Fabian Washington at crossroads in his NFL career

Beset with injuries over the past few yeas, could the NFL career of Fabian Washington career be at an end after six seasons?

The New Orleans Saints placed the cornerback on injured reserve on Thursday. The former Baltimore Raven suffered a serious hamstring injury early in camp after he signed with the Saints.

The 28-year-old Bayshore High product and former first round pick out of Nebraska figured to be competing for a backup role with the Saints.

His season is over unless the Saints agree to release him when he is healthy or agree to an injury settlement. Washington signed for a reported $2 million. There were reports he “popped” his hamstring, which is a lot more serious than a sprain and could take more than six months to heal.

Washington has had two surgeries in recent years; one for a torn ACL and another for a bulging disc in his neck.

Mike Jenkins and Fabian Washington still sidelined

Cornerbacks Mike Jenkins and Fabian Washington have yet to appear in an NFL pre-season game.

Jenkins has been sidelined with a neck injury (stinger) and missed Dallas' game against Minnesota Saturday night. The Southeast High product has one more pre-season game to get tuned up before the Cowboys regular season opener.

Washington, who signed with New Orleans after coming from Baltimore, has been sidelined with an hamstring injury. The Bayshore High graduate has slipped to third on the Saints depth chart.

The one local product who did play in the Dallas-Minnesota game was Palmetto graduate Mistral Raymond, who was drafted in the sixth round out of USF. Playing safety, he had two solo tackles.

Fabian Washington happy to be a Saint

Fabian Washington couldn’t be happier with the deal that he made going to the New Orleans Saints, his mother Sandra said.

It’s a nice fit for him and apparently Washington has been a person that Saints head coach Sean Payton has targeted since the Bayshore High product first came into the league as a first round draft choice of the Oakland Raiders in 2005.

Washington is recovered from some injuries and his body has healed up from surgeries over the last few years that included repairing a torn ACL in his knee and removing a bulging disc in his neck. He still has that blazing speed that caught the attention of everyone back in ’05 at the NFL Combine.

Payton feels confident that if Tracy Porter is not ready or others get nicked up Washington can fill in any voids. He will likely be used in the Saints nickel package, but the 28 year-old could wind up as a starter.

“He is a guy that can run real well. I am anxious to see him. We want guys like that to come in and compete and compete to play,” Payton said.

Fabian Washington expected to sign deal with New Orleans Saints

Fabian Washington is expected to sign a deal with New Orleans Saints, possibly as early as today, a person close to the Baltimore Ravens cornerback said.

The seven year NFL veteran out of Bayshore High spent last season with Baltimore earning a reported $1.8 million salary. He was slowed down by some injuries after coming off surgery and eventually lost his starting job.

At New Orleans, the 28-year-old will likely be a nickel back, though he said he is open to fighting for a starting job. He was the overall 23 pick in the 2005 draft by Oakland and played there through the’07 season before joining Baltimore.

Washington was also getting interest from Tampa, Minnesota and the New York Jets. The Saints offered the best opportunity all around and the deal could bring him a nice raise.

Could Fabian Washington join Mistral Raymond in Minnesota or head to Tampa?

Cornerback Fabian Washington could be headed to Tampa, Minnesota or the Jets, according to various reports.

The Bayshore High product was one of three unrestricted three agents on the Baltimore Ravens roster when the week began.

One of the trio, Chris Carr, reportedly signed with the Ravens on Saturday while another, Josh Wilson, has gone to the Washington Redskins.

Washington is not expected to sign with Baltimore. If he goes to Minnesota he will join, 2011 sixth round draft pick Mistral Raymond from Palmetto High, who played at University of South Florida and is expected to be used at corner or safety for the Vikings.

Washington has been contacted by the Bucs, Vikings and Jets. Though he is only 28 years old, he is considered a nickel back now perhaps because of several surgeries in recent years for a torn ACL in his left knee and a bulging disc in his neck.

The 5-11, 175 pound Washington started for the Ravens at the beginning of last season, but eventually lost his job and Wilson took over for him. He struggled last year though it was unclear how much of his problems were due to injuries.

Washington said after last season that he didn’t see a role for himself in Baltimore and mentioned Arizona, Jacksonville and Houston as teams he thought he could help.

He is expected to be a relatively inexpensive pickup for a backup corner or nickel back after earning a reported $1.8 million with Ravens last year.

Rodgers-Cromartie gives Mistral Raymond a boost at Dick Vitale Gala

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie sees big things for Mistral Raymond, the Palmetto High graduate out of USF. who could become the fourth defensive back from Manatee County play in the NFL this season.

Rodgers-Cromartie was at the Dick Vitale Gala Friday night along with his dad, Stan Cromartie, who is assistant Athletic Director at Edward Waters College.

"I think Bubba (Raymond's nickname) is going into a great situation at Minnesota," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "They need corners and him being a good safety/corner he is going in and learn from Antoine Winfield, who has been an all pro for many years."

The starting cornerback for Arizona, Rodgers-Cromartie believes Manatee County is turning into 'Cornerback County' because of a trend started by Bayshore graduate Fabian Washington, who was first round pick in 2005 out of Nebraska and is now with Baltimore.

"Before everyone here wanted to be a receiver, but Fabian changed that. Now everyone wants to make that transition to cornerback" said Rodgers-Cromartie who played his senior year at Lakewood Ranch before going on to Tennessee State.

In 2008, Rodgers-Cromartie was a first round pick by Arizona in the same year Southeast graduate Mike Jenkins was picked in the first round by Dallas.

Rodgers-Cromartie is anxious to get back on the field, but feels certain the NFL Players Union will get a good deal for the players.

"I think they are doing a real good job and I am confident things will work out," Rodgers-Cromartie said. "Since the lockout I've been relaxing and going to some of the off season camps and working out sometimes here in Bradenton. I am not too much worried about the season. I think it's going to start on time."

Fabian Washington hopes to play Sunday

It hasn’t been the best of seasons for Baltimore Ravens cornerback Fabian Washington.

The Bayshore High product has been smitten by the injury bug and eventually lost his starting position to Josh Wilson November 11^th in a game against the Atlanta Falcons.

But heading into the Ravens playoff game Sunday at the Kansas City Chief Washington could get more playing time with Wilson still nursing a shoulder injury.

Washington, who played most of last week against Cincinnati and had two unassisted tackles, could see quite a bit of action when Baltimore is in obvious passing situations joining Chris Carr, Ladarius Webb and Ed Reed.

The 27-year-old Washington has started eight of the 14 games he has appeared in this season after starting 22 of 22 games he appeared in the previous two seasons.

Baltimore enters the playoffs on a four game winning streak and its defense looked particularly effective last week in a 13-7 victory over Cincinnati when the Ravens got two interceptions from Reed and two fumble recoveries from linebacker Ray Lewis.