[SFREDSKIN]

Redskins release Mitchell, Alridge, Robinson, Hill, A. Montgomery

Updated at 11:49 a.m.

Last week the Redskins' roster grew, but this week it's shrinking -- and at least one name will surprise you.

The team released five players this morning, including receiver Marko Mitchell, who impressed during preseason last year but appears to be the odd man out following the team's recent veteran free agent signings.

Also released today: running backs Anthony Alridge and P.J. Hill, receiver James Robinson and defensive linemen Anthony Montgomery. But Mitchell's name will be the one that surprises most. A seventh-round draft pick out of Nevada in 2009, Mitchell appeared in 10 games last season and had only 32 yards on four catches. But Mitchell raised the hopes of many with a strong preseason last year, one in which he posted 113 yards on 11 receptions and had touchdown grabs in each of the final three games.

Last week, we asked you in a poll which of eight receivers do you most wanted to see on next year's roster.

More than 7,500 responded and Mitchell was easily the top vote-getter, garnering nearly 75 percent of the vote. Mitchell wasn't a special teams contributer, which could mean Mike Shanahan didn't see him doing enough things justify the roster spot, especially considering newly-drafted Terrence Austin can return punts and kickoffs. It also could mean the team might try to keep either Joey Galloway or Bobby Wade, both of whom signed with the team last week.

By releasing Mitchell and Robinson, the Redskins will likely enter Friday's minicamp with nine wide receivers. As for the other positions, Alridge has struggled to find a role in
Washington. Many thought because of his prior relationship with Shanahan in Denver, he could serve as a speed back for this team. But if the Redskins intend to start the season with Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson and Willie Parker -- plus Ryan Torain, one of Shanahan's last draft picks in Denver -- there's not a lot of room for others.

Montgomery was the Redskins' fifth-round pick in the 2006 draft. He was a restricted free agent who signed a tender last month. But the Redskins brought in so many veteran defensive linemen since then that coaches likely didn't see a spot remaining for Montgomery. At 6-foot-6, 330 pounds, Montgomery might've had the body to play nose tackle, if not the skill-set. He was a regular starter on the line for the Redskins in 2007, but last year didn't crack the starting rotation once. He has appeared in 42 games for the Redskins in four seasons, playing a role in 78 tackles and registering three sacks.

The Redskins have added six veteran defensive linemen during the offseason: Darrion Scott, Adam Carriker, Howard Green, Anthony Bryant, Maake Kemoeatu and Greg Peterson.