Release means just four remain from ’08 draft
Malcolm Kelly knew the end was coming. He even did his farewell interviews before the Redskins officially released him Tuesday, giving him an injury settlement.
“As much as I love this thing, I’m not going to go out here and kill myself,” Kelly said. “It’s one thing to have one injury, man, but to have as many as I’ve had, it’s to the point where it is what it is.”
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| Defensive end Stephen Bowen said his wife, daughter and infant son will join him soon in Northern Virginia. His son, born June 28, has been hospitalized after being born premature. His twin died 10 days later. But Stephen III now weighs 4 ?? pounds. His father has held him only once. But he’s encouraged by his son’s progress. “I can’t even put it into words, it’s a good feeling,” Bowen said. “It takes a load off. I’m not worried about him every day. … Some days were good and some days were bad, but now he’s trying to stabilize.” |
| » Receiver Brandon Banks was able to practice for a second consecutive day, a good sign for the Redskins. He’s expected to play Thursday vs. Tampa Bay. Defensive end Adam Carriker, who missed the last two preseason games with blisters, also is expected to play. |
| » Other players released Tuesday: defensive backs Dante Barnes and Tyrone Grant; quarterback Ben Chappell, offensive linemen Xavier Fulton and Corey O’Daniel, kicker Clint Stitser, tight end Joe Torchia and linebacker Eric McBride. Rookie defensive end Jarvis Jenkins was placed on injured reserve. |
The Redskins placed Kelly on injured reserve in 2010 with a hamstring injury. He then injured his right foot early in training camp. Thus, a staff that did not draft him could not evaluate him.
“He looked like he was in excellent shape,” Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said. “But we weren’t able to watch him on the field.”
Kelly, who finishes his Redskins career with 28 catches, entered camp having lost nearly 15 pounds and was upbeat about his chances.
“When I hurt my foot, I think it was almost like, ‘All right, whatever.’ I got upset about it a little bit, but it’s like, shoot, maybe it just is what it is,” he said.
Kelly’s release means six of the 10 players drafted in 2008 are no longer with the Redskins. And none of the remaining four project to starters: tight end Fred Davis, safeties Kareem Moore and Chris Horton and linebacker Rob Jackson. Moore might open the season on the physically unable to perform list and Horton is in danger of being cut.
And this class is why there shouldn’t be much attention paid to how many rookies make the final roster this season. Of the Redskins’ 12 rookies, there’s a chance half won’t make the roster. But that means they have more depth than a year ago. Also, in 2008 nine of the 10 rookies did make the final roster. That did not mean it was a good draft class, as the ensuing years have confirmed.
– John Keim
