To the dogs

As if the Redskins didn't have enough to worry about this offseason, Clinton Portis had to go and open his big mouth about the Michael Vick situation. My biggest concern is why is Portis commenting on this situation and why is a TV reporter in Southern Virginia - where Portis was to take part in the Redskins Beach Blitz festivities - asking him about it any way? What authority does Portis have on the subject?

Unless I am mistaken, Portis does not own or condone dog fighting - at least that is what the Skins PR team said on his behalf earlier this week - so what insight could Portis add to the situation?

While he is trying to get himself back into playing shape, Portis should just be concerned about how he is healing. And TV reporters should be more responsible journalists and only ask questions that relate to the person they are talking to.

Has training camp started yet?

The one thing I hate most about the offseason - other than the fact that there are no football games - is the tendency of the media to turn things into bigger stories than they really are. For Redskins fans, this was evident last week when Sean Taylor and Shawn Springs failed to show up for the team's (in)voluntary OTA's.

Will a missed practice in May by two of our better secondary players really be that big of a hindrance come September? In fact, I don't want Springs participating because of his fragile state. If he gets injured now, the secondary is in trouble the entire rest of the 2007 season.

Granted, we do want to see and can use more unity from this squad, but there is still plenty of time to develop that. A season is not won or lost based on OTA's from May. And when something really newsworthy happens next week, the missing DB's will be forgotten, even if Taylor showed up this week.

Blaylock fills void left by Duckett

The two things T.J. Duckett will be remembered for in his time with the Redskins are the bulldozing run against Dallas that drew comparisons to Redskins Hall-of-Famer John Riggins and the fact that he ate up space on the bench, playing sparsely and costing Washington a draft pick.

Apparently feeling they lack someone to fill that capacity, the Redskins signed seven-year vet Derrick Blaylock after the team's rookie mini-camp this weekend. Although he didn't cost a draft pick I am concerned by two things: 1) Do we really need another veteran on the bench that won't play in a game and 2) what was a seven-year vet doing at a camp for newbies?

It appeared the Redskins were not entirely thrilled with having to rely on Rock Cartwright and James Thrash handling kickoff duties, but I thought a couple of undrafted guys with sub-4.5 40 times were brought in as an option. And with most of the guys listed as running backs, it seems unlikely that a Terry Caulley or other back will make a roster that boasts four veteran half backs and a full back, even though Caulley is officially listed on the team's site and has been given No. 40.

I imagine this situation will resolve itself during training camp but it seems kind of odd the Redskins would sign a vet just to cut him in camp. Hopefully the return abilities of Caulley will make himself more valuable and a young guy with tons of speed will get a shot. If not, at least the reporters will have a new back they can ask what he is actually doing here in DC.

An undrafted gem

Working for a community newspaper that focuses mainly on high school sports, every once in a while I get the opportunity to talk with kids with local ties that have found success beyond the high school level. In Wednesday's edition of the Calvert Recorder, I will have one such story on Redskins undrafted free agent running back Terry Caulley - formerly of UConn.

If Caulley is as fast as people say, he could be a poor man's Devin Hester. He has been clocked at less than 4.4, and that is after he lost almost two years to a knee injury as a sophomore. With Rock Cartwright and James Thrash returning as the team's kickoff returners, Caulley could be a great special teams addition - as long as he makes it out of the Skins rookie minicamp first.

For more info on Caulley check out his bio on UConn's web site. Caulley leaves UConn as the school's all-time leader in rushing yards and touchdowns.

UPDATE: Here is a link to the story that appeared in the paper.