Redskins '09 roster: About the same as '08?

By Nate Sandstrom

With RT Jon Jansen being cut on Friday (more on this below) and the calendar flipping to June 1st, the Washington Times' Ryan O'Halloran put out a mock 53-man roster for the upcoming season. Check it out here.

In case you don't want to bother clicking, it can be summed up as pretty much the same. Yes, they've added Haynesworth, brought back Dockery and drafted Orakpo (who is projected at LB here but some expect to play DE), but it otherwise appears that there will be little difference from last year's squad on most downs.

For that reason, unless the OL has some kind of major turnaround, this seems like an average team that will continue to be between 6-10 and 10-6 depending on how injuries (their own and other teams') unfold along the schedule and how lucky bounces affect the turnover margin.

As for Jansen, he seemed to be a good guy who had a decent career that could've been better were it not for some major injuries. He signed with the Lions today, perhaps not suprising since he is a Michigan native and alum.

I'm not sure if Lions GM Martin Mayhew still has Redskins' connections that affected this deal; the article doesn't mention it. I also recall Jansen getting in a fight with the Lions during a 1999 playoff game, but I couldn't find anything to back up that memory.

Washington Redskins: Free-agent weekend #1

Mo' money, mo' money, mo' money
By Nate Sandstrom



Jim Zorn and Jason Taylor hold a #1 jersey last summer. One is the approximate number of sacks Taylor made in his time as a Redskins.

Who's back: DeAngelo Hall
Who's in: Albert Haynesworth, Derrick Dockery
Who's out: Jason Taylor, Shawn Springs, Marcus Washington

I'm choosing to highlight the Redskins' opening free-agency weekend with this photo of Jason Taylor to keep optimistic Redskins fans well-grounded after the Albert Haynesworth signing. Just a reminder that although their massive cash transactions occasionally work out (i.e. London Fletcher) they more often wind up like busts such as Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith, Jeff George, Brandon Lloyd, T.J. Duckett, Dana Stubblefield and now Jason Taylor.

The 'skins gave up $8.5 million, the #44 pick in the upcoming draft and a sixth-round pick next year in exchange for Taylor's 3.5 sacks on a last-place team.

Wasn't Haynesworth supposed to free-up Taylor for sacks? Oh well. Washington was the #4 yardage and #6 scoring defense in the NFL last year.

So why did the Redskins sign a $100 million contract and a $54 million deal with DeAngelo Hall to improve what was one of the best in the NFL last year? Meanwhile, the team has done little to address their biggest problems:

1) Possibly the worst kicking game in the league (last in net punt average and last in field goal accuracy)
2) An offense that was one of two in the league that failed to post 3o points in a single game and an offensive line that couldn't give Campbell time or provide a push for Portis.

They did bring back Derrick Dockery, who was cast aside by the Bills after he signed for big money there. I'm hoping Dockery will be effective this year as Bills cast-away Jim Leonhard was for the Ravens last year.

I will miss Springs and Washington, but both have been injured so much lately that I understand the decision to let them go.

Locally, the overall reaction to the signings seem to be positive, but forgive me for not feeling more enthusiastic about the opening weekend of free agency. (See forums at the Hogs, and the Post for more).

Hall in, Torrance out; Portis 50-50?

By Nate Sandstrom

In case you haven't heard Clinton Portis is "50-50" to play this Sunday against Dallas, and RB Ladell Betts' status is also uncertain, Coach Zorn says.

Meanwhile, DeAngelo Hall has shown up at Redskins Park and the means key special teams member Leigh Torrence was cut. It is unclear to me why the team didn't place rookie WR Malcolm Kelly on IR as I can't imagine that he would be effective at this point in the season, even if he does play this year.

Why am I not enthused about the 'Skins signing DeAngelo Hall. Stats like this from today's Post:

Hall has 20 interceptions in 65 career games, including three interceptions in eight games this season, and has returned two for touchdowns in his career. He takes risks in coverage, and according to STATS Inc., was susceptible to major breakdowns with the Raiders. Offenses have thrown at Hall 66 times this season, completing 40 passes for 552 yards.

Goo.

The Burgundy and Gold? Don't worry about them.

By Nate Sandstrom
Following a 19-17 home loss to the previously winless Rams, Clinton Portis was among those quick to write off the loss as a situation where the Redskins fell victim to the so-called "trap" game.

"The headlines got good. We were saying 'Yeah, we're here.' We've got three games we can win," Portis told reporters at a press conference. "And we overlooked a team today that came in here ready to play," Portis said.

However, some other Redskins players, and I, could not disagree more. They lost because of three critical turnovers, poor pass blocking at times and horrendous punting.

On the first count, fumbles happen. It is rare that a pass is going to be deflected, your guard is going to catch it and then fumble it, and then the defense is going to recover it and run it back 80 yards for a TD. All that happened and that was the difference in the game.

Of course the fact that the Rams D-line was able to penetrate the line and tip Campbell's pass spoke to some of the larger pass blocking problems Washington had yesterday. And by Washington I mean Jon Jansen.

Jansen has been a great Redskin and I really like him. But he clearly lacks the quickness he once possessed and keeps getting beat to the outside too much, like the time the Rams sacked Campbell on 3rd and 1. Heyer will probably miss another week though before he can reclaim the starting spot.

Meanwhile, craptacular punter Durant Brooks could be replaced or put on IR. The Redskins will hold auditions this week. I don't know why they didn't just keep Derrick Frost.

So anyway, the upshot of all this is the punting situation will be dealt with and Heyer will be back in another week. The Redskins outyardaged the Rams 368-200 and had a 22-8 edge in first downs. The Cowboys lost this week anyway and it looks like Eli Manning is back to his old self. Washington should still finish with at least 10 wins.

Meanwhile, Ladell Betts is out for possibly two weeks, and Shaun Alexander apparently came in for a workout.

Major Gloating: It's feeling awfully 1980s around here

They say everything comes back in 20 year cycles. Maybe that includes Redskins football.

For the first time since I was in junior high, I feel like Washington can beat anybody. Sure, they've made the playoffs two of the last three years but I never felt either of those teams could do better than pulling a few upsets to land them in the NFC Championship Game. They didn't even get that far.

Portis is running the ball like he did when he was a rookie, and Campbell is showing poise I never expected he would develop when Washington took him out of Auburn. Santana Moss didn't have a catch yesterday, but Zorn has been getting him the ball in space and letting him use his speed.

And the defense is also playing good enough, despite injuries to Marcus Washington, Shawn Springs and Jason Taylor.

They've gone 4-1 despite having gone to the Giants, Cowboys and Eagles, as well as hosting NFC playoff contenders Arizona and New Orleans. DC is a-buzz. They are 13.5-point favorites this Sunday. When was the last time the 'Skins were two-TD favorites?

I've always been more of a "negative Nate" than a "positive Pete," but for now I'm going to sit back and enjoy the 'Skins crushing the Rams, Browns and Lions (combined 1-11) the next three weeks and moving to 7-1. Zorn will keep their focus, and I'll do all the looking ahead for them. And this year they shouldn't have to go to Seattle for the playoffs!

Lockdown: Week 5

By Nate Sandstrom

Doesn't it figure that the week where I break through on my upset special (Boise State with the win at +320) I pull an unspectacular 1-3. I will point out that North Carolina was cruising before Yates went out.

At least my pick against Arkansas theory finally paid off. I'm going to that well one more time.

Locks
Arkansas at Texas (-27)

It's rare that I would lay 27 points in a border war game; however, the Longhorns average margin of victory is 37.6. You may say, "Ya, but that was against Florida Atlantic, UTEP and Rice."

I respond: Arkansas beat Western Illinois by four and UL-Monroe by one. They trailed in the fourth quarter in both games. Get ready for a long season, Bobby Petrino.

Pick: Texas 55 Arkansas 13

Virginia at Duke (-7)

Duke hasn't beat Virginia since 1999. They've won two games the previous three years. But junior QB Thaddeus Lewis has guided the Blue Devils to a 2-1 start, posting a 5 TD-o INT ration. UVa's QB's have thrown no touchdowns and five picks.

Pick: Duke 31 Virginia 14

Illinois at Penn State (-15)

I'm not quite sure why Illinois is in the Top 25, other than that they were good last year. At the same time, I'm not sure why Penn State is not in the Top 10.

Both situations should be rectified this week. Penn State has putting up points like it's 1994. They'll be eager to avenge last year's loss to Illinois, a game they could have easily won.

Pick: Penn State 48 Illinois 21

Upset Special

Washington (+400) at Dallas

It will likely be the 'Skins last ever trip to Texas stadium. Why not end it with a major upset? After the opening night disaster against the Giants the burgundy and gold have looked much shaper. I know Dallas has been dominant, but in recent matches it also seems like this is a game that Washington gets more up for.

It's possible Washington will get blown out; Romo will definitely get at least one long pass past the safeties. But when you're getting 4-1 for a 2-1 team playing a divisional game, I call it a good investment.

Pick: Washington 31 Dallas 28

Updated standings for Mark and I:

Lockdown:
Nate: 6-6 (-60)
Mark 5-2 (+280)

Upset Special:
Nate: 1-3 (+20)
Mark: 1-1 (+110)

Toss-Up
Nate leads Mark 1-0

Faceoff

By Nate Sandstrom and Mark Goldman

This week's guest questioner dude is Will Pharr, brother in law of blogmaster Mark, devoted Skins fan, golf enthusiast, connoisseur of fine beer, and father of one jiggy little boy, who so far is the Goldman's best shot at a future generation of football fandom.


Q: The 'Skins' late-season run to the playoffs last year was incredibly exciting, but in reality highly unexpected. With QB Jason Campbell entering his fourth pro season and new head coach Jim Zorn running the show where do you see this team going? As a lifelong Washington fan I don't know how many more of these mediocre seasons I can handle.


Mark says: Wah Wah Wah. Mediocre seasons? You've been to the playoffs two of the past three seasons and notched a win in one of those. OK, it was against Tampa, everyone's favorite first-round whipping boy, but still. Sorry, I'm venting. But seriously, until you get an elite QB, you're stuck with mediocrity or worse in this league. I don't buy that Campbell is that guy. And it sure doesn't help that he's getting the 3rd offensive coordinator in his tenure. I think he's quality, but I don't ever see him being a super QB.

As for the rest of the team, it's got lots of depth and quality at every position. I don't know what position I'd say is a glaring weakness. That's a rare thing. The problem is you're in a pretty strong division. And like I said in last week's Faceoff, it's going to be hard to send three teams from one division to the playoffs in back-to-back years. You can write off the Giants — they're in for a big letdown and I think the Cowboys are the top dog of the division. So you and the Eagles are fighting the rest of the conference's understudies for that wild card spot. But, hey, the Giants won last year. So who the hell knows.

Nate says: OK, a little bit of the Redskins' luster has been taken off by the 34-0 hole the starters dug themselves into during the first half on Saturday. Carolina completely dominated the OL and Campbell looked like a lost, scared kitten:




But let's just write that off as a game where everything went wrong. Even last year's Super Bowl Champion Giants gave up more than 80 points at home in their first two games. The 'skins built depth at their one hole, the receiving corps, in the offseason. The secondary is not great, but the Jason Taylor injury turned out not to be so bad and the front seven will apply pressure. Zorn seems to be focusing on making the offense work for the players rather than making the players work for the offense. This team is definitely capable of 11 wins.

Q: The Minnesota Vikings seem to be this year's sexy pick to come out of the NFC. Adrian Peterson is the man and their defense is ridiculous; but I saw Tavaris Jackson quarterback the team a few times and he didn't seem efficient enough to run the Mt. Hebron Vikings' offense, let alone the Minnesota Vikings. What do his supporters see in this kid?

Nate says:

I expect the Minnesota Vikings to win more games this year than the Mount Hebron Vikings, and probably anyone in the NFC North, but not because of anything Tavaris Jackson does. In fact, I expect that Gus Frerotte will start at least four games this year.

Still, Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor rushed for over 5 ypc last year. Even though Peterson's average dropped to just 3.8 in December, Taylor increased his to 7 ypc. I expect the Vikings defense to be as strong as ever, and lead the team to a division title.

Still, I say the Eagles or Saints may be better choices as darkhorses to win the NFC than the Vikings because of the quarterback situation. But I think we all have to be honest and say the NFC is the Cowboys' to lose.

Mark says:

Well, if this is your idea of sexy, then yes, the Vikings are red hot. Forget Tavaris Jackson for a moment. Look for Adrian Peterson to suffer a sophomore letdown.

In the last 30 years, 42 RB's have gone for 1,000 yards as a rookie. Only 14 of those topped their yardage total the next year. Just 11 scored more TDs and nine averaged more YPC. Plus, don't forget that Peterson is injury prone. They do have Chester Taylor to fall back on, but where is Tavaris expected to throw the ball. You're right. The Vikings are sexy and that's why I'm not calling for them to win the division. I look east to Green Bay and I see a more complete team. They're questionable at the QB position, but I like the Packers to rally and win the division. They've let the Favre weight go and the Vikes still have to live with the weight of being this year's sexy pick. Things can fall apart very quickly for teams like this. We're going to be posting our season's predictions here at Sobo soon, but look for the Vikes to end up around 8-8 again.

Q: Do you see Florida QB Tim Tebow repeating as the Heisman Trophy Award winner in his upcoming junior season? What are your thoughts on other contenders?

Nate says:

I think Tebow is certainly the favorite (He's about 3-1 at gamblerspalace.com) this year. His surrounding offense should be even better than last season, when he ran for 23 TDs and passed for 32 more. The schedule also is more favorable as the Gators draw LSU at home and won't face Auburn unless they meet in an SEC Title Game. #5 Florida should also be in the Top 5 for most of the year, so Tebow will have plenty of exposure. However, as the QB gets praise in victory he often takes blame in defeat, and if the Gators were upset on the brink of a national title game, say Nov. 15 at South Carolina, he could take the fall.

The guy besides Tebow most likely to put up gaudy numbers is Texas Tech sophomore WR Michael Crabtree (17 to 2 odds). Last year, he caught 134 passes for 1,962 yards and 22 TDs! He could produce even bigger stats this year as 10 starters, including all 5 OL and QB Graham Harrell. The #14 Red Raiders should be undefeated when they head to Kansas on Oct. 25, followed by a home tilt with Texas on Nov. 1 and a trip to Norman the weekend before Thanksgiving. What happens in that stretch will determine his fate, and I think ultimately he and Tech will come up short.

The guy I like most to win this award is junior Ohio State RB Chris "Beanie" Wells (11 to 2 odds). Wells' speed and vision will give him a highlight reel that no other player will match in breadth and scope. Add to that the fact I expect #3 Ohio State to earn a bid to the National Championship again, and I will place my wager on Wells.

Looking for a dark horse? What about Clemson QB Cullen Harper? As a junior he posted a gaudy 27-6 TD/INT ration and the #9 Tigers toughest game prior to the ACC Championship and bowl game is probably at Wake Forest. Clemson seems to perennially underachieve, but if Coach Boweden got Clemson to a national title game then Harper would certainly get a look.

If you want more Heisman chatter, you should check out Heisman Pundit, who agrees with me in picking Wells to win this year's award.


Mark says:

As a Ravens fan, I have much interest in this question as I am already scouting the colleges for next year's #1 pick. Then again, take our Heisman winner, please!

But if I had a vote, I'd cast it right now for this Crabtree from TT that Nate mentioned based on his last year's stats alone. Damn, those are crazy numbers. But Nate's probably right and I have a hard time seeing someone from Texas Tech pulling out the Heisman. I also really like Cullen Harper out of Clemson.

I also like Pat White out of West Virginia to garner some of the votes. But it's tough to say now that Rich Rodriguez is in Michigan and Steve Slaton is in Houston. Will White be able to step up and make this his offense? We'll see.

Finally, look for the customary USC nod in QB Mark Sanchez. This team has put out three of the past six national champs.

Federal rule change results in chaos for fans used to taking the bus to FedEx

By Nate Sandstrom

For those traveling to FedEx Field this year, they no longer have the buses that run from the Landover Metro to the stadium for $6. The MTA bus service to Ravens games (and apparently many other teams) is also affected as new federal guidelines now prohibit government agencies (like Metro, the Maryland Transit Administration) from offering the service when private companies also to do so.

I'm trying to find a news article that explains this all, but I remember reading about it early this spring. My recollection is that private companies argued that it was unfair that public entities were subsidizing the cost of transporting people to stadiums and made it impossible for them offer competitive rates.

Sounds fair enough, but here's the net effect: The Redskins said in a press release they looked into offering the service through a private company and the $6 fee would increase to $20. The 'Skins decided not to bother at that point. I'm not sure what the Ravens are doing.

So now you either have to start driving — further clogging the roads, spewing more CO2 in the air and burning more gasoline — or take the Metro Blue Line to the Morgan Boulevard station and walk (that's what I did).

Last night, for a preseason game, the trains were packed, kids were crying and there was much confusion. I guarantee this will be a disaster on Sept. 14.

Some helpful tips from my experience:

• Leave early.

• It took about 20 minutes to walk to the stadium once I reached the stop; it could've been quicker but the sidewalks are not built to handle the amount of foot traffic the games draw.

• Some guys were trying to sell water for like $4 a bottle right outside the stop, but there are many people selling for $1 a bottle along the way. No one was selling food, but one couple was selling Bud and Bud Light from their front yard for $3 each or two for $5. Don't know how long 'til police shut that down.

• If you go from New Carrollton, use the bathroom there. You won't see one again until the Port-A-Potties outside the stadium.

24-0 anyone?

By Nate Sandstrom

You can usually count me among the skeptical end of Redskins fans, but I'm very optimistic about this year. Although most NFL prognosticators are picking the 'Skins to finish last in the NFC East, (their Vegas over/under win total is 7.5) I'm optimistic they will be in the race for the division title in December.

Yes, there's a new HC, OC and DC and new systems. But player continuity counts in this league (sorry Jets), and nearly everyone is back from last year's playoff team. I'll get more into actual predictions later this month, but after being at Fed Ex Field for the preseason home opener last night (a 17-14 win), let me tell you what I'm most excited about:

• Jason Taylor will have offensive lines worried. Buffalo was flagged twice for false starts early in the game yesterday, including on a third-and-long when the prospect of blocking Taylor and Marcus Washington had the Bills right side spooked.

• Jason Campbell has completed 80 percent of his passes in the first two preseason games. Although many people are worried about Campbell learning a new offense, it's about the eighth time he's done it in nine years so he considers it part of training camp. With some added size in the receiving corps in Malcolm Kelly teams will also not be able to double Cooley as much and he shut cut down on the turnovers that cost the 'Skins in the red zone so often last year.

I know preseason game don't count for anything, but I'd rather win them then lose. The starters were mostly sharp last night and it was nice to see Ladell Betts back in the end zone. The backups were OK; #4 RB Marcus Mason racked up 80 yards on 16 carries but fumbled the opening kickoff and was stuffed twice on the one-yard-line on a drive that would have put Washington up 24-14.

Despite that, Washington is 2-0 in the preseason; and with just three more preseason victories, a perfect regular season and a Super Bowl title they can be history's first 24-0 team:)

Sports page run down

Add Jim Fassel, who believed he would have the job by now, to the list of people upset with Dan Snyder, the Washington Post reports.

I thought he was all but written off, but the Baltimore Examiner reports that Steve McNair may QB the Ravens next year.

USA Today looks at Super Bowls that are rematches from the regular season, and finds the winner in the regular season is 1/5 in the Big One.

Hines Ward had his feelings hurt, the Post-Gazette reports.

This chopped AP story reveals that Bill Clinton is supporting the Giants in the Super Bowl, but plays golf with Tom Brady. Imagine the chicks they can get as a team.

One more reason not to watch the Pro Bowl, Brett Favre isn't playing.

Could Drew Rosenhaus have another Willis McGahee sales job? Top CB prospect Jack Ikegwuonu, a junior from Wisconsin, tore his ACL during a workout Tuesday; however, agent Drew Rosenhaus says everything is fine, just like he did with Willis. My heart's still broken he left the Badgers early.

Here's a dose of "I told you so":

He made himself eligible for the draft earlier this month, leaving UW after his junior season, and signed with Rosenhaus on Jan. 5.

Ikegwuonu was pulling a sled, in a drill designed to improve his speed, when the injury occurred.

He exploded out of a start and planted his leg when the knee gave way.

"I blame the agent for telling him to come out, when we told him to stay in," an NFL scout said.

--Nate Sandstrom

Another 180-degree turn for Snyder

Well, the Fassel plan appears to be on hold, according to the Post. Looks like the public outcry had something to do with it, so good job fans.

My guess is they will make another Bill Cowher run and offer him like $8 mil a year to change his mind.

If that fails, I don't know what will happen. Williams has been on hold so long he has no other real options, but my money has him off next year's staff. Fassel also has no other options, so I guess he would accept being choice #2....or 3, 4 or 5.

Despite the clusterbomb this situation is, I'm upbeat that Fassel is on hold. I'm still against trading draft picks for Rex Ryan; then again, it's not like the 'Skins have a coach who will have seen any of the players at the Senior Bowl this weekend.
--Nate Sandstrom

Jim Fassel -- this must be a joke!

Yesterday, I said that there is no chance Gregg Williams is coming back.

Today, the Washington Post's Jason La Canfora cites league sources in laying out the Redskins search with Jim Fassel as the leading candidate.

The Washington Times' Ryan O'Halloran admits he got beat on this, although points to a discussion he had with Fassel on Sunday in which Fassel denied he was a candidate. Perfect.

O'Halloran also makes the same point I did yesterday: that the hiring Fassel likely means Saunders and Williams are out.

I can't figure this out for the life of me, but La Canfora reports that Fassel was apparently the leading candidate for the 'Skins job before Gibbs took it. He instead went on to help manage the Ravens sputtering offense and "develop" Kyle Boller.

As you can tell, I'm not a fan of the move. It seems the only thing that stays the same in Washington is that nothing does.

Check out how popular this idea is with other 'Skins fans.

--Nate Sandstrom

So much for continuity

When Joe Gibbs stepped down earlier this month, Dan Snyder talked about continuity. At this point, it's hard to believe the Redskins team that takes the field on Opening Day 2008 will resemble the team that had a 4th quarter lead in Seattle in the playoffs.

I'm pretty sure if the 'Skins wanted assistant head coach-defense Gregg Williams to be the new head coach, they wouldn't bring him in for four FOUR interviews. As this Washington Times article points out, it's not Gregg Williams holding things up.

It's clear there some reason Snyder doesn't want to hire Williams — and I predict he won't.

Whoever comes in will bring a new staff, and with tge cap issues will get rid of Jansen, Springs, Washington, Griffin and more. It will be another year of a new system and new players. People can talk about Campbell "showing progress" and some of his picks will be chalked up to learning a new system. My early call for next season is 6-10.

Some may say "so what." This team barely made the playoffs and aren't close to being a winner.

I disagree. They are close to winning the weak NFC, which I would consider an accomplishment. I don't know that anyone else will catch the Pats/Chargers/Colts in the next two years, so making the Super Bowl would be good enough to me.

If it were my choice, I'd cut Lloyd, restructure a couple deals and leave pretty much everything else in tact. Let Saunders run the offense and Williams run the defense. Of course maybe Williams is not OK with that, and that's why he's not being hired.

Of course it's all speculation as usual because there's been few straight answers coming out of Redskins Park lately.

--Nate Sandstrom

A blast from the past

While I've spent the last two days covering debates around affordable housing and health care, I've missed out on important things, like going over and over how the Redskins lost on Sunday.

Well, the clock just hit Wednesday so I guess I have to look ahead to Arizona. Washington opened as a 6-point favorite and the line has already moved to 8 or 9 along the strip.

Guess thirds-string QB Tim Rattay isn't striking fear in the hearts of America's football gamblers. And hey 'skins fans? Guess who will back in town to back-up Rattay? It appears the Cards are clearing a roster spot to sign Tim Hasselbeck.

You may remember him from such Steve Spurrier-era disasters as a 27-0 loss to Dallas in which he finished with a passer rating of 0.0 and a 31-7 home loss to the Eagles.

Speaking of 2003, like this year, the Redskins started 3-1. Then they lost a close road game (at Philly 27-25 after they failed to convert a two-point conversion) before the season unraveled and they finished 5-11.

Not that I expect them follow that pattern this year, but I'm a little worried about the state of the offensive line, and in turn, what that does to the rest of the offense. They are not running the ball like they did last year, particularly in the second half of games.

Team officials expect the line to be in dire straits again this weekend, Jason La Canforna writes in Tuesday's Post. Expect updates later this week.

--Nate Sandstrom

Getting your story straight

Since Joe Gibbs has returned to Redskins Park,everyone on the team seems to have a different answer to the same question.

From which coach calls the plays when to who is hurt and how injured they are, the answer to every question seems to depend on who you ask.

So now, nearly two weeks after Ladell Betts was stuffed twice at the Giants'1-yard line to end the game, the answer to why Clinton Portis didn't get the ball is going through similar evolutions.

Gibbs told reporters at a press conference yesterday that no one is trying to lie, and Post columnist Mike Wise seems to agree. But the botched communication is clear. From the Post:

But the reason people wonder about conspiracy theories is because, often, no two people say the same thing in Ashburn. Case in point: When people wanted to know why Portis was not on the field for the final series of plays, Gibbs said afterward that Portis and Betts were "interchangeable."

Monday morning after the game, Al Saunders, the associate head coach who calls the plays, said that he was unsure if Portis was available from his perch in the booth.

Gibbs detailed the end of the game in his news conference that evening, mentioning that running backs coach Earnest Byner sent Betts into the game to throw off a Giants defense used to Portis running the same plays.

A week later, we learned about Portis being banged up, though it's unclear exactly when it happened and it was unclear for a while what the actual injury was.

Ten days later, there's not a lot of clarity. What gives?

But it's just another week in the world of the Redskins, where, since the Daniel Snyder era began, the story has almost always been away from the field.

Now, for the actual game this Sunday. If the season were over today, both the Redskins and Lions would be in the playoffs. The Redskins opened the week as a 3.5-point favorite, and that has held fairly steady.

So here's an angle on this game: Since 2004, the Redskins have lost more games that they led at halftime (11) than any other team. That's the same amount of blown leads the Redskins had in Gibbs 1.0, from 1981 to 1992.

The article doesn't mention it, but they play an opponent in the Lions that set the NFL record for most points in a fourth quarter (34) last week. Could this week be another candidate for a blown lead? They also torched the Raiders in the fourth quarter in Week 1,

The Redskins have won 20 of the last 22 meetings between these clubs, although the Lions two wins have come in the last four meetings, whatever all that counts for.

I think this game will turn on injuries. At the receiver position, Calvin Johnson is expected to play this weekend while Santana Moss is listed as doubtful. The 'skins signed Keenan McCardell to take his place this weekend. McCardell took punt return reps in practice this week, I hope that doesn't mean he will return punts during the game.

Portis is listed as probable, and it appears Fred Smoot will return this week.

Detroit has the NFL's #17 rushing defense, good news for a team that is at its best when it runs. (Witness blown lead against Giants when they abandon the run.)

I expect a high scoring, see-saw game. Betts will get 95 yards this week and I think Portis plays and gets another 80 and 2 TDs. I also think Kitna will be able to work Carlos Rogers/Fred Smoot and will limit turnovers.

If I recover from a throat infection I'll be in the stands and the Redskins usually lose when I go. Of course they also usually lose when I don't go. What they hey, I'll call for a Washington win.

Washington 30 Detroit 24

--Nate Sandstrom

Worst to First

One of my great childhood sports memories is the 1991 worst-to-first World Series between the Minnesota Twins and Atlanta Braves.

It's not such a special thing in the NFL, especially in the typically putrid NFC.

Each NFC team that finished last in their division last season has started this year in the thick of things.

The Bucs, 'skins and Lions are each 2-1, while Arizona is 1-2, but both their losses are by just three points.

Since the NFC went from three to four divisons in 2002, six teams have gone from last to first the following season -- a rate of 37.5%. Even more interesting, it has happened in the NFC South each year. Atlanta and New Orleans will really be racing for the bottom.

That trend may continue. Of the four teams that finished last in their divisions in 2006, I think the Bucs, who may have their best defense since the Dungy years, have the best chance to win in 2007. I think the others could make a run, but I consider Dallas, Green Bay and Seattle far ahead of them.

--Nate Sandstrom

Redskins notes

The Redskins pick up New England cast off Reche Caldwell, and Jon Jansen is officially out for the year, the Post reports.

Also, Marcus Mason was cut to make room for a secondary addition, but is expected to sign with practice squad.