Cooley, Moss battling to keep jobs with Redskins

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:47 am

Ashburn, Va. (AP) — Tight end Chris ey and Santana Moss are probably fighting for more than just their starting jobs with the Washington Redskins— they're possibly battling for roster spots.

ey missed all of last summer's work following knee surgery and had just eight catches, 65 yards and no touchdowns in five games.

The 33-year-old Moss got off to a strong start, but his performance dropped off markedly once he returned from a four-game absence with a broken hand. He finished with just 46 catches, 585 yards and four touchdowns.

ey, who turns 30 on July 11, understands the task ahead of him.

"I have a big challenge ahead of me in proving that I'm the player I think I can be and I'm still the player that I was," ey said. "I feel even if I'm not the guy . I'll still be a major factor on this team."

Fred Davis supplanted ey as Washington's No. 1 tight end with a strong 2011 season while the Redskins gave free agent receivers Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan $28.5 million guaranteed in March.

Both Moss and ey have dropped about 15 pounds each in an attempt to get quicker, but there are still financial concerns clouding their situations.

ey ($3.8 million) and Moss ($2.65 million) cost the Redskins $6.45 million in base salary. The franchise was penalized $18 million on its 2012 cap by the NFL for frontloading contracts during the uncapped 2010 season.

They have been well worth their salaries since ey became a fulltime Redskins regular in 2005 — the same year Moss arrived in Washington.

Other than 2009 when ey missed the final nine games with a broken leg, he and Moss were Washington's top pass-catchers every year for six straight seasons. They are one of the Redskins' top receiving duos in franchise history — behind the tandem of Hall of Famer Art Monk and Gary Clark.

But that seems like a long time ago.

During coach Mike Shanahan's first press conference since the end of last season on April 25 first press conference he praised the new receivers and Leonard Hankerson, a promising 2011 rookie, while not mentioning Moss.

Despite all the indicators, ey and Moss say they aren't worried about their roles with the team.

ey had a Redskins tight end record 428 catches while Moss' 485 catches for Washington rank him behind only Monk, Clark and Hall of Famer Charley Taylor.

That said, while Shanahan has liked what he has seen from both players this spring, he has used the word "hopefully" when discussing the futures of Moss and ey — who combined to catch 170 passes for 1,964 yards and nine touchdowns during the coach's Washington debut in 2010.

"I don't play worried about something," said Moss, who burned ace cornerback DeAngelo Hall for a long touchdown catch from rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III during Tuesday's minicamp practice. "You're going to get guys coming in year after year from college, from other teams, and when you have guys that played on the level (that Garcon and Morgan) played on, teams are going to want them.

"All that can do for you is to motivate you to be on that same level."

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 8:49 am

thanks 1niksder

this confirms the reports that the roster will be made up with players that have earned their spots here and now

this franchise is about what you will contribute to the success of your team in the future not what you did last year or before

competing for roster spots - gotta love it

hopefully Santana and Chris are a part of this going forward as it's only going to get better here

I think Santana's in and I think Cool

ey's still got something left and a lot of desire to be here

riggofan · Post by **riggofan** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 1:46 pm

I agree with what you're saying, SJ. But salary seems to be playing a big part here too. It kind of sounds like not only do Moss/Cooley have to earn their spots, but they may have to be playing MUCH better than the younger, less expensive guys.

Do you agree?

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:01 pm

1niksder would have a better handle on this than I do

this season - Moss & Cool

ey will be on the roster if they show they're going to be able to contribute - both seem to be preparing to fight to win roster spots

I doubt that their salaries are a factor for this season

IMO - Moss will have a really good year - Cool

ey will always find a way to be a clutch player - I think Davis will be the best TE

rskin72 · Post by **rskin72** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 2:29 pm

SkinsJock wrote:thanks 1niksder

this confirms the reports that the roster will be made up with players that have earned their spots here and now

this franchise is about what you will contribute to the success of your team in the future not what you did last year or before

competing for roster spots - gotta love it

hopefully Santana and Chris are a part of this going forward as it's only going to get better here

I think Santana's in and I think ey's still got something left and a lot of desire to be here

SJ....concur with your thoughts on Moss...I have always thought Moss would be a WR on this years team. Cool

ey....that could be a bit different depending on his recovery from injury.

I would imagine that both would be on the roster this season UNLESS the salary cap issue comes into play....and who knows, they may try to restructure contracts to buy some time there.

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:04 pm

rskin - I agree - If I had to, I'd say that Moss is almost certainly here and Cool

ey has a good shot at making the roster

Cool

ey has a lot of desire but it's going to come down to his ability to show that he's fully recovered

cowboykillerzRGiii · Post by **cowboykillerzRGiii** » Wed Jun 13, 2012 4:08 pm

Restructure both with bonus options for playing.every game and performing to a certain level or higher. Neither are "done" and both are not just vets, but Redskin vets, who bleed B&G. The locker room contributions and grooming of new faces has to be taken into account. Another year.like last year though, and restructuring of their contracts probably won't even save them.
That said they are staples in redskins recent history, I own jerseys of both as do ky son and wife, so I'd be extremely sad to see them go or under perform.

riggofan · Post by **riggofan** » Thu Jun 14, 2012 11:28 am

cowboykillerzRED wrote:Restructure both with bonus options for playing.every game and performing to a certain level or higher. Neither are "done" and both are not just vets, but Redskin vets, who bleed B&G.

I agree with what you're saying, kind of surprised the restructuring hasn't happened yet. Unless both these guys have REALLY fallen off and just can't get it done, I would hope they'll be back.

ICEMAN · Post by **ICEMAN** » Fri Jun 15, 2012 4:47 am

These two are my absolute favorite! They are true Redskins and will be here...without a doubt!

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 12:53 pm

After rewatching games 1 and 2, Cool

ey still has a lot to offer this team and more importntly , a rookie QB.

Jak101 · Post by **Jak101** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 5:59 pm

It seems like even the professionals can't say whether or not Cool

ey will play, but I still thought this offered a pretty good summary: http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/ ... kins-notes

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 6:55 pm

Jak101 wrote:It seems like even the professionals can't say whether or not ey will play, but I still thought this offered a pretty good summary: http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/ ... kins-notes

Thanks for the post. I agree with Graz's summary of Cool

ey's situation.

welch · Post by **welch** » Thu Jun 21, 2012 4:29 pm

Just pause and think back to Moss and Cool

ey's first year with the team. Seems forever.

Yes, I get sentimentsal about some players. I hope these two make it.

rick301 · Post by **rick301** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 1:22 pm

I believe Santana will be just fine and on the roster. He's still fast, runs great routs and has veteran savy. A rookie QB needs that - a receiver who can compensate when things break down.

I'd like to see Cool

ey on the roster. You gotta love his spirit and passion for the skins and the game. It depends on how well he has recovered from his knee injury.

I'm not totally sold on Davis. Yes, he's very talented (but not as good as Cool

ey blocking) but he is close to a lengthy suspension if he fails another urine analysis.

I want to see a healthy Cool

ey, along with Davis and Moss on the field together as weapons for RG III. That will present all types of headaches for defenses!

langleyparkjoe · Post by **langleyparkjoe** » Mon Jun 25, 2012 1:54 pm

welch wrote:Yes, I get sentimentsal about some players. I hope these two make it.

Right with you bro!

cowboykillerzRGiii · Post by **cowboykillerzRGiii** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 3:09 am

Gotta throw out a..... YUP to that one! Cooooooooo and tana are amount the last true skins remaining. +Fletcher +Orakpo +?

cowboykillerzRGiii · Post by **cowboykillerzRGiii** » Tue Jun 26, 2012 3:11 am

Don't say omg or reed... Or u need to hang up on yourself