Free Agency '09: The Redskins Accomplish a lot in the First Five(5) Hours

Today at 12:00 am was the start of Free Agency '09. By 5:00 am, The Justice League Redskins succeeded in spending a staggering Infinity-Million Dollars. The 'Skins Department of Redundancy Department reports that CB DeAngelo Hall signed a 6 year 54 million dollar deal worth 54 million dollars. Hall has experience wearing the Burgandy and Gold, after finishing the last half of the '08 season with the team and doing a pretty solid job. He snagged 2 interceptions in the final 7 games with the team, which is exactly 2 more than FB Mike Sellers had all year.

The other big signing was for this man:






Yes, we signed the guy standing in this picture. DT Albert Haynesworth was signed to a record contract said to be worth $ Texas. This, of course, roughly translates to 100 mill over 7 years. Easily the Belle of the '09 Draft Ball, the Haynesworth Purchase immediately improves the Redskins Defense. There have been several concerns raised by "respectable" interweb writers that Haynesworth has never played a full season in his 7 year career and cannot play on 100% of the defensive snaps. Here at GRGGD, we argue that when you are a 320 lb man, and your job is crouch down, and then run full force into at least two(2) if not three(3) other 300+ lb men who are also running at you; and then repeat this about 30 times a day, that you are entitled to a little bit of rest here and there. So slag off, alright?

To make salary room to sign these two players, CB Shawn Springs was cut after five(5) seasons with the team. He was a standout player and although aging, was still dominant when healthy. GRGGD has a lot of love for #24, but after playing only nine(9) games last year, it is time to part ways. We wish him all the best; unless he gets picked up by an NFC East team. In that case, screw him.

As with any free agent signings, it is really impossible to tell what the impact will be until the season actually starts. The Redskins under owner Daniel Snyder have had a history of signing high dollar free agent players that turned out to be turds. Instead of naming names, let me just say this:



Anyway, who's to say what will happen in October and beyond; so for now let's just sit back and see what comes out of this.

-B

Marcus Washington: We Hardly Knew Ye

It's been a while since we've truthed out everyones hearts here at GRGGD. I'd offer an explanation, but we all know (both of us) that it's better to just get straight to business.

The Hero Squad (read: Redskins) released Linebacker Marcus Washington yesterday after a disappointing '08 season plagued by injuries. With free agency and the draft fast approaching, Washington became one of several casualties (including storied punter Ryan Plackemeier) to feel the economic crunch caused by the recession. Washington played five (5) seasons with the Redskins. This leaves current backup LB H.B. Blades, who is noted for having the most bad-ass name in all of sports, as the likely candidate for starting strong side LB. This is of course, unless Redskins front office succeeds in bringing Lawrence Taylor and Dick Butkus out of retirement to compete for the starting job.

On a more serious personal note; while this was a down year for Marcus Washington, he will be missed. He was a leading presence in the locker room and on the field. He is the all time leading Redskin in the categories of in-between-plays and during-timeout dances. Those dances were the stuff of legend. They forced kings to their knees and caused oceans to boil. My favorite Marcus Washington moment is when we played the Giants back in '06. The Giants had gotten off to an early lead, when a war-party of dragons descended upon the field and started lighting. shit. up. Un-phased, Washington learned the language of the dragons and befriended them. He made peace between humans and dragons (for now). Thank you, Marcus Washington. Thank you. We here at GRGGD appreciate the five (5) years you gave us and wish you the best with wherever your travels take you from here. You heard it here first.

-Brandle