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Washington Redskins By: Lester Updated 3/14/99 Previous Reports: 2/7/99 The Draft Washington's main needs are a pass rushing DE; an offensive left tackle and a CB. They have the 5th overall pick (from Carolina). They traded their 11th overall pick to Minnesota. It was rumored that the Redskins were interested in moving up to the second pick to try and acquire RB Ricky Williams. There is a chance that the Redskins maybe able to acquire Williams with the 5th pick. Williams showed up at the combine overweight and with a funny attitude. This turned many teams off, especially the Eagles. If he does drop here, the Redskins will select him. If a team moves up ahead of them, then CB Champ Bailey will most likely fall in their laps. The Redskins would select Bailey if Williams is off the board. If Shepherd is not resigned, the Skins will most likely select a WR in the draft to provide some depth behind Michael Westbrooks and Albert Connell. Westbrooks and Connell would be the projected starters at WR. Some late draft targets include QB Brock Huard, WR Torry Hold, WR Tai Streets, WR Martay Jenkins, OT L.J. Shelton, OT Todd Frohbieter, OT Derek Smith, DE Patrick Kerney, DE Adrian Dingle, DE Brad Scioli, LB Wally Rainer, LB Johnny Rutledge, CB Daylon McCutcheon and S Brad Ware. Now that the Redskins have given up their 11th overall pick, 2nd and 3rd round picks, they will need to dip into the free agency market to fill a lot of their needs. So, they better make sure their first pick is as good as gold. News on the Ownership The team and stadium were sold for approximately $800 million dollars to the Milstein-Snyder group. The group is comprised of brothers Howard and Edward Milstein and Daniel Snyder. . The sale of the team is in question. NFL officials are examining Milstein's cash supply to see if he has enough money to run the franchise if its cash flow decreases. It's not a question of Milstein personal wealth, but it is a question about the loans that he took out to purchase the team. The owners said that they don't see any reason why the sale will not go through. They did ask Milstein to restructure the $400 million loan that he is using to purchase the team. A committee of 8 NFL owners, who form a finance committee, meet Saturday, March 13, 1999. They said that they are close to telling the NFL owners that the money involved is o.k. and the sale of the team can be approved. If the sale is approved, the new owners have a tentative offer with former Redskins coach Joe Gibbs to join the team as a consultant. The vote by the owners may come at their meeting in Phoenix (March 14-18). Many questions on what the Redskins will do in the free agency market depend on the outcome of the ownership. Many feel that GM Charley Casserly, who is presently making the personnel decisions and Coach Norv Turner jobs will be safe because of the timing on the final decision. Not anymore! Word is that the Milstein-Snyder group is not overly satisfied with Casserly or Turner. There were indications that the group was not happy that Casserly traded a 1st, 2nd and 3rd round pick to Minnesota for QB Brad Johnson Coaching Moves The Redskins hired Rubin Carter as their defensive line coach. Carter played in the NFL with the Broncos from 1975-1986. He last coached at the University of Maryland, where he was the defensive line coach the past 2 years. Rich Olsen was hired as their QB coach. Olsen is the former Seahawks QB coach and Miami Hurricanes Offensive Coordinator. Also, LB Coach Dale Lindsey has departed. Defensive assistant Jeff Fitzgerald and Defensive Coordinator Mike Nolan will take over Lindsey's duties. Latest News on Free Agency If you remember, the Redskins lost QB coach Mike Martz to the St. Louis Rams. Martz will be the Rams and Head Coach Dick Vermeil's new Offensive Coordinator. After the Redskins didn't give QB Trent Green the offer he liked, he followed his QB coach to the Rams. Green signed a 4-year contract. The Redskins also released QB Gus Frerotte, who signed with Detroit and QB Jeff Hostetler. All of this was done before the big trade with Minnesota. Many fans were wandering what in the world was Casserly doing. Well, Casserly was in the process of acquiring QB Brad Johnson in a trade with the Minnesota Vikings. They got Johnson in exchange for 1st and 3rd round picks in the 1999 draft and a 2nd round pick in the 2000 draft. The 1st pick is the 11th overall pick. The Redkins put S Jesse Campbell on the expansion draft list, but he wasn't selected. So, the Redskins release him and then signed DB Sam Shade from Cincinnati to a 4-year contract. The Redskins are also looking at two lineman, Dave Widell and Andy McCollum. Widell played in one game as a reserve with the Falcons and McCollum was a part-time starter with the New Orleans Saints. The Redskins are looking at another lineman to replace the lost of OT Harry Swayne, who departed to play for the Baltimore Ravens. Free agents Dan Footman, a defensive end from the Indianapolis Colts, and Percy Ellsworth, a safety from the New York Giants are scheduled to visit Redskin Park. WR Leslie Shepherd who had a nice year with 43 receptions and 8 TDs have been shopping his services around. The Redskins are leaning towards letting him go. There is still a possibility that he maybe resigned if he doesn't receive the type of offer he is looking for from another team. Shepherd is seeking around 3.5 million a year. The Eagles have showed a lot of interest as well as the Cowboys. The Redskins have already lost DE Jamal Duff, who signed with the Chicago Bears and DE Rich Owens, who signed with the Miami Dolphins. S Leomont Evans, OT Kipp Vickers and QB Casey Weldon have all been resigned. Evans finished last season with 3 INTs. The Redskins still seem interested in re-signing MLB Marvcus Patton and C Cory Raymer. Patton has told some of his confidants that he probably will not re-sign with the Redskins. Unrestricted free agents LB Rob Fredrickson of the Detroit Lions and C/OG John Bock of the Miami Dolphins, are scheduled to visit Redskin Park. The Redskins also signed the following free agents: The following six spent some time on the Redskins Practice squad during the 1998 season. RB Chad Dukes WR Junior Lord RB Norman Miller FB Kevin Pesak OT Ozell Powell DE Rahmaan Streater DE Ndukwe Kalu (Played for Redskins in 1998 - 13 games and started in 1) WR Kevin Alexander (Was in Miami's training, but got released) CB Raphael Ball (Was on Miami's practice squad and active for 3 games) Going Overseas CB Raphael Ball (Rhein), DT David Hoelscher (Frankfurt) and CB Tyrone Smith (Barcelona) Free Agents Resigned S Leomont Evans (RFA) (Re-signed for 1 year) OT Kipp Vickers (Re-signed) QB Casey Weldon (Re-signed - 2 years) Free Agents not offered yet or have not signed with another team TE Jamie Asher PK Cary Blanchard OG Bob Dahl RB Stephen Davis (RFA) DE Jamal Duff (Signed with the Chicago Bears) DB Greg Evans (EFA) QB Trent Green (Signed with St. Louis - signed a 4 years) TE James Jenkins DE Kelvin Kinney OG Rod Milstead DE Rich Owens (Signed with the Miami Dolphins) MLB Marvcus Patton C Cory Raymer S Stanley Richard WR Leslie Shepherd S Matt Stevens (RFA) LS Dan Turk Selected in the Expansion Draft T Paul Wiggins (17) Not Selected in the Expansion Draft RB Terry Allen DB Jesse Campbell DB Chris Dishman QB Gus Frerotte
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