Redskins McNabb shut down
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Washington Redskins QB Donovan McNabb has been shut down for the rest of pre-season and likely will not see the field until the Redskins regular season opener. McNabb took a beating from the Baltimore Ravens defense last weekend and he’s been limited in practice this week with his ankle injured. Head coach Mike Shanahan wouldn’t comment on the severity of the injury but did tell reporters yesterday that if this weekend were the season opener, McNabb would not be playing.
The 12 year veteran quarterback has dealt with a variety in injuries in his career, and in fact has only played a full 16 games 4 times during his time in the league. Mike Shanahan has said that he does not see McNabb playing next weeks final pre-season game against the Arizona Cardinals, despite McNabb’s desire to play.
Redskin fans would most likely like to see McNabb in with the first team offense for a few drives this week, he’s not exactly been lights out at the quarterback position and it’s apparent that he could use some more reps under center.
However, I believe this is the right move for the Redskins. If something were to happen and he further aggravated his injured ankle, then Washington could be looking at missing a few games in the regular season without McNabb.
Chris Cooley loves him some Redskins Donovan McNabb
Washington Redskins TE Chris Cooley is loving him some Donovan McNabb under center this year. He’s back from last year’s injury and excited to get the season rolling with a new quarterback and new coaching staff. Cooley has the ability to be a game changer and with Kyle Shanahan as the offensive coordinator, along with the Redskins being really thin at wide receiver, get ready for a heavy dose of double tight end sets with Cooley being showcased.
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Cooley took some time out to stop by with the hosts on ESPN 980 in Washington DC to speak about the changes with the Redskins this season, Donovan McNabb and the upcoming season. You can listen to the entire interview right here.
Cooley was very outspoken about departed Jason Campbell, stating that McNabb isn’t afraid to throw a ball in close quarters and he brings a higher level of confidence.
Cooley continued on to say that McNabb is perhaps the best quarterback he’s seen in his playing days in Washington,saying that McNabb does things better. Cooley comments,
“Let’s say that I am running a deep crossing route and there is a linebacker running with me, in the previous couple of years I would have never gotten a ball thrown at me and before I look the ball is thrown into the air. It is just a surprise. It gives me a chance to make a play. It is great that McNabb will do that and I just had to adjust to things like that. He throws a hard ball. That is another thing I really have to adjust to. It just gets on you so fast and I had a little trouble early in camp trying to catch balls in practice. I feel like I have worked enough and ran enough routes to make adjustments but it is tough. It is tough early on.”
More bad news for the Redskins and McNabb
After the trade for Donovan McNabb this off season, many Redskins fans thought that a return to the playoffs was right around the corner. McNabb took a beating this past weekend against the Baltimore Ravens. He has now missed practice both Monday and Tuesday, and the Redskins have just announced that McNabb will not be playing in this weeks pre-season game.
The third pre-season game is considered the most important of the pre-season schedule as the coaches put in place some fine tuning as teams prepare for the opening week. Starters very rarely ever play much or at all during the 4th game of the pre season schedule.
This set back is not good news for McNabb and the offense. He has yet to really connect with any of the Redskins wide receivers and doesn’t appear to have real good rhythm on the field with the offense yet.
There has been no official word as to the extent of McNabb’s leg/ankle injury and the fact he is not practicing is not good news. Redskins fans had best hope it is not a high ankle sprain as that is a long, painful injury to recover from which could linger well into the season. McNabb has missed several regular season games over the past several seasons, fans should hope this isn’t the start of an injury plagued season for him.
Haynesworth for Clayton, Redskins and Buccaneers
The Washington Redskins-Albert Haynesworth saga rolls along, the latest possible destination is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Last night Roy Cummings of the Tampa Tribune said on a local radio station that the Buccaneers should explore a possible trade with the Washington Redskins for underachieving WR Michael Clayton.
Now I wrote in this space last week that the Buccaneers might be willing to move Clayton as the Bucs have decided to head towards a youth movement on the team and Clayton, who signed a 24 million dollar contract prior to the start of the 09 season, failed to produce miserably on the field.
Perhaps a change of venue for both players will fuel some production on the field. Perhaps this trade would be nothing more than an exchange of underachieving players who have very high opinions of themselves without actually putting up numbers to support their own egos.
If this is something of a possibility, the Redskins should really think long and hard about it. The situation between Haynesworth and Shanahan isn’t magically going to cure itself overnight. And judging from the comments from Redskins players after the latest debacle this past weekend, Haynesworth is already a cancer in the lockerroom. There is little to no trade value. Even his former coaches, Jeff Fisher and Jim Schwartz want nothing to do with him and that should tell you something right there. Perhaps this will be the best or only offer for Haynesworth.
Redskins Haynesworth not talking, McNabb not practicing
Washington Redskins DT Albert Haynesworth has decided he won’t be talking to the media anytime soon and QB Donovan McNabb is not practicing.
Haynesworth declined to speak with members of the media on Monday and when he was asked when he would speak he offered up, “Never”. However, many teammates were chatty Cathy’s with the media and they weren’t glowing comments.
This situation is spiraling out of control and I am standing by my assertion that Haynesworth will be gone by the end of the week.
In more distrubing news, QB Donovan McNabb was seen at practice today sporting a boot on his lower leg and ankle and wasn’t seen participating in practice. McNabb was less than stellar on the field Saturday night, only completing 11 of 26 passes for 206 yards. He did receive a lot of hits and the offensive line is going to have to secure their protection if they expect McNabb to last the entire season.
In related Redskins news, the team signed S Tyrone Carter and FB Carey Davis. Carter was brought in to fill in for injured S Kareem Moore who is going to be out for the unforeseeable future. Carter is an 11 year veteran who should be able to digest the Redskins defense scheme quickly as he played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, a defensive scheme which resembles the Jim Haslett’s plan in Washington.
