INDIANAPOLIS -- Washington Redskins coach Jay Gruden said there’s no imminent trade for safety Su’a Cravens. That doesn’t mean one won’t happen in the future.
And when Gruden talks about the safety position for the Redskins -- and who will handle the duties -- he does not include Cravens. At least not when it comes to starters. So it’s hard to imagine Cravens playing for Washington this season.
Cravens was placed on the reserve/left squad list in early September, after telling the Redskins he was going to retire. He wanted to deal with some family and health issues. A couple weeks later he wanted to return, but the Redskins switched him to the exempt/left squad list, ensuring he’d have to sit out the season. At that time they didn't think they could trust him to stick around.
But while rumors swirl about possible trades -- and several teams having been contacted -- Gruden expressed caution anything was imminent.
“We’re not trading him,” Gruden said. “He’s still a member of this team. We have every intention of seeing where he’s at. I’ll have to talk to him and see where he’s at mentally. Physically I know he’ll be in great shape. But the big thing is, is this something he wants to do? And he has to commit to it full-time. He’s a good football player, there’s no doubt about it. He’s a great kid and I’m sure it will work out for him.”
But both sides would have to have a degree of trust in the other. And the telling part is when Gruden talks about the safety position. He mentioned Montae Nicholson’s potential impact when healthy -- Gruden labeled him as the Jordan Reed of the defense, a guy who does things others can’t. Gruden loves Nicholson’s ability to cover ground; it enabled the corners to play tighter or more aggressive, knowing Nicholson could bail them out.
Gruden then mentioned D.J. Swearinger and his versatility. That’s why it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Cravens eventually traded, especially if there’s any sort of negative residue in the Redskins’ locker room over his initial abrupt retirement. It’s always hard to say a locker room is unanimous in any sort of opinion, but it is something the Redskins would have to consider.
Cravens also was treated for a concussion this past season, having suffered one the previous year.
“I don’t know if it would be hard,” Gruden said. “He had personal matters he had to attend to last year and chose to tend to them. What can you say about that? I think a lot of people were disappointed in that because we spent a lot of time with him in OTAs and training camp. We had a purpose for him and a role for him in certain packages and wasted some time practicing those and repping those. At the end of the day it’s about the players and the individual and he’s got to have the right state of mind to play pro football, and hopefully he does now.”
But Gruden expressed optimism -- just in case a trade doesn't occur.
“He’s a young kid,” Gruden said. “He made a decision he thought was right for him and his family. He had to do that for himself and make that decision for himself. People make decisions and we’re not the judge and jury. It’s up to him to come back. Guys will accept him back.”
