Washington making the most of his opportunities

By Neal Coolong  |   Tuesday, October 28, 2008  |  Comments( 2 )

Pittsburgh Steelers
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Pittsburgh Steelers defensive linebacker James Farrior told the media Monday that he accepts the apology of wide receiver Santonio Holmes because he "has to." It's safe to say Steelers No. 3 wide receiver Nate Washington was thankful for the opportunity.

Holmes was deactivated for Sunday's loss at home to the New York Giants after being arrested on a charge of marijuana possession, and Washington responded with a deep touchdown catch -- something Holmes has failed to do through the first half of the season. Washington is an unrestricted free agent at year's end, and judging by the amount of money paid to free-agent pass catchers in recent offseason, Washington likely made himself a lot of money with his performance Sunday.

Commentary: Washington has all the speed and athleticism of a big-time wide receiver, but he's shown instances of poor concentration throughout his career. He's always said to have been a favorite of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's, and the two have hooked up for some big plays when Washington has had the opportunity. The question becomes: Which Steelers split end is going to be starting Monday night when they hit the road to take on the Washington Redskins?

While Holmes was deactivated for the Steelers' 21-14 loss to the New York Giants, it's likely the NFL will have its own punishment. Keep in mind, Holmes was not suspended; rather, he was deactivated. He still got paid, and considering previous suspensions for the same crime (Holmes admitted to the marijuana possessionin his apology), this issue is likely not yet resolved.

Washington was a bright spot in an otherwise dreary offensive performance. The Steelers' offensive line and Roethlisberger took the most of what they could on plays where Giants defenders weren't swarming all over the backfield, and Washington had another big play called back on a holding penalty. If Holmes isn't going to play Monday night, Washington will have another chance to step up and earn that impending free-agent contract.

Fan Pulse: Posters on Pittsburgh Live already seem to be putting Holmes on the back burner, proudly stating they expect big things from Washington.

Fantasy Impact: If he hasn't been scooped up already, Washington would make a nice addition to rosters in deeper fantasy leagues because of his big-play ability.

Injury Watch: Left tackle Marvel Smith has missed the past two games with a recurring back injury. It hasn't been announced if he'll be able to play in Week 9. Running back Willie Parker was supposed to play in both of the last two Steelers' games, but was ruled out by the end of each week.
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About Neal Coolong

Neal Coolong is a freelance sports writer with contributions to Scout.com, AOL and Steelers Live. He lives with his fiance in St. Paul, Minn., and saves every dime (that she knows about) for their wedding next June. He's already made the prediction that the Steelers 2007 draft class will be one ...
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