Redskins Insider blog shout out to the Warpath

[Schneed10]

Another point, one thing we've done recently is extend and renegotiate the contracts of our 3 key offensive linemen (Samuels, Jansen, and Randy Thomas). It's clear that the team is completely committed to keeping these guys because they've restructured them to the point that it's impossible to cut them and save any money. The team has financially married themselves to these guys; they've decided that we're going to keep these guys around as Redskins for the long haul. We couldn't save anything by cutting Samuels until 2009, no savings on Jansen until 2010, and no savings on Randy Thomas until 2011.

I'd like to praise the Redskins for that thinking. First, they realize how good these guys are, how hard they work, how important their leadership is, and how high-character they are. The team can feel comfortable that these 3 are going to work hard their whole career and keep delivering year in and year out. But more so, this committment to the offensive line shows that the Redskins' front office understands that a quality offensive line is the backbone of an offense. They seem to understand that without this line, Campbell would have no chance of developing, and Portis and Betts would have no chance of making a big impact for us.

Looking at the contracts can tell you a lot. It tells me that the team knows what it has in Jansen, Samuels, and Randy Thomas, and they love what they see. They want them around for the long haul. The contracts also tell me that they're not sure how to handle the aging defensive players we have (Springs, Washington, Griffin, Daniels). The team has structured their contracts in a way that gives the team flexibility to either keep them or cut them.

The contracts really tell you who the REAL core Redskins are. Samuels, Jansen, and Randy Thomas are right at the top of the list, and I wouldn't have it any other way. There's something about having some serious meat and potatoes at the heart of your team.

PS I heart Randy Thomas.