The Official Roster Thread or similar ;)

[zCommander]

[Skinsinparadise]

 

Rivera liked the last backup, cornerback Troy Apke, coming out of Penn State. Before Washington drafted him in the fourth round in 2018, Marty Hurney, the former Carolina GM now in Washington as executive vice president of football/player personnel, attended his workout and targeted him in the draft, Rivera said.

Last year, Apke was benched twice after rough stints at free safety, but Rivera kept the 26-year-old, whom he called a “luxury” at defensive back because of his special teams prowess — in a move that was effectively an illustration of the team’s depth.

 

“’Trap’ is one of the best special teams players in the league,” Rivera said. “I mean, people have to game plan for him as a gunner, as a kickoff coverage guy because of his speed. … He’s a specialist, and if we’re going to be good as a football team, we’ve got to be good on special teams as well.”

 

It wouldn’t be accurate, however, to say Rivera’s handpicked players always won out over holdovers. For example, for the role of big-body receiver, Washington cut Antonio Gandy-Golden, a fourth-round pick from Rivera’s first draft, and kept Sims, an undrafted free agent signing in 2018.

 

These moves are, at least in part, the byproduct of the front-office revamp Rivera undertook this offseason. He hired Hurney and general manager Martin Mayhew, among others, to build an experienced brain trust that could help him complete the base of the roster. Mayhew, at the cutdown day news conference, expressed confidence in the collaborative roster-building process they’ve put in place.

 

“Typically, you’re going to have two or three guys where you’re kind of glad to see those guys go,” he said. “There was nobody like that [this year]. Every single one of those guys, I felt great about. Would love to have them all still be here.”

Those words weren’t empty. On Wednesday afternoon, Washington re-signed 15 of its 27 cuts, including Gandy-Golden, to the practice squad.

Plenty of challenges remain for Washington, but after two years, Rivera is surrounded by his people in the front office and on the field. The question now is whether that team can win.

[Always A Commander Never A Captain]

Do we have a single WR with a number in the 80's?

[KillBill26]

4 minutes ago, Alcoholic Zebra said:

Do we have a single WR with a number in the 80's?

I think Milne is the only one. And he will probably be inactive a lot.  My how times have changed.

 

[Spearfeather]

17 minutes ago, KillBill26 said:

I think Milne is the only one. And he will probably be inactive a lot.  My how times have changed.

 

 

Milne is # 15 now.

[Skinsinparadise]

Hopefully not but I know PFF thought highly among others of his preseason

 

 

 

[kingdaddy]

Jets giving Reuben Foster a tryout today....hmmm. 

[Califan007 The Constipated]

 

 

[KillBill26]

21 minutes ago, Spearfeather said:

 

Milne is # 15 now.

I think that's all of them then.

[Skinsinparadise]

As for the Scherff discussion.  I was for Leonard Williams over Scherff back then.  But I was cool with the pick and have been one of Scherff's bigger supporters on the thread.

 

I am not in the camp that Scherff is overrated that some say here from time to time.  To me he's a stud.  No shocker that he's been the only first team All Pro player we've had under Dan sans a punter.

 

My concern about him is next year he's 30.  He's had a history of injuries.  His agent seems to heavily play the money card as to wanting to get max value versus giving any hometown discount -- I don't bedgrudge him that, its a business. There are some players (granted a minority) who will take a deal even if they can potential leverage more money by pushing their way into FA.   Schreff and his agent though don't seem to be in that group -- that's clear, no matter how many times Scherff says he loves Rivera and wants to be here.  My point there is so much money I'd pay for a 30 year old guard with durability questions.

 

If they can get him at a good price,  I'd be for it. 

 

 

 

 

[veteranskinsfan]

I think Scherff will re-sign with the WFT and lower his salary requirements if the team has a good season this year.

I know that never happens in the NFL but Brandon is no dummy.  He can always get a new agent who will do what he wants.

Plus his agent has made plenty of money off his previous contracts.

[Koolblue13]

Well, we'll be able to easily spot the TEs.

[Skinsinparadise]

 

So yes, Fitzpatrick was smiling as he climbed aboard the aircraft owned by Dan and Tanya Snyder, en route to officially signing with his ninth NFL team. Alas, he did not experience a completely smooth landing, at least in a metaphorical sense: Plenty of football fans -- including some in the DMV area-- questioned his presence as the team's anointed starter in 2021, especially amid a turbulent offseason that featured a high-profile trade involving established quarterbacks Matthew Stafford and Jared Goff and reports that stars Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Deshaun Watson all wanted out of their current situations.

 

Throw in a draft cycle that would feature five quarterbacks picked among the first 15 selections, and it's easy to see why so many Washington diehards were so starry-eyed.

 

In truth, coach Ron Rivera and the organization's other powerbrokers were tempted to bring in a quarterback with more marquee value. They made an inquiry about Stafford, following up with an offer to Detroit. At one point, Rivera believed Washington had an excellent shot at landing Stafford, before the Lions and Rams hastily hammered out their trade terms.

 

 

Then, heading into the draft, Rivera thought hard about trading up to acquire a quarterback. Ultimately, he balked at the price, instead staying put and selecting Kentucky linebacker Jamin Davis with the 19th overall pick.

Faith in Fitzpatrick's abilities was one reason Rivera, general manager Martin Mayhew and executive vice president of football/player personnel Marty Hurney ultimately felt comfortable staying away from the bright, shiny objects. There was also a foundational philosophy at play.

Intent on building the team from front to back -- a process validated by the strong line play that fueled Washington's second-half surge, surprising NFC East title (albeit with a 7-9 record) and stirring playoff performance against the eventual Super Bowl champion Buccaneers in his first season -- Rivera resisted the quick fix.

"We didn't have the pieces in place to say, 'All we have to do is get a quarterback we can win now,'" Rivera explained during training camp as he sat in his luxuriant office at the team's training facility. "I felt that if we could continue to put the rest of the pieces in place, why not do that? We like the guys that we have, and we like where we are, so why not add on a couple of pieces? Then, as we went through it, we felt, Wow -- we're shoring up the defense in free agency and the draft. Wow -- we got a slot receiver and a speed receiver in free agency and drafted a speed receiver. Now let's see if we can get everybody trained, get a veteran quarterback and see what happens."

 

There was a point in late January when Rivera believed Stafford might be that veteran quarterback. Washington had made an opening offer that included first- and third-round selections in the 2021 draft, and there was a palpable sense in the building that they could close a deal with the Lions. Then came the Saturday Night Surprise: Rivera, like many others around the league, was stunned when he learned that Detroit had instead agreed to trade Stafford to the Rams for two future first-round picks, a 2021 third-round choice and Jared Goff, with L.A. having sweetened the package in an effort to shed Goff's contract.

 

At various times, Rivera contemplated making a run at Wilson, Watson (before his legal troubles surfaced, including 22 civil lawsuits accusing the Texans quarterback of sexual assault and sexual misconduct) or Rodgers, whose dissatisfaction with the Packers became public hours before the start of the draft. In each case, they concluded that the price was prohibitive. Said Rivera: "Who wouldn't check in with those teams and do their due diligence to see what the cost would be to get a guy of that caliber?"

Similarly, while assessing the prospective cost of moving into the draft's top 10, the notion of including a core player in the deal was a non-starter to Rivera.

"That would have defeated the whole purpose," Rivera said. "We're trying to build a team, not give up building blocks. Some people wanted way too much draft capital for the next two years. We weren't through building. If we mortgaged our future on a player -- and maybe he isn't the right guy, and maybe we can't afford to keep our core -- it could have really set us back."

Instead, Washington felt comfortable moving forward with Fitzpatrick, who they prioritized ahead of fellow free agents Andy Dalton and Tyrod Taylor and reasonably inexpensive trade targets Teddy Bridgewater, Marcus Mariota and Sam Darnold.

 

Fitzpatrick drew interest from numerous teams, including one that would have penciled him in as the likely starter. Coming off a 2020 season with the Miami Dolphins during which he'd lost his starting job to rookie Tua Tagovailoa -- only to shine in several relief appearances down the stretch -- Fitzpatrick placed a premium on getting an opportunity to play.

"A chance to start -- that was the big thing I was looking for," Fitzpatrick said. "And there were a couple of teams out there that I talked to, and then it was like I got a chance to make a decision. Which is crazy, cause I never really have a chance to make a decision; the decision is pretty much always made for me. It's always been a couple of backup jobs here or there, and Which one's closest to Disneyworld?… that type of thing. I've obviously been brought in to start. But I don't think I've ever really had to make a decision (between potential starting opportunities).

 

 

Edited September 2, 2021 by Skinsinparadise

[veteranskinsfan]

Just saw that Jimmy Moreland is on injured reserve so we still have him.  How many games does he have to be out before he is eligible to return to play in games?

[OMacAttack]

2 minutes ago, veteranskinsfan said:

Just saw that Jimmy Moreland is on injured reserve so we still have him.  How many games does he have to be out before he is eligible to return to play in games?

3 week minimum. 

[KillBill26]

35 minutes ago, kingdaddy said:

Jets giving Reuben Foster a tryout today....hmmm. 

I wonder if that's just Saleh giving a fellow ex 9er a solid.  I was bummed when foster got hurt and didn't progress in his rehab.  He would've been a great talent at a position of need.

[Stadium-Armory]

Never thought I'd see bucket head on this forum.  For those who don't know:

 

 

 

Edited September 2, 2021 by Stadium-Armory

[The Rook]

I remember Micak Kiser from his days with UVA - he was a tackling monster. Averaged 11 tackles a game.💪

 

https://www.nbcsports.com/washington/football-team/here-are-5-free-agent-linebackers-washington-could-target

 

Presently on Rams PS.

 

 

 

 

 

The Rook

[Morneblade]

16 hours ago, dunfer said:

Eddie says **** all yall

 

Actually, Eddie said Alan Holdsworth is the best guitarist on the planet. Multiple times. And I kinda have to agree. Alan was from a different universe. Made Steve Vai look pedestrian. Probably the only guy I've ever listened to that just completely fries my brain. Guthrie Govan is probably the closest we have right now to him, but he's still not in Alan's catagory, IMO.

 

15 hours ago, Malapropismic Depository said:

So instead of closing the thread in favor of the roster thread, I guess this is a guitar thread now.

Shame noone ever mentions, one of the absolute greatest, who can still do this at almost 70 years old

 

 

 

 

Rik is immensely underrated! And vocals? OMG! If you don't know, google Triumph, US Festival. Lay it on the Line.

[Always A Commander Never A Captain]

52 minutes ago, veteranskinsfan said:

Just saw that Jimmy Moreland is on injured reserve so we still have him.  How many games does he have to be out before he is eligible to return to play in games?

 

49 minutes ago, OMacAttack said:

3 week minimum. 

 

I think he's done for the season with us.  He was put on IR before being on the 53.  His injury isn't that bad, so it's likely he'll get an injury settlement sometime in the future.

 

What I don't know is if that settlement prohibits him from signing with us.

[DWinzit]

1 hour ago, Skinsinparadise said:

As for the Scherff discussion.  I was for Leonard Williams over Scherff back then.  But I was cool with the pick and have been one of Scherff's bigger supporters on the thread.

 

I am not in the camp that Scherff is overrated that some say here from time to time.  To me he's a stud.  No shocker that he's been the only first team All Pro player we've had under Dan sans a punter.

 

My concern about him is next year he's 30.  He's had a history of injuries.  His agent seems to heavily play the money card as to wanting to get max value versus giving any hometown discount -- I don't bedgrudge him that, its a business. There are some players (granted a minority) who will take a deal even if they can potential leverage more money by pushing their way into FA.   Schreff and his agent though don't seem to be in that group -- that's clear, no matter how many times Scherff says he loves Rivera and wants to be here.  My point there is so much money I'd pay for a 30 year old guard with durability questions.

 

If they can get him at a good price,  I'd be for it. 

 

I am in the same spot with Scherff. My gut is they do not come to an agreement but yes, if they can get him at a decent price, great!

 

I felt Leonard Williams was the best player in the draft and shocked he fell to us. The draft was week in general and we definitively needed OL...Tackle really

[Dark Acre]

I think the requirement of injury settlement or they remain on the team (on IR) is for rehab purposes so you don't just dump dudes who now have to get medical attention on their own.

[kingdaddy]

1 hour ago, KillBill26 said:

I wonder if that's just Saleh giving a fellow ex 9er a solid.  I was bummed when foster got hurt and didn't progress in his rehab.  He would've been a great talent at a position of need.

Yep, I was excited when we signed him and he was cleaning up his act here too....no issues whatsoever. 

[PartyPosse]

I’d be happy for him but super pissed if he ends up being a major contributor for another team. 

[mistertim]

1 hour ago, veteranskinsfan said:

I think Scherff will re-sign with the WFT and lower his salary requirements if the team has a good season this year.

I know that never happens in the NFL but Brandon is no dummy.  He can always get a new agent who will do what he wants.

Plus his agent has made plenty of money off his previous contracts.

 

I have a hard time seeing this being true.

 

If that were the case then Scherff would already have been signed. WFT reportedly offered him a contract that would have made him the highest paid Guard in the NFL and it was turned down, I'm guessing because there either wasn't enough guaranteed money or the length wasn't long enough.

 

It sounds to me like he's looking to get a gigantic payday from whoever will give it to him and he's willing to take the risk of playing this year if it means he can maximize his contract as a FA next year. Given his injury history I think that could be a pretty big gamble, but that's his call.

 

I can't completely blame him, because he's a 30 year old Guard who probably only has one more big contract in his career so he might as well get the most he can out of it.