--It could well be move up or move on for defensive end Demetric Evans after he capped five years in Washington as a backup/fill-in regular by starting 11 games in 2008.
"I've proven I can start in one of the toughest divisions in football," Evans said. "I don't want to be a backup anymore. I started in 2005 at tackle when Cornelius (Griffin) was hurt and I started at end when Phillip [Daniels] was hurt in 2004 and again last year. I
want to stay in Washington, but I want to be a starter."
Although Evans has started just 23 games in his seven seasons and has just 13 career sacks, he could make his $869,000 compensation in 2008 look relatively small since the free agent group at his position isn't very strong.
"It's not all about money, but I'm going to be 30 on Sept. 3 and this could be my chance to get a really good contract," Evans said.
Coach Jim Zorn has said that the Redskins want to re-sign Evans, but negotiations with agent Drew Rosenhaus hadn't gotten serious as of Feb. 26. Washington has Andre Carter to start at one end, with youngsters Chris Wilson and Rob Jackson behind them. The Redskins could also re-sign Phillip Daniels, who missed all of 2008 following knee surgery and will be 36 in March.
Jason Taylor, who'll be 35 next season, was released in a move that reportedly will save the team around $6.5 million against the salary cap. According to the Associated Press, Taylor declined a request by the team to sign a provision to his contract that would have required him to attend at least 25 of the team's 29 days in the offseason program. Taylor managed a career-low 3.5 sacks in his injury-plagued Washington season.
--Reed Doughty began 2008 as the starting strong safety, but he didn't even receive a tender from the Redskins making the projected RFA a UFA. Rookie Chris Horton played surprisingly well in place of Doughty, who missed the final 12 games with a back injury that required surgery. However, Doughty's agent, Dave Butz Jr., expects his client to re-sign with Washington and compete for his old job this summer.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I've never complained about being a backup, but it's hard when you don't know how much or where you're going to play. I really had fun last year (when he started 11games in place of the injured Phillip Daniels and the ailing Jason Taylor). It was like being in high school and college, just knowing that I was a starter." -- DE Demetric Evans
