After some talk that receiver David Patten might be released
in a post-June 1 move, it appears that the receiver’s roster spot is safe.
The reports, which appeared here and elsewhere
in articles speculating about possible releases for salary cap relief, were not
based on any type of inside information from within the Redskins organization.
Rather, many analysts looked at Patten’s 2006 salary ($1.085 million), his 2005
production (22 catches for 217 yards before going on IR with a knee injury
after 10 games), and the fact that the Redskins shelled out some $60 million to
acquire two wide receivers (Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El) and figured
that the Redskins might let him go.
The Redskins caught wind of the rumors and evidently the
possibility of a Patten release was news to them. "I'll tell you what,
David Patten has looked good out there [in OTAs]. He's making plays. He'll get
his opportunities," said Vinny Cerrato.
Washington will probably keep five receivers and three of
them will be Lloyd, Randle El, and Santana Moss. That leaves Patten, Taylor Jacobs, and James Thrash to fight it out for the last two spots. Thrash is a
big contributor on special teams so he has to be considered to have the inside
track for the fifth spot, so that leaves Patten and Jacobs.
It would be a major upset if Taylor, who has produced
virtually nothing in three years since coming in as a second-round selection in
2003, were to beat out Patten. Still, the veteran entering his ninth season
after stints with the Giants and Patriots, will have to perform well in camp
and preseason games in order to erase any doubt about his value and ensure that
he is on the roster when the season starts.