Official Redskins UDFA Signing Thread

Mills, 2 others get free-agent deals
Zack Mills is set to sign with Washington, while Derek Wake and Paul Jefferson are headed to the Giants and Browns, respectively.

By Wade Malcolm
and Jenny Vrentas
Collegian Staff Writer

Hailing from Ijamsville, Md., and often seen around town in his Washington Redskins cap, quarterback Zack Mills only needed to hear one word when his phone rang yesterday morning.

"The guy said he was from the Redskins, and I just got really excited," Mills said.

Indeed, the caller was phoning Mills the day after the conclusion of the NFL Draft to let him know that his franchise was interested in signing Mills.

After checking with his agent, Mills agreed, becoming the fifth Penn State player to make arrangements with a professional team within the past two days.

Fullback Paul Jefferson also heard from the NFL yesterday -- the Cleveland Browns will sign him to a free agent contract -- though he wasn't so much excited to hear from a specific team as he was to go wherever in the league he'll have the best chance to make the roster.

"I trusted [my agent] enough to put me in the best position to make a squad," Jefferson said. "Cleveland has a new coach [former New England defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel], and he likes fullbacks."

No Penn State players were selected in the seven rounds of the 2005 NFL Draft, but post-draft negotiations will also send linebacker Derek Wake to the New York Giants, safety Andrew Guman to the Detroit Lions and kicker Robbie Gould to the New England Patriots.

Before negotiating his contract, Mills will have to pass a physical with the Redskins, due to the fact that he pulled a hamstring during a March workout. He then expects to participate in the Redskins' rookie mini-camp, held Thursday through Sunday.

Part of the Redskins' interest in Mills stems from his participation in a workout for NFL hopefuls held at Redskins Park in Virginia on April 1, in which the prospects were assessed for speed and agility and performed position-specific drills.

"I guess I gave them a decent impression then," Mills said.

The quarterback situation is not overly favorable at Washington, as the team used one of its first-round picks to select quarterback Jason Campbell out of Auburn and already has three quarterbacks on its roster, including veteran Mark Brunell and former first-rounder Patrick Ramsey.

"I don't know about [making the roster]," Mills said with a laugh. "But maybe I can catch on as a practice squad quarterback. I just want people to keep my name in mind; I just want to keep my name out there."

http://www.roanoke.com/sports/vtfootball/22496.html

Warmother · Post by **Warmother** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 8:18 am

Does anybody know if Steve Suter or Kyle Schmit from MD has been signed?

skins81 · Post by **skins81** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:38 am

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the roster limit for the offseason 80?
The first cut down takes it to 65 then the second to 53.

Our thehogs.net roster shows 85.
It includes all the draftees from the past weekend, and players like allen, patten, rabach, pray-low and the rest of the free agent signings.

The players in NFL Europe don't count so thats
* James Bethea, CB, California
* Nathan Black, WR, Northwestern State
* Rufus Brown, CB, Florida State
* Dahrran Diedrick, RB, Nebraska
* Pita Elisara, OL, Indiana
* Maurice Jones, LB, South Florida
* Ben Nowland, OL, Auburn
* Joe Tuipala, LB. San Diego State
(had to look that one up)

That takes us down to 77.

This thread has us signing:

Billy Palmer

David Kashetta

Tiger Jones

Ben Lynch

Steven Harris

Bobby Keyes

Mikal Baaqee

Mike Daniels

That's 8 guys for 3 roster spots.

curveball · Post by **curveball** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 10:58 am

You're signing Zack Mills QB Penn State. Will probably be official sometime today or tomorrow.

He'll probably end up on your practice. He was my sleeper QB. I year to get healthy and his arm strength back is going to pay off for a patient team.

Hog Heaven · Post by **Hog Heaven** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:11 pm

Baaqee is a solid player. I enjoyed watching him at VT, but I don't know if he is worth an NFL roster spot. I hope so, I love the Hokies, but doubt it.

Hog Heaven · Post by **Hog Heaven** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 1:14 pm

Jake wrote:I already posted in another thread about Shazor. He signed with Arizona. Taylor Stubblefield signed with Carolina.

MEZZSKIN wrote:guys i just got home from work..im dying to all know all the people we signed can someone please list all the free agents we signed so i dont i have read 6 pages of this thread...thanks in advance

I already listed them in this thread. If you really care to find out, you'd look through the pages.

Jake, cut the man some slack, reading all those pages takes time. For some of us, thats in short supply. Be glad he is a loyal fan and WANTS to know what is going on even if he is busy with work. But before you get mad at me, thanks for your hard work as a moderator.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:13 pm

I have dial-up (AOL... sucks) and I don't ask people to look stuff up for me. That's the reasoning for the Search bar and the "view posts since last visit" option.

I never questioned his loyalty as a fan. And I wasn't blasting him, just making a point.

NikiH · Post by **NikiH** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:17 pm

Just a P.S. on Jake's post. These staff members do not get paid for what they do. While they love to provide info to you and help you guys out please understand that alot of them do this in what little spare time they have. Don't ask more then what they give. I'm not a staff member but I know all too well the sacrifice! ;-)

C'fieldSkin · Post by **C'fieldSkin** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:35 pm

North Greenville Offensive Lineman Amos Lamb signed with us. I've never heard of him and I'm from South Carolina.

NikiH · Post by **NikiH** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 2:38 pm

...................

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:49 pm

C'fieldSkin wrote:North Greenville Offensive Lineman Amos Lamb signed with us. I've never heard of him and I'm from South Carolina.

former North Greenville offensive lineman Amos Lamb signed with Washington.

http://www.thestate.com/mld/thestate/sp ... 489367.htm

C'fieldSkin · Post by **C'fieldSkin** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:50 pm

Thats where I saw it at.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 4:57 pm

Former USC receiver Gause joins Redskins

Former Conway High star Andrea Gause agreed to terms on a free-agent contract Monday morning with the Washington Redskins.

Gause, who just wrapped up a four-year career at South Carolina that saw him play three different positions, said he will attempt to crack into the NFL as a receiver.

"I can honestly say I don't have a favorite position," Gause said.

During his time with the Gamecocks, Gause saw action at running back and wide receiver on offense and in the secondary on defense. He also returned kicks.

Last season, he caught 12 passes for 199 yards and rushed for 48 yards on 17 carries.

Gause, who is listed at 5-foot-9 and 207 pounds, said he did not expect to be drafted but that he was confident he would receive a shot as an undrafted free agent.

"I told my mom last night that I'm not worried about it," he said. "If it's for me, then it will be for me. It will happen."

Gause, whose cousin George Gause signed with the Buffalo Bills after the conclusion of the NFL draft Sunday, will fly to Washington on Thursday.

http://www.myrtlebeachonline.com/mld/my ... 490184.htm

C'fieldSkin · Post by **C'fieldSkin** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:05 pm

That is awesome. Andrea has a lot of potential that he didn't get to realize in Loose Bolts scheme. He would have gotten a lot more attention if he had been able to stay a year and play for Spurrier.

MEZZSKIN · Post by **MEZZSKIN** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:20 pm

thanks hog heaven there is some validity to your comments ..but Jake i appreciate what you do without guys like you people like me would have nowhere to go for stuff like this...so for that im grateful..Its all good

BringThePain! · Post by **BringThePain!** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 6:02 pm

MEZZSKIN - profanity is not aloud per board rules... your post was edited... thanks for understanding...

fredp45 · Post by **fredp45** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 6:12 pm

Don't forget, we signed Andy Groom, Punter from OSU (2 years ago) too... Add him to the list of signings. This guy might make the team.

I am very very surprised that we haven't signed any Md players -- were they that bad? I would have thought one of the 2 OL would have peaked Buges fancy, but both signed elsewhere...oh well...gotta believe they know more than us, right?

Redskins4Life · Post by **Redskins4Life** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 7:20 pm

Jake wrote:I have dial-up (AOL... sucks) and I don't ask people to look stuff up for me. That's the reasoning for the Search bar and the "view posts since last visit" option.

I never questioned his loyalty as a fan. And I wasn't blasting him, just making a point.

Damn Jake! You have dial up but you post as often as you do!?!?! I gotta give you some serious props for finding all this Redskin news for us.

fredp45 · Post by **fredp45** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 7:39 pm

you're not kidding redskins4life...

Jake -- you're dialing up? WOW...you are one patient guy. You deserve some serious kudos for all you do on this board...

I have cable modem -- 3mb... It flies.