Redskins close to signing Rolle.........

[Havok]

bye bye Smoot..... i truly liked ya but you just wanted to much money for being a non-pro bowl CB.


http://www.washingtontimes.com/sports/20050228-125627-1431r.htm



INDIANAPOLIS — So much for a quieter free agent season in Washington. The Redskins yesterday were on the verge of landing former Tennessee Titans cornerback Samari Rolle with a typically huge signing bonus, believed to be worth $15Â million, NFL sources said.

The move would reunite Rolle, 28, with Washington assistant head coach for defense Gregg Williams, who was defensive coordinator during Rolle's first three seasons, and with former teammate Steve Jackson, who now coaches the Redskins' safeties. It also means Fred Smoot, a starting cornerback the last four seasons, will be allowed to leave as a free agent.

The two holdups apparently were Williams' need to assuage Redskins coach Joe Gibbs about Rolle's Feb. 15 arrest on a domestic assault charge and agent Peter Schaffer's focus on negotiations for two other clients, wide receiver Derrick Mason and defensive end Trevor Pryce. Rolle's deal, however, appeared virtually completed.

Meanwhile, a new contract for left tackle Chris Samuels could be finished in coming days. According to a source familiar with negotiations, the Redskins have boosted their offer substantially, positioning Samuels to receive the biggest signing bonus in club history.

Wide receiver Laveranues Coles and running back Clinton Portis are tied for the signing-bonus mark at $13Â million, but Samuels appears set for a signing bonus in the $16Â million range.

The upshot of Samuels' potential deal is that the Redskins would move into position to trade Coles, perhaps even to the New York Jets. Talks to swap Coles for Jets wide receiver Santana Moss broke down Saturday, but a source said the snag seemed to be the product of contractual posturing.

There is basically no deadline for Samuels' contract and Coles' potential trade, though Washington would like to have both done before Wednesday's start of free agency. However, the club needs to replace Samuels' pact first to have enough salary-cap space to trade Coles.

Washington also is trying to move wide receiver Rod Gardner, and there appears to be legitimate interest around the league. Baltimore, Tampa Bay, Minnesota and San Diego all have had at least preliminary discussions with the Redskins, according to a source. Washington is expected to get a mid- to late-round draft pick.

Rolle's assault charge stemmed from a Valentine's Day altercation that left his wife, Danisha, with a cut over her left eye that required three stitches. Rolle waived his right to a hearing Thursday. His court date is April 6 in Franklin, Tenn., with a maximum sentence of 11 months and 29 days plus a fine.

The 6-foot, 175-pound Rolle, a victim of the Titans' Feb. 21 cost-cutting purge, is fast enough to thrive under the re-emphasized illegal contact rules and tough enough to be effective in run defense. Rolle is believed to be recovered from the left knee injury that ended his 2004 season after 11 game.

A second-round pick out of Florida State in 1998, Rolle became a starter in 1999 as the Titans reached their only Super Bowl. He was an All-Pro when Tennessee had the NFL's top defense in 2000.

"Samari is a rare breed," Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. "He's a shutdown corner. He's very smart, very mature and he has some unique athletic skills. He has superb closing ability and explosion. There are a lot of good corners who can run fast, but they can't leap like Samari. He was a big reason for our success in 1999 and 2000."

Smoot, who turns 26 next month, was taken by Washington in the second round in 2001, inheriting Deion Sanders' number (21) and starting job. Coincidentally, Rolle, who also wears 21, was the only player Sanders approved wearing his old No. 2 at Florida State.

Smoot was solid throughout his tenure in Washington, but he never reached Pro Bowl status. What's more, a definite chill developed late last season between Smoot and some members of the organization after contract negotiations stalled. Smoot rejected an offer that was believed to include a $10Â million signing bonus.

"I want to be here bad," Smoot said the last week of the season. "It's not about me wanting to be here. It's all about the front office and do they want me here."

Smoot's departure would leave just seven players from 2001 in Washington: offensive tackles Jon Jansen and Samuels; linebackers LaVar Arrington, Lemar Marshall and Antonio Pierce; receiver Darnerien McCants; and long snapper Ethan Albright.

Pierce and Albright will join Smoot as free agents Wednesday, but the team wants to retain both. McCants doesn't seem to be in Gibbs' plans.
•Jody Foldesy reported from Washington.

[Deattribution]

It'll be interesting to see who they intend on throwing the ball to with Gardner gone and if they have to end up releasing Coles or getting a minor pick for him.

I don't understand how you fix a horrible offense by getting rid of two pro bowl calibur receivers, but I guess Crazy Joe has a plan... Just not so sure that plan will work in the year 2005, or beyond for that matter.

Great D, but completely baffled offense last year.

[Sharpieman]

The Redskins are the perfect example that you can't buy a championship. No matter who they sign or what they do they are always at best medicore. The fact that they will have only 7 players from 2001 on their team sums up their problem perfectly. There is no consistency, you're not going to have a good team if you keep building a new one each year.

[wade moore]

It'll be interesting to see who they intend on throwing the ball to with Gardner gone and if they have to end up releasing Coles or getting a minor pick for him.

I don't understand how you fix a horrible offense by getting rid of two pro bowl calibur receivers, but I guess Crazy Joe has a plan... Just not so sure that plan will work in the year 2005, or beyond for that matter.

Great D, but completely baffled offense last year.

Rod Gardner is NOT a Pro-Bowl calibre receiver...

[Havok]

Rod Gardner is NOT a Pro-Bowl calibre receiver...


ditto

[Cap Ologist]

Daniel Snyder is the best thing that ever happened to the Cowboys.

[Deattribution]

Rod Gardner is NOT a Pro-Bowl calibre receiver...

Yeah, I forgot he's always had so many great QB's throwing the ball to him :)

[wade moore]

Yeah, I forgot he's always had so many great QB's throwing the ball to him :)

Umm..

If you get a ball in the chest and you drop it, it doesn't matter who the QB is..

Sorry.. I like Gardner.. he's a good #2 WR... but he's no pro bowler..

[Desnudo]

It seems like I ask this question every season, but how in the world do the Redskins continue to stay under the cap?

[Shkspr]

It's kind of cool. Every two weeks, the NFL sends out this questionnaire, and it has on it in big letters, the question "Are you under the cap?" And every week, in big letters, Vinny Cerrato writes in crayon, "Yes" and sends it in. And nobody's twigged to it yet.

[Havok]

well, as a long time Redskins fan and not just a syndur hater like so many around here. He does throw alot of money around, but he makes sure he's not toally screwing himself down the road either. (lIke the Titans, 49er's, etc....)

Plus, after his first few seasons when he really screwed up with D. Sanders and Bruce Smith, he's done pretty well with free agents. Say what you want about Coles, but he's still one of the top recievers in football even with a broken toe. The guy had 90 catches last year in a super conservative offense with sorry ass Mark Brunell throwing to him for half the season, Thats impressive.

oh, and you can't blame Brunell on him either, that was all Joe Gibbs fault.

[Franklinnoble]

It seems like I ask this question every season, but how in the world do the Redskins continue to stay under the cap?

Cash fixes cap problems.

Danny Snyder spends a lot of cash.

[JAG]

Cash fixes cap problems.

Danny Snyder spends a lot of cash.

Then why are they trying to renegotiate Samuel's contract? Why haven't they resigned their 18 free agents? I'm not sure they want them all, but they supposedly wanted Pierce and (at least at first) Smoot back at a minimum, so why hasn't Snyder shown them the money yet? They may not be the biggest cap bunglers in the league, but it seems like their contracts are limiting them in what they want to do for now.

[QuikSand]

It's kind of cool. Every two weeks, the NFL sends out this questionnaire, and it has on it in big letters, the question "Are you under the cap?" And every week, in big letters, Vinny Cerrato writes in crayon, "Yes" and sends it in. And nobody's twigged to it yet.

I've had this image with me for the last hour or two... good stuff. In my mental picture, Vinny is grabbing the crayon (purple, I think) with his whole fist, and he has his tongue sticking out like one of the Peanuts kids does when they write a letter.

[Havok]

Then why are they trying to renegotiate Samuel's contract? Why haven't they resigned their 18 free agents? I'm not sure they want them all, but they supposedly wanted Pierce and (at least at first) Smoot back at a minimum, so why hasn't Snyder shown them the money yet? They may not be the biggest cap bunglers in the league, but it seems like their contracts are limiting them in what they want to do for now.


Smoot turned down a contract with a 10 million dollar signing bonus, sorry but he hasn't even made a pro bowl yet. And name 1 team who isn't renegotiating someone on they're teams contract. It happens all the time, welcome to salary cap 101. Do you want an owner like Syndur who will pay for the players his coach wants??? or do you want an owner like Cincy or Minnsota's former owner who was like 25 million under the cap???

[gstelmack]

It seems like I ask this question every season, but how in the world do the Redskins continue to stay under the cap?
Actually, I thought cap was one of the big reasons they can't easily trade Laverneus Coles. Please correct me if I'm thinking of the wrong situation, but aren't the Redskins screwed because if they traded Coles, the cap hit on this season would put them over the cap?

[Shkspr]

I've had this image with me for the last hour or two... good stuff. In my mental picture, Vinny is grabbing the crayon (purple, I think) with his whole fist, and he has his tongue sticking out like one of the Peanuts kids does when they write a letter.

And of course, the "s" is backwards.

[JAG]

Smoot turned down a contract with a 10 million dollar signing bonus, sorry but he hasn't even made a pro bowl yet. And name 1 team who isn't renegotiating someone on they're teams contract. It happens all the time, welcome to salary cap 101. Do you want an owner like Syndur who will pay for the players his coach wants??? or do you want an owner like Cincy or Minnsota's former owner who was like 25 million under the cap???

My point was that if they wanted him back and all it took was money and Snyder's pockets are bottomless, why isn't he coming back, same as 18 of the Redskins 20 free agents? Agreed that just about every team is renegotiating a contract, but there are differences between renegotiating a contract to take a pay cut (that is, telling a guy you WILL take a pay cut or be released) vs. renegotiating someone you don't want to get rid of to reduce his salary cap hit for the year (that is, pushing off the amount you need to pay him further down the road). The teams that do the second of those two are the ones that eventually end up in cap hell because their players eventually cost them $15 million for a year and they are released, accelerating their pushed off bonuses of $10 million to the cap this year. I don't know how much the Skins are paying in dead money this year, but I do know Trotter is going to cost them about $5 million...money they could've used to keep / trade Coles...

Finally, no, I wouldn't want a cheap owner who won't sign players in FA because they don't care about winning. That would be the worst type of owner to me. I definitely can appreciate an owner like Snyder in that he desperately wants his team to win and will go to any lengths to do it. But I don't think he's among the best owners in the league because he still hasn't learned how salary cap / team building works. The best ones are the ones free and easy with money, but let their football guys (the GM, coach, cap people) decide who are the best values and best fits for the team.

[Franklinnoble]

I've had this image with me for the last hour or two... good stuff. In my mental picture, Vinny is grabbing the crayon (purple, I think) with his whole fist, and he has his tongue sticking out like one of the Peanuts kids does when they write a letter.

That's awesome.

We need an illustration here.

[Bee]

Actually, I thought cap was one of the big reasons they can't easily trade Laverneus Coles. Please correct me if I'm thinking of the wrong situation, but aren't the Redskins screwed because if they traded Coles, the cap hit on this season would put them over the cap?

The Redskins can take the cap hit, it's that Coles wants to renegotiate an extension with any team that trades for him that is keeping a trade from happening.

[Bee]

My point was that if they wanted him back and all it took was money and Snyder's pockets are bottomless, why isn't he coming back, same as 18 of the Redskins 20 free agents? Agreed that just about every team is renegotiating a contract, but there are differences between renegotiating a contract to take a pay cut (that is, telling a guy you WILL take a pay cut or be released) vs. renegotiating someone you don't want to get rid of to reduce his salary cap hit for the year (that is, pushing off the amount you need to pay him further down the road). The teams that do the second of those two are the ones that eventually end up in cap hell because their players eventually cost them $15 million for a year and they are released, accelerating their pushed off bonuses of $10 million to the cap this year. I don't know how much the Skins are paying in dead money this year, but I do know Trotter is going to cost them about $5 million...money they could've used to keep / trade Coles...

Finally, no, I wouldn't want a cheap owner who won't sign players in FA because they don't care about winning. That would be the worst type of owner to me. I definitely can appreciate an owner like Snyder in that he desperately wants his team to win and will go to any lengths to do it. But I don't think he's among the best owners in the league because he still hasn't learned how salary cap / team building works. The best ones are the ones free and easy with money, but let their football guys (the GM, coach, cap people) decide who are the best values and best fits for the team.

Here's the Redskins dead cap money for 2005:

Player Pos.
Amt. To 2005 Cap:
David Fiore OG 0.750 Million
Jeremiah Trotter LB 4.648 Million
Quinn Christensen OL 0.008 Million
Jafar Williams WR 0.001 Million
Billy Strother LB 0.010 Million
John Standeford WR 0.001 Million
Norman Heuer DT 0.002 Million
Ralph Brown CB 0.125 Million
Chris Clemons LB 0.003 Million
Ryan Boschetti DT 0.003 Million
Regan Upshaw DE 1.200 Million
Rufus Brown CB 0.003 Million
Garnell Wilds CB 0.003 Million
Walter Rasby TE 0.267 Million
Total: 7.024 Million


A little over 7 million, which puts them in the middle of the pack in the NFL. Just about everyone has dead money and the Redskins are nowhere close to teams like the 49ers and Chargers who are both over $20 million I believe.

I think the Redskins have done a good job managing the cap, it's personnel management that they can't get down IMO. Changing coaches as often as you change your underwear is generally not a good policy.

[Havok]

I think the Redskins have done a good job managing the cap, it's personnel management that they can't get down IMO. Changing coaches as often as you change your underwear is generally not a good policy.


now i agree with that statement 100%, we are pretty good with the cap, just all the coaching changes is kicking our butt. We will be better know, Greg Williams is a defensive genius and Gibbs will figure it out soon i hope.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

The article lost credibility when I read this quote:

the skins are shopping "wide receiver Rod Gardner, and there appears to be legitimate interest around the league."

Whatever.

[Havok]

The article lost credibility when I read this quote:

the skins are shopping "wide receiver Rod Gardner, and there appears to be legitimate interest around the league."

Whatever.


you don't think there is interest in the league for a 6'2 213 pound reciever coming up on his 5th season???

RECEIVING
Year Team G GS No Yards Avg Lg TD 20+ 40+ FD
2001 Washington Redskins 16 16 46 741 16.1 85 4 8 5 28
2002 Washington Redskins 16 15 71 1006 14.2 43 8 13 2 51
2003 Washington Redskins 16 16 59 600 10.2 35 5 7 0 30
2004 Washington Redskins 16 15 51 650 12.7 51 5 7 3 30
TOTAL 64 62 227 2997 13.2 85 22 35 10 139


looks like a soild number 2 reciever to me, last i heard we were looking for a mid-round pick. Do people always comment around here without bothering to do the research???

[Desnudo]

you don't think there is interest in the league for a 6'2 213 pound reciever coming up on his 5th season???

RECEIVING
Year Team G GS No Yards Avg Lg TD 20+ 40+ FD
2001 Washington Redskins 16 16 46 741 16.1 85 4 8 5 28
2002 Washington Redskins 16 15 71 1006 14.2 43 8 13 2 51
2003 Washington Redskins 16 16 59 600 10.2 35 5 7 0 30
2004 Washington Redskins 16 15 51 650 12.7 51 5 7 3 30
TOTAL 64 62 227 2997 13.2 85 22 35 10 139


looks like a soild number 2 reciever to me, last i heard we were looking for a mid-round pick. Do people always comment around here without bothering to do the research???

600 and 650 yards the last two seasons doesn't exactly scream #2 receiver to me. It screams Rod Tidwell. Granted the Redskins QBs are not the second coming of Unitas, but still.

[Havok]

600 and 650 yards the last two seasons doesn't exactly scream #2 receiver to me. Granted the Redskins QBs are not the second coming of Unitas, but still.


yeah, i'd say he's worth a 3rd or 4th round pick easy. In the right offense and a little dedication, he could easily be a 65 catch a year guy. Hell he'd be the number 1 reciever on a few teams unfortunetly, but to say that that no one in the league would be interested in him is ridiculous.

[Desnudo]

I'm sure someone will take him off their hands.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

I repeat know one will be interested in "trading for him." There are plenty of these guys out there already, and why trade when the Skins will probably cut him.

[Vinatieri for Prez]

Do people always comment around here without bothering to do the research???

Well, you should also know that stats are only half the story. However, the 'Skins have done a mighty good job over recent years in relying on them in FA decisions to build a championship team.

Why don't we wait and see what actually happens, before we decide who knows what they are talking about.

[gottimd]

I heard on the Radio earlier this afternoon that either the Redskins or Rolles agent, are denying that the team/player have even contacted each other regarding this supposed deal.

[Bee]

I heard on the Radio earlier this afternoon that either the Redskins or Rolles agent, are denying that the team/player have even contacted each other regarding this supposed deal.

Yep that's what I've heard too. The Redskins are saying they have no interest in Rolle at his current asking price.

[Cap Ologist]

Here's the Redskins dead cap money for 2005:

Player Pos.
Amt. To 2005 Cap:
David Fiore OG 0.750 Million
Jeremiah Trotter LB 4.648 Million
Quinn Christensen OL 0.008 Million
Jafar Williams WR 0.001 Million
Billy Strother LB 0.010 Million
John Standeford WR 0.001 Million
Norman Heuer DT 0.002 Million
Ralph Brown CB 0.125 Million
Chris Clemons LB 0.003 Million
Ryan Boschetti DT 0.003 Million
Regan Upshaw DE 1.200 Million
Rufus Brown CB 0.003 Million
Garnell Wilds CB 0.003 Million
Walter Rasby TE 0.267 Million
Total: 7.024 Million


A little over 7 million, which puts them in the middle of the pack in the NFL. Just about everyone has dead money and the Redskins are nowhere close to teams like the 49ers and Chargers who are both over $20 million I believe.

I think the Redskins have done a good job managing the cap, it's personnel management that they can't get down IMO. Changing coaches as often as you change your underwear is generally not a good policy.
The problem the Redskins have is they don't view the draft as a viable option to improve. They sign restricted players and give up their draft picks. These players cost more than the players they would draft. The players themselves might be a safer investment because you have a track record in the league to look at, but the salary cap really destroys the effectiveness of this approach.

[Desnudo]

That cap stuff is interesting. It just seems like with all the signing bonus' they seem to throw around that eventually it will catch up to them in a big way.

[rkmsuf]

The problem the Redskins have is they don't view the draft as a viable option to improve. They sign restricted players and give up their draft picks. These players cost more than the players they would draft. The players themselves might be a safer investment because you have a track record in the league to look at, but the salary cap really destroys the effectiveness of this approach.

Right but when you hire Joe Gibbs you aren't intending on rebuilding the program over a period of years. Kind of a win now type thing. That makes it all the more perplexing that they are content to let skill guys go like receivers and corners.