ALDRICK ROBINSON: Hail to the Redskin

[PonyPride]

For the second time in as many years, SMU has had a wide receiver drafted in to the NFL. This year, it was Aldrick Robinson, who was chosen by the Washington Redskins. Robinson visited with PonyFans.com to discuss his thoughts about his new team, who will be there to welcome him when the NFL lockout is lifted and even his new rivalry with former teammate Bryan McCann.

Enjoy!

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[Blvd_Stang]

That phone call between Shanahan and Jones led to another call — this one from Redskins wide receivers coach Keenan McCardell to Robinson.

FTFY

[buckwheat]

Great, another thread on Aldrick, we sure needed one more. Congrats to AR, hope he makes the team.

[PonyPlayer4]

Great, another thread on Aldrick, we sure needed one more. Congrats to AR, hope he makes the team.

What's with the tude? Be happy for Al. He gave us 4 good years.

[SMUFan]

Seriously ... this is a great story about a great player who will represent our university — and each of us — in the NFL. It beats yet another overhyped story about some anonymous linebacker at a 2A high school who might or might not choose SMU over a bunch of other schools that are equally important in his mind.

We went a lot of years without any NFL players coming out of SMU. Now we have four. We're on the right track.

Great story, and congratulations, Aldrick!

[rich59]

The pick that the Redskins made of Robinson reminds me of a few years ago when Shanahan was still with the Brocos and they picked Eddie Royal out of VA Tech. The two players remind me of one another, small but fast. AR will probably play in the slot in the West Coast offense of Shanahan and return kicks just as Royal did with the Broncos his rookie year.

[thegaret]

There are only 3 teams (Redskins, Giants, Eagles) in the NFL that I did not want Al paying for and he landed on the damn Redskins! I wish him well, but I hope the team goes 5-11 forever! GO COWBOYS!

[MustangMan]

Great story, and good luck, Aldrick.
If Robinson makes the team, I'll go up to Miami Nov. 13 to see him play. (Thoughts on a banner/sign?)

[Vitale]

Al should have every chance to make that team — the WRs are terrible up there.

Hope they get him a real quarterback. McNabb, Grossman (if re-signed) and Beck are pretty mediocre). Good luck, Al!

[PonyPlayer4]

The latest reports have hinted at McNabb being released and Shannahan fully believing in Beck.

[Red+BlueDude]

I think Shanahan has no choice but to say he believes fully in Beck. He has said he had Beck rated the highest of all quarterbacks in that draft, which is absurd until you realize the list of hacks that came out that year: JaMarcus Russell, Drew Stanton, Isaiah Stanback, Jeff Rowe (who?), Troy Smith, Jordan Palmer, Tyler Thigpen ... seriously, Smith and Thigpen are the two best quarterbacks in an entire draft? (Obviously the best overall player in the draft was the great Justin Rogers.) But Grossman is a free agent, so Shanahan can't brag too much about a guy who could leave (although most around DC seem to think he'll be re-signed ... largely because who else would want him?) And as much as he hates McNabb — and there is a lot of talk that he and his idiot son both despise McNabb — I doubt he'll cut him because (A) he has nobody else to back up Beck and (B) it would be an admission that his decision to trade two draft picks ... TO A DIVISION RIVAL, NO LESS ... was one of the most idiotic moves in recent NFL history. It's true, of course, but Shanahan is way too much of an egomaniacal control freak to admit he ever made a mistake.

So if it's not McNabb, Grossman and Beck, it probably will be Beck, McNabb and some other veteran spare. Maybe they can bring back Patrick Ramsay? Is Gus Frerotte still alive? Or maybe they can get Heath Shuler to stop talking about how he wants to carry a gun to Capitol Hill long enough to see if he can still throw a football? How about Danny Wuerffel?

They've had some real gems since Doug Williams left, huh?

[NickSMU17]

Mcnabb is gone no way any NFL team takes on the extension he signed.

[rich59]

Maybe they can get Sonny Jurgensen back!

[PonyPride]

There have been stories coming out of Minnesota saying that even after the Vikings drafted Christian Ponder, they are "very interested" in trading for McNabb. Why they would, when they know the Skins want to get rid of him, is hard to figure out. All they have to do is wait a while and McNabb will be on the street, so why give up anything for him?

I won't believe Minnesota will give up anything for McNabb until it actually happens, and you're right, NickSMU17, that new contract is somewhat prohibitive. But what competition is there for his services? Arizona (where he owns a house) apparently is backing away, as is San Francisco (especially after trading up to draft Colin Kaepernick).

As for Aldrick Robinson, the Redskins wide receivers include Anthony Armstrong (clearly a Shanahan favorite), Terrance Austin (the UCLA-ex who Frank Gansz, Jr. raved about but didn't get on the field as a rookie last year), Brandon Banks (the 5-7, 155-pounder who's pretty decent returning punts but gets lost on offense), retread Mike Furrey, somebody called Taurus Johnson, cotton-soft Malcolm Kelly, Santana Moss if he re-signs, someone named Maurice Price and Tulane-ex Roydell Williams.

Ugh.

Locks to make the team are third-rounder Leonard Hankerson, Moss if he re-signs and Shanahan's pet, Armstrong. Banks and Austin likely have to shine on special teams to make it. Forrey is slow but has sensational hands and could be kept as a possession guy. Kelly is awful and should have been cut a couple of years ago, but they keep giving him more chances. Same deal for Williams, and even the most loyal Redskins fan couldn't pick Johnson and Price out of a lineup. Wouldn't be a surprise at all if all three rookies (Hankerson, Robinson and Nebraska's Niles Paul) all make the roster, since a bunch of sports writers could cover some of these hacks.

[PonyKai]

Mike Furrey was awesome when he worked under Mike Martz. Caught like 95 passes a couple years ago playing in Detroit.