I want to keep Gardner...

[DaRock]

Yeh, he's inconsistent, but who else are we gonna get???

Mike and Edwards will be gone by our pick, then only Wr worth getting is Troy Willaimson, and we give our 1st round pick of gardner for another..We need help in other areas..There are plenty of wr on other teams that are worse than gardner..I wish we would keep him..I hate we gave him permission to seek a trade.

[Taylor Made]

Taylor Jacobs will step it up

[DaRock]

Jacobs is a 3 at best....I think he'll be a great wr, but he won't replace gardner or coles....yet....I hope coles takes his head out of his..........and we keep gardner w/o harsh feelings and upgrade other areas/.

[Sanders 83]

Gardner is someone we need to get rid of. We can't have him in the locker room anymore, his influence on our younger players is something we don't want anymore. Besides, how much more inconsistency can we put up with. We need a WR who is going to show up to play every week.

[DaRock]

Name one

[DaRock]

I'd rather keep him than trade him for a 4 or 5.....ridiculous

[Sanders 83]

The longer he is here, the more he hurts the team.

[CHUBAKAH]

20/80 needs to go.
Any questions?

[bubba9497]

For every big catch Gardner has made he has dropped a dozen easy ones. He has killed as many drives by dropping a 3rd down pass, as have any other reason. His heart and Mind are not in it.... it's time to move on... he may blossom somewhere else... but not here.

[thinker]

Keeping Coles may be a necessity, and in any event he seems to be able to play even when he is unhappy which seems to be most of the time. Gardner HAS to go, he doesn't play consistently well even when he is happy - which he won't be if he is still here next year.

[skinsarethebest]

Originally posted by bubba9497
For every big catch Gardner has made he has dropped a dozen easy ones. He has killed as many drives by dropping a 3rd down pass, as have any other reason. His heart and Mind are not in it.... it's time to move on... he may blossom somewhere else... but not here.

couldn't agree more -- 50/50 is a phenomenal bust

[martino]

I want to keep Rod Gardner also...........keep him on the practice squad if we cant get rid of his lousy ass.

[Thinking Skins]

Originally posted by Sanders 83
The longer he is here, the more he hurts the team.

Thats an interesting perspective. How does he hurt the team. I understand that he has problems holding on to the ball. But are you saying that he's in the locker room preaching that to the younger WR's, telling them that its ok to drop a few balls? I dont think so.

I think that Gardener needs help. He needs to learn to focus better and learn the offense better. Once he does that he can easily be an 800-1200 yard WR.

And like the original thread said, who are we going to replace him with? He's one of the best avaliable options right now because of his skill level and his asking price.

[Thinking Skins]

It baffles me how Redskins fans are talking all this talk about keeping our own and building through the draft and developing talent, but we dont want to help out Gardener. Gardener is a guy that Marty drafted not only because of his size but because of his consistent hands. I dont think that all of a sudden his hands are soaked with butter.

The guy has had to learn 3 different offenses in 4 years. Give him a break, its hard making this much transition. Expecially into Gibbs's complicated offense. We need continue to develop him as a starter and make this a first round pick worth remembering.

[Trevor]

It never ceases to amaze me how the posters on this board can trash Gardner and praise McCants. Trash the guy who has actually produced some and must have somewhat of a good work ethic(he did start the entire season) and praise the lazy guy who has proven nothing.

There is no doubt that Gardner can be frustrating at times but he's not nearly as bad a player or negative team influence you guys make him out to be.

[TODD]

Originally posted by Darock
I'd rather keep him than trade him for a 4 or 5.....ridiculous

The guy we would replace him with might not be as "talented", but Rod has worn out his welcome in Washington. Sometimes, like Stephen Davis, you just go stale on a team.

[TheDane]

Gardner is not a bust. :doh: He's had several fine years and he is actually a fairly productive #2. He certainly has not lived up to his potential, however, and that's unfortunate.

The bottom line is the guy loses concentration, has poor judgement (think the night of Taylor's DUI), and often doesn't have his head in the game. We can not have that kind of player as one of our top two wide receivers.

It's time to move on while we can still get some value out of Gardner. You know we won't be ponying up next year to keep his as a free agent, even if he has a big year.

I harbor no ill feelings toward Hot Rod. All the best in your new endeavors, but I shed no tears.

[red zone]

Like a bad relationship, things have just soured with Rod. We need to cut our loses and move on.

[Thinking Skins]

Originally posted by TheDane
Gardner is not a bust. :doh: He's had several fine years and he is actually a fairly productive #2.

Very true statement, something that people have been ignoring on this board.


He certainly has not lived up to his potential, however, and that's unfortunate.


The bottom line is the guy loses concentration, has poor judgement (think the night of Taylor's DUI), and often doesn't have his head in the game. We can not have that kind of player as one of our top two wide receivers.

So he's gotta go from being a starting WR to being gone? I have no problem with asking him to earn his starting spot, but he has arguably the most potential on the team.


It's time to move on while we can still get some value out of Gardner. You know we won't be ponying up next year to keep his as a free agent, even if he has a big year.

You call a 4th or a 5th some value? this is going to be like the Wizards trading away Rip Hamilton. Its not worth it. Especially since we don't have anything to replace him with.

I dont get the stuff about him being a bad guy or a cancer on the team. He's a young WR who's trying to adjust to his third offense.

People talk about our need to develop our talent, but I guess nobody knows the definition of DEVELOP. It doesn't mean to bring in a guy who's putting up 1000 yard careers, and it doesn't mean drafting a top tier WR who is almost already NFL ready. It means being able to spot talent and work with this talent and helping your draft picks to reach their full potential.

Gardener has shown potential, he just needs some help in reaching it. THATS THE JOB OF A COACHING STAFF. But instead you want to just say bye bye and sign another Pro Bowler to a $15 million dollar signing bonus.

If we do sign a WR, it needs to be a gut these young WR's can talk to and learn from and a guy who sets an example in the weight room and studying video.

ROD GARDENER IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF OUR NEED TO DEVELOP OUR PLAYERS.


I harbor no ill feelings toward Hot Rod. All the best in your new endeavors, but I shed no tears.

Glad to see you're willing to work with him if we can't get a good trade.

[ohioskinfan]

truth, a 4 or 5 pick is under valued for rod, we need to look at his cap number for one year as a number 2 reciever. i say keep him and let our draft pick develop for one year. this would not give us anything in return for him , but at the same time we wont overpay for another reciever or give him away while developing our draft pick

[DaRock]

Originally posted by TODD


The guy we would replace him with might not be as "talented", but Rod has worn out his welcome in Washington. Sometimes, like Stephen Davis, you just go stale on a team.

I bet he feels the same way, that he is tired of the Skins. He has had to deal with the coaching changes Spurrier?,then last year's offense?, alot of coaches,the qb Brunell deal...and Stephen Davis didn't go stale on us, again Spurrier didn't run the ball as much..If Gardner does go somewhere else, like say if he went to Carolina, I garauntee you he would be a dominanat force in the nfl. We just need to get everything else around the O right.

All I know is that WR shouldn't have been a priority for us this year, and now with crybaby coles and us giving gardner permission we AGAIN will draft or fa a WR ...how much number 1's and 2's are we going to spend on wr?

[DaRock]

And about being a cancer or distraction to the team?..I bet that is the furthest from the truth. EVERY year at training camp Rod is one of the only ones that comes over and signs a million autographs and is nice and looks to be well respected by the other players. Even on madden 05 Rod is showing some emotion on the skins profile background! haha He has crazy talent on the field, anyone have a catch/drop stat ratio? Some of his catches were just sick the past couple years.

[TLusby]

Originally posted by Darock
Jacobs is a 3 at best....I think he'll be a great wr, but he won't replace gardner or coles....yet....I hope coles takes his head out of his..........and we keep gardner w/o harsh feelings and upgrade other areas/.

Why do you say a #3 at best? The guy has not had much of a chance and he has performed when asked to. He played well in the Viking game as well as Thrash.

[WilberMarshall]

Originally posted by blakman211
It baffles me how Redskins fans are talking all this talk about keeping our own and building through the draft and developing talent, but we dont want to help out Gardener. Gardener is a guy that Marty drafted not only because of his size but because of his consistent hands. I dont think that all of a sudden his hands are soaked with butter.

The guy has had to learn 3 different offenses in 4 years. Give him a break, its hard making this much transition. Expecially into Gibbs's complicated offense. We need continue to develop him as a starter and make this a first round pick worth remembering.

consistent hands?:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :D :D :D :D :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

[DaRock]

I just can't picture him as a true number 1 or solid number 2..our coles 1 gardner 2 combo was killer...maybe in time jacobs can become either, but he has to start at 3..I'm not saying his talent and awareness and whatever else won't improve, I'm saying he has to develop in the nfl. That's why I put the word YET in there.

[Gilgamesh]

You should watch Gardener play in a few games before you say something like that...

[Dead Money]

Its his contract year so I would agree as long as his inconsistency is addressed. Basically I would have him compete in camp for his #2 spot and if Jacobs can step up I would give it to him (if he earns it). Most importantly, if Gardner stays true to forms bench his butt and let Jacobs show us he deserves to be #2.

50/50 is under contract for another year so why not, as long as he is not started based on his draft position.

Before you start hurling obscenities at me, ****This is all dependent on us not getting a WR in the draft that can contribute***

[heyholetsgogrant]

Ill take Mark Clayton.

[Cskin]

We're talking about a guy who has more mental lapses on the field than any player I'm familiar with in Redskin history. Just how many dropped balls, false starts, motion penalites, and holding calls do we need to see before we realize he just doesn't have the mental makeup and focus to excel on this team?

Sure he'll make a great catch and immediately begin his "look at me" routine. Than the very next play he drops a slant pattern that would have moved the chains. :doh:

No... Gardner doesn't have the work ethic to be on a Gibbs' coached team. Heck... it took him to week 10 or so before it was learned that he was starting to work "extra" in catching balls from a machine. :doh:

In the end... he's got all the potential in the world. He's also a blockhead that is just as concerned with his rap career as he is being a productive and probowl receiver for the Redskins.

Punt... trade him and pick up a player with high intelligence, work ethic, and good attitude and in the long run we'll be better off. GUARANTEED!!!!

[Thinking Skins]

Originally posted by Cskin
We're talking about a guy who has more mental lapses on the field than any player I'm familiar with in Redskin history. Just how many dropped balls, false starts, motion penalites, and holding calls do we need to see before we realize he just doesn't have the mental makeup and focus to excel on this team?

Sure he'll make a great catch and immediately begin his "look at me" routine. Than the very next play he drops a slant pattern that would have moved the chains. :doh:

No... Gardner doesn't have the work ethic to be on a Gibbs' coached team. Heck... it took him to week 10 or so before it was learned that he was starting to work "extra" in catching balls from a machine. :doh:

In the end... he's got all the potential in the world. He's also a blockhead that is just as concerned with his rap career as he is being a productive and probowl receiver for the Redskins.

Punt... trade him and pick up a player with high intelligence, work ethic, and good attitude and in the long run we'll be better off. GUARANTEED!!!!

I swear, these comments just amuse me. He'll probably be back this year, and lets hope he has a good season.

[Dead Money]

We're also talking about a guy who we drafted and is entering his prime while also being in a contract year ...

I hate his BS, lack of focus, blah blah. Especially that he is partying on Wednesday nights until 3am with half of the team, but it is what it is. If he is ever going to try to produce, this year is the year. He's getting some interest in the FA market but I'm sure if we make him play he will realize that he will have to perform to get paid next year.

Nothing makes diamond stud wearing party boys concentrate like taking away their cash! If we let him go right now, he can go and sign and make more cash while not fullfilling his obligation to our team. I think making him play to his potential this year in order to get paid is the right thing to do now.

Oh and let me be clear about this, if he sucks he gets benched so that we can give Jacobs a shot at #2 and effectively lower what Gardner will garner in FA next year.

If someone offered a #2 this year all of what I wrote is cancelled - Take the #2 and get Baas!

[manichispanic]

if he wants to get paid next year by some other team, hes going to have to show some #'s this year. I say keep him, capwise he;s not a huge burden on the team.

[cfujskins]

Originally posted by blakman211


Very true statement, something that people have been ignoring on this board.





So he's gotta go from being a starting WR to being gone? I have no problem with asking him to earn his starting spot, but he has arguably the most potential on the team.



You call a 4th or a 5th some value? this is going to be like the Wizards trading away Rip Hamilton. Its not worth it. Especially since we don't have anything to replace him with.

I dont get the stuff about him being a bad guy or a cancer on the team. He's a young WR who's trying to adjust to his third offense.

People talk about our need to develop our talent, but I guess nobody knows the definition of DEVELOP. It doesn't mean to bring in a guy who's putting up 1000 yard careers, and it doesn't mean drafting a top tier WR who is almost already NFL ready. It means being able to spot talent and work with this talent and helping your draft picks to reach their full potential.

Gardener has shown potential, he just needs some help in reaching it. THATS THE JOB OF A COACHING STAFF. But instead you want to just say bye bye and sign another Pro Bowler to a $15 million dollar signing bonus.

If we do sign a WR, it needs to be a gut these young WR's can talk to and learn from and a guy who sets an example in the weight room and studying video.

ROD GARDENER IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF OUR NEED TO DEVELOP OUR PLAYERS.



Glad to see you're willing to work with him if we can't get a good trade.

BM, I too like Gardner alot. I think he has a lot of talent and I have been on the record of stating that he is going to turn heads when he leaves Washington. But ask yourself this, Why is this former 1st round pick drawing max interest of a 4th or 5th round pick from OTHER GMs? Remeber, we wan't a second for him. He needs a change of scenery. Jacobs, who was a SECOND ROUND PICK, hasn't gotten one shot yet. We need to let him step up and stretch the field with that 4.38 speed.

Oh and pssst......It was Rod who requested to be traded;)

[jaxskins]

If McCants can step to the plate and show that he wants to earn playing time he could easily be our #2 WR. Hes got the hands and the talent just needs to put it to good use and Show Gibbs he wants to be a part of this team and go all out during practices.

[Thinking Skins]

Originally posted by cfujskins


BM, I too like Gardner alot. I think he has a lot of talent and I have been on the record of stating that he is going to turn heads when he leaves Washington. But ask yourself this, Why is this former 1st round pick drawing max interest of a 4th or 5th round pick from OTHER GMs?

because we dont know how to develop our talent. He is a guy with a lot of talent, and who has shown a willingness to improve.


Originally posted by cfujskins
Remeber, we wan't a second for him. He needs a change of scenery. Jacobs, who was a SECOND ROUND PICK, hasn't gotten one shot yet. We need to let him step up and stretch the field with that 4.38 speed.

Oh and pssst......It was Rod who requested to be traded;)

Nah he doesn't NEED a change of scenery. Now, a change of scenery may be good for him because other teams are a lot better at developing talent than we are, so he may be more successful elsewhere. But guys in NEED of a change of scenery are guys who have personality conflicts with the team, or guys who are locker room cancers, or guys who value themselves over the team. WHEN HAS GARDENER SHOWED ANY OF THESE TRAITS? He is just a good WR who is trying to develop into a consistent threat.

NOT ALL DOMINANT WR's ARE DOMINANT IN THEIR FIRST YEAR. It takes time to learn the league.

[Thinking Skins]

Originally posted by jaxskins
If McCants can step to the plate and show that he wants to earn playing time he could easily be our #2 WR. Hes got the hands and the talent just needs to put it to good use and Show Gibbs he wants to be a part of this team and go all out during practices.

yeah, McCants, Mr "I dont practice". But people are saying that he's less of a cancer than Gardener. Funny.

[RedskinzOwnU]

after this rollercoaster of rumors offseason we've had so far, i'd just as soon keep our receivers just the way they are. We clearly arent going to get much trade value for them - thats been the trend up to this point at least - and I dont see any superior free agents to replace them with. We may or may not be able to draft mike williams or another quality receiver, but even if we do they need some time to develop. Gardner will be entering his contract year and I think he'd be out to prove something, even on our roster. I Think coles would also be fired up to prove something, and play hard, not for love of the redskins but just for himself. I Think we would be ok if we kept gardner and coles and at this point i'm hoping we do, cuz there aint anything better out there. I think the exact same team we had last year would do better than 6-10 this year.

[fpickering]

Originally posted by Darock
Jacobs is a 3 at best....I think he'll be a great wr, but he won't replace gardner or coles....yet....I hope coles takes his head out of his..........and we keep gardner w/o harsh feelings and upgrade other areas/.

I disagree with you on a couple of points. First, there are WRs outisde of Edwards, Williams and Williamson. I am starting to like what I see in Mark Clayton. I believe that Clayton will probably end up being more successful than Williamson.
We can trade down and pick Clayton up in the bottom half of the 1st round.

Second, Taylor Jacobs is ready to be a #2 WR. He just did not get that much of an opportunity to start because of Gardner taking up a spot and dropping passes.

We do not want Gardner on our team. His first priority seems to be going out at night and he simply has bad hands.

We will be fine with the following:

Coles or substitute player
Jacobs
Clayton/McCants/Thrash

[Chachie]

I voted last offseason to keep Rod. That was his last chance in my mind to break out of his mediocrity. Time to give Jacobs his shot and move Rod's contract elsewhere.

[DB44]

Rod Gardner violates the first rule of playing WR
1. Catch the ball

Since the day I saw him as a potential pickup and the strength for him read - Good Hands, and durable, I thought he was a perfect replacement for Westbrook. I have been a fan until last year.

I've watched him kill so many drives by dropping the ball, its time to move on.