http://www.yardbarker.com/content/player/3799 Recent articles about Fabian Washington en-us What's what in Charm City. Quick snapshot of Baltimore's offensive line, linebackers, quarterbacks, cornerbacks, and also the coaching situation. Nothing groundbreaking here. Just my two cents. Mon, 16 Jun 2008 12:58:08 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278507 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/278507 With the NFL Draft a month in the past and most offseason moves over and done with, it is time to start looking ahead to the 2008 season. And with that, we focus in on fantasy football, but that doesn't necessarily mean talking about top running backs and receivers. Taking into account the rising popularity of IDP fantasy leagues, FIO co-founder & editor Matt Hinzpeter discusses some of the top impact moves on the defensive side of the ball that will affect fantasy football in 2008. Wed, 28 May 2008 08:20:40 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/271665 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/271665 There are plenty of former Raiders with much to say since leaving this offseason, and each has taken their opportunity to knock the team in some form or another. Thu, 08 May 2008 10:57:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264768 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264768 2005 had its share of stars in the 1st round but also had a handful of busts check to see where your teams pick did............. 1. Alex Smith, quarterback, 49ers: When the first overall pick is competing three years later with Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan for the starting job, that's by definition a BUST. 2. Ronnie Brown, running back, Dolphins: After a so-so first year, Brown has been solid. A torn ACL derailed his opportunity to have a strong third year. Though he hasn't lived up to the billing of the No. 2 overall pick, we're not yet ready to call him a bust. (But we could be after 2008.) 3. Braylon Edwards, receiver, Browns: Edward is becoming one of the best receivers in the league. Clearly, not a bust. 4. Cedric Benson, running back, Bears: He's been a disappointment on the field, and his arrest conjures memories of past incidents in college. Without question, he's a BUST. 5. Cadillac Williams, running back, Buccaneers: Williams made a huge splash as a rookie, but can't stay healthy. After rupturing a patellar tendon in 2007, he might not play again. If he does, he might never be the same. Based on his top-five selection, he's a BUST. 6. Pacman Jones, cornerback, Titans: BUST 7. Troy Williamson, receiver, Vikings: We once tried to throw Williamson a compliment, but he dropped that, too. BUST. 8. Antrel Rolle, cornerback, Cardinals: When a cornerback might be shifted to safety at only age 25, it's not because he's a great cornerback. BUST. 9. Carlos Rogers, cornerback, Redskins: He's on the path to being declared a bust. We'll give him one more year. 10. Mike Williams, receiver, Lions: Maybe he wouldn't have been a BUST if the Lions had made him an offensive lineman. 11. DeMarcus Ware, linebacker, Cowboys: A 2006 Pro Bowl + a 2007 Pro Bowl = not a bust. 12. Shawne Merriman, linebacker, Chargers: He could still be a bust if he gets suspended again for steroids (or blown up on a regular basis by a pint-sized running back); for now, though, Merriman is clearly not a bust. 13. Jammal Brown, tackle, Saints: The Pro Bowler in 2006 slipped a bit last year, and the Saints were rumored to be shopping him. Still, he's not a bust. 14. Thomas Davis, safety/linebacker, Panthers: He's not spectacular, but he started 16 games in 2007. Not a bust. 15. Derrick Johnson, linebacker, Chiefs: Johnson made a splash as a rookie and hasn't taken it quite to the next level in two years since, but he's not a bust. 16. Travis Johnson, defensive tackle, Texans: When the biggest hit of your career is one that you unknowingly put on a quarterback's head with your knee, you might be a redneck. And a BUST. 17. David Pollack, linebacker, Bengals: Though he was on his way to becoming a great player, a neck injury ended his career early in his second season. Unfortunately, he must be declared a BUST. 18. Erasmus James, defensive end, Vikings: Knee problems have slowed his development, but barring injury to Jared Allen and Ray Edwards (and maybe Brian Robison), James won't be a starter in his fourth season. BUST. 19. Alex Barron, offensive tackle, Rams: The Rams wouldn't have been dreaming of Jake Long sliding to No. 2 if they thought that Barron was the long-term solution on the left side, or the right. BUST. 20. Marcus Spears, defensive end, Cowboys: Yeah, he has been a three-year starter. But he was rumored to be on the trading block earlier this year, and his impact hasn't reflected his stature as one of the top 20 players in the draft. BUST. 21. Matt Jones, receiver, Jaguars: This much-hyped quarterback-turned-receiver isn't very good, and doesn't seem to care. The Jags would have been wise to let him play quarterback — for another team. BUST. 22. Mark Clayton, receiver, Ravens: The thinking in NFL circles is that a player destined to be a high-end receiver performs like one by his third NFL season. For his third season, Clayton had 49 catches for 531 yards, and no touchdowns. BUST. 23. Fabian Washington, cornerback, Raiders: Being traded for a fourth-round pick after only three seasons automatically qualifies him for BUST status. 24. Aaron Rodgers, quarterback, Packers: He has looked good when he's gotten a chance to play, but the jury is out on whether he's a bust. Get back to us in a year. 25. Jason Campbell, quarterback, Redskins: Campbell is on his way to becoming a solid starter, and could evolve into one of the better signal-callers in the conference. Not a bust. 26. Chris Spencer, center, Seahawks: If he'd been taken higher, Spencer might qualify for strong consideration as a bust. But he started every game in 2005, and the Seahawks have gotten decent value out of him. Close, but not a bust. 27. Roddy White, receiver, Falcons: White was on his way to being a bust after his first two years. He broke out in 2007, which coincidentally was his first season without catching one-hoppers from Mike Vick. Not a bust. 28. Luis Castillo, defensive tackle, Chargers: Solid defensive linemen despite some injuries. Not a bust. 29. Marlin Jackson, defensive back, Colts: Steady but unspectacular Tampa Two corner. He might be another Jason David in a defense that requires him to cover wideouts down the field. But his performance allowed the Colts let guys like David walk away. Not a bust. 30. Heath Miller, tight end, Virginia: The Steelers arguably reached on a guy who wasn't healthy in the months leading up to the draft. They ended up with a solid tight end. Not a bust. 31. Mike Patterson, defensive tackle, Eagles: The Philly chapter of PFT Planet will revolt if we were to call Patterson a bust. Not a bust. 32. Logan Mankins, offensive lineman, Patriots: Solid contributor on the offensive line. Besides, we can't call anyone who paid $7,500 for the privilege of punching a guy in the crotch a bust. Thu, 08 May 2008 07:30:49 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264689 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/264689 As a Baltimore fan, anytime you hear the words "arm strength" and "upside," your mind heads straight for Kyle Boller, which is why I can't say that I'm thrilled with Joe Flacco. Even if he pans out, trading up to #18 was a stretch. Baltimore probably could have bypassed Flacco at #26 even, and then waited until he dropped to them at the top of the second. Even then, I think it would have been a stretch. I had hoped Baltimore would take a corner in the first round, but instead it's former first-round selection CB Fabian Washington, who played under Rex Ryan's twin brother Rob in Oakland: "They sound alike, they look alike, other than the haircut, and they say the same jokes. Everything's the same, so you feel like you went out of one office and right back in the same office." Washington ran a 4.29/40 in 2005, making him the fastest player clocked during that year's NFL Combine. He'll pair up nicely with Chris McAlister, but he needs to be a better tackler, which is why Oakland benched him last year after the Broncos game. He became expendable as soon as the Raiders scooped up DeAngelo Hall in the offseason. Then in February, Washington was arrested for a scuffle with his girlfriend. He took responsibility for the offseason incident, apologized, and will avoid prosecution if he stays out of trouble for long enough. It sounds like maybe this guy just needed a change of scenery. If he plays like a former first-round selection, and all we gave up was a fourth-round pick, that's a good deal. Still, I wish the Ravens would have picked up more support in the defensive backfield. They chose a couple of safeties on day two, but those guys are special-teamers, not starters. There hasn't been much word on QB Troy Smith, who played well in limited action last year. It seems that the front office is content to let Smith, Boller and Flacco battle it out for the starting job, though my guess is that Boller gets the starting nod. If that's the case, chances are Smith will drop to #3 on the depth chart, which would be a shame. Smith has potential, but he may never get a fair shot because the front office is in love with Flacco. We never gave Derek Anderson a chance to perform, and look at what he's doing now in Cleveland. Since we already know Boller is a career backup, my vote is to let Smith be the starter, plant Flacco on the bench, and let Boller do what he does best, which is stay out of the way and play only when needed. Blogimore's QB Power Rankings: 1) Troy Smith 2) Kyle Boller 3) Joe Flacco Sun, 04 May 2008 12:39:45 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/263315 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/263315 Al Davis made a head scratcher of a move by giving up the Oakland Raiders' seventh round pick to trade up in the fourth round to select cornerback Tyvon Branch out of Connecticut. Cornerback is far from a position of need in Oakland as they already have Nnamdi Asomuga and DeAngelo Hall as starters and Stanford Routt in the nickel. The Raiders could have used that pick to address positions of need along the lines, but instead once again Al went for a big and fast corner. Sun, 27 Apr 2008 13:42:33 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/260066 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/260066 The beer is on ice. The Raider fans are sharpening their spikes and getting the face paint ready. April's answer to the Super Bowl is two days away. Now all the eyes are on the teams with the worst records from the past season. The passions are high in the Raider Nation as the fans are arguing like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton over whether to pick Darren McFadden, Chris Long, Vernon Gholston, or trade their pick. The debate does not stop there, as the relative values of current players such as Fabian Washington are measured against the value of potential picks. As of now, the only thing sure is that Jake Long will be a Mimi Dolphin and will not be an Oakland Raider. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:28:36 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/256641 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/256641 As the pre-draft hysteria levels heighten before Saturday's opening to the NFL Draft, rumors, speculation, and deals become bigger. Evidence of this was yesterday's blockbuster trade between the Chiefs and the Vikings. Another player being speculated about is Cincinnati's Chad Johnson, otherwise known as Ocho Cinco for the number he wears on game day. Daily, the Cowboys and Adam 'PacMan' Jones are being reported as possible matches before next season, which brings me to another cornerback, who has recently had a little trouble with the law, Fabian Washington. Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:23:34 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/256129 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/256129 In his earlier mock draft, that denizen of the Dark Side Raider X promised to go over the expectations for the entire Oakland Raiders' draft day haul. He did not acquire Chad Johnson, but did trade away a player to reclaim two of the lost rounds. Once again, Chris Long becomes a Raiders despite Don Banks's false rumor mongering. Without further ado, I'll turn this over to X. Sun, 20 Apr 2008 02:42:51 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/245177 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/245177 Once again April first has arrived. This is the day of merry pranksters pulling off practical jokes. Here at Thoughts from the Dark Side, things are a little bit more serious on this day. This is the day to highlight the various fools around the NFL and the Oakland Raiders who have either made us laugh or done something incredibly stupid. Last year's categories have been scrapped and the awards have been retooled. Daunte Culpepper challenging Stanford Routt to a race, Fabian Washington's arrest, and more will be awarded here on the second annual NFL-Oakland Raiders April Fools Awards. Tue, 01 Apr 2008 03:12:02 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/225678 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/225678 Analysis on the Chris Carr signing by the Titans. Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:14:09 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/223947 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/223947 Raider X weighs in with his thoughts on the current state of the Oakland Raider offseason. From Chris Carr's desire to move on, Al Davis's financial situation, the acquisitions of Kwame Harris, Javon Walker, and DeAngelo Hall, and more. He also looks at what quarterbacks that the Raiders may take a peek at on draft day, and who may be on the trading block and what the Raiders could acquire from them. Could the Raiders get picks from Stuart Schweigert, LaMont Jordan or Fabian Washington? Mon, 24 Mar 2008 03:15:07 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/216093 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/216093 Raider X has emerged from the witless protection program to offer his thoughts on the Oakland Raiders' blockbuster trade for DeAngelo Hall. He takes some time to wonder whether Fabian Washington, Stanford Routt or Stuart Schweigert will be the odd man out in the Raiders' remade secondary, or is this a sign that Nnamdi Asomugha may be the one on his way out. Mon, 17 Mar 2008 02:20:54 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/204720 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/204720 The Oakland Raiders have already addressed their safety position adding Gibril Wilson from the G-Men to pair with Michael Huff. The Raiders franchised Nnamdi Asomugha and are returning (as of now) Fabian Washington and Stanford Routt at corner. They also retained the jack of all trades Chris Carr, and should bring back Jarrod Cooper for depth and his special teams play. The much maligned Stuart Schweigert looks to have a greatly reduced role on the team. Tue, 04 Mar 2008 04:46:17 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/180073 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/180073 I caught a recent article by Mike Sando of ESPN.com on my cell phone regarding the lack of success of combine "freaks," and I was expecting to read a laundry list of Raider draft picks that are underachieving or have busted their way out of football. After all, Al Davis always goes for the cornerback with the fastest 40 time, right? Much to my surprise there were corners discussed in that article and none of them have ever donned a Silver and Black jersey. Fabian Washington and Stanford Routt's 4.29 at the combine notwithstanding, there must be more to an Al Davis pick than 40 time. Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:15:05 -0500 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/166575 http://www.yardbarker.com/author/article/166575