Round of 75 Cuts Complete

It sucks to get injured when the team needs players at your position

The Redskins had to get down from 80 players to 75 by 4pm yesterday (Tuesday) and they did so by releasing linebacker Matt Sinclair and receiver Burl Ives Toler. This complete round of cuts:

Released Sunday
Vernon Fox, safety
Babatunde Oshinowo, defensive tackle
Dorian Smith, defensive end

Released Monday
Matt Sinclair, linebacker
Burl Toler, receiver

Matt is a fourth year player and was a cut day casualty last season, cleared waivers and was signed to the practice squad, elevated to the regular roster before game 12 against the Bills last season and most recetly wore the defensive radio helmet in the Colts Hall of Fame game in the absence of London Fletcher and HB Blades. He had injured his back in the Jets preseason game, three fractures in the L-5 vertebra (ouch!) and was looking at a three month recovery, there is a chance we could see him back, as ever the training camp the Redskins need the spots and cannot afford to keep non core players when they are hurt.

Burl is a third year player and was also released on cut day last year, re signed to the practice squad and then released seven days later, he was signed back to the practice squad after epic fail receiver Brandon Lloyd had his collarbone broken by angry teammates, cut again five days later when Anthony Mix was re signed, signed back to the practice squad in December, his contract expired in January and he was re signed on 9 January and was cut yesterday. Based on this history I think we can expect to see Burl again.


The Redskins also released undrafted rookie free agent tight end Jason Goode and used the roster spot to re sign linebacker Danny Verdun-Wheeler. Jason was competing in a crowded field of tight ends with Chris Cooley, second round draft pick Fred Davis and 2007 blocking holdover Todd Yoder. Fighting turf toe for most of preseason, Jason made the decisive catch from Colt Brennan in the Jets preseason game (op. cit.), tangling with a defender and taking the ball 33 yards for a touchdown to put the team ahead for good.

The re signing of Danny tells us the team is still hurting for healthy linebackers with Marcus Washington resting his hip, HB Blades still slow from surgery and Rock McIntosh playing but still recovering from knee surgery last season.



Matt Sinclair: Scott Robinson / the Washingtonian from here.