OLB Brian Orakpo says this is a good time to be a Redskins fan reflecting team optimism with the arrival of Robert Griffin III and changes the coaching staff is making on defense and offense. He provided no details, but said that players were shedding pound and that the offense could use four and five receiver sets. Orakpo was a guest on the NFL Network.
At least six Redskins receivers joined Griffin in Waco on Friday to work on the playbook.
Federal authorities arrested former Baylor basketball player Richard Hurd on extortion charges after Hurd allegedly threatened to release derogatory information about Griffin unless he was paid “a substantial sum” of money. The information remains a mystery. It is the first hint of anything remotely damaging in the RG3 narrative. Whatever it is, Griffin’s people handled the matter the right way by bringing in the cops. “There’s vultures out there,” says Griffin III.
The Redskins will receive $2 million over four years from Loudoun County, Virginia, in a marketing agreement. The Commonwealth of Virginia will kick in a $4 million grant and a $6 million contribution from the Virginia State Lottery. The team agreed to keep its headquarters and training facility in the county for the next eight years.
The Redskins considered locations in the District of Columbia and Maryland. DC is still smarting from the loss of the team to FedEx Field in the mid-1990s. The Redskins toyed with the idea of moving to Bowie, Maryland to be nearer to the stadium. It was a tease to get the deal from Virginia. There are two lessons here.
The Redskins have negotiating leverage when three viable jurisdictions compete for them. The Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers cannot replicate that advantage.
Team owners do not get rich using their money. They get rich using your money.
The Redskins were hard hit by the NFL’s $36 million salary cap sanction last March. Yet, Pro Football Talk says they have close to $7 million cap room left after taking half the penalty this year as the league demanded.
Washington is under new management and those free-spending habits are receding. I’ll get back to you on the coaching.
