NFC East: Michael Marquardt
Cowboys up, 7-0, with 12:31 to go in the first quarter.
Redskins release LB Fincher, four others
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
The Washington Redskins released linebacker Alfred Fincher, cornerback Michael Grant, defensive tackle Michael Marquardt, wide receiver Marques Hagans and offensive tackle Devin Clark on Sunday. Fincher, a solid special teams player for the Skins, was the most surprising name on the list. Coach Jim Zorn explained the decision following practice Sunday.
"I don't want to take anything away from Fincher because he's worked really hard, and he has improved," Zorn said. "But to us there was kind of a ceiling there on him compared to some of the other guys that are coming on. Now he may have been more seasoned, but sometimes with a younger guy there is a potential there that you like -- a speed or a flash that I think coaches are looking at that kind of give those guys a little bit longer look. Al, in all fairness, he was here a year ago, and the other guys are doing as well as he, so we decided that maybe they'll have a higher ceiling."
Zorn also said that defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth missed Sunday's practice due to stomach issues. He said that running back Clinton Portis will not play Thursday in Jacksonville, but indicated some of the others starters would be in the game. It sounds like we're going to see a whole lot of Colt Brennan and Chase Daniel in this game. If I had to guess right now, I think Zorn's leaning toward Daniel as the third quarterback.
Posted by ESPN.com's Matt Mosley
You got the feeling that Redskins coach Jim Zorn was just waiting for the right time to sign former Seahawks wide receiver D.J. Hackett, and that time arrived when Roydell Williams went down with a broken finger in training camp.
Hackett was a fourth-round pick by the Seahawks in 2004 and he's spent significant time working with Zorn in the past. He's certainly not a guy who will challenge for a starting job, but he had his moments with Seattle. In fact, I seem to recall him giving the Cowboys fits at one point.
As Gary Fitzgerald of Redskins.com points out, there's no guarantee that Williams was going to make the team. He was trying to figure out a new offense and the injury would've kept him out for a least a month. That's why the Skins went ahead and released him. Hackett's familiar with the Redskins' offense, so it shouldn't take him too long to catch up.
The Skins also signed defensive lineman Michael Marquardt. At 6-foot-3 and 302 pounds, Marquardt has bounced around the league since being signed by the Bengals as a rookie free agent out of Arizona State. He spent last season on the Eagles' practice squad. I think the Skins just want to make sure that players such as Albert Haynesworth don't have to take too many reps in camp. I'd be surprised if Marquardt made the final roster. With Hackett, you could certainly see it happening. He could play the role that James Thrash was in.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Dan Graziano
Graziano joined ESPN.com in 2011 after two years as a Senior NFL Writer for AOL FanHouse. He covered Major League Baseball, the Olympics and various other sports during his time at the Star-Ledger and the Palm Beach Post. A New Jersey native and author of two published novels, he now lives in Ridgewood, N.J., with his wife and two sons.
