It’s been a busy few days for the Redskins, as the deadline for roster cuts passed and the free agent signing period began. Washington sports fans might still be mourning the departure of LaVar Arrington, but the team is moving on and making some big changes.
On Friday, the Skins cut five players in a last minute move to get under the salary cap. Linemen Brandon Noble and Cory Raymer, DBs Walt Harris and Matt Bowen, and punter Tom “Supa Dupa” Tupa (we made that up, no one really calls him that) all got their walking papers while the club decided to retain the services of running back Rock Cartwright. Also, on Saturday, fragile but effective free agent tight end Robert Royal left Washington to sign a $10 million deal with the Buffalo Bills.
With new salary cap space available, Washington set about fixing some of the problems, mainly offensive, that had plagued them this past season. On Saturday the team announced a trade for the 49ers’ Brandon Lloyd, a promising but headstrong young receiver who didn’t always seem enamored with coach Mike Nolan’s moves. Washington gave up a third round draft pick this year and a fourth round pick next year to bring in Lloyd. The offensive additions continued through the weekend, as the Skins replaced Royal with Patriot tight end Christian Fauria and then made some of the biggest news of the young free agency period by signing the versatile receiver slash quarterback slash return man Antwaan Randle El, who was last seen on a football field helping the Pittsburgh Steelers bring home the Lombardi Trophy.
It will be interesting to see how Washington is able to use Randle El offensively. Certainly his addition, along with Brandon Lloyd’s, will help open up the field for Santana Moss and the Skins’ passing game, but Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher often got the most mileage out of Randle El by taking advantage of his arm in trick formations and gadget plays, which Joe Gibbs might be considerably more reluctant to use regularly. Whether unusual plays become the norm at FedEx Field or not, however, the Skins offense will be a different animal this season, particularly if Jason Campbell begins to see some time in the pocket.
Update: That must have been a great Wizards game; the Post is reporting that safety Adam Archuleta, A St. Louis Ram his entire career, has signed with the Redskins.
AP Photo (of Chris Cooley, Adam Archuleta, Jsaon Campbell, and Antwaan Randle El) taken by Nick Wass.
