The Redskins Portal - ESPN 980

With the lockout now extended via an 8th appellate court 'stay' until an official ruling on the full appeal can be made by the same court -- there is no end in sight to the NFL labor issues.

Presumably, with the players dealt a significant blow by all accounts on Monday evening http://wp.me/p14QSB-y68 (Pro Football Talk) -- you could see a new collective bargaining agreement sooner then any of us thought was possible. However, it's not happening anytime soon enough.

Here's hoping both sides come to their senses, and do just that, with the time they know they have before an actual full decision on the appeal is heard.

If that decision goes the way of the NFL, which is likely, the NFLPA would almost be forced to either make a 'bad' (laughable) deal or risk losing an entire season, which would be utterly insane.

With that being said - here are some interesting news-and-nuggets from inside the Redskins and around the NFL.

**Along with several other media outlets, ESPN-980 has confirmed through several player sources that many of the Redskins players will hold a players-only, three-day mini camp next week beginning next Tuesday.

**Redskins WR Anthony Armstrong, who always flashes humor, any chance he gets -- told ESPN -980 when asked on Monday night how he was feeling after the permanent stay was announced, said "I'm all good, just unemployed."

**QB John Beck will be in attendance next week and has been instrumental in keeping players on the same page, and even working with some of the rookies - as it was discovered recently that he gave 6th-round pick, Evan Royster, some plays that Kyle Shanahan has in the playbook.

**Speaking of Beck, on Redskins.com last week -- the official Redskins blogger, Matt Terl, Redskins.com Managing Editor, Gary Fitzgerald and I had a 'rolling' debate on Beck's qualifications to be the starting quarterback in Week 1.

In case you missed it (and where have you been) please check it out right here -- http://t.co/DKRbUKF . Well worth the read, I believe, but of course I am biased.

I am planning a lengthy sit-down next week with Beck -- so that Redskins fans can get to know more about him -- if you have any legitimate questions that you would like to be considered for the interview -- please e-mail me direct at russellC@Redskins.com or tweet me at www.twitter.com/russellmania980 . I will do my best to ask ones that make sense.

**New Redskins free-safety, OJ Atogwe, has not been heard from since signing his free-agent deal with the Redskins, a day before the original expiration of the collective bargaining agreement.

That doesn't mean that he is not busy though. Atogwe is getting married shortly and anybody that has planned a wedding before -- knows how time consuming and stressful that can be.

*** Two possible names to keep an eye on for the free agent market and the Redskins are former Denver Broncos defensive lineman, Jamal Williams and Justin Bannan.

You can read more about the potential for them returning to Denver (not likely) here http://t.co/bnjgjz1 . Williams is older (35) but is from Washington DC - so he might be willing to take a quasi hometown discount. You can see more about his career here http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/4497 but the bottom line is this - he would be a LOT cheaper then Abrayo Franklin would be, who is the top pure nose-tackle available.

Bannan is a defensive end http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/players/6025 in a 3-4, which for right now, the Redskins are fairly deep at. He is a 32-year old, 9-year veteran who can help with the run. Bannan played for several years in the penetrating '34' front of the Ravens, so he is familiar with elements of the scheme, and the general area of Baltimore-Washington.

***As of right now -- Redskins Head Coach Mike Shanahan is set to join us on ESPN -980 on Friday late morning. Stay tuned to ESPN -980 and right here at ESPN980.com for more details as soon as we have a confirmation. Hmmm, what should we ask the coach that he will actually give a detailed answer on?

-Chris Russell // RussellC@Redskins.com // www.twitter.com/russellmania980