Redskins vs. Steelers - Monday Night Football

The Washington Redskins are 6-2 midway through the 2008 NFL season. The Redskins will be facing the 5-2 Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football at home in the Nations Capital at FedEx Field on the eve of the Presidential Election. The Steelers are a good squad, so this will be a nice test to see if the Skins are as good as their record. So, are you going to the game????

If you are a Loudoun County resident you may want to consider taking the Skins Bus (www.SkinsBus.com) which is operated by some great people who happen to be die hard Skins fans. The bus leaves Lansdowne Town Center, includes all you care to drink beer/soda/water and tailgate food (provided by The Dock this week). The bus also has a bathroom (no waiting in long lines in the cold for a messy Don Jon) and plasma TV's airing the pre-game and post-game show. The cost is $60 per person, and that includes the beer/food/and piece of mind of getting to and from the game safely. Parking passes alone are $60 and you have to pay for gas and sit in traffic! Why do all that when you can ride the Skins Bus with fellow fans?

The SkinsBus leaves at 4PM SHARP on Monday. For more information visit www.SkinsBus.com

HAIL.

Redskins Todd Collins Ranked Best Backup QB

Don Banks, the ever so opinionated writer for SI.com, ranked the NFL's back up quarterbacks...and Todd Collins (a.k.a. Rainman) was his top choice. No, not Colt Brennan. All you visitors from Hawaii will have to wait a few years for that to change.

I think Collins is a great backup, but the best in the NFL? Numero Uno? If that's the case, the current Redskins backup QB is ranked higher than five...yes 5...former starting Redskin QB's.

#07 - Trent Green (now with St. Louis)
#11 - Brad Johnson (now with Dallas)
#16 - Gus Frerotte (now with Minnesota)
#18 - Mark Brunell (now with New Orleans)
#20 - Patrick Ramsey (now with Denver)

And, according to the rankings, Todd Collins just barely beat out the number 3 ranked backup in the league...Sage Rosenfels (now with Houston). Funny how three former Redskins "developmental quarterbacks" are on that list. It's weird in general to see all of those former Redskins quarterbacks still playing in the league yet none of them seemed to work out here in DC. I guess the Redskins have had mediocrity at QB since the former players are at least contributing in the league still.

But Todd Collins at #1? Above young stars Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn? Above seasoned vets Kerry Collins and Billy Volek? Sure, why not...it's just a preseason backup ranking.

Here's what Banks said about Collins:
Washington: Todd Collins -- The unspoken truth in D.C. is that the veteran would run Jim Zorn's offense better today than starter Jason Campbell, who I still think might struggle in his transition to the West Coast style attack. It was Collins, not Campbell, who orchestrated the Redskins' four-game late season winning streak and wild-card playoff berth last year.

Another question is, will Jason Campbell follow the trend or stick around? I think (and hope) he does the latter. I would hate to see his name on Don Banks 2010 back up QB rankings.

2 Redskins vs. Jaguars Tickets

Can't make the game, if anyone wants the tix let me know. $25 ea., Dulles/Loudoun area.

The good thing is starters will be playing and you can move around the stadium since a lot of seats are open. Will also be odd to see Gregg Williams defense against Jim Zorn's offense.

Let me know...later.

Redksins Sign Linebacker, Cut Former Terp

ESPN reported that the Washington Redskins cut tight end Jason Goode. He was recently known as the guy who caught the pass from Colt Brennan to score the winning touchdown against the Jets. Former Terp. End of the road with the Redskins (for now at least).

The Redskins signed another free agent with no experience to replace Matt Sinclairs' roster spot. You could argue that Sinclair had a little more experience/value than the new guy Danny Verdun-Wheeler. I don't think Danny Verdun-Wheeler or recently signed linebacker David Holloway will make the team...so why bother? The team has to trim the roster again soon, so these guys may not be around next week.

I think a lot of people have pointed out the lack of depth the Redskins have at linebacker. There's a lot of injury prone guys there, and not much experience behind them. It amazed me that the Redskins didn't consider signing former Pro Bowl LB Takeo Spikes in the off season. Sure he is old, but would make a good back up...at least better than Danny Verdun-Wheeler. But, too late. The San Fransisco 49ers signed him on August 10th. But then again, the Redskins don't have much cap room after signing Jason Taylor at the start of training camp.

I'm worried about the Redskins linebackers going into the regular season. I don't know what else to say than that. 3 of the top 5 have injury history and the others have little experience. Khary Campbell is in that top 5 but Greg Blache has called him more of a special teams guy, not an every down linebacker.

Redskins linebackers in camp:
Fletcher, London (10 years) Starter
Washington, Marcus (8 years) Starter
McIntosh, Rocky (2 years) Starter
Campbell, Khary (6 years)
Blades, H.B. (1 year)
Fincher, Alfred (3 years)
Gatewood, Curtis (R)
Holloway, David (1 year)

Redskins Cut LB Matt Sinclair

Just got a txt that Matt Sinclair has been released by the Washington Redskins. He has been having back spasms lately, but it was revealed he has fractures in his vertabra. This is not good news when it comes to the depth at linebacker for the Washington Redskins. Rocky McIntosh is coming off a season ending knee injury and Marcus Washington has been knicked up the last few years, and has recently been hurting from this long preseason. In addition, H.B. Blades just had his knee scoped. Look for the Redskins to scour the NFL waiver wire for a linebacker with experience in the coming days/weeks.

Matt Sinclair

Also, Good news for Jason Campbell and the offensive line....Giant's DE Osi Umenyiora is out for the season with a knee injury.

Redskins Release Fox, 2 Others...Taylor Out 10 - 14 Days

After the horrible showing in Charlotte you would think the Redskins would cut half the team, well no, just three. Veteran Vernon Fox was one of them according to Redskins.com. The other two were back up defensive end Dorian Smith and defensive tackle Babatunde Oshinowo (both were buried on the depth chart). It was a little surprising to see Fox cut due to his special teams skills, but the newly drafted safeties Kareem Moore and Chris Horton have had a good camp and appear they will stick. The Redskins will cut two more before Tuesday for the 75 man roster limit (I think Devine and Gant).

In other news, good news...and old news, Jason Taylor appears to just have a knee sprain and is expected to be out 10 - 14 days. The slow motion recap with Joe Theismann having flashbacks made me think Jason Taylor was doneski. Well, the dude seems lucky...and the Redskins horrible night in Charlotte is not as bad as it could have been.

Still, I did not see any contribution from Taylor or Carter...or any defensive starter really. They are starting to look counterfeit. They've got one week to get things right. Gonna be a long week in Ashburn for these guys. Let's hope Taylor recovers quick and take Manning out on the opening drive.

Hail.