August 30-- Brunell was not traded, Campbell is strong in pre-season finale

Joe Gibbs flatly denied a televised report that Mark Brunell had been traded to Seattle for a late round draft pick.. One highly placed source told me after the game the team currently has no interest in trading Brunell..
Jordan Palmer’s first game as a Redskin did not go well solidifying the team’s decision that Brunell and Todd Collins will both likely make the final roster with Palmer likely destined for the practice squad.. Palmer went 2-8, 10 yards and an interception that was returned for a touchdown in the Skins pre-season finale loss to Jacksonville 31-14..The 27 yard score by the Jags on the INT was more yardage then the Skins gained in the second half (21).. Washington managed only 7 plus minutes of possession time and ran 3 plays in the fourth quarter..
Brunell meantime admitted he went into the Jags locker room in the pre-game to catch up with some old teammates and joked that after each series he would take a step toward the wrong sideline.. Brunell made his case for the back-up job going 5-6, 47 yards and throwing a touchdown pass..
Joe Gibbs said no decision on who will be Jason Campbell’s back-up was made as of yet..

Campbell was sharp in his one drive of the game, 5-5 54 yards and a touchdown pass to Antwaan Randle-El.. Campbell said he did a lot of extra stretching on his sore knee prior to the game but said the knee held up fine in the game.. Campbell was hit hard on one play but rebounded with the touchdown strike on the other.. This was Campbell lone touchdown drive of the summer..

RB Clinton Portis did go through pre-game warm-ups but did not suit up for the Skins so he carried the ball zero times this summer.. Gibbs said he remains confident that Portis will start come the season opener but admitted that Ladell Betts likely will play “a bunch” against Miami to ensure Portis can stay fresh and is in the type of physical condition needed for a starting back..
T Chris Samuels also dressed and went through pre-game warm-ups but also did not play.. Gibbs didn’t rule out Stephon Heyer starting the opener against the Dolphins if Samuels is not a full go at practice next week..
Pete Kendall started at left guard and played one series with the starting group, he is likely to be the starter on opening day..
Todd Wade was used as the second team right tackle exemplifying the move back to his natural position, at this point, Wade is not likely even the primary back-up at guard.. Wade had to have his ailing shoulder attended to during the game..

Injuries: LB Dallas Sartz suffered a right hamstring injury.. CB John Eubanks who was fighting for the final CB spot may have lost out after he left the game and was carted off with a hamstring injury.. Numerous players were cramping during the second half, TE Eric Edwards was also carted off the field after the trainers were attending to his cramped calves.. DT Matthias Askew and CB Leigh Torrence both were helped from the field due to cramping.. S Reed Doughty suffered a laceration above his right eye, he needed to be stitched up as if he were in a boxing bout..
T Jon Jansen had his lower back attended to after getting bent back on one play, he didn’t leave the field during the starter’s lone series and the trainers said he will be fine..

A couple quick observations: RB Marcus Mason appears like he is a keeper showing great natural running ability using his quick cutback moves to gain 55 yards on 9 first half carries.. He likely won’t make this team but appears like a string candidate for the practice squad..
Antwaan Randle El talked openly about how the team had a “cockiness” last summer and the team mis-utilized the pre-season.. He said the Skins approached the exhibition season much differently this time around and it appears to have paid off..
Not once did the 11 expected starters for the season opener take a snap during the pre-season.. Randle El said that because it was veterans who missed time, this won’t be as big a deal as people are making it out to be.. Campbell said he believes the team is much farther ahead then they were a summer ago and doesn’t feel the missed time by Portis/Samuels et all will be a major factor in the team’s start to the season..

Cuts need to be made by Saturday at 4PM.. 22 players must be released, on Sunday, 8 eligible practice squaders can be signed.. If you have 9 games of NFL experience, you are not eligible for the practice squad.. Anyone on the practice squad for two seasons also remains ineligible..

OK men..