If Heyer keeps playing well down the stretch should he start next year at RT?

I think the issue is that he's 31, has an 8mil cap figure, and this is the 2nd time in 3 years he's been out for a long period of time. He's been very injury prone, even when he was playing. He's one of my fav. redskins, but I really hope he's at least one of the guys who will restructure to allow us more cap space.

When it comes to Jansen, he'll definitely help us out with cap space in 2008. When the Skins just extended him last year, they put in a base salary of $5 million in 2008. They surely did this with the intention of giving that money to him in the form of a restructured signing bonus in March of 2008. He won't care whether he gets his $5 million in March or his $5 million in September - December (he'd probably rather have it in March), as long as he gets his $5 million.

But I wouldn't call him injury prone. Someone rolling on your ankle and twisting it halfway around isn't like getting a recurring soft-tissue injury such as Ken Griffey Jr.'s hamstrings. That's just an unfortunate accident and is equally likely to happen to any lineman in the league. The only other time the guy missed games was the blown achilles, another freak thing that can happen to anybody. Hell, he's such a rock in there that he played through two broken thumbs.

He can still run block with the best of them, he's a big upgrade over Heyer in that regard. His pass blocking is average, as he always struggles against the better pass rushers in the league and allows sacks to guys like Strahan on a regular basis. I think he's still a darn good RT in this league. Given that we're stuck with him from a cap perspective no matter what, you might as well continue giving him the chance to earn his starting RT spot.

When it comes to Jansen, he'll definitely help us out with cap space in 2008. When the Skins just extended him last year, they put in a base salary of $5 million in 2008. They surely did this with the intention of giving that money to him in the form of a restructured signing bonus in March of 2008. He won't care whether he gets his $5 million in March or his $5 million in September - December (he'd probably rather have it in March), as long as he gets his $5 million.

But I wouldn't call him injury prone. Someone rolling on your ankle and twisting it halfway around isn't like getting a recurring soft-tissue injury such as Ken Griffey Jr.'s hamstrings. That's just an unfortunate accident and is equally likely to happen to any lineman in the league. The only other time the guy missed games was the blown achilles, another freak thing that can happen to anybody. Hell, he's such a rock in there that he played through two broken thumbs.

He can still run block with the best of them, he's a big upgrade over Heyer in that regard. His pass blocking is average, as he always struggles against the better pass rushers in the league and allows sacks to guys like Strahan on a regular basis. I think he's still a darn good RT in this league. Given that we're stuck with him from a cap perspective no matter what, you might as well continue giving him the chance to earn his starting RT spot.

Just form a financial perspective getting the $5 million in March instead of September will get Jansen at least an extra $81,250 before taxes.

Heres how: - he gets his $5 million from the Skins and after taxes (which I will use the 35% tax bracket rate) he will have an addtional $3,250,000 in his bank account. Even if Jansen put the money in a 5% savings bond (which is about the safest thing you can put it in over the next 6 months) he will have earned an additonal $81,250 before taxes and not have to lift a finger to earn it! Most likely if Jansen is smart he already has a financial advisory who will earn him much more (like around 10% or more) and that will get Jansen an additonal money by getting the money upfront like Schneed is saying.

I did see on an interview with Coach Bugel on News 4 that the Redskins are excited about Heyer but that he needed to live at Redskins Park this offseason to work on his lower body strength. Bugel said that with some more conditioning the sky is the limit with this kid and he can be special and solidify the RT spot for the long term in the future. My bet is that the team will focus on drafting a guard in the offseason as Kendall will be here for one more year and than when Kendall's contract expires he will either let go or serve as a backup when the new guard takes over.

I did see on an interview with Coach Bugel on News 4 that the Redskins are excited about Heyer but that he needed to live at Redskins Park this offseason to work on his lower body strength. Bugel said that with some more conditioning the sky is the limit with this kid and he can be special and solidify the RT spot for the long term in the future. My bet is that the team will focus on drafting a guard in the offseason as Kendall will be here for one more year and than when Kendall's contract expires he will either let go or serve as a backup when the new guard takes over.

Agreed, a backup at G, to develop into an eventual Kendall replacement, would be a wise move. You can find darn good ones in the 3rd and 4th rounds.

Heyer just looks so good right now because they give him help that they didn't give to Jansen...

Jansen is better right now

Jansen is still the starter in my book, but it's a great luxury to have Heyer. 31 isn't old for an NFL linemen.

Go through camp with no starter at RT -- may the best man win.

Heyer just looks so good right now because they give him help that they didn't give to Jansen...

Jansen is better right now

you're right about that. lorenzo alexander and mike sellers have been helping him a lot. The kid does have great talent and strength, though.

I like Heyer, and I think he has a chance to beat out Jansen as a starter if he gets a lot stronger & develops as a run blocker.

back during camp we were discussing Wade at LG & someone said Jansen would be a better guard than Wade. I agreed then & the thought has crossed my mind as a possibility. Add to that, Alexander might be developed as a guard next season. With Heyer & Alexander, the staff may decide not to draft any o-linemen, similar to what they did this year w/the d-line, picking up undrafted guys like Wilson & Buzbee.

Stephon Heyer was a stud at Maryland, and has shown that he belongs in this league. However, Jansen is still a very capable starter in the NFL, and would be the bookend tackle he's been known to be. He is also a vocal team leader, and his leadership is needed on and off the field.