Damien Harrell

Redskin_fan · Post by **Redskin_fan** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 10:22 pm

Did anyone else catch the tail end of NFL Total Access tonight...they said that we are bringing WR Damien Harrell into camp. Does anyone know anything about him? They said he's been the Arena Football League's MVP for the last two years (although that's not listed in his bio).

http://www.arenafootball.com/ViewArticl ... M_ID=3500#
Damian Harrell
# 1
Colorado Crush
Offensive Specialist - OS
Height 6-3 Weight 200
Years Experience: 5
College: Florida State

WshSkins22 · Post by **WshSkins22** » Mon Jul 18, 2005 11:12 pm

Hey at least he has some size...if he can outplay Mccants he may earn a spot, doubtful though

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:06 am

He is pretty good... I am embarrassed to admit it, but I watch ALOT of Arena football. He has caught a TD I think a bit over 50 straight games.

He is on another level than McCants.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:16 am

HAIL TO HARRELL
The Arena League's Most Valuable Player, the player who has 236 catches and 84 touchdowns the past two seasons, has caught the eye of the Washington Redskins.

The Redskins are planning to work out Colorado Crush wide receiver Damien Harrell in Washington next week. One reason Harrell is appealing to the Redskins is because, at 6-foot-3, the receiver towers over most of Washington's other receivers, such as Santana Moss, James Thrash, Taylor Jacobs and David Patten.

Whether the Redskins will wind up even offering Harrell a contract depends on the wide receiver's workout. But the fact that Harrell is workout for the Redskins is notable itself. Up until now, even though he has dominated the Arena League, even though he played at Florida State, Harrell never has worked out for a single NFL team.

http://www.nfl.com/nflnetwork/story/8656487

I don't follow AFL but looking at his numbers, I say bring him in and give him a shot.

Last years stats:
122 catches for 1486 yards and 41 TDs
Carrer:
495 catches for 6699 yards and 145 Tds

Carrer avg is 13.5 per catch is not bad. he is averaging 24 TDs a year ..... is this normal for a AFL WR.

Was is a Offensive specialist? Does that mean he isn't a defensive player also?

He plays special teams both coverage and as a return man.
Do all players play "teams" in the AFL?

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:33 am

nik, don't be too blinded by his numbers. Most of his appeal to me is consistency.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:42 am

Smithian wrote:nik, don't be too blinded by his numbers. Most of his appeal to me is consistency.

2004=122 catches and 1486 yards
2003=97 and 1426
2003=92 and 1277
That's consistant improvement on numbers that I have no idea what the mean. I'll have to look into the AFL

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:23 am

nik, no, no... He is VERY good, one of the best in AFL, what I am saying is this is a league where five plys is a long-ish drive.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 5:30 am

Well I hope he's as nice as everyone speaks of him. Regardless Im glad that we've got him. Im not glad that we simply have another WR or a potential replacement for Rod. I'm happy that we're looking for talent in every place possible. We're not only looking at "superstars" any more. We have finally gotten into the forumla of finding young/cheap talent.

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:39 am

Smithian wrote:nik, no, no... He is VERY good, one of the best in AFL, what I am saying is this is a league where five plys is a long-ish drive.

I figured something like that ...... with all of the 100+ point games

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 9:31 am

Smithian wrote:He is on another level than McCants.

Yeah... McCants has made an NFL squad wheras Damian Harrell never has. They are on different levels... the guy who actually has made an NFL roster being on the higher level.

Just look at their paycheques.

Big deal.. the guy lit up the Arena league... I'm not saying adding bodies for competition is a bad thing, it's not. But that's all this guy is... fodder. IMO, he won't beat out McCants or Dyson for the 'big-bodied' receiver spot. While DM may be every Redskin fans' favorite whipping boy, the fact is that he has a lot of physical tools.

There IS a reason these guys are playing AFL ball... they haven't proven themselves good enough to crack a roster in the NFL. period. That isn't to say that they can't, or won't, but to base someone's relative football ability on their performance in a VASTLY INFERIOR league is just plain silly IMO.

Take Patrick Woodcock for example... lights up the CFL every year... couldn't crack a Redskin WR corps when the pickings were ripe. Or how about you just take a look at some of the GOOD receivers that have tried out over the last few years with no success: Gari Scott, Scott Cloman, Cliff Russell, Justin Skaggs, Richmond Flowers. It's a very fine line between being good, and being good enough.

My 2 cents

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 9:40 am

Sweet.

This will be very interesting to follow.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:06 am

Look at the hands! :shock:

BernieSki · Post by **BernieSki** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:15 am

And every once in a while there is a Kurt Warner, someone who comes on late and makes a big name for himself.

Redskins4Life · Post by **Redskins4Life** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:56 am

damn 6-3, 200 lb, two time AFL MVP? Hes gotta be good enough to make a roster spot at the least

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:13 am

BernieSki wrote:And every once in a while there is a Kurt Warner, someone who comes on late and makes a big name for himself.

The NFL believed that so much that they FUND all of these secondary leagues... the AFL, NFLE, and CFL... but is a Kurt Warner every once in a while, or is it just once?

portis26 · Post by **portis26** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 11:51 am

I think Harrell is going to be taking Rod Gardner's roster spot after we release him. I wish we would hold onto him and get something for him like the Bucs did with McCardell last year.

WshSkins22 · Post by **WshSkins22** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 12:30 pm

What number is he going to wear so I can look out for him in training camp

MarcusBeNimble · Post by **MarcusBeNimble** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:06 pm

bring em' in! who knows, we could find ourself a diamond in the rough here.

Irn-Bru · Post by **Irn-Bru** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:33 pm

If anything, it'll give us fans an underdog to cheer for. Camp fodder players have so much heart, it really is sad to see them go (Skaggs was a personal favorite of mine).

It's hard not to like signings such as this one. The more competition, the better. Can't wait for camp.

Redskin in Canada · Post by **Redskin in Canada** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 1:39 pm

BossHog wrote:[While DM may be every Redskin fans' favorite whipping boy, the fact is that he has a lot of physical tools.

Not my Whipping boy. In fact, I truly have never heard a well informed (inside) story as to why he did not play more last season. Sure, we have speculated before about Special Teams and other reasons but these have never sounded as the "true" story behind his under-use to me. I have NO DOUBT whatsoever that he would have been betterr than Gardner last year.

But to bring this story into perspective, nobody has said that there is anything wrong with bringing yet another guy for competition. In fact, we should do it as often as our scouts and coaches feel it might be worth it.

I agree that competition will be ferocious but...

... Is that not what we want?

If this guy is better than our current roster of WRs, Great! If not, What was lost?

For one, I am delighted to bring a guy his size and hands to the team!

BernieSki · Post by **BernieSki** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 2:28 pm

Boss Hog, as you said earlier "It does not cost anything to take a look", and every once and a while some team comes up with a real find.

Smithian · Post by **Smithian** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 5:35 pm

This is a low risk high reward thing when it comes right down to it. Either he is cut or he actually gives us a good WR.

Chris Luva Luva · Post by **Chris Luva Luva** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 5:49 pm

Smithian wrote:This is a low risk high reward thing when it comes right down to it. Either he is cut or he actually gives us a good WR.

Yes and I'm going to hope that he becomes a good WR. These analysts and fake Skin fans can't seem to see any change in our organization. Everyone who has been here any length of time know that Ive been anti Snyder but even I have seen maturity and growth in him. This signing is not something we would have done in the past. We're going after talented players who will be around for a while and aren't going to break our back.

Of course someone is going to mention Brunell but he's a drop in the bucket in contrast to how many players we've brought on board. We're well on our way to success!

1niksder · Post by **1niksder** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:21 pm

BossHog wrote:
Smithian wrote:He is on another level than McCants.

Yeah... McCants has made an NFL squad wheras Damian Harrell never has. They are on different levels... the guy who actually has made an NFL roster being on the higher level.

I don't see McCants not making the squad this year (the active squad). I think he was caught in a numbers game last year and Gibbs had no IR to fall back on, but he did what he had to do to keep him. Gardner replacement very well may come down to Jacobs and D-Mac splitting time.

McCants is the one receiver that everyone says we don't have. you read it everywhere the Skins have no big wideouts, everyones 5'11" or so. D-Mac is that receiver that can go over the middle, go up and out jump the defender or be that move the chains guy. He just needs to get BACK on the feild.
McCants is a redzone terror and I can't wait to see him and Cool

ey on the feild at the same time.

Back on topic..... Anybody with Harrell size and background should be given a look over. But why has it taken 6 years to get a invite to a training camp (if he is invited). The won't be any slacking in camp that's for sure. With all the wideouts on the roster, plus the drafting of FB (a position that is rare on a Gibbs roster)

ejay183 · Post by **ejay183** » Tue Jul 19, 2005 7:42 pm

Jake wrote:

Look at the hands!

I know its NFL>AFL, but that is a great catch and we need something other than dropped passes.