I have been getting a few questions lately about the status of wide receiver Malcolm Kelly. He has been sidelined with a foot injury since early in camp. He has been riding the stationary bike at practice and has not played in either of the two preseason games.
At this point, I have to wonder if he will ever return to the Redskins.
It's not that the foot injury is all that serious. In time, it should heal with rest. However, if and when Kelly is healthy enough to return to practice the Redskins will have a decision to make.
They could let him practice, play in any preseason games that may remain, and give him one last shot at making the roster. He was having a solid camp before the injury.
However, the Redskins would be taking a risk by letting Kelly back on the field. If Kelly gets hurt again--a distinct possibility given his history--the Redskins could be liable for his entire salary for the 2011 season.
Given that Kelly is working on the final year of his rookie contract, that is not a whole lot of money by NFL standards, about $555,000. But there is no point in risking it if you don't think that the player will make the team even if he stays healthy. That would be unfortunate for Kelly, who has some talent.
The rational course for the Redskins might be to release Kelly as soon as the doctors clear him to practice. That way the team eliminates its exposure to liability for Kelly's salary and he can move on and perhaps attempt to catch on with another team.
It may seem to be rather cruel to tell a player that you have good news and bad news for him--he's cleared to practice but he needs to clear out his locker. But that may be the only rational business decision to make and a change of scenery might be best for Kelly himself.
Cerrato us line herpes... Even when it's gone the effects are felt.
Posted by: Smoak | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 09:29 AM
My fear is that Kelly leaves and ends up being just like someone I saw being the goto receiver last night in an offense poised for a 4000 yd qb performance. anyone remember Brandon Lloyd?
Posted by: skinsadvisor | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 10:43 AM
@skinsadvisor, If that happens, it happens. Lloyd didn't have a problem staying healthy, he needed to get his head on straight. Two teams after the Skins let him go, he got it. Will be interesting to see if he can reproduce his 2010 performance this year.
Posted by: Rich Tandler | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 11:03 AM
There was once a Redskins WR who was not at all similar physically and was a late round draft pick who won a super bowl ring on the IR of the greatest football team in history(IMO), before being cut because he was in a numbers game behind perhaps the greatest groups of receivers in history and finding his way back to the show as a Pro Bowler for another organization before finding his way back home. He has been Kelly's coach and mentor and he's likely a major reason Kelly wasn't cut sooner.
Posted by: Sports Scatter | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 02:16 PM
We took a gamble on him before, let's do it again. Keep him, give the guy a chance
Posted by: caio gomes | Sunday, August 21, 2011 at 10:13 PM
Keep Kelly he needs to be a redskin he can play...cheap salary the risk is worth could be worth it if he can finally stay healthy
Posted by: drop | Monday, August 22, 2011 at 02:22 PM
What has the guy done?? Kelly is out!
Posted by: emmanuel chokuba | Monday, August 22, 2011 at 05:58 PM
Sad sack is outta here. Bye, bye Kelly.
Posted by: Skinhead#1 | Monday, August 22, 2011 at 08:36 PM
we should've kept devin thomas m. kelly is soft and don't want to be great
Posted by: derrick | Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 03:38 PM
why didnt we go n get all those proven wide outs that wouldve made us alot better. like B.Mashall.or A.Boldin (i dont think i spelled that right)we even couldve gotten VA's own Plaxico for cheap. there's no denying these guys have talent why where'nt pursuited even a little? bruce allen is just stupid!
Posted by: derrick | Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 03:57 PM
Completely torn on Kelly. One half says cut him now but the other half says that he has more raw talent then anyone we have on our team at WR currently. He was a BEAST at OU when he was on the field. His problem this year is that we are not signing 40yr old WR's...we actually have talent and we are young. I just want to see him play at full speed and see what he looks like. What a talent that has gone to waste so far. In the end, I think he will be gone.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9W7nTi4JFQ
Posted by: Brian | Wednesday, August 24, 2011 at 03:19 PM