Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

Andre Carter released; Kemo on the way out?

The Redskins just announced that they have cut Andre Carter. Word got out earlier that guard Derrick Dockery had been cut. Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network tweeted that the Redskins intend to release Maake Kemoeatu by Thursday Back with more on this later; go to run to set up my chat tonight; we have a few more topics to discuss! Here's the link, we'll get going at 6:00 sharp: Tuesdays with Tandler, CSNwashington.com Here is the press release from the Redskins: LOUDOUN COUNTY, Va. – The Washington Redskins announced today that they have released linebacker Andre Carter and offensive lineman Derrick Dockery. In his five seasons (2006-10) with the Redskins, Carter played in 80 games with 67 starts and registered 34 quarterback sacks. Carter played in all 16 games with five starts in 2010. He finished the season with 59 tackles (41 solo), including three for loss, 20 quarterback hurries, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and one pass defensed. In his six seasons (2003-06, 2009-10) with the Redskins, Dockery played in 85 games with 79 starts, including five games and two starts in 2010. He was originally selected by the Redskins in the third round (81st overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played two seasons in Buffalo (2007-08) before returning to Washington.  

Enemy Intel: Fisher not headed to Eagles

In the hours after the Titans fired Jeff Fisher there was speculation that Fisher could return to the Philadelphia Eagles, who still are looking for a defensive coordinator. Fisher cut his teeth as an NFL coach there, working there for five years from 1986-1990 including the last two as defensive coordinator. However, it does not appear that he will be back in Philly for an encore. It is unlikely that he will be coaching anywhere in 2011. Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean pass along the following from Fisher via Twitter:

"It's time for me to rest, and fish," Fisher said. "I have total peace about this right now."

Meanwhile, the Eagles' search for a defensive coordinator continues. Their season ended Jan. 9. In his press conference next day Andy Reid said that Sean McDermott would be retained as the defensive coordinator despite a sub par performance by the defense. Less than a week later, McDermott was out. A few days later defensive line coach Rory Segrest was shown the door out of the Novacare Complex. The slow-motion purge continued earlier this week when linebackers coach Bill Shuey was fired. Two of the three positions remain vacant. Philly did well in getting the highly regarded Jim Washburn from the Titans to be their defensive line coach (an event that may have been part of the reason for Fisher's departure from Tennessee). But almost three weeks after McDermott was fired the coordinator and linebacker spots remain vacant. Ruben Frank at CSNphilly.com has a good recap of where the situation stands now. There has not been much movement lately, indicating that the Eagles could be waiting to talk to assistant coaches on one of the Super Bowl teams. In particular, Frank mentions that Ruben Moss, Packers linebackers coach, could be on the list. Also under consideration is Todd Bowles, who played for the Redskins from1986-1990 and again in 1992-1993.

What does Fisher ' s departure mean for Albert?

The Tennessee Titans have announced via Twitter that Jeff Fisher will not return as their head coach in 2011. The Titans had previously announced that Fisher, who was the longest-serving head coach in the NFL, would remain as their coach. This move has ripple effects, some of them involving the Redskins. One is the status of Albert Haynesworth. The Redskins will be looking to trade him and the Titans, Haynesworth's former team before he signed with Washington as a free agent, were considered to be a prime trading parter. Fisher had not changed the defense since Haynesworth left and the defensive tackle would fit right in. He went to two Pro Bowls and received All-Pro honors in that system. As a strong, tenured coach, Fisher was able to manage Haynesworth and get the most out of him. With Fisher gone, a new coach might not want to deal with a high-maintenance player such as Haynesworth despite his obvious talents.

Haynesworth to the Eagles?

The Eagles have hired Jim Washburn as their new defensive line coach. Washburn came from the Tennessee Titans, where he was Albert Haynesworth's position coach. Putting two and two together, Reuben Frank of CSNphilly.com got to thinking that maybe another intra-division trade between the Redskins and Eagles involving a former Pro Bowl performer could be taking place somewhere down the line.

Now that Jim Washburn is here, could one of his most successful projects be next? Albert Haynesworth’s career is in tatters these days. He’s coming off a miserable second season with the Redskins, a year that started with him failing to pass the Redskins’ conditioning test and trying unsuccessfully to fit into the Redskins' 3-4 scheme and ended with him managing just 2 1/2 sacks and 13 tackles before being suspended for the final four games of the season by head coach Mike Shanahan for conduct detrimental to the team. Haynesworth has five years left on the seven-year, $100 million contract he signed with the Redskins just 23 months ago, but he does not appear to fit into the Redskins’ plans.

Click here to read the entire article.

Zorn now a ' hot ' OC candidate

This just came out on Adam Schefter's Twitter:

Another OC candidate the Seahawks are considering is Baltimore's Jim Zorn, a choice that would be popular in Seattle's locker room.

Zorn was the quarterbacks coach for the Seahawks from 2001-2007 before coming to the Redskins and he is a legend in Seattle for his play as the team's first quarterback. So after being pumped as a possible candidate for the offensive coordinator's job in Cleveland this morning, he appears in the afternoon as the candidate for another job. This is not saying that Zorn is necessarily a bad candidate for an OC position and that teams should run away from him screaming just because he failed as the head coach of the Redskins. He certainly didn't have the best talent to work with or the best management structure in place. Zorn had his plate overloaded as quarterbacks coach, de facto offensive coordinator and head coach. Quite a load for someone who hadn't been a coordinator before. But nobody had mentioned him as a coordinator candidate before this morning and now, according to reports, he has two teams that want to talk to him. Have to wonder if his agent is working the phones and trying to stir up some a promotion for his client.

Reports: Danny Smith to return to Redskins

According to a report on the Washington Post website and a tweet from Chris Russell of ESPN980, Danny Smith has turned down an offer from the Denver Broncos to become their new special teams coach under new head coach John Fox. It is expected that Smith will sign a new contract to remain with the Redskins. According to Russell's tweet, the offer from the Broncos was "lucrative". Jason LaCanfora of the NFL Network first said that Fox might be interested in hiring Smith. Smith's possible departure drew some negative reviews by some players, who universally like and respect Smith. Former Redskin safety and special teams player Matt Bowen summed up the comments with the following tweets just after word broke that Smith is staying:

Danny Smith is one of the reasons you want to go to work everyday at Redskins Park as a player... unique coach. Danny Smith is great. Big for Coach Shanahan to have him on the staff. Can put him up there with Bobby April as tops in the NFL.

While the players love Smith, how do they perform on the field? Take a look at the feature article I just posted on the subject.

Allen saying what he has to say about Albert

I'm kind of late to the party in commenting on this, but I don't get why some are so worked up over Bruce Allen saying that Albert Haynesworth could well be playing for the Redskins in 2011. “We were hopeful that he was going to help the team win and remain hopeful that he can help the team win,” Allen said during a 30-minute interview with beat writers at Redskin Park. “Hopefully, if we can give it some time to breathe, maybe we can come back with a fresh outlook on it. Allen is just saying what he has to say. He can't speak of Albert being a huge waste of money and say that if he ever sets foot in Redskins Park again they immediately will summon the Loudon County police. There are two things at play here. One is that Haynesworth has a pending grievance against the Redskins in an attempt to recoup nearly $1 million in salary he lost while suspended without pay for the last four games of 2010. If Allen was to say that Haynesworth is as welcome at the team facility as staph outbreak, that would provide fodder for Albert's side to use in the hearing. Allen also needs to try to boost Haynesworth's trade value out of the toilet. If every team knows that you're going to release him, because you have said that you are, there will be zero trade market for him. Interested parties will just wait until he is released. To be sure, the trade market for Albert is on life support as it is. But Allen would have pulled the plug on it if he had voiced what probably are the true beliefs of the organization.