Washington Redskins: 5 Players Who Won't Be with the Team Next Season
The Washington Redskins finished the regular season with a sub-par 6-10 performance that offered more exasperation than excitement. The trend is nothing new for the Redskins, but it is just as frustrating as it has been year in and year out. After an offseason full of change, the Redskins are in store for another whirlwind offseason that could dramatically change the team's make-up.
With the power or head coach and director of player personnel, Mike Shanahan is in position to send more than a few players packing in favor of better options.
The Redskins are in no position to ditch anyone and everyone that doesn't fit their plans, but it isn't going to stop Shanahan from trying. Hopefully he learned from his mistakes with Denver and will be more strategic in his moves with Washington. After a year of big name players making headlines for all the wrong reasons, Shanahan will look to atone for his mistakes by doing what is best for the team.
5) Donovan McNabb, Quarterback
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If there is one thing that is almost certain about next season, it is that Donovan McNabb will not be part of the Washington Redskins. He has been incredibly diplomatic and characteristically PC with the way his season ended, but that isn't going to save his job. When Mike Shanahan told McNabb that he couldn't guarantee his job next season, he made it clear that McNabb wouldn't be brought back.
Trading for McNabb will go down as Shanahan's biggest mistake, but it is a mistake he won't let linger.
McNabb put together a mediocre season with 14 touchdowns, 15 interceptions and the lowest passer rating of his career since his 1999 debut en route to a 5-8 record and a trip to the bench for the final three games of the season.
McNabb's agent, Fletcher Smith, has been vocal about the way the Redskins mistreated McNabb with thee final benching and the situation in Detroit where Shanahan benched him in the final minutes of the 4th quarter. Shanahan took serious heat for both decisions, but had little recourse considering the obvious dissatisfaction with McNabb's performance on the season.
Even the $78 million contract extension is a facade for the team's intentions to part ways with the veteran McNabb.
When it was announced that McNabb and the team had reached an agreement for a contract extension, the first story that came out afterwards was about how flimsy the contract really is. McNabb gained zero security with the deal, and may have effectively signed his own walking papers. It was noted that the team could cut McNabb at season's end and only pay McNabb some $3 million, which is a mere fraction of the potential value of the extension.
It is uncertain how the team will continue at the quarterback position, whether they are resigned to Grossman and John Beck holding down the fort or will look to the draft for the future of the franchise. Either way, McNabb is not going to be a Redskins next season or ever again. Consider it Shanahan's best effort at making it as though he was never a part of the team in the first place, as it should have been.
4) Albert Haynesworth, Defensive Tackle
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The only thing that could possibly overshadow Donovan McNabb this offseason is the future of Albert Haynesworth. After two forgettable seasons with the Redskins, Haynesworth has thoroughly worn out his welcome and would ordinarily be put out to pasture if not for the remainder of his $100 million contract. After trying to play ball with Haynesworth by giving him his fat bonus, Mike Shanahan has to be all but tired of Haynesworth's childlike treatment of his coach and the situation.
We can place the blame on the previous regime for bringing him in, but it is now Shanahan's problem to solve.
Haynesworth currently holds no value for the Washington Redskins. During the season, he was content to play only passing downs or in the packages he though offered him the best chance to add to his career numbers. He was suspended for the final games of the season for "conduct detrimental to the team" and refusing to speak to Shanahan.
He registered a career-low 13 tackles in just eight games this season and showed himself to be a me-first player with winning as part of a team being the last thing on his mind.
The Redskins reportedly had the opportunity to send Haynesworth back to Tennessee for a fourth-round pick, but declined. There were rumors swirling prior to and leading up to last year's draft, but nothing ever came to fruition. He doesn't want to play in Washington and Washington doesn't really want him playing for them, but what can be done with a contract that isn't easy to trade and a walking character issue?
Washington may be forced to cut him and take a serious cap hit, but at least they won't have to worry about him undermining the coaching staff.
There is still the possibility of Haynesworth being traded, but it will only happen if the Titans show interest or another team believes they can make him happy. It is safe to say, we'll never see him suit up with the Redskins again, and if that is the case, good riddance.
3) Stephon Heyer, Offensive Tackle
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Perhaps this is a bit of wishful thinking, but Stephon Heyer has overstayed his welcome in Washington. He has played at both tackle positions and provided the team with an emergency guard earlier this season. Shockingly, he was less abhorrent in his brief stint at guard than in his career as a tackle.
With 2010 draftees and season-long practice squad members Selvish Capers and Erik Cook poised to land on the regular roster with their own versatility, Heyer may have seen his last days as a Redskin.
It is understandable for a player to struggle with adjusting to different positions and schemes, but Heyer has done more than struggle with his role. He has been downright terrible on numerous occasions, allowing far too many pass rushers to beat him with both speed and strength.
His versatility has become expendable with the addition of tackles Trent Williams and Jammal Brown, as well as the aforementioned youth movement with Capers and Cook.
Heyer stands as the epitome of everything wrong with the Redskins offensive line and it is about time he was let go.
The Redskins would be fooling themselves if they brought Heyer back for another season. He may provide some much needed depth, but at what cost? He is not a franchise left tackle, or even a decent back-up left tackle, and his starts at right tackle featured his best impression of a revolving door. The 2011 draft will render Heyer expendable and the potential to sign a veteran back-up along the line makes him less necessary.
Mike Shanahan may have been pleased with Heyer's willingness to do everything asked of him, but it is the ability to it that should spell Heyer's demise with the Redskins.
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2) Andre Carter, Outside Linebacker
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Andre Carter has been a consummate professional since arriving in Washington in 2006. He was a highly touted pass-rusher coming out of college who transitioned well into the NFL, recording 25.5 sacks in his first three years. He missed most of the 2004 season due to injury, but was poised to return to the 49ers as their best pass-rusher in 2005.
Then Mike Nolan took over as head coach and switched the defense to a 3-4, moving Carter from defensive end to outside linebacker.
In his lone year under Nolan, Carter struggled with the adjustment from pass-rusher to stand-up linebacker and his numbers suffered. He recorded just 4.5 sacks, didn't excel in coverage and was unable to be the game-changer he had the potential to be as a defensive end.
When he signed with Washington in 2006, Carter was excited to get his hand back on the ground as a defensive end, to get back to what he did best.
Then the Redskins switched to 3-4 for the 2010 season and Carter was once again displaced from his favored position on the defensive line.
Carter struggled with the switch and ultimately lost the starting job to Lorenzo Alexander. He recorded 2.5 sacks and 44 tackles while starting just five games, the lowest start total of his career. At 31 years of age, with the 3-4 defense in Washington to stay, Carter may be considered obsolete because of the young, more versatile Alexander and the $4 million due to him this offseason.
Carter said it himself that he does not believe he will be back with the team because of the scheme change and his belief that he is built to be a defensive end and not a linebacker.
It will be a shame to see someone like Carter go, but if is in his and the team's best interest maybe it is better that way. He has enough good football left in him to catch on elsewhere, and has the ability to return to being a productive defensive end after two ill-advised position changes.
1) Clinton Portis, Running Back
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After supposedly being on the chopping block for the past few years, Clinton Portis may have finally reached the end of his rope with the Washington Redskins. He was excited at the prospect of playing for his former coach and made it clear that he has plenty of good football left in him.
After playing in just 13 games over the last two seasons and managing just 700 yards, it may be time to part ways with the mercurial running back.
With Ryan Torain and Keiland Williams playing well in his absence, Portis may have played his last games as a Redskins.
There are a number of factors contributing to the likelihood the end of Portis's tenure with the Redskins. First, he has become injury prone in his 'old' age, suffering a concussion last season, a groin injury and an abdominal tear this season.
The shelf life for running backs is around 30, but it is the number of carries Portis has churned out that make it clear that he cannot be the player he was two and three years ago.
Portis made the adjustment from speed back with Denver to a power back with Washington, but the toll on his body is too much to hope he can bounce back.
Another reason Portis isn't likely to be back is that he is too expensive. Some have mentioned that he could be the perfect third down back for the team, being an excellent blocker and decent receiver in his career. However, Portis has made it clear that he won't take a pay cut or restructure his contract.
The Redskins can't afford to pay $8.25 million for a third down back who can't run 10 yards without falling over then needing oxygen on the sidelines.
If you look at his last two years, Portis wasn't effective when he was healthy. Sure, he averaged 4.1 yards over that span, but his long run of 78 yards wasn't for a touchdown. How often do running backs in their prime get run down from behind on 78-yard runs?
He can't cut the way he used to and the extra pounds he put on to endure the carries of a franchise running back took the spring out of his step.
His time in Washington will be remembered differently by fans depending on how they feel about him, but no one can deny that Portis was one of the more interesting players to watch on and off the field.
Whether he was throwing crushing blocks in blitz protection, knocking Brian Urlacher out in a head-on collision or bad-mouthing his coaches, Portis never failed to intrigue fans with his overall bluntness. No matter the memory, it is safe to say that Portis made his impression of Washington.
But in a game of what have you done for me lately, Portis carries to high of a price tag and too many injuries to warrant a return next season.
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