http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/3547840
Redskins Team Report
Paul Woody / The Sporting News
The team has worked itself into an interesting bind with LaVar Arrington. He's too expensive to cut or trade and too angry to keep around. But the team will have to keep him around. Arrington had a second knee surgery and will not do any hard running for two months, but he is supposed to be ready for training camp. Perhaps he will be. But his knee problem, which was supposed to last five weeks during the 2004 season, now has dragged out to a nine-month affair. Arrington should make a full recovery, and he should be able to man his weakside linebacker position, although he might take things slowly in the early part of training camp. A bigger issue is the relationship he and the team now have. Arrington doesn't feel the love any more, both for what he perceives as the team's lack of concern for his feelings during his recovery and the contract dispute over a $6.5 million bonus. This seems far from over, especially if Arrington loses in his contract dispute. The team has to hope all this will not affect Arrington on the field. . . .
Meanwhile, the team would like to see Sean Taylor on the field. He's been absent from the "voluntary" workouts, which raises the ire of Gibbs. Taylor is a rare player. He can do anything and everything at the free safety position, and his speed and range make the entire defensive backfield better. Once the cornerbacks come to fully believe that Taylor has their backs -- he still has to be more sure of his assignments -- the team's man coverage will get even better. But Taylor's interest in renegotiating a contract that he signed just last year is troubling for the team. It makes no sense to give Taylor a new deal or even to adjust his current contract. Whether Taylor can live with this is another matter. The ironic thing is that as long as Taylor stays in shape, he's probably talented enough to excel, for now at least, even without attending the "voluntary" workouts.
SCOUTING REPORT: Marcus Washington has few, if any weaknesses. He can play strongside or weakside linebacker and never complains about where he's lined up. He's quick enough to be sent on blitzes, strong enough to be an effective run stopper and fast enough to drop into coverage. He is one of the team's best free-agent signings in years. His attitude stays positive no matter how badly things are going for the team, and he's a presence in the locker room. With Arrington recovering from a knee injury and Lemar Marshall playing at middle linebacker for the first time, Washington's skills will be even more valuable to the team this season. He has the potential to become the club's most effective linebacker.
STOCK RISING:Demetric Evans has given himself a chance to make a significant impact on the team. For the first time in several years, he enters the offseason program rested and refreshed. Last year he had to make the team after playing a full season in NFL Europe. Evans continues to improve on his technique, is a consistent workout performer and is very easy to coach. The team still needs a pass-rushing defensive end, but if the team fails to land such a player, Evans will be a solid backup to Phillip Daniels. If Daniels suffers injury problems as he did last season, Evans will be an improved starter this year.
