(photo by Eric Espada)

For those who missed it, yesterday we had the chance to chat with Omar Kelly, who covers the Miami Dolphins for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Because of how much ground we covered during our conversation, I went ahead and broke it up into two parts.

In yesterday’s installment, Kelly chatted primarily about quarterbacks – specifically, John Beck and Vince Young.

Today, we turn our attention to receivers and the good news for ‘Skins fans is that Kelly has a lot of positives to say about the guys who’ll be catching passes from Beck, Young, Rex Grossman or whoever. Without further adieu, here’s part two.

Out of everyone the Washington Redskins selected in this year’s draft, the player who seems to get the locals most excited is Miami receiver Leonard Hankerson. What can you tell me about this kid?

“He’s a good receiver and, quite honestly, I’m surprised he didn’t go in the first round,” Kelly said. “I think he’s probably in the best spot for him, considering what their needs are there. Anthony Armstrong is a guy who they had down here on the practice squad. He’s a talented receiver and a nice deep threat, but he’s not going to be an every-down, possession receiver. And then you’ve got Santana Moss, whose time in Washington may be done. It’ll be interesting to see what happens there with him being a free agent.

“But if they’re looking for a new guy to come in and take over, I can see Leonard Hankerson being a 1,000-yard receiver,” he continued. “He’s got everything you need, which is why I was troubled that he went so low in the draft. To me, every question people had about him, he addressed it.

“He’s got speed, toughness and hands,” Kelly said. “He was the one guy who stood out in the Senior Bowl. They said he’s not that fast and then he runs a faster time in the 40 than [University of Maryland wide out] Torrey Smith at the combine, so I’m puzzled why he was there that late. But sometimes I think its better that guys get a good opportunity and land in a good fit, rather than worry about where a guy gets drafted. But I definitely think he’s got Pro Bowl potential.”

I jokingly refer to him as Malcolm Kelly with two good knees because he’s a guy with a big body who isn’t afraid to go across the middle, but at the same time, this team’s recent draft history isn’t exactly littered with guys that could be considered a steal. We’re kind of conditioned to expect the worst rather than get our hopes up, but the more I see of Hankerson, the more there is to like. But I think it’s safe to say you like what Hankerson bring to the table, right?

“No, you’re right. He’s got it all together,” he said. “I can’t really point to any major flaws in his game. I’ve heard questions about his intellect, but I think a lot of that is overblown just because he’s a Miami kid. I’m from Miami and I’m very familiar with Leonard Hankerson and the one thing about him is he works hard. If you go back and look at the receivers he broke the records of, those guys have had very successful careers at the next level and I expect him to have the same success.”

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(photo by Brian Murphy)

Three names dominated headlines for the Washington Redskins last season – Mike Shanahan, Donovan McNabb and Albert Haynesworth.

And while the lockout is keeping things quiet in most NFL cities, the Redskins continue to be a regular topic of conversation with three new names consistently emerging during this offseason of uncertainty.

They are John Beck, Vince Young and Leonard Hankerson. A holdover, a free-agent-to-be and a draft pick.

With so many different stories floating around the Redskins these days, I tracked down the one person uniquely qualified to talk about each of these players and more.

His name is Omar Kelly, and he covers the Miami Dolphins for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. For what it’s worth, he’s also one of the more entertaining individuals I follow on Twitter.

Oh, and if Kelly’s name sound familiar, it’s because he’s the guy who first mentioned that Young could end up in Washington.

Since he’s in Miami, Kelly is able to shed some light on Beck, who was drafted by Miami in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and Hankerson, who just finished up an impressive college career with the Hurricanes.

Kelly was gracious enough to make time for me, so I hope you enjoy his insights into players who very well could decide the fate of the burgundy and gold in 2011.

As someone who is obviously much more familiar with Beck than any of us in Washington, I was hoping you could share your perspective on him. What do you think of the kid?

“I think in time – and he’s now had that time – he might be a decent quarterback,” Kelly said of Beck. “The issues that he struggled with when he was with the Dolphins were partly caused by the changing of the regime. They wanted him to play right away and wouldn’t let him grow at a respectable pace.

“When [executive vice president of football operations Bill] Parcells, [head coach Tony] Sparano and [general manager Jeff] Ireland got here, they were building a team on toughness,” he continued. “And John didn’t exactly personify toughness – especially to them. So it wasn’t a surprise that he didn’t win the job. When they went to Pat White, drafting him in the second round, they dumped the kid before he really had the opportunity to push or gain some footing.

“I admire the kid because he fought back and found himself another home and put himself in a position to try and win a starting job,” Kelly said. “I think now, considering he’s been in the NFL for four seasons, I think he possibly has a chance – especially in a west-coast offense. I always thought he’d be better suited in a west-coast offense.”

When you’re watching Beck on film or from the sidelines, what stands out about his game?

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(photo by Brian Murphy)

Repeat after me – John Beck is not a savior.

He’s not a gift from the football gods. He’s not the answer to all your hopes and dreams. At best, he’s probably nothing more than an average NFL quarterback.

Which is why it’s baffling to see some fans of the Washington Redskins suddenly acting as if this guy is the second coming of Kurt Warner or something.

The surprising buzz surrounding Beck these days, of course, can only be attributed to head coach Mike Shanahan, who passed on taking a rookie quarterback in the 2011 NFL draft and then followed that up by hyping up the otherwise forgotten signal caller.

“Let me say, when John Beck did come out [of college], I had him rated as the top quarterback coming out that year, and I didn’t even think it was close,” said Shanahan. “I had a lot of confidence in John Beck when he came out in 2007. I evaluate the quarterbacks every year, and I do have confidence in John Beck. He was by far my No. 1 guy. I think the world of him.”

While that sounds all great and good, the truth is the quarterbacks selected ahead of Beck in ’07 were JaMarcus Russell, Brady Quinn and Kevin Kolb. Two of those guys are safely labeled as busts, while Kolb will likely be playing elsewhere next season after Philadelphia decided he’s not their quarterback of the future.

So, it’s not like we’re talking about the 2004 quarterback class of Eli Manning, Phillip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Schaub. Shanahan is simply saying he thought more of Beck than a 300 lb. quarterback who ate himself out of the league.

Okay. Got it.

And yet, ‘Skins fans are now trying to talk themselves into believing that Beck is miraculously going to be able to achieve what Donovan McNabb, Jason Campbell and countless others before them failed to do – make the Redskins relevant again for on-the-field reasons.

Give Shanahan credit though – he’s really doing his best to make Beck seem like a legit option.

“I evaluated him throughout his pro career and collegiate career, so I know him quite well,” Shanahan said. “And when you see a guy practice every day, whether it’s your system or against the defense, surely you can see his strengths and his weaknesses. As I mentioned, I told you what I thought about him in college, and he has not disappointed me since he’s been here.”

This brings me to an interesting point. Shanahan’s stance is that Beck has shown him enough in a season’s worth of practices to lead the two-time Super Bowl winning coach to think the guy at least warrants consideration for the starting job.

Which prompted me to ask a handful of Redskins players in the last few days to basically ask the following question – have you ever seen anything from John Beck on the practice field to lead you to believe he can be an above-average starting quarterback in the NFL?

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(photo by Brian Murphy)

[The topic Redskins fans continue to fiercely debate these days is whether or not the team should acquire Vince Young. This post is dedicated to why Washington should avoid Young at all costs. To read the opposing stance, courtesy of John Pappas of Skinscast, click here.]

When last we saw quarterback Vince Young he was having a meltdown on the sidelines of a Tennessee Titans game that can only be classified as epic.

During an early-season contest against the Washington Redskins, Young suffered a torn flexor tendon in his thumb.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher thought the injury was serious enough that he opted to sit Young for the rest of the game – which the Redskins won 19-16 in overtime – and this didn’t sit well with the former Texas Longhorn.

As he was leaving the field, Young threw his shoulder pads into the crowd and then stormed out of the locker room in a hissy fit.

For his actions, Young was benched the final six games of the season.

In January, Titans owner Bud Adams announced that Young was no longer in the team’s plans, which means he’ll be playing elsewhere in 2011.

It goes without saying that if you’re a big name in the NFL and you’re looking for a new home, at some point you’re going to be linked to the Redskins.

So naturally, folks are already suggesting Young could end up in Washington as Mike Shanahan’s next signal caller.

And while this is merely speculation on the part of folks waiting for the NFL lockout to end, the question remains – should the Redskins roll the dice with a talented, but troubled player like Young?

In a word: no.

If Shanahan and friends know what’s good for this franchise, they’ll look the other way when it comes to Young. Not because he’s a bad person.

I mean, none of us in the D.C. area really know him so it’s impossible to say, but the Redskins should do the smart thing and avoid Young at all costs because he falls into the category of “character issues.”

You might have noticed that last season was a catastrophe for the Redskins.

After thumbing his nose at the mere notion of a rebuild, Shanahan guided an over-the-hill roster to a 6-10 record.

His quarterback during year one in the burgundy and gold was Donovan McNabb – one of the most accomplished and respected players in recent history.

There’s no need to dwell on how many different ways the Shanahan-McNabb combo failed ‘Skins fans, but suffice it to say that things didn’t go according to plans.

And say what you will about McNabb, but there’s one thing no one can argue – even when things got ugly last season and he got demoted to third string, he never rocked the boat.

He never ran his mouth. He never had a temper tantrum. He never pointed a finger at others.

McNabb remained a professional and did what he thought was best for the Redskins.

How do you think Young would react if he found himself in the same scenario? Oh yeah, he’d throw his equipment in the stands and storm out of the stadium.

This Redskins team is not capable of dealing with adversity. When the going gets tough, this team folds like a house of cards.

Even a guy with two Lombardi trophies like Shanahan couldn’t prevent a head case like Albert Haynesworth from becoming a season-long distraction.

And now folks want to invite another Titan-turned-diva into the Washington locker room? That’s just downright foolish.

Off the top of my head, I can recall exactly two players in the last 35 years who came to town with “character issues” but panned out. John Riggins and Daryl Gardener.

That’s it. That’s the list.

Riggins played nine seasons in D.C. and is the standard ‘Skins fans hold all other running backs to, while Gardener lasted just one season under Steve Spurrier.

If these are the only two questionable veterans the Redskins rolled the dice on who didn’t come back to haunt them, then why on earth would anyone think Young is a good idea?

To read the case for the Redskins acquiring Young, click here.

(photo by Brian Murphy)

[The topic Redskins fans continue to fiercely debate these days is whether or not the team should acquire Vince Young. This guest post from John Pappas of Skinscast is dedicated to why Washington needs to make this happen. Click here for the other side of the debate.]

Following the 2011 NFL draft, two things are apparent regarding the Washington Redskins: they didn’t draft a quarterback, and they still need one.

For my money Vince Young is the guy to get. In fact, it makes so much sense I’d be disappointed if Washington ends up with anyone else.

Young is the type of passer that coach Mike Shanahan covets; a big-armed, mobile playmaker. His arm-strength and ability to run represent a dual-threat to defenses.

Entering just his sixth year in the league and at only 27, he is in his prime. And at 6-foot-5 and 232-pounds, he is built to withstand the punishment that comes with the position.

Best of all, Young is a winner. His 30-17 record as a starter testifies to this, and far outweigh concerns over average passer stats.

Under contract with Tennessee, Young is expected to be traded or released as soon as free agency begins.

Some believe Young a head case with questionable character following a bumpy ride in Tennessee. This shouldn’t dissuade the Redskins. Young can be gotten at a reasonable price and a new start in Washington may turn him around. With the potential upside, it is a gamble worth taking.

Besides, Washington has to do something.

You can help yourself to the subterfuge soufflé served by Shanahan in his praise of four-year journeyman John Beck.

But on the heels of 6-10 and another last place finish in the NFC East, I don’t see Uncle Mike tossing the keys to the billion-dollar franchise to a guy who has three times more interceptions than touchdowns and a record of 0-4 as a starter in the league. Not to mention “the kid” hasn’t started a game since ‘07 and will be 30 in September.

Then there’s Donovan McNabb. Since joining the Redskins in 2010, the reports out of Ashburn paint him as either lazy, stupid, out of condition or too proud to learn the system – take your pick.

Couple this with McNabb’s benching late in the season and the divorce seems certain. For his part, McNabb has been working out with Larry Fitzgerald and other Arizona players, not that he has a preference for a new team or anything.

But before we move off Shanahan’s tacit suggestion Beck will start, let’s consider what else we have to believe in order to accept the premise. Washington has two quarterbacks on the roster: Beck and McNabb.

If we accept Beck will be the starter, will McNabb remain as backup? If so, the Redskins will be handing him a $10 million bonus check no later than the start of the season. Then he gets another $1.75 million in salary. That is, unless McNabb renegotiates less money to not start.

Yeah right.

In which case McNabb leaves and Washington has to hit free agency or make a trade to find a second quarterback. Under this scenario, the team will naturally try and get the best quarterback available. For Beck to wind up as the starter, he will have to win the job from whomever the team brings in.

The free agent list includes marquee players such as Payton Manning, Michael Vick and Brett Favre. Manning and Vick will not be available (both already franchised) and Favre has retired, probably for real this time.

Other notable names include Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace and Matt Moore. Then there’s a group of mostly older second and third-tier guys like Rex Grossman, Chad Pennington, Marc Bulger and Kerry Collins.

It is difficult to make the argument that Beck is better than even a portion of this group. Almost all have started more and won more in the league. Aside from Manning, Vick and Hasselback, you can make that argument of Young.

His win-loss record alone puts him in their company. Add to this his size, strength, age and what should be a reasonable asking-price, and you have the obvious choice for Washington at quarterback.

To read the case against the Redskins acquiring Young, click here.

(photo by Brian Murphy)

While it might have been simply unfathomable heading into the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Washington Capitals’ season has shockingly come to an abrupt halt.

After dispatching the New York Rangers in just five games and earning a week’s vacation while the rest of the Eastern Conference teams took turns beating each other into submission, the Caps failed to use the time off to their advantage.

The Tampa Bay Lightning showed up after outlasting the Pittsburgh Penguins in a grueling seven-game series against and, yet, from the moment the puck dropped, they looked like the hungrier team. They looked like the more determined team. The Bolts looked like the team that refused to accept defeat.

So here we are – just four games later – suddenly trying to figure out what went wrong with the 2010-11 Capitals. More importantly though, it’s now time to figure out where does this team go from here.

Think back to when it all began. Think back to the 2003-04 season when Capitals owner Ted Leonsis and his general manager, George McPhee, took a good, hard look at their team and came to the gutsy decision to blow it up and start over.

By their own admission, Leonsis and McPhee saw a talented team that was good enough to make the playoffs each year, but was rarely a threat to do anything once the postseason began.

These gentlemen refused to accept mediocrity, so they traded away a bunch of veterans to stockpile young prospects and draft picks while bracing for a painful rebuilding process. Sure, there were countless bumps and bruises along the way, but the move paid off.

Thanks to the decision to embrace a full-fledged rebuild, the Caps were in a position to land a franchise cornerstone like Alex Ovechkin. And Nicklas Backstrom. And Alexander Semin. And Mike Green. And so on.

In November 2007, Bruce Boudreau was named the interim coach of the Caps. After winning one Calder Cup championship with Washington’s minor league affiliate, the Hershey Bears, in ’06 and making it back to the finals in ’07, Boudreau earned the same call-up as his top-shelf talent.

Under Boudreau, a suddenly-motivated Caps team that had started the season 6-14-1, finished the year 37-17-7 and made the playoffs for the first time in five seasons.

In 2008, Boudreau took home the Jack Adams Award, as the NHL’s top coach.

And then the Washington finished the regular season as the Eastern Conference’s top seed.

This year, the Capitals earned their fourth-consecutive division title. All of which adds up to a regular season record of 189-79-39 (good enough for a .679 winning percentage, which is tops among active coaches).

But that’s only half the story.

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(photo by Nick Wass)

The Washington Capitals suddenly find themselves in the exact postseason scenario everyone in town dreads – with their backs against the proverbial wall.

While the Caps have made a living battling back in the regular season, this roster is far less accomplished this time of year.

Trailing two games to none against their division rival, the Tampa Bay Lightning, Washington needs to string together a couple victories sooner rather than later if this team is going to make some noise this year.

Unlike the New York Rangers in the opening round – a team with very little offensive firepower – the Lightning can trades goals with the best of them.

Case in point: New York was only able to score eight goals in five games against Caps goalie Michal Neuvirth. Tampa’s already got seven goals in just the first two games.

If the Capitals are going to make their way back into this series, it’s going to have to start in their own end. And in all likelihood, it’s going to have to start with veteran defenseman Scott Hannan.

Guys like Mike Green, Jeff Schultz and John Carlson have had their ups and downs in the playoffs. Some nights they’re steady as a rock. But on their off nights, some of the decision making and execution has been downright cringe-worthy.

Insert Hannan, who has 80 postseason games under his belt – more than twice as many games as any of his teammates on the blue line.

Against the Rangers, Hannan led all Caps defenders in time on the ice – logging more than 36 minutes a night. He’s got more games and more minutes than anyone else, and if anyone can help steady the nerves of a youngster cracking under the pressure of the playoffs, it’s Hannan.

“I’ll do anything I can to help out this team,” Hannan said. “Whether it’s helping out with communication with the younger guys or simply trying to lend my experience any way I can. Whether we’re talking penalty killing or minutes played, those are things that I relish – especially in the playoffs. We’ve got a lot of guys on the back end that log a lot of minutes and a lot of different players who play key roles. I’m just trying to do my part.”

And much like trade-deadline acquisition Jason Arnott, who has no problem speaking up when the moment calls for it, Hannan too is more than happy to sound off and hold players accountable for their actions – himself included.

Which is why Hannan blamed himself for the Lightning’s overtime winner Game 2. Although he had only been on the ice for 33 seconds, Hannan tried to make a change at an inopportune time and it backfired.

“It was a bad change,” he said. “I thought the puck was going in behind. You can’t make mistakes like that. It will cost you in the playoffs. I was a little tired and I thought I could get off in time and obviously I couldn’t. It was a bad play.

“It is frustrating,” Hannan continued. “It goes to show you in the playoffs if you make mistakes it will cost you. I will take the blame for that. I should have stayed on the ice and it would have been a dead play, a 2-on-2.”

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