a ton of sense for the team.

Sproles for one could take over punt returning duties from Antwaan Randle-El and pretty much be a big improvement. But more importantly he could help spell an aging Clinton Portis. I’d assume Sproles would become the teams third down back and even their back in clear second and long passing situations. Adding a player like Sproles could help in keeping Portis on the field and effective for an entire season, something that hasn’t happened in a while. Just like Haynesworth thou, the question would be how does Portis take such a signing?

Signing Peppers and Sproles would be huge for the Redskins on paper, but how would it actually affect the team? Mainly, Haynesworth and Portis, both would be asked to change their game significantly.

Haynesworth is making $100 million to be a terror on the defensive side of the ball. He’s asked to get to the quarterback and be as disruptive as he can. While his sack numbers have never been high he’s excellent at collapsing the pocket and even stuffing the run. With the Redskins switching to a 3-4 defense they are thinking about asking him to move inside and be the clogging the middle type nose tackle as he’s the closest player they have to play that role.

That could do one of two things. One, it could make him a highly over paid nose tackle who struggles against the slightly larger interior lineman. Or two, it could make the Redskins geniuses. Haynesworth could consistently blow up the middle of the offensive line and let his linebackers blow right through.

In my eyes, that move could either be a huge boom or bust type. I think what it winds up will depend on Haynesworth’s attitude. If he’s OK with becoming second fiddle on the defense then this could work.

The situation at running back thou is where I’m worried. Portis has always been known for his ego, how will he feel about a younger player coming in and taking some of his carries??? Personally, I think he needs to swallow that ego because he’s not the player he once was. Honestly, he’s lucky the Redskins don’t cut him and just go with Sproles as their featured back. I mean really he only played in eight games last season, and even faltered down the stretch of the 2008-9 season. He’s not the guy he once was.

Can Portis accept it? I doubt it. The key for the offense growing with Portis and Sproles (if it happens) would be Portis showing maturity and accepting his new role.

S0 now that that’s all said and done is anyone really surprised that Dan Snyder is going to go hog wild in free agency this year? He’s always loved to throw his money round, he’s done it time and time again over the past decade. This year will be no different.

The key for the Redskins will be does Snyder finally listen to his football people and throw it at the right “stars” cause we know that’s what he’ll go after. He’s got to go for the names. If he does then the uncapped year will make the ‘Skins some serious players in the NFC next season. If he doesn’t well then they’ll just be your usual Washington Redskins.