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I love preseason.
And I hate it.
I love seeing my team storm the field in full battle gear for the first time in eight long months, pouring through the smoke and thundering bass grooves and prehistoric roar of a well-lubricated partisan crowd.
I hate being reminded, around midway through the second quarter, that I don’t know who a lot of the guys wearing those colors with unfamiliar numbers are… and that a lot of them won’t be around in a month so how well or badly they do out there really doesn’t matter.
I love that a week from tomorrow on Friday the 13th (hmm), I will get to witness the beginning of a new era—Mike Shanahan, Donovan McNabb, Trent Williams, the 3-4 defense.
I hate that I really won’t. The “New Era” won’t truly begin until September 12 when the Dallas Cowboys come to town.
I love that I will get my first taste, my first peek at what this new Redskins team “looks like” in action.
I hate that while getting that peek, how they play—good, bad, or indifferent—may or may not have anything to do with how they look come September 12.
I love that we will have actual football to talk about again. Was it a bad pass or did the receiver run a lazy route? Did the rookie left tackle get smoked inside by the defensive end or did the guard blow his assignment, pulling right instead of taking the away the inside rush lane? Did the corner get toasted one-on-one on a simple fly route or did the safety bite on an average look-off by the quarterback and blow his deep coverage?
I hate that many will treat each and every one of those actual football things as surefire portents of things to come. That the player in question is either a can’t-miss Pro Bowler or simply can’t play. That the new system is either money or fatally flawed. That the new era is either headed for dynasty or the new regime will be looking for work come January.
I love that if the offensive line looks great next Friday night, it might mean Shanahan/Allen really do “get it” and have taken a solid first step toward reversing the criminal neglect the organization paid to the line of scrimmage for the past decade.
I hate that it is also entirely possible that if the line looks great it might be because the Buffalo coaches used the first “live” outing of the year to do to their defensive line what former Redskins defensive guru Gregg Williams did to his secondary on occasion—throw them out there with no protective strategy or help just to see how they react when they get publicly flambeed.
I love that if Donovan McNabb looks sharp, has time, moves well and seems to find the open man on key throwing downs, it might mean he’s still “got it,” that new offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan’s schemes work and that it’s going to be sweet to see a Redskins offense score in the 20s more than once a month again.
I hate that it could also mean the Bills’ defensive coaches aren’t pressuring McNabb at all but putting their guys back in uber-vanilla zone schemes in order to get some guys on film who are having problems getting their base assignments down.
In other words, they really don’t give a damn if the Redskins convert a key third-and-12 because what they really want to see is if the rookie second-string linebacker can stay with the Redskins’ starting tight end for four seconds.
I love that if new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett’s 3-4 defense looks like it knows what the hell it’s doing—swarming the ball and looking aggressive and organized while forcing three consecutive three-and-outs against Buffalo’s “starting offense”—it might be a positive indicator they will be able to slow down Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys offense under the bright opening night lights.
I hate that my brain will remind me that Buffalo isn’t coming at Haslett’s defense with Tony Romo and the Cowboys offense, but Trent Edward or Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Bills offense.
And that they won’t be coming in with and a game plan cold-bloodedly and relentlessly designed to test the Redskins’ nose tackle’s Achilles and conditioning, their converted defensive ends’ ability to hold the edge, their converted linebackers’ comfort level with their gap assignments, the cornersback’s discipline against the out-and-up move and/or the safeties’ discipline on the double move, etc.
I love that the final score doesn’t count; that there is no pressure and no threat of back-away-from-the-ledge Monday-morning blues. It’s a pure pigskin picnic, a chance to watch a little game-type action and form some first-blush impressions of the new players.
I hate that the final score doesn’t count… when my team wins.
The off season is just about over—a humble and grateful nod to the gridiron gods is in order.
And with that, preseason football is just about upon us.
I love it.
And I hate it.
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Dear Coach Shanahan,
I know you’ve dreamed about shaking President Barack Obama’s hand. You’ve dreamed of leading the Redskins to the White House…with the Lombardi Trophy in your grip.
Your ultimate goal is to bring a championship to our nation’s capital.
Now you have a quarterback who can make that happen: Mr. Donovan McNabb.
Way back in 1995, when you took the Denver Broncos’ head coaching job, the great John Elway was dealing with the same “big-game underachiever” stigma that McNabb is facing now.
Of course, Elway had lost three Super Bowls that he and his Broncos were expected to lose. McNabb, meanwhile, has lost four NFC championship games. He and his Eagles were favored to win three of them. Elway was 5-1 in AFC championships. McNabb is 1-4 in NFC title games.
Donovan McNabb is not John Elway.
But Donovan is indeed looking for validation with a world championship, just like Elway was when you arrived in Denver. Elway couldn’t win it alone. McNabb won’t be able to either. But your exceptional track record with the Broncos suggests you won’t depend solely on McNabb to bring a Super Bowl to D.C.
Let’s think back to Denver. Clearly, running back Terrell Davis was the difference maker. He led the NFL in rushing yards from 1996 to 1998. Davis took the heat off Elway and helped him win two Super Bowls…without having to do it all by himself.
You, coach, have always been a proponent of a strong running game. In your 14 seasons in Denver, your Broncos finished in the top five in the league in rushing yards nine times; the top two four times; the top 10 in 12 seasons. Simply remarkable.
But as you know, a consistent running game is a luxury that Donovan McNabb never had in Philly. Sure, Donovan had the dynamic scat-back Brian Westbrook, but never a feature running back who could shoulder the offensive load.
The Eagles ranked 20th or lower in the league in rushing attempts in seven of McNabb’s 10 seasons as a starter. Only once over that time did the Eagles rank higher than 16th in attempts. These statistics aren’t surprising, since Philly coach Andy Reid has the highest pass percentage of play calls of any coach in NFL history.
But now McNabb is with you in Washington. When asked about your offensive scheme in his initial Redskin press conference in April, Donovan said, “It starts with the run game. I know probably a lot of you from Philly don’t know much about that run game. But we will run the ball here.”
Clearly, Donovan’s looking forward to handing the ball off more so than in years past. McNabb’s receiving targets will also be good enough if he doesn’t have to throw the ball 40 times per game. That’s where a half-decent running attack comes into play.
What about the veteran running back trio of Larry Johnson, Willie Parker, and Clinton Portis? Well, it could be very challenging to appropriately distribute each back’s playing time in a way that will keep each veteran happy while also keeping his legs fresh. Any way you look at it, you’re going to need a young running back in the next year or so.
Fresh legs were always a commodity during your Bronco tenure. In the years following Davis’ sensational stint, Portis, Olandis Gary, Mike Anderson, Reuben Droughns, and Tatum Bell all rushed for over 1,000 yards in a season as a Bronco. But Portis is the only one of those backs to have any success anywhere besides Denver.
Clearly, your offensive lines set the stage for your running backs.
Your Broncos consistently had one of the NFL’s best offensive lines, and the O-line is clearly your biggest concern for Washington in 2010. Losing starting guard Mike Williams for the entire season is a bad break right from the get-go. You’ll really need rookie offensive tackle Trent Williams to play like a guy deserving of being the fourth overall pick in last April’s draft.
The building of a formidable O-line in Washington will be crucial to giving your quarterback time to throw and also your running backs space to show their talents.
Your commitment to the running game and offensive line helped your Broncos win 91 games in your final 10 seasons in Denver. But quarterbacks Brian Griese, Jake Plummer, and Jay Cutler didn’t have the big-game experience and winning pedigree that Donovan McNabb has.
The only thing you were missing during those post-Elway years was a polished signal caller.
Of course, Redskin management needs to ink McNabb to a contract extension. Your team won’t be championship-caliber in 2010. But 2011 and 2012 could bring a lot of potential if you set out to build the Skins the same way you made the Broncos a consistent winner.
How great it must have felt, Coach Shanahan, to be a champion in January ’98 and ’99 with the Broncos: to send the Mile High City, virtually, a mile high.
Of course, Washington D.C. isn’t located exactly 5,280 feet above sea level. But what’s the difference? With Donovan McNabb, you’ve finally been reunited with a quarterback that can take you the distance.
Here’s hoping the Shanahan-McNabb Era in D.C. is a massive failure all the same.
Good luck,
Jamie Ambler
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Unbelievably, it’s looking like the impasse in negotiations between the Seahawks and Russell Okung is indeed about money, with Okung’s agent reportedly thinking a tackle should be paid more than a safety, even if the safety was drafted first.
Okung, picked sixth overall, is one of only two unsigned first-rounders, and the players picked all around him have signed, so the money parameters are well established.
“It’s pretty clear,” coach Pete Carroll told reporters Sunday. “All of the work has been done and the staging of the position we’re in, it’s really clear how this should go.”
No. 4 pick Trent Williams, also an offensive tackle, and No. 5 pick Eric Berry, a safety, each signed six-year deals worth $60 million. No. 7 pick Joe Haden, a cornerback, got $50 million over five years. So, we know Okung should get a contract worth $10 million per season.
The haggling comes down to years and guaranteed money. Williams received $36.75 million guaranteed, an average of about $6.1 million per year, while Berry got $34 million, an average of $5.67 million. Haden received $5.2 million per year.
Sensible folk would rightly conclude that Okung should receive guaranteed cash in the range between what Haden got and what Berry got—i.e., $5.4 million per year.
But, according to the beat writers who cover the Seahawks, Schaffer apparently wants Okung to be paid more than Berry, even though the safety was drafted one spot ahead of the tackle.
Mike Sando of ESPN.com wrote: “For Okung, the issues are twofold: Should his deal run five years or six? And how much should that sixth year cost?
“Okung, as a left tackle, stands to gain more in free agency once his deal ends than Berry is likely to command as a safety. He’ll naturally want a five-year deal and, if he’s going to take a sixth year, he’ll want to be paid at a premium offsetting the extra year he’ll spend before reaching free agency.
“But, if you’re the Seahawks, it’s difficult to pay more for the sixth overall choice than the Chiefs paid for the fifth pick.”
Meanwhile, Danny O’Neil of The Seattle Times says it’s simply a matter of Schaffer thinking a left tackle is worth more than a safety.
“The biggest sticking point right now is over the idea of a position premium,” O’Neil wrote in an online chat Wednesday. “This is about the value of left tackle vs. the value of a safety, and while it’s true that in today’s NFL economics a left tackle is more valuable than a safety by almost every measure, it’s also true that quarterback is the only position that has commanded a premium in terms of rookie negotiations in the past.”
By “premium,” O’Neil means that quarterbacks have been the only rookies who traditionally have been paid more than their draft slots would otherwise merit.
It seems that Schaffer might be trying to milk the final uncapped year before a rookie wage scale is imposed, and he might be trying to leverage the Seahawks’ desperate need for the left tackle they drafted to replace Walter Jones. He also might be trying to see whether the Seahawks’ new management team will blink, like it did with Charlie Whitehurst.
If Schaffer wants more money for his client, here’s a solution: The Seahawks can give Okung the extra cheddar—e.g., a six-year, $60 million deal with a very generous $36 million ($6 million per year) guaranteed. But make Schaffer agree to a team option for two more years, with the salaries dependent on Okung’s performance in his first four seasons—i.e., if he becomes a Pro Bowl player, pay him at the franchise-tag level (and if he’s just average, pay him accordingly).
Otherwise, the Seahawks should make the sixth year voidable through incentives or just settle on a five-year deal within the financial parameters that have been set by other signings (five years, $50 million, $27 million guaranteed). Of course, that assumes Schaffer isn’t trying to get the “tackle premium” even on a five-year deal. If he is, he’s just wasting everyone’s time.
In the end, there are only a couple of ways to do this fairly: straight-up slotting or added money with added time. Anything else is unrealistic and will result in a very long holdout and a wasted rookie season for Okung.
At some point, Okung is going to have to evaluate whether his agent is doing the right thing and decide whether to keep Schaffer or find someone who is willing to do a fair deal.
Until then, it’s simply ridiculous the Seahawks don’t have their new left tackle in uniform yet.
To find out why an 18-game NFL season is a bad idea, go Outside The Press Box .
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It’s pretty clear that the thing holding up an agreement between the Seahawks and left tackle Russell Okung is the length of the contract, and the way to get around that is to make the sixth year voidable through excellent play by Okung.
Typically, agents want shorter contracts so their players can reach free agency sooner. The Seahawks surely are pushing for six years, while Okung’s agent, Peter Schaffer, is probably holding out for five.
The top 16 players in the first round can be signed for up to six years, while players chosen in the bottom 16 can be signed only for five years.
Of this year’s top 16, only three have signed six-year contracts, while 10 have signed five-year deals and three, including Okung, are unsigned.
The only ones who have signed six-year deals are No. 1 pick Sam Bradford, No. 4 pick Trent Williams and No. 5 pick Eric Berry.
Thus, it appears Okung, the sixth pick, is right on the five-or-six cutoff.
Schaffer has most likely pointed out the dearth of six-year deals, and he also may have pointed out that the Seahawks signed their other first-rounder, No. 14 Earl Thomas, for five years, even though he fell within the top 16 and could have been signed for six years.
Schaffer might also be using the 2009 No. 6 pick, Andre Smith, as an example. After a long holdout last summer, Smith signed a four-year deal with Cincinnati, although the Bengals can tack on two more years after the 2010 season.
The Seahawks surely have used the same argument they used last year, when they insisted on a six-year deal with linebacker Aaron Curry, the No. 4 pick. And they also may have pointed out that the other top-six tackle, Williams, signed a six-year deal.
If length is indeed the holdup, the sides could easily fix that with a voidable year. A base six-year deal could be voided to five if, for example, Okung makes the Pro Bowl at least once or plays at least 75 percent of the snaps in his first four seasons. Basically, make him earn the voided year.
The money should not be an issue. Williams, Berry, and Haden all have deals that reportedly average $10 million a year.
Williams’ guaranteed money breaks down to $6.1 million per year, Berry’s is $5.67 million and Haden’s is $5.2 million.
That means Okung’s guaranteed cash will be somewhere between $5.2 million and $5.6 million, so perhaps $32 million in a six-year deal or $27 million in a five-year contract.
If the voided year is used, the Seahawks could include a clause requiring Okung to buy back the sixth year for the amount of the prorated guaranteed money.
It’s hard to believe both sides will quibble over the sixth year for very long. The Seahawks did business with Schaffer earlier this offseason when they signed another of his clients, guard Ben Hamilton.
This business should be wrapped up pretty soon, too.
Meanwhile, at least the Seahawks have one of their first-rounders under contract. Thomas’ deal, $12.3 million guaranteed in a five-year deal worth $21.1 million, is exactly what we expected .
Speaking of things we expected … By all reports, Matt Hasselbeck is in complete command of the offense, while Charlie Whitehurst is still struggling and J.P. Losman is as inconsistent as ever.
Ever since Whitehurst was acquired in the one-sided deal with San Diego, there has been no question among savvy Seahawk observers that Hasselbeck will be Seattle’s starter in 2010.
Carroll and Jeremy Bates like him a lot. They want to be successful immediately, and they know Hasselbeck is their best chance to do that. The key, as everyone knows, is for Hasselbeck to stay healthy, and he should do that behind an improved line.
The hope, as it was last year, is that Hasselbeck plays like he did in 2007 and makes all of the Hassel-haters sit down and shut up.
One guy who could help Hasselbeck is recently signed guard Chester Pitts, although Carroll revealed that the 31-year-old veteran could take a couple of months to be ready as he works back from microfracture knee surgery.
Pitts had the surgery just 10 months ago, and it usually takes a couple of years to come back from that invasive procedure (an older Walter Jones did not come back from it).
Carroll said he wants to see Pitts play in the preseason, but it would not be surprising to see Pitts open the season on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list and miss the first six games, as Marcus Trufant did last year.
Carroll seems like he is willing to wait.
“We’re very pleased to have him,” Carroll told reporters. “He’s a very important part of this offensive line unit. He’s a big asset for us when he gets back out here.”
One guy who decided not to get back out there is Sean Morey, the former Pro Bowl special-teamer the Seahawks signed in March.
The concussion-prone, 34-year-old veteran decided to retire before camp, and that’s actually fortuitous news for the Seahawks.
With Morey gone before even playing a snap, he won’t count as a signed free agent, and the Seahawks are now back in line for a fourth- or fifth-round compensatory pick next year.
Among the free agents who count in that equation, the Seahawks have added only one (Hamilton) and have lost two (receiver Nate Burleson and defensive lineman Cory Redding).
With Burleson hauling in $5 million per year from Detroit, that likely will net Seattle a fifth-rounder (possibly a fourth) in next year’s draft.
It would help make up for that gratuitous 2011 third-rounder the Seahawks gave up for Whitehurst.
Speaking of draft picks and trades, the release of Robert Henderson means the Seahawks essentially traded guard Rob Sims for fifth-round safety Kam Chancellor.
The Lions also got a seventh-rounder in that deal, which they used on N.C. State defensive end Willie Young.
Find out how the Seahawks are depending on player-coaches in this camp , see why Pete Carroll is better prepared to succeed coming from college than Dennis Erickson was and read why Tod Leiweke’s tenure was a success , all Outside The Press Box .
Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
Ryan Mathews signs a five-year contract. Contract worth 25.65 million dollars. Ah yes, we can finally put a price tag on it!
The first running back that was drafted in the first round to sign was Jahvid Best yesterday.
As suspected, Mathews would follow closely after. Chargers fans can breathe a sigh of relief and focus now on the “bigger fish to fry,” so to speak.
Ryan Mathews marks the 25th player in the first round of 32 to ink a contract.
The current draft status includes:
- St. Louis Rams Sam Bradford QB Oklahoma: six years, $78M; $50M Guaranteed
- Detroit Lions Ndamukong Suh DT Nebraska: Unsigned
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers Gerald McCoy DT Oklahoma: five years, $63.5M (max) $35M Guaranteed
- Washington Redskins Trent Williams OT Oklahoma: six years, $60M (max); $36.75M guaranteed
- Kansas City Chiefs Eric Berry S Tennessee: six years, $60M (max); $34M guaranteed
- Seattle Seahawks Russell Okung OT Oklahoma State: unsigned
- Cleveland Browns Joe Haden CB Florida: five years, $50M (max); $26M guaranteed
- Oakland Raiders Rolando McClain LB Alabama: five years, $40M; $23M guaranteed
- Buffalo Bills C.J.Spiller RB Clemson: unsigned
- Jacksonville Jaguars Tyson Alualu DT California: unsigned
- San Francisco 49ers Anthony Davis OT Rutgers: five years, $26.5M; $15.954M guaranteed
- San Diego Chargers Ryan Mathews RB Fresno State: five years, terms undisclosed
- Philadelphia Eagles Brandon Graham DE Michigan: five years, terms undisclosed
- Seattle Seahawks Earl Thomas S Texas: five years, $21.2M; $12.32M
- New York Giants Jason Pierre-Paul DE South Florida: five years, $20,050,000; $11,629,807 guaranteed
- Tennessee Titans Derrick Morgan DE Georgia Tech: terms undisclosed
- San Francisco 49ers Mike Iupati G Idaho: five years, $18.25M; $10.8M guaranteed
- Pittsburgh Steelers Maurkice Pouncey C Florida: five years, terms undisclosed
- Atlanta Falcons Sean Weatherspoon LB Missouri: five years, $17.54M (max); $10.5M guaranteed
- Houston Texans Kareem Jackson CB Alabama: five years, $16.3M; $10.35M guaranteed
- Cincinnati Bengals Jermaine Gresham TE Oklahoma: unsigned
- Denver Broncos Demaryius Thomas WR Georgia Tech: five years, $15.5M (max); $9.35M guaranteed
- Green Bay Packers Bryan Bulaga OT Iowa: five years, $14.75M; $8.76M guaranteed
- Dallas Cowboys Dez Bryant WR Oklahoma State: five years, $11.8M; $8.5M uaranteed
- Denver Broncos Tim Tebow QB Florida: five Years, $11.25M / $33M (max); $8.7M guaranteed
- Arizona Cardinals Dan Williams DT Tennessee
- New England Patriots Devin McCourty CB Rutgers: five years, $13.2M (max); $7.825M guaranteed
- Miami Dolphins Jared Odrick DE Penn State: five years, $13M (max); $7.133M guaranteed
- New York Jets Kyle Wilson CB Boise State: five years, $13M (max); $7.12M guaranteed
- Detroit Lions Jahvid Best RB California: five years, $12.M (max); $7.1M Guaranteed
- Indianapolis Colts Jerry Hughes DE TCU: unsigned New Orleans Saints
- Patrick Robinson CB Florida State: five years, $12.2M
The Chargers other draft picks are all signed as well, on the following contracts:
- Donald Butler LB Washington 4 years, $2.598M; $808,500 Signing bonus
- Darrell Stuckey S Kansas 4 years, $2.296M, $506K Signing bonus
- Cam Thomas DT North Carolina 4 years, $1.981M $191,300 Signing bonus
- Dedrick Epps TE Miami 4 years, $1.838M, $48K Signing Bonus
It looks like all the rookies are enrolled in Chargers school now. The training camp kicked off last Wednesday, and will change substancially tomorrow when number 24 arrives tomorrow.
The only previous measuring stick is based on Jahvid Best at the number 30 position who will be making 2.4 million annual salary.
Mathews more than doubles that with over 5 million dollars annual salary.
Go Bolts!
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