Wr/Kr Jerome Mathis to the Redskins...

[whitejimmy]

I choke my pregnant girlfriend all the time.. i hear it's good for the fetus.

You guys crack me up..

if the guy can help make redskins a better team.. great! i am happy to have him. Unless the guy has a long history of problems and issues.. i welcome him to the team.

This is football, not mission work .. i hate to break it to you all, but many of these players are thugs.. they wouldn't be the football players they are if they were not aggressive thugs.

pull up your panties and grow up

LOL, what a fantastic wit! That really shed some light and made me re-think my position. Good for the fetus! Outstanding! That zinger at the end also demonstrates a healthy attitude toward women, so you must know what you are talking about.

BTW, you misspelled your username. It's spelled "O-E-D-I-P-U-S."

[Brandon Lloyd Christmas]

this dude is gonna return punts, so ARE doesnt have to. and he can also probably play the 5th WR spot. and hes fast as lightening, and he doesnt cost anything.

[whitejimmy]

this dude is gonna return punts, so ARE doesnt have to. and he can also probably play the 5th WR spot. and hes fast as lightening, and he doesnt cost anything.

Texan fans are saying he's lousy at returning punts. He's only ever been effective returning kicks (I'm paraphrasing), and we have Rock, so the intent of the signing isn't clear.

Also, a minimal contract does not insulate us from risk. The risk to the team is not a financial one. The risk is the message you are sending to players that character issues are not a big deal so long as you produce on the field. Sure, if this guy comes in and acts like a thug it is not going to turn Jon Jansen into a thug, but what about another Sean Taylor? ST had a clean slate but a lot of growing up to do (as do most millionaire 21-year olds). Would you rather surround that guy with Darrell Green, Art Monk, and people that really care about his best interests (Gregg Williams) or Albert Connell, Michael Westbrook, and Bruce Smith?

[Brandon Lloyd Christmas]

Texan fans are saying he's lousy at returning punts. He's only ever been effective returning kicks (I'm paraphrasing), and we have Rock, so the intent of the signing isn't clear.

Also, a minimal contract does not insulate us from risk. The risk to the team is not a financial one. The risk is the message you are sending to players that character issues are not a big deal so long as you produce on the field. Sure, if this guy comes in and acts like a thug it is not going to turn Jon Jansen into a thug, but what about another Sean Taylor? ST had a clean slate but a lot of growing up to do (as do most millionaire 21-year olds). Would you rather surround that guy with Darrell Green, Art Monk, and people that really care about his best interests (Gregg Williams) or Albert Connell, Michael Westbrook, and Bruce Smith?

its almost impossible to be worse than randle el at returning punts, unless you just run backwards everytime. texans fans loved him when he made the pro bowl, hes just had some injury history. if he sucks, guess what? we cut him and move on. this is a win win situation for us anyway you look at it.

character issues shouldnt be a big deal. no one had a problem with ST's character issues (and his death was a tragic, but it would be silly to think he didnt have off field issues). get over yourself with the whole character issues nonsense. if the dude produces, he should be here.

and ST didnt have a clean slate at all, i have no clue what youre talking about.

[whitejimmy]

character issues shouldnt be a big deal.

Personally, I'm from the Joe Gibbs school of thought. Here's a good quote from him: “It's not Xs and Os. It's people and character and making great plays, ... It's more of a personal thing. It's the character. It's the fight - because up here most of the guys who get to this level are obviously talented.”

I enjoy rooting for a team of people I can personally respect. You seem to have more of a cowboy's fan perspective.

It doesn't matter what you and I think, it matters what Vinny and Dan think. Unfortunately, if this signing is an indication, your perspective may win out. Sad.

[GibbsRedskin]

Absolutely deplorable act, if true, but I find it interesting how the article mentions the height and weight of both he and his girlfriend and the police report has him taller and heavier than he is.

I mean, the act itself is big enough. It seems the writer (and maybe police report) was trying to make Mathis seem bigger to heighten the effect. Not really needed. Choking the prego girlfriend over a cell phone charger is enough of a story already.

I didn't really think or care much about this signing until a friend told me about this. What the heck are we bringing a thug like this in for? I can't picture Joe Gibbs signing someone like this, especially this soon after a deplorable incident.

Interesting that Snyder & Co. announced this move on a Friday evening, under the radar.

[Brandon Lloyd Christmas]

Personally, I'm from the Joe Gibbs school of thought. Here's a good quote from him: “It's not Xs and Os. It's people and character and making great plays, ... It's more of a personal thing. It's the character. It's the fight - because up here most of the guys who get to this level are obviously talented.”

I enjoy rooting for a team of people I can personally respect. You seem to have more of a cowboy's fan perspective.

It doesn't matter what you and I think, it matters what Vinny and Dan think. Unfortunately, if this signing is an indication, your perspective may win out. Sad.

i guess john riggins and dexter manley were real classy huh? a drunk who sat out a season for more money is a real classy thing. or abusing cocaine on a constant basis to the point of being BANNED from the league. i guess it doesnt matter that both of these guys were backbones of the gibbs legacy years because we were winning. if gibbs was really into classy dudes, he'd never have kept either of these guys around. rushing records and 17 sack seasons are more important that the petty "character" flaws some of these guys had.

[Da_Truth]

I didn't really think or care much about this signing until a friend told me about this. What the heck are we bringing a thug like this in for? I can't picture Joe Gibbs signing someone like this, especially this soon after a deplorable incident.

Interesting that Snyder & Co. announced this move on a Friday evening, under the radar.

Gibbs is gone, get over it and stop crying. Zorn is not Gibbs. They are two different people.

[dizzinator53]

Finally a free agent signing who may help the team. I think with his speed, Mathis spells the end for the 33-year old and overpaid James Thrash, not Rock Cartwright. Thrash was a Gibbs favorite, but with Gibbs gone I think Thrash will be cut after June 1st.

Three kickoff returns for touchdowns in less than 3 full NFL seasons of play, and he is still only 24 years of age! Six kickoff returns for touchdowns in college. Mathis scares people on kickoff returns, whereas I dont think that Cartwright does, but Cartwright can do other things well, which will keep him on the roster. The Skins would not have given Cartwright a 500k signing bonus if they didn't expect him to be on the team in 2008.

Mathis will also be tried as a punt returner, as ARE hasn't done that well lately.

Mathis may also surprise if used as a wide receiver in spots. He had a 20.0+ yards per reception average in college, although it was against lesser competition.

AS much as I respect your input as it is always well researched. You are most likely wrong here. This is the reason. If you look at stats, numbers, and playing time when it comes to kicks, punts, and returns, you will see that Mathis doesn't really ever return punts.

Since there is the rampant "Sweating of Rock Cartwright"", many will turn a blind eye to the fact that he will not return kickoffs as the primary weapon this season. We are ill equipped with wide receivers... DO NOT expect James Thrash ( a key player on special teams and an exemplary reserve receiver with veteran knowledge) to be cut, traded, moved, touched or any thing else but playing on the 2008-2009 team. He is a commodity. he makes plays all day long on Special Teams.

AS a matter of fact, James Thrash led the league last year in punt return average and Jerome MAthis hasn't returned a punt since 2005. So, I don't get where JT is so old (32yrs old) and overpaid (He makes a whopping 820,000.00 with an insane cap hit of : $1,050,400.00... that's small potatoes.

Randel El had a tough year last year... So what... he will bounce back this year. He was still in the first page of league leaders for punt returns. There is no one else that is a punt return specialist besides him on our team.... umm except James Thrash. If you want to go by his career average of:

10.0 yds per attempt... not too shabby (not Devin Hester either). I remember him making some huge returns at the end of games that counted big time for us last season. I think he is most definitely a keeper or he would have been gone by now.

This is what I beleive will shake out:

1. Mathis will return kicks with Rock Cartwright (they will be the two deep)

2. ARE will continue to return punts with THrash backing him up.

3. Mathis and Thrash will be 4th and 5th receivers on the Redskins as they work Mathis in for more one-on-one defensive match ups when Moss and Mix are on the field (his blazing speed) with slower corners covering him (i.e.) Lito Shephard.

4. This will require safety help over the top, turning Mix into one of the best posession receivers in the NFL in 3 years or less.

Mathis doesn't return punts, ARE will return punts

Rock will be used as a RB as well as A KR with Mathis

Thrash will continue to play the important role he always has for us..... if he were to be cut, not only would they have done it already with the Espy, etc. cuts, but he would be picked up quicker than jerome Mathis can run the 40.

[whitejimmy]

i guess john riggins and dexter manley were real classy huh? a drunk who sat out a season for more money is a real classy thing. or abusing cocaine on a constant basis to the point of being BANNED from the league. i guess it doesnt matter that both of these guys were backbones of the gibbs legacy years because we were winning. if gibbs was really into classy dudes, he'd never have kept either of these guys around. rushing records and 17 sack seasons are more important that the petty "character" flaws some of these guys had.

There is a difference between class and character. I don't care how classy they are.

I've said previously I'm all for second chances for players *already on the team* that get into trouble, e.g., Sean Taylor. You don't turn your back on family. ST didn't have a rap sheet or any transgressions that I'm aware of from college before he was drafted. Here's a pretty comprehensive list:

http://www.armchairgm.com/Sean_Taylor

If Gibbs knew Manley had a coke problem before he was signed, I bet they would have gone in a different direction. Riggin's drinking was a different issue in a different era. Was it even illegal to drive drunk back when we got him from the Jets?

Get over myself? I don't think I'm being righteous. I'm expressing my opinions. I value character in people whether they are Redskins or anyone else.

[GibbsRedskin]

Gibbs is gone, get over it and stop crying. Zorn is not Gibbs. They are two different people.

????????

One is a proven pillar of class and integrity. We don't know much about Zorn.

I don't know who decided to sign him - probably Cerrato/Snyder. I never attacked Zorn so you need to quit YOUR crying.

[Brandon Lloyd Christmas]

There is a difference between class and character. I don't care how classy they are.

I've said previously I'm all for second chances for players *already on the team* that get into trouble, e.g., Sean Taylor. You don't turn your back on family. ST didn't have a rap sheet or any transgressions that I'm aware of from college before he was drafted. Here's a pretty comprehensive list:

http://www.armchairgm.com/Sean_Taylor

If Gibbs knew Manley had a coke problem before he was signed, I bet they would have gone in a different direction. Riggin's drinking was a different issue in a different era. Was it even illegal to drive drunk back when we got him from the Jets?

Get over myself? I don't think I'm being righteous. I'm expressing my opinions. I value character in people whether they are Redskins or anyone else.

i think substance abuse problems are equally as important as a violence problem, which mathis may or may not have. either way, both of them can be a detriment to the team, but you take chances on these guys because the reward can be huge. if mathis can return to his pro bowl form, and hes still very young, he can be a huge asset to this team.

this is like the nats signing elijah dukes, who was accused of the same acts if i remember. if he screws up again, you cut your losses and move on. if the nats hadnt taken a chance on dimitri young and pegged him as a character problem, he'd never have gotten the chance to be comeback player of the year and make the all star game.

and was mathis even charged or convicted of this? hell, brett myers punched his wife in the face in public and hes been the phillies opening day starter two years strong! haha

[Roger.Staubach]

Aside from the obvious character issues, I think that this guy is a great signing for you guys. IMO, he's an incredible return guy that can really provide a spark for your team.

[oraphus]

LOL, what a fantastic wit! That really shed some light and made me re-think my position. Good for the fetus! Outstanding! That zinger at the end also demonstrates a healthy attitude toward women, so you must know what you are talking about.

BTW, you misspelled your username. It's spelled "O-E-D-I-P-U-S."

Glad i can help.

The point that i actually had to mention this on a message board full of "men" ... present company excluded, is pretty comical in itself.

You're right though, he definitely sounds like meany... there is no room for him on this team

[whitejimmy]

Glad i can help.

The point that i actually had to mention this on a message board full of "men" ... present company excluded, is pretty comical in itself.

You're right though, he definitely sounds like meany... there is no room for him on this team

So you are from San Francisco, your screen name is either some Anime or Warcraft character (based on a google search), and you insult people's masculinity when you feel threatened.

You don't need to say anything more. I get it. I also don't have any problems with you and your lifestyle choice. It's a free country.

[oraphus]

So you are from San Francisco, your screen name is either some Anime or Warcraft character (based on a google search), and you insult people's masculinity when you feel threatened.

You don't need to say anything more. I get it. I also don't have any problems with you and your lifestyle choice. It's a free country.

lol... "based on google search" i seem to have misplaced my "identity".. please let me know if you happen to come across it in you query.

Just to let you know, even though i am from SF region does not mean i am gay.. sorry to disappoint you as you seem to want to know about me, and i am definitely not interested in a date.. so stop PMing me.

I insult people's masculinity and common sense when then show a lack of either.. or both which seems to be the case with you.

Hey.. maybe you can move to an MMA forum and start ****ing about the fact that many of the fighters are mean and like to hit people... we can't have that! flower power... yey!

:laugh:

[whitejimmy]

lol... "based on google search" i seem to have misplaced my "identity".. please let me know if you happen to come across it in you query.

Just to let you know, even though i am from SF region does not mean i am gay.. sorry to disappoint you as you seem to want to know about me, and i am definitely not interested in a date.. so stop PMing me.

I insult people's masculinity and common sense when then show a lack of either.. or both which seems to be the case with you.

Hey.. maybe you can move to an MMA forum and start ****ing about the fact that many of the fighters are mean and like to hit people... we can't have that! flower power... yey!

:laugh:

haha, okay okay. this is getting dumb. i thought the meany line was funny anyways.

[me so zorny]

Jerome Mathis can flat out fly. Put him on the field and throw deep to him every once in a while.In the right situation mathis speed could really create some scoreing opurtunities.Seattle does have great team speed,so maybe that is a area Zorn is big on. Jerome's character could be a issue.For me I try to remember some mistakes that I have made in my youth and how I would do things differntly now.Maybe a fresh start will be what he needs to create a new image.

[worstSeat]

Mathis's 1 yr vet minimum deal came with no bonus - obviously in this case - and he could earn $520,000 if he makes it all 17 paychecks. The deal is "split" which means it has provisions that would allow the Skins to pay him less should he be placed on IR.

...

Hackett got $750,000 to sign, the only guaranteed money in his two year deal. He could earn a max of $3.5 million over those two years.

The part of the FO that signed Mathis and let Hackett go to the Panthers stinks. (Stinks.)

Please disregard this post in the event of a special teams TD during the season.

[bikie]

I'm all for mathis... we got him cheap, the guy is a burner who can stretch the field when santana was the only other guy capable of doing that... and if we block the way we did for the rock on KO's, there's potential for a real threat there...

[dizzinator53]

AS much as I respect your input as it is always well researched. You are most likely wrong here. This is the reason. If you look at stats, numbers, and playing time when it comes to kicks, punts, and returns, you will see that Mathis doesn't really ever return punts.

Since there is the rampant "Sweating of Rock Cartwright"", many will turn a blind eye to the fact that he will not return kickoffs as the primary weapon this season. We are ill equipped with wide receivers... DO NOT expect James Thrash ( a key player on special teams and an exemplary reserve receiver with veteran knowledge) to be cut, traded, moved, touched or any thing else but playing on the 2008-2009 team. He is a commodity. he makes plays all day long on Special Teams.

AS a matter of fact, James Thrash led the league last year in punt return average and Jerome MAthis hasn't returned a punt since 2005. So, I don't get where JT is so old (32yrs old) and overpaid (He makes a whopping 820,000.00 with an insane cap hit of : $1,050,400.00... that's small potatoes.

Randel El had a tough year last year... So what... he will bounce back this year. He was still in the first page of league leaders for punt returns. There is no one else that is a punt return specialist besides him on our team.... umm except James Thrash. If you want to go by his career average of:

10.0 yds per attempt... not too shabby (not Devin Hester either). I remember him making some huge returns at the end of games that counted big time for us last season. I think he is most definitely a keeper or he would have been gone by now.

This is what I beleive will shake out:

1. Mathis will return kicks with Rock Cartwright (they will be the two deep)

2. ARE will continue to return punts with THrash backing him up.

3. Mathis and Thrash will be 4th and 5th receivers on the Redskins as they work Mathis in for more one-on-one defensive match ups when Moss and Mix are on the field (his blazing speed) with slower corners covering him (i.e.) Lito Shephard.

4. This will require safety help over the top, turning Mix into one of the best posession receivers in the NFL in 3 years or less.

Mathis doesn't return punts, ARE will return punts

Rock will be used as a RB as well as A KR with Mathis

Thrash will continue to play the important role he always has for us..... if he were to be cut, not only would they have done it already with the Espy, etc. cuts, but he would be picked up quicker than jerome Mathis can run the 40.

Also, this is foreshadowing of the trading of Betts for a number 1 WR too.

[BAFGA]

Finally, someone local (to me) on this team... We've been missing a local guy for a while.

[skinsman4u]

Yep, and as I alluded to earlier in this thread this is probably one of the best FA signings in a while. It ranks right up there ARE, Tana, CP, Fletch...but way to go F/O this is a really good fine. He can flat out burn. And he's from Hampton Institute, too. Hampton has been known to put out some speedsters. But Mathis is better than Leon Washington than returns kicks for the Jets. And Leon is a smoker! Mathis is dangerous 98% of the time he touches the ball.

The difference between him and Hester is that Hester has a knack for knowing where to run and Mathis just runs. For Mathis its 1 cut and he's gone....and he can also stretch the field. He's the type that if the coaching staff really exerts some vision (good coaching) and can find those subtleties and creases in a "D" (secondary's coverage) like an opponent that runs a week Cover 2.

What makes a Cover 2 weak? No pressure on the QB for 1 thing and another and just as crucial is a MLB that can run a little but can be exploited. In the Cover 2 the MLB has deep middle and if he isn't consistent then a burner can get behind him and exploit that weekness. No harm no file but the truth is the truth and a good example would be LeMar Marshall.

Oh Marshall could play but as the game wore on the opponents coaching staff could pick moments when Marshall would be most vulnerable covering deep middle. But Mathis is really a good find! We just have to shore up that OL in our red zone running game and we'll be close. Note great expectations this year but Mathis is definetly a step in the right direction.

[dizzinator53]

he is a KR not a PR! Randel El will remain where he is. Rock Cartwright will not return as many kicks. period.