Rak is done in DC

[cowboykillerzRGiii]

On the NFL app he mentioned wanting to play for one of the Texas teams... that he is a "Texas boy", and that he wouldn't mind being a puke.

Peaceout caveman!

I feel a little betrayal, and wish he wouldn't have said isht like that- at least that way. Take the Billicheck route and give very little.. or am I over reacting? This makes me want to donate my 98 to goodwill and has certainly taken any remorse of losing him out of the equation!

[Skins Fan in Indy]

I would agree!. I think it was the tone that kind of got me as well and so after that interview I can honestly say the feeling is he is packing his bags.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... or-cowboys

[Countertrey]

Muscle tears, especially if they involve ligamental tissue, take forever to heal, and Rak is proof of that. Let him go to the pukes... he'll be on IR by game 3 or 4. He has never reached the potential he possesses, because he has never developed additional moves (which I just don't get, because that would have forced a lot of those "obvious" holds to just become more obvious).

[riggofan]

Just the fact that he said he "wouldn't mind playing for the Cowboys" should DQ him from any consideration of re-signing here.

[tribeofjudah]

On the NFL app he mentioned wanting to play for one of the Texas teams... that he is a "Texas boy", and that he wouldn't mind being a puke.

Peaceout caveman!

I feel a little betrayal, and wish he wouldn't have said isht like that- at least that way. Take the Billicheck route and give very little.. or am I over reacting? This makes me want to donate my 98 to goodwill and has certainly taken any remorse of losing him out of the equation!

No remorse man...........he was over rated. He was aaaigghht. Not great.

[OldSchool]

He is a good player when healthy but this departure frees up a lot $ for the new GM to work with in FA, I'm not disappointed.

[EA7649]

Well...I had a Redskins jersey that was legit for about 5 years...WINNING! haha.

Shirts with names on the back are cheaper!

On a serious note, I think it will be best for Orakapo to go elsewhere. He has been injured so much and at times didn't live up to his skills.
Hopefully he can help a team that isn't in the NFC East.

[Irn-Bru]

I liked Orakpo as a Redskin, but I wouldn't be afraid of him as a Cowboy. Neither would it bother me much if he got a payday to go down there to play.

[fredp45]

The Redskins need to let ex-stars walk. Other teams make these decisions when the time is right. Orakpo has had some good - not elite -- moments. His injuries make him a huge risk. Time to move on!

Either get another pass rushing OLB thru FA or draft one.

[Irn-Bru]

The Redskins need to let ex-stars walk. Other teams make these decisions when the time is right. Orakpo has had some good - not elite -- moments. His injuries make him a huge risk. Time to move on!

Either get another pass rushing OLB thru FA or draft one.

We did. His name is Trent Murphy.

[fredp45]

While I'd like to believe Trent Murphy is the other OLB, I don't see much news coming out that makes him a certainty. A good player, not a difference maker.

[Irn-Bru]

While I'd like to believe Trent Murphy is the other OLB, I don't see much news coming out that makes him a certainty. A good player, not a difference maker.

So he's almost as good as Orakpo was for us. That's not bad.

[Hooligan]

While I'd like to believe Trent Murphy is the other OLB, I don't see much news coming out that makes him a certainty. A good player, not a difference maker.

So he's almost as good as Orakpo was for us. That's not bad.

He's also cheaper, younger, healthier, and not on the downside of his career. I don't think any upside Rak has over Murphy is worth the money or the risk. Plus, that Cowboys comment tells me he has already mentally punched-out. Adios. Move over for the younger, hungrier talent.

[markshark84]

While I'd like to believe Trent Murphy is the other OLB, I don't see much news coming out that makes him a certainty. A good player, not a difference maker.

So he's almost as good as Orakpo was for us. That's not bad.

I'll just say I disagree with that statement.

Murphy isn't close. Just look at each of their first year numbers.

I understand the more emotional fans would like to bad-mouth Orakpo on his way out -- especially when he says he'd like to play for a rival. But, lets keep it honest at least. The guy is 28, you could sign him to a 3-4 year deal and get every penny. 4 of his 6 seasons in DC were pro-bowl or near pro bowl production. The other 2 he was hurt. Orakpo had what I'd like to consider serious injury issues and isn't worth the $$$ he'll ask for. I am 100% for us parting ways with him, but he was a solid player --- much better than mid-average (which is what I'd call Murphy so far, at best) while a skin.

[RG3peat]

While I'd like to believe Trent Murphy is the other OLB, I don't see much news coming out that makes him a certainty. A good player, not a difference maker.

So he's almost as good as Orakpo was for us. That's not bad.

I'll just say I disagree with that statement.

Murphy isn't close. Just look at each of their first year numbers.

I understand the more emotional fans would like to bad-mouth Orakpo on his way out -- especially when he says he'd like to play for a rival. But, lets keep it honest at least. The guy is 28, you could sign him to a 3-4 year deal and get every penny. 4 of his 6 seasons in DC were pro-bowl or near pro bowl production. The other 2 he was hurt. Orakpo had what I'd like to consider serious injury issues and isn't worth the $$$ he'll ask for. I am 100% for us parting ways with him, but he was a solid player --- much better than mid-average (which is what I'd call Murphy so far, at best) while a skin.

1st year? You mean really the only season Rak played all year

[yupchagee]

1st year? You mean really the only season Rak played all year

To be fair, he DID make 3 PB's.

[fabe]

I really hope that he doesn't go to Dallas, because I have two of his jerseys. Goodbye and stay healthy, Rak. It was fun having you around.

[oj]

I'll sure miss Rak, he was good for the Skins. A respectable guy, I wish him well.
Murphy is very capable, I'd rather see him start that position even if Rak stayed.

[Irn-Bru]

I understand the more emotional fans would like to bad-mouth Orakpo on his way out -- especially when he says he'd like to play for a rival.

Try again.

No emotion here, except a little sadness that he's leaving. Orakpo never played up to his potential in Washington. He'd practically disappear for large stretches of the season, would get overpowered, could never shake off the slightest hold from an offensive lineman, and compiled more than his fair share of stats in garbage time or meaningless games (hello, Oakland).

I have said all of these things as they happened over the course of his career. He's always been a little bit overrated in the NFL. Overrated doesn't mean bad to me, it just means overrated; I liked Rak and wanted us to be able to work out something with him long-term. When it became clear he was looking for star money, though, I knew he was done in DC. And I was glad that we used the franchise tag as a "prove it" stopgap while we looked for an option to replace him, even though we got unlucky and he got injured last year.

Of course I'm being a bit tongue-in-cheek when I say that Murphy has had the same impact Orakpo has. No, he hasn't — at least, not yet. But people are acting like letting Orakpo walk means we have to start from scratch in filling the hole he leaves, and that's what I disagree with strongly. Murphy has already demonstrated an ability to power through blockers in a way Orakpo never showed with his time on the team. As Murphy grows, I have every expectation that he will become at least as disruptive a player.

Then again, maybe he won't. But in the meantime we don't necessarily need a starter to replace him.

[Deadskins]

What do you want to bet that the number of holding calls against him will drastically rise if he goes to another team. #refscheatus

[Countertrey]

What do you want to bet that the number of holding calls against him will drastically rise if he goes to another team. #refscheatus

Only if he develops other moves that make the holds more obvious. Getting a lot of those calls is about changing direction or position, so that the armful of neck is obvious... Or the fist full of shoulder pad is clear. That is PART of the problem with being a one-move, outside-pass-rusher.

I will be sad to see him go... But, I'm also disappointed that he didn't make it difficult for the team to make this decision.

[riggofan]

I will be sad to see him go... But, I'm also disappointed that he didn't make it difficult for the team to make this decision.

That's pretty much it right there.

[markshark84]

Try again.

No emotion here, except a little sadness that he's leaving. Orakpo never played up to his potential in Washington. He'd practically disappear for large stretches of the season, would get overpowered, could never shake off the slightest hold from an offensive lineman, and compiled more than his fair share of stats in garbage time or meaningless games (hello, Oakland).

I have said all of these things as they happened over the course of his career. He's always been a little bit overrated in the NFL. Overrated doesn't mean bad to me, it just means overrated; I liked Rak and wanted us to be able to work out something with him long-term. When it became clear he was looking for star money, though, I knew he was done in DC. And I was glad that we used the franchise tag as a "prove it" stopgap while we looked for an option to replace him, even though we got unlucky and he got injured last year.

Of course I'm being a bit tongue-in-cheek when I say that Murphy has had the same impact Orakpo has. No, he hasn't — at least, not yet. But people are acting like letting Orakpo walk means we have to start from scratch in filling the hole he leaves, and that's what I disagree with strongly. Murphy has already demonstrated an ability to power through blockers in a way Orakpo never showed with his time on the team. As Murphy grows, I have every expectation that he will become at least as disruptive a player.

Then again, maybe he won't. But in the meantime we don't necessarily need a starter to replace him.

I think the bolded portion cleared up things. The way I see it, the only type of fan that could even say Murphy was remotely similar to BO in terms of production and an effort to discredit what BO has accomplished has to be filed in the "emotional" category. I now understand the rationale for the exaggerated statement. That said, I think we disagree on how much an impact Murphy has had or will have. I don't see him as a defensive anchor or 3 time pro bowler. I hope I'm wrong.....

I do agree that Murphy is not currently a "hole" we need to fill in defensively.

[markshark84]

1st year? You mean really the only season Rak played all year

You realize that BO played 47 of his first 48 games in the NFL, right? And that he has played 15 games or more per year in 4 of his 6 seasons.

Man, judging from your response, I'd love to hear your opinion on RGIII's injury history........

[riggofan]

1st year? You mean really the only season Rak played all year

You realize that BO played 47 of his first 48 games in the NFL, right? And that he has played 15 games or more per year in 4 of his 6 seasons.

You and your "stats" and "facts". smh.