Hogs Haven

2 years 3 mil

three reasons why we should re-sign him
1- hes still the best pass blocking back we have

2-he gives 100 % every down and is a great role model for helu and royster

3- he imeadietly took on the role of leader even after only being here for a few months he actually wants to win with the redskins not just another guy looking for a paycheck

I think he would play for free if we asked him too but we should def try to resign him

I definitely agree with point 3

he stepped right into a leadership role on that offense and he visibility cared about winning. Those types of players are important, especially when they’re relatively young.

A leader who can no longer play is called an Assistant Coach

Giving away $3million dollars for an assistant coach is foolish

can no longer play?

he was injured, a lot of players come back from injuries…look at terry allen with 2 separate ACL tears and still produces…no one’s saying give him starter money, but he can still play

Camp invite..

He wasn’t exactly tearing it up before he tore up his ACL. Good preseason, bad regular season (3.8 ypc, long of 22). 2 year contract? C’mon guys..

he would be the most valuable 3rd down back given his blocking abilities

so i don’t think two years is unreasonable

He's good in pass pro but that's it..

Helu’s pass pro improved as the season progressed and he’s a threat out of the back field, Hightower is not. If Tower was a step slow before the injury, what would he be after?

I can't agree with you b/c of his connections to Richmond.

I have no problem going multiple years on the guy as long as the guarantee is minimal

before last year he’s never been injured. He good in pass protection, and decent catching the ball out of the backfield.He can help on some ST’s as well.

Hightower is a pass catcher look at him before he came here

Redwolf333 - February 10, 2012 reply

He averages 6.8 Yds per rec. Again, he's good in pass pro but not a threat out of the backfield.

Btw, your sig…really?

I agree

I liked Hightower, but he really did not tear it up. I would not spend too much, Helu/Royster is younger and seemed to be more productive.

JNZO - February 11, 2012 reply

4 yrs. - $12 mil, $3 mil signing bonus...

salaries – 12 – $ 500,000
13 – 1,500,000
14 – 2,500.000
15 – 2,500,000

He is still very young, would only cost the salary cap in ’12 $1.25 mil.

Vinny?

if you do something like that I'd make the signing bonus far less since you don't know how he comes back from the injury

I’d say no more than a $1 million

I've got no problem with your lower projections (I have no idea, I am no expert)...

but I liked him AALLOOTT!!

And since we are all so quick to comment on the problems the OL is, I think an improved OL will let him tear it up (not his knee)…IMO

what do you think he will get, Steve?

I'd guess three years is more likely $750K signing bonus

prob. $4.5 million total

something like:
$750k (plus $250k) in 2012
$1.250 (plus $250k) in 2013
$1.750 (plus $250k) in 2014.

If Reed Doughty can get a 3 year deal last year (though even less guaranteed) Hightower can get a 3 year deal this year.

Reed is an above average special teamer and solid backup at S (marginal starter)

Hightower is a marginal starter and below average special teamer…comparison does not compute.

And running backs are the cheapest commodity

Other than specialist.
Don’t you think Minnesota and Tennessee would like to rethink what they pay their running backs?
It is also not very hard relatively to be a running back, but being a safety is not the easiest position on defense.

thats why the Skins should sign cheap players like Hightower

I think we should give him a chance

To earn a spot during training camp.
Running backs don’t come back to 100% pre-injury from ACL tears in the first year–year and a half. Healing is only half of the equation, confidence in the joint is the other half.
This team cannot afford to have roster spots taken up by players who cannot produce effectively. We have too many already, no reason to sign another one without making them prove they deserve it.

NittanyBlueHen - February 10, 2012 reply

As far as I'm concerned..

Royster and Helu are both better options than Hightower. Better YPC and better receivers.

They are also not very durable and we need some sort of insurance

NittanyBlueHen - February 10, 2012 reply

As long as that insurance policy doesnt cost too much...

He could definitely be a valuable member of the running back crew, but I’d rather Helu and Royster get the bulk.

You don't know if Royster is durable!?!?!?

He started 2 games. That isn’t enough to base durability on. He was a true feature back at PSU and seemed to hold up well!

shvd98z24 - February 10, 2012 reply

+1

if no hightower do we consider richardson if hes the best left on the board at 6?(if there isnt a trade back option available ) and reiff is gone

If anyone was to make that suggestion to ShanAllen then they should be held back like this:

I remember that episode...

wasn’t it the complimentary fat white kid episode?

I think I saw that kid...

again in “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”….

NO!

Don’t force us in to a scenario like that… c’mon man. I mean TR is one hell of a talent but someone of need will be there for us if we stay. You aren’t forced to take him just because he is the BPA on your board.

xocnodnarb - February 10, 2012 reply

Reiff will be there. Extremely unlikely he is getting picked in top 5.

xocnodnarb - February 10, 2012 reply

all the latest mocks have him going to the vikes at 3

most not all mocks

mike mayock has him rated higher than kalil

May be goodbye Hightower...

…Hello Forte. Hightower makes the RB corp good, Forte would make it great. Not sure why this hasn’t been floated yet.

44ever - February 10, 2012 reply

Can't imagine the Bears letting him walk

He accounted for, what, like 40% of their total yardage on offense?

willster - February 10, 2012 reply

for 2 reasons

1. the Bears are almost assured to franchise Forte

2. He would cost a ton, almost what A.P got last year.

It hasn't been floated around b/c its not 2003

He will be less than one year removed from an ACL injury

Invitation to camp seems about right to me

You're super smart.

Whoops, I see what I did there

I'd say offer him something similar to his 1 year 1.2 mil contract.

I would love to see the guy stay here and blossom into a powerhouse, but the injury requires some thought on longevity. If he wants to play here then I’m sure he wont put up too much of a fuss about a similar contract. Be great to see him back on the field. Great character and motivation.

Jpage0024 - February 10, 2012 reply

what happened to all the excitement TH brought...

I wasn’t on this site last year, preseason, but I remember many were euophoric with acquiring him for practically nothing. He demonstrated an immediate take to the stretch run plays Shanny loves, blocked like a mother, then got hurt….

So, again, I ask, what happened to all the excitement? I for one, would love to have him back, for a bunch of years…

He got injured

And a ACL tear is not the greatest injury for a running back to have.
Redskins fans tend to get over exuberant about anyone who can play at an average level… and I can’t blame them because this roster has been full of a hot mess for a very long time.
But we are trying to turn that around, and we as fans have to up our expectations of the players.

okay, but this is no risk to the Skins if he can't come back healthy

Washington has viable starting options, it wouldn’t cost us much, and he actually wants to be here and be a leader.

This is essentially the exact opposite of the Landry situation

Yes, but he did not really produce much before the injury

There are tons of other options. Give him a invitation to training camp and let him earn a contract… anything else seems foolish to me

Have you fogotten about Terry Allen ?

He had the same surgery on both knees , before coming to Washington , and no other team would touch him . The Redskins signed him on the cheap , and he gave them several great years , as a feature back . With Helu , and Royster sharing the load , Hightower would be a great signing , on the cheap .

EldonD - February 11, 2012 reply

Several great years?

His best yards per carry average was 3.9 (first year he was here) it went steadily downward after that
his first two years he scored 10 touchdowns and 21 touchdowns as the feature back
his highest yards in a season happened in those two years at right around 1300 yards total rushing.
He had twoGood years in Washington (the first two) but he achieved these numbers at between 300–340 carries per season.

The only time in his career that he consistently average more than 4 yards per carry was before the surgeries.
Again another example of fans distorted perception of production.

I should also mention

That Terry Allen was a north-south runner and ran behind power blocking.
Tim Hightower is more of a cutback runner and runs behind zone blocking.
There is a a lot more stress put on the knee consistently in the second circumstance.

What happen to the excitement?

Reality. There is a reason we got him for next to nothing.

WOW, I guess I understand your points...

I just don’t see it that way. I thought we stole him from Arizona, and he was on track to have a great year. I loved what he brought, I hope he works hard to come back, better than ever, and jump right into the rotation. If we get him for cheap, Steve’s projections withstanding, then great, we will have a wonderful player on our roster for very little…

Actually

He wasn’t exactly tearing it up before he got hurt.

CJHutch - February 10, 2012 reply

It would be a good idea to sign him to a 3 year deal

I doubt he would have averaged 3.8 ypc the whole year had he not gotten hurt, but he is tough and runs tough. I think he has the attitude that this team need he can do it all run hard, block hard, and catch the ball he is a nice versatile back to have.

Highspeed30 - February 10, 2012 reply

4 Years, $2M/year with $3M guarenteed.

2012 $1.5M+ $1M Signing Bonus
2013 $1.5M
2014 $2.0M
2015 $2.0M

Seems about right to me.

BillWard - February 10, 2012 reply

1 years- come to camp and earn a roster spot

Sounds even more right

Now I see where everyone gets their "holes" in this team

You want to dump a team guy, guy who has the work ethic and leadership skills this team needs and open a hole in this team for another RB? The guy was injured, it wasn’t lack of productivity. The guy got injured in his first year in Shannys system, with no offseason and we could probably expect something like a 3.8 YPC to start off. He wouldn’t have ended that way

Bryan Black - February 10, 2012 via Android app reply

How does camp invite equal dumping a average RB?

In case you didn’t know, there isn’t a huge market for RBs coming off of ACL injuries. Camp invite, not a longterm contract. Where talking about Tim Hightower not Adrian Peterson.

AP tore 3 ligaments, not a good example there

Bryan Black - February 10, 2012 via Android app reply

The example is lost on you.

Hightower is a below average RB, AP is elite.

AP is elite, thus a feature back with more knee damage

Guess they should only give him a camp invite if he was a FA? Hightower with two young guys also sharing carries with less knee damage is less of a concern to me. So yes, bad way to back up your point

Bryan Black - February 10, 2012 via Android app reply

I don't usually continue a dialogue with those without a clue but..

The point I’m making is that AP is a top 5 of alltime type of RB while Hightower is a rotational guy coming off of an injury w/o a contract. Therefore why I say he deserves a camp invite…no more, no less. Hightower could be easily replaced. I’m not sure why fans have such a love affair with marginal players..

marginal players play their role in winning

I can only speak for myself not other fans, but I love hightower because of the intangibles he brings to the table. A winning attitude, competitive, and the physicality to back it up on the field. No one is saying sign him to starters money, but do bring the guy back. He offers more to the team than just on field performance.

The Agent C 83 - February 10, 2012 reply

How do I not have a clue?

You put AP, with 3 ligament tears in a different class than Hightower with one tear? If you don’t know how severe that is please see Daunte Culpepper. Marginal or not you suggest a double standard when you mention AP while having a much more severe injury. Yes, we do tend to gravitate towards marginal players which is almost every member of this team in case you haven’t noticed.

Bryan Black - February 11, 2012 via Android app reply

Yeah, sorry Mr. Black. A bit harsh on my part.

But my point is that people are acting like he’s indespensable when he is easily the most replaceable opening day starter on the roster. AP would be a guy worth waiting for while Hightower is a dime a dozen.

Diesel44 - February 11, 2012 reply

Agreed on that

He is replaceable, yes, but everyone always talks about the holes on this team. I don’t think it would be beneficial at this time to let guys with his intangibles go and open up yet another “need”.

Bryan Black - February 11, 2012 via Android app reply

3 years, $4.5 million at the most, $1.2 mil signing bonus.

That is 3 years, $4.5million, $1.2million signing bonus too much

TheSportsManager - February 10, 2012 reply

Do people get resigned before they are rehabbed?

I’d love to see him back with a fair deal. He showed acceleration I haven’t seen in Washington in a long time. When he was running with a healthy OL, we always seemed to be second and two or third and one.

yes he'll get resigned even before he is fully healthy

No offer

move on to the next RB…Hightower wasn’t anything special. We can get a guy at league minimum that can give us close to the same level of protection. We need people who can BLOCK for our RBs.

rva - February 10, 2012 reply

resigning hightower has no basis on whether or not we can address the o-line

A humble one...

…Helu and Royster each did statistically better than Hightower and in this “passing league”, running backs are not the commodity they once were. He has no negotiating leverage. The rookies can do what he did and no one else in the NFL is gonna make a HUGE play for him.

His agent will advise him of this – his demands will be humble.

Knightwchmn - February 10, 2012 reply

I think Shanahan likes Hightower a lot

and isn’t going to cut him loose due to an injury. But there is a limit on the money, so Tim has to be realistic.

Donnio1234 - February 10, 2012 reply

Tim Hightower

Like Hightower, but Helu is a stud and should be the primary starter with royster spelling him. Save the money you would spend on Hightower and move on.This author obviously did not watch Helu run this season.

WSK - February 10, 2012 reply

Hightower brings leadership and toughness to the table, and he is a better pass blocking back than either Helu or Royster, you need a guy like him in your locker room with a winning type of attitude, you notice after he went down the team went on a 6 game losing streak i believe not saying he would have won 2 or 3 games if he was healthy but he do the little things that count and is worth keeping

Highspeed30 - February 10, 2012 reply

Winning type of attitude?

What has Hightower ever won?

its not so much what he has or has not won

its that he truly cares about winning, he’s competitive in that sense and that type of attitude can spread to other teammates

Andrew DeFrank - February 12, 2012 reply

winning attitudes dont have to come from winning

You can still strive for winning even if you haven’t “won” which just so happens to be what an attitude, more specifically a winning attitude, is. That’s not difficult to understand

Bryan Black - February 11, 2012 via Android app reply

I say we offer him ONE BILLLLLIIIIIOOOOONNNN DOLLARS!!!

iH8dallas - February 11, 2012 via mobile reply

get him outta here

I saw enough from our rookies. ACL means byby

WizKid27 - February 11, 2012 reply

HES 25!!!

You are very welcome for the cup of coffe Mr. Hightower

It was a nice visit.
We decided that Mr. Helu and Mr. Royster are better options.

I think we will carry

4 Rbs next year, co if Hightower is fine with being 3rd on the depth chart behind Royster and Helu, then Im fine bringing him back

Redskin44 - February 11, 2012 reply

Give him a decent offer

1-2 million is not going to hurt us. PUP him so he can continue rehabbing and not come back t0o early (and IR him if needed, or basically…not needed).

TCO - February 11, 2012 reply

The NFL does not throw away money