Oakland Raiders: With Pickings Really Slim, A Few Options At Linebacker
By Kevin Saito
Ordinarily, it would be wise to steer clear of somebody with Washington’s track record. Well clear. But Washington seems to have put his troubled past behind him. And Roger Goodell – a man not big on giving second chances – seems to agree, having reinstated him after a three-year banishment from the NFL.
Washington’s first choice is to play for the Cowboys. But since Jerry Jones isn’t burning up the phone lines to get him in, Washington could very well be had for pennies on the dollar. He desperately wants a chance to get back into the league to redeem himself and prove that he’s a changed man.
Given his level of talent, he’s worth kicking the tires on. Washington could be had on a very low-risk, very team friendly deal with a contract structured in a way that rewards good behavior and allows the team to move on quickly and cheaply if needed.
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In his four seasons in the league (2010-2013), Washington tallied 389 tackles, eighteen sacks, six interceptions, twenty-one passes defensed, three forced fumbles, and recovered two others.
He’s thirty-years old, but he’s also got three fewer years of wear and tear on his body than other thirty-year olds around the league. He’s fresh and can have a tremendous impact in the middle of that defense.
This, of course, could be a case of once bitten, twice shy, given the team’s Aldon Smith experiment. But in recent seasons, the organization has shown a willingness to roll the dice on players with question marks in their background. They believe the culture of their locker room is strong enough to give the guidance and support some players need. And in the case of Smith, they were right.
When he was with the team, Smith walked the straight and narrow. He only went off the tracks again – and he want off the rails in spectacular fashion – when he was barred from the team and the structure they provided.
Washington is professing to be on the right path. He’s begging for a shot at redemption. And given their glaring need, as well as the fact that he can be had cheaply, it might not be a bad idea to at least kick the tires.
There is no other free agent out there who could be as impactful for this defense than Washington. He could be a game changer.
But – and it’s a big but – great reward will come with great risk. Is he worth it?