AP: Gardner Trade Likely

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Gardner Trade Likely

Associated Press

Thursday, July 28, 2005; E1

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/27/AR2005072702001_pf.html

The Washington Redskins granted Rod Gardner permission Wednesday to take a physical for the Carolina Panthers, a move that should finally result in a trade of the fifth-year receiver.

Gardner is expected to take the physical Thursday and, once he passes, the trade will be completed. The details of the trade still have to be finalized.

Gardner asked for, and received, permission to seek a trade in January. The 6-foot-2, 213-pound Gardner didn't like his role in the Redskins' offense -- he caught only 51 passes for 650 yards and five touchdowns in 2004. Washington's coaches did not seem to fight Gardner's request.

The Redskins were unable to trade Gardner throughout the offseason. According to his agent, Joel Segal, the Redskins' asking price was too high in some cases. In other cases, Gardner's contract demands were considered too pricey. He is in the last year of his contract.

Gardner's four seasons have been marked by inconsistency. In 64 games, he caught 227 passes for 17 touchdowns, but he had a habit of following big games with many small ones. For example, after catching 10 passes for 167 yards in a game against Dallas early in 2004, he did not surpass 100 yards for another 11 games.

Washington drafted Gardner in the first round in 2001. His best season was his second, when he caught 71 passes, including eight for touchdowns.

Gardner would be the second starting Redskins receiver to be traded this offseason. Washington traded Laveranues Coles to the New York Jets in exchange for receiver Santana Moss. Coles had also expressed displeasure with the Redskins offense.