THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, August 21, 1996 TAG: 9608211221
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Redskins Report
SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 77 lines
The Washington Redskins continued a string of surprising personnel moves Tuesday by waiving running back Reggie Brooks, center John Gesek and receiver Tydus Winans.
They also cut 16 lesser-known players to trim their roster to 60 players. Among them were linebacker Jim Kitts of Chesapeake's Great Bridge High School and Ferrum College; defensive tackle Leonard Renfro, a former No. 1 pick of the Philadelphia Eagles; running back Larry Jones, a former fourth-round pick in 1995 who was the early sensation of the '95 training camp; and former University of Virginia star Don Reynolds, a defensive lineman.
In the last nine days, coach Norv Turner has released veteran safety James Washington and named Gus Frerotte as his starting quarterback over high-priced Heath Shuler. Tuesday, he dumped Brooks, a former second-round pick who rushed for 1,000 yards as a rookie in 1993.
That was under former coach Richie Petitbon. Turner came in the following year and he and Brooks never hit it off. Turner criticized Brooks's running style and his work habits.
This training camp Brooks came in with a different attitude, in better condition and seemed to be clawing his way back into Turner's good graces.
However, he fumbled last Friday against Cincinnati when he failed to shift the ball away from the direct hit of a Bengals lineman. The loose ball was carried back 51 yards for a touchdown.
Brooks also lost ground to rookie Stephen Davis of Auburn, who seems to be the team's hope for the future and backup to veteran starter Terry Allen.
``I wouldn't say that fumble was a factor (in his release), but Reggie needs to concentrate on taking care of the football wherever he plays,'' Turner said.
Turner also said goodbye to Gesek, a nine-year veteran he wrestled away from the Dallas Cowboys before last season. In doing so, he set in motion a likely lawsuit. Gesek, who played last season despite severe neck pain that occasionally caused numbness in his arm, has missed the last month of camp with the same injury. Because he was cut while injured, Gesek said he will file a grievance with the NFL Players Association to collect his 1996 salary of $500,000.
The Redskins could have put Gesek on injured reserve, but they would have had to pay him his full salary and have it count against the salary cap. By cutting him outright, they only have to pay the portion that was guaranteed. Gesek wouldn't say how much that is.
``The club has their best interest at heart, and I've got to take my best interests at heart,'' said Gesek, who played injured most of last season and had already agreed to a 50 percent pay cut for this year. ``One thing Norv said is, `I don't want to see you out there on the field not being able to move your arms and legs.' I don't want to see that either.
``They feel that because it was an existing condition from last season, that they don't owe me any money. I feel that that's wrong for a couple of reasons. One is that they knew full well that by playing as much as I did last year I was risking an injury, and it's taken a year off my career. The second being that they passed me in the physical (before training camp). They took the gamble as much as I did.''
In response, general manager Charley Casserly released a statement saying that the Redskins ``will follow the rules and guidelines of the collective bargaining agreement'' in the matter. He declined to comment further.
It is expected that Washington will claim an offensive lineman off waivers, probably Vernice Smith, and use him as backup to new starting center Cory Raymer. He was with the Redskins for a couple of seasons, but signed a free-agent contract with the Jets after last year. They waived him on Monday.
Winans, entering his third season after being drafted in the third round in 1994, caught 19 passes as a rookie. Two of those went for touchdowns in a Sunday night loss at Philadelphia. But Winans lost his position last season to Leslie Shepherd and fell further behind when the team brought in veterans Bill Brooks and Greg McMurtry. He had just returned to practice late last week after missing nearly three weeks with a badly bruised shoulder.
The others cut were receivers Alphonso Browning, Michael Watkins, Charlie Simmons and Brannon Kennedy (injured); tight end Ca'Dell Seagraves; defensive end Ervin Collier; quarterback Mark Hartsell; cornerbacks Ramon George and Allen Johnson and offensive linemen Matt Storm, Marc Lamb and Keith Wagner.
The Redskins also placed defensive end Kelvin Kinney on injured reserve (broken foot). He will miss the entire season. by CNB