Smoke Signals: Fox Sports need a clue Edition

By PennSkinsFan | October 15, 2008

As you can imagine, most news feeds today center around the Redskins roster shuffle yesterday. Of coruse, we covered those moves right here at DC Pro Sports Report. So we will list those articles.

In case you somehow missed it, here is the Washington Post’s main article on the roster moves. Here is a quick snap summary:

Released: S Justin Hamilton

Waived: P Durant Brooks

Signed: RB Shaun Alexander, S Michael Green, and P Ryan Plackemeier

Don’t know what the Redskins next move will be in regards to Brooks, the struggling 6th round draft pick punter for the Redskins. Once Brooks clears waivers, which he likely will, the Redskins could elect to bring him back and place him on injured reserve or the practice squad. Brooks has been reportedly hampered by a hip flexor and strain.

Plackemeier is a young punter as well, just 24 years old, and one that HC Jim Zorn is familiar with, having punted for Seattle in 2006, 2007, and one game this season before being waived. Redskins could elect, if Plackemeier punts fine to have a battle of young punters, Brooks and Plackemeier in training camp next season. Let’s just hope we are not playing the song and dance like we did with kickers a few years ago when we went through three in one season. The only reason I doubt that happens is Zorn’s familiarity with Plackemeier

Other articles on roster moves: Shuffling in and out (DC Examiner), Skins sign Alexander (Rich Times)

In the DC Examiner’s First and ten, we note the point about Pete Kendall. Kendall obviously made a bad call, catching a batted pass and trying to run for it, eventually fumbling the football that was returned for a killer TD. How did Kendall respond? By facing the media and addressing. Good class for a classy guy.

After years of pessimism, Dan Daly from the Washington Times picks up Redskins fans and reminds them, despite the loss to St. Louis, the excitement over the play of QB Jason Campbell should be warming to all. Daly also surmises that the late season injury to Campbell last least year was helpful in Campbell’s growth by watching Todd Collins. Hmmm. Not sure I’m there Dan, I think it has more to do with Zorn’s coaching than the final 4 games last season. Just a hint at why? Ummm, this is a completely different system than Joe Gibbs. Not the same in any regard. I will give Zornado the credit.

The Times also takes time out to analyze each move. Good read.

Redskins seem to get lucky on the injury front this year so far — keep those finger crossed. The Post notes that Betts ‘dodged a bullet’ on the knee injury and when you watch the knee buckle, I would pretty much concur. We had that same kind of luck with DE Jason Taylor, who’s knee injury looked alot worse than it turned out to be. We are probably looking at 3 to 4 weeks for Betts. Here’s Betts take ..

“It’s a waiting game,” Betts said. “It’s a matter of how fast I heal up, really. . . . [The amount of time necessary] could vary from person to person and how severe it is. It could be a week, two weeks, three weeks, who knows. But I don’t anticipate being out too long.”

Here we go with the critical Portis articles. Let’s just put it at this. Don’t read this pathetic article, Adam Best is full of crap.

By now, everybody’s heard Portis’ grumbling about his Washington Redskins not having their mind right heading into the Rams game, but the person who really needs to pay close attention to those comments is Clinton Portis himself.

Wrong on two points Adam. First, the Redskins DID OVERLOOK the Rams, that coming from a blog here that covers the Redskins day in and day out. They did, period. And to mention that maybe Portis should pplay close attention to his own comment. Portis was the game MVP. Portis was the only one that showed up. Portis is the game MVP. Portis is the NFL’s leading rusher. Educate before writing.

I have a hard time swallowing this “Mr. Serious” spiel from Portis.

Again, Portis is one of the reasons why this team defeated Philly and Dallas, both on the road. Portis is the NFL’s leading rusher, running with more power and aggressiveness than any previous year here in DC. Educate before you write.

And for all this leadership crap, ummmm, the team, the players, all have praised the leadership role that Portis took upon himself last year when Sean Taylor tragically died, and carried into this season. His personality and character has been transformed. Yo Adam — educate before you write.

Jim Zorn says the Redskins didn’t overlook the Rams. Come on Jim, three turnovers, sloppy play, and three dropped interceptions. Sounds like a focus problem to me.

Finally, get your butts over to NFL.com and vote for Clinton Portis for Pro Bowl. I mean, he is the NFL’s leading rusher and locker room LEADER!

Vote on Jim Zorn’s Approval Rating.

More discussion in the Redskins Park forum.

More at DC Pro Sports Report