Nike's new line of receiver gloves that will debut in Honolulu tomorrow.

As many of our readers know, Nike will be taking over Reebok as the sole provider for NFL Equipment from 2012 forward. This includes jerseys, cleats (where applicable), socks and yes- gloves. I tend to conjure up images of Mark Ingram holding up his hands and the inner palms forming two “A’s” (representing Alabama, duh), when I think about Nike and gloves. These take that concept to a whole new level. Not only do they feature the team logo, but they are in color and even form the logo with the palms crossed. I find these to be a work of art, but then again I believe the Maryland uniforms with the flag on the helmet are also beautiful (an Under Armour product). Nike will look to take the NFL into the modern era with uniform upgrades galore for teams that are willing.

During the summer Rich Tandler’s RealRedskins.com featured some mocks of possible pro-combat style uniforms by Nike. Here is one of the ideas being circulated. (more…)

Dan Steinberg transcribes for us:

On his mouth: “You know what my best talent could be?” Smoot asked the kids. “It could be my mouth right now. It could be my mouth. Because I will never stop talking. You could break my leg, my arm, put me in a wheelchair….I always knew I wanted to be an athlete. But I also knew i wanted to run my mouth and talk about sports, and that’s my next profession. That ain’t my only thing. I got plenty more things planned.”

On the Redskins: After the speech, reporters asked him about the new Redskins.

“Man, I think the Shanahan regime is great,” Smoot said, even though that regime cost him his job. “And then for the first time up there, Dan Snyder is letting the guys, the football guys handle the business. He has a great front office up there, and I think they’re putting the pieces in line.

“Though I hate to see a lot of people come and a lot of people go, but you know, that’s part of the NFL. That’s just the way things go. And I think Donovan is gonna really have a good effect up there. I think he gonna love it, because unlike Philly, he’s got a city that loves the Redskins, that loves him, and he has a chance to sit back and try to win his championship ring.”

On inspiration: Smoot’s address to the kids included a not-atypical observation that if he were arrested, the news would make ESPN, while no speech to kids ever would. So in honor of his cynicism, here’s part of his address. You can watch the full thing below.

“I’m coming to talk to y’all not as Fred Smoot the football player, but Fred Smoot the person. So you can call me Frederick Smoot, that’s the legal name my momma gave me, and Fred became the show name….

“I think the role models we set out there to let [kids] look at is wrong. And I’m one of those guys, I’m an athlete, but the truth about being an athlete is, out of 20 million people, 1 percent of us is gonna play professional sports. Football, basketball, baseball, whatever that may be. Everybody can’t aim for that same job, everybody can’t be that same person.

“But along that way, you can be something that really matters: a counselor, a doctor, a teacher, somebody’s that’s changing somebody’s life, somebody that’s being different, somebody that touches and feels people every day….

“I tell my wife all the time, I just thank God for having the best temp job in the world, and that’s being a professional athlete, because it’s temporary. Do you know who I’m afraid of? I’m afraid of these young guys that’s sitting out here, on this bench, because they’re hunting for my job. I’m not getting any younger. I’m 31-years old.

“And now the kids that just got drafted this year, I probably talked to one of those kids in another state, years ago, while he was a 10th grader. And now he has somebody else’s job. That’s the way it goes. Out with the old, in with the new. So tell me, why would you want to be in a job market that only allows you to play long as your body blesses you to play that game? Why not be a doctor? You can be that for the rest of your life, while you come in and out of your house, giving your kids somebody positive to look to, somebody positive to look up to….

“H had the luxury of going to Washington, D.C. when I left here. Now that’s a big turnaround, from Mississippi to Washington D.C. So I heard, you country? I heard, you slow? But I heard this also: you’re a great person. They love Bret Favre right now, because he’s a great person. And we’re built to last. And we can endure anything. But the enduring time is over. It’s 2010. It’s the century where a man can be whatever a man wants to be. The problem is, everybody says they want something, they don’t even have a plan. They don’t even have a plan. Take five minutes out of your life, sit down and write it on a piece of paper….

“You’ve got to be not the cool guy for a while, and I don’t understand why that’s not cool [to study]. Why it ain’t cool to succeed. It’s cool to stay around here and do the same thing? That ain’t cool. Because I’ve got friends that still haven’t saw outside of Jackson, Mississippi, and I think that ain’t cool. Because I saw the world, and now I get to come back and tell them about it. I want for them to see it. I want for them to see it for themselves. So if we’re gonna change, it’s gonna start with y’all.”

These men have played here for years, some were still in their first season.  Like a swift axe from an executioner the Redskins began the Free Agency period with quite a shake up.  Fan favorites beloved and recognized throughout the region, are Redskins no more.  Let the speculation begin, who comes in next?  They freed up a ton of money, it is only a matter of time before the biggest free agent comes in.

Bruce Allen, GM and VP of Football Operations, hosted a press conference to address the situation in Redskins park.  The players released were aging.  Smoot, Cartwright, and Betts were all originally drafted by the Skins.  Marcus Mason and Eddie Williams were relatively new.  Randel El, Griffin, and Randy Thomas were some of the most coveted free agents that came in. Bruce Allen acknowledged that these players were released early so that they would have a shot a joining on with other teams.   On a non-cut related matter, when asked about Clinton Portis, Allen responded with:”He’s our starting running back…”

A page has been turned, and by all means will not be looked back on.  Listening to the post conference musings, it was swift and because of the lack of time spent together, it was not a difficult as most “cut days” have been.

What does this mean?

Today Randy Thomas, a JetSkin from 2002, was cut on the same day Chris Samuels retired. It was known long ago that this offensive line needed to be retooled, and it looks like it will.  Todd Collins, who gained fame by leading the Redskins to a Playoff berth in 2007, now signals true uncertainty at the quarterback position.  We know Jason Campbell has been offered a first round tender, but it would be unwise to declare his opening day status as “in the bag”,  Cornelius Griffin and Fred Smoot was a shock, but not surprising.  Where Griffin was playing hurt more often than not Smoot was a reliable defensive back who was capable of filling holes.  Unless their spots are addressed in free agency or the draft, then it looks like youth will be called upon to step up.

Now we have Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright, the hard working and silent understudies to Clinton Portis.  Both backs debuted together as draft picks in 2002, and have been valuable compliments since they arrived, however nothing more. Gaining fame and depth chart position through special teams, these two made a career of being plugged where they were needed.  Only getting starts if the man ahead of them  was hurt, they never were regular starters.  Betts said on an interview with the LaVar Arrington and Chad Dukes Show on 106.7 the Fan that he and Portis had a “good” relationship on a and off the field.  Cartwright however was not afraid to call out Portis for not practicing. These two will be missed, more so because of the work ethic they brought, rather than production on the field.  The latter was not their fault, as they were never designated the playing time they deserved. Hopefully they find greener pastures no matter where they land.