Earlier this week, Washington Redskins safety Su'a Cravens was granted reinstatement by the NFL to return for the 2018 season.
Cravens had missed all of last year after he decided to step away from the team last August before the start of the regular season. His reinstatement back into the league is a major step toward continuing his career, but it is also clear that he must prove to his teammates that he is committed for the long haul.
Veteran defensive back DeAngelo Hall falls in line with that notion as he stated during an interview with Washington's 106.7 The Fan that Cravens a lot to show the organization and players that returning the NFL is what he wants to truly do (h/t Chris Lingebach of CBS Sports).
“I definitely think there’s room for Su’a on this roster, but he has to prove to the guys in that locker room that he’s here for the right reasons, you know what I mean, and he wants to fight with them and he wants to go to battle,” Hall said. “Guys have to believe he’s gonna be able to be counted on, and I think this organization has to believe that, because there’s nothing worse than having a guy that you have bled with and fought with and trained with, and when it’s time to go to battle, they walk away. That’s a tough thing for a lot of guys in this locker room to just look past.”
Cravens had missed a significant chunk of time that could put doubt in his teammates' minds that it could be something he reconsiders down the road. It is no secret that playing in the NFL is a difficult physical grind that will test his dedication to the game, but the Redskins clearly want to see if this return to the field is legitimate.
If so, he can step in as a major piece to the puzzle defensively as possibly a long-term starter in the secondary over the next several seasons. Ultimately, it will come down to Cravens showing over the offseason that he is committed to the team.
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