Rogers, Milot Are Waived by Redskins

The Washington Redskins waived veteran running back George Rogers and linebacker Rich Milot on Thursday.

Rogers, 29, started 34 games during the past three seasons but was hampered last year by a variety of injuries. He was the Redskins’ leading rusher in 1987 but saw limited duty in the playoffs and lost his starting job in the Super Bowl to rookie Timmy Smith, who ran for 204 yards in Washington’s 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos.

Milot, 30, who played nine seasons with the Redskins, started 98 of the 117 games he participated in. The Penn State product was a fixture in the lineup until the latter part of last season, when an injury forced him out of action.

Defensive backs Vernon Dean and Tim Morrison and defensive tackle Kit Lathrop, who was signed last year during the NFL players strike, were also waived. Dean, whose role was reduced primarily to special teams last season, intercepted 22 passes in the 85 games he played with Washington during his six-year career.

Rogers gained 613 yards last season but averaged only 3.8 yards a carry and never recovered from a sprained toe he suffered in training camp.

“In evaluating the films, I thought it would be hard for George to make the team next year,” Redskin Coach Joe Gibbs said. “I thought maybe we could help him by trading him, but it didn’t work out.”

Rogers, a former Heisman Trophy winner, has vowed he will attempt to play with another NFL team. The seven-year veteran, still the New Orleans Saints’ leading all-time rusher, came to Washington in April 1985 and gained 2,985 yards with the Redskins.