Redskins LT Samuel will announce retirement this week

According to reports by the Washington Post, the Washington Redskins left tackle Chris Samuel will take off his NFL jersey once and for all this week, announcing his expected retirement before the deadline for free agency.

Samuel suffered a neck injury in an October loss to the Carolina Panthers and speculation has spread since then that he will retire after 10 years with the Redskins. According the reports, Samuel will announce his decision on a press conference this week, right before the Friday deadline for free agency.

Actually Samuel made the decision after consulting with a team of doctors since sustaining the neck injury. And all the doctors advised him not to continue playing football because that could cause paralysis. With Samuel’s retirement, the Redskins and first-year general manager Bruce Allen and first-year coach Mike Shanahan will have much more work to do to improve the team’s offensive line.

Jim Zorn is to be fired next week?

According to the Washington Post, the Washington Redskins current head coach Jim Zorn will soon have to look for a new job. A interview with secondary coach Jerry Grady seemed to confirm the rumor that the Redskins will get rid of Zorn soon.

Gray's interview fulfills the team's need to interview a minority candidate for any major position with the club, as the Rooney Rule requires. The rule is named for Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, chairman of the league's diversity committee and was set in 2003.

Those who interviewed Gray included a few bigwigs in the club: owner Dan Snyder and the team's former executive vice president of football operations, Vinny Cerrato. And as a formality, the team’s new general manager Bruce Allen may also interview Gray soon. Whatever the result of the interview may be, the interview itself just showed enough of the team’s intension to have a new head coach. So for all those playing pro football in Redskins jerseys, get ready to be coached by some white guy like Mike Shanahan.

NFL determined there was no tampering in Redskins-Haynesworth deal

On Tuesday, the NFL ruled that they “cannot conclude” that the Washington Redskins committed any tampering violation before signing defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth last offseason as the player’s former team, the Tennessee Titans indicated.

The Titans sent information to the NFL indicating the Redskins might have contacted Haynesworth and his agent when the tackle was still playing in Titans jersey, before his free agency began on Feb. 27. Such behavior may violate the league’s anti-tampering policy and result in fines and forfeiting draft picks.

But after conducting “an extensive review” of the Haynesworth case, the league said Tuesday that the Redskins “assured” the NFL that the team will “re-emphasize with club executives the importance of abiding by the anti-tampering policy and ensure compliance with those rules.”

Redskins RB is ruled out for Sunday’s game with concussion

Last Sunday’s hit caused the Miami Dolphins to lose their running back Clinton Portis for this Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos. The hit result a concussion and Portis needs more time to get tests and rest.

Portis was hurt in a helmet-to-helmet hit with a player wearing Falcons jersey in the first quarter of Sunday’s 31-17 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. His concussion has prevented him from practicing Thursday, and Coach Jim Zorn said they sent the running back home to get rest in accordance with doctor’s orders.

However, Portis is not the only injury concern of the Dolphins. With his absence, the team expects Ladell Betts to start Sunday’s game, but the backup is also nursing some injury and skipped Thursday’s practice. If he is able to play, this Sunday’s game will be his first start since 2006.

NFL is to investigate scuffle between Redskins player and Falcons coach

The NFL is trying to find out what happened and caused the altercation on the sideline in the second quarter of the Atlanta Falcons’ 31-17 victory over the Washington Redskins.

A review of the video showed that things happened like this: Redskins safety LaRon Landry was whistled for a late sideline hit on Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan. While Landry and Ryan were walking back on field, Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall was quickly surrounded by players wearing Falcons jerseys, coach Mike Smith and Falcons director of athletic performance Jeff Fish. Why so? After the game, Hall said he went to Falcons’ sideline to help Landry, while Smith said that he was trying to restore order.

As one of the Redskins’ most outspoken players, Hall, who used to play for the Falcons for four years, spent all last week criticizing the Falcons for the way they treated him before he was traded to Oakland. He was obviously fired up for Sunday’s game and accused of Fish of trying to “get some licks in.” But he was not available to reporters Monday.

Redskins RB Portis left field with head injury

The Washington Redskins running back Clinton Portis did not finish Sunday’s game because he had a head injury and left the field with 3:20 remaining in the first quarter, without knowing that his team would lost to the Atlanta Falcons at 31-17.

Portis got the injury after a helmet-to-helmet hit from a safety wearing the Falcons jersey. He was helped to his feet after being checked by the medical staff on the field. Appearing shaky at first, he walked off the field with a towel over his head and did not return. The hit did not result in any penalty.

Quarterback Jason Campbell was also injured. He left the field after being hurt for being tackled from behind by Jonathan Babineaux in the fourth quarter. But he was able to return for the next possession; although not able to help the team win still.

Steelers offensive starters are limited to play 1 quarter

In the preseason opener against the Washington Redskins on Saturday night, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive starters will have limited time to show off. The team planned to give them one quarter or the same amount of time they were on the field in the game against the Arizona Cardinals.

In the game the Steelers winning over the Cardinals by 20-10, only quarterback Ben Roethlisberger ran two series, so he will be able to have enough time to go 4 of 6 for 33 yards in the Saturday night’s game. Backup Charlie Batch only managed to throw two passes and No. 3 quarterback Dennis Dixon did better with 10 of 19 for 112 yards while playing the final 2 1/2 quarters.

If the Steelers’ starters are really limited to play for only one quarter in Saturday night’s game, that would mean they will play until halftime only during the Aug. 29 home game against Buffalo.

Redskins DT Haynesworth feels fine with his knee

After the Redskins ended their workout, Albert Haynesworth told reporters that he felt well with his knee and was able to play anytime.

As he signed a ontract that includes an NFL-record $41 million in guaranteed money, Haynesworth became the centerpiece of the Redskins’ offseason acquisitions. During the first few days of training camp, he worked very hard, but on Sunday and Monday's workouts, he was mainly watching teammates playing.

Haynesworth said that he has been receiving injections of fluid into his left knee to get him more lubricant around the knee and help get through the rigors of training camp. He denied that the injection was related to the sprain in the same knee that caused him to miss two games late last season when he was playing for the Titans.

During the severn years he was wearing Titans jersey, Haynesworth never managed to start 16 games in any regular season, but the Redskins hope that he will be able to play all 16 games with the team this season.