By Nunyo Demasio Washington Post Staff Writer Tuesday, March 1, 2005; 5:32 PM
The Washington Redskins reached agreement today with left tackle Chris Samuels on a contract extension, sources said, providing the team with more flexibility under the salary cap to pursue free agents.
But, with the NFL free agency period beginning at midnight, a last-ditch effort to revive a trade that would send disgruntled wide receiver Laveranues Coles to the New York Jets appears to have been abandoned, increasing the chances that Coles would remain with the team next season.
Figures on the size of Samuels's contract were not immediately available, but sources said that he would receive the richest signing bonus in Redskins history. Coles and right guard Randy Thomas had each received signing bonuses worth roughly $13 million.
Washington initially wanted to restructure Samuels's contract so that it could absorb the impact a trade of Coles to the Jets for wideout Santana Moss would have on the Redskins' salary cap, a league-mandated ceiling on teams' player payrolls.
The trade collapsed when New York and Coles could not agree on a contract extension. Unless that Redskins are able to find another team willing to meet Coles's demands, the Redskins will be forced to retain the 5-foot-11, 193-pound receiver.
Washington has until midnight to reach an agreement to release Coles, as he has requested, in exchange for forfeiting a $5 million deferred signing bonus payment due April 1. If the deadline is missed, the Redskins would get salary cap relief in 2006, not 2005, if Coles were to agree to forfeit the signing bonus payment in exchange for a trade or release.
Gibbs has emphasized that the Redskins will bring Coles back if the club can't trade him for equal value.
Here comes the calvary to help us deep into the playoffs in 2005!
"Guess [Ryan Kerrigan] really does have a good motor. And is relentless. And never quits on a play. And just keeps coming. And probably eats Wheaties and drinks Apple Pie smoothies and shaves with Valvoline." -Dan Steinberg DC Sports Bog
This makes me excited--I'm glad that he was willing to help out the team and ensure that he would be a Redskin for at least a few more years. He's got every opportunity now to silence the critics and help anchor our line for Portis.
This is great news but we all were fairly sure it was going to happen.
These guys keep insisting that we are about to do things that we're not! Obviously they are having a hard time realizing that the financial mistakes and bad trades might not be happening with Joe.
This must bother the "news" boys big time!
Until recently, Snyder & Allen have made a lot of really bad decisions - nobody with any sense believes this franchise will get better under their guidance Snyder's W/L record = 45% (80-96) - Snyder/Allen = 41% (59-84-1)
I'm not thrilled. Although Samuels is a good player, I don't believe we should have paid him the largest signing bonus in franchise history. When will it end? It won't! Who holds us up next?
God bless our troops and Joe Gibbs.
We'll miss you, Joe.
Smithian wrote:Oh yeah... I scooped Jake! That sounds so good to say!
Congrats Smithian! You wont often get as big a scoop as that on these guys - and on Jake's "man" too. Well done!
Last edited by SkinsJock on Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Until recently, Snyder & Allen have made a lot of really bad decisions - nobody with any sense believes this franchise will get better under their guidance Snyder's W/L record = 45% (80-96) - Snyder/Allen = 41% (59-84-1)
Coles and right guard Randy Thomas had each received signing bonuses worth roughly $13 million.
It might be my mistake but that article states we game Randy Thomas a 13 million dollar signing bonus. I believe his was worth only seven. I hate the frigin media I am not thrilled. There is no way he deserves the richest signing bonus in Redskin history. He isn't even our best olineman. They should have cut their ties with Chris because he has been overhyped since he was drafted. Another Gardner if you ask me but since no one did I will shut up. I am sorry if this hurts anyones feelings, jmo.
Last edited by kkryan on Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:07 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Death to all things remotely BLUE and SILVER!!!!!!!!!!! Hail Skins
Man I'm glad this got done i really dont even care about the size of the signing bonus. I know i should but at least now we got some room to get coles outta here and sign our guys.
skinsfan308 wrote:Man I'm glad this got done i really dont even care about the size of the signing bonus. I know i should but at least now we got some room to get coles outta here and sign our guys.
wilson sec308
You should care because one day those signing bonus' are going to bite us where the sun dont shine. I thought things would be different but we are still overpaying. I hate Walter Jones.
Death to all things remotely BLUE and SILVER!!!!!!!!!!! Hail Skins
Why is everyone so intent on getting Coles out? He signed a contract! Whether he is currently happy with it or not, he's a redskin and he produces. Let him sulk or complain all he wants, because in the end, he'll still play hard. Look at how he's battled through injuries. We don't need to worry about him taking plays off like Moss does on occasion even if he is unhappy. Unless the bucs want to trade a lot of their plethora of picks (11 i think), then he needs to stay.
Romans 1:11 "For I wish that I myself were cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers..." Paul
Joe is not going to play by the old rules. If he thinks that he can improve the position (or the team) he will do that!
Joe is basically doing what he wants and not what the player, his agent, or any fat reporters think he should do.
Until recently, Snyder & Allen have made a lot of really bad decisions - nobody with any sense believes this franchise will get better under their guidance Snyder's W/L record = 45% (80-96) - Snyder/Allen = 41% (59-84-1)
Coles has to go cause we dont need players that don't want to be redskins. I want players that want to be here and are proud to wear burgandy and gold. not someone who complains because he didnt get enough balls thrown his way or he dosn't like the offence. the team comes first. so forget coles and his soar toe. know what i mean
skinsfan308 wrote:Coles has to go cause we dont need players that don't want to be redskins. I want players that want to be here and are proud to wear burgandy and gold. not someone who complains because he didnt get enough balls thrown his way or he dosn't like the offence. the team comes first. so forget coles and his soar toe. know what i mean
wilson sec 308
I agree with previous posters who are in support of Coles. Yes, he wanted to get out of playing for us this season--but he decided that halfway through last season--and still produced!! Coles is a professional, and he knows that you can't sulk around a team's locker room and help contribute to a winning franchise. If he is playing for us this next year, he will give it 100% of his effort--if history is any indication.
It's only appropriate that we have Chris on one end and Rock on the other.
Now we know that someone is going to "go ahead, make my day"!!!
Until recently, Snyder & Allen have made a lot of really bad decisions - nobody with any sense believes this franchise will get better under their guidance Snyder's W/L record = 45% (80-96) - Snyder/Allen = 41% (59-84-1)
Jake's at work....but I called him with the news....I'm sure he's not caring about being scooped but happy as can be about Chris staying with the Skins !!!
Hip Hip Hooray!!!
H.T.T.R.
Terri
Joe Gibbs: Terri has a very good eye for talent.
I am not thrilled. There is no way he deserves the richest signing bonus in Redskin history. He isn't even our best olineman. They should have cut their ties with Chris because he has been overhyped since he was drafted. Another Gardner if you ask me but since no one did I will shut up. I am sorry if this hurts anyones feelings, jmo.
