[Jake]

washingtonpost.com
Redskins Sign Hamdan to Practice Squad

By Mark Maske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 1, 2003; 1:52 PM


The Washington Redskins signed rookie quarterback Gibran Hamdan to their five-member practice squad today after he cleared waivers.




Hamdan was scheduled to participate in this afternoon's practice at Redskins Park and is the club's third-string quarterback, although he won't suit up on game days. The Redskins decided over the weekend to keep only two quarterbacks, starter Patrick Ramsey and veteran backup Rob Johnson, on their 53-man roster entering the regular season.

"It's an interesting situation,'' Hamdan said. "Obviously the team feels it's best that way, keeping a roster spot open for another position. My goal is to just go out and work as hard as I can, as if I was on the roster. I'm fortunate to still be around and still be playing football.''

Two other teams, the San Diego Chargers and Buffalo Bills, enter the season with only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster. The Atlanta Falcons have three quarterbacks but one of them, Michael Vick, is sidelined by a broken leg.

The Redskins released both Hamdan, a Bishop O'Connell High School product who was the team's seventh-round draft choice in April out of Indiana University, and fellow quarterback Danny Wuerffel in the final round of roster cuts.

"I don't know much about this league, but the one thing I've learned is that you never really know,'' Hamdan said. "Obviously it benefits the team and the front office, and I'm a member of the team. I still feel like I'm a member of the team, and we'll go from there.''

Club officials planned to bring back Hamdan as long as he wasn't claimed by another team off waivers. While on the practice squad, Hamdan can participate in practices but not in games. Another team could claim Hamdan off the practice squad, but would have to be willing to put him on its 53-man roster. Under those circumstances, the Redskins would have the option of letting Hamdan go or promoting him to the roster.

If both Ramsey and Johnson get hurt during a game, the Redskins would have to find an emergency quarterback to finish the game, then could promote Hamdan to the roster during the week. Wuerffel remains only a phone call away, and it appears unlikely that he will be signed by another club. Coach Steve Spurrier has mentioned wide receivers Rod Gardner and Laveranues Coles as candidates to be the team's emergency quarterback. Gardner played quarterback in high school.

The Redskins also re-signed wide receiver Scott Cloman, rookie tight end Kevin Ware, rookie linebacker Clifton Smith and rookie defensive lineman Nic Clemons and added them to the practice squad. All were with the team in training camp.