Redskins release big names in attempt to rebuild, Nationals spiral down

0




Just a week after the NFL lockout ended, teams all over the league seem to have been transformed and the Redskins are no exception. First came the news that Donovan McNabb was traded to the Minnesota Vikings, which was not surprising after Coach Mike Shanahan publicly announced that the virtually unknown John Beck would be his starting quarterback. McNabb went to the Vikes in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2012 and another conditional sixth-round pick in 2013. Kyle Shanahan spoke to the press about the trade, saying he was really happy for McNabb and that he thinks he’ll have a good opportunity there. When asked about why the veteran quarterback didn’t work out in Washington, he said, “There’s a lot of reasons things don’t work. It has to do with a lot of things, from everyone else on the team, to us, to him and it just didn’t work out. We’re moving forward with that.”

Another Redskins headline maker was the trade of Albert Haynesworth to the New England Patriots for a fifth-round pick in 2013. Haynesworth was a star defensive lineman before signing with the Skins in 2009 for an unprecedented seven year $100 million contract. But his time in Washington was plagued with embarrassment, disappointment and ineffectiveness, and it will be interesting to see if Bill Belichick and the Patriots will be able to resurrect his career. With the new space in the salary cap from releasing the two former all-pros, the Skins have yet to do anything major. With the need for a reliable running back to fill Clinton Portis’s shoes, there were rumors the Redskins were making a push for free agent Ahmad Bradshaw, a young star with the New York Giants, but on Monday he re-signed with the Giants.

The Skins’ NFC East rival Philadelphia Eagles have been the “star” of the draft, with newly acquired backup quarterback Vince Young already dubbing himself and his teammates “the dream team” (flashes of LeBron, anyone?). Their biggest free agency signing has been the much sought after cornerback, who until now had played his entire career with the Oakland Raiders. His desire to win a championship brought him to seek offers elsewhere, and it appears he felt the Eagles were the best fit. He joins cornerbacks Dominique-Rodgers-Cromartie and Asante Samuel to create one of the toughest secondaries in football today. Along with Young and Michael Vick, the team looks like they may be finally on their way to their first franchise Super Bowl.

Other notable signings include a one-year, $3,017,000 deal between wide receiver Plaxico Burress, who was recently released from prison, and a 5-year, $90 million deal for Peyton Manning to stay with the Indianapolis Colts as their franchise quarterback.

Brandon Marshall

Though football players are considered celebrities, and sometimes, due to their strength and size, superhuman, they are actually normal people like everyone else. Fame and money cannot erase their personal problems, imperfections or pure humanity. Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who until last season played most of his career in Denver, knows this better than most people. He has been plagued by off-the-field troubles that have caused him both personal and legal ramifications, including a suspension in 2008 (he appealed his three game suspension, which was reduced to just one game). On Sunday, an explanation for his troubles came to light, when he announced that he suffers from Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Instead of hiding his illness, he is embracing it publicly in an effort to help others with the disorder find hope: “Before this ordeal I kept asking God to show me my purpose. He gave me this. I’ll be the face of BPD. I’ll make myself vulnerable if it saves someone’s life, because I know what I went through this summer helped save mine,” he says.

Nationals

With the Nationals on a downward slope since the departure of their disenfranchised Coach Jim Riggleman, one can only wonder if the team owners are wishing they had given him what he wanted. At 51-56 (.471), going into the last two months of the season, it’s a little late for “what ifs”. The fact is that after a few promising patches during the season, the Nats are going to end the season playing worse baseball than when they started. The trade deadline has come and gone with the Nats not making any notable acquisitions that would have helped them finish the season strong.

If the Nats finish out the season the same as last year, going 23-35 after the trade deadline, then they’ll finish well below their “goal” of .500.

Share.

About Author

avatar

DC Spotlight Sports Writer

Comments are closed.

Social Widgets powered by AB-WebLog.com.