Washington Redskins coach Joe Gibbs has another problem child on his hands.
Brandon Lloyd was declared inactive (politically correct for suspended) against the New York Jets on Sunday for missing a team meeting two days earlier. Lloyd’s excuse didn’t pass Gibbs’ smell test so the receiver was told to stay home.
It’s OK to be “colorful” if you produce. Gibbs had so many heart-to-hearts with Dexter Manley, Gary Clark and even John Riggins that he could have been a cardiologist. But, notice those three were Redskins greats who have Super Bowl rings. You earn a little leeway off the field when producing on it.
If you have two catches for 14 yards this season while drawing big paychecks, it’s best not to cause trouble. If you’re been warned before — missing a game last season after throwing his helmet on the sideline — then you’re down to your last strike.
“Brandon and I will talk things over and we’ll go back to work,” Gibbs said. “We’re going to deal with it and move on.”
Why keep an obvious bust? The Redskins have no choice because of salary cap restrictions. As a vested veteran, cutting Lloyd during the season prevents the Redskins from spreading the remaining $7.1 million salary cap hit over two years. By waiting until January, the Redskins can invoke one of two cap exemptions and claim $4.2 million in 2008 and $2.9 million in 2009. Releasing him now means $7.1 million counts on the cap in 2008. Given Lloyd has a $1.8 million roster bonus in June 2008, the Redskins will surely cut him. It’s just a matter of working the salary cap so they’ll have more money available to keep several free agents of their own.
Teammates will say Lloyd can still help them. That’s what teammates are supposed to say. But if Lloyd can help them, why are the Redskins trying old free agents over him? And how can Lloyd help if the deep threat barely plays in the NFL’s only receiver corps without a touchdown? He has 25 receptions in 22 games, and last year looks like the good old days.
“[Lloyd] would like to be more productive than what’s happened,” Gibbs said. “It hasn’t happened for us. We’ve got to continue to work at that. Obviously, we have a big investment in him and we think he can [be more productive]. We’ve just got to get it done.”
Lloyd is just another bad decision by the front office that burned two more mid-rounds picks in the trade with San Francisco last year. But unlike the deal with the New York Jets to draft Rocky McIntosh that let the New York Jets take quarterback Kellen Clemens with Washington’s pick, the 49ers blew the Redskins choices for a receiver they later cut and a defensive end on injured reserve.
So the Lloyd watch continues. Maybe he’ll win a game with that one big catch. Maybe I’ll sing on stage at the Kennedy Center.
“We’re going to continue to give him opportunities,” Gibbs said. “Up here you’ve got to earn it. Hopefully, this will be the last instance we have like this.”
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
