ASHBURN, Va. - In an effort to improve a struggling special teams unit, the Washington Redskins released kicker James Tuthill and signed Jose Cortez as his replacement yesterday.
Tuthill had been with the team during the preseason, didn't make the final cut before the regular season and then returned when incumbent Brett Conway tore his quadriceps muscle during the team's Week 1 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
But he was cut, in part, for failing to convert five field-goal attempts and an extra point in his last four games.
"It's always sad to let a guy go, but it seemed like James sort of lost his confidence a little bit," coach Steve Spurrier said. "So we felt like these other kickers may be ready to come in and help us win some ballgames."
At 6 feet 2 and 245 pounds, Tuthill was built like a linebacker, and his leg strength had helped him convert nine of 10 field-goal attempts and all 13 extra-point tries in his first seven games.
But he missed five of six field-goal attempts in the last four games and misfired on an extra-point try against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday when quarterback Shane Matthews - an emergency holder after punter Bryan Barker suffered a broken nose - lined up the football's laces toward Tuthill.
Cortez, 5-11 and 200 pounds, is a former XFL player who has been with the New York Giants and the San Francisco 49ers.
He spent the past two seasons with the 49ers, who released Cortez nine days after he missed a field goal in overtime against San Diego on Nov. 17.
Although he converted 75 percent (18 of 24) of his field-goal attempts in 10 games and was perfect on 25 extra-point tries this season, Cortez had missed four field-goal attempts in his last three games and was 50 percent (three of six) from 40 yards or more for the season.
In another special teams move, the team signed rookie punter Craig Jarrett - effectively ending the year for Barker.
Spurrier on season
With the Redskins' hopes for a playoff bid all but squashed by Thursday's 27-20 loss to Dallas, Spurrier reflected on the season.
On the team's 5-7 record: "We thought we'd be a little bit better. You could say a few plays here and there, we might've won the close ones. Also, a few plays here and there, we might've lost a couple of the close ones."
On playing rookie quarterback Patrick Ramsey: "We need to play Patrick somewhere along the line, whether it's something this week [against the New York Giants] or in the Houston game [on Dec. 22]."
On finishing the season: "You need to end positively. So we're going to try our best to do that."
Et cetera
The Redskins placed middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter (torn right anterior cruciate ligament) on the injured reserve list. The two-time Pro Bowl selection is expected to be out four to six months. Kevin Mitchell, who started 13 games last season, will replace Trotter. ... With defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson hobbled by a right leg injury, former Maryland standout Delbert Cowsette will likely be rotated in with starter Carl Powell. "I'm definitely ready to step in and see what I can do," said Cowsette, who has 10 tackles and a sack in 12 games.