How long do you keep Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly if they don't produce?

I let them play out the contracts and just play special teams if they are not good enough to start at WR. They were 2nd round picks so they do not have huge contracts. I don't see any reason to just jump to cutting them. What I will not do is count on them as starters beyond this year unless they produce.

Santana Moss on Devin Thomas, "I think his future is bright, if he stays focused and just lets me talk to him a little more, he'll be all right." If he's smart and listens to Tana, he's good, if not, he may be out the door in a year or two. He has the talent. Malcolm Kelly is who I look for to make the biggest impact if he can stay healthy. I'm not ready to start thinking of giving up on either one just yet.

They will keep them until it is clear to everyone north of the equator that they can't cut it in the NFL. When the Skins FO makes a commitment to a player - by spending a high draft pick on them or signing them to a big deal - they stick by that player longer than an objective observer would.

There are loads of examples here...

Here is when you will know that the Skins are preparing to cut one of these guys loose:

You start to read that the player is not paying attention at meetings or that he has rubbed some of his teammates the wrong way or that he hasn't committed himself fully to the team philosophy.

That is the prelude to separating the player from the team. Until then...

Of course, I'll never forgot how much I read about how DeMetric Evans, Shawn Springs, Ryan Plackemeier, and Marcus Washington were not paying attention at meetings and rubbing players the wrong way...

Kelly's injury is just inexcusable. He was incapacitated last year becuase his knees are in that bad of shape. Being Cerrato, how do you draft a tall receiver who has problematic knee issues? A knee injury to a tall person is like a throwing shoulder injury for a quarterback. I just don't see him overcoming those nagging knee problems in the long run.

I was excited for Thomas when he came in last year but seeing him actually play is disappointing. He looks fast but seems to run straight like Forrest Gump and doesn't seem to have lateral agility when he has the ball. Adding any mental aptitude issues just further impedes his chances at stepping up next year.

That's a big IF. I've mentioned this before - I have a friend who is a personal trainer for the Redskins. He's in the weight room in Ashburn with these guys at least few times a week, and hears all sorts of stuff. He only worked with them twice a week last year, but he got bumped up to four times a week now. Apparently Devin Thomas is a bit of a punch line amongst the other players. Really poor work ethic.

Thomas has been working out at Redskin Park with Kelly this off-season though right? And I think I heard that he and Santana Moss are working (will be working?) with JC down in Florida this spring as well. It seems like he's making some progress.

Kelly is a concern because who knows how healthy his knee will ever be. All I know is that almost everyone I've spoken to that has any sort of access inside Redskin Park says they love Kelly (his work ethic, his attitude, his personality), and I think there are some who believe that once (if?) he starts producing on the field he can be a face of the franchise.

Of course, I'll never forgot how much I read about how DeMetric Evans, Shawn Springs, Ryan Plackemeier, and Marcus Washington were not paying attention at meetings and rubbing players the wrong way...

Dont forget Antonio Pierce, Ryan Clark, Lemar Marshall, Leigh Torrence, and Patrick Ramsey. Those guys were all lockerroom cancers and we knew about it months in advance of their release.

Kelly's injury is just inexcusable. He was incapacitated last year becuase his knees are in that bad of shape. Being Cerrato, how do you draft a tall receiver who has problematic knee issues? A knee injury to a tall person is like a throwing shoulder injury for a quarterback. I just don't see him overcoming those nagging knee problems in the long run.


Kellys knees did not severely limit him in college. If they had, he wouldnt have been projected by pretty much everyone as a 1st or 2nd round pick. It was risky to select him, but it was worth the risk. I dont think anyone can legitimately question that we got a great "value" selecting any one of Kelly, Thomas, or Davis in the 2nd round. They were all steals at the postion we drafted them. The only reasonable criticism of the moves i can see is that it was a bit of overkill - however, if two of the three guys end up working out, i'll be very happy. So far, Fred Davis is the only one I think is a lock to have a solid NFL career ahead of him, though.

Thomas has been working out at Redskin Park with Kelly this off-season though right? And I think I heard that he and Santana Moss are working (will be working?) with JC down in Florida this spring as well. It seems like he's making some progress.

Kelly is a concern because who knows how healthy his knee will ever be. All I know is that almost everyone I've spoken to that has any sort of access inside Redskin Park says they love Kelly (his work ethic, his attitude, his personality), and I think there are some who believe that once (if?) he starts producing on the field he can be a face of the franchise.

Yes, Thomas and Kelly have both been working out at Ashburn this winter, and from what my friend tells me, Kelly is running at 100% and his knee seems to be fine. My buddy also reiterates what your sources say about Kelly. Great attitude, good kid, and when he's clicking he's a freak on the field. And apparently he's every bit of the 6'4" 220lbs he's listed at.

As far as working with Santana and JC in Florida this spring, I haven't heard about that. I'll be talking to my friend this afternoon. I'll find out what I can.

For anyone who is wondering, he said Justin Geisenger is by far the strongest guy on the team. That surprised me a bit.

So even NOW, the players feel he has a poor work ethic? thats disappointing.

He's still a punch line, yes. I guess he's been trying to step up this offseason, but apparently it was so bad last season, he'll continue to get his balls busted until he does something on the field.

I guess that's why Thomas slid to the 2nd round heh? We really need Thomas and Kelly to step it up this year. I like both of them. Thomas is a big dude too and could be a huge plus if he can step it up.

Of course, I'll never forgot how much I read about how DeMetric Evans, Shawn Springs, Ryan Plackemeier, and Marcus Washington were not paying attention at meetings and rubbing players the wrong way...

I scratched my head on that one too.

:confused: