WPost Email: McCants Wants to Contribute

[MTK]

Redskins Coach Joe Gibbs compared Darnerien McCants to Art Monk in the off season before the Redskins signed him to a three-year, $4.5 million deal, which included a $2 million bonus. McCants must have felt like he hit the lottery after being a marginal player in his first two years in the NFL.

Last season, McCants used his 6-foot-3, 214-pound frame to snag six touchdowns, which tied him with Laveranues Coles for the team lead. The most impressive aspect of that achievement was the McCants made only 27 catches, making him a clutch player who excelled in the red zone.

But McCants' impact has been minimal this season. He has been inactive in all but one game.

"I know I can help this team and right now we're struggling," McCants said. "I've been through it before but it's never been this grueling. I was pretty excited out about the season but for it to turn out like this is pretty rough."

McCants has watched Taylor Jacobs pass him on the depth chart, and is mired at the fifth spot among receivers behind Coles, Rod Gardner, Jacobs and James Thrash. McCants confesses that he's not a good practice player, which he said has been a factor.

"Practice matters but how much does it matter when you're 2-5?," McCants said. "Some who look good in practice may not perform as well in the game."

One reason he's been surpassed by Jacobs is that Jacobs is a better contributor on special teams.

"Taylor's playing better and other guys haven't been hurt," Gibbs said. "We'd love to get him out there because I think he'd make plays for us. It's been a problem because of special teams. Right now Danny [Smith, the special teams coach] doesn't have Darnerien slated for special teams work.

"Right now with the limited number of receivers you can carry -- you can only carry four -- that makes it tough. I'd love to have him in there because we think he can make plays."

-- Nunyo Demasio