MAATOPDOGG
08-25-2003, 12:58 PM
New From The Post
Johnson Is Released as Redskins Trim Roster
By Mark Maske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 25, 2003; 1:07 PM
Veteran offensive linemen Tre Johnson and Rod Jones were released by the Washington Redskins this morning as part of the team's first round of roster cuts.
The club also released punter David Leaverton, handing its punting job to veteran Bryan Barker, and wide receivers Scott Cloman and Richmond Flowers.
Johnson, 31, said he declined a suggestion by the team that he retire. The former Pro Bowl guard has been sidelined since the beginning of training camp by a sore Achilles' tendon and a pulled hamstring muscle. He said doctors have told him he is a week or two from being sound enough to play, but the Redskins felt they couldn't depend on him to stay healthy.
Johnson said as he left Redskins Park around noon that he had spoken with team owner Daniel Snyder and Vinny Cerrato, the club's vice president of football operations.
"I consider that a great courtesy," Johnson said. "They said, 'We like you, but we don't think you'll be able to stay healthy.' I said, 'Cool, I can see that from a business standpoint.' I've been hurt a lot. But if I don't stop this process now, I'll continue to be hurt a lot. I've been doing that too long. I should have learned back in my early days. But you look around the league, the way it is now, and you say, 'I can continue to do this.' "
Johnson said he hoped to hear from teams when he gets healthy. He re-signed with the Redskins as a free agent in February, agreeing to a one-year, minimum-salary contract. Johnson played 10 games for the Redskins last year, making three starts, after being released by the Cleveland Browns at the end of training camp. He played for the Redskins between 1994 and 2000, reaching the Pro Bowl in '99 but having his 2000 season ended early by a torn knee ligament. He spent an injury-plagued 2001 season with the Browns after being released by the Redskins.
"This was not unexpected," Johnson said. "They asked me to retire, but I'm not ready for that. The league is watered down now . . . . It all started in 2000 when I blew out my knee, and you feel that pressure that you've got to get back. I went to Cleveland and came back early from an injury, played in the preseason when I probably shouldn't have. I just didn't want to be in that cycle again. I had to stop it. I feel a lot better right now, about my health and what I'm doing, than I have in a long time."
Jones, 29, signed with the Redskins via free agency prior to last season as a prospective starter at guard after starting the Super Bowl at tackle for the St. Louis Rams. But he didn't make the transition to guard and suffered a season-ending injury in the 2002 preseason. He also was hurt this summer, being sidelined by a sprained ankle before returning to practices last week.
The Redskins also released wide receiver Sean Dillard, linebacker Shamar Finney, fullback Thad Buttone and rookie defensive lineman Nic Clemons. They cut nine players this morning and must release five more by Tuesday afternoon. They, like other NFL teams, must reduce their roster to 65 players by Tuesday (not counting players who were allocated to NFL Europe, who receive roster exemptions until next week's cut to 53 players).
Leaverton averaged 42 yards per punt in Saturday's 24-3 exhibition triumph over the Baltimore Ravens. But Barker averaged 52.3 yards per punt, one week after outperforming Brent Bartholomew to keep his roster spot.
Club officials all but settled the wide receiver competition. Cloman said he was told that seven wide receivers remained on the roster after this morning's moves. One of them, Patrick Woodcock, is a strong candidate for the five-member practice squad assembled after next week's final cuts.
If Woodcock goes to the practice squad, that probably would leave the Redskins keeping six wide receivers -- Laveranues Coles, Rod Gardner, Taylor Jacobs, Cliff Russell, Patrick Johnson and Darnerien McCants.
Some Redskins officials were leaving open the possibility of Cloman being re-signed to the practice squad, but he seemed skeptical.
"There are seven guys left," Cloman said as he left Redskins Park this morning with his belongings in a bag. "If they go with six, they'll probably put Pat Woodcock on the practice squad. They tend to like smaller, shifty guys here. He's a good player. Everybody here is good. If somebody gets hurt, you never know. But it was a good experience."
Redskins wide receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr. said as the four-game exhibition season got under way that Cloman, 27, and Flowers, 25, had solid chances to make the club's season-opening roster if they played well on special teams during the preseason. Neither stood out on special teams, however. Flowers hurt himself by committing back-to-back false start penalties out of punt formation in the second exhibition game against the New England Patriots.
"There are only so many spots," Flowers said as he departed the team's practice facility, saying his goodbyes to a few Redskins employees. "I've used up my practice squad eligibility. I have no regrets. I gave it everything I've got. I'll just move on. I'm thankful for the opportunity the Redskins gave me while I was here . . . . Hopefully another team will pick me up, if it's meant to be. If not, I'm going to go off and find something else to do that I'm passionate about. I'll go after that with the same fiery work ethic and desire that I showed out here trying to make this football team."
The cut-day disappointment was nothing new to Cloman and Flowers. Cloman previously was released by the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, and has played in the Arena Football League, the XFL and NFL Europe.
"In this business, you can never know what to expect," Cloman said. "With the numbers situation, basically it comes down to money. They didn't pay me any money to sign here, so it doesn't cost them anything to cut me. I'm proud of the way I played. I'm not hurt over it or anything."
His cousin, Redskins defensive end Renaldo Wynn, marveled during training camp that Cloman had not given up football yet in favor of a nine-to-five existence. Cloman often was impressive on the practice field, earning the nickname "T.O." from his teammates after 49ers all-pro receiver Terrell Owens. Cloman said he still isn't ready to turn away from the sport.
"We'll see what happens," he said. "If nothing happens [with an NFL team], I'll play some Arena football. I just love playing. It's not the money. I love playing. If I go somewhere else, maybe I'll be playing against these guys. We'll see."
Flowers had four catches -- tied for second-most on the team -- in the three exhibition games, and Cloman had two receptions for 39 yards.
But Patrick Johnson was signed as a free agent in the off season to add speed and help on special teams, and he played well Saturday after faltering in the New England game. McCants played his first game of the exhibition season Saturday after being sidelined by a pulled hamstring muscle, and had a 28-yard catch. Johnson and McCants probably would have had to play their way off the roster for Cloman or Flowers to have a chance. Russell had some shaky plays Saturday, but has superb speed and was a third-round draft choice a year ago.
Flowers previously was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys, earning notoriety on the HBO series "Hard Knocks" while in training camp with the Cowboys. He was signed to the Redskins' practice squad last November.
"I appreciate them letting me go this early, giving me the chance to possibly get picked up by another team," Flowers said. "All I have is gratitude for the opportunities they gave me while I was here."
Too Bad!
Johnson Is Released as Redskins Trim Roster
By Mark Maske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, August 25, 2003; 1:07 PM
Veteran offensive linemen Tre Johnson and Rod Jones were released by the Washington Redskins this morning as part of the team's first round of roster cuts.
The club also released punter David Leaverton, handing its punting job to veteran Bryan Barker, and wide receivers Scott Cloman and Richmond Flowers.
Johnson, 31, said he declined a suggestion by the team that he retire. The former Pro Bowl guard has been sidelined since the beginning of training camp by a sore Achilles' tendon and a pulled hamstring muscle. He said doctors have told him he is a week or two from being sound enough to play, but the Redskins felt they couldn't depend on him to stay healthy.
Johnson said as he left Redskins Park around noon that he had spoken with team owner Daniel Snyder and Vinny Cerrato, the club's vice president of football operations.
"I consider that a great courtesy," Johnson said. "They said, 'We like you, but we don't think you'll be able to stay healthy.' I said, 'Cool, I can see that from a business standpoint.' I've been hurt a lot. But if I don't stop this process now, I'll continue to be hurt a lot. I've been doing that too long. I should have learned back in my early days. But you look around the league, the way it is now, and you say, 'I can continue to do this.' "
Johnson said he hoped to hear from teams when he gets healthy. He re-signed with the Redskins as a free agent in February, agreeing to a one-year, minimum-salary contract. Johnson played 10 games for the Redskins last year, making three starts, after being released by the Cleveland Browns at the end of training camp. He played for the Redskins between 1994 and 2000, reaching the Pro Bowl in '99 but having his 2000 season ended early by a torn knee ligament. He spent an injury-plagued 2001 season with the Browns after being released by the Redskins.
"This was not unexpected," Johnson said. "They asked me to retire, but I'm not ready for that. The league is watered down now . . . . It all started in 2000 when I blew out my knee, and you feel that pressure that you've got to get back. I went to Cleveland and came back early from an injury, played in the preseason when I probably shouldn't have. I just didn't want to be in that cycle again. I had to stop it. I feel a lot better right now, about my health and what I'm doing, than I have in a long time."
Jones, 29, signed with the Redskins via free agency prior to last season as a prospective starter at guard after starting the Super Bowl at tackle for the St. Louis Rams. But he didn't make the transition to guard and suffered a season-ending injury in the 2002 preseason. He also was hurt this summer, being sidelined by a sprained ankle before returning to practices last week.
The Redskins also released wide receiver Sean Dillard, linebacker Shamar Finney, fullback Thad Buttone and rookie defensive lineman Nic Clemons. They cut nine players this morning and must release five more by Tuesday afternoon. They, like other NFL teams, must reduce their roster to 65 players by Tuesday (not counting players who were allocated to NFL Europe, who receive roster exemptions until next week's cut to 53 players).
Leaverton averaged 42 yards per punt in Saturday's 24-3 exhibition triumph over the Baltimore Ravens. But Barker averaged 52.3 yards per punt, one week after outperforming Brent Bartholomew to keep his roster spot.
Club officials all but settled the wide receiver competition. Cloman said he was told that seven wide receivers remained on the roster after this morning's moves. One of them, Patrick Woodcock, is a strong candidate for the five-member practice squad assembled after next week's final cuts.
If Woodcock goes to the practice squad, that probably would leave the Redskins keeping six wide receivers -- Laveranues Coles, Rod Gardner, Taylor Jacobs, Cliff Russell, Patrick Johnson and Darnerien McCants.
Some Redskins officials were leaving open the possibility of Cloman being re-signed to the practice squad, but he seemed skeptical.
"There are seven guys left," Cloman said as he left Redskins Park this morning with his belongings in a bag. "If they go with six, they'll probably put Pat Woodcock on the practice squad. They tend to like smaller, shifty guys here. He's a good player. Everybody here is good. If somebody gets hurt, you never know. But it was a good experience."
Redskins wide receivers coach Steve Spurrier Jr. said as the four-game exhibition season got under way that Cloman, 27, and Flowers, 25, had solid chances to make the club's season-opening roster if they played well on special teams during the preseason. Neither stood out on special teams, however. Flowers hurt himself by committing back-to-back false start penalties out of punt formation in the second exhibition game against the New England Patriots.
"There are only so many spots," Flowers said as he departed the team's practice facility, saying his goodbyes to a few Redskins employees. "I've used up my practice squad eligibility. I have no regrets. I gave it everything I've got. I'll just move on. I'm thankful for the opportunity the Redskins gave me while I was here . . . . Hopefully another team will pick me up, if it's meant to be. If not, I'm going to go off and find something else to do that I'm passionate about. I'll go after that with the same fiery work ethic and desire that I showed out here trying to make this football team."
The cut-day disappointment was nothing new to Cloman and Flowers. Cloman previously was released by the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, and has played in the Arena Football League, the XFL and NFL Europe.
"In this business, you can never know what to expect," Cloman said. "With the numbers situation, basically it comes down to money. They didn't pay me any money to sign here, so it doesn't cost them anything to cut me. I'm proud of the way I played. I'm not hurt over it or anything."
His cousin, Redskins defensive end Renaldo Wynn, marveled during training camp that Cloman had not given up football yet in favor of a nine-to-five existence. Cloman often was impressive on the practice field, earning the nickname "T.O." from his teammates after 49ers all-pro receiver Terrell Owens. Cloman said he still isn't ready to turn away from the sport.
"We'll see what happens," he said. "If nothing happens [with an NFL team], I'll play some Arena football. I just love playing. It's not the money. I love playing. If I go somewhere else, maybe I'll be playing against these guys. We'll see."
Flowers had four catches -- tied for second-most on the team -- in the three exhibition games, and Cloman had two receptions for 39 yards.
But Patrick Johnson was signed as a free agent in the off season to add speed and help on special teams, and he played well Saturday after faltering in the New England game. McCants played his first game of the exhibition season Saturday after being sidelined by a pulled hamstring muscle, and had a 28-yard catch. Johnson and McCants probably would have had to play their way off the roster for Cloman or Flowers to have a chance. Russell had some shaky plays Saturday, but has superb speed and was a third-round draft choice a year ago.
Flowers previously was released by the Jacksonville Jaguars and Dallas Cowboys, earning notoriety on the HBO series "Hard Knocks" while in training camp with the Cowboys. He was signed to the Redskins' practice squad last November.
"I appreciate them letting me go this early, giving me the chance to possibly get picked up by another team," Flowers said. "All I have is gratitude for the opportunities they gave me while I was here."
Too Bad!