Just about the only pending topic not asked of Mike Shanahan following Sunday's rookie camp practice involved the running back situation. Granted, both the Redskins head coach and Tim Hightower expressed a mutual interest in having the free agent return for the 2012 campaign. Should the team and veteran runner agree to terms, the backfield would largely be set, Hightower reuniting with second-year runners Roy Helu and Evan Royster.
Then again, the draft has now come and gone and Hightower, who is recovering from a season-ending knee injury suffered last October, remains on the open market. Plenty of time exists between now and the start of training camp - though OTA's start this month - so there might not be a calendar issue for the Redskins. They drafted a runner for depth in the later rounds of the just completed NFL draft, but the need for an inside runner remains.
However, should another team make Touchdown Timmy an offer he can't refuse - or the recovery period moves slower than expected or the missing cap space stays missing - then what?
This recent article on NFL.com ranks Hightower as the top free agent RB on the market. That distinction is hardly impressive. The top-five list also could use a scrubbing since one listed option signed elsewhere, another one is on the verge of doing the same, another is talking retirement and the remaining two are Cedric "rap sheet" Benson and Thomas "3.1 ypc" Jones.
I wonder what the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions think about such rankings. Former Colts RB Joseph Addai just signed with the AFC Champion Patriots, who also reportedly worked out Hightower last month. Meanwhile the Lions are reportedly moving closer to adding former Packers star Ryan Grant.
One question that emerges from that transactional scenario is what do these signings or near-signings say about Hightower status. For now, not much; neither Addai nor Grant are considered big gets at this point of their career.
Why Hightower and the Redskins have yet to put pen to paper, unclear. What is incredibly obvious is that the other options are hardly interesting, but some veteran will be added. Considering Shanahan stated rookie Robert Griffin III is his starting quarterback, it would be nice for a more concrete ground game outlook.
Maybe Hightower is letting teams know he is Ashburn-bound. Maybe his penchant for two-yard runs is limiting his market. Maybe his outlook shines no brighter than the other available backs.
If Grant is also off the market, the top remaining RB options include Cedric Benson, LaDainian Tomlinson and Thomas Jones with Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams and Justin Forsett further down the list.
Benson, who rushed for 1,067 yards with the Bengals last season, is the most interesting on-the-field option, but as the NFL.com article notes, his off-the-field exploits are a major stumbling block.
"Cincinnati reached its breaking point with Benson, but his rushing totals over the past three seasons are intriguing: 1,251 yards in 2009, 1,111 in 2010 and 1,067 last year. His bar-fight totals are equally impressive."
Considering the Redskins are not a major postseason contender on paper, the future Hall of Famer Tomlinson is unlikely to have much interest -especially since he is now quoted as saying he's "95 percent retired". Considering Jones averaged a career-low 3.1 last season with the Chiefs, the Redskins are not likely to have much interest in the former Virginia star, though his interior running game closely fits the current need.
Why Hightower and the Redskins have yet to put pen to paper, unclear. What is incredibly obvious is that the other options are hardly interesting. Considering Shanahan stated rookie Robert Griffin III is his starting quarterback, it would be nice for a more concrete ground game outlook. Time remains. Viable options outside of a healthy Hightower, much less so.
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