From: swilliam@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Steve Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: Washington Redskins News - 9/1/92
Date: 1 Sep 92 11:28:59 GMT
Reply-To: swilliam@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Steve Williams)
Organization: Carderock Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center


	Washington Redskins News of Sept. 1, 1992

Waivers:
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The Redskins were prepared to lose punter Kelly Goodburn, quarterback Jeff
Rutledge, cornerback Johnny Thomas and tight end James Jenkins, but they
weren't prepared to lose running back Robert Green, receiver Stephen Hobbs,
center Matt Elliott or offensive tackle Mo Elewonibi.

Several of yesterday's cuts could be off the roster for only a day because 
they will be re-signed if they clear waivers this afternoon.  Others, such
as tackle Thomas Rayam and possibly safety David gulledge, could be brought
back for the five-man practice squad.

Several players who made today's 47-man roster will be shifted to four-week
injured reserve.  They include QB Chris Hakel, RB John Settle, OT Mo Elewonibi,
S Terry Hoage and DT Eric Williams.

LB John Brantley, who was cut, may also return because S Terry Hoage injured 
his knee in yesterday's practice and will be placed in injured reserve.
However, the Redskins prefer to replace a safety with another safety.  Former
Redskins Todd Bowles, cut by San Francisco 49ers last night, is high on the
Redskins' list of players being considered.

Goodburn is a big gamble because the 49ers cut their punter, Joe Prokop, 
last night and is looking for a replacement.  It looks like the 49ers are 
not interested in Goodburn because Goodburn ranked 24th in the NFL in gross 
punting average last season (39.8 yards).

If the 49ers do pick Goodburn up, the Redskins already have a replacement
in Jeff Fite who was cut in training camp after an impressive performance.

Cutting players such as Goodburn and Rutledge is a calculated gamble.  Only
a handful of players was claimed during last year's 24-hour waiver period 
and the Redskins are hoping their toughest cuts sail through.

Safety Alvan Walton's cut is final, and the Redskins would be surprised if
he isn't picked up by another team.

Both C Elliott and RB Green overcame staggering odds to make the team.  The 
Redskins joked on the Draft Day that they picked Elliott because he was from 
Michigan, and they wanted to start and end with a Michigan player.  The 
Redskins' top draft pick was Desmond Howard.

The Redskins got more than what they expected when Elliott gained about 25
pounds, up to 285 pounds.  The Redskins now project Elliott as the eventual
replacement for veteran center Jeff Bostic.  The last time the final pick
of the draft made an NFL roster was when the Green Bay Packers kept Norman
Jefferson in 1987.

Green was even a longer shot.  He wasn't drafted after not even being one 
of the 450 college players invited to the scouting combine in Indianapolis.
But he opened eyes almost from the moment he signed up, and by the time the
Redskins played their first preseason game, he was drawing rave reviews from 
coaches.  He fulfilled that promise, rushing 20 time for 120 yards, an average
of 6.0 yards per carry.

The release of Wilkins and Willis makes Plan B free agency a washout, at least
for now.  No team has gotten more out of Plan B, but all four of last spring's
signees - Wilkins, Willis, Defensive George Hinkle and tackle Steve Gabbard -
are gone.  Hinkle was traded to Minnesota; the others were cut.  The club
spent a little more than $400,000 in signing bonuses on the four.

"We did get a draft choice for Hinkle," Redskins General Manager Charley
Casserly said.  "In fairness, Gabbard was not as good as we thought.  I think
Willis and Hinkle are players.  What happened at those positions is we drafted
Shane Collins at defensive end."

Injuries:
--------
OT Mo Elewonibi's shoulder injury may be worse than originally thought.  The
first diagnosis was a torn pectoral muscle, and when he continued to have
problems, an MRI exam was ordered.  It revealed he has "some fraying" of the
rotator cuff in the right shoulder, Elewonibi said.

He will be placed on four-week injured reserve today, but the prognosis for
his playing after four weeks is uncertain.  This injury is the latest 
frustration for Elewonibi, a third-round draft pick in 1990 who has spent
all three seasons on injured reserve.

Elewonibi's injury has left the Redskins thin in the offense line.  Tackle
Thomas Rayam, who was cut yesterday afternoon, probably will be brought back 
for the five-man practice squad.

It has been a bad summer for the Redskins' offensive line.  Ed Simmons is
back in action after undergoing a knee surgery.  Joe Jacoby has been bothered
by an arthritic elbow.  Two draft choices, Paul Siever and Darryl Moore, have
been sidelined with injuries.  Snapper John Brandes missed four straight days
of practice because of a sore knee; however, it is predicted that Brandes will
play against Dallas Cowboys on Sept. 7.


Source: The Washington Post, September 1, 1992



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 Steve Williams                           swilliam@oasys.dt.navy.mil
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro