Alfred Fincher News

When last seen, the Washington Redskins had completed their collapse from a 6-2 start to an 8-8 finish with an ugly loss at San Francisco.

Tom Brady zipped passes from 10 yards, lofted softer ones from 25 and showed no sign his shoulder was hurt, practicing four days after the Redskins ' Albert Haynesworth landed on him.

Bloomfield's Kory Sheets made a strong case for a roster spot with the 49ers on Saturday.

One recent morning at Redskins Park, linebacker Robert Henson arrived early and spotted him in the lobby, the man known around NFL teams as the Turk. He held a clipboard but, as the person assigned to inform players of their release from the team, it might as well have been a scythe.

Quick smile. Eyes down. Keep walking.

'I was just thinking, 'Uh-oh,' ' said Henson, a rookie out of Texas Christian. 'He wasn't there for me. But that's when it really hit me, you know, that there are some good guys who aren't going to be a part of this team.'

Redskins.com looks at some of the key players to keep an eye on during Friday's Redskins-Patriots preseason game at FedExField.

If there was a surprise among the five players cut by the Washington Redskins on Sunday, it was four-year veteran Alfred Fincher.

The Washington Redskins released linebacker Alfred Fincher , cornerback Michael Grant , defensive tackle Michael Marquardt , wide receiver Marques Hagans and offensive tackle Devin Clark on Sunday.

Following practice on Monday afternoon, Washington Redskins linebacker-defensive end Chris Wilson walked in off the field chatting with first-round draft pick Brian Orakpo and linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti, the two people in the organization with whom the third-year player is most closely linked this year.

The Redskins hosted a special teams practice on Saturday afternoon at Redskins Park, giving Danny Smith another chance to evaluate the team's kickoff and punt coverage units.

Impressions from the first half of the Redskins' first preseason game...well, if you're a first- or second-year guy, it's been mostly bad.

Danny Smith is still getting used to having James Thrash around as a non-playing member of the Washington Redskins.

Phillip Daniels, a 13-year veteran, was as excited as a rookie after the Washington Redskins' first practice of training camp Thursday.

Defensive coordinator Greg Blache usually has strong views, and the holdout of top pick Brian Orakpo was high on his list of concerns after the second session Thursday at Redskins Park.

The fourth of a nine-part series previewing the Washington Redskins heading into the July 30 opening of training camp.

Over the past few seasons, the Redskins have bolstered their defense with signings and high draft picks, including the free agent acquisition of middle linebacker London Fletcher and the selection of Miami product Rocky McIntosh, both of whom enter this season slated as starters.

Henson soon will receive a bonus of roughly $100,000 to sign with the Washington Redskins , who chose him in the sixth round of April's draft.