Washington's favorite tight end Chris Cooley passed his physical and rejoined the Redskins Monday. ESPN NFC East blogger Dan Graziano writes that Cooley can still help the team, although not as a starter.
If Chris Cooley were cut in July instead of September, he would have been voted as one of the 80 Greatest Redskins. I vote him the 81st.
— Anthony Brown (@SkinsHogHeaven) October 22, 2012
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"Even if Cooley is the third tight end on the depth chart behind Paul and Paulsen, he's made it clear that he's fine staying in the background and helping them get better," writes Graziano. That's fine, because Paul is looking more like a TE project every game.
Transitioning to new positions in the NFL is hard, like converting to the West Coast Offense, or the 3-4 defensive alignment. If scheme changes for full units need three years to "take," I guess we can give Paul a full season to convert from wide receiver to tight end.
Paul doesn't seem to get open a lot. Learning to block the likes of Jason Pierre-Paul is a process. Paulson acquitted himself well after Fred Davis went down, but he's caught five of the nine balls thrown to him. That has to get better.
Paulson is the logical starter at tight end, but who should be No. 2? Even now, Cooley shows better hands than Paulson and Paul. Inserting him as No. 2 steals game reps from the player the team wants to develop. Solving this is why coaches are paid.
If I were coach, I would make this call during the BYE week. That gives Capt. Chaos time to get in true game shape and Paul time to show growth. If Paul does not step up, Cooley moves up the depth chart.
The Washington Post says London Fletcher's status won't be known until Wednesday. Fletcher strained his hamstring in the Giants game. He was off the field when Eli Manning threw that 77-yard dagger to Victor Cruz. Cruz would not have been Fletcher's assignment, but I somehow believe that Fletch would have done something to cause Manning to miss that throw.
Cruz looks like a big teen-ager every time I see him in an interview. There is a danger in assigning character traits based on 15-second TV clips, but I like Cruz from what I see of him off the field. That's more than I can say about Dez Bryant. Just sayin.
The Redskins signed former RB Keiland Williams and released Ryan Grant, according to multiple Tweets from reliable tweeps.
Redskins cut Ryan Grant, re-sign Keiland Williams. After Cooley and Williams, can Darrell Green be far behind? wapo.st/Pog6BN
— The Insider (@Insider) October 23, 2012
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Ryan Grant released after 4 weeks with Redskins. Had one carry for five yards. Made $176,500.
— Andrew Brandt (@adbrandt) October 23, 2012
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Mike Shanahan clarified that Pierre Garcon has inflammation in his toe, according to the same Post article that covered Fletcher's status. Reports circulated that Garcon tore a tendon. Whatever the injury, it's clear that Garcon is worse off than has been reported, and so are the Redskins until he takes the field with good speed.
Joe Gibbs had to explain himself to Redskins fans after reports that he gave a pep talk to the Cowboys before their game with the Panthers.
More Gibbs: "I want all the Redskins fans to know…I’m Redskins all the way and all I was doing was a chapel service." wapo.st/WG2t2l
— Dan Steinberg (@dcsportsbog) October 23, 2012
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Yeah, but Coach, the Cowboys WON. Don't do that again.
Two things bother me about the loss to the Giants. The first is how it is being reported.
According to headlines, the Giants beat RGIII. In the ultimate team sport, shouldn't that read as The Giants beat the Redskins with RGIII? Or, the Giants beat the Redskins in spite of RGIII's spectacularness. (Yeah, yeah, not a word)
That leads to the second. Robert Griffin III elevates the performance of everyone on the Redskins – offense, defense and coaches, too. Isn't it about time they returned the favor?
Much of the reporting and reaction about the game is how well the Redskins played against the world champs. THEY LOST THE EFFIN' GAME!
The loss to the Falcons is the last moral victory I accept. Lets allow that the Giants' defense had something to do with the slippery fingers of Washington's most reliable players. But, don't say the Redskins played well. They sucked. Four turnovers suck. Playing Victor Cruz shallow until the secondary felt the whoosh of his wind sucked.
Hog Heaven expects more of every Redskins coach and player except the quarterback, because we just cannot ask more of Robert Griffin the Great than he has done. We cannot waste that performance either.
Looking good while losing has become old. Winning is a team accomplishment. Time to report – and think – about it that way.
Image: December 18, 2010, Ronald Martinez/Getty Images North America via zimbio.com.
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