Ed_Palmedo

With the Redskins completing their first set of personnel meetings before the Senior Bowl, Jason "The Mayor" Reid and I spoke to several people involved in the process - it includes Vinny Cerrato, all of his scouts and assistants and the entire coaching staff - to get a handle on what went on. These were preliminary meetings to evaluate the current personnel, and no major decisions have been made. But everyone got a feel for the direction in which things seem to be headed and issues on both sides of the line were a constant topic of discussion. The next wave of meetings will begin next week, and that's when things will start to heat up. Coaches are currently reviewing film and internal scouting reports on possible free agents. The next set of meetings will compare those players to those who are here now as the team prepares to make cuts. With free agency beginning Feb. 27, the team will lay the foundation for offseason moves during meetings with agents at the scouting combine in mid-February. Several people told us that the offensive line was the greatest area of concern during the first series of meetings. Offensive line Coach Joe Bugel, criticized privately by some in the organization for being too loyal to veterans in the past, was brutally honest during the line review, sources said, particularly about how the line fell apart in the second half of the season. There was a consensus among those in attendance that the team needs to upgrade at both guard spots and right tackle, though most sources doubted there will any kind of substantial free-agent budget to do that, and figure most of the present cast will be back. Cerrato was looking for reasons for the team's 2-6 finish, which some coaches at first thought was a joke given personnel issues and the continuing age and injury problems of the line. Rarely could the entire line practice together save for some lighter Friday sessions and the players' technique and chemistry suffered. Veteran football coaches know the importance of having a line on the practice field as a unit. With most of this bunch coming off surgery again, that issue is unlikely to go away if they keep the group together. Third-round pick Chad Rinehart is not seen as a capable player at this point, according to numerous sources involved in the meeting, and is not projected as being anywhere close to able to replace Pete Kendall or Randy Thomas at guard. Many coaches, including Bugel, worry about his confidence and ability, sources said. He is not being counted on to produce much in 2009, and if he did it would be a surprising development. Similarly, Stephon Heyer is not viewed as a starter; he's okay for depth purposes but with Jon Jansen no longer deemed a starter, either, they need to do something at right tackle (I still expect them to draft a tackle with their first pick). Kendall could not practice on Wednesdays all season because of his arthritic knees and, in addition, is in his mid-30s. Given the team's cap predicament, its needs and the internal expectation that they will not be big spenders, sources said they expect the team to try to re-sign Kendall on the cheap. Thomas's health and decreasing athleticism are a big issue as well, but, like Jansen, his contract makes it more expensive to cut him than to keep him, so he will be back. Look for the team to find a "value" guard in free agency to replace Jason Fabini and push for a starting job. Beyond that, I'm not sure they do a whole lot here. As for the rest of the offense, sources involved in these meetings do not expect the Skins to offer QB Jason Campbell any sort of extension (his deal is up after the 2009 season). The team knows it needs to make major leaps in terms of WR production, but after drafting so many pass catchers a year ago, they have made their bed here. Maybe they add a Bobby Engram-type in free agency if the price is right. There remains a strong sense from the coaches that they need to add a "home-run hitter" to the running back mix - someone like a Sproles who is explosive in space and makes safeties miss - but again, with all of the other roster problems, that's considered a luxury. Maybe they can find a young third-down/change-of-pace back late in the draft. The defensive line is a problem, too. Cornelius Griffin will not be a cap casualty, according to a source, but the team knows it needs a younger anchor to provide more push inside, which defensive coordinator Greg Blache believes would make it easier to get pressure on the perimeter. Finding help at tackle will be a priority, and the defensive coaches would love to find a playmaker at outside linebacker. Sources said it is very unlikely that Marcus Washington will return, with both sides seemingly ready for a change. As for ends, there was some discussion about Jason Taylor possibly adding some pass rush as more of a linebacker, and there was talk about keeping him. However, his $8.5 million salary is very steep and he will be approached about coming back at a lesser salary, according to a source. That's quite unlikely to go down, though. Several of Taylor's teammates and others who know him well say they do not expect him to accept a reduced rate. In that case he'd rather be a free agent, they say, able to sign where he likes, preferring a system with less rigid responsibilities. He's a better fit in a 3-4 scheme and would rather play in a warmer area, they say. Some believe he would even go back to Miami at a discount, if Bill Parcells would take him, to finish his career there. Regardless, coming back here for half his salary seems unrealistic at this point. The Skins know they need to add youth and power at end, but, again, are handcuffed by having only four draft picks. Lacking a second-round pick, if they don't take a DE in the first round I'd look for them to try to target one in the third round. In the secondary, re-signing DeAngelo Hall to long-term deal remains a big priority (it could end up being the only big-time deal they do this offseason). Those negotiations will get a kick-start at the combine. That will be a major domino, with the ability to re-sign Hall affecting whether they keep Shawn Springs and push to deal Carlos Rogers. One source said he expects the Skins to try to keep Springs at a more cap-friendly deal, but if that includes a paycut of any sort I would not expect Springs to accept it. The meeting also touched on the need for improvement at kicker and punter, but, according to sources, price will be a huge factor. Look for the Skins to bring in young, cheap kickers and punters to compete with Shaun Suisham and Ryan Plackemeier. There won't be any Adam Vinatieri-type deals (though with the annual issues at both these positions and the limitations of this offense, finding someone of that ilk would be in order). Maybe there will be a change in thinking when the Skins begin discussing outside free agents. Maybe the wallet opens up. But given that the Skins won't have the cap space that most teams will, finding cheap potential starters at a few positions appears to be the way they will proceed. If a Suggs or Haynesworth or Gross ends up here, several coaches and members of the football operations staff would be surprised. Looks like they will try to patch it together again. Things will become more clear in February.

New York Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress was charged with two counts of felony possession of a weapon in the second degree Monday and released on a $100,000 bond. Burress, who accidentally shot himself Friday night in the right thigh at a Manhattan nightclub, did not enter a plea, though his attorney said Burress planned to plead not guilty. Manhattan Criminal Court Judge Felicia Mennin ordered Burress to return March 31. Defense lawyer Benjamin Brafman argued for no bail, saying: "He has 35 million reasons to come back to court" -- referring to Burress' $35 million contract with the Giants. Prosecutors also released a criminal complaint that provides a witness account from the club where Burress shot himself, the Latin Quarter. A witness heard a popping sound before Burress' legs began to shake. It says the person saw a bloody pistol fall out of his pant leg and land on the floor.

Yesterday, Clinton Portis went on John Thompson's radio show on WTEM 980 in Washington, D.C. and within minutes he and Thompson's co-host, former Redskin/Eagle Brian Mitchell , were at each others throats. Mitchell has been critical of Portis in the past, which prompted the feud. You have to listen to this. http://nick8.surfernetwork.com/Media/Pod/w...tis-JT-Show.mp3 Portis: "You think that I'm gonna back down? I ain't gonna back down." Mitchell: "If you ever want to go to that area, that'll be the wrong thing you do. Believe that. Believe that." Portis: What you go on TV and say, what you sit on your radio show and say, 'Portis need to shut up?' Portis gonna keep talking. Mitchell: You keep talking. Keep talking, bro. Portis: So the fools saying Portis need to shut up, they can kiss Portis's ass. I'm saying that. Ain't nothing gonna change, my man.... Mitchell: Clinton, I'm gonna tell you like this bro. I always talk. I'm an analyst. I analyze positive and negative. If you can't handle the negative.... Portis: You're a hater, that's what you are.... Host John Thompson: "Both of y'all are guys that we're both proud of, and when you see one another, eat a sausage sandwich, sit back and put your toes up and laugh about this crap."

Gilbert Arenas had a third operation on his bothersome left knee Wednesday, once again throwing into doubt his status for the Washington Wizards' upcoming season. Arenas had a "moderate amount of debris" removed from the knee after experiencing swelling and discomfort during his rehabilitation. The Wizards offered no timetable for his return -- beyond the fact that he obviously won't be ready for the start of training camp next week -- but Arenas told The Washington Post that he plans to be back on the court in early December, which would rule him out for the first month of the season. "I just had some floating debris in there that was slowing me down," Arenas said, according to the Post. "It was irritating the knee so we decided to go in there and clean it out. This should actually allow me to come back faster." The surgery is the third on the knee in 17 months for Arenas, who missed 69 regular-season games last season and had to shut himself down in the playoffs. It also raises more doubt about the wisdom of the Wizards' decision to give him a six-year, $111 million contract in July. Arenas first hurt his knee in a game against Charlotte in April 2007. He tried to rush back and was playing in summer league games a few months later. The overzealous approach resulted in a second operation in November, causing him to miss most of the season. Arenas vowed to take a more cautious approach to rehabilitation this summer, but the knee has not responded the way he would like. The doctor who performed the operation Wednesday said debris buildup is common in Arenas' type of injury, and that an MRI showed the knee to be structurally sound. "This was a proactive procedure that will enhance his rehabilitation process," said Dr. Marc Connell, the Wizards' team physician. Despite the knee problems, the three-time All-Star decided to opt out of his contract at the end of last season and make himself a free agent. He re-signed with the Wizards, saying he accepted $16 million less than what was offered because he wanted to give the team more flexibility under the salary cap. Nevertheless, the $111 million deal was the richest in franchise history. Arenas has proven to be one of the most exciting players in the NBA when healthy, averaging 22.8 points, 5.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds in his seven-season NBA career. The Wizards' hopes of becoming a top Eastern Conference team have been disrupted by injuries to top players for the past two seasons. This was the season, they hoped, that everyone would stay more or less healthy. "He had worked extremely hard over the summer and we know how much he's looking forward to returning to help the team," team president Ernie Grunfeld said. "However, our team has proven its resiliency in dealing with injuries in the past and we're approaching the start of training camp with confidence that they will once again compete at a high level until Gilbert's return." Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

Check out this hit! Maryland Terps football player Kevin Barnes puts the smack down on Cal's Jahvid Best causing him to puke and leave the game.

Big game for the Skins this weekend. Home opener against New Orleans who thank God will be playing without their stud receiver (Coleston is out 4-6 weeks). I know its early in the season but I feel as if this is a MUST-WIN if the Redskins are going to do anything this season. We play Dallas and Philly (Week 4 and 5) and have to get something positive rolling before we start out 0-3 in our division.

I hope the Redskins can play with a little more heart and smarts this weekend. Maybe the defense will show up in the first half so the game isn't over before thhe 3rd quarter. I am a Jim Zorn fan but I have to admit that his first game was a disaster. First, the Giants played poorly and they still spanked the Redskins. Second, Jason Campbell held onto the ball for way too long, looking lost a few times. Third, can anyone in the secondary catch the ball (Carlos Rogers had two more INTs that he blew). Fourth, clock management was a joke - what were the Skins doing running the ball and not going 'no-huddle' the last 6-7 minutes of the game. With the way the Cowboys and Eagles played this past weekend, the Skins could be swept this year in the NFC East. Let's hope they rebound against the Saints' this weekend - although their offense has alot more firepower than the Giants do.

I watched the US-Spain gold medal basketball game and can't believe how the officials did not call a tech on the Spain coach or bench. This is not soccer people where every time a player gets touched he falls on the ground pretending to have a serious injury. This is one of the main reasons Americans hate the sport. Man up, people. Stop your complaining, play the game, and be a good sport. Crying like babies does not work. And the flops were comical. After every call the Spanish players and bench cried and jumped up and down like 5-year-olds. Or they would grab a player or the ball and not let the game continue while they yelled at the refs (this is directed at you Gasol). This would NEVER happen in the NBA. You get warned once or twice and then get a T.

I heard a report that Dan Synder might try to go after Brett Farve. Not sure if this is true but Danny Boy does have a history of going after big name players. Not sure if this is a great idea though, Jason Campbell has to step up this year and be the quarterback of the future so bringing in Farve might set him back. That being said, Farve would make the Redskins better immediately even if its only for a year. I also just noticed that the Skins signed Colt Brennan so I'm not sure how much weight the Farve thing carries. What do you (Skins fans) think about this? Is it worth bringing in Brett Farve?

By Dan Wetzel, Yahoo! Sports Kimbo not the face of MMA Kimbo Slice, a one-time homeless man, one-time strip club bouncer, one-time backyard, back-alley brawler turned Internet sensation/big money mixed martial artist isn’t a problem. Only in America, right? He’s said to be a great guy, a boot-strap success story who deserves everything coming to him. I’ve watched him maul “Adryan” a half dozen times alone. You have, or will, too. Kimbo Slice being a street fighter, rather than a Brazilian jiu-jitsu or Muay Thai master, isn’t a problem either. No, he isn’t the best and brightest in MMA. He’d probably get whipped in a second by the sport’s elite, as Tito Ortiz predicted. The beauty of the MMA, though, is you bring what you’ve got to the cage. Kimbo has those iron fists. Maybe it’s enough. Maybe it isn’t. We’d all like to find out. The day an old-school scrapper doesn’t have a place here will be a sad one. And CBS choosing to broadcast an MMA card in prime time Saturday, a historic moment for this once fledgling sport, isn’t a problem. The sport has taken off in a way few others have – fueled purely by fan interest. It stands in stark contrast to all the network airtime spent on sports propped up on political correctness or obligation. MMA long ago deserved network attention. Individually, nothing is wrong with a shooting star such as Kimbo Slice fighting on Saturday’s EliteXC card on CBS. Together, plenty is. In fact, practically everything is. EliteXC is a desperate promotion that’s hemorrhaging money. It’s willing to sell anything, even a false portrait of its sport, to succeed. Kimbo is a guy with unexpected and most likely fleeting earning potential; understandably he’s willing to cash in even if it means tomato-can opponents and an image so unfortunately stereotypical. CBS is so focused on quick television ratings, it will present a cheap trick, lowest common denominator show. This, rather than an introduction to a sport that if treated with respect and patience could grow into a powerful property. Everyone is using. Everyone is getting used. In the end, what will be left from this experiment? Will MMA on CBS just be a short-run, freak show discarded by all, left to return to its true roots and better promotions after the circus has left town?

That's pretty weird and scary to think that a company as big as comcast can be hacked into. You would think they have teams devoted to protection. I am a little surprised that those messages are still appearing on their website.

Do you really think that many people that live in Kentucky are racist? That number is VERY high! I bet a few poeple from Kentucky would argue your point.

One of my friends in Florida sent this email and I thought I would share it with our readers. This time of year (summer - when high school and college kids come home and look forward to a summer of fun) is when these things happen. PLEASE, if you are going to drink alcohol, be responsible and have a safe way to get home. I'm not saying 'Do Not Drink' but please be smart about it so no more horrible stories like this happen to someone you love. FROM HER EMAIL (I have taken some names out of this message and left their first initial): "As most of you already know, the video I have attached is a very good/old friend of mine. I still talk to him and will be visiting him soon (A, S, L, Z, M, A, P, M we need to send letters and photos). He is living a pretty boring, terrible, mind numbing life, and the person that I used to spend a lot of time with, is no longer himself. He is sad, and empty. Most of us know him as animated, hilarious, and having the biggest heart of most people we will ever know. It is almost Memorial Day, and these things happen, so please watch this video, forward it to everyone you know, and remember that DUIs can be more than terrible. I love all of you and never want anything to happen."

For the first time ever, Newsweek magazine has ranked six Montgomery County public high schools in the top 100 high schools in the nation -- more than any other school district in the United States. In the previous four years, five high schools have appeared in the top 100. All of the county's eligible schools are counted among the top 3 percent in the country, according to Newsweek. The six top high schools and their rankings are: > Richard Montgomery, 32 > Thomas S. Wootton, 59 > Bethesda-Chevy Chase, 63 > Walt Whitman, 68 > Walter Johnson, 75 > Winston Churchill, 96 The Newsweek rankings highlight the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) reform efforts over the last eight years to encourage more high school students from every background to take challenging Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate (IB) courses. Participation in these rigorous programs provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to be successful in college and the world of work. Newsweek uses the "Challenge Index," which has been featured for the past several years in The Washington Post, as a way to measure the rigor of a high school academic program. The index, developed by Jay Mathews, is derived from the number of AP or IB tests taken by all students at a school divided by the number of graduating seniors. Since 2000, MCPS has undertaken significant reforms to increase academic success for all students and close the achievement gap. Fundamentally, the reforms are predicated upon hiring and training high-quality teachers, reducing class sizes and offering students a rigorous and challenging curriculum. Newsweek's Rankings of Montgomery County Schools Among the Top U.S. High Schools > 32 Richard Montgomery > 59 Thomas Wootton > 63 Bethesda-Chevy Chase > 68 Walt Whitman > 75 Walter Johnson > 96 Winston Churchill > 199 Montgomery Blair > 296 Springbrook > 312 Poolesville > 313 Rockville > 328 Albert Einstein > 338 James Hubert Blake > 418 Paint Branch > 438 Watkins Mill > 474 Northwest > 505 Sherwood > 552 Col. Zadok Magruder > 651 Gaithersburg > 696 Quince Orchard > 816 Wheaton > 837 John F. Kennedy > 860 Damascus > 906 Seneca Valley * This list excludes Northwood High School and Clarksburg High School because they did not have graduating seniors in 2007.

You'd need a lot of milk to dunk all the cookies that spilled on an interstate highway in Illinois this morning. A trailer loaded with 14 tons of double-stuffed Oreos overturned, dumping boxes of cookies all over the road and the median about 50 miles southwest of Chicago. It shut down the highway and backed up traffic. Illinois State Police say the truck crashed after the driver fell asleep at the wheel.

As someone who grew up reading Tony Kornheiser's articles, I am sad to see him leave. He has been talking about "being in the process of a buyout" for awhile now on his PTI program so I cannot say that I am stunned. Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon have been my favorite two sportswriters since I was a little kid. We in Washington were lucky to have both of them writing for the Post for so long. What I would really like to know is if he wanted to leave or if the Post pushed him out? Is Wilbon the next to leave? He is doing more and more work for ABC and ESPN so maybe he doesn't have many articles left either? Oh well, as least Kornheiser still has his radio show and PTI so we can still hear him rant about his beloved New York franchises.

Assistant State Attorney Reid Rubin filed notice Friday that the death penalty in the case of the four suspects charged with the killing of Washington Redskin Sean Taylor will be waived. The reason for this is that the shooter, Eric Rivera Jr, in the botched robbery was only 17 at the time of the attack. The US Supreme Court has ruled that people cannot be executed for crimes committed when they're under 18, and it's a well established legal principle that others involved in the same case as a minor cannot face the ultimate penalty if they are less directly responsible. This means that the suspects will receive a max of life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder.

This just in, Miami prosecutors have announced that a fifth person has been charged in the murder of Washington Redskins Pro Bowl Safety Sean Taylor. According to Miami-Dade County State Attorney's Office spokesman Ed Griffith, 16-year-old Timothy Brown is charged with first-degree murder under a sealed warrant. At this time, Brown is being held in Lee County and it is not known if he will be transferred to Miami-Dade County to face the charge. Taylor died in November after being shot during a botched robbery. The trial for the four suspects originally charged with the killing of Taylor is scheduled for August 25.

A 1.8-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Virginia Tuesday. The tremor struck at about 1:30 p.m., according to the United States Geological Survey. The epicenter was about 1 mile west-southwest of Annandale. There have been no reports of damage or injuries. Magnitude is a number that characterizes the relative size of an earthquake. According to the Geological Survey's Web site, earthquakes with magnitude of about 2.0 or less are usually called microearthquakes. They are not commonly felt by people and are generally recorded only on local seismographs. Earthquake Details Magnitude - 1.8 Date-Time - Tuesday, May 06, 2008 at 17:30:23 UTC Location - 38.828°N, 77.234°W Depth - 10 km (6.2 miles) set by location program Region - VIRGINIA Distances 2 km (1 miles) WSW (250°) from Annandale, VA 3 km (2 miles) NW (320°) from North Springfield, VA 3 km (2 miles) SE (143°) from Mantua, VA 6 km (4 miles) NNE (32°) from Burke, VA 12 km (8 miles) WSW (242°) from Arlington, VA 21 km (13 miles) WSW (244°) from Washington, DC

"D.C. Madam" Deborah Jean Palfrey apparently left two suicide notes before killing herself. Palfey hunged herself in a shed outside her mother's mobile home in the Florida Gulf Coast community of Tarpon Springs. The 52-year-old Palfrey was convicted last month of running a prostitution ring that catered to Washington DC elite and faced federal prison time after being. One note stated that she didn't want to leave prison "broken, penniless and very much alone."

A chapter in former slugger Jose Canseco's new book Vindicated alleges new steroid claims, moving from the baseball world into that of competitive horse racing. Canseco, airing more of his dirty laundry, says that he injected horse racing sensations Barbaro and Seabiscuit with HGH and other performance enhancing drugs. The horses, both of whom are deceased, could not escape the wrath of Canseco’s brutal honesty, which the former slugger refers to as "Justice Time!" Canseco called both horses "ex-friends," and lamented that his word may not be enough to indict the racing champions, because he believes their lawyers will hide behind the tried and true, "they’re horses, therefore incapable of rational thought" defense that has kept steroid-abusing horses out of legal troubles for years. The allegations against Seabiscuit are the most troubling, not only because the horse died almost twenty years before Canseco was born, but also due to the public’s fondness for the horse, stemming from the 2003 tear-jerking biopic Seabiscuit. When questioned about the time discrepancy, Canseco had no answers. "You figure it out, I’m not the mathematician," he snapped. "I get paid to hit home runs and make baseless allegations against people who give me dirty looks at parties." Canseco also urged everyone to buy his new book, so that the truth could be told and he could be vindicated from whatever it is that he is being accused of. The ex-player says he is especially proud of the book's foreword by Ty Cobb, and also the last chapter of the text, wherein he accuses the Phillie Phanatic of being a coke dealer. "Those horses pretended to be my friends," Canseco lamented. "And when the heat got turned up, they turned their backs on me. Neither of them will even return my calls anymore. So you know what? They're getting called out. And I'm vindicated. Buy my book."

Gilbert Arenas did play in game 4 but you could tell his knee wasn't ready. Are the Wizards better without Agent Zero???

Tim Hipps, PA SportsTicker - Published: Monday, April 28, 2008 Delonte West made a three-pointer from the left corner with 5.4 seconds remaining yesterday, lifting the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 100-97 victory over the Washington Wizards in Game 4 of their Eastern Conference first-round playoff series. LeBron James had 34 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Cavaliers, who took a 3-1 series lead and will host Game 5 on Wednesday. On the game-winning play, James drew a double-team inside the key and passed the ball to West, who was wide open. "I'm pretty sure everybody in the gym, including their defence, thought [James] was going to take the last shot," West said. "And I think sometimes we forget this guy has great court vision. He made the right play, and that's what makes him a great player. "The play was really drawn up for everybody just to get out of the way and let LeBron do what he does best. Fortunately, that's one thing that he does best is he finds the open man." Cavaliers coach Mike Brown confirmed West's assessment. "The only talk was to get the ball to LeBron -- and he could figure it out from there," Brown said. "It's about trusting your teammates. We know and he knows that he's going to get double-teamed, and everyone is going to shrink that floor. "If he drives and kicks, be ready to lock and load and knock that shot down." The finish was reminiscent of the Cavaliers' 114-113 overtime victory in Game 6 of the teams' Eastern Conference first-round playoff series when Damon Jones came off the bench to bury the Wizards with 4.8 seconds left in overtime. "A couple years ago it seems like Damon Jones was right there in the corner on almost the exact same play, but that's why he's LeBron James," Jamison said. "He demands so much attention, and we did a great job as far as boxing him up and not letting him get the opportunity to drive to the basket." West scored a career play-off-high 21 points for the Cavaliers, who outrebounded the Wizards, 51-31. Ben Wallace led the way on the glass with 12 rebounds for Cleveland while Joe Smith had eight boards and Zydrunas Ilgauskas seven. "We've been a good rebounding team, but the guys just gave a lot of effort today," Ilgauskas said. "There were a lot of missed shots, and we got good position under the basket. It's hard for a team to play defence when you keep getting offensive rebounds because it does tire you out." "They really got on the offensive boards," Wizards forward Antawn Jamison said. "It seemed like every rebound they got, they converted on." Gilbert Arenas made two free throws with 57.1 seconds remaining that pulled Washington to 97-95, but his three-point attempt as the final horn sounded fell short. "Most of the time he makes it, but he's not the real Gil," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said. "He made a great shot there to tie it up and he had the juice, so I thought he could come up with the magic one more time."