The chase for free agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh remains fluid Labor Day morning. His services are in demand and, with a $7 million guaranteed salary in his pocket, Houshman can pick and choose his spot. Will he choose Redskins Park?

Sean Leahy's usatoday.com story casts doubt that the Cincinnati Bengals or Minnesota Vikings are chasing Houshmandzadeh's services. The Bengals replaced Housh with Laveranues Coles last season and replaced Coles with Terrell Owens this season.

The Vikings, who chased Houshmandzadeh last season, found success with Percy Harvin and Sidney Rice. The Vikes do have needs. Rice will be out for six weeks or so and Harvin suffers migraine headaches. Vikings head coach Brad Childress is showing more interest in bringing Javon Walker back to the roster than adding Houshmandzadeh, according to Leahy's story.

More encouraging for Redskins fans is Danny O'Neil's post to Seahawks Blog in The Seattle Times. O'Neill talked to someone who talked to TJ. That source says Houshmandzadeh's narrowed his choice to Oakland or Washington.

Houshmandzadeh selected the Seahawks over the Vikings last season for the money and for the thought that Seattle was closer to the playoffs than the Vikings. He based that choice on the team's quarterbacks: Matt Hasselbeck for the Seahawks and Tavaris Jackson (at the time) for the Vikings.

If money's not an issue and prospects carries any weight, Washington has a lot of selling points. Mike Shanahan and Donovan McNabb have more impressive resumes than Tom Cable and Jason Campbell, or than Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell would have made. Houshmandzadeh can excel as a wide receiver on either of these team's roster, even if his skills have declined.

But Oakland competes in an easier division with only the San Diego Chargers to worry about. Depending on your lifestyle, Oakland-San Francisco might be more alluring, and with easier winters, than D.C. Metro.

Roster Impact

The Redskins have one slot open on the practice squad. Adding another wide-out could push someone to that remaining slot. Of the wide receivers, only Brandon Banks would seem to be eligible. He would have to clear waivers and Washington might not be willing to take that risk.

Washington begins practice for the Dallas Cowboys game today. I would think Houshmandzadeh, or anyone, has to be at Redskins Park by tomorrow (Tuesday) to have any chance to play Sunday night. The impact for that game would be small in any case.

Point After: Seattle released Houshmandzadeh because Pete Carroll prefers Mike Williams and Minnesota isn't interested because Brad Childress prefers Javon Walker. Anyone else find that very strange?

Pete Carroll dropping a veteran for Mike Williams has a Steve Spurrier quality that makes me laugh. Seattle is in for a hard season. At least they are telling their fans that they are rebuilding.

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No dramatic signing of wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh to the Washington Redskins yet. There was an early report from a Milwaukee TV station that Who's Your Mama signed with the Minnesota Vikings, but no one else has picked up that story. So, he's still out there.

Teams may be waiting until after the first week of the season to sign free agents, thereby avoiding a guarantee to their salary. There may be reason to wait on Houshmandzadeh.

A story in The Seattle Times points out that "Of the 20 players Seattle released or waived, Houshmandzadeh was the only one who started a game for Seattle last season." (Empahsis mine)

Housh had 79 receptions for 911 yards and three touchdowns with the Seahawks last year.

Those numbers may be disappointing to the Seahawks, but are golden to a team looking for a No. 2 wide receiver, especially the Redskins where Santana Moss may be the only wide-out to beat Antwaan Randle El's 2009 performance (50 receptions, 530 yards).

"Only starter released" is a hint, of what I don't know.

More worrisome is that Houshmandzadeh was released to make room for Mike Williams. Mike Williams? Yes, that Mike Williams who's remembered as Matt Millan's biggest blunder with the Detroit Lions and who disappeared on the rosters of the Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans. Williams caught 10 passes for 177 yards and a score during the preseason.

Williams over Houshmandzadeh might say more about Pete Carroll than TJ.

Clark Judge at CBSSports.com wrote this about Housh:

"...the truth of the matter is that Houshmandzadeh can't run. He still has the hands but speed? People in Seattle say you could time him with an hour glass. Uh-oh."

Judge was summarizing winners and losers on NFL cut-down day. He put the comment in the section Logical move that won't Happen: Houshmandzadeh to Minnesota.

We don't see Seahawk games so can't assess Houshmandzadeh vs. Williams vs. speed. That's Bruce Allen's job

The Redskins needed a cold-eyed general manager who looks at players for what they could do in their next game rather than what they did for their last team. Vinny Cerrato would have pulled the trigger already on Houshmandzadeh or Vincent Jackson, sacrificing draft picks and cap room to avoid the uncertainty of delay. But free agent players are like buses. If you miss one, another will be along in 15 minutes or so.

Now that Allen is here, let's trust the process to make the best move. (Still crossing my fingers and toes on Houshmandzadeh.)

Hey, I'm quoted in The Washington Examiner. Only, they got my name wrong.

David Sherfinski's story Redskins rake in the cash despite on-field mediocrity was published September 3, 2010 and appears online at www.washingtonexaminer.com.

"Michael" Brown (that would be me) is quoted in the article:

"I'll always hope for the best for this team whomever is coaching it or is on the roster," he wrote for Bleacher Report, an online sports network. "I just don't think Snyder earned the right to a direct transfer of my family treasure for every game, including exhibition games, at full price."

The quote comes from my story Why I Resigned As Redskins Season Ticket Holder posted in March 2010 on Redskins Hog Heaven and syndicated to Bleacher Report.

Bloggers work for validation, so to be quoted by established media is high pay indeed. Just be sure to make the check out to Anthony Brown next time.

Point After: Dropping my season tickets was not my only protest against Danny Snyder and football stupidity. I refuse to buy replica jerseys of big name stars brought to the Redskins until said star leads the team to a division title, at least. Yes, that includes Donovan McNabb for whom I hold great admiration. I don't want to reward the quick-fix behavior that has vexed the Redskins in Snyder's ownership. I'm more likely to buy a Rocky McIntosh or Robert Henson jersey because those guys grew up with the team. They are ours.

Think I'm holding a grudge? Snyder made the right move by bringing in Mike Shanahan and, finally, hiring a GM. The Danny has done that kind of thing before with Schottenheimer and Gibbs. It's not what Snyder does when he's been rebuked by fans. It's what he does a year or so later. The real test of how changed Snyder is won't come until 2011 when the Skins may be close to being a real contender. That's when the Danny has made his worst moves.

So I'm not surprised that Snyder is keeping his head down now. Lets see what he does when Shanahan has this thing turned around.

Our top story tonight: the 2010 Redskins are a team.  A team of 53 players.  Aside from a few surprise inclusions that can be counted on one hand, the Redskins stayed true to their tendencies when picking the right balance of players for the roster.

The surprises were less about individual players chosen, and more surprising in the general sense.  Guys like Terrence Austin, Erik Cook, and Selvish Capers might be important parts of the Redskins in the future, but as of today, they are not Redskins.  Of the six draft choices made in the 2010 draft, only two made it through today to actually become rookies.  That's a shockingly low number.  The last year Mike Shanahan didn't have all players or all-but-one player make his opening day roster from his draft class: 2003.  More than seven years ago.

Is this necessarily a bad thing?  I don't see it that way.  It's not common for a 6th or 7th round pick to turn into a starter, even after significant development.  While the expectation is that these players will make the roster in their first year, it's not shameful that they didn't.  The Redskins did very well with their undrafted free agents on offense.  Brandon Banks beat out Terrence Austin.  Kory Lichtensteiger beat out Erik Cook.  Logan Paulsen beat out Dennis Morris.  While Selvish Capers simply didn't prove to be NFL caliber, at least on the outside, the fact that the Redskins found three freely available players who proved to be more than that in this preseason is big time.  And that doesn't even include undrafted rookie RB Keiland Williams, who beat out veteran Willie Parker to make the Redskins.

Dennis Morris' pick was probably wasted, as many felt at the time (before his B.M.O.C. highlight reel surfaced).  But after that, the Redskins only had three picks in the first six rounds anyway: that's where this draft was lost.  Kudos to our experienced decision makers for not trying to put third round expectations on a trio of seventh round picks.

The actual roster is very balanced, but I have one specific criticism (and various other criticisms as well) of the way it was built.  That will be taken care of below:

Quarterbacks (3): Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman, John Beck

McNabb was obvious.  Grossman is seen by this staff as much more of a 1a type player than a no. 2.  They would have no qualms starting him for long periods of time.  Grossman is ballzy, but his mistakes would likely frustrate Redskins fans as he can often make the efforts of his defense futile by making mistakes that result in long defensive returns and short fields.  There's a level of hubris here with the Shanahan's that make them feel as if they can coach around these mistakes, but this is professional football.  You're taking the bad with the good whether you intend to or not.  I am not sure why John Beck got extended, but that transaction ensured his presence on the roster.  He's the anti-Grossman, who is much more likely to hold it and take a sack than make an ill-advised throw.

Running Backs (5): Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, Keiland Williams, Mike Sellers, Darryl Young

Mike Shanahan is very good at keeping his effective running backs in the game, so while Williams would be buried below Johnson on many teams, he's likely to get that playing time if he outperforms him.  Darryl Young is going to be an important part of this special teams unit, and Mike Sellers as well, so both will be active on gamedays.  In fact, all five are likely to play in the game against Dallas.

Wide Receivers (6): Santana Moss, Joey Galloway, Roydell Williams, Anthony Armstrong, Devin Thomas, Brandon Banks

There are a lot of options for Donovan McNabb to use here.  It's unclear what, if anything, Joey Galloway can still do.  What's more clear is that Roydell Williams and Anthony Armstrong were among McNabb's favorite (non-Cooley) receivers in the preseason.  Neither attended "Hell Week" in Arizona.  Devin Thomas looked good on special teams, and perhaps ever. so. barely. outplayed Terrence Austin in that role to win a roster spot.  Thomas wasn't just on the block -- he was on the very edge of the plank -- but he made it through, and for the first time in his career, did deserve it.  Brandon Banks is an absolute flash who could break games wide open or cost the Redskins a few games with mistakes.  He's not a meaningless player by any means.  He just might be the 'X' factor in the NFC East.

Tight Ends (3): Chris Cooley, Fred Davis, Logan Paulsen

It might have ended up being just Cooley and Davis, if not for the fact that the Redskins were about to run into a logistical issue.  The plan was to make Kory Lichtenstiger a tight end in certain power packages, but Lichtenstieger is now a THREE position backup.  More on this below.  He also might now be the best right guard on the roster.  Which is another problem.  He can't be a package player, so Paulsen, who is a blocking TE, is going to get the nod to play some special teams, as well as TE in short yardage and goal line.  As a bonus, Paulsen can also play offensive line (tackle) in a real pinch.  He's a good keeper.

Offensive Line (8): Trent Williams, Derrick Dockery, Casey Rabach, Artis Hicks, Jamaal Brown, Kory Lichtensteiger, Stephon Heyer, Will Montgomery

Oh, boy.  Well, the Redskins turned over half of their roster at OL from last year.  But they retained two of the worst offenders on last years line, Rabach and Montgomery.  Stephon Heyer, by all accounts is much improved, and will probably play a lot this year with Jamaal Brown expected to be in and out of the lineup all year.  RT shouldn't be much of an issue.  LT will be as good as Trent Williams is, and no better.  Derrick Dockery and Casey Rabach both have great bills of health, but may be weaknesses on the interior, especially against NFC East defensive fronts.  Artis Hicks offers versatility, but is as marginal of a starter as Rabach is.

The saving grace was supposed to be all the young, talented lineman who may not have been ready to start just yet, but could hedge against the ineffectiveness of the center or the right guard.  Lichtenstieger was the most impressive of that group, but Edwin Williams, Chad Rinehart, Erik Cook, and Selvish Capers all offered hope of a late-season find who could help this team in the chase for the playoffs.  Inexplicably, the Redskins cut every last one of them, and kept Will Montgomery.  Once again, depth is a major issue on the offensive line, and while we have five lineman who should be durable in the starting lineup, consider what will happen if Lichtensteiger wins that RG job in week five or something.  Will Montgomery becomes the backup player at the C and LG positions.  That's really terrible planning, and more likely than not, will cost this team in the long run.

Defensive Line (8): Adam Carriker, Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Kedric Golston, Albert Haynesworth, Vonnie Holliday, Phillip Daniels, Anthony Bryant, Jeremy Jarmon

Bryant holding on to a roster spot was a little surprising, but the Redskins can't seem to count on Albert Haynesworth to be a major part of this defense.  Certainly, he will be, but they have to plan almost as if he isn't there as not to be caught off guard if he gives up on them.  That could by why Bryant is there: Kemoeatu has looked bad, just very bad, in the preseason.  It may take him some time to return to form.  The team is a little stronger at end, but Carriker is an injury concern.  Golston could be the best all around player on the DL, but might lose snaps to Vonnie Holliday who still just makes plays when he's in the game for 8-12 snaps per game.  Phillip Daniels could find himself inactive a lot this year, and is on the roster as much for leadership as anything else.

Linebackers (8): London Fletcher, Brian Orakpo, Andre Carter, Rocky McIntosh, Lorenzo Alexander, Chris Wilson, HB Blades, Perry Riley

No surprises here.  Robert Henson appeared to have the roster made as a special teams ace, but when his knee was injured, the Redskins replaced him with a fifth corner, Byron Westbrook, instead.  All of these guys can play defense, and all will be active for gameday either due to special teams obligations, or dual ability to line up on the defensive front and get after the passer on third downs.  These were clearly the eight best defensive players listed at their position.

Defensive Backs (9): Carlos Rogers, DeAngelo Hall, LaRon Landry, Phillip Buchanon, Kevin Barnes, Byron Westbrook, Reed Doughty, Chris Horton, Kareem Moore

The Redskins opted to trade Justin Tryon to the Colts for a roster spot to use on Byron Westbrook.  That was a little bit surprising.  Tryon is a much better defensive player, and I really didn't think there was much of a special teams advantage.  If there was, Tryon had that as well.  The Redskins get some sort of a compensation pick for Tryon, so it's not all bad to find a team that likes your player more than you do.  It's a bit surprising that Westbrook beat out Ramzee Robinson, but I also believe that the Redskins aren't done shopping at this position just yet, and Westbrook's stay on this year's 53 man might not last until the first game.  He's week to week.  Reed Doughty, Chris Horton, and Kareem Moore are really good depth at safety.  Moore could be out for the first three weeks of the season, which caused some to presume the Redskins might keep a fifth safety.  They will not.

Specialists (3): LS Nick Sundberg, K Graham Gano, P Josh Bidwell

Keep a watchful eye on Sundberg's snaps, but this has a chance to be our best kicking specialist unit in years.  Graham Gano really has a great leg.  Our special teams has more true weapons -- between Banks and Gano -- than it has ever had in the past before.

The Redskins likely aren't done at receiver.  Roydell Williams probably shouldn't feel very safe.  He could be released if the Redskins find a better offensive player than him on the waiver wire.  However, it's likely for financial reasons that this will be the group that plays against the Cowboys next Sunday night.  Then veterans can be signed without guaranteeing their entire yearly salary for their work.  One week could decide the Galloway/Williams camp battle, once and for all.

This trade for a receiver could go down as soon as tomorrow. Hog Heaven will have you covered if and when an agreement is reached.

UPDATE: The Seattle Seahawks have released wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh according to ESPN.com

The stories that wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh will not return to the Seattle Seahawks isn't quite news, but is beyond rumor. Stories that he may be headed to the Washington Redskins are rumors, but entirely credible. As things stand today, Saturday morning, the Redskins receiving corps is not the equal of last year's group. The Skins have to do something.

NFL teams must reduce their roster to 53 men by 6:00 P.M. ET today, so news of a trade or free agent signing could happen any moment.

Since the 2004 season, Houshmandzadeh has caught no fewer than 73 passes per year. He had 79 receptions for 911 yards and three touchdowns last year in Jim Mora, the younger's, short run in Seattle.

The Redskins haven't announced their final 53 man roster yet, perhaps because player acquisitions are still happening. Here's what circulating around the blogosphere:

Pete Carroll wants to move Houshmandzadeh because the 32-year-old veteran is taking snaps from Seattle's young receiver talent. That implies the Seahawks are in a rebuilding year and aren't afraid to show it--unlike the Redskins who are in a rebuilding year but insist they are planning to "win now." In any event, the Skins don't have young talent to develop.

Houshmandzadeh is guaranteed $7 million this year. That deal inhibits a trade with the four or five teams that might be interested. Houshmandzadeh's contract has offset language whereby, if he is signed as a free agent, Seattle must make up the difference between what his new team pays him and his guarantee.

A StarTribune.com story by Judd Zulgad notes that Houshmandzadeh assessed the quarterback situation at potential teams before he signed with Seattle last year. The StarTribune covers the Minnesota Vikings and Housh signed with Seattle before Brett Favre signed on with the Vikes. The Redskins can tout Donovan McNabb in their bid for Houshmandzadeh's services.

Zulgad also said Seattle is releasing Houshmandzadeh to clear cap room to sign disgruntled San Diego receiver Vincent Jackson. Let's be a little skeptical of that one. We don't know what the salary cap will look like next year, or even if there will be one. The owners and player's union are hashing that out now. Jackson and the Chargers are at an impasse. Dropping Houshmandzadeh in hopes of getting Jackson makes no sense...unless Seattle is 99 percent done in a deal with Jackson.

Last month, we gave six reasons why Vincent Jackson won't help the Redskins this year. Reason No. 2 was that Jackson would end up in Seattle. Houshmandzadeh is as sure a 70+ reception guy as you can find. Why would Seattle, or Washington, prefer Jackson to him? Because Jackson is 27 while Housh is 32. If a team can sell its fans on rebuilding, they can bet on the come. By that I mean Seattle can risk losing a sure handed receiver in return for someone who won't help much this season but has a big upside over a five year horizon.

The Redskins have never said they are rebuilding. They have just as much interest in Jackson as Seattle, but a lot Bruce Allen's player acquisitions have been veterans that averaged-up the team's age. Houshmandzadeh fits that profile.

Jackson is demanding a five year, $50 million contract, $30 million guaranteed, from the Chargers, Seahawks, Redskins, or whatever team signs him. The Chargers gave the Seahawks permission to talk to Jackson's agent in mid-August.

Scott Edwards at RedskinsRule.com blog suggests the the Redskins would cut Joey Galloway if they sign Houshmandzadeh.

This post can't end without reference to the greatest fantasy football commercial of all time. "Who's your mama" still cracks me up.

Malcolm Kelly returned to practice Monday morning. Malcolm Kelly reinjured his hamstring Monday afternoon; the same injury that kept him out of the entire Washington Redskins training camp. As they said in that old song, if it weren't for bad luck, Kelly would have no luck at all.

By all accounts, Kelly is a decent enough fellow. A story in Monday's Redskins Insider described Kelly as having the best hands on the team as far as wide receivers go. That may go a long way to explain why the Shanahans are so interested in giving the man a shot to make the team--the need for good hands is so great.

Kelly and Devin Thomas were two of the first three players selected by the Redskins in the 2008 NFL Draft. To fans, they feel like first rounders, but they were second-rounders in a draft class team scouts thought was devoid of first round receiver talent. Kelly ought to be evaluated on that basis.

And on that basis, Kelly isn't the worst performer among his second round peers. That honor goes to Cincinnati's Jerome Simpson (1 Rec, 2 Yds, 0 TDs). Kelly just isn't near the performance we hoped.

St. Louis' Donnie Avery was selected immediately ahead of Thomas. In two seasons Avery has 100 receptions for 1263 yards and eight touchdowns. DeSean Jackson was selected by Philadelphia immediately ahead of Kelly. Jackson has 125 receptions for 2079 yards and 11 touchdowns. Kelly has 28 receptions for 365 yards and no touchdowns.

That Kelly is still here says there's something about him we fans don't see. Hog Heaven's Greg Trippiedi says Kelly is a good downfield blocker. Perhaps he has a deep understanding of the new playbook, or is an inspiring locker room leader. But please don't tell me the coaches are keeping Kelly around because he catches well in practice.

There are two words to describe players who practice well but can't get it done in games: "Taylor" "Jacobs."

The Redskins drafted Jacobs in 2003--ironically in the second round--to fuel Steve Spurrier's "Fun 'n' Gun" offense. Jacobs failed to launch though both Spurrier and Joe Gibbs said he had an awesome pair of hands in practice and was an asset to the team. In three seasons with Washington, Jacobs caught 30 passes for 315 yards and one touchdown.

Gibbs went looking for receiver help because of Jacobs. Unfortunately, he found Brandon Lloyd. Jacobs would be traded to San Francisco for Mike Rumph.

Kelly is no Taylor Jacobs. He has to write the end to his own story. That doesn't mean we have to watch. There comes a time to say "enough."

Malcolm Kelly isn't rugged enough for the NFL.

UPDATE: The Redskins placed Kelly on Injured Reserve for the 2010 season.

Point After: Taylor Jacobs ended his career with the Denver Broncos when he was released by Mike Shanahan.

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It's the kind of story that makes team P.R. people cringe--and everyone else laugh.

Rumor-monger Pro Football Talk says Washington Redskins conerback DeAngelo Hall will not be punked by tall female reporters like Comcast SportsNet's Kelli Johnson. Hall insists that Johnson remover her heels before filming interviews with him.

"She was too tall. If I was 6 feet like [Carlos Rogers], I wouldn't have to do that, but I'm 5-11, so she definitely had to take them heels off for me," Hall said.

As a man, I understand the big difference between 5 ft. 11 in. and six feet. What man wouldn't want another inch or two?

The story doesn't give Johnson's height. Her profile on csnwashington.com notes her time as a four year starter on the University of Idaho's women's basketball team where she holds the record for three-point shots made (207) and was a .776 free throw shooter.

But stories like this make Hall look vain, or hyper-sensitive about his height. If he is the former, let it be about making turnovers. If he's the latter, then I point out that Santana Moss is the same height as Hall and we never hear such tales about him.

Time for Hall to grow up and be the bigger man.

Besides, tall women are hawt!