Need to Know: Balmer goes AWOL

Here is what you need to know on this Thursday, one week before the first game of the preseason in Buffalo.

Redskins cleared in bounties

It was like one of those moments when you get the news that a celebrity you haven't heard from in years has died. Your first thought is, "I thought he died years ago."

I had a similar feeling when I heard a report the Redskins will not face any sanctions regarding allegations of conducting a bounty program while Gregg Williams was the defensive coordinator. I thought that case had died already.

Williams is serving an indefinite suspension for being the ringleader of the Saints’ bounty scandal. There were media reports that there was something similar going on when he was in Washington.

But Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported yesterday that the league was unable to corroborate the reports so no action will be taken.

Balmer missing from practice

Defensive end Kentwan Balmer was AWOL from the afternoon practice. The former first-round pick has the physical tools to be at least a solid NFL starter if not a star. But he has been an underachiever in the NFL and the Redskins are his third team in the last calendar year. He is fighting to make the team as a backup.

He won’t do that if he’s not at practice. Mike Shanahan sounded more mystified than angry when he told us yesterday that he simply didn’t know where Balmer was.

I don’t want to speculate as to why Balmer wasn’t there but it’s safe to say that there are very few good reasons to miss practice without the coaches knowing about it. We will see how this turns out.

Updated at 12:40 p.m.: Balmer was not present at the 10:40 a.m. walkthrough. His agent did not return a call requesting comment. Stephen Bowen said that he did not know Balmer's whereabouts, saying "it bugs me out a little bit."

In case you missed it

I confess, probably went a little overboard yesterday when I calculated a QB rating for RG3 based on yesterday’s practice. But that doesn’t mean I won’t do it again. Josh LeRibeus is a very good interview and Tarik talked to him about his “a-ha” moment. And if you think that the Redskins are suffering from an inordinate number of injuries, you didn’t catch what you Needed to Know yesterday. 

The day ahead

There probably won’t be much new on the Jammal Brown story today but we’ll have some analysis and we’ll be there to report anything new that does transpire. It’s another day of two a days at Redskins Park today with the walkthrough in the bubble and the afternoon session open to the fans starting at 3:00. The forecast is for a high of about 90 with no chance of rain (that is the weatherman’s forecast, not mine). 

 

Comments

[Billy Crawford]

Re: "probably went a little overboard yesterday when I calculated a QB rating for RG3 based on yesterday’s practice. But that doesn’t mean I won’t do it again."

I believe I'm in the majority, Rich, when I say that article was enjoyable and much appreciated. We should have told you. Please keep 'em coming, Rich.