another Gardner/Panthers blurb

Redskins | Gardner Release at Hand
Wed, 20 Jul 2005 2046 -0700

Jason La Canfora, of the Washington Post, reports the Washington Redskins are getting closer to the date when they will release WR Rod Gardner. He did not train with the team and head coach Joe Gibbs has said he would not participate in training camp if still on the roster. An NFL source said the Carolina Panthers have expressed some interest in Gardner, but with most teams expecting Gardner to eventually be released there have been no substantial trade offers.

 

I wish they would release him and someone would pick him up so the speculation would end. I don't think I've ever seen so much talk about a player who is mediocre at best. I don't think we'll sign him. Some teams want to sign him as a #2 and he would be no better than a 3 here, maybe a 4 behind Proehl. I am more interested to see what Drew Carter can do. I would also rather see them spend the money on our remaining draft picks.

 

I think Carter may make some big plays this year, but as a replacement for Moose, I can't see Carter blocking and playing tough like moose. Carter has the size but he is too fragile.

Gardner is more the strong physical type as Moose was. I think we might look at him closely although I don't know how they fit him in the roster.

 

True, Carter won't be the downfield blocker Moose was. I'm not totally against Gardner at the right price. I just wonder where he would fit in. If he could come in and have a good camp, maybe he bumps Proehl(?) This willl be his last year for sure. Maybe a change of scenery and getting close to where he played his college ball might help him.

 

I'm not sold on any of our receivers. Is Steve Smith a legit #1? He's had Moos the whole time and is also coming off an injury. Kolbert did well on a losing team. Big deal. Proehl is 80 years old. Drew Carter hasn't caught a pass yet so I wish everyone would stop creaming their jeans over him. Bottom line is wr is a gigantic if to me.

 

Moose never was a great receiver, so how much pressure did he take off Smith? He had a big year last year as he always did in contract years. His 16 tds last year gave him 44 in 9 seasons. That's not quite 5 per season. The only reason he put up big numbers last year is because he was about the only option. With Smith back this year, Moose would have been #2 anyway. Our receiver situation is not that bad. It's better than last year.

 

How many big years has Smith had? And how many years has he been the #1 option?

 

1 each.

 

True, which adds up to the fact that we have no depth. Collin says that situation is common among NFL teams. My reply would be we are too weak in that respect. I would say that the big weakness is that we need that big physical receiver. This also immediately adds depth. Probably means Hankton is expendable. I know ST guy, but Seward the rookie might fill his spot nicely.

 

I agree depth is a problem. I would hate to think what we'd have if Smith or Colbert went down. We don't have anybody behind them that could start for a long period of time.