Akhhorus and CNYSkinFan debate series: June 1st cuts.

Akh on Rod Gardner: He should be cut if the skins cannot deal him. The simple fact is, there is no role for him on this team. And cutting him will save 2 million in cap space. Considering his track record, the acquisition of Moss and Patten and the apparent ascendency of Taylor Jacobs; Rod, who has been a starter his whole career, better get use to sitting on the bench. And you don’t pay two million of cap room to a guy who sits behind at least 3 others and has a negative influence on the team.

CNYSkinFan on Rod Gardner, WR: Cut him. I am not sure how much more can be said about him. He is not in Washingtonís plans and no one else is willing to part with a draft pick for him. Cutting him will save 2 million on this yearís cap and cost us nothing next year. It is a sad end for a first round draft pick, to be let go without compensation. However Gardner is in the last year of his rookie contract and has not shown that he deserves an extension, and Washington needs the cap room.

Akh on Morten: He’s still a good player, coming off of an injury. However, his contract starts to weight heavy, and Antonio Brown/Moss/Patten/Whomever can do his job just as well and for a lot less. Cut.

CNYSkinFan on Chad Morten, HB, KR: Cut him. Antonio Brown is the main reason Chad Morten is expendable. Chad came to Washington with great promise and never fulfilled it either. Chad Morton was exclusively a kickoff returner for the NY Jets but was supposed to pick up punt returns and be our 3rd down back when we acquired him in 2003. He did all three and because of injuries even did a feature back role under Spurrierís last year. However in 2004 the acquisition of Clinton Portis eliminated the need for Morten to be in the backfield. His kick and punt returns were lacking as well. It always seemed he made a beeline for the sideline and never showed the explosiveness he did in yearís past. When Morten went down with a season ending injury, Antonio Brown was signed. Immediately the kick and punt returns were once again threats. Brown is quicker then a whisper and less expensive. Cutting Morten will save us .5 million this year but cost us 1 million in dead cap next year. We need the roster space though so Morten must go.

Akh on Barrow: A real player and a leader that has been unfairly demonized by Skins fan. However, he cannot stay healthy and has a debilitive knee injury. His cap figure is small enough to cut now and get out from 1+ million of cap room. Also, the acquisition of Warrick Holdman and Robert McCune makes his stay in DC shorter by the day.

CNYSkinFan on Michael Barrow, MLB: Cut him. Barrow was supposed to start at MLB for us last year but never even made the field. The Redskin doctors need to take a hit on this one. Barrow was injured when we signed him but was supposed to be ready for training camp. He may not even be ready for this yearís training camp. . Antonio Pierce showed us that Gregg Williams could plug in an average player into the middle and turn him into a superstar. And whether that player is Lemar Marshall or Warrick Holdman, it is not going to be Barrow. Cutting him June 1 will save us 1.7 million this year and count as 1.7 million in dead cap in í06. The Redskins need the roster space and the money. Barrow is all but gone.

Akh on McCants: Overpaid, doesn’t contribute, bad attitude. He’s in the same boat as Rod Gardner–too many players at his position and he really botched a great opportunity last year to play when Gardner was struggling. He’s not worth keeping around, despite his size. And dumping him will go a long way to show that you can’t trash your coach in public and get away with it.

CNYSkinFan on Darnerian McCants, WR: Keep him. Dmac gets one more year to prove himself and he may actually do well. Watching the OTAís on Redskins.com one thing really stands out. His size. The Redskins need Dmac to fill either win the second or third receiver role this year. He along with Cooley can fill the role of possession receiver while our burners can streak down the filed on the outside. Since we will save no money this year by releasing him I donít see a need. However he is primed for release next year if he is not in a contributing role this year. It will either be feast or famine for Dmac, but he gets a one more year to determine his fate.

Akh on Walt Harris: Solid vet, who is now expendable with the drafting of Carlos Rodgers. this is purely a cap move, since dumping him will save a couple million in cap room. If he didn’t hit his performance bonuses, he would stay, but the skins can’t afford to pay his salary with the drafting of Rodgers and Wilds, who showed some talent last year.

CNYSkinFan on Walt Harris, CB: Keep Him. This is an interesting option and to be honest I never thought about it. However with the improved play of Garnell Wilds and the drafting of Carlos Rogers it is a possibility. However much like McCants we will save no money with a June 1 cut this year. Rogers and Wilds are still raw and we need the experience of Springs and Harris to bring them along. Like Dmac he may be cut next year, but not this one.

Akh on Friedman: Keep him. The skins have no real depth on the line, Friedman is a solid vet and can play multiple line positions. the cap relief from cutting him wouldn’t be worth the hole it creates.

CNYSkinFan onLennie Freidman C, G: Cut Him. Some would say that Friedmanís versatility might save him from a pink slip on his locker door. But I rather make way for one of the younger guys like Ben Nowland, Mark Wilson, and Jim Molinaro to fill his reserve slot. And cutting Friedman is VERY cap friendly, saving the Redskins .65 million this year and only costing 50k (thatís right 50k) in dead cap money next year. We got to let our young guys get the experience to be decent reserves in the league and Friedman is standing in their way.

Akh on Raymer: I like Raymer. He’s a solid dirtbag who is the kind of guy you want on the line, however his play has degraded. He was ineffective last year and the signing of Rabach makes him expendable. Cut him.

CNYSkinFan on Cory Raymer C: Cut Him. The first lineman in the dirt after each snap last year is probably the first person I would cut this year. The signing of Casey Rabach makes Raymer obsolete. His age and serious lack of skill does not make him a decent backup either. Cutting him will give us a cap savings of .975 million this year and has a dead cap charge of only $134k next year. This is an easy cut and if I were Raymer I would be looking for teams that need a Center who specializes in collecting dirt in his facemask as a defensive tackle runs over him.