Does demotion to developmental status mean a pay cut? If so, that would truly suck.

Yes.

as much as we went through to get rod back, every indication is no one knows what's wrong or when he could play - so I gotta assume he'd be on the fast track to demotion. unless there's a rule about demoting an injured player - is there?

If by "pay cut" you mean, wages slashed to about $1,500 over the US Health and Human Services poverty level, then yes. And boy would that suck!

Any buzz on what they plan to do with Addlery? Convert him to a wing? Turn him into a defender? Possible replacement for Walker?

Minimum salary for senior roster players this year is 30,000.

Developmental players earn either 12,900 or 17,700 (based on monthly pay).

Addlery will provide depth at striker.

A forward?

Why in the hell would they sign another forward?

Scoring goals isn't the problem right now.

ouch, that stinks for whomever gets dropped!

wouldn't they have signed a contract that commits to their pay though?

Dang it! Jamaicans are coming to this country and taking jobs away from Russians.

I think DC should demote Rod. This may not be as bad as it sounds. If DC can get him well, he will need time to get game fit. I could see DC loaning him to Carolina or Richmond to play himself back into shape. He could get his touch and pace back in real game situations instead of reserve games. He would also get his DC pay along with his USL pay. This would make up for the pay cut he took on being demoted. In addition, he would return to DC as the playoffs start. Just in time to beef up a pretty tired bunch of players.

I wanted to ask Goff two questions that are not completely on target for this article.

1) Should DC decide settle some of its defense problems by taking a player on loan with an option to purchase, can this player be listed as developmental (if he qualifies) or would he have to take a roster spot?

2) Should the player they acquire (by whatever means) need to be on the senior roster, does this mean another current player would have to be "demoted" or do you think that they would trade a player for allocation or draft choices?

If a player is good enough to make an immediate impact in MLS, he's not going to agree to a developmental contract. He would almost certainly have to be senior roster.

When a team adds a player, they usually have to get rid of someone. In this case, however, DCU had an open roster spot (Addlery would fill the 28th and final position). If the club were to sign another player, DCU would have to either trade or waive someone.

Does that make sense?

Bye-bye Jamil Walker. I think he goes somewhere for a supplemental draft pick or is waived. Addlery strikes me as Walker's replacement, nothing more. Still one open roster spot for a defender.

Great, now we can play a 0-0-10!

Get rid of Jamil and sign a defender!!!

When did McTavish get promoted off the dev squad.

Was that marc burch (wearing a soft cast) at the UMD game with Dom Mediate?

Bye Burch...

As of now, no one has been waived or traded. There was an open spot on the roster to accommodate Addlery. Someone was dropped from senior roster to developmental, that's all. At some point, however, if United adds another player (in addition to Addlery), they will have to make a move.

Steve, Thanks. Your answer made sense and cleared up a lot of things. I guess we'll have to wait a couple of weeks before we find out whether the answer for the defense is already here or somewhere else.

JSF: I definitely remember seeing Dom there, but I didn't see Marc. Did you stick around for the pizza with Sasho and the team?

Goff,

Does the addition of Addlery signal that Soehn has seen enough of Jamil? He didn't really see much time in the CCC games and in our first two games. Is it conceivable that DC could be prepared to package him if he doesn't show in the next few games?

Colm:
There were 4 guys together. 1 was Dom - definite. I thought that the guy with the long hair and the baseball cap and the soft cast on his right foot was Marc Burch. I could be incorrect, but I don't think so. 1 of the guys was wearing a Syracuse shirt and Sasha was jokingly giving him a hard time right before the second half. I've seen the guy before but I can't place him.

No, I didn't stay for the pizza/questions, I figured that was for the kids.

Also, Burch is a dev - so my thought about him being gone is wrong (doesn't help bring Addlery).

JSF- Well, that's certainly what Burch looks like -- long hair and a soft cast on his foot.

The team projects Addlery as a true back-up striker, something Walker is not. Having said that, the team seems to be losing patience with Walker, whose inconsistency is maddening. Does he have trade value? Not much.

I would think teams that need a cheap backup option could use him. He's got speed and some skill, so he's not totally devoid of value. NE, Columbus, and RSL could all benefit from his speed, and all of them could use a serviceable backup.

I had the privilege of watching Nicholas play and I can truly say that is one player that will make an impact. He has in credible ability to find the net and his physical attributes are stunning. Remember how Eddie Johnson looked against D.C. two weeks back? Well he can bring that to the table. Who knows? D.C. might look into have more of a dutch look (4-3-3), with a withdrawn forward (Jaime), to accomodate Addlery. The guy will surely make the best of his minutes and will be tough to take off the field.

Awesome...more strikers.

Defenders... We don't need no stinking defenders....