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Samuels
Sellers |
BY RICH CAMPBELL
ASHBURN
--Chris Samuels will visit a spinal specialist next Tuesday to discuss the severity of his neck injury and how it will affect the rest of his career."I love playing for this organization," he said, "but when it comes down to it, you've definitely got to look at your health first."
The six-time Pro Bowler suffered a stinger on Sunday when Carolina Panthers' defensive end Charles Johnson banged heads with him on a pass rush. He immediately fell to the turf, eventually walked off under his own power and never returned to the game.
Considering that Samuels, 32, has suffered from spinal stenosis--a narrowing of the spinal canal--since high school, he will carefully weigh his options.
"I have to take it all into account," he said. "It was pretty serious. Any time you're dealing with your spine, you've got to be safe about it."
Meanwhile, the Redskins have sent the results of Samuels' recent MRI to several doctors to get multiple opinions about his status, head coach Jim Zorn said.
Samuels will miss Sunday's game against the winless Kansas City Chiefs, and it seems likely that he will be out at least for the Oct. 26 Monday Night game against Philadelphia with the bye scheduled for the following week.
He spoke yesterday about what his replacement, Stephon Heyer, should expect when Heyer faces Philadelphia's and Dallas' top pass rushers. The Redskins don't play Dallas until Nov. 22.
Asked whether his season could be over, Samuels said: "I don't think so, no."
Zorn understands how detrimental being without Samuels in the long term would be.
"Ugh. Don't put that on me," Zorn said. "I hope not. He's very special to this team."
Samuels plans on making his presence felt from the sideline while he's out. He'll help Heyer dissect film and prepare as best he can.
"I was out there coaching him up on his pass set a little bit earlier," Samuels said. "I definitely want to be there to help those guys out. I'm in that group, and those guys elected me to be a captain."
SELLERS GETS SNIPPY
Fullback Mike Sellers spoke to reporters for the first time since his confrontation with Clinton Portis became public last week, and he didn't withhold his disdain for the media.
Sellers, one of the Redskins' six team captains, agreed to a group interview session on the condition that questions were of a positive nature. He was asked what the hardest part of the Redskins' 2-3 start has been.
"You reporters," he snapped.
How so?
"Next question," he said.
What about his relationship with Portis?
"Me and C.P. are great. Next question," he said.
Several Redskins players have voiced their displeasure with media coverage during their 2-3 start, saying it's too negative.
Veteran cornerback DeAngelo Hall, however, believes that the media shouldn't affect players.
"If you're that thin-skinned, you're probably in the wrong profession," Hall said. "If you let the media come out here and tell you you can't play and you're not good, and you believe it, you're weak-minded. It doesn't matter what you [reporters] say. I'm going to go out there and try to make plays."
Hall also was the latest player to suggest that Washington's struggles are the result of a roster with inadequate talent.
"I think the blame [for the disappointing start] lies with us," he said. " I don't know if we've got the right personnel here to do it."
Fellow cornerback Carlos Rogers said on Monday that change in the organization needs to start with ownership.
EXTRA POINTS
Punter Glenn Pakulak was re-signed to the practice squad yesterday.
He punted in place of first-stringer Hunter Smith last Sunday because Smith is still recovering from a groin strain he suffered on Oct. 4.
Zorn will likely wait until tomorrow at the earliest to decide who will punt against Kansas City on Sunday.
Smith plans on testing his leg by punting either today or tomorrow.
Defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin (elbow) and defensive end Phillip Daniels (right biceps) did not practice.
Defensive tackles Albert Haynesworth (sprained ankle), running back Clinton Portis (calf) and Anthony Montgomery (right knee) were limited in practice. Zorn expects Haynesworth to play.
Rich Campbell: 540/735-1974
Email: rcampbell@freelancestar.com
