As Washington debated signing former Raiders cornerback DeAngelo Hall, one of the coaches they consulted was former Oakland coach Lane Kiffin.

Washington executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato called Kiffin and asked for his opinion on Hall.

Kiffin told Cerrato that he thought it would be an ideal time to sign Hall, now that the former Pro Bowl cornerback has been humbled some. Kiffin said that even though Hall challenged some of Oakland’s other coaches, Kiffin had no problems with him. They understood each other, and Kiffin endorsed Hall and gave the Redskins his stamp of approval.

It hardly made the Redskins decision; they had been pursuing Hall since last February’s combine, when Washington owner Daniel Snyder and other team officials met with Hall as they pondered the possibility of trading for him. But the Redskins thought that quality cornerbacks are hard to come by and they figured with the chance to sign one who was only 24 years old, they should take it.

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