http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/ en Copyright 2008 Thu, 15 May 2008 15:51:32 -0400 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.36 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss This just in from JLC, who is driving to Bethesda to appear on Washington Post Live: Wide receiver/return specialist Jerome Mathis, the only outside free agent the Redskins have signed this offseason, has been released, according to the team. Mathis, who has been injury prone and has had legal issues, was a longshot to make the team in the first place. After the Redskins selected pass-catchers with their first three picks of the draft last month, Mathis became expendable. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/skins_release_mathis.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/skins_release_mathis.html Thu, 15 May 2008 15:51:32 -0400 Alexander Seese sent me a few emails saying how depressing it was checking RI and seeing the story about the guily plea by one of those accused in Sean Taylor's murder. He asked if I could put something, anything, else up, so I aim to please. Alexander sent along some thoughts about RFK, and how to close that place out the right way should DC United one day move to new digs. I'll let him take it from here other than to say that I'll be on Wash Post Live on Comcast from 5-6 (first time back there in like three weeks; hope I don't choke) and we'll be doing some Redskins segments so feel free to email any questions or suggestions. Okay, here's Alexander's thoughts: A random thought on RFK stadium. As we all know the Nationals play in their new stadium, the DC united are looking to move http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/guest_blog_4.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/guest_blog_4.html Thu, 15 May 2008 13:42:54 -0400 Venjah Hunte pleaded guilty to second degree murder and burglary charges for his role in the killing of Redskins star safety Sean Taylor and was handed a 29-year sentence, the first in what Taylor's family hopes will be a series on long sentences. Hunte was one of five men charged with first-degree murder in the case and he was accused driver of the car used to get to and from Taylor's home; Hunte agreed to testify against the others as part of the deal, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Richard Sharpstein, a Florida lawyer and Taylor family spokesperson, said the family worked closely with the state attorneys office during the plea process and believed the sentence - though not the life without parole being sought for all involved in the case - was sufficiently stern. Taylor's father, Pedro (called Pete by his friends), is a http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/a_guilty_plea_in_the_sean_tayl.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/a_guilty_plea_in_the_sean_tayl.html Thu, 15 May 2008 09:11:56 -0400 A fifth person has been charged in connection with the shooting death of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor, a spokesman in the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office said Wednesday. Timothy Brown, 16, of Fort Myers, Fla., has been charged with first-degree felony murder and armed burglary of an occupied dwelling, according the spokesman, Ed Griffith. Brown was arrested Tuesday and booked into a Lee County jail. It is unclear when he will arrive in Miami. No initial court appearance has yet been set. Taylor, 24, died Nov. 27 after surprising intruders in his home the night before. Four other men -- Eric Rivera, Jr., 18; Charles Kendrick Lee Wardlow, 19; Jason Scott Mitchell, 20; and Venjah K. Hunte, 20 -- were indicted by a Miami-Dade County Grand Jury last year on the same charges and are scheduled to go to trial Aug. 25. All four were arrested within days of Taylor's http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/another_arrest_in_the_sean_tay.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/another_arrest_in_the_sean_tay.html Jason La Canfora Wed, 14 May 2008 13:36:04 -0400 The Redskins have promoted Alex Santos to the position of pro scout, according to team sources, a considerable promotion for one of the most well-liked people around Redskins Park. Santos is a hard worker and eager learner who has been trying to break into the football operations side, and this is a major opportunity for him. For the past two seasons Santos was the team's pro personnel assistant, doing lots of odd jobs for the staff, including picking up players on tryouts at the airport, shuttling guys to physicals, etc. He has also helped evaluate lower-tier players in the past - he often sat with the scouts in the pressbox during Redskins games - and comes from a strong football background. Santos was a starting guard at NC State and graduated in 2000. He has a masters in special education and coached his high school football team in New Jersey, http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/redskins_hire_a_pro_scout.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/redskins_hire_a_pro_scout.html Wed, 14 May 2008 11:02:21 -0400 Rookie head coach Jim Zorn caught people by surprise by choosing not to use one of his allotted mini camps, having no bed check or curfew for rookies during mandatory mini camp and holding no team activities prior to the draft (opting not to evaluate any existing talent within his new system before filling out the roster via the college ranks). The way the Redskins are utilizing their OTA days is unusual too, and a dramatic departure from the way it was done under Coach Joe (that's Nascar Joe Jackson Gibbs for the newcomers out there). There has definitely been some chatter among players and coaches at Redskins Park about the recently concluded mini-camp/start of OTAs. The Redskins had essentially done nothing all offseason save for the workout program and the quarterbacks throwing some to the receivers, then hit the field for 6 straight days - highly unusual even http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/ota_ramblings.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/ota_ramblings.html Wed, 14 May 2008 07:25:32 -0400 Rookie head coach Jim Zorn caught people by surprise by choosing not to use one of his allotted mini camps, having no bed check or curfew for rookies during mandatory mini camp and holding no team activities prior to the draft (opting not to evaluate any existing talent within his new system before filling out the roster via the college ranks). The way the Redskins are utilizing their OTA days is unusual too, and a dramatic departure from the way it was done under Coach Joe (that's Nascar Joe Jackson Gibbs for the newcomers out there). There has definitely been some chatter among players and coaches at Redskins Park about the recently concluded mini-camp/start of OTAs. The Redskins had essentially done nothing all offseason save for the workout program and the quarterbacks throwing some to the receivers, then hit the field for 6 straight days - highly unusual even http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/ota_ramblings_1.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/ota_ramblings_1.html Wed, 14 May 2008 07:25:32 -0400 Nate in the PDX sent out an email today with the blog outing to the Nats game next month getting closer, and I wanted to pass it along for anyone else interested. The game is June 7 and it looks like I will be able to make it barring any sort of unusual circumstance popping up. Skins not doing anything that day and Lauren has given the me the green light. Cindy is also slated to attend and I'm gonna try to get Jason Reid - a longtime former baseball scribe - to join us as well, though he may have a family commitment. Anyway, I'll let Nate take over from here. Here's the info from him: REMINDER: a big offseason meet-up is being planned, and it is likely to be a shabingus. A lot of the "regulars" have already confirmed they'll be coming, including locals and some folks from http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/shabingus_update.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/shabingus_update.html Tue, 13 May 2008 14:38:52 -0400 Well, looks like the reshaping of the Redskins organization under Vinny Cerrato is nearing its final phase. The team has finished purging its staff, from its coordinators to scouts, to the pro personnel director, to the medical team, to its head of security. And, starting tomorrow, the Redskins are expected to begin the process to fill the remaining voids in football operations and complete Cerrato's support staff. The recent release of Louis Riddick opens up a significant position, and Cerrato will no doubt look to find a replacement soon. The Redskins could begin interviewing candidates as soon as Wednesday, league sources said, expected to contact a handful of current experienced NFL scouts to eventually hire as the new director or pro personnel. The Redskins also have a vacancy for a pro scout following Terry Ray's firing, and have a vacancy for a director of college scouting as well after Scott http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/front_office_shakeup.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/front_office_shakeup.html Tue, 13 May 2008 10:16:08 -0400 The Washington Redskins have released longtime football operations official Louis Riddick, according to league sources. Riddick's contract, like that of many people in the football operations/scouting department, was to expire this summer, and the team informed him that his deal will not be renewed, sources said. Riddick, a former NFL defensive back, spent the last three years as pro personnel director, working directly below Cerrato and in essence the fourth most important figure behind Snyder, then coach and team president Joe Gibbs and Cerrato. Riddick was once a rising star in the organization, forging a strong bond with vice president Vinny Cerrato and owner Daniel Snyder during seven years in the organization, but his profile had cooled in the last year. During interviews with prospective head coaching candidates several involved in the process came away believing Snyder and Cerrato would be moving on without Riddick. Shortly after Gibbs departed http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/louis_riddick_is_gone.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/louis_riddick_is_gone.html Mon, 12 May 2008 18:00:45 -0400 Ok, this blog has been all web and no log today, so here's a little bit of news that just came over the transom: the Redskins signed two undrafted free agents today, both University of Maryland guys: offensive lineman Andrew Crummey and tight end Jason Goode. Crummey is 6-foot-5, 301 pounds and was a second-team all-American last fall. Goode is 6-3, 238, and had 36 catches for 401 yards and three TDs in his College Park career. And as a bonus, both players have an extraneous "e" in their last name. That's it for now ... http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/picking_up_two_terps.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/picking_up_two_terps.html Thu, 08 May 2008 16:53:07 -0400 JReid reports: Quarterback Jason Campbell has what the team described as a minor hamstring injury. "He just felt it grab, it didn't pull all the way," Coach Jim Zorn said yesterday after the last of the team's three organized team activities at Redskins Park. "He was feeling his hamstrings all along, and I think it's because I have him" bending his knees more to stay at one level while dropping back. Obviously, Zorn was not pleased that Campbell was injured, but "just the fact that different things are happening to his body ..... for me it's good," Zorn said. "He'll regroup. He's not a chronic hamstring-puller in my mind. He's going to be fine." ... Running back Clinton Portis (minor hip injury) sat out practice. Zorn theorized that the injury could have occurred when Portis and safety LaRon Landry raced against each other Sunday. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/the_return_of_the_dreaded_hamm.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/the_return_of_the_dreaded_hamm.html Jason La Canfora Wed, 07 May 2008 15:25:01 -0400 The Redskins fired director of security Jon Bean, on Monday, according to team sources, cutting ties with one of the more well-liked people among the coaches and players. Bean's release came one day after rookie tight end Fred Davis went missing on Sunday - including that day's minicamp practice, however, a club official said that any move the team may have made with Bean was unrelated to Davis or any other player. Several people within Redskins Park believed the timing of the firing was in some way related, given that it came on the heels of this incident, but, again, the team denies that. Bean, reached on his cell phone, declined to comment on anything other than to thank the Redskins for the opportunity to work form them and stating his desire to now "move on." Bean was a police officer in PG County for 25 years and was trusted http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/redskins_release_director_of_s.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/redskins_release_director_of_s.html Jason La Canfora Wed, 07 May 2008 11:34:47 -0400 First of all, I wanted to take a moment while I can sneak it in to thank all of you who have taken the time to email to wish my family well upon the passing of my mother-in-law, Nan Kelly, last week. You are all far too kind and we greatly appreciate it. Also, wanted to give a huge shout out to the folks at the Washington Post, specifically my editors, Emilio and Cindy, who have been tremendous throughout this ordeal and allowed me to take care of the kids while Lauren traveled to be with her mom a lot the last few months. Nan was like a second mother to me - none of the mother-in-law clichés ever applied - and a very special person who had a way of influencing me in a positive manner seemingly without trying. We all miss her dearly, but know she is http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/many_thanksfront_office_news.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/many_thanksfront_office_news.html Tue, 06 May 2008 19:23:27 -0400 This just in from Jason Reid: I just got a call from the agent of Redskins tight end Fred Davis, the team's second pick in this year's NFL draft who caused quite a stir by missing the last day of minicamp on Sunday. Adam Heller of DeBartolo Sports wanted me to know that any rumors about Davis being someplace he shouldn't have been Saturday night are untrue. Heller said Davis was at the team hotel and simply overslept, as the team said on Sunday. I'm headed to the Comcast SportsNet studios right now to do Washington Post Live and will provide more details later on. http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/fred_daviss_agent_checks_in.html?nav=rss_blog http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/05/fred_daviss_agent_checks_in.html Tue, 06 May 2008 15:56:34 -0400