Rich Tandler's Real Redskins

A wild week ahead

Here is what the NFL calendar will look like over the next week assuming that the NFLPA approves of the agreement. It does not include the Redskins' training camp start, which has not been announced but should be July 28.

July 23 Voluntary training, conditioning and classroom instruction permitted until first day of clubs’ preseason training camps.

July 23 Pre-2011 League Year Period commences. 2011 Free Agency List to be issued and will become effective on the first day of the 2011 League Year (July 27). Clubs/players may begin to renegotiate contracts. Clubs may begin to sign Drafted Rookies and their own UFAs, RFAs, Exclusive Rights Players and Franchise Players.

July 23 Waivers begin for the 2011 League Year.

July 23 Starting at 2:00 PM ET, clubs may negotiate with, but not sign, Undrafted Rookie Free Agents, free agents, and other clubs’ UFAs, RFAs, and Franchise Players.

July 24 Starting at 2:00 PM ET, clubs may begin to sign undrafted rookie free agents.

July 27 2011 League Year commences at 2:00 PM ET, provided NFLPA has ratified CBA. Free Agency Signing Period begins. Clubs may sign free agents and other clubs’ Unrestricted Free Agents. Clubs may sign Offer Sheets. Trading period begins. All Clubs must be under the Salary Cap. Top 51 rule applies.

July 27 Expand rosters to 90-man limit.

July 27 Training Camps open for all clubs, provided NFLPA has ratified CBA. Day One activities limited to physicals, meetings, and conditioning. No pads permitted on Day Two or Day Three.

 

Will the Redskins have even more to spend in free agency?

A report by a Houston NFL blogger indicates that the Washington Redskins, along with every other NFL team, will be able to spend more money in free agency than originally thought.

Most reports of the details of the proposed CBA have said that the salary cap will be around $120 million. But an article by Lance Zierlein of the Houston Chronicle's website suggests that the cap might not be as firm as it was in the past. In fact, there might not be a cap at all.

I’ve learned from people close to the negotiations that we may not see the massive cap casualties that we’ve expected.  In fact, there may not be any penalties for teams who are over the $120 million dollar threshold.  What that would allow teams to do is hang onto veterans, if they so choose, without penalty.  What was less clear to me was whether or not we’ll actually even see a salary cap.  It is my understanding that for the first few years of this deal, the “cap” on spending could be soft or even non-existant.

"Non-existant" salary cap would seem to be music to the ears of the Washington Redskins and other high-income teams. The players, of course, also would love to have bidding wars for their services between deep-pocketed owners with no limits.

Of course, if the provision is for just the first few years of what is expected to be a 10-year deal, there would have to be some restraint. But, certainly, you could expect to see the Redskins, Cowboys, and some other teams take full advantage of there being no limits.

There is not too much of a point to go into this much further until we get more details on it. But the report is from a fairly reliable source. Zierlein is not well-known nationally but he does seem to be fairly well wired. He was the first one--and as far as I know the only one--to have a solid report that Albert Haynesworth would sign with the Redskins when free agency began in 2009. That doesn't mean that this report is necessarily true but it does come from someone who seems to be in a position to know.

 

Haynesworth will be on his best behavior in camp

If you come here with any regularity, you know that I have been saying that the Albert Haynesworth saga will not end soon after the NFL lockout is lifted. Those who are hoping this whole thing will just be over sooner rather than later are not likely to get that wish.

It is therefore not surprising that Haynesworth will be in training camp when that starts up in a week or so, presuming that the lockout is over by then. It is pretty simple. Albert Haynesworth is under contract to the Washington Redskins. Players under contract have to report to camp. And, assuming that there is no provision to the contrary in the new CBA, the Redskins have to let him come in.

When Albert does arrive in Ashburn, expect something of a media circus but not much else. He should be in top shape and ready for a conditioning test similar to the one he took over a week to pass last year. Any comments to the media will be vanilla. If he still is on the team when preseason games start, a likely scenario, he will not complain if he is playing in the fourth quarter.

In short, Haynesworth needs to be on his best behavior. He will be under an electron microscope. His goal is to be traded to another team, preferably one that plays a 4-3 defense but definitely not one that is coached by Mike Shanahan.

Certainly he has heard the reports that Shanahan will not release him. Whether or not Haynesworth believes those reports, it would be a very risky strategy for him to proceed as though he is bluffing.

The bottom line is that Haynesworth needs to make himself very tradeable. If no other team is willing to throw a draft pick the Redskins' way for Albert's services he could face another year in Washington, perhaps inactive a majority of the time. In 2012, he would be another year older with one more year left on his contract, a deal that has a 2013 balloon payment that virtually guarantees he will be released. His prospects for another big payday, or even for landing a moderately-sized deal, would be dim.

Even if Shanahan does release him, Haynesworth would gain his freedom but lose a lot of money. Thanks to the fact that he blew off last year's mandatory minicamp, his $5.4 million salary this year is not guaranteed. He almost certainly would be picked up by another team but it is also certain that he would not get anywhere near that salary when he did sign a new contract.

It is in Haynesworth's best interest to avoid being a story in training camp. You can say many things about Haynesworth but he is not stupid. And coming in out of shape and becoming a camp distraction would be a very, very stupid thing to do.

Redskins will need to grind it out

Most of the talk about the Washington Redskins as we (hopefully) make the transition out of the NFL lockout surrounds the quarterback position. And that is logical given that the talk in Washington always centers around the quarterback and that it is the most important position in football, perhaps in all of sports.

The fate of the 2011 Redskins, however, will not rest on the arm of John Beck or Rex Grossman or Vince Young or anyone else who may take snaps from center. If they have any hope of being respectable this year they will have to get it done on the ground.

They were 30th in the NFL in rushing last year, picking up just 1461 yards on the ground (91 yards per game). Of course, they did not try to rush the ball very often with just 351 attempts; only one team had fewer rushing attempts. The Redskins passed on about 65 percent of their plays, putting them among the most pass-happy teams in the NFL. They averaged 4.2 yards a carry, mediocre (16th) by NFL standards and short of the 4.5 yards per attempt that was the team's stated goal.

To be sure, the Redskins trailed about 45 percent of the time last year meaning that they were forced to pass more than they might have liked to. That doesn't explain, however, why they ran the ball just 18 times against the Texans in a game they trailed only briefly until the end of the game in overtime. Or why they had just 13 rushing attempts against the Vikings in a game that they were within one score of the lead for all but a few minutes. Abandoning the run was a frequent occurrence in 2010.

Again, quarterback is the most important position on the field but a good running game is a quarterback's best friend. Anyone who takes snaps this year is likely to struggle but the QB's problems can be minimized if the Redskins run the ball on at least four out of every ten plays and can average at least four and a half yards a carry.

Recently on CSNwashington.com, I outlined a plan to improve the offensive line. Whether or not they follow that plan or do something else, the line needs to improve. Pro Football Focus recently ranked it 28th in the NFL and most who watched the team last season would consider that to be generous. Obviously, if the line does not improve, trying to run more will be futile (for that matter, trying to pass will be, too).

I think that the Redskins are in decent shape on the other personnel element of the rushing game. They have seven running backs on the roster. Five of them, Ryan Torain, Keiland Williams, James Davis, Andre Brown, and Chad Simpson have some NFL experience. Two of them were drafted, Roy Helu (4th round) and Evan Royster (6th). None of them has turned 26 years old yet.

Some would like to add a veteran back to the mix. I don't see the need. Perhaps in a normal offseason it might have been a good idea to bring in a vet to teach the younger backs the ropes. But at this point, a veteran back would be so busy trying to learn the offense to provide any help to anyones else.

There also is the numbers game. NFL teams usually carry three running backs on the roster Torain is a keeper as is Williams and you have to think that they didn't draft Helu with the idea of cutting him, so there is no room for a free agent. You could create a fourth roster spot for a running back by going short elsewhere but a rebuilding team should look to keep another young player like Royster or Davis rather than giving the precious spot to an older player.

So, there it is--don't abandon the run, upgrade the offensive line, and roll with a group of young running backs. It looks good on paper. If it translates onto the field, the Redskins might not be so difficult to watch in 2011.

Redskins minicamp on Saturday?

According to a report on Pro Football Talk the Green Bay Packers will be reporting to their team facility on Saturday for a three-day minicamp. Jason Wilde, who reports on the team for ESPN Milwaukee confirmed the report, saying it was "100 percent true."

This is not the only report of NFL teams getting back to work this weekend. Jeremy Shockey, who signed with Carolina before the lockout, told BustedCoverage.com that the Panthers also will be reporting to its headquarters on Saturday.

Multiple reports have said that the players will vote to ratify the proposed CBA, which apparently still has a few details that need to be ironed out, on Wednesday and the NFL owners will vote to approve it on Thursday. The lockout could end at any time after the owners vote.

It would be safe to assume that the Redskins will be having some sort of get-together over the weekend if such gatherings are permitted. Stay tuned for news on this as it becomes available.

Update: This from the Twitter feed of John Keim of the Washington Examiner:

#Redskins have heard nothing about a possible minicamp this weekend. doesn't mean won't happen; but if there r plans for 1, not advanced

Delay of game? Free agency may be delayed

Although it looks like the CBA is on track to get approved by the NFL owners on Thursday, it doesn't look like free agency will begin immediately after that.

There were reports over the weekend that a Thursday approval would mean that teams would be able to start signing their own free agents on Friday. Now, however, it appears that the process will be delayed a bit.

A memo that the NFL sent out to the teams today indicated that if the CBA did get approved on Thursday there would be a two-day seminar, starting shortly after the end of the ratification meeting, to bring team executives up to speed on the provisions of the CBA. They would then take the weekend to digest everything and prepare to sign players.

According to reports, teams will be able to start signing their own free agents and undrafted college players next Monday, July 25. Full-blown free agency would start on Thursday, July 28.

The Redskins should be starting training camp right around that Thursday. There is no work on if that would be delayed.

 

No two-a-days no problem for Shanahan

Parts of the new NFL CBA that hopefully will be approved sometime this week have been leaking out and one aspect of the agreement that has come out is that two-a-day practices in training camp will no longer be permitted.

Actually, teams will be able to hold a second practice but it will be a walk through with no helmets or pads allowed.

This will represent a major change for many NFL coaches, who have had full-pads double sessions at least two or three days a week. It will not, however, be an issue for Mike Shanahan.

Last year, the Redskins did not have any full-out afternoon practices. They did an afternoon walk through (or, as Shanahan liked to called it, a "jog-through") in helmets and shoulder pads or shells. Actually, the pads and helmets were not really needed as all they did was go over what they had done in the morning. There was no contact, not even with a tackling dummy or blocking sled.

Shanahan said that he had been doing the same thing for years in Denver. The idea was to have a fast-paced, slightly longer practice in the morning and then review on the field in the afternoon.

So, the only adjustment the Redskins will have to make it to lose the helmets and shells in the afternoon. Unlike many other coaches, Shanahan won't have to draw up a new practice plan to deal with the changed in the rules.

More signs of the end of the lockout

Yesterday, we pointed out that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones was using an analogy to a surgical procedure on an insect to discuss how close the NFL and the players are to a lockout-ending agreement. Now another NFC East team is sending signals that training camp will start on time or close to it.

At Lehigh University, the Eagles are putting up bleachers and VIP tents in preparation for their training camp at the Bethlehem, Pennsylvania college. The key here is that this costs tens of thousands of dollars to do. If there was any chance of training camp being cancelled or even delay significantly, the work would not be proceeding at Lehigh.

It's not that we are talking about all that much money here and the Eagles would survive financially just fine if their expenditure ended up being wasted. But if it looked like a long delay in getting the labor situation settled was even a strong possibility, they would have kept their money in their pocket until the prospect of a settlement was clearer.

 

The Redskins 2-QB option

We are not sure what the Washington Redskins are going to do when NFL free agency starts but it is a safe bet that they will sign three quarterbacks to contracts. One of them is likely to be Rex Grossman, who started the last three games of the 2010 season. Assuming that Donovan McNabb is on his way out of town, the Redskins will have need to add two more signal callers to the mix to add to Grossman and John Beck to get the four quarterbacks needed to conduct training camp.

How close is the end of the lockout? Let Jerry Jones tell you

Over the past couple of weeks we've heard that the two sides in the NFL labor negotiations have been "close" to an agreement to end the lockout. They also have been "near" an agreement with "just a few procedural matters to clean up". It has been "all but done" for a a few days now.

But it is not yet done. But they are close.

How close? Let Jerry Jones explain it, via Chris Mortensen's Twitter feed:

The line of NFL negotiations came Friday when Jerry Jones - as only he can - told negotiators, "We're down to circumsizing mosquitoes."

Now that is close.