From: swilliam@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Steve Williams)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: The Washington Redskins News - 8/18/92
Date: 18 Aug 92 12:06:24 GMT
Reply-To: swilliam@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Steve Williams)
Organization: Carderock Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center

Monday, August 18:
The day began with early wakeup calls, and there was an hour bus ride
to Gatwick Airport.  Then there was an eight-hour flight to Dulles 
International Airport.  And the two-hour ride to Carlisle, Pa.

The plane carrying the Redskins from London was 90 minutes late arriving
at Dulles.

The Redskins quarterbacks may not have enjoyed the London experience
since Gibbs used three QBs (Rypien, Conklin, and Hakel), and they all
took hard hits as pass protection continously broke down, especially
in the second half.

The Redskins offensive line is without two proven tackes: Jim Lachey
(holdout) and Ed Simmons (still recuperating).  Simmons is nearly recovered
from offseason surgery and is expected to play against Los Angeles Raiders
this Saturday.  Simmons will replace Lachey at left tackle.

The Redskins' first units have been good in their limited playing time
against quality opponents in the last two games (New York Jets and San 
Francisco 49ers).  The regular offense under QB Rypien moved with authority,
and the defense has been equally effective.  The first-half statistics
in the last two games shows it: the first-team offense scored 25 points 
while the first-team defense allowed 0 points.

Holdouts:
Negotiations between the Redskins and the three holdouts (OT Jim Lachey,
CB Darrell Green, and WR rookie Desmond Howard) are reaching the point
where everyone seems vulnerable.  The Redskins have told these three
players that if they were not in camp by yesterday the offers would
be reduced by 1/16th per week for every week they miss.

If the Redskins are serious, this means that Lachey and Green will lose
$75,000 (based on $1.2 million a season) and Howard will lose $90,625
(based on $1.45 million a season).

Howard is extremely anxious about getting into the camp.  His agent, 
Leigh Steninberg has checked into a Carlisle motel and is waiting for 
the Redskins to return so he and the Redskins General Manager Charley 
Casserly can resume negotiations.  Howard has been told to prepare to
fly to Carlisle as early as today (Tuesday, August 18).  It is not clear
if Steninberg wanted to negotiate some more or clarify some points in
the contract.

Steninberg knows that he is in a risky position, especially if Jack
Kent Cooke starts taking money off the table.  In addition, Steninberg 
has angered Gibbs who implied that Steningberg was misleading Howard 
and hurting his chances for an effective rookie season.

Sources indicate that Cooke is serious about taking the money off the
table.  Cooke allowed Hall-of-Fame running back John Riggins to sit 
out the entire 1980 season in a contract dispute.

The strange thing about Howard's holding out is that he plays the position 
where the Redskins have the most depth - in wide receivers and kick 
returner.  Howard, being a rookie, obviously needs the most work of 
all wide receivers.

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