Turner Sports Desk

Sanity has returned to Redskin Park

Jim Turner

turnersportsdesk.com

March 8, 2010

If one required tangible evidence that the days of the free spending free agency days of the Redskins are gone look no further than your closest news outlet. Turns out the Redskins never even contacted Julius Pepper's agent despite all kinds of reports that they were first in line for his services. Bruce Allen targeted two veteran tackles, Chad Clifton, Tony Pashos and both chose to seek life elsewhere. Pashos even chose Cleveland of all places.

Thus far the Redskins have concentrated on resigning their own guys but they managed to bring in free agent Guard Artis Hicks. Times are changing and as a seasoned Redskin fan boring is great. How many times during the Dan Snyder era have we watched as the Redskins jump the free agent market only to lay an egg during the season. Redskin Coach, Mike Shanahan spent his year off analyzing team structures and operations. Maybe he noticed that the two most successful teams this decade (Colts/Pats) spend more time and energy drafting the right guys for their system. Those teams also keep their players which means more consistency.

So for my fellow Redskins fans that want to sign every big name that flashes across the screen I have a phrase for you...been there failed that. Now is the time for an emphasis on building the foundation of a winning franchise. It is time for some non-famous players/coaches to step up and bring this franchise back into prominence.

Redskins miss out on Clifton

Jim Turner

turnersportsdesk.com

March 6, 2010

ESPN reports that Chad Clifton resisted the Redskins and will resign with the Green Bay Packers. Meanwhile the Redskins continue their pursuit of veteran right tackle Tony Pashos. Pashos was with the 49ers this past season and has history with Redskins Offensive Line Coach Chris Foester.

Clifton was the left tackle on a Green Bay offensive line that gave up a ton of sacks so maybe his resigning with the Pack is not such a bad thing. Minus Clifton the Redskins will either continue their pursuit of a veteran left tackle or draft one. According to the depth chart the Skins have Levi Jones and Stephon Heyer. Obviously Shanahan believes an upgrade is needed.

What does this mean in terms of draft strategy?

It is obvious the Redskins are doing everything they can to get a veteran line in place prior to the draft. Many believe they are drafting a QB but with the tender to Campbell they may be setting themselves up to be in a position to draft the best player available. According to the Scouts Inc. big board the highest rated QB is Sam Bradford who grades out at 95 and he is the 9th best player in the draft. The next best QB is Jimmy Clausen who grades out at 88 which puts him in the early second round.

The Rams are rumored to have serious interest in Bradford so the Redskins must face the possibility that their prized QB could be gone by the time they are on the clock. If Bradford is indeed gone they would be insane to pick Clausen at 4 and pay him starter money when they can get him or Colt McCoy in the second round and save millions. If the Redskins do not fill the left tackle position by the draft they will likely take the highest rated left tackle Anthony Davis.

So even though Clifton decided to stay with the Packers the Redskins still find themselves in pretty good shape if they can land Pashos. Looks like the Skins have a plan and for the first time in many years it is a solid one.

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Redskins pursuit of Clifton, Pashos gives hints on draft strategy

Jim Turner

turnersportsdesk.com

March 5, 2010

ESPN980 is reporting that the Redskins are actively pursuing Green Bay Veteran left tackle Chad Clifton. Clifton is 33 so that shoots the youth movement theory in the foot. This move is interesting in terms of draft strategy because the Skins can still draft an Offensive Lineman at 4 and play him at right tackle until they deem him ready to move over.

For those of you that believe the Skins are locked on a QB at 4 the Rams may change that plan. If the Rams do not grab Michael Vick or another veteran QB they are likely to draft Sam Bradford now. The Redskins would be massively over valuing Jimmy Clausen by drafting him at the 4 spot so we can only hope they are either planning to trade down or draft someone at four that most mock drafts don't have the Redskins drafting.

The optimum place to draft Clausen is out of the top ten especially if Jason Campbell stays. If the Skins draft Clausen at 4 I would expect Campbell to be dealt because Clausen has to start if he is making that kind of money. Campbell has trade value and could net the Skins some picks.

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Redskins were set to pursue Darren Sproles

Jim Turner

Turnersportsdesk.com

March 5, 2010

According to NFL Network's Michael Lombardi the Redskins were all set to pursue Running Back Darren Sproles. The Chargers reported earlier in the week that Sproles would not be tendered but changed their minds and tendered him yesterday.

My first thought was they reported the wrong Darren. I was thinking they meant Darren Sharper which would be a nice pickup for the Skins at free safety.

The Redskins already have a 7 million dollar paper weight at the running back position named Clinton "You talkin bout practice" Portis. So let me get this straight, the Redskins O-line is in shambles and the first free agent the Redskins were going to pursue was a running back? As Scooby Doo would say...roh-roh raggy! I am going to give Shanny and Allen a wide birth but I am really confused by this.

Their are three positions a team needs to be strong at in order to compete consistently. Cornerback, Offensive line and pass rushers. I left QB off of the list because the position is more dependent upon others than people think. People who don't know football get mesmerized by guys like Peyton Manning and Drew Brees into believing that a team has to have a marquee QB in order to win a superbowl. Guess what...Trent Dilfer, Mark Rypien and other less than stud QBs have rings. Why? Because football is still a team sport. Granted some QBs are better than others but Joe Gibbs proved that in certain schemes you only need a serviceable QB. The Redskins do not to put another dime into the running back position especially with Mike Shanahan as Coach. The Redskins need Cornerbacks and you can never have enough pass rushers so I can understand the pursuit of Peppers. What I cannot fathom is the pursuit of a running back.

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Redskins clear 12 million in salary prior to free agency

Jim Turner

Turnersportsdesk.com

March 4, 2010

General Manager Bruce Allen and Head Coach Mike Shanahan officially began the Redskins house cleaning process by dumping the following underperforming and often hurt veterans:

Antwan Randle El – Good guy but overpaid and slowing down
Randy Thomas – If only he could have stayed healthy. A core Redskin
Cornelius Griffin – Another guy that was limited by injuries but a core Redskin
Fred Smoot – Clearly lost a step but played with heart. A core Redskin
Rock Cartwright – If there is one guy I regret is on this list it is Cartwright. A Core Redskin
Ladell Betts – Betts could be super effective if only he could stay healthy
Todd Collins – Came here with Mr. 700 page playbook…had one good run.

There are a couple more names on the list but no one of significance. Other than the emotional attachment to a few core redskins like Cartwright and Griffin I have absolutely no problems with dropping 12 million dollars of dead weight. For those of you with hurt feelings because of these departures get over it. This team was 4-12 so nobody’s job should be safe and I mean no one.

Due to the Redskins past free agency follies they are being mentioned with virtually every big name. Clearly the new Redskins leadership group has a plan which is nice to see. You don’t clear 12 million dollars in one swipe unless you have a master plan so looks like Redskins Nation will burn some midnight oil to see what direction the team takes. The one thing you can say for Redskins nation is that the off season is always full of excitement.

Caps make statement at trade deadline

Jim Turner

turnersportsdesk.com

March 4, 2010

The Washington Capitals were the #1 team in the NHL going into the trade deadline yesterday. The Caps believe they are talented enough to win the cup. The bigger question is are they tough and deep enough to win the cup? General Manager George McPhee made moves to answer both of those questions.

Caps acquire Eric Belanger from Columbus – The Caps needed help up the middle and they got a really good two way center in Belanger. He brings some great skating along with a very good face off record. Bruce Boudreau is familiar with Belanger as he coached him in the Minors. Belanger is an excellent penalty killer and he instantly helps the 25^th ranked penalty kill.

Caps acquire Scott Walker from Carolina – Caps nation was not thrilled when the team let Donald Brashear go. They were definitely not thrilled when teams started taking liberties with our skill guys and we had no enforcer to even the score. Scott Walker is not to be mistaken for Donald Brashear but he can drop the mitts with the best of them. He brings solid, gritty play along with good locker room leadership. Walker can make a big difference with his ability to get under people’s skin without hurting his own team. He is also good penalty killer which helps the Caps.

Caps acquire Joe Corvo from Carolina – Joe Corvo’s acquisition allows the Caps to still have a defensive scoring threat when teams key on Mike Green. Many are still at odds with this acquisition because of their belief that the Caps needed more defensive minded defensemen. Corvo brings a wealth of playoff experience, a terrific point shot and the ability to play either opposite green on the first power play unit or to quarterback the second unit. Either way you slice it the number #1 power play in the league just got better.

Caps re-acquire Milan Jurcina from Columbus – This move is proof positive that you can always come home especially if you are a 6’4 235 pound righty defenseman. “Juice” was traded with former Captain Chris Clark to Columbus earlier this season for Mike Chimera. Juice gives the Caps size and a nice heavy shot when he chooses to use it. Jurcina is injured to the tune of 4-6 weeks which puts him back in play in time for the playoffs. The Caps need Jurcina to replace Brian Pothier who was sent to Carolina as part of the Joe Corvo deal along with prospect Oskar Osala.

Overall the Caps got more grit, more playoff tested veterans and more skill. The beauty of these deals is they did not disrupt what is a good locker room in order to do it. They also did not mortgage their future. Questions remain about the Caps goaltending and defense but the Caps made themselves better despite the questions. Time will tell if the moves were good enough. The Caps took the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Penguins to seven games so they feel they have put themselves into a position to over take the Pens and the rest of the NHL.

Caps need to make defense a team effort

Everyday there is someone talking about the Washington Capitals lack of defense. Some argue that the Caps need to bring in a big bopper on the blue line but they forget the Red Wings won multiple Cups without a killer defenseman. The Red Wings proved that team emphasis on defensive positioning and discipline is more effective than one guy trying to lay everyone out. The Caps are clearly the most talented offensive team in the league and the numbers back that statement up. The Achilles heel for this team is not a defensive personnel problem as many would suggest. The real problem is a lack of discipline, patience and the art of simplifying the game.

What I See…

I see a team that is so offensively gifted that they can spot you a few goals, play 20-40 minutes of hockey and still beat you by multiple goals by the final whistle. The Caps also have the best player on earth who can flick a switch in his mind and become unstoppable. Given these factors it is easy to see why the Caps often become so puck focused that they lose basic discipline. Sometimes you can catch them watching Ovechkin and Semin instead of positioning themselves for a pass, shot or rebound. They also believe that they can score on every shift so you see a tendency to try and stick handle when they should just dump and chase. How many times have we watched in amazement as Semin or Ovechkin tried to put the puck behind a guy only to have the guy read the play and go back the other way on our goalie. The trick plays are only awesome when they work.

Good defense is a team effort

The one thing I know from following sports all of my life is effective defense requires a team effort. Defense is not just a matter for defensemen but it requires forwards making smart decisions with or without the puck. Good defense requires the forwards back checking and helping out. Good defense requires you to dump that puck instead of trying something dumb, causing a turnover and putting your defense/goalie in a bad spot. You have to believe that if we can see these things Bruce Boudreau can see them. You also have to believe that Boudreau is screaming this at the top of his lungs. If Boudreau has become white noise in the ears of the players then McPhee can and will bring in a more discipline minded coach. It happens all the time in hockey so don’t be shocked.

Summary

As I look at the Caps roster I see more than enough to win a Stanley Cup on offense, defense and in goal. Theodore is playing high quality hockey and Varlamov is capable when healthy so the biggest hurdle for the Caps is just playing smarter and more team oriented hockey. Coach Boudreau has a unique challenge that many coaches only dream of. He has such offensively gifted players that he has to walk a fine line between allowing them to flourish but also holding them accountable for their decisions/actions. If the Caps want to win a Stanley Cup every player in that locker room needs become more disciplined, patient and simplify the game.

Americans spoil Canada's coming out party!

As I asked in a previous blog what happens when you take the best players in the world give them home ice, a home crowd and the biggest stage in the Olympics? They get out hustled, out worked and out smarted by those pesky Americans that did not seem the least bit phased by Canada's assembled firepower.

So what happened to the Canadian hockey dream team? Did they read their own press clippings and decide that they were too awesome to lose? I doubt that. I think the Americans are a pretty good team in their own right. Many of these guys play on the same team in the NHL so the Canadian advantage is only one of perception.

Despite all of the external factors surrounding the Olympics the game of hockey does not change. The Americans used speed, patience, and hustle to beat a more talented team. That happens just about every night in arenas everywhere within the NHL. The Americans were the better team last night and they earned that win. The Canadians can rebound and win the gold but they need to remember that no one is going to hand the gold to them.

The Americans served notice that they are back. They are still not the favorites to win but they proved that team hockey beats a bunch of talented guys almost every time.

The pressure of 33 million and national pride

If you were scripting a favorable hockey scenario I don't think you can do better than what the Canadians setup. So why even with everything in their favor are they going to fold?

Home ice, check…
Home crowd, check…
Best team in the world, check …
Most hockey lineage on the planet, check…

You look at all the things in Canada’s favor and you could easily think the gold medals came with Canada pre-engraved on them but not so fast. Team Switzerland, with only two NHL players on their roster came a couple whiffed penalty shots away from making an entire nation implode. This Sunday the Canadians host a United States team that (on paper) is better than Switzerland, has zero fear and no problem ripping the heart out of 33 million hockey fans in their country.

All the US team needs to do is either jump out to an early lead or keep this game too close for comfort. Eventually the pressure of 33 million will force the Canadians on the ice and in the stands to implode. A proper comparison would be the 1984 US dream team. What if they lost? That would have set US basketball along with national pride back 50 years. Canada is a nation of 33 million people and most of them are hockey fans. They have attached national pride to winning a Gold medal in the sport they created so make no mistake this is a big deal to them.

The problem for Canada is simple. They have the perfect storm of everything being in their favor which also means they have zero excuses if they lose. By contrast the US team has zero pressure because they were never considered a favorite, but you know how feisty those Americans can be when people count them out.

Tiger speaks, what should we expect?

As I listen to the media pundits talk about what Tiger should and should not say I am reminded that this is still a private family matter at its core. That is certainly not a pass for the harm and embarrassment Tiger caused his family, his endorsers and the fans that held him up as a role model. Despite the strong opinions on both sides of this issue Tiger broke no laws that require full disclosure so how much of this are we entitled to know? This also begs another important question of how much do you really want to know?

The journalists that want Tiger to spend an hour or two spilling his guts about each transgression are crazy. That will never happen and frankly it should never happen. Tiger’s comments should be pretty simple. He should say he is sorry to his family, his sponsors, fellow golfers and golf fans. As I write this and as you read this you probably know people who are going through the same situation. The only difference is Tiger is insanely rich but he lives in the fish bowl of public scrutiny.

The news media (myself included) gets paid to provide accurate and relevant information. The entertainment media gets paid to entertain you by any means necessary. As you watch the news about Tiger’s statement it is up to you to discern between who is providing news versus the organizations determined to gin things up for the sake of ratings.

What happened to the Olympics?

I remember when the world stopped for the Olympics. I remember when it was a big deal and every event was worth my time and energy. Sadly, those days are gone and here is why.

NBC Olympic coverage underwhelming – I like Bob Costas but much like sugared up kids at a birthday party he gets annoying and you want to send him home after a while. I was hoping NBC would do something different besides the sob story followed by the event script everyone else has done. I wanted to see more rivals, more Tanya Harding – Nancy Kerrigan type feuds. The world is a lot smaller place these days and these athletes compete against each other before the Olympics so there has to be more rivalries. Don’t give me fluff NBC…give me competition in its raw form. Yes I already know little Mikey wanted to be a snow boarder since he could walk. Tell me about how little Mikey wants to stomp a hole in that German snow boarder that beat him twice in the world championships. This is competition folks...not a pity party!

Lack of Snow in Canada? – As I write this from my comfy couch in Wine Country Virginia we have more snow in the Washington DC area than the Olympics. I haven't seen my grass in so long that I dug a hole in the snow yesterday just to remember what it looked like. If anyone told me that Canada would ever lack snow for any reason I would have required a drug test. Talk about a bad omen...Hmmmm.

Lame events – Since when did the X-games crap I go out of my way to ignore become Olympic sports? Maybe I am just getting old but when I watched the snow boarders I wanted to call the police thinking they were on my lawn. Is snowboarding for people to lazy to Ski? Curling? What the hell is that? Is that bowling on ice? I missed that email. What’s next? Playing X-box outside in a snow bank as a winter sport?

The thud heard around the world – The pride of Canada is in that dream hockey team they assembled for this Olympics. That team is so good that the guys they did not pick for the team would win a medal. So why are they are going to fold like a cheap tent during an F-5 tornado? The problem as I see it is the Canadian team has everything in their favor. They have the best team, the home field and the home crowd. That is a recipe for disaster. The Russians, Swedes and Americans are quite capable of dealing a death blow to the nation that made hockey famous. This is like a slow motion car wreck because I know its coming but I can’t turn away. There are not enough grief counselors on this planet should Canada fail to win a gold medal on their home turf.

Mike Milbury vs. Jeremy Roenick - With the Olympic Ice Hockey tournament underway the tensions are high. Apparently that tension carries over to the hockey announcers. Former NHL Coach and NBC Analyst, Mike Milbury is in love with team Canada and Sidney Crosby in particular. Former NHL star and lock for the Hockey Hall of Fame Jeremy Roenick is there to simply tell it like it is. The fact is most of these announcers believe Canada has already won the gold so they bring a heavy Canadian bias with them. Roenick, like most Americans will not implode if the US does not win it all. We have to excuse our Canadian friends if they are super sensitive right now as their national pride is on the line. This bares watching.

Start of games marred by tragedy – It was truly unfortunate that even before the games began a young man with dreams of glory was sent home to be buried. That is heart breaking not only for his family but for everyone.

What i miss most is competition and a genuine dislike for old enemies such as Russia etc. Now I find myself rooting for Russia except against the USA. Instead of hating the old Soviets Canada is the obnoxious nation everyone wants to see cough up a giant snow ball. What has the world come to?

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TSD quick hitters: Tebow, Warner, Wizards, Capitals and the Olympics

Don't count Tebow out – I find it amusing how the Nintendo (instant gratification) crowd has already written off Tim Tebow at the beginning of his pro career. If Tebow does not quit he has plenty of “doubter fuel” to propel him to succeed at whatever position he wants to play. The so called draft experts all missed on Tom Brady so I do not buy into this early dismissal of Tebow as a QB. This kid appears to have some fire in his gut so I’m not going to count him out just yet. Of course he has some things to work on but who walks into any job already knowing everything about it?

Congrats to Kurt Warner – The guy goes from bagging groceries to league MVP and Superbowl Champion. Oh, by the way he is a genuinely decent human being. I am a big Kurt Warner fan and I wish him and his family well in retirement. Now it is time for Matt Leinart to take what we HOPE he learned from Warner and get his team to a new level.

The Wizards are not getting a dime from me until Arenas is gone – I have a nice young man from the Washington Wizards sales staff calling me about season ticket options. For those keeping up with my articles on the Wizards they fall just short of curse words. I did not want them to re-sign "six-guns" Arenas and look how that turned out. Wait, I feel it coming on...I told you so! Let’s just say I will be basketball-less until Ted Leonsis takes control of the Wizards organization. I know Ted and I can trust that he will turn the Wizards into a winner eventually.

Pressure bursts pipes and wrecks Olympic teams – The entire country of Canada is banking on a gold medal with the stacked hockey team they picked for the Olympics. Problem is they have everything in their favor (home ice, best team,) which usually means they are going to fold like a cheap lawn chair. Their every move will be scrutinized and I think the pressure will get to them. It is the equivalent of watching a slow car wreck. You don't want to look but you can't turn away. The only question is how will it happen this time.

The Pro-bowl before the Superbowl is a dud – I appreciate the fact that Commissioner Goodell decided to mix it up a bit but 14 of the best guys will not be in the game. What have we learned? Never make big decisions on 50 cent Tequila shot night. The pro-bowl is pretty lame to begin with so I’m not sure how you can spruce it up. Perhaps turning it into a reality show and voting people off the island is next for Goodell and company. If that happens you heard it here first and I want royalties! My money is on crazy Ray Lewis to be the sole survivor.

Capitals are dishing out serious punishment – The Caps are have won 9 straight and when I say win I mean more destroyed most of their opponents. They are scoring at a crazy clip and what is even more worrisome for opponents is that Ovechkin is not the guy scoring all or any of these goals. The Caps are sporting three scoring lines and a checking line that could e a scoring line on many teams. The Caps seemed to have learned the lesson of relying too much on one guy. This hot streak is good for a bag of pucks come playoff time, but the Caps appear to have learned how to play championship level hockey. They have definitely improved but will it be enough to hoist the cup?

Six steps to fix the NHL part II

Some of you may remember my original article article Six steps to fix the NHL part 1. Some things changed while some things remained the same. Despite our love for the game hockey is a business. Businesses produce products and the NHL product is pretty darn good. That said no product is perfect so I make the following suggestions in the hope that the hockey gods are listening somewhere.

Winterize the Winter Classic – (new) Pick three regional spots (west/central/east) and alternate between those venues. That way you minimize the chances of a weather malfunction. It would be nice to have a drawing at the end of each classic to pick the teams for the next winter classic. I know the NHL is worried about attendance but that worry appears to be a non-factor in terms of ticket sales. Seems to me that the NHL has a good thing going no matter who plays in the game.

Sell the game not just a couple of players – (old & new) Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin are great players but the NHL is selling him like they are the only two guys on the ice. This is hockey and not pairs figure skating. Sell the game and the people will come. On that same note try regional advertising. Do you really think I want to see Chris Pronger commercials in DC? Probably about as much as a Flyers fan wants to see an Ovechkin commercial in Philly.

Muzzle Don Cherry – (new) Some of the things he says specifically about non-Canadian players is not in the best interest of the sport. I understand that he is a hockey icon in Canada but if he continues to slam European players while promoting his good old Canadian boys in a sport exploding in Europe Cherry is not helping hockey. Sometimes relics need to be put away (or kept in Canada) in order for the game to move on. Cherry is a relic for Canada alone to enjoy.

Stop the the east coast bias (New) - I want to see more of the San Jose Sharks, Los Angeles Kings on the Sunday game of the week. I've seen the Penguins so much on Sunday I'm starting to believe they are my home team. Come on NBC! How about some variety?

Maximize Player protection – (old) The amount of games players miss because of preventable injuries is simply insane. Mandatory complete face cages alone would cut down a dramatic number of injuries. Of course I can hear the hockey traditionalist now “In my day they didn’t play with helmets”. That is great but would you want a doctor to treat you today using 16^th century medical practices? Some things are traditional and some things are just stupid. It only makes sense to do everything you can to keep your players-products on the ice. Injuries will happen but it is the preventable ones that make me angry when I am a paying customer.

Addition by contraction or movement - (old) While hockey has caught on somewhat since its migration to nontraditional markets there are some places that simply are not working out. Meanwhile there are cities in Canada that can afford a team and want one. It makes very little sense to keep trying to sell snow shoes in Bermuda. Someone can explain to me why there are two teams in Florida and Canadian cities don't have teams?

Stop the fighting for good – (new) I admit that I used to love the fights but as I’ve grown a bit older it just drags the game down. The hockey traditionalist will argue that it is hockey’s form of self-policing. I used to agree with that but now it just sounds like a lame excuse. If you have referees why do you need fighting? Aren’t the referees supposed to police the game? The days of the goons are dying anyways because no teams can afford to have a guy that just fights taking up salary cap space. Why not score a public relations victory and just stop it now.

Ok...that was seven steps, but six is kinda tradition. What would you change if you had the power?

Definitive news on Jason Campbell, Okung and other tidbits

ESPN Insider, Adam Schefter reported this morning on the Mike and Mike show that Jason Campbell will remain with the Washington Redskins for the 2010 season. Word of advice for Redskin fans Schefter was Shanahan’s guy when he worked with the Denver Post and covered the Broncos so this is pretty solid info. Schefter went on to say that the Redskins will still draft a QB within the first two rounds which means they are not entirely set to draft a QB at the 4 spot. This will be great news for the Redskins fans that want offensive linemen to be the focus of the draft. I believe it means that the Redskins are keeping their options open. That is a good thing.

Chief’s House Writer, Scuba said in response to my article on the Redskins draft and I quote “I agree with you about the number of picks. However, having Shanahan in the AFC west for a number of years I have learned one thing: Shanahan likes his quarterbacks. If Shanahan has a chance, I think he will pull the trigger on Bradford, and maybe that might not be until later in the draft. Personally I hope you take him with the 4th pick so the Chiefs can take Okung”

I figured Okung would not last very long if the Redskins did not take him. Many scouts believe based on the Senior Bowl practices and workouts that Jimmy Clausen might be a step or two ahead of Sam Bradford. I was speaking to a Vikings writer yesterday afternoon that believes should the Vikings fail to get McNabb they could make an offer for Campbell as they think really highly of him and the numbers he put up despite the state of the Redskins organization. Just goes to show that things are a lot different outside of the Redskin bubble. Jason Campbell is a restricted free agent so the Redskins will tender him an offer. If another team wants him the Redskins have the right to match or to receive draft picks as compensation.

J.I. Halsell, Inside the Cap Writer, NFL Salary Cap Expert and former employee of the Washington Redskins was on the Sports Fix program on ESPN 980 yesterday. He explained the ramifications of an uncapped year which is a certainty. He went on to talk about the Redskins situation in particular. Based on what I heard it appears this is the year to dump dead weight with the least amount of penalty. Click here to listen.

Schefter also reported that the most likely landing spot for Michael Vick is St. Louis. I was thinking Vick would land in Jacksonville, Carolina or St. Louis. Schefter added that although Andy Reid stated that Donovan McNabb will be back that Philly could get offers from either the Vikings or Cardinals that could change his mind. Obviously the Cardinals interest shows they have some doubts about Matt Leinart.

Can Redskins max value with 4th pick?

So you are the Redskins and you have the #4 pick in the NFL Draft. According to most mock drafts the Redskins are about 60/40 on Oklahoma Quarterback Sam Bradford and Oklahoma State Offensive Tackle Russell Okung. I would like to suggest another route. I recommend the Redskins follow the lead of teams like Indianapolis, New England, NY Giants and base the draft on value and fit.

I start by asking this basic question. Can the Redskins become a championship team with whoever they pick at #4? If you are not smoking crack that answer is a resounding no. I think we all can agree that none of the rookies in this draft class represent that much value at least for the Redskins. If the skins draft Bradford they still have an O-line to fix before Bradford can make a difference. If they draft Okung they still have other positions along the O-line that they will need to upgrade before they can be competitive. The bottom line is the Skins have so many holes that to truly maximize the 4^th pick they need to turn it into multiple picks.

According to Scouts Inc. Russell Okung is the 6^th best player in this draft. Sam Bradford grades out as the 11th best player in the draft. So if you draft either of these guys at 4 you are over paying in terms of value. Meanwhile, the 4^th best player in the draft is Florida Cornerback Joe Haden. If the Redskins are bound and determined to draft a QB as most of the draft gurus believe they can definitely find willing trade partners to move down and still get Bradford while accumulating more picks which we all agree they need. Okung is likely to be taken by the Chiefs at the 5^th spot if we pass on him and he certainly will not slip as far as Bradford. So if the Redskins are looking to trade down Bradford is the guy. There will be plenty of teams willing to move to the 4^th slot especially the teams mired in the middle to bottom half of the draft order and need a playmaker. Another factor that will influence teams to make deals this year is the lack of a salary cap. Some teams will not be able to sign free agents unless they lose them so the draft becomes the only way they can improve themselves.

If the Redskins are looking for cheaper alternatives they can trade picks with the Minnesota Vikings and draft Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen late in the first round. According to many scouts Clausen is very close to Bradford in terms of physical talent and ahead of Bradford in the mental portion of adjusting to NFL offenses since he has played under an NFL Coach. The Vikings need a quality QB regardless of what Favre decides to do so they would be quite willing to make a move should the Redskins approach them.

The moral of this story boys and girls is simple. The Redskins need to turn 1 pick into many in order to maximize value. They have a lot of holes to fill and one guy at the 4^th pick can’t do it all.

Why Sam Bradford?

Bruce Allen, Mike and Kyle Shanahan just watched New York Jets Rookie Quarterback, Mark Sanchez get tantalizingly close to a superbowl. We all know the Redskins were interested in Sanchez so will his success influence the Redskins to get what they believe is a franchise QB in the upcoming draft?

ESPN Draft Guru, Mel Kiper thinks the Redskins will Select Sam Bradford -- Kiper says "Mike Shanahan and the Redskins can get a quarterback who might have been the top player taken had he opted to come out last year. The Redskins need to find their franchise quarterback, and when healthy, Bradford is an exceptionally accurate passer with an underrated arm. Shanahan also hit on his last QB selection when he drafted Jay Cutler in Denver"

I can see a few of gaping holes in that theory. The first being that Bradford is not very mobile. The second is he has a history of injuries that concern me and the third is the Redskins offensive line sucks. Why would you draft a fragile rookie and place him in a position to fail? Jason Campbell was getting sacked on three step drops. Three step drops are specifically designed so that QBs don't get sacked. That is how bad the offensive line is in Washington. Perhaps Mike Shanahan will wave his magic offensive line wand and cure the line?

Let's take a look at Braford's scouting report (provided by walterfootball.com)

Strengths:

Good size with room to add some bulk

Peyton Manning-like accuracy

Outstanding job of anticipating routes

Solid arm strength

Capable of making all the throws

Smooth, consistent spiral

Textbook footwork and can drop back if asked

Great decision-maker since freshman year

Understands timing

Well versed in progression reads

Experienced

Very quick release

Ridiculous level of production

Sells play action

Places ball in stride of receiver

Will step up in pocket

Decent athleticism

Throws pro routes and has been under center more than given credit for in career

Strong leader and good character

Weaknesses:

Toughness really hasn't been tested at this point in his career; never seen pass rush

Arm strength is good, but he will struggle to fit ball in tight windows if he doesn't make very quick decisions

We really do not know if he can make throws on the run yet

Doesn't make any jaw-dropping throws

Doesn't have Stafford/Sanchez level of upside

Is never really forced out of pocket

Summary: The statistics are there and he has operated in a pro-style offense as a freshman. He does throw pro routes, however, he WILL get nitpicked. Matt Leinart was nitpicked. Aaron Rodgers was nitpicked. Brady Quinn was nitpicked. Bradford won't have any challenges this season, so scouts and draftniks will find the flaws. Bradford is a top-20 pick, but don't be shocked if he doesn't go as high as we expect (Top 5) next April.

Player Comparison: Eli Manning. Like Eli, Bradford lacks the elite arm, but he is a superb decision-maker with great accuracy and decision-making. Both have limited upside.

My thoughts: There is a lot to like and a lot to be concerned about. I think the kid can play personally but my biggest issue is not with Bradford but the Redskins offensive line. I gotta believe that Shanahan must have a plan to fix the O-line because if he does not this kid is going to spend his first year either hurt or running for his life. That said, if this kid has Peyton Manning like accuracy and football smarts then I am all for taking him.

If I were the Redskins brass I would not be influenced by Mark Sanchez's success because Sanchez had a superbowl quality defense to cover up for his mistakes. The Redskins do not have that luxury to put it mildly. If the Skins draft Bradford look for them to be active in the free agent period for offensive linemen.

Carcillo, Flyers sink to new low even in victory

I do not find myself agreeing with Ranger Head Coach John Tortorella often but in this case I do. Daniel Carcillo broke a code of honor by going after the Rangers top scorer Marian Gaborik. In hockey there is an unwritten rule that fighters go after fighters only. Fighters do not take runs at the other team's top scorers.

Carcillo already violated the fighting code earlier this season by sucker punching the Washington Capitals forward Matt Bradley before he had a chance to remove his gloves. Once both parties agree to knuckle up the honor code states no punches will be thrown until gloves drop and in some cases helmets as well. Carcillo's actions that night gave the Capitals a 9 minute power play which the Caps #1 rated power play made the Flyers pay to the tune of 3 goals.

What I find equally shocking is the Rangers went into a game with the Flyers and scratched their own resident tough guy Donald Brashear. Brashear would have ended Carcillo's night with a couple bombs to his chin. Brashear would have been more than happy to jack hammer anyone else on Philly's bench if they felt froggy. To his credit, Sean Avery (who I normally detest) defended his team mate even though Avery is more of an agitator than a fighter.

The actions of Carcillo magnify the problems with the Flyers. They have a ton of talent but they shoot themselves in the foot with this Broad Street Bully crap. With Veterans like Chris Pronger in that room Carcillo should be pulled aside and corrected. When will Flyers nation come to grips with the fact that those dumb penalties and bully tactics don't win cups.

Redskins may find takers if they opt to draft down

A lot of teams see drafting in the top 5 as more of a curse than a blessing. For one you are pressured to take players projected to be of a certain value. The other problem is teams normally drafting that high are there for a reason. They have so many holes that this one pick is the equivalent of using bubble gum to patch the hole in the Titanic. The teams with these high picks would love to trade down and gather more picks but you must have a trade partner desperate enough to want to mortgage part of their future in the form of draft picks or players in order to move up. That said, the Washington Redskins have some options this year in the form of potential trade down partners.

The Seattle Seahawks 6^th Pick – Pete Carroll has an aging and busted Matt Hasselbeck and the combat ineffective Seneca Wallace as his top two choices at QB. Yes Seattle will be in the hunt for an impact QB and other pieces of the puzzle. Seattle also has a pretty good defense when healthy so they are in a good position to right the ship with an impact player.

The Cleveland Browns 7^th pick – The Browns thought they had a franchise QB in Brady Quinn. Maybe they still believe but my gut tells me they don’t. It will be interesting to see what the Browns do this off season in terms of QBs. Don’t be surprised to see Cleveland trade for Matt Hasselbeck since he has pretty much worn out his welcome in Seattle.

The Oakland Raiders 8^th Pick – How do you spell bust? JaMarcus Russell is how. They either need to bring in a coach that can squeeze water out of that stone or start over with someone else. The hard part here is getting crazy Al to admit he screwed the pooch on Russell. The Raiders may still be looking for a coach by draft time so you just never know. The Raiders have a ton of talent and a good QB/strong coach can turn this team around pretty quick.

The Buffalo Bills 9^th Pick – The Bills have a couple of decent guys at QB but no one to hang their hats on. They do have 2^nd year player Brian Brohm on a roster with a bunch of guys that are not impressive. Now that the Jets are better and challenging in that division along with the Pats they need to make a move in order to stay competitive. Buffalo has a pretty good defense but they could use a QB and some more play makers.

The Jacksonville Jaguars 10th Pick – It seemed that if not for a monster contract Jack Del Rio would have been canned. The Jacksonville owner spoke of drafting Florida standout Tim Tebow just to put more butts in seats. David Garrard is solid but unspectacular so the Jaguars could definitely be in the market for anyone that will put more Fannies in seats. If the Jaguars are not trying to tank for the sole purpose of a move to Los Angeles then look for them to move up in order to get an impact player. They stand a much better chance of doing that at 4 than 10.

The Minnesota Vikings 30^th Pick – The Vikings make a very interesting potential trade partner because win or lose they are going to need a quality QB with Favre’s status questionable. Of course the Vikings are rumored to be interested in Donovan McNabb should he finally get the boot in Philly despite what Andy Reid says. No doubt Childress would want a veteran QB but if they don’t get McNabb they will need someone that Minnesota fans will be comfy with.

Both Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan need to be good salesmen in order to pull it off but the Redskins do have potential trade down partners. If the Skins do this right they could still get a good player in the top ten and pick up some much needed picks in later rounds or even high picks next season. Everyone’s interpretation of a good deal varies according to their own particular needs so the Skins need to be asking around. You just never know..

Top ten sports ticket values: Washington DC

As a rabid sports fan on a budget it is becoming increasing difficult to support franchises that either suck or are stuck on stupid. In order to maximize your family sports entertainment dollar TSD has come up with a list of the top ten sports values for your sporting dollar in our nation's capital.

Washington Capitals – They are the best ticket in town by a wide margin. Ted Leonsis, George McPhee and Bruce Boudreau have built a hockey machine in Washington DC. The Caps have an embarrassment of riches throughout their system along with the best hockey player on earth. Caps Nation is rising and if they win a Stanley Cup or two they will compete with the Redskins for city supremacy.
Virginia Tech Football – I know this will be controversial but if Virginia Tech had 16 games at Fed Ex I’m willing to bet they would have better attendance than the Redskins. Never bet against Hokie Nation. As someone pointed out before the VT is about 3 hours away but that is nothing for a city that sits in traffic all week especially for the atmosphere of a VT game. VT also played at Fed Ex before and filled it to capacity. They are discussing playing some of their really big games at Fed Ex.
Washington Redskins – If they are winning there is no competition in DC. The Redskins are a costly ticket for a team that has not won anything since 1991. That said the Redskins are at the core of this city. If Mike Shanahan can right the ship the Redskins will never sink this low again.
NCAA College Basketball – There are many good teams to watch and follow and the tickets prices are family friendly. Georgetown, George Mason, George Washington, Virginia Tech, Virginia, and Maryland are worth a look.
DC United - If you are looking for the team with the most recent history of winning look no further. The United are retooling and have not been MLS cup contenders for a couple of years but they are definitely a top sport to consider for a family outing at a decent price. Your kids probably play soccer and know more about the United than you do.
Washington Wizards – Clean up on aisle 7 (as in 7^th street). The only good news coming out of Wizards nation is they may be able to void the Gilbert Arenas contract and Ted Leonsis will be the new owner. Leonsis cleaned up the Capitals and now they are the class of the league so there is hope for the Wizards, just not much right now. The fact that DC is a big time basketball city is the only reason the Wizards are ranked this high.
Naval Academy Football – The "middies" are flat out getting it done. They have a high scoring offense and they keep winning the Commander and Chief’s trophy. They are definitely worth a drive to Annapolis to check out. The prices make this a great family event.
Washington Nationals – A drill sergeant of mine once said “You can’t sugar coat a turd” so in that perspective the Nationals are really bad. The good news is they appear to have competent leadership/management so they could be crawling out of their funk. They also picked up one of the best young pitching prospects ever in Stephen Strasburg so there is hope. If you are going to attend a Nats game please go early because DC Summers are brutal.
World Team Tennis – Talk about a great way to spend an evening! I love this new spin on tennis and it is definitely worth your time and attention.
Washington Mystics - If you want an event to take your daughter (and her friends) to while keeping your sanity I highly recommend a Mystics game. You get to see some quality basketball and it is easy on the wallet.

Shanahan bets on superior athletes

When Mike Shanahan adopted a system that favored smaller but more athletic offensive lineman I thought this tactic took good advantage of the thin air in Denver. I also thought it would not work anywhere else but Denver. I was pretty comfy with that conclusion until I watched this year’s playoffs. I watched Baltimore’s huge offensive tackles get whipped on the regular by Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis. I watched the Cowboys huge offensive tackles be made to look like statues while Jared Allen and Ray Edwards beat Tony Romo to a pulp. What did I learn? I learned that the better the athlete, the better your chance of success.

I can see why Shanahan took his chances with guys that were more mobile and in better overall condition. Right now pass rushers dominate the league. The evolution of offensive football will require faster lineman to block the pass rushers.
The Denver teams that dominated the league during their super bowl runs were very athletic. They used a zone blocking scheme that required the offensive lineman not to destroy the other guy at the point of attack but to simply get a hat on a hat long enough for the running back to get by. That is why it seemed like Denver grew 1000 yard backs in a garden somewhere on their property. That is why Mike Shanahan did not hesitate to trade Clinton Portis because he knew a large portion of Portis success was due to the athletes in front of him. Given the speed of pass rushers today it only makes sense that your offensive line be equipped to handle them.

The same principle applies for defense. For example, Albert Haynesworth has freakish strength and cannot be blocked by anyone consistently. The problem is he is so poorly conditioned that he has to leave the game almost every other play. Haynesworth is a $100 million dollar, zero-sum player unless coaches can find a way to maximize his value every play. I have no doubt Coach Shanahan is going to shoot very straight with Haynesworth. They will either come to an agreement to improve his fitness/endurance levels or Haynesworth will be wearing another jersey.

For all of the schemes and matchups football still requires you to put a hat on a hat. Coach Shanahan understands this theory better than most. To his credit he builds his offenses from an athletic offensive line out to the skill positions. What does that mean for some of the Redskin O-line holdovers? It means they better commit to being in the best shape of their lives by the time they get back to work.

NFL playoffs favor defenses thus far

Pass rush is still king – How do you stop Brady, Rivers, Romo and Warner? You put them on their backs as early and as often as possible. The teams that are winning in these playoffs are finding ways to create consistent pressure on opposing QBs. Who thought Phillip Rivers would wind up making more mistakes than Mark Sanchez? No one except Rex Ryan and that dominant Jets defense. The Colts combination of Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis are so quick to the QB that they make up for a pretty average secondary. Saints defensive coordinator, Greg Williams is more pass rush by scheme while the Vikings combo of Jared Allen and Ray Edwards are absolutely relentless.

Kickers are really, really important – There is no worse feeling than driving down into scoring range and coming up empty handed. There is also no better feeling than your punter being able to keep the other team pinned in their territory.

Most teams that commit to running win – Everyone says this is a passing league but all the teams that remain in the playoffs except for the Colts are running the football pretty well. Running is ball control and ball control is winning the football game as long as you finish your drive with points. Running the football in the playoffs is a matter of will over skill. It is also the safest way to travel in terms of less potential for turnovers.

Dominant corners are a precious commodity – The Jets have two really good corners in Darrelle Revis and Lito Shepherd which allows them the freedom to pressure the opposing QB without giving up big plays. The Jets made the normally mistake proof Phillip Rivers look worse than his rookie counterpart in Mark Sanchez.

Dominant defense appears to still trump dominant offense – The NY Jets versus the Colts will put this theory to the test next week. History has favored dominant defenses like the 85 Bears and the Ravens. The Jets and the Vikings appear to have the best defenses remaining in the playoffs and they both are playing some high octane offenses next week. It will be very interesting to see how that works out.

How bout them Cowboys?

The Boys won their first playoff game since the 90’s last week breaking that embarrassing streak of impotence but for Texas where football is life that is not enough. Cowboys Nation to their credit measures success in Lombardi trophies so what happens if they lose to the Vikings on Sunday? Prior to writing this I completed a piece about the Vikings and how they pushed in all their chips on Brett Favre to get them to the superbowl this year. They are truly a franchise with everything on the line come Sunday. The Cowboys are in the same boat in a lot of ways because both Romo and Phillips could be unemployed if the Cowboys lay an egg. Romo is less likely but if he really stinks it up then yes he could get a pink slip.

The Cowboys are playing some terrific football of late but their last three opponents were not exactly of the highest caliber (Redskins and the Eagles twice). Now they are facing a legitimate superbowl contender in their house with everything to lose. Jerry Jones just invested an ungodly amount of money in that new football palace. He was banking on the fact that the Cowboys would be good enough to win tons of games and pay for that beautiful new stadium. If they lose this game and Jerry starts cleaning house that only sets them back further depending on who they bring in. Most of the big name coaches available want total control which Jerry is not going to give up.

This football game is huge and not just for the guys in purple. The Cowboys are playing for the future of their franchise as well. Adversity does not build character it reveals it so I guess we will all learn all bout them Cowboys on Sunday.

For Vikings it is all or nothing

The Minnesota Vikings are a franchise either on the brink of greatness or at the precipice of their biggest fall in franchise history. This organization went all-in on Brett Favre as the guy to get them over the hump and bring them their first Lombardi trophy. Of course football is a team sport so Favre can’t do it all but the Vikings were a team with everything but a championship quality QB. The Viking Coach, Brad Childress was on the verge of being fired after his experiment with Tavaris Jackson did not produce the results he hoped so Childress pulled the Favre card. So far Childress looks like a genius but here are a few potential problems:

For all the great things Favre has done he has also shown a tendency to throw that dumb pass in the most critical games. Granted Favre has looked great all season but it is now crunch time. Anyone remember what happened the last time Favre was in a crucial playoff game?
What happens if the Vikings lose? Will Favre retire again and set this franchise back another 2-3 years?
What happens if the Vikings win it all? Will Favre retire again and set this franchise back another 2-3 years?

Ladies and gentlemen these are the questions that must be asked when you place all of your hopes on an aging gunslinger that can’t make up his mind. My gut feeling is if the Vikings win the superbowl Favre is done for good as there is no better time or stage to exit the game. The real fun or horror depending on your perspective starts if the Vikings fail to win it all. Then the Favre watch begins…again. I don’t know about you but I am so tired of both the NFL network and ESPN becoming the 24/7 Favre networks. The Vikings gamble has paid off thus far so it will be interesting to see the end game.

Is Haynesworth right?

Problem: Your defensive line cannot generate a consistent and productive pass rush thus your opponents light up your secondary like sugared up kids blasting a piñata.

Solution: You go out and sign the most dominant defensive lineman in the game in Albert Haynesworth.

Tangible Results: The Redskins defensive line showed vast improvement with Brian Orakpo and Andre Carter registering double digit sack totals. Haynesworth’s presence did improve the defensive line dramatically.

What we did not know – Haynesworth was really upset with the Redskins defensive coaches because they were not playing him in the manner he was used to. In Tennessee all Haynesworth had to do was penetrate and disrupt but here he complained about too many run gap responsibilities. Obviously some are going to say Haynesworth should do what he is told to do but if you brought the guy here for 100 million dollars because he is the best in the league at what he does it only makes sense to place him in a position to be successful. We have two years of proof in Tennessee that Haynesworth is a dominant player so who was wrong here Greg Blache and staff or Haynesworth?

Jim Haslett’s first Challenge - NFL Insider and former Redskin beat reporter, Jason La Canfora reports that grumblings have already started within the Redskin locker room (view video here) with regard to the possible shift to a 3-4 defensive alignment. The good news is the Redskins with a few additions can play both the 4-3 and the 3-4. The bad news is where does Albert fit in a 3-4? Everyone assumes nose tackle but not so fast. Albert wants to penetrate and destroy but the job of a nose tackle in a 3-4 is to hold the point of attack and occupy as many blockers as you can. Even if they moved him to defensive end the job is to hold the edge and occupy blockers. Unless Albert loses roughly 200 pounds and becomes a linebacker he will not be a happy camper in a 3-4.

Jim Haslett’s second Challenge – will be Turning “Fat” Albert into “Fit” Albert. We all saw Haynesworth dominate when he was in the game but the problem was keeping him in the game. Haynesworth was rotated regularly in Tennessee to maximize his effectiveness but I’m thinking this guy should spend the summer getting into much better shape.

Relief in the form of an uncapped year – If the Redskins are bound and determined to make a complete shift to the 3-4 rather than using it as another package then are they content to deal Haynesworth or cut him. The only salvation is they may be able to survive this expensive move in an uncapped year. I like Haynesworth and what he brings to the table. I love the fact that he is mean and he wants to destroy opposing QBs. Since he has proven himself a dominant player I believe it is the job of the coaches to place him in the best position to succeed. The Redskins have not had someone this dominant on their defensive line since Dexter Manley. Smart coaches do not shove systems down players’ throats. Smart coaches make the best of what they have. I tend to side with Big Al on this one. He was brought here to do what he does best and now people want him to change into something else.

Jim Haslett's hiring raises questions

We were told that Redskin Head Coach, Mike Shanahan spent his time watching games during his year away from football. Shanahan said he visited teams to see what they were doing to get a better feel for things he could not see as a narrowly focused coach. This begs the question of why he hired Jim Haslett as Defensive Coordinator. A simple glance of Haslett’s resume reveals nothing that says he is capable of building a consistently effective defense, let alone a dominant one. As I go through his career starting with his stint as an Assistant Coach at the University of Buffalo in 1988 up to his last gig as head coach of the Florida Tuskers of the United football league I see nothing of note.

Since I am not one to complain without offering solutions the following Coaches are people I would have at least brought in or contacted:

Vic Fangio – Linebackers Coach, Baltimore Ravens - #1 ranked defense.
Clarence Brooks – Defensive Line Coach, Baltimore Ravens – #1 ranked Defense.
John Mitchell – Assistant Head Coach/Defensive line Coach, Pittsburgh Steelers - #5 ranked defense.
Pepper Johnson – Linebacker Coach, New England Patriots - #2 ranked defense.
Jim Washburn – Defensive Line Coach, Tennessee Titans - #28 ranked defense (but historically much better)
Romeo Crennel - Took Chiefs Job
Jack Del Rio - Stayed in Jacksonville

The biggest difference between the guys on my shortlist above and Jim Haslett is all of the guys on my list are winners while Haslett has not won anything of note. That is not to say Haslett cannot be a winner but the Redskins need to surround themselves with guys that can lead from the front. If Shanahan made his rounds, checked the stats and actually watched games it makes me wonder how he settled on a guy that was coaching in the UFL over the guys actually getting it done on very good defensive teams. The stats and resumes are there for your review would you have picked Haslett?

Bengals attempt to keep Zimmer with Redskins lurking

NFL.Com Sportswriter Steve Wyche reports that the Cincinnati Bengals opened up negotiations in an attempt to keep their Defensive Coordinator Mike Zimmer. Zimmer, by all accounts has done a fantastic job with the #4 overall ranked Bengals defense even with injuries to key players. Rumors started flying the moment Mike Shanahan took the Redskins job that Zimmer was on the top of Shanahan’s Defensive Coordinator list. The problem for the Bengals is twofold.

The first problem is the Bengals organization is notoriously cheap. The second problem is Dan Snyder is far from cheap. For the Bengals this is like trying to outbid the Yankees in terms of pocketbook depth. This appears to be a situation where the Bengals front office may have already shot themselves in the foot. If they thought Zimmer was so good why didn’t they lock him up earlier? Especially since they had to know that any coaches that experience dramatic success like Zimmer will be in demand.

Now that Zimmer knows he is being pursued by the free spending Redskins he’d be a fool not to listen to offers. The Bengals could have avoided this situation entirely.

Wizards turn to Jamison in troubled times and he delivers

You never know how valuable a good leader is until you either have a bad one or an empty suit posing as a leader. Gilbert Arenas showed everyone he clearly did not understand how serious everyone else was taking his gun shenanigans. His tweets, his TV interviews and finally the picture of him making the gun gestures during the pre game announcements was the final straw for NBA Commissioner Stern.

Lost in all of this was the fact that one of the greatest men I’ve ever met, Abe Pollin hated guns so much that he changed the name of his NBA franchise. In fact had Abe been alive I have zero doubt he would have cut Arenas on the spot contract or not. Pollin spent his life helping the people of Washington DC so to tarnish his legacy like this is the real criminal act in my opinion. So how do you fix this? You separate yourself from everything Gilbert Arenas and you follow the lead of a man that Abe Pollin loved like a son for good reason in Antawn Jamison. I originally disagreed when the Wizards re-signed Jamison citing the fact that he is in the twilight of his career and he was never was known for playing stellar defense. Last night’s performance by the Wizards Captain both before and during the game allowed me to see what Abe Pollin saw in him. Jamison gave a pre-game address to the crowd in which he said the Wizards team was embarrassed by the events of this week but vowed that this team will correct it and move forward. Jamison is a standup guy that leads from the front both in word and in his actions. If there is any player the Wizards and their fans can look to as the “anti-Arenas” it is the 11 year veteran. For the record I do not think Gilbert Arenas is a horrifically bad guy. I think he is very quirky and he handled this situation poorly. In terms of basketball Arenas is a terrific scorer but not someone I would have paid 111 million dollars. Any player that gets that much money has to be a leader and willing to do everything to win. Arenas got angry when Former Coach Eddie Jordan asked him to play more defense. Are you kidding me?

The Wizards are not a very good basketball team right now and things could get a lot worse since their best player is suspended indefinitely. The Wizards can turn adversity into advantage by using everything in their power to void Arenas contract. Hopefully the Wizards will have Jamison to guide them from this mess back to some form of respectability.

New Redskins coordinators by the numbers

The selection of coordinators says a lot about what a head coach is looking for. It appears Kyle Shanahan is a lock to be offensive coordinator. Mike Shanahan is targeting Mike Zimmer to run his defense.

Kyle Shanahan – If apples do not fall far from the tree then the Kyle and Mike Shanahan combo will do great things in Washington. Mike has long been considered an offensive mastermind so does it really surprise that Kyle Shanahan goes to Houston and produces the #1 ranked pass offense and the 4^th ranked offense overall? To be fair Kyle has the 30^th ranked run offense in Houston but that can be contributed to injuries at the RB position. The Good news for Kyle is his dad loves to pound the rock so they should form a pretty lethal tandem in terms of balanced production.

Houston Texans 2009 Passing offense – 290.9 yards per game - 1st Ranked

Houston Texans 2009 Running Offense 92.2 yards per game - 30^th Ranked

Offensive Philosophy – West Coast Vertical

Mike Zimmer – In two seasons in Cincinnati Zimmer has done a nice job improving what was a God-awful Bengals defense. Zimmer brings the ability to successfully implement both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes. Another benefit of Zimmer’s defenses is they produce playmakers. Some notables include DeMarcus Ware, Keith Rivers, Leon Hall and Jonathan Joseph. His Cincinnati Bengals defense has some big challenges headed into the playoffs but Zimmer can be credited for righting the ship on that side of the ball. Coach Shanahan took his season out of football to travel around to different teams and study them. He stated that he prefers the 3-4 schemes but Washington’s defensive roster is full of 4-3 players. It should not surprise that Shanahan targeted Zimmer who can coach both schemes pretty well.

Cincinnati Bengals 2009 passing defense - 203.1 yards per game allowed – 6^th Ranked

Cincinnati Bengals 2009 rushing defense – 98.3 yards per game allowed – 7^th Ranked

Defensive Philosophy – Multiple Schemes – Bend but don’t break

Based on the numbers Shanahan would like to develop a very potent offense and a play making defense that bends but does not break.

TSD Quick Hitters: Good Washington - Bad Washington

What an interesting week for Washington DC Sports:

Good Washington: Mike Shanahan becomes the Vice President and Head Coach of the Washington Redskins. In what could be described as the worst kept secret in the history of secrets Shanahan comes to Washington and gives the Redskins the best coach in the NFC East. Shanahan is a welcomed site given the utter incompetence Redskin Nation has witnessed. This is definitely a step in the right direction.

Bad Washington: Gilbert “six-guns” Arenas suspended after showing a cavalier attitude about the guns charges pending against him. Arenas statements, actions and tweets gave every indication that he either has no clue how serious this is or he doesn’t care. Finally David Stern stepped in and sent Arenas home without pay. If I were the Wizards I’d be looking for any way possible to void his 110 million dollar contract. In case you did not know Abe Pollin hated gun violence so much that he changed the name of his NBA franchise from the Bullets to the Wizards. Abe was one of the best men on the planet so this whole situation is shameful.

Good Washington: Alexander Ovechkin was named Captain by his teammates in the “duh” move of the century. Ovechkin avoided the “C” before because he wanted to improve his English. According to his teammates he is a vocal leader in the locker room and the vote was unanimous. Ovechkin is the best hockey player on planet earth so he really does not have to say much except follow me. If the players just mimic his work ethic alone they will win multiple Stanley Cups.

Bad Washington: Jason Campbell blasts Clinton Portis over radio comments. I’ve listened to Clinton Portis enough to know where he is coming from. All this season he has done nothing but defend Jason Campbell during his Radio segment on ESPN 980’s John Thompson Show. That said, his latest comments were twisted by the local media that has turned Portis into the poster child for everything that is wrong with the Redskins. I’ve listened to Portis comments several times and I did not come up with a hint of him throwing Jason Campbell under the bus as some suggested. Portis talked about how Jason Campbell is not a fiery leader but who didn’t know that? None the less this information was given to Jason Campbell and boy did he respond with fire. It has been reported that Portis and Campbell talked about this and squashed it but this was caused by media members who just don’t like Portis so they twisted what he said. Shanahan needs to nip this in the bud.

Good Washington Kinda: Caps big-time defensive prospect John Carlson was arguably the best player on the ice during the Gold medal game of the Hockey Jr. Championships. Carlson scored the game winning goal in overtime silencing the entire nation of Canada and ending their 5 year championship streak. Carlson was already considered the Caps hottest prospects and now we can see why. In a clutch situation with an entire nation against him he played the game of his life. The Caps are already considered one of the most talented teams in the NHL so it is nice to see we have guys in the pipeline that will make the team better. Kudos to George McPhee and the scouts of the Washington Capitals!

Breaking News: US Juniors upset Canadians in gold medal game!

So you're playing the biggest hockey game of your young life in an arena packed with opposing fans. Oh, by the way the entire country of Canada is watching and rooting for their boys. Such was the case of the David like US Junior Hockey team as they sucker punched Goliath; the overwhelmingly favored Canadians and won the World Junior Championship. There will be a lot of crying in the beers tonight from our friends to the north.

The Canadians battled back from a 5-3 deficit late in the third period to force overtime. The US team had already lost to the Canadians a couple of times after holding leads so things looked pretty bleak heading into overtime. It was the terrific shot of the Washington Capitals prized prospect, John Carlson on a two on one break that silenced the entire country of Canada in the blink of an eye. The Canadians won 5 straight World Junior Championships coming into this gold medal game. The US Team had also given up several leads in losing to the dominant Canadians. Canada's junior hockey dominance ended tonight thanks to a gutsy effort by the Americans in an unfriendly arena.