Okay, I think I have a way to tie this together with the main thread:

The problem with the disparate views we have between us here is showing exactly why some people think the name could change. Just like some people here, they see something on a local, personal knowledge level that they are extrapolating out to use on society as a whole.

The people that want the name changed see, in their world, that Redskins must be horribly offensive, and everybody must feel the same way, right? Much akin to people being near one of the Indian Casinos and saying because of that, all Natives are doing okay because those ones seem to be fine. That because there are all these different programs to help those groups, that must mean everything is okay, because it sure looks like it from where you are standing. (universal you there)

Problem is, you have to look at the problem from a different perspective than just your anecdotal experience. Look at it objectively, from a distance, and look for how the overall picture is. That is what perspective I argue from on the name change. That overall, it's meaningless. It doesn't actually help the group. There may be individuals who benefit from it, much like the casinos. A small portion of the whole who it will actually effect.

Just like the casinos, however, it won't really help much of anything for the group as a whole. There is the rest of the group that doesn't get anything positive out of what that small group gets. If anything, that small group is making things worse for the others, by getting public perspective against them. The general public doesn't look beyond their own scope. That's why it's called mob mentality. In order to actually help anything, individuals have to look beyond that.

Not saying with this that what is being done in attempts to level the playing field is the correct path; I actually think some of it is wrong. The only thing I'm trying to point out is the reasoning for people thinking as they do. It's a matter of perspective, and if both sides refuse to try and be objective, all you get is a pissing match.

Part One - The Draft Picks

The 2013 NFL draft is history and the Redskins have held their minicamp for rookies and unsigned hopefuls. In these editions of BBQ, we will take a look at the seven draft choices, the UDFAs, minicamp, provide a self-analysis of the 2013 mocks, and toss in a 2014 mock (just for the fun of it!). Part One takes a look at the draft choices.

The Draft Picks:
Round 2:
David Amerson – It was not surprising to see the Redskins targeting the defensive secondary after that particular unit struggled in 2012. Amerson is an intriguing pick and the team is hoping he can return to 2011 form after leading the nation in interceptions. The 2012 season did not see the same flashy numbers and he took some risky chances. If Amerson can learn the system and live up to the expectations, then taking a chance will certainly pay off for the Redskins.
Grade: A-

Round 3:
Jordan Reed – Many in the media and football universe lambasted the Redskins for making a “luxury pick” when other needs seemed obvious. Staying true to their draft board, the Redskins chose a talented tight end that will bring versatility and athleticism to the position. Reed has the ability to play tight end, slot receiver, wide receiver, and h-back. Undoubtedly, the Redskins will utilize his many skills.
Grade: B+

Round 4:
Phillip Thomas – A gifted safety, Thomas should help to fill one of the most vital needs for the Redskins in 2013. Most draft gurus had Thomas going somewhere around the middle of round two to the latter stages of round three. The Redskins received excellent value in the fourth round. Look for Thomas to start much sooner rather than later.
Grade: A+

Round 5:
Chris Thompson – Is it fair to give poor marks to a running back choice by Coach Mike Shanahan? Many would say no and few would say yes. The Thompson pick is puzzling in many ways, but some football experts see him as a change of pace back – a player who can fill a Darren Sproles type of role. It’s possible, but Thompson is very prone to injury and is not a reliable backup. Simply put, he is not an every down player who can fill in when starters are injured. For now, the Redskins did not get good value with this pick.
Grade: D+

Round 5:
Brandon Jenkins – He comes with injury concerns, but could have an unlimited ceiling. Too, he could be the next Markus White – a player who held promise, but spent some time on the roster/practice squad and had very little impact. Since this is a late round pick with promise, the Redskins could be rewarded in the long run. Only time will tell if this is a value pick or a bust who had potential.
Grade: B-

Round 6:
Baccari Rambo – The Redskins returned to the defensive secondary in round six, much to the delight of their fans. A virtual consensus has formed amongst draft gurus and football pundits – the Redskins got a huge steal in round six and took another enormous step in solving their woes in the defensive backfield. Rambo (you’ve got to love the name!) provides extreme value in round six – most mocks had him going no later than the third round. The only knock on him is off-field issues, but the Redskins feel very confident in taking him at this juncture.
Grade: A-

Round 7:
Jawan Jamison – After taking a running back in the fifth round, the Redskins returned to the same position in round seven. Jamison is a talented back who probably has a better chance of playing the Darren Sproles role, but like Thompson, he is not an every down back. However, the value for round seven is very good and the Redskins find a possible keeper in Jamison.
Grade: B

The Redskins had a good draft, but it could take a few years to know the full impact. For now, round five seems to be the weak link. There is no denying that the defensive secondary likely received huge upgrades, but there are no guarantees of course. BBQ rates the Redskins 2013 draft as a B+.

******************************

Burner’s Burning Questions – Draft Evaluations, Mini Camp Observations, First 2014 Mock

Part Two – Mini Camp Observations

The Washington Redskins held a three day minicamp for rookies over the weekend and coaches are now fine tuning the ninety player roster as they head toward training camp in July. Here are some reports and observations.

1. The Defensive Secondary
Early reports are very encouraging. New safety bookends Phillip Thomas and Baccari Rambo are making a fine impression. David Amerson had a solid three day camp as well. The reviews are good thus far and it appears as if the Redskins were able to choose three players who can help in the secondary sooner rather than later.

2. Jordan Reed, Chris Thompson
Reed and Thompson did not participate in the minicamp due to injuries from last season. Both were present though.

3. Brandon Jenkins, Jawan Jamison
Both players fully participated in the three day camp and each was able to get many reps. Nothing stood out about either player, but there were no glaring mistakes as well. Jenkins appears to be fully healed from his injuries that were sustained in the two previous seasons.

4. The UDFAs
The Redskins signed twelve free agents after the draft and some have made early impressions. Xavier Nixon was thought to be a fourth rounder in the 2013 draft while some pundits had him going no later than the sixth round. If he can make the kind of strides that the Redskins envision, then he will be a steal. If not, then the team did not waste a pick and nothing is lost. Skye Dawson had a favorable minicamp and will have every opportunity to make the team or be a practice squad member. UDFA Kyle Wilborn did not leave a favorable impression at minicamp and was quickly replaced by a veteran from Tennessee.

******************************

Burner’s Burning Questions – Draft Evaluations, Mini Camp Observations, First 2014 Mock

Part Three – Self-Analysis, First 2014 Mock

Last year, BBQ did a self-analysis and forum owner Boone said it was too critical. This year, BBQ is a bit more generous.

Each mock centered on the defensive secondary and usually had three or four players being taken at safety and cornerback. A corner was taken in round two, but it was not a player that BBQ ever listed. Round two grade is a B.

The draft predictions usually featured a tight end in the later rounds in early mocks. In later mocks, that position was featured typically in the fourth round. A tight end was taken in the third round and the grade is a B.

Phillip Thomas was the player that BBQ featured the most in BBQ mocks and he was taken in the fourth round. The grade is an A.

Running back is usually a given in any Mike Shanahan draft and the fifth round (where BBQ guessed correctly for the most part) is where the player was taken. However, BBQ focused on one particular player and this did not come to fruition. Later in the fifth, the Redskins took a linebacker, a position that received considerable attention in later BBQ mocks. The grade is B-.

In the sixth round, the third defensive back was taken as per BBQ mocks - a bit later than expected. That particular player was never listed, but the defensive secondary was featured prominently as the team gave it considerable attention in the draft. The grade is B+.

The Redskins returned to the running back position in round seven. BBQ had a strong focus on the offensive line in the last round. As per the team, offensive tackle Xavier Nixon was going to be the choice, but couldn’t pass up the value that Jawan Jamison offered. Nixon was added as a free agent after the draft and this is the only reason why BBQ doesn’t receive a very poor grade here. It gets a C-.

For 2013, BBQ earns a B. We will try to do better next year. Those who deserve the highest marks for their predictions, mocks, and suggestions include Lanky Livingston, Tr1, Jimbo, McD5, Servuntuum, Elephant, Neophyte, Fansince62, Tshile, Bulldog’s Twin, DieselPwr44, BigMike619, and Win4us.

Here is the first mock for 2014. Obviously, it is way too early to really tell if the Redskins will be targeting these players/positions. We’ll have one more mock later this summer and the official BBQ mocks will return late next winter.

Round 2:
Devin Street, WR, Pittsburgh
Round 3:
Preston Brown, ILB, Louisville
Round 4:
Jeremiah Sirles, OT, Nebraska
Round 5:
Weston Richburg, C, Colorado State
Round 6:
Justin Ellis, DT, Louisiana Tech
Round 7:
Taylor Hart, DE, Oregon

UDFAs:
Marcus Coker, RB, Stony Brook
Taylor Martinez, QB, Nebraska
Ciante Evans, CB, Nebraska
Bronson Irwin, G, Oklahoma
Eric Gordon, CB, Tennessee
Mike Olson, LB, Wake Forest
Graham Parker, OT, Oklahoma St.
Geraldo Boldewijn, WR, Boise St.
Jay Bromley, DE, Syracuse
Eric Waters, TE, Missouri
Andrew Miller, C, Virginia Tech
Patrick Mertens, DE, Wyoming

Like last year, BBQ will do a series of mock drafts and will provide continual updates based on team needs, free agency additions/losses, and injuries. This is the second mock of the new season and it will be updated weekly. The frequency of mocks will increase as we get closer to the draft and it will be a daily feature in the final week. Feel free to add your own ideas and mocks as we go along.

Team needs are S, CB, RT, TE, and DL. Some of these issues could be settled (somewhat) in free agency, but we will address those potential signings in future mocks.

Round 2:
Trade – The Redskins have done very little in free agency and will rely on the draft to fill some holes. They choose to trade down to the latter stages of the second round and pick up a late third rounder.

Round 2:
Jonathan Cyprien – Free Safety, Florida International
Considered to be one of the top five free safeties in the draft, Cyprien has an all-around skillset and size to succeed.

Round 3:
Darius Slay – Cornerback, Mississippi St.
One of the stars at the combine actually has superior skills at the corner position. He could start sooner rather than later. Slay is an underrated cornerback prospect who had a solid senior campaign. He has phenomenal speed, good coverage skills, and better than average size.

Round 3:
T.J. McDonald – Safety, Southern California
The Redskins waste no time in upgrading a horrible secondary. McDonald has great size and athleticism.

Round 4:
Tyrann Mathieu – Cornerback, Louisiana St.
When you consider that the Redskins were willing to sign Aqib Talib, it should come as no surprise that they are willing to take a chance on a player who has special skills and a buyer beware tag.

Round 5:
Oday Aboushi – Offensive Tackle, Virginia
Aboushi is not a highly rated prospect, but he has the ability and speed to play quite well in a zone blocking scheme.

Round 5:
Trade – The Redskins use their extra fifth round pick to add late picks in the sixth and seventh rounds.

Round 6:
Stefphon Jefferson – Running Back, Nevada
We don’t need a running back? Ok, that’s fine, but Mike Shanahan has this uncanny habit of finding hidden gems at this position and Jefferson fits the bill. Many scouts are calling him this year’s Alfred Morris. Jefferson’s offense ran the pistol and he had a great year. Enough said.

Round 6:
Montori Hughes – Defensive Tackle, Tennessee-Martin
Williams comes from a small school, but could have a big impact at the next level. His stats are impressive and he had a very good showing at the Senior Bowl and Combine.

Round 7:
Joseph Fauria – Tight End, UCLA
Fauria had a great senior season and is an excellent red zone target with his height and athleticism. He needs to improve his blocking skills, but his size is an asset in the passing game.

Round 7:
Dalton Freeman – Center, Clemson
Freeman is a raw prospect, but could do a good job in the zone blocking scheme. He would need some time to learn the system and be the eventual replacement for Will Montgomery.

UDFAs:
1. Lucas Reed – TE, New Mexico
2. Elvis Fisher – OT, Missouri
3. Jeff Braun – OT, West Virginia
4. T.J. Barnes – DT, Georgia Tech
5. Steve Greer – ILB, Virginia
6. Trey Wilson – CB, Vanderbilt
7. Alex Dunnachie - P, Hawaii
8. Ray Ray Armstrong – S, Miami
9. James Wilson – G, Florida
10. Mark Jackson – G, Glenville St
11. Miguel Maysonet – RB, Stony Brook
12. Brandon Kaufman – WR, Eastern Washington
13. Rontez Miles – S, California (PA)
14. Tino Sunseri – QB, Pittsburgh
15. Demetrius McCray – CB, Appalachian St
16. Jeff Locke - P, UCLA

Judging by the way Mike and Bruce responded, it's safe to say that the 2013 draft will be one of the most pivotal and crucial in recent memory for this team.

We cried in the past over and over about how this team could never find middle round draft choices who could make contributions on the field.

Coincidentally, those mid-round choices this year are the ones we definitely have to hit it out of the park with judging by the cap situation that stares us in the face currently.

Long term, this mess might just make us stronger as a franchise. It makes draft success imperative. It forces us to do what so many consistent teams around the league have done for a number of years...draft responsibly and successfully from the top to bottom rounds. Myself personally, I don't see the hiring of a guy like AJ Smith to be a coincidence...maybe he brings something that he can contribute draft-wise or scouting-wise that will help this franchise transition effectively in the face of this hurdle.

In the end, I don't think we can make excuses. We've spent the money numerous times in the past and have failed miserably on the field. I'm not saying that what happened to the Redskins was justifiable in any way, shape, or form, but hopefully it's a blessing in disguise somehow.

Winning cures all ills and shuts everybody up. Thankfully, we have a young enough core group of guys that we can lean on with a bit of confidence to help us get out of the mud here.

The NFL Combine is history and the regional combines continue for the next several weeks. In this second installment of the offseason edition of BBQ, we take our next look at free agency. Once again, the cap limitations that were placed on the Redskins in 2012 will affect them in 2013 as well. BBQ is going under the assumption that none of the money will be recovered and has taken a look at how the FA period could unfold.

Q1: Who are the pending free agents for the Redskins and of those players, who should stay and who should walk?
Answer: Here is the list with suggestions. Feel free to give your thoughts on who should stay and who should go.

Quarterback: Rex Grossman – Walk. We have two capable QBs and a third prospect can be added in the late rounds of the draft or as an UDFA.
Fullback: Darrel Young (RFA) – Keep. He is a terrific lead blocker.
Tight End: Fred Davis – Neutral. Will he recover from is Achilles injury in time for the new season? Are the Redskins looking for his replacement in the draft? This is now leaning to “Walk” based on some of the contacts that the Redskins have had with TE prospects in the upcoming draft.
Tight End: Logan Paulsen (RFA) – Keep. This blue collar player continues to contribute valuable minutes on the playing field and is a reliable blocker.
Tackle: Tyler Polumbus – Keep. Obviously, Polumbus is not the long term answer at right tackle, but he is a reliable backup who can fill in when needed.
Tackle: Jordan Black – Walk. He saw little time on the field this season and was also suspended.
Guard: Kory Lichtensteiger – Neutral. Lichtensteiger was penalized on numerous occasions and was bit by the injury bug. Josh LeRibeus is ready to step forward. Is Lichtensteiger willing to take a demotion?
Defensive Line: Kedric Golston – Walk. It is time to move on from Golston. If he was younger, then his services would be needed. He can be easily replaced.
Defensive Line: Chris Baker – Walk. A training camp and preseason star did not produce as much during the regular season.
Outside Linebacker: Rob Jackson – Keep. His stellar play in 2012 has caused more than just a few fans to think the improbable – do we trade Brian Orakpo?
Outside Linebacker: Lorenzo Alexander – Keep. The all-everything player is probably a lock to stay – as it should be and it is not up for debate.
Outside Linebacker: Chris Wilson – Walk. His contributions over the years are certainly appreciated, but it is time to move on.
Inside Linebacker: Bryan Kehl – Walk. Little to no impact at LB during the season makes him a free agent.
Cornerback: Cedric Griffin – Changed, Neutral to Walk. Started the season poorly, but rebounded somewhat. Just the cost alone is enough to make the team look elsewhere.
Safety: Madieu Williams – Walk. Simply put, he is a liability in all facets of the game and should not return.
Punter: Sav Rocca – Walk. His production dropped dramatically in 2012 and there are several options in free agency that are more attractive.
Special Teams: Brandon Banks – Walk. What seemed so promising turned into Antwan Dancing El, Part Two. It is time to move on from this little experiment.
Special Teams: Nick Sundberg – Keep. The long snapper has made a name for himself and appears to have a long career at this vital position.

Q2: With the new offseason set to begin on March 12, who could be released for cap savings purposes? BBQ provides a list. Provide your ideas on who should stay and who should go.

Answer:
Jammal Brown. It is time for him to go.
Cap savings: $1.3 Million
Dezmon Briscoe. Had no impact in his one season here.
Cap savings: $630,000
DeAngelo Hall. If he agrees to restructure, then bringing him back is an option.
Cap savings: $8.0 Million
Santana Moss. Like Hall, if he agrees to restructure, then bringing him back is an option.
Cap savings: $4.5 Million
Reed Doughty. A special teams ace and role player could be on the chopping block, but he has staying power it seems.
Cap savings: $1.375 Million
Brandon Meriweather. Health is the main issue here.
Cap savings: $1.3 million
Keiland Williams. Returning RBs makes him expendable.
Cap savings: $630,000
Tanard Jackson – Walk. Jackson came with a “buyer beware” tag and he chose to take that horrible path.
Cap Savings: $700,000.


Q3: Which players could be candidates for restructuring contracts to save cap space? Also, which players do you believe deserve an extension – for cap savings and keeping them on the team?

Answer:
Stephen Bowen: 2013 Cap, $5.5 Million.
Adam Carriker: 2013 Cap, $4.0 Million.
Chris Chester: 2013 Cap, $4.3 Million.
* Could be released with no cap hit.
Barry Cofield: 2013 Cap, $6.3 Million.
London Fletcher: 2013 Cap, $6.2 Million.
Pierre Garcon: 2013 Cap, $8.2 Million.
Brandon Meriweather: 2013 Cap, $2.9 Million.
Josh Morgan: 2013 Cap, $5.1 Million.
Brian Orakpo: 2013 Cap, $5.1 Million.
Trent Williams: 2013 Cap, $8.0 Million.
Josh Wilson: 2013 Cap, $5.3 Million.
These players are prime candidates for restructuring and extensions. BBQ would like to see extensions for Fletcher, Morgan, Orakpo, Williams, and Wilson. BBQ would like to see restructures for Bowen and Cofield. Meriweather taking a pay cut is preferable.

Q4: Which free agents from other teams could be targets of the Redskins?
Answer: There are some good prospects for the Redskins to consider – if they become available.

Offensive Tackle:
1. Phil Loadholt – He could provide the talent and stability that the Redskins have needed at RT.
2. Sebastian Vollmer – BBQ thinks of him as 1A, but might be a bit costly.
3. Branden Albert – Injury concerns could cause the Redskins to look past Albert. Would he be a repeat of Jammal Brown?
Defensive Line:
1. Sammie Lee Hill – An underrated player who deserves a chance to play in regular rotation on the line.
2. Alan Branch – Not a top lineman, but no real weaknesses either.
3. Sen’Derrick Marks – A young player who has probably reached his peak, but is still a solid contributor.
Cornerback:
1. Greg Toler – Talented corner could shine in the 3-4 system.
2. Cary Williams – Could be a starter when/if needed and would be a solid player in nickel packages.
3. Derek Cox – Another talented corner, but has a problem with staying healthy. Overcome the injury bug and he rises to the top of the list.
Safety:
1. Corey Lynch – An underrated safety who would do well in Washington. Also a special teams ace.
2. Ed Reed – If he comes at a reasonable price, then why not?
3. Glover Quin – Quietly does a good job and has found his place in the league after struggling as a cornerback.
Punter:
1. Kevin Huber – Consistent and has a solid leg. He would be a huge upgrade over Sav Rocca.
2. Dustin Colquitt – Not as strong as Huber, but has an uncanny knack for kicking the ball consistently inside the opponents twenty yard line.
With this list, one or two studs could be signed and two or three role players could join the team as well.

That is all for this edition of BBQ. As the offseason continues, we will periodically look at free agents and the upcoming draft. See you as we go along.

I wondered if this re-kindling of the cap-space fight betwen the Redskins-and to a lesser extent the Cowboys-and the NFL, and Uncle Roger, and by implication a certain individual associated with the New York Giants organization, was making the news in fan forums around the league and if a Recon might be a good idea.

Well, if Dan Snyder picked this particular time-the Combine, FAs, coaching moves and mock draft fever running thick and heavy throughout the league-in order to be stealthy about this he did a good job. Team after team, fan forum after fan forum carried no mention of the goings-on. Nothing.

NFL forums are filled with Combine news, Alex Smith and Cullen Jenkins and everybody else suddenly up for grabs but nothing about the Redskins, Snyder, cap-space-except their own, not a thread to be found...well, yet anyway.

Nada.

After checking 10 random team's fan boards I began to think this is just too under the radar to be a worthwhile search.


And then I decided to try fans closer to the issue.



I started in Dallas.



Dallas fans are paying attention to this.



I've heard an old saying-"The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

That seems to be the case among some Cowboy fans.


This next one, if true, does make one wonder.


Then I visited where I doubted much sympathy would be found-Giants fans.

My doubt was valid.

Normally I have culled out excessively nasty posts but there wasn't much else where I went.

New York Giants fans have a...uh...different view of things.

This is the most reasonable sounding post I found.



Almost all the rest, however, were like the following.

Maybe, as events unfold, there will be more interest througout the league and more comments made, more opinions offered, but like I said, the Combine and upcoming draft are dominating general NFL threads right now.

However, if Snyder does succeed in blowing things up it will absolutely be a "hot topic"

After all, he's always had a talent for making that sort of thing happen. :)

Like last year, BBQ will do a series of mock drafts and will provide continual updates based on team needs, free agency additions/losses, and injuries. Another mock will posted in early March and will be updated weekly at that juncture. The frequency of mocks will increase as we get closer to the draft and it will be a daily feature in the final week. Feel free to add your own ideas and mocks as we go along.

Team needs are S, RT, CB, TE, and DL. Some of these issues could be settled (somewhat) in free agency, but we will address those potential signings in future mocks. Let’s get this first mock in the books.

Round 2:
Jonathan Cyprien – Free Safety, Florida International
Considered to be one of the top five free safeties in the draft, Cyprien has an all-around skillset and size to succeed.

Round 3:
Kyle Long – Offensive Tackle, Oregon
The son of Hall-of-Famer Howie Long is an athletic tackle who started out on the defensive side. He has shined since moving to the offense and could fit in well coming from Oregon’s progressive system.

Round 4:
Terry Hawthorne – Cornerback, Illinois
Hawthorne has good size and quickness for a CB and is very physical. His performance in the Shrine game boosted his stock.

Round 5:
Joseph Fauria – Tight End, UCLA
Fauria had a great senior season and is an excellent red zone target with his height and athleticism. He needs to improve on blocking skills, but his size is an asset in the passing game.

Round 5:
Darius Slay - Cornerback, Mississippi St
Slay is an underrated cornerback prospect who had a solid senior campaign. He has good speed, good coverage skills, and better than average size.

Round 6:
Stefphon Jefferson – Running Back, Nevada
We don’t need a running back? Ok, that’s fine, but Mike Shanahan has this uncanny habit of finding hidden gems at this position and Jefferson fits the bill. Many scouts are calling him this year’s Alfred Morris. Jefferson’s offense ran the pistol and he had a great year. Enough said.

Round 7:
Brandon Williams, Defensive Tackle, Missouri Southern
Williams comes from a small school, but could have a big impact at the next level. His stats are impressive and he had a very good showing at the Senior Bowl.

UDFAs
1. DC Jefferson – TE, Rutgers
2. Elvis Fisher – OT, Missouri
3. Jeff Braun – OT, West Virginia
4. T.J. Barnes – DT, Georgia Tech
5. Steve Greer – ILB, Virginia
6. Trey Wilson – CB, Vanderbilt
7. Ray Ray Armstrong – S, Miami
8. James Wilson – G, Florida
9. Mark Jackson – G, Glenville St
10. Miguel Maysonet – RB, Stony Brook
11. Brandon Kaufman – WR, Eastern Washington
12. Rontez Miles – S, California (PA)
13. Tino Sunseri – QB, Pittsburgh
14. Demetrius McCray – CB, Appalachian St

The 2012 season is behind us with a division championship banner flying at Redskins Park. In this first installment of the offseason edition of BBQ, we take our first look at free agency. Once again, the cap limitations that were placed on the Redskins in 2012 will affect them again in 2013. However, the team has several options and could be active in the free agent market. Let’s take a look at some questions and possible answers.

Q1: Who are the pending free agents for the Redskins and of those players, who should stay and who should walk?
Answer: Here is the list with suggestions. Feel free to give your thoughts on who should stay and who should go.

Quarterback: Rex Grossman – Keep. He knows the system and costs little.
Fullback: Darrel Young (RFA) – Keep. He is a terrific lead blocker.
Tight End: Fred Davis – Neutral. Will he recover from is Achilles injury in time for the new season. Are the Redskins looking for his replacement in the draft?
Tight End: Chris Cooley – Walk. Let’s be honest. We all love Chris Cooley and we hope he finds employment with the team in some capacity, but his playing days are over.
Tight End: Logan Paulsen (RFA) – Keep. This blue collar player continues to contribute valuable minutes on the playing field and is a reliable blocker.
Tackle: Tyler Polumbus – Keep. Obviously, Polumbus is not the long term answer at right tackle, but he is a reliable backup who can fill in when needed.
Tackle: Jordan Black – Walk. He saw little time on the field this season and was also suspened.
Guard: Kory Lichtensteiger – Neutral. Lichtensteiger was penalized on numerous occasions and was bit by the injury bug. Josh LeRibeus is ready to step forward. Is Lichtensteiger willing to take a demotion?
Defensive Line: Kedric Golston – Walk. It is time to move on from Golston. If he was younger, then his services would be needed. He can be easily replaced.
Defensive Line: Chris Baker – Walk. A training camp and preseason star did not produce as much during the regular season.
Outside Linebacker: Rob Jackson – Keep. His stellar play in 2012 has caused more than just a few fans to think the improbable – do we trade Brian Orakpo?
Outside Linebacker: Lorenzo Alexander – Keep. The all-everything player is a lock to stay – as it should be and it is not up for debate.
Outside Linebacker: Chris Wilson – Walk. His contributions over the years are certainly appreciated, but it is time to move on.
Inside Linebacker: Bryan Kehl – Walk. Little to no impact during the season makes him a free agent.
Cornerback: Cedric Griffin – Neutral. Started the season poorly, but rebounded somewhat.
Cornerback: D.J. Johnson – Walk. The Redskins have already released him.
Safety: Madieu Williams – Walk. Simply put, he is a liability in all facets of the game and should not return.
Safety: Tanard Jackson – Walk. Jackson came with a “buyer beware” tag and he chose to take that horrible path.
Punter: Sav Rocca – Walk. His production dropped dramatically in 2012 and there are several options in free agency that are more attractive.
Special Teams: Brandon Banks – Walk. What seemed so promising turned into Antwan Dancing El, Part Two. It is time to move on from this little experiment.
Special Teams: Nick Sundberg – Keep. The long snapper has made a name for himself and appears to have a long career at this vital position.

Q2: With the new offseason set to begin on March 12, who could be released for cap savings purposes? BBQ provides a list. Provide your ideas on who should stay and who should go.

Answer:
Jammal Brown. It is time for him to go.
Cap savings: $1.3 Million
Dezmon Briscoe. Had no impact in his one season here.
Cap savings: $630,000
DeAngelo Hall. If he agrees to restructure, then bringing him back is an option.
Cap savings: $8.0 Million
Santana Moss. Like Hall, if he agrees to restructure, then bringing him back is an option.
Cap savings: $4.5 Million
Reed Doughty. A special teams ace and role player could be on the chopping block, but he has staying power it seems.
Cap savings: $1.375 Million
Brandon Meriweather. Health is the main issue here.
Cap savings: $1.3 million
Keiland Williams. Returning RBs makes him expendable.
Cap savings: $630,000

Q3: Which players could be candidates for restructuring contracts to save cap space? Also, which players do you believe deserve an extension – for cap savings and keeping them on the team?

Answer:
Stephen Bowen: 2013 Cap, $5.5 Million.
Adam Carriker: 2013 Cap, $4.0 Million.
Chris Chester: 2013 Cap, $4.3 Million.
Barry Cofield: 2013 Cap, $6.3 Million.
London Fletcher: 2013 Cap, $6.2 Million.
Pierre Garcon: 2013 Cap, $8.2 Million.
Brandon Meriweather: 2013 Cap, $2.9 Million.
Josh Morgan: 2013 Cap, $5.1 Million.
Brian Orakpo: 2013 Cap, $5.1 Million.
Trent Williams: 2013 Cap, $8.0 Million.
Josh Wilson: 2013 Cap, $5.3 Million.

These players are prime candidates for restructuring and extensions. BBQ would like to see extensions for Fletcher, Morgan, Orakpo, Williams, and Wilson. BBQ would like to see Bowen, Cofield, and Meriweather taking a pay cut.

Q4: Which free agents from other teams could be targets of the Redskins?

Answer: There are some good prospects for the Redskins to consider – if they become available.
Offensive Tackle:
1. Phil Loadholt – He could provide the talent and stability that the Redskins have needed at RT.
2. Sebastian Vollmer – BBQ thinks of him as 1A, but might be a bit costly.
3. Jake Long – Is he willing to move to the RT position? Is he willing to take a team friendly contract? If “yes” to both questions, then he moves to the top of the list.
4. Branden Albert – Injury concerns could cause the Redskins to look past Albert. Would he be a repeat of Jammal Brown?
Defensive Line:
1. Sammie Lee Hill – An underrated player who deserves a chance to play in regular rotation on the line.
2. Alan Branch – Not a top lineman, but no real weaknesses either.
3. Sen’Derrick Marks – A young player who has probably reached his peak, but is still a solid contributor.
Cornerback:
1. Cary Williams – Could be a starter when/if needed and would be a solid player in nickel packages.
2. Greg Toler – His situation is similar to Williams.
Safety:
1. Ed Reed – If he comes at a reasonable price, then why not?
2. Glover Quin – Quietly does a good job and has found his place in the league after struggling as a cornerback.
Punter:
1. Kevin Huber – Consistent and has a solid leg. He would be a huge upgrade over Sav Rocca.
2. Dustin Colquitt – Not as strong as Huber, but has an uncanny knack for kicking the ball consistently inside the opponents twenty yard line.

With this list, one or two studs could be signed and two or three role players could join the team as well. A new punter is a given if Rocca is not retained.

That is all for this edition of BBQ. As the offseason takes center stage, we will continue to look at free agents and the upcoming draft. See you again sometime soon.

I think we actually had 3 key injuries total.

On offense, RT Brown.
Without Brown, Polumbus was the most inconsistent and least competent lineman out of the whole O-line bunch. He gave up the most sacks, hurries, and had the most missed assignments per pro football statistics. Kory Lichtensteiger was not that far behind him; I believe Kory had the most penalties of the entire O-line but that is a different story.

Many people have said the loss of Fred Davis was a critical too, but Paulson was steady and competent. Davis led the team in catches at the point he went down in the game 7 loss to the Giants.

In 7 games Davis had 24 catches for 325 yards or 13.5 yards average per catch and a long one for 29 yards. Davis had no TD catches.

In 10 games Paulson had 25 catches for 308 yards or 12.3 yards average per catch and a long one for 31 yards. Paulson had 1 TD catch, and I am not talking about the TD catch in the playoff loss to Seattle. I don't see that big of a difference between the two based upon these stats.

On defense, losing Carriker and Orakpo were the two key injuries.
Our front seven was supposed to be our strength. Our safety situation was a mess at the beginning of the season. When you have two new starting safeties, neither of which was on the team the year before and both had huge question marks, you don't call that an ideal situation or even a comfortable situation. Also, you can't "what if" when the two projected starters have nothing to use to compare them. No, our defensive problems started when Carriker and Orakpo went down and our strong front seven turned into a strong front five.

Kerrigan got 9 sacks this year. He had 1 sack in each of the first 2 games. After Carriker and Orakpo went down in game 2 he got 2 1/2 sacks and 1 interception in the remaining 7 games before the bye. It took him 7 more games to get the same amount of sacks he had after only 2 games.

Regarding Kerrigan's remaining 4 sacks on the year after the bye, 3 of them came in the two games we played against Philly and the other one was against Dallas on Thanksgiving.

Orakpo was well on his way to having a banner season. Go back and look at the statistics for the 2 games he played in. He had 1 sack and 1 forced fumble after 2 games - both of those were against the Rams in game 2 before he went down.

In the remaining 5 games before the bye, when the coaches hadn't yet figured out what they were going to do without Orakpo and tried an LB by committee approach, Rob Jackson had a total of 1/2 sack. After the bye, he had 4 in the remaining 7 games of the season.

Lorenzo Alexander had 1 1/2 sacks before the bye, but that was all against Minnesota; after the bye just 1 sack against Philly.

Chris Wilson played heavily in games 3-6, sparingly after that, but was ineffective and ended the year with only 1/2 sack.


I think Rob Jackson did a great job and made a definite impact on defense once he was made the starting ROLB; he had 4 interceptions this year, but Orakpo would have had a bigger impact and would have influenced the outcome of games had he been healthy and played the whole year.

So after our gut-wrenching win, I figured that would share my thoughts with you guys on last weeks game and the Skins off season. So, without further adieu:

- Montgomery's botched snaps aside, offensive line played very well in run blocking and bootleg protection. Lichtensteiger seemed to struggle a little holding the pocket together, especially after RGIII's knee started bothering him in the 2nd quarter. His ankle was hurting and it showed.

- It goes without saying, and I know it has been beat to death, but I have to point it out: Griffin should have been pulled in the 2nd quarter. Poise in the pocket wasn't the same after that scramble in the 1st. I think that was the play that was his undoing

- On the Defense: your backs are really missing Orakpo. The defense would have been much different with him in there, but lets not dwell on that. The backers kept letting Wilson get up field and got frustrated quickly. Watching Hall play gave me flashbacks of when he played for us. He can make big plays and give up big ones, (see the 30 yd pass to Baldwin at the end of the 2nd) AND the CRUCIAL holding penalty in the 3rd on 3rd and 3.

All of that said, as many of you know, a good friend of mine plays for the Redskins. He took a vacation last week, but I spoke to him this morning. He was surprisingly very optimistic about this off season. He said that it was by far the best team he has played with in his career and knows that next year is going to bring even more wins.

Your teams future is bright Redskins fans. Here's to a Falcon superbowl vicotry this year, and a Redskins - Falcons NFC championship next year!

Ok, now that Griffin's injury situation has been talked to death and the Seahawks are out of the playoffs :) I thought I'd lighten things up a bit around here.

I know we are all holding our collective breaths about our star player, but regardless of what happens with him this season has been a wild success. I will now tell you why.

We had Thanksgiving at my parents' house this year. Because the Redskins were playing, my mother had accepted the fact that we would all be sitting around the TV watching the game during dinner. Of course, this only meant us Elders ... family members who were at least my age (and my obsessed 26 year-old cousin ... God bless him) because none of the kids cared at all about the Redskins or football. Actually at the start of the game it was just me and my dad. We settled in and expected the usual ho hum Redskin loss ... and then Robinson caught that first TD pass. Without even thinking I let out the loudest primal yell of probably the past decade. My seven year old son ran down into the room to find out what was going on, saw the touchdown and sat down. Then my ten year-old daughter shuffled in with a few other relatives. Then we scored another TD. Then another one. Then it was halftime and we were up 28-3. The entire house was going nuts, and my kids were soaking it up.

The next day my son asked if he could watch the game again. As it happened I DVRed it so I turned the game on. Every day that week he watched the game, cheering madly at all the TDs.

Then the day of the Giants game arrived. I told him he could watch the game, but we might not win it. Then we did win it. Then we beat the Ravens. And we just kept on winning. My kids would ask to watch the games over and over again. My daughter would ask about the rules. My son asked for Griffin jersey for Hannuka. Then my mom bought him Football Guys. In case you are wondering they are like Army Men, but they are football players. Now that the season is over he re-enacts the games with these guys. I've been teaching him the various formations and what they are used for. Here's a picture of him explaining that the Redskins are in a goal-line offense and who is going to get the ball.

Anyway, for a decade I've tried to get my kids interested in the Redskins. I've bribed them, cajoled them, bought them Redskin stuff ... nothing. I've watched the games alone for years. This year, the Redskins won more than just the last seven games. They won my kids over for me.

It's amazing what winning, even just a little bit, can do.

Hail.

A small sample of fan thoughts around the league.

Chicago Bears:

San Diego Chargers:

Arizona Cardinals:

Baltimore Ravens:

Miami Dolpins:

Houston Texans:

A bit of a LOL with this next one.

Denver Broncos:


Cleveland Browns:

New Orleans Saints:
Tennessee Titans:

San Fransisco49ers:

This one made me laugh.

Green Bay Packers:

I'm disheartened. I'm numb. I'm at a loss for words at what transpired yesterday.

In the heat of battle yesterday, our beloved organization lost sight of an incredibly important fact - that being that the game of football is the ultimate TEAM game.

After having some time to reflect and digest, what I feel quite confident in saying is the following at this point...

1. For the first time as a Redskin, Robert Griffin perceived himself to be bigger than the team. I appreciate the competitiveness, I appreciate the warrior mentality and heart he showed fighting it out and trying to stay on the field. Unfortunately, he didn't want to admit that enough was enough and that his team could actually be better served without him.

2. Mike Shanahan perceived Robert Griffin to be bigger than the team with his inability to make the tough decision and pull him. It's a shame that he showed such little confidence in a group of guys who had just reeled off 7 wins in a row. It's a travesty that he showed such little belief in a group of players that very well may have bought him a few more years in D.C. It's sickening knowing that he basically quit on a group of guys who sacrificed every last ounce of will to salvage what was potentially going to become a third successive and disastrous campaign for the Shanahan regime prior to the winning streak.

3. The other players wearing our colours believed Robert was bigger than the team (on the offensive side of the ball at least). I saw very few, if any guys step up and show the courage to make a play when we needed it offensively once it was evident that he wasn't right.. Blocking was suspect in a few situations, balls were being dropped....guys simply lost confidence and belief in themselves as a unit after it was evident that Robert was ailing. Offensively, we lost the swagger we seemed to have during that winning streak.

I wholeheartedly believe that going forward, if we want to be elite and not just good, it needs to be more about the WASHINGTON REDSKINS - not Robert Griffin...(and while we're at it, lets scrap the RG3 chants). I love the man as much as the next guy does, but I hope that yesterday was a lesson learned going forward that never can one man do it alone long term in the game of football. No one man will ever be greater than the collective. We looked downright desperate as a franchise clinging to QB who was basically walking on one leg and believing that we were hopeless without him.

For an organization that showed so much fight over the course of a seven week stretch, Robert and Mike alike sure looked like two frightened turtles taking cover under their shells from the second quarter onwards yesterday.

My apologies if any or all of this has been spoken about today. I just feel like every ounce of positive energy that we've mustered of late was snatched away in the blink of an eye and I haven't had the will or spirit to read the board carefully today.

I love this board and the people here - you and I all deserve better.

A few weeks ago, I wrote this blog about Griff vs Luck, and the burgeoning rivalry they may have. It's possible I was off a little. Maybe it's Griffin and Russell Wilson? How great would it be to have a rivavlry in the same conference, with these two teams playing multiple times in the playoffs over the next ten years?

(as long as the Skins win all the games, I think it'd be REALLY great, actually)

So let's look at this game today. Griff was the best rookie in the league for the first 75% of this year, but Wilson has taken the mantle from him since then. Since Griff's injury, he has been a pocket passer against the Eagles and a decoy vs the Cowboys. In either game, he did not resemble the player we say before his injury.

And as a result, Wilson has gotten the press. And deservedly so, he's been fantastic down the stretch.

You think Griff hasn't noticed? You think he didn't enjoy being the talk of the league for the first 75% of the season? Sure, he's enjoyed winning more, but the individual accolades are undeniabley nice.

Now he has a chance to win AND get the individual accolades. The Seahawks are going to be focused on Morris and the run game. They will not be playing the same defense Dallas failed with last week, dropping two safeties WAY back off the LOS. Griff will have opportunities with the deep throw, and he will have opportunities with misdirection plays, fooling the speed and aggressiveness of the Seattle D.

This is Griff's game, guys. He has taken a backseat in order for us to enjoy this awesome 7 game winning streak, because that's what's best for the team. What's best for the team today is for him to step up and dominate the ball, running everything through him.

You know what I think? I think he knows that. I think he WANTS that. And I know he will deliver. Be prepared for an epic game today from our young QB. Be prepared for a dominating performance that reminds the rest of the league WHY Griffin was considered the best rookie for most of the season. Be prepared for him making those media members who picked against him for ROY to be writing apologies on Monday morning. Be prepared for everyone to say "Oh yeah" as they watch.

I'm thinking 300 yards passing, 3 TDs, 75 yards rushing, 1 TD. Redskins 34, Seattle 21.

Hail.

Blognosticator - Boone


Lenny: "Skitch", how did we get here?
Guy: I led you here, sir, for I am Spartacus.
- from ‘That Thing You Do’


If the Washington Redskins unexpected rise as NFC East champions and playoff team were a feel-good Hollywood movie, there can be no doubt that one Robert Griffin III would be our Spartacus.

With the Redskins just 3-6 midway through the 2012 NFL campaign, fans were doing that thing they do. Detaching, rationalizing, blaming, and bristling at the thought of another meaningless December. The idea that the Redskins, after losing to a down, out, and dysfunctional Carolina Panthers squad, were about to reel off a 7 game winning streak would have been pure madness. Yet that’s exactly what happened.

So, seriously, how the hell DID we get here Skitch?

Belief is a powerful thing. And at that critical juncture, heading into a mid-season bye week as an irrelevant team in ‘evaluation’ mode, fans believed the team had improved drastically under center, had found a hidden gem in 6th round running back Alfred Morris, but not much more. What fans didn’t realize is that Shanahan’s 2012 squad was beginning to believe.

They believed their coaches knew what they were doing.
They believed in their 2 rookie quarterbacks.
They believed that no matter who they faced across the line of scrimmage on any particular Sunday, they had a chance to win.
They believed they could come back to win, when previous teams folded like wet newspaper.
They believe that ‘down’ was not ‘out’.
They believed they could run and pass and score.
They believed they could make field goals, 17 straight of them.
They even believed that, when it counted, they could stop the other guys from scoring.

But most of all, they believed in each other.

Talent matters in the NFL, in case you hadn’t noticed. Just look at the difference having a gifted quarterback on the roster has made for this team. But even in the NFL, belief, motivation level, and teamwork almost always trump talent. Lacking top tier talent at a number of key spots, the Redskins are not the most talented team in the 2012 playoffs. They may not even be the most talented team to take the field Sunday at 4:30 p.m. in their wildcard matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

But I think we’ll beat the more talented Seahawks on Sunday.

The Seattle Seahawks are this year’s ‘media darlings’. And not without reason. Head coach Pete Carroll has apparently finally shed the ‘college coach who can’t win in the NFL’ moniker, and has put together one of the more complete teams in the NFL. The Seahawks are more than solid across the board. They enter Sunday’s playoff matchup against the Skins having won 7 of their last 8. Most notably, the Seahawks boast the 4th ranked defense, and their own rookie sensation at QB, 3rd round draft pick Russell Wilson. Wilson has racked up over 3100 yards this season, thrown just 10 interceptions to 28 touchdowns, and completed an impressive 64% of his passes. In a normal year, he would be the undisputed rookie of the year. Add in a 1500+ yard 2012 rushing performance by Marshawn Lynch, and the Seahawks are a team no one wanted to face in the first round.

So, why do I think we beat the more talented Seahawks on Sunday?

1. Home Field Advantage. The Seahawks have always been far more dominant at home than away. At Qwest Field, in rainy, miserable Seattle, most opponents ‘do as in Rome’ and fall into a deep depression. All it takes is that ‘12th Man’ flag being raised. Seattle is 8-0 at home in 2012. On the road, the Seahawks veil of invincibility can be torn. Sure, Seattle pulled off 3 road wins this year. But all 5 of their losses came outside the confines of home. And, of their road wins, only one was anything approximating ‘impressive’. They barely beat the then hapless Carolina Panthers in Charlotte, and it took overtime for them to beat the head case Bears on the road. The Seahawks did lay a 50 point road drubbing on the Buffalo Bills a few weeks ago – key words ‘the Buffalo Bills’. But they are heading into a DC buzzsaw, against a hungry, opportunistic Skins team, in front of a fired up and frenzied Fed Ex Field crowd. The Seahawks are imminently beatable on the road. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

2. Leaving on a Jet Plane. Winging across the country sounds like fun, and it is. But anyone who does it knows, there’s something about that kind of travel that just throws the body a little off kilter. Whether it’s ‘jet lag’, disruption of the circadian rhythms, or bad airline peanuts and soda, history has shown that travelling from coast to coast is not helpful before a big game. Can it be overcome? Of course. But I’d much rather be the Redskins resting and preparing for a home game than the Seahawks who’ve spent a lot of their week preparing for a long trip and then making one.

3. Griffin’s Knee. First of all, it’s real, and it’s spectacular. Secondly, I believe the Redskins are in mid-rope-a-dope mode concerning the health of Robert Griffin. Sure, Griffin looked a little hobbled against the Cowboys. He was only able to rush for 68 yards and a touchdown. Some argued his injured knee also disrupted his plant leg and impacted his passing ability. But the Redskins rushed the ball 42 times for 274 yards. Tossing a few balls was just icing on the cake. I believe Griffin is fine, and that we’ll see not only a better passing performance this week from him, but some devastating designed runs that will catch Seattle, busy preparing for another 42 rush game from the Skins, off guard. Everyone thinks they can stop Griffin. Until they actually have to.

4. The Swagger Factor. The Redskins are a humble, mostly blue collar, and confident team. The Seahawks? Well, the nicest way I can say it is, they like to talk. Hearing Seattle’s players tell it, it’s a travesty they should even have to play an unworthy Redskins team this weekend. They’re a damn juggernaut, a ‘team of destiny’, the Redskins game little more than an inconvenience in the way of their playing truly worthy opponents. Keep believing it Seattle fans. It’s a familiar story, one played out by Dallas fans (you know, the ones that’ll be home watching the Skins-Seattle playoff game on Sunday). The Seahawks don’t just believe they’ll win this game handily, they know they will. And that hubris is going to cost them on Sunday.

5. Karma – it’s a bitch. The Redskins have only been to the playoffs twice since Norv Turner was run out of DC on a rail. In both the 2005 and 2007 post-seasons, it was Seattle that crushed the Redskins Super Bowl hopes. Redskins fans, including this one, don’t care for Seattle fans. Those of us who made the trips to those 2 playoff road losses loved the beautiful city of Seattle, the beer and fresh salmon were wonderful, but were treated to nasty, disrespectful, and even threatening behavior from the mostly classless Seattle fan base. In 2007, Seattle fans even made light of the tragic death of beloved fan favorite Sean Taylor, who committed the unforgiveable sin of trying to protect his girlfriend and newborn daughter during a home break-in. Classless? That doesn’t even begin to describe Seattle fans who mocked Taylor as a ‘criminal’ and ‘thug’. Seattle fans? They don’t just deserve some heartbreak on Sunday, they’ve earned it. And the Redskins are going to deliver it.

So how do things go down on Sunday?

Seattle is about to get Munsoned :)

The Seahawks believe Griffin is hurt and that the Redskins hopes rest solely on the shoulders of Alfred Morris. They’ve prepared all week for a pounding, ball control, ground attack by Washington. That’s why Kyle Shanahan will unleash the passing attack this week. Alfred Morris and company will certainly do enough rushing to keep the Seahawks vaunted defense honest and guessing, but it will be RG3’s passing game, along with some designed Griffin runs mixed in, that will shock and defeat Seattle on Sunday. The Seahawks secondary may want to double up on their performance enhancing drugs before this one - they’re going to need them. Watch for Pierre Garcon, now seemingly all the way back from a nagging foot injury, to have a career day. Contrary to popular opinion, this one will be a high-scoring affair. Wilson can flat out ball, and the Seahawks will forget handing off to Lynch by the 2nd half, taking to the air out of necessity. But the much-maligned Redskins secondary will have its best game of the year, and pick off 2 Wilson passes on critical Seattle drives. Add in a sack and forced fumble deep in Seattle territory and the Redskins, in front of the loudest Fed Ex Field crowd in 20 years, will win this one convincingly.

Redskins 35
Seattle 24

Believe it.

For I. Am. Spartacus.

Hail!