Rocky McIntosh over being mad about status of free agency

Rocky McIntosh has been a starting linebacker for the Washington Redskins for most of the past five years. He may not have that role for much longer, as his contract has expired.

McIntosh was in the same situation a year ago, but the revised rules due to the expiring CBA made him a restricted free agent. He played the 2010 season on a one-year tender.

At this point, McIntosh doesn’t know what his status will be when the lockout ends. There has been talk that the NFL would impose the 2010 rules, which require six years for a player to be an unrestricted free agent. That would leave five-year players like McIntosh as restricted free agents once again.

A year ago, McIntosh seemed to be upset over both his contract status and his new position in the Redskins’ 3-4 defense. After playing outside linebacker his first four years in the league, he moved to an inside linebacker spot in the new scheme. Although he registered a career-high 73 tackles in the new scheme, he never quite seemed to embrace his new role.

Speaking to reporters before a charity golf event on Monday, McIntosh was asked about the defense last year, which ranked 31st in the NFL in yardage allowed. “It was definitely a building season,” he said. “It was a letdown from what we did the year before. We’ve just got to get everything to gel right and everything will take off.”

He said that his up-in-the-air status this year didn’t bother him. “I’ve over the ‘mad’ part. I was mad [last year],” McIntosh said. “But everything is cool and I’m at peace with everything and I’m going to take it one day at a time and see what happens.”

McIntosh said that he will continue to play in a 3-4 if the situation dictates that he does so. “It doesn’t matter to me, it doesn’t matter a bit,” he said. “It’s about me going out and playing ball and ultimately winning a game.

“I feel like I’m a guy who can help you win not matter what position or what scheme or wherever you want to put me. That’s just me, I play like that. If they want me to go out there and ball I’m up to it.”

The Redskins could be hard-pressed to replace McIntosh if he does end up leaving. The reserve inside linebackers are H. B. Blades, Perry Riley and Robert Henson. Blades, a four-year player who could also be a free agent depending on the rules that are imposed, has been a spot starter, but it seems unlikely that he could be effective for 16 games. Riley was drafted in the fourth round last year, and he played just a handful of defensive snaps. Henson was drafted in 2009 and after playing mostly special teams as a rookie, he spent last year on injured reserve.

A replacement could be found in free agency. Barrett Ruud of the Bucs and Kevin Burnett of the Chargers are likely to be the top inside linebackers available this year.

Like most other players, McIntosh has been working out on his own to stay in shape for when the doors to NFL facilities eventually do open. In addition to the usual cross training, he is doing some landscaping in his yard and taking Latin fusion dance classes. Learning the rumba, merengue and salsa dancing might give him a few new steps for sack dances.

He said he paid little attention to the draft, noting only that the Redskins drafted Leonard Hankerson from Miami, his alma mater. What used to be a sizable contingent of former players from “The U” on the Redskins roster could be diminished substantially. The status of McIntosh is uncertain, Clinton Portis was released in March and Santana Moss is an unrestricted free agent.

“As they ship [former Hurricanes] out, we ship them back in,” McIntosh said.

As we wait to see what emerges out of the NFL’s labor dispute, McIntosh is waiting to find out if he is one of those ‘Canes who is on the way out of Washington.

(csnwashington.com)