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Doughty, Redskins agree to 1-year deal
Safety set to compete for job

David Elfin (Contact)
Tuesday, March 10, 2009

BALTIMORE — He attended the Ed Block Courage Award Foundation dinner on Tuesday night as the Washington Redskins' 2008 winner, as voted on by his former teammates. But you won't find Reed Doughty, who became an unresticted free agent last month, on any team's official roster.

That will change on Wednesday, as Doughty told The Washington Times he'll go to Redskin Park to sign a 1-year deal with Washington, keeping him with the club that drafted hin in 2006.

Doughty, who had been in negotiations with the Redskins and agent Dave Butz Jr. while also talking to "a couple of other teams," expects to battle second-year safety Chris Horton for a starting role while resuming his role on special teams.

"It's not just the money," Doughty said. "It's about how much I'll get to play and what my role will be."

Doughty began the 2008 season in the starting lineup, but when he missed the Week 2 game against New Orleans with the flu, Horton stepped in. A seventh-round pick out of UCLA, Horton had two interceptions and a fumble recovery in the Redskins win, which earned him NFC defensive player of the week honors. Soon, Horton claimed the job for good, and Doughty's headed south. He missed the final 12 games of 2008, going on the injured reserve when a pinched nerve led to back surgery on Oct. 31.

"At first, my back just hurt a little. Next, I had a burning sensation down my left leg and then my foot was kinda numb," Doughty said. "I thought I could play with it and hoped it wouldn't get worse. [The Redskins' medical staff] thought I had sciatica, but when I tried to get back on the field, I just wasn't myself. I didn't want to hurt the team."

The Redskins decided not to offer him a contract last month, making the projected restricted free agent unrestricted.

"It felt like I missed a large opportunity," Doughty said. "I had played well at the end of 2007, but last year I wasn't the player I knew I could be."

Battling comes naturally to Doughty, a sixth-round NFL draft choice out of Northern Colorado who soared from spare part in 2006 to starter for the final six games of 2007 in place of the late Sean Taylor.

Doughty's change in status came while he endured the health issues of infant son Micah, who was born six weeks premature and underwent a kidney transplant within a few months.

The determination shown by Doughty during his difficult year led to his being honored at the annual banquet on Tuesday. The award, named for the late, longtime Baltimore Colts' trainer, goes to a player on each team who is a source of inspiration and courage to his teammates.

"I'm honored that the guys thought enough of me to vote me the Redskins' winner," Doughty said.

And with the offseason conditioning program starting next week in Ashburn, Doughty will be ready to join them once more as teammates. He began running three months after his back surgery and has started lifting weights. He said he's 100 percent and has received clearance to fully participate in the conditioning program.

Note - The Redskins re-signed linebacker Alfred Fincher. Signed off waivers from Detroit last July, Fincher claimed one of the final roster spots and played in Washington's final 15 games, mostly on special teams. For now, the 25-year-old will compete with H.B. Blades for the starting spot opened by Marcus Washington's release last month.

Gibbs4Life wrote:Highlights severe lack of depth at safety. Kareem Moore anyone?

Gibbs4Life wrote:Highlights severe lack of depth at safety. Kareem Moore anyone?

Wahoo McDaniels wrote:

Gibbs4Life wrote:Highlights severe lack of depth at safety. Kareem Moore anyone?

He was the star pick of our heralded 2008 draft class.

Gibbs4Life wrote:I wish recievers feared the how nice of a guy you were. Then Doughty would be a beast. As it is he's always a liability.

Gibbs4Life wrote:I wish recievers feared the how nice of a guy you were. Then Doughty would be a beast. As it is he's always a liability.

Secondary_Chaos wrote:

Gibbs4Life wrote:I wish recievers feared the how nice of a guy you were. Then Doughty would be a beast. As it is he's always a liability.

What are you talking about? Doughty did well stepping in after the STs death. He was injured most of last year so he didn't perform to the best of his abilities. A pinched nerve will slow you down considerably. I'm happy to see him back. He deserves another chance, plus to have either him or Horton as the back up safety is just fine with me. Let's not be too pessimistic on a kid who hasn't started many games for us do to having ST and an injury. Pessimism is why I have been staying away from the board. Good lord.

Skinsfan55 wrote:He's a liability?
Doughty's 6-2 200 pounds, quick, tackles well, a great locker room guy...

I don't see why people aren't excited that we re-signed him. He's exactly the kind of player the Redskins need at other positions, smart, good leadership, excellent on special teams and he provides good solid depth.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:He's good depth. No complaints here.

He should NOT be starting though.

SkinsFreak wrote:Doughty wasn't re-signed for safety depth, they're going to convert him to a strong side linebacker.

Good guy, but depth only.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:He's good depth. No complaints here.

He should NOT be starting though.

yupchagee wrote:He started at the ind of 07 & the start of 08 WHEN WE WERE WINNING!

He & Horton will compete for playing time at SS.

Chris Luva Luva wrote:

yupchagee wrote:He started at the ind of 07 & the start of 08 WHEN WE WERE WINNING!

He & Horton will compete for playing time at SS.

You can't be serious. I refuse...