WR Malcolm Kelly Among Nine Released by Redskins

The Washington Redskins announced the release of nine members of their 89-man roster to comply with NFL rules.

Released were: WR Malcolm Kelly (injury settlement); DB Dante Barnes; QB Ben Chappell; OL Xavier Fulton; DB Tyrone Grant; DB Tyrone Grant; LB Eric McBride; OL Corey O’Daniel; K Clint Stitser, and TE Joe Torchia.

Kelly’s departure leaves TE Fred Davis, FS Kareem Moore, DE Rob Jackson and S Chris Horton as the surviving member of the 10-man Redskins 2008 Draft Class still with the team.  Davis is safe on the roster, especially with the uncertain health of Chris Cooley. Capt. Chaos says he expects to start against the Giants.

Moore is on the Physically Unable to Perform list and could miss six weeks of the regular season.  Jackson and Horton are battling for a spot on the 2011 roster.

Kelly’s stats for his career in Washington has an uncanny resemblance to that of Brandon Lloyd whom Kelly was drafted to replace.

The Redskins quest to find wide receivers has lasted a very long time. Kelly has the measurables of a West Coast Offense receiver (6-4, 218 lbs), but his body proved too fragile for the NFL. He was eclipsed by Anthony Armstrong who was waived twice by the Miami Dolphins and joined the Redskins practice squad in 2009. Armstrong caught 44 passes for 871 yards and three touchdowns in 2010.

The Redskins traded for WR Jabar Gaffney to play opposite Santana Moss this season and then moved Armstrong to No. 3 wide receiver.

Today, Tuesday, August 30, 2011, is the first of two roster cut-down days of the league year. NFL teams must reduce their rosters to 53 players by this Saturday evening.

Point after: A story on Redskins.com says that S LaRon Landry is uncertain to return to practice in time for the opener against the New York Giants.

Peter King in the upcoming issue of Sports Illustrated Magazine predicts a 5-11 finish for the 2011 Redskins. He expects every other NFC East team to finish with at least nine wins.