Come Back Phillip Daniels

by Ken Meringolo on Mar 10, 2009 2:41 PM EDT

We need you and you know what, we want you. Redskins Nation takes a lot of hits from other fans that mock our free agency team-building strategies. We take abuse in the national media and even in our own local papers. Hey, you guys don't need me to tell you how old it is getting to try and defend the latest and greatest signings. And the Haynesworth/Hall/Dockery additions are the EASY ones to defend. We actually needed talent at those positions, and if you set aside the 'overpaying' issue, which Vinny and Danny have already done years ago, these pickups make a lot of sense. All of these guys will (should/better) start. And they all have proven they can play in this league at a high level. Thank God, because Archuleta and B Lloyd (and Chad Morton) are still just sitting out there like bright and shiny beacons in the night, guiding us all back to dumber times. Where is Doc Brown and the Delorian when you need them?

Phillip Daniels can really help us on a number of fronts. First, he plays a position that currently is undermanned. Check. Second, he is stout against the run on the edge, which we were horrible at last year. Check. Third, he works out hard in the offseason, and is willing to do it here at Redskins Park (which is all of a sudden a reason to flush 2nd round picks down the toilet like corn-filled turds...serenity now!) Fourth, he has been with the team for 5 years and he is a locker room leader. Check. Fifth, thanks to a contract provision, we got rid of him at a higher salary and can bring him back for less. HOLY CRAP! A fiscally responsible move in the midst of a spending spree the likes of which have not been seen since Willie Nelson got all high at that Best Buy back in '92.

Phillip Daniels, if he comes back, will be our symbol of something Vinny did that was right (well, at least a symbol of something Vinny did that has the chance of someday becoming a symbol of something that he did right.) We get a veteran that has a real presence in the locker room. We get a bigger, stronger left end that hopefully can take advantage of the distractions caused by Haynesworth. And we get both without pulling out the Redskins' standard contract offer for a player in his mid 30's: 6 years, $46 million with $23 million guaranteed.

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Need to get it done!

Daniels is a beast and an excellent option at DE. He’s a leader and will be a strong influence on how the line plays together. He needs to be brought back, I hope the Redskins are not trying to sign him on the super cheap, so to speak. Make a reasonable offer and get him in the locker!

by dr WNC on Mar 10, 2009 2:54 PM EDT reply actions

Amen

Amen, Amen!

by Rekka on Mar 10, 2009 3:31 PM EDT reply actions

How we get it

“We get a veteran that has a real presence in the locker room. We get a bigger, stronger left end that hopefully can take advantage of the distractions caused by Haynesworth. And we get both without pulling out the Redskins’ standard contract offer for a player in his mid 30’s: 6 years, $46 million with $23 million guaranteed.”

And all we had to do was cut that locker room presence to save money to sign others and then cross our fingers that he’d come back for less….if this is a symbol of something Snydrato (or even something “that has the chance of someday becoming a symbol of something”) did right, then we’re in even more trouble than I thought.

by artmonk4ever on Mar 10, 2009 3:53 PM EDT reply actions

NFL is a business

Over at HomerMcfanboy he interviewed Daniels before Free agency.

"I knew that going into last season," he said. "Even before I got hurt my agent told me that the years they had put on the end of my contract weren’t going to be … well, you never know about the Redskins. They could talk to me about keeping those years or have us look at our options. I’m not sure what’s going on right now, man. We’ll have to see what happens."

So, according to Daniels prior to his injury and the start of 2008, he knew his contract was going to void, saving the Redskins 2 Million dollars.
It’s part of the business which every team has to deal with and every player. Open communication and understanding is the key.
There is “talk” about bring back Marcus Washington too, and again he pretty muched believed he would never be a Redskin again after the 2008 season. The Redskins are not in trouble, this is the NFL.

by dr WNC on Mar 10, 2009 4:40 PM EDT up reply actions

First of all, the Redskin are in trouble

and have been since Snydrato took over the team (nearly ten years ago). I don’t think that’s really open for debate. They’ve been to the playoffs three times in the past ten years and won one playoff game in that same span.

Second, if “this is the NFL,” then why don’t we hear about teams that win consistently having to deal with these sorts of issues?

by artmonk4ever on Mar 11, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions

After more thought and you are correct

Heres to have been in trouble and are working the way out.

by dr WNC on Mar 11, 2009 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions

We didn't cut Daniels

His contract automatically voided. They could have worked something out prior to it voiding, but I assume the thought process was that nobody else would be paying him over $2 million per year. We will still see if that is true I guess, but the idea that Vinny and Danny could resist bidding against themselves for an older player coming off a major injury is at least something.

by Ken Meringolo on Mar 11, 2009 9:11 AM EDT up reply actions