Via Washington Post

"I've known and have a lot of respect for Mike Shanahan and the things that he did in Denver," Johnson told ESPN980 Thursday night. "Of course I played against him numerous times, so I've been able to know that he comes with that fire and comes with that enthusiasm [about] turning this organization around." Redskins RB Larry Johnson

The Washington Redskins have signed former Kanasa City Chiefs running back Larry Johnson to a three year deal.  Johnson was schedule to visit Oakland, but will now cancel that visit as he settles into the backup role in Washington to Clinton Portis.

The deal is a 3 year deal and the maximum amount of the deal runs around $12 million.

Johnson played last season with the Bengals and rushed for 581 yards on 178 carriers, averaging 3.3 yards per carry.  Johnson's best season came in 2006 and 2006 with Kansas City when he rushed for 1,750 yards and 1,789 yards.

Johnson's career path took a downward turn in 2007. He lost his job in Kansas City after being suspended twice within the season for remarks made on Twitter about Chiefs' coaches and gay slurs he used to members of the media.

Redskins were also looking at RB Willie Parker, who visited the Redskins, but then departed unsigned.  Redskins will likely add some younger running backs as well, after releasing RBs Rock Cartwright, Ladell Betts, and Marcus Mason.

Discuss it with us.

The free agency tracker table

News Updates:

UPDATE:  Redskins have signed RB Larry Johnson to a three year deal.  [LINK]

UPDATE:  Several soruces are reporting that the Redskins have been in otuch with the St. Louis Rams regarding a possible trade for DT Adam Carriker.

UPDATE: Redskins signed TE Sean Ryan [KC Chiefs]. [LINK]

UPDATE:  Redskins signed NT Maake Kemoeuto to a 2 year, $7 million deal [LINK]

UPDATE:  RB Larry Johnson will make a free agent visit to Washington on Thrusday.  Real interest or pressure on Willie Parker? [LINK]

UPDATE:  RB Willie Parker visited Redskins Park today.  He reportedly left without a contract.

UPDATE:  LB Larry Foote visited the Redskins and has departed for a visit to Arizona [LINK]

UPDATE:  NT Ma'ake Kemoeatu visited Redskisn Park today and was not expected to leave with a contract.

Redskins CB Carlos Rogers, who has been openly disgruntled about his role with the team, has told the team he will be present for offseason workouts that begin Monday. Rogers has asked for a trade and wasn't happy about having a 1st round tender put on him at the start of free agency, thus spooking away a fair number of teams. However, Rogers apparently met with Head Coach Mike Shanahan about the situation and left Redskins Park pleased, convinced that if he's a hard worker during the offseason he will be offered a new contract by Washington.

In a way I'd like to see Rogers out of town. He admitted he tuned out after he was pulled from the Denver game even though injuries could have forced him back into the game. That sort of lack of respect for his job is hard to forgive or forget -- whether he's annoyed at being benched or not. If some team offered Rogers a contract I think the Redskins would [and would be wise to] let Rogers walk and take the first round pick. I doubt that will happen, though, because he's never played as if he's worth a first round pick. If a team offers Washington a second round pick I'd take it and be thrilled.

The reality is, though, that the free agent market at cornerback is dismal this season. It wasn't good at the start of free agency and it is horrible now. When the best available free agent CB is Rod Hood, you know the crop is failing. [Please don't mention Dre Bly to me -- he's horrible.] If the Redskins let Rogers leave, they need to be sure 2009 3rd round pick Kevin Barnes or 2008 4th round pick Justin Tryon are ready to step into the starting role.

I think almost any other offseason the Redskins would be happy to see the back of Carlos Rogers, but this is not a good time to replace a cornerback with a free agent veteran. If Washington can't get at least a 2nd round pick for him, they'd be wise to see if they can patch things up with the moody and volatile Rogers and try to get him motivated to play hard in 2010.

Jason LaCanfora writes that TB Larry Johnson is at Redskins Park today and the Redskins very much want to sign him to a contract. I was hoping Johnson was a ploy to get TB Willie Parker to sign a contract [and that could still be the case] because I think Johnson has proven repeatedly that he's a bad guy who can't be trusted to behave himself or think of his team before he does something stupid off the field. Parker and Johnson seem roughly equal to me in on-field talent right now so I'd rather have the guy, Parker, who didn't constantly embarrass his team.

The Redskins definitely need another solid running back to spell [compete with?] Clinton Portis, who missed more than half of last season with a concussion injury and has a lot of wear and tear on his wheels. I would just rather it be Parker. Johnson has scheduled a Monday meeting with the Oakland Raiders so if he leaves Redskins Park without a contract [as many players do these days] then he might be gone for good. Raiders owner Al Davis has never been put off by a rap sheet.

For the past decade the Washington Redskins have been one of the most aggressive teams in NFL free agency, spending tons of money to buy up current and former star players in the first few days [often hours] of free agency. The results on the field have not matched the efforts during the offseason, but no one can say the Redskins didn't try. This year, Redskins GM Bruce Allen and Head Coach Mike Shanahan are in control of personnel decisions and are following a plan that appears to involve very cautious involvement in free agency, with small signing bonuses handed out and a focus on depth rather than big-name players. So far, the Redskins have confined themselves to re-signing their own players and inking blocking TE Sean Ryan, OL Artis Hicks and NT Ma'ake Kemoeatu to modest contracts.

The question is: Do you approve of the Redskins' approach to free agency this year? Do you think it was time for a change from the free-spending ways of 2000-2009 or do you think the Redskins should be taking advantage of an uncapped year to throw big money around in an attempt to compete for the division crown this year?

Let us know by voting in the poll on the left hand side of this screen. Thanks!

Firs, for the second consectuive day, the Washington Nationals will not try and win their first Spring Training game.  The game against the New York Yankees has been cancelled because of rain. 

Roster Moves . . . The Nationals have sent C Devin Ivany and IF Josh Whitesell to minor league camp. 

Tom Boswell writes what many of us are thinking after a pretty horrible 0-8 Spring Training start. 

That's how the Nats' culture-of-losing franchise and its long-abused fans felt when this spring training opened. Enough is enough. And they thought the last 12 months had started to prove it. Purge the front office. Fire the whole bullpen. Can the manager. Give grouchy vets pink slips. Sign five recognizable free agents. Add every scout in sight. Showcase high-draft-pick pitchers. Even raise the budget, some. But it's not quite working out just yet.

The Nats are, at the moment, the only team in baseball that has not won an exhibition game (0-8). They have allowed 10.25 runs a game, a number that, even for a small sample, borders on the unbelievable. Good thing improving their pitching was the Nats' top offseason priority.

Yup.  We can argue it is Spring Training.  Sure we can.  But, in all Spring Training, the Nationals are the ONLY team who have not won a game.  Clicking?  Maybe not.  But the troubling sign, at least for me, is the ineffectiveness of the pitching.  Yes, it is true that many of the pitchers who have given up the bulk of the runs will not make the roster, but fact is fact.  The Nationals are getting pounded heavier than any other team. 

Spring Training is nothing.  Much like Pre-season football.  The only thing it can do is possible show warning signs.  Question is, are warning signs blaring?

Now, before we let them off the hook, there is the inclination to just blow it off and say, hey, most of the pitchers that have yielded the big runs will not even make this roster.  Not true.  Here are a few Spring ERAs:  Sean Burnett 53.73, Jason Marquis 22.50, Ron Villone 20.30, Craig Stammen 20.30, Matt Capps 15.00, Scott Olsen 13.50, John Lannan 9.00, Miguel Batista 9.00, Brian Bruney 9.00, and Colin Balestar 8.31.

Worried?  Not just yet.  BUT, it is imperative we start to see some effective pitching performances.  The Nats spent a lot of time and money to improve the bullpen.  They also added a quality starter in Jason Marquis.  Theoretically and on paper, the Nationals may not have the strongest pithing around, but it should be vastly improved.  Tinme for these gusy to get in the groove.

Here are your Spring leaders:

BATTING:

Avg:  Ian Desmond, .471

HR:  Mike Morse, 2

2B:  Ian Desmond, Adam Kennedy, 2

3B:  Willie Harris, 1

Runs:  Justin Maxwell, 6

RBIs:  Ian Desmond, 10

PITCHING:

Wins:  NONE

Ks:   Tyler Clippard, 4

IP:  Garrett Mock, JD Martin, 5.0

Thank you Atlanta Thrashers for losing tonight.  With the loss, the Washington Capitals have now won the Southeast Division for the third consecutive year!

WASHINGTON CAPITALS

2010 SOUTHEAST DIVISION

CHAMPS

Here is a two for one Live Mic from Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan. (Via Washington Post)

First, on the team building plan . . .

"I'm very satisfied.  We have a gameplan and it takes time. We've got a plan, it's not going to happen overnight. We just have to watch the plan take place.  But we're going to try to get better every day. It's a process. You're not going to do it overnight, but you have to try to do the little things the right way. Hopefully, we can get it done."

And on Clinton Portis and off-season workouts . .

"Oh, I guarantee you Clinton will be there.  I know Clinton too well. He'll be there and kick-off the offseason on the right note. I want my leaders to be there, and hopefully we'll have 100 percent participation. If not, I'll be disappointed."

The NBA Mock Draft Database was updated and we munched together the 18 mock drafts that have been updated in the month of March.  First, here are the stats of the Database. 

Total 2010 Mocks:  66

Updated in March:  18

Updated Today:  9

There were a few changes since our last mock munch.  First, John Wall is no longer 100% unanimous, close to it, but 1 mock shy.  Second, pick 3 through 7 all have new leaders.  Here are the leaders:

1st Pick:  JOHN WALL

Wally is the projected No. 1 pick by 17 of the 18 updated mocks.  Since Wall is projected by at least 65% of the mocks, he is considered the Database's CONSENSUSpick at No. 1.  Wall average 16.8 points per game, shot 45.8% from the field, his 33% of three pointers and was over 78% from the free throw line as a freshman at 29-2 Kentucky.  Widely projected as the No. 1 pick, most fans out there see the Lottery as the Wall Sweepstakes. 

2nd Pick:  EVAN TURNER

Just as solid as Wall at No,. 1, 16 of 18 mocks are now projecting Turnerto go second overall.  He is the Database's CONSENSUS pick.  There is a renewed debate happening on whether Turner could boot Wall out of the top spot, but we here are not buying that hype.   As a junior, Turner led the Ohio State Buckeyes with 19.4 points per game and average 9.4 rebounds per game.  He shot 53.8% from the field. 

3rd Pick:  DEMARCUS COUSINS

From here, it drops off in terms of any kind of mock draft consistency.  Of the 18 mocks, 6 project the 'other' Kentucky freshman to go third.  He leads there with 33%.  Cousins actually fluctuates between 3rd and 6th oveall.  Cousins average 15.6 points per game while grabbing 10.1 rebounds per game. 

4th Pick:  DERRICK FAVORS

Earlies in the season, favors was the Consensus pick to go second overall after Wall.  he has now fallen to the leader spot at #4 and is projected anywhere between 2rd and 7th.  Favors averaged 11.9 points per game for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.  He average 8.4 rebound and shot over 60% from the field. 

5th Pick:  WESLEY JOHNSON

Johnson is picked by 33% or 6 of 18 mocks to go 5th overall.  Johnson averaged 15.7 points per game for the Orangemen and pulled down 8.5 rebounds per game. 

6th Pick:  AL-FAROUQ AMINU, 22%

7th Pick:  COLE ALDRICH and ED DAVIS, 17%

To see further breakdowns of who else received projection at the top 7 slots, link to the FORUM THREAD.  

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