Now Arriving Gate 75: Cuts

Thanks for the memories

With Tuesday's dealine to cut rosters down from 80 to 75 the Redskins announced three cuts yesterday, safety Vernon Fox, defensive tackle Babatunde Ashinowo and defensive end Dorian Smith (also link here). Babatunde and Dorian were only here for a cup of coffee, Vernon has been here two years now and in that time played an important role.

In 2006 Vernon, along with old and slow Troy Vincent*, was a benefactor of 30 million dollar free agent signee safety Adam Archuleta's flameout and Pierson Prioleau's freak kickoff return knee injury in the 2006 season opener. With Pierson gone and Adam's stock plumetting every week, Vernon became a regular player after Troy went out with a hamstring eight days after signing.

Vernon's greatest moment with the Redskins came in the 26 November 2006 home game against the Carolina Panthers, the same team that just handed the Redsksins their worst preseason loss in 34 years. That November 2006 game which the Redskins won 17-13 was Washington's best all around performance in an otherwise dismal season, better really than the 36-30 shootout with the Jaguars and only approached by the 16-10 road win over the playoff bound Saints.

In that Carolina game the Redskins won with power running, conservative offense and the team stuck to its guns even as the NFC South leading Panthers left little room for error. On the Panthers' first drive of the first quarter, the team's second play from scrimmage, Jake Delhomme went deep for Steve Smith, Vernon and Steve tangled in midair and Vernon came down with it. Jake looked frustrated the rest of the day and Carlos Rogers and Shawn Springs, playing his first good game since returning from sports hernia surgery, held Steve and Keyshawn Johnson to a combined 11 catches for 72 yards.

The release of Vernon Fox means the Redskins are making a commitment to youth at the safety position with third year Reed Doughty, second year LaRon Landry and rookies Chris Horton and Kareem Moore. Shawn Springs will also get some reps at safety.

Thanks to Vernon Fox for his time with the Redskins and good luck, Vernon's only 28 and I hope he catches on somewhere else.



* I am A Troy Vincent hater based exclusively on his position as a player representative to the union and his opinion that retired players basically should suck it, even the ones that played long ages ago before wealth and privilege came attached to an NFL roster spot. That he was an Eagle is distasteful, hey we are just rooting for the laundy anyway. Indeed Troy will always have a spot in my heart for blocking Mike Vanderjagt's kick in the Dallas home game that year, leading to Sean Taylor's recovery and return, a facemask penalty on Dallas and BobNick Novak's untimed kick to win the game.

Former Redskins safety Vernon Fox stiffarming Panthers receiver Keyshawn Johnson in a 26 November 2006 home game from here. I almost used this picture instead, it is Vernon pwning Steve Smith to get the INT in that game and Steve Smith made me sad on Saturday night against the Panthers in the preseason, however the picture above is a much better shot of Vernon, whom this post is really about. Seeing Keyshawn get pushed out of the way like a small child is simply a bonus.