Day One, 2010 Free Agency

And so it begins.

As of this writing (9:45 am 12 pm EST), the Washington Redskins have made no new signings ... thus making news by not making news, which, as those who have followed this team closely for the past few years can attest, is news.

Boots-on-the-ground guy extraordinaire John Pappas (Warpath Confidential) is in Ashburn covering all Redskins-related comings and goings, ins and outs, rumors and facts of day one as we launch into the 2010 NFL free agency period. 

Check out his reportage HERE.

The "all quiet on the signings front" so far doesn't mean there hasn't been movement, however. A quick, sincere nod of appreciation for the individual and combined efforts of the 10 most recent former Redskins:

Gone are backup quarterback Todd Collins, receiver Antwaan Randle El, guard Randy Thomas, kick returner Rock Cartwright, cornerback Fred Smoot, running back Ladell Betts and defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin. Their contracts were terminated.

Also exiting via waivers: Running back Marcus Mason, fullback Eddie Williams and defensive end J.D. Skolnitsky.

Hail, and stay tuned.

NFL Unrestricted Free Agent List: It's Okay to Look

The Daily (ahem) Redskin 2/19/10

The NFL has released the list of players scheduled to become 2010 unrestricted free agents on March 5 when, as of this writing, it appears the league will head into an uncapped season. 

Redskins fans bring a unique mindset to the opening of the free agency period in 2010. For years in Washington, the advent of FA has proven an exercise in either elation or dismay, depending on ones' personal take, as the Redskins aggressively, successfully (in terms of getting players signed) and often dramatically plunged into the market.

More often than not, within the first 48 hours of the signing period the burgundy and gold have emerged as the NFL's undisputed Big Winner (or Big Loser) in the league.

This year will be more of the same. Only with a twist ...

With a new brain trust (GM Bruce Allen, HC Mike Shanahan) and new direction (Wither Dan Snyder?), there is no way for anyone not "in the room" at Redskins Park to know what kind of approach the team will take.  One thing we do know, however, is that whatever the Redskins do, it will be news.

If they prove to be merely peripheral players, the headlines will read Snyder Reported MIA! ... So is The Future Now or Not? ... Redskins Chart a New Course.

If the Redskins are aggressive players, that too will be news: Redskins Chasing Offseason Championship, Again ... Snyder Still In Charge ... The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same.

And if the burgundy and gold prove to be "just another team" in terms of FA involvement, that will be spun in some quarters as news as well:  Shanahan/Allen Slow to React ... Signs of Front Office Dischord? ... Redskins Adrift.

So you might as well go through the list.  The press most assuredly are. We better hope the Redskins are.  I know I am ... but more on that later, it's a long offseason.

No matter what else happens, come March 5 we will get our first real taste, our first substantive indicator, of what the New Ashburn Paradigm is really all about. Or at least some will claim we have.  And it will be based on what names from The List are, are not, are rumored to be, or even rumored not to be, scheduled to swing by Redskins Park for a social visit.   

T minus 14, ladies and gentlemen.

Analysis of Shanahan's Draft Tendencies in Denver

The Daily Redskin 2.12.10

If you are a Washington Redskins fan in the mood for a little meat on them pre-draft analysis bones, help yourself to some tasty Mike Shanahan draft history and number-crunching from Aston Gambino's always-satisfying (if too infrequent!) blog, Are You Not Entertained?

Perhaps the most compelling question, if not the most important, is what will new head coach Mike Shanahan do on draft day?

... In an effort to get a gauge on Shanahan's positional draft tendencies, I analyzed all 111 draft picks he made during his tenure with the Denver Broncos between 1995 and 2008, breaking each pick down by position to see if anything popped out. Hardly an exact science, but it'll have to do until those tarot cards finally show up.

First, let's look at the raw totals by position. And uh, Carlos? You might want to 'pay attention' to this...

Dulles Hangar Collapse and Redskins One: The Final Word

Well, at least something good came out of this.

I got definitive word last night that no aircraft owned by Dan Snyder or the Washington Redskins--Redskins One or otherwise--was damaged in the hangar collapse. Which at this point is not unlike finding out from good authority that seawater is salty, but still ... it's nice to know.

The internet, bless its fiberoptic noospheric heart, remains a wild and woolly frontier. Bloggers and citizens alike should tread it with care.

If you should happen to see Redskins One mentioned again in this space, rest assured it will be in context of whatever coveted NFL butt is sitting in it winging its way toward Redskins Park.

Hail and thanks for playing.

***

No Redskins aircraft was damaged in the making of this blog series.

Dulles Hangar Collapse Update: No News Is Good News

The Daily Redskin 2.11.10

Good news, that is, if you are not one of the many people I've heard from who for a variety of reasons liked the idea of Dan Snyder's plane being grounded.  You people kill me.

Best I've been able to put together, four airplanes were damaged in the FEB 6 Dulles hangar collapse ... but none of them was Redskins One.

The aircraft in the incident photos below with burgundy and gold stripes may have been mistakenly identified as one of three airplanes Dan Snyder and/or the Redskins reportedly have ownership interest in that hangar at Dulles International Airport.

The damaged aircraft's tail number however, N89MX, checks out through the FAA Registry as owned by 821 393 LLC, of McLean VA ... and for which I have been unable to find any tie to Snyder or the Redskins.  I will leave it to someone more motivated than I to follow that particular breadcrumb through to the bitter end if they choose.

Unconfirmed: Redskins One Damaged in Dulles Airport Hangar Collapse

According to the unofficial pilot's grapevine*, the hangar housing Redskins owner Daniel Snyder's private jet, the infamous Redskins One, collapsed at Dulles International Airport during the recent snowstorms.

The jet was reportedly inside the hangar at the time.

No official confirmation or information on injuries or damage to the aircraft are available at this time.

Stay tuned.

* my brother flies for American Airlines

Sources 'R Us: Shanahan Eager to Draft QB

The (Quasi) Daily Redskin 2.10.10

With apologies to my friends from places like Montana ...

Damn that's a lot of snow.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch ...

According to Redskins Insider, the ubiquitous, all-knowing "league sources" are back and sharing that "[New Redskins Head Coach Mike] Shanahan is eager to draft and develop a young quarterback."

The Insider goes on to mention, separating the two thoughts with a comma, that "former Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford has been linked to the Redskins in most mock drafts."

If one accepts those casually joined statements at face value, he might walk away thinking chances are pretty good the Redskins will be drafting a quarterback with the 4th overall pick in April's Draft.

If, however, one is a little more skeptical of either anonymous sources, casual inferences or both, he might be motivated to look at least a little deeper.