The Washington Redskins hope to have a new punter joining them this season. Sav Rocca, a 37-year-old former rugby player from Australia, spent the last three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. He has yet to arrive in Washington, however, as he is currently held up in Australia waiting for his work visa to be processed. With the regular season creeping up fairly quickly, Mike Shanahan needs his punter to report to camp.
We all know Shanahan has a reputation for ruling with an iron first. Mark Schlereth has plenty of personal experience working with Shanahan and he thinks he’s a control freak. When you consider what he did to Albert Haynesworth at the end of last season and the decision he made to bench Donovan McNabb, that isn’t hard to believe.
Now, Shanahan has a simple message for his Australian punter: Marry an American.
“He’s got a job here in the U.S.,” Shanahan told reporters as passed along by Shutdown Corner. “Eventually they’ll let him go or, at least, I’m hoping they let him go. If not, I told him to get married to an American and that’ll make it easier.”
Shanahan is obviously joking and doesn’t expect Rocca to marry an American just so he can get his visa more smoothly. Or is he? The Redskins aren’t exactly filled with game-changers heading into the upcoming season, so Shanahan could be starting to get a little nervous. Yes, even over a punter.
