Strong safety Ryan Clark and tight end Robert Royal both started 25 of 34 games the past two seasons and both would like to remain in Washington. However, the Redskins' serious salary cap problems have prevented the team from making either of their unrestricted free agents starters a firm contract offer before the opening of the March 6 signing period.
"I want to be here and the Redskins have let me know they want me back, but we have a lot of cap trouble," Clark said. "We have to figure out a way to make something work that's in both of our best interests. The money doesn't even have to be equal. It just has to be close to what someone else offers for me to stay."
Royal hasn't been paying as close attention to the NFL's labor situation as Clark has, but he knows, "There's a lot of stuff going on with the Skins so I don't have a contract yet. I'm just playing things by ear. I don't worry about what I can't control. I love Washington. If the money's the same, I'll be here."
Redskins coach Joe Gibbs, who was taken aback last March by the quick departures of "core Redskins" Antonio Pierce and Fred Smoot in free agency, is counting on the attraction of staying put with a playoff team to overcome the lure of possibly greener (as is more greenbacks) pastures for both Clark and Royal.
"With our free agents, what we're hoping is that we're the best place for them," Gibbs said. "Sometimes you get forced into letting them look. Hopefully in our case, they want to be with us. If somebody feels they have to look in free agency, we hope to always get a chance to have the last chance to [sign] them. Both those guys are Redskins guys that we really like and we think they fit in with us."
While Pierce and Smoot left for lucrative deals, the 6-foot-4, 257-pound Royal, who had 18 of his 31 career catches in 2005 while mostly being used as a blocker, doesn't figure to receive an overwhelming offer in free agency. Neither does Clark, despite recording 163 tackles in two solid seasons as a starter for a top 10 defense.
"I'm a realist," Clark said. "I understand my place in this league. Some people look at my size [officially 5-foot-11, 200] and think I don't belong. I fit this defense. I can't play three yards off the line everywhere. And I haven't forgotten that the Redskins gave me an opportunity when no one else would (after he was cut by the New York Giants in July 2004). I don't want to leave here for a few thousand dollars more and be unhappy. Whatever money I'll make will be more than I've ever earned in my life."
NOTES, QUOTES
—Safety Sean Taylor's trial on felony assault and misdemeanor battery charges was postponed yet again Friday, this time from Mar. 20 to April 10, after allegations of witness tampering.
At a hearing in Miami-Dade County Circuit Court, assistant state's attorney Michael Grieco said that a witness had received threatening phone calls about the case and had been offered money to influence his/her testimony.
Grieco declined to identify the witness or who allegedly had made the threats and offered the money but said the matter was under investigation.
However, Edward Carhart, Taylor's lead attorney, told The Washington Times that Ryan Hill is the state's witness who had been on the receiving end of the alleged threats and inducements. Carhart added that Taylor, too, has received threatening calls.
In response to Grieco's report and a request from Taylor's recently-expanded defense team for more time to take witness statements from three people who live outside of Florida, Judge Mary Barzee delayed the trial which had originally been set for last Sept. 12.
The charges stem from a June 1 incident in which Taylor alleges that two his all-terrain vehicles were stolen and he sought their return.
Taylor, 22, faces a maximum of 46 years in prison on three aggravated assault charges (15 years apiece) and one simple battery charge (one year). Each assault charge carries a mandatory minimum prison term of three years.
Since prosecutors allege that Taylor used a gun, they refused to waive the minimum 3-year prison term in exchange for a guilty plea.
While the state claims Taylor and/or an associate brandished guns during two of three separate confrontations during the incident, Carhart maintains that the only weapons on either side were used to shoot holes in his client's Yukon Denali SUV and in the walls of the house of one of Taylor's friends.
Taylor, who was not present in court, has pleaded not guilty and is free on $16,500 bail. He's due to report to Redskin Park for the start of offseason workouts on Mar. 27.
—Quarterback Patrick Ramsey, cornerback Walt Harris, defensive tackle Brandon Noble, safety Matt Bowen, center Cory Raymer, kicker John Hall, punter Tom Tupa and receivers James Thrash and Taylor Jacobs could all well be cut on Sunday in order for the Redskins to get under the $94.5 million cap. Only Hall, coming off two injury-plagued seasons, figured to be a regular in Washington in 2006.
—Other than Clark and Royal, Washington's unrestricted free agents are: linebackers Khary Campbell and Warrick Holdman, running back Rock Cartwright, defensive linemen Demetric Evans and Cedric Killings, tight end Brian Kozlowski and safety Omar Stoutmire. Left guard Derrick Dockery, linebacker Chris Clemons and cornerback Ade Jimoh are all restricted and would have to be tendered at $712,000, adding another $2.136 million to Washington's cap crunch. Evans, Campbell and Holdman, in that order, are the most important of the backups who are UFAs.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I know the owners and everybody involved and the powers that be are doing their best to get things back to where they're supposed to be. We're like everybody [else] keeping our ears to the ground hoping to hear some good news." — Linebacker Marcus Washington.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
FRANCHISE PLAYER: None.
TRANSITION PLAYER: None.
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: LB Khary Campbell; RB Rock Cartwright; S Ryan Clark; DL Demetric Evans; WLB Warrick Holdman; DT Cedric Killings; TE Brian Kozlowski; TE Robert Royal; S Omar Stoutmire.
RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: WLB Chris Clemons; LG Derrick Dockery; CB Ade Jimoh; DL Melvin Williams.
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