Washington Redskins Blogs at THN

What Happens when the Sky Falls?

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 19:32:04 GMT

After the first game of the pre-season (well, technically the Hall of Fame game) the sky was the limit. After the last game with Carolina, many fans feelings have changed. I can imagine the news coverage starting with the weather We have a warm front coming in from the south, and as you can see here on the Doppler radar there seems to be a hole in the clouds over Landover, where it appears that the sky has fallen Thanks Jim, we now go live to Landover, Maryland where our own Jane Doe is on the scene. Hows it looking out there Jane? Thanks Tom, Im standing here live at Fed-Ex Field where it appears that a very strong vacuum has sucked the sky right down to the ground. The source of this vacuum seems to be the result of the Redskins horrific performance versus the Carolina Panthers this past Saturday. Im going to try and get some local reactionsexcuse me, sir? Did you witness the game this past weekend? You mean the Redskins game? Yeah they sucked. There you have it Tom, the Redskins sucked. Thanks Jane. We go now to Biff Bifferson, our roving sports reporter who is standing by with Vinny Cerrato, who does something with the Redskins but nobody seems to know what. Biff? Thanks Tom. Vinny, in light of the recent environmental disaster the Redskins have plagued upon the residents of Landover, what is the team going to do to get the sky back where it belongs? What? I couldnt help but notice that the parking lot here at Fed-Ex was full of birds forced to walk in the absence of sky, what is the teams official response and do you expect any fall-out from PETA? Those are just Gulls, they are always here. So is the teams official response that there was, in fact, no sky to begin with? No, its justtheyre scavenger birds. They are always here. If you run up on them theyll fly away. So is it the teams official position that the birds of Landover dont deserve a sky to fly in due to their bottom-feeder status? What? No. Were you going to ask me questions about football? Certainly, what do you have to say about the accusations that it was due to the Redskins sucking in their game at Carolina that caused the sky to fall? The sky didnt fall! Look, its still up there! See all of that blue stuff?! Thats the sky! But what about the Redskins sucking Look, it was just a pre-season game, it didnt mean anything! Sure we didnt look good but its not the end of the world! So, is it your position that Dan Snyder has plans to bring about the end of the world? This interview is over Well, there you have it, Tom. First; the sky. Next: the world. Live from Redskins park, Im Biff...

Is it time to wake up already?

Sun, 10 Aug 2008 23:32:39 GMT

(*Cue dramatic nature-like music & deep voice-over-type voice*) Like a bear a big, burly brown bear or wait, maybe a like a black bear, yeah, a black bear like a black bear, I awaken from my winter slumber to emerge into the spring that is..the NFL Preseason. Just like the bear, I am hungry starving for sustenance. For him that means fish and berries for me, it means Redskins football. And just like the bear, I have to poop, since Ive been holding it for months. Actually, thats where the metaphor falls apart, because I have been pooping all winter, but hang in there with me for a moment longer. (*Ahem*) Just like the bear, Ive forgotten the struggles of the last year, and I look forward to the triumph that the new season seems to promise. And as the bear and I gaze upon the shining spring sun, were both thinking the same thing Man, I hate the *bleeping* Cowboys. So now that Ive warmed up my metaphoric muscles, Ill get to the meat of the act. I was going to write about how we as Redskins fans need to CALM DOWN and not get all giggly and squirmy just because the team has looked pretty darn good in the first couple of preseason games. But then I thought hey, why not get all giggly and squirmy? This may be our only chance to get all giggly and squirmy, so we might as well do it now. Im not suggesting that the Redskins wont do well this year, but look at the schedule. Three division games, all on the road, in the first five weeks. Plus a very good New Orleans team at home thrown in for good measure. A one and four start isnt out of the question. No giggling and squirming going on there, thats for sure (maybe some squirming, but not the good kind). Its going to be a struggle right out of the gate, and we fans need to be prepared for that (meanwhile, the Patsies get the easiest schedule in the NFL, hows that for justice?) So lets enjoy this while it lasts. In fact, Ill just go ahead and make some very, very accurate predictions, based on what weve seen so far: If you take Jason Campbells performance so far, and apply it to a 16 game season, hed complete 80% of his passes, and throw for about 5300 yards. We can go on to assume, say, 57 TD passes, maybe a pick or two (everyone has a bad day), and a passer rating of 4 billion. Yes I realize that the passer rating only goes up to 158.3, but when it comes to Jason Campbell, I employ Nigels philosophy that it goes to eleven (if you dont get that reference, then shame on you, go out and rent Spinal Tap immediately). I also predict that the networks start using subtitles during Jasons interviews so we non-southerners can understand just what the heck hes saying. The only question of team chemistry will center on whether Clinton Portis will be jealous of Marcus Masons league rushing title. Masons current stats stretch out to only about 1425 yards over a 16 game season, but we do play teams like Cleveland, Cincinnati and San Francisco, so lets round up to, oh, an even 3000 yards. Mason will also single-handedly save 48 orphans from a burning building while curing cancer using only his Blackberry. Theres been much ado about Colt Brennan and his exhilarating performances in his first two games. With Campbell lighting it up all season, Brennan wont get much of a chance to play, but he will win the championship of the newly-formed Back-Up QB UFC competition, created by the league to keep those clipboard-holders in good shape (and make more money for the NFL, of course). Colt will defeat Kurt Warner by ironically beating him unconscious with a package of Keebler Fudge Stripe Cookies (the same cookies that Warner used to stock back in his supermarket days). But what about the injuries, you say? What about all those hamstrings? Well, you dont know it yet because its top secret, but Dan Snyders scientists are developing a bionic hamstring patented by the Redskins, so no other team can use it set to be installed in every Redskins position player before the start of the 2008 season. At the same time, Tanya Snyder is developing the bionic bum, to ensure that the female viewer ship increases (as if it needed to with the addition of Jason Taylor). And as if it needed to be said, Jim Zorn wins coach of the year AND the Nobel Peace Prize for taking his team to the Super Bowl, and developing a free sustainable energy source (what did you think he was doing while the defense was on the field?). In his acceptance speech, Zorn thanks The Hogs.net for inspiring him throughout the season, and more specifically, that bag-of-donuts guy for the weekly fruit baskets. So there they are, my predictions for the 2008 season. Call them bold, call them overly-optimistic, call them insane, thats really for the Mental Health Board to decide. You may say that my assumptions are not based in reality, and to you, sir, I say that you have never read any of my pieces before, or you would know that reality and I do not get along very well. I say that you have to grab ahold of the positives while you have them, squeeze them tight with both hands and suck the juice right out of them, until they lay limp and lifeless in your arms. Of course, it could be that Im still sleeping, still hibernating and dreaming of the delights that the upcoming season will bring. And if thats the case, let me be, because this dream is way too good to be interrupted by your so-called...

Dan Snyders agenda...........

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 01:52:55 GMT

Go to redskins.com and look to the right at redskins store... "Pre order" your Jason Taylor jersey. :roll: The guy hasn't even played one down for the B & G. He too could be bitten by the injury bug, and never play a down. (god I hope not) But you can send Danny your money for his jersey. I am all for the Taylor trade, don't get me wrong. But, this is Danny Boy at his best. He is all about the $$$. If you don't think so, take your family to training camp this week, or even a game this year. It will hit you in the wallet. Hard. Snyder is the national media's whipping boy, because he makes himself such an easy target. The guy is a businessman flat out. And, not a good person by any means. Our fans keep throwing money at him, but yet there has not been an on field product worth shaking a stick at since he bought the team. He is NOT a good person. He could give a rats ass about the average fan, as long as they re-new thier season tickets. Now he wants us to buy Jason Taylor replicas...... the same ones we buy of other players and the numbers are rubbing off after the second wash. God forbid you buy an 'authentic' with other players nameplate ripped off..... then replaced with crappy effort.... If i ever do buy another jersey, it WILL NOT be from one of Danny Boy's stores. Since revenue is 'shared', maybe I'll buy from NFL shop... maybe. The first blog i ever did was on 'money grubbing' by the Danny, involving jersey sales... http://www.thehogs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19828 This is the same guy on "FAN APPRECIATION DAY" who charged fans $25 to park, and didn't allow the 'fans' to bring in any beverages. But, you could conveniently buy bottled water at the concession stand for $5 a pop. No water fountains available. http://www.thehogs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19922 What an ass. Serious short man syndrome there. We pump out our hard earned "pennies" and this billionaire piece of crap continues to grab as many as he can. The american way I guess. Well, He won't get anymore of my pennies. I could care less to go to Fed Ex and fight the crowds. And I won't spend another penny that involves the "Redskins" directly. I know that all revenue is shared, but thats the way it will be. Danny WILL NOT get his hands on mine first. Most people now regard him as a 'progressing' owner. To me he is still the same piece of crap he always was. People don't change. Snyder won't either, as long as he is living in the lap of luxury at the fans expense. Helping with this site has been a blast to say the least. I have met so many good fans and friends, and been up close and personal at Redskins park. But, it has also allowed me to see how the Skins' brass operates up close and personal, and realize that I'm glad I have no official connections with Snyder and the Skins. In the scheme of things, if you are kissing Snyders ass, fine and good by the Redskins. If you actually have your own opinion, you are just a pain in the ass of Snyder. But I digress. Everyone is going to make thier own decisions. Hopefully this blog has made you think twice about yours. Again, this has nothing to do with the fact that we traded for Taylor. I love the move, It's just the fact that we are expected to pay right away, (which many, many will) without any shread of evidence that it will be worth it. My 2 cents...

Dan Snyder Talks 'Skins

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 15:07:54 GMT

In this morning's edition of the Washington Times, David Elfin published a transcript of an interview he did with Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder and a corresponding article . While I have issue with some of the things David Elfin writes and was unimpressed with the way he handled the inclusion of fan sites in the 2004 Mini Camp I was lucky enough to attend, this interview gives an interesting insight into how Dan Snyder views himself and the organization in its current state. Now I've never been one to bash Dan Snyder. I don't think he is always right, and I may question specific decisions that he makes or the processes he employs to make them, but overall, I'm of the opinion that he generally makes them with the best intentions. That being said, there is a specific question and answer in this article that I do have a beef with: Q: How are you doing with your fans? A: All of our (suites and club seats) renewed last year. Our waiting list is over 200,000. You can sign up on the Web site. (Smiles.) One of the main arguments that "Snyder Bashers" harp on is the way Snyder treats the fans. There was a blog on this very site after fan appreciation day two years ago about how the fans didn't feel very appreciated. Another followed shortly there after, regarding the apparent recycling of $300 jerseys . This comment seems to validate the opinion of those bashers on what we, as fans, mean to the Snyder regime. Dan, you could have taken this opportunity to reach out to the fans. You could have talked about trying to put the best product out on the field that you can, you could have talked about the upcoming draft day party, or even the Beach Blitz, which I assume will take place in Virginia Beach again this season. Instead, you brought up how many seats you sold and how many people are waiting for seats. I realize that money is the name of the game. The NFL is a business, first and foremost. I just wish it didn't have to be so evident that you see fans as dollar signs, rather than the lifeblood of this flagship...

Dan's Prom Date

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 14:07:49 GMT

Were you expecting anything less than this? A circus of media attention, dragged out for weeks, complete with flying rumors, disgruntled coaches, and hard evidence that Dan Snyder is an alien hell-bent on destroying the earth (I threw that alien stuff in there myself). If you expected a nice, quiet search for a new coach, then you, my friend, have not been paying attention. I know you tried hard to believe that Dan had changed, that Joe Gibbs had taken him by the arm and illuminated the path to greatness or at least the path to common sense. But Dan is what Dan is. However far Joe pulled him, when released to his own devices, Dan swung back to his equilibrium. As the sign in the Oracles kitchen says, Know thyself. Dan Snyder knows himself. He is what he is, and theres not much we as fans can do about it, except grit our teeth and hold on tight, or get off the ride. Eat a cookie, youll feel better. Am I letting him off the hook? No. Im just trying to rationally see the situation for what it is. I expect to throw up my hands in frustration and sigh many times before Dan Snyder gives up control of the team. And you have to place a good part of the blame for this coaching debacle on a man who, to many, is above reproach: Joe Gibbs. Its been stated repeatedly that one cannot blame Joe for his decision to leave coaching, despite his promise to get this franchise back on track. However, the timing of the announcement was extremely poor. I would have liked to see him be more involved in the coaching selection before he left for good. And so heres Dan Snyder, left without a prom date a few days before the big event, and he has to scramble to find another date. Granted, one doesnt usually buy the dress and the corsage before you have the girl, but given the abruptness of Joes departure, I can see why an owner would panic. The media attention and rumors attached to this process didnt help. The Post and Times can write whatever they want about Dan and what a disgrace he is, but they cannot deny that they stoked the fire quite a bit. Fueled by a dislike for Snyder that was developed long ago, they were only to happy to vilify him every day the selection process dragged on. We may never know if Dan hosed Fassel by practically offering him the job, then pulling out. He wanted a look at a Superbowl coach, and so he had to wait, which just left more time for speculation and rumors. Had the Giants been beaten in an early playoff round, we may have ended our search weeks ago. While my vote was for Gregg Williams, I can somewhat understand the reluctance to give him the head coaching gig. His arrogance and seeming lack of respect for authority would give any owner pause. Dont get me started on Jim Fassel. I didnt like him in New York, and, at 60-something, I certainly didnt like the idea of him coming here to be the future. We already had an older coach who supposedly put this franchise back on track, we dont need another one. Mooch would have been okay with me hes a high energy, smart guy, and I think he would have done well. In the end, Dan decided to take a chance on a relatively young guy, without a whole lot of head coaching (or coordinatoror play-calling) experience. If the Redskins flop the next few years, then Dan was an idiot. If Jim Zorn turns out to be a smashing success.well, lets face it, to many of us, Dan will still be an idiot who just got lucky. But thats the game. Do you think that Bob Kraft knew he was getting three Superbowl wins (and possibly more to come) when he hired Bill Belichick? He HOPED he would, but he was taking a chance, especially with Bills dismal coaching record at Cleveland. Same goes for many coaches in the NFL you dont know what youre getting until youve got it. Who would have ever expected Steve Spurrier to fail?!? (Just kidding). The simple fact is that we dont know and we wont know for awhile whether this is a good hire, or a bad one. Now, my metaphor falls apart here, because Dan ends up taking the dress (sans girl) to the prom, which is a bit weird, in a Norman Bates kind of way, but you get the idea. But if that pink, frilly dress ends up leading us to greatness, then perhaps one day this soap opera of a coaching search will end up being just a funny story, and we can cut Dan some slack. That is, until the next soap...

Step right up...

Tue, 12 Feb 2008 14:08:23 GMT

... and see the unbelievable, logic-defying Washington Redskins!! As the NFL looks on... and laughs... I'm left wondering what on earth it is about the Washington Redskins that I love so much. Because it isn't the organization itself. Frankly, the organization is downright embarrassing right now. I don't care what anyone thinks about Jim Zorn - it has nothing to do with it. By all accounts he is a very capable coach and someone who was likely destined to move on to bigger and better things eventually anyway. But now? And under a veil of what seems like desperation? Those of you who think that this was by design are nothing more than apologists for the organization. This whole freak show wasn't by design - it was an evolution of mistakes. I don't exactly feel sorry for Gregg Williams - he was paid handsomely to put up with the kind of crap that he put up with when he left. But don't take that as a vote of confidence in the organization... I'm merely acknowledging that Gregg got paid very well to come to Washington and sit in the wings and wait. That doesn't justify the means by which it all came about, or rationalize the complete travesty that has been this Redskins coaching changeover though. Once again, this organization proved implicitly that without a good football mind making decisions, we're a laughing stock. Yes I said laughing stock. Over the last few days I have been bombarded with snide comments and jeers as fans of other teams sound off on the state of MY football team. They just point and laugh and trail off into oblivion as they cackle 'Jim Fricking Zorn'? Now I'm not one to put much stock in what the fan's of other teams say in jest - but none of them are joking. They're not having a go at me, as football enthusiasts, they are truly shocked that an organization like the Redskins could manage to UNDO so quickly what Gibbs restored in his tenure - respect. R-E-S-P-E-C-T... find out what it means to me. It isn't crapping on your defensive coordinator as he heads to a new place because you hosed him on a job. It isn't naming coordinators before you even have a coach. It isn't telling the fan base that there will be continuity when you're bringing in an entirely new offensive system and named a new defensive coordinator. And it sure as hell isn't doing ALL of this when you should be topping up your draft wish list, trimming salary cap fat, and finding a way to bring in a free agent or two. How do you conduct a draft with so little structure within? How do you target players for your system when you don't even seem to have a system yet? The answer to both questions is probably - poorly. I can only speak for myself when I say - No Mas . When will Redskin fans learn that an organization whose FIRST concern is MAKING MONEY will never win anything? When will you learn that LOVING THE WASHINGTON REDSKINS doesn't predicate that you come up with a rationalization for every stupid move ever made by the organization itself? Learn to separate the two - team and organization. Your credibility depends on it. You can't arbitrarily 'okay' everything ever done by management just because you love the team, well not if you expect people to take you seriously. I will always love my Washington Redskins TEAM... but I'm fed up and thoroughly disgusted by the state of the organization itself. I always thought that Snyder's marketing prowess took a page out of PT Barnum's playbook. And go figure, now I'm looking at a complete circus act. "I am a showman by profession...and all the gilding shall make nothing else of me." - PT Barnum All the gilding in the world won't turn Snyder and Cerrato into a viable football General Manager either. Don't stick your head in the sand as you try to ride out the latest wave of Redskin embarrassment; separate team and organization and place your frustrations where they truly belong - and are so richly deserved - the organization itself. My 2...

Six Pack

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:40:20 GMT

1) First, in keeping with the Danny-fueled spirit of "Change Without Purpose" I am dropping the we I previously relied on in this column. So there you have it. Secondly, thirdly. 2) OK, to clear up some old business. I had said that if Joe Gibbs demonstrated that my assessment of his skills (i.e. my assertion that he should step down as head coach and into a GM role) was incorrect, I would admit it. Before I get to the question of my judgment, I want to say (belatedly) that Gibbs' character and leadership over the final weeks of the season were remarkable and inspirational. I even admire his decision to step away from the game, though I regret he did it so completely. My notion of his taking the reigns as a de facto (though not de jure) GM was somewhat fueled by wishful thinking. However, not only do I admire his choice to step down, I agree with it. 3) You read that correctly. I'll explain why: as remarkable (and it truly was remarkable) as the team's final surge to reach the playoffs was, it was fueled as much by the totally unexpected (a player's death and the emergence Todd Collins, among many other things) as it was by coaching. I'm not suggesting that replacing Gibbs in that scenario with another coach would have resulted in the team making the post-season. In fact, I am convinced it would not. Stick with me, what follows are some snippets from the column in which I initially expressed my concerns about Coach Gibbs (written following the loss to the Patriots): "We're NOT suggesting players lack respect for the head coach, we just question whether, at this stage in his life and his career, he WANTS to be the alarm. We see that type of respect as something more befitting a grandfather and less an NFL head coach. "We do not for a second think he is being facetious or disingenuous when he talks about how much he loves his players and how much the losses hurt him. We question whether that bond is preventing him from, for lack of a better phrase, becoming a pain in the ass when it is necessary. We don't think Gibbs is a bad coach per se, we just question whether he still wants to be a coach period." 4) As much as Joe Gibbs the man impressed me in those final weeks, and that grandfatherly distinction served him very well, I didn't see anything that would substantially shift my beliefs about Joe Gibbs, the coach. I know the players love him, beyond a shadow of a doubt, but I still saw a guy who lacked the fire he once had and you need some of that to make it as an NFL coach. I told my father during the season that it seemed to me that Joe would be much happier being a wealthy grandfather than a head coach. Turns out I was right. That's not to say I wasn't stunned by his decision to retire, make no mistake about it, I was stunned. But it's difficult for me to look at everything that happened last season and conclude Joe would have been the best man for the job in the future. Oddly enough, that all being said, I would have preferred that he stayed next season. I was then, and am now, an advocate for continuity. 5) So much for that. As many others have said, there may be some very good reasons behind the decisions to fire Al Saunders and Greg Williams. But, in January, after what this team (and, by extension, the fans) went through last season, I am having a great deal of difficulty seeing any wisdom in the decisions being made by Snyder and (I REFUSE to use his title) Vinny Cerrato. I'm not as panicked by the Vinny thing, I had no hopes of his ever being dismissed (or a GM being hired), so that was expected, in a way. I'm not passionate about how Vinny handles the cap but (assuming he was the one making the decisions) his track record the past few seasons in player acquisition is filled with many more wins than losses. 6) The coaches on the other hand ... well, there simply is no wisdom in sinking that much money into a coaching philosophy with a proven track record and then scrapping it before it could realize its full potential. It's certainly par-for-the-course with Snyder but a small (and obviously naive) portion of me hoped the course had changed. So it's (yet another) off-season of upheaval for the Redskins. Maybe/hopefully I'll be admitting how wrong I was about the need for change in 9 or 10 months. But I have a lot of trouble believing that...

You don't have to go home, but you can't stay here.

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 03:04:11 GMT

Better late than never, they say.. Ouch. Losing in the playoffs is like getting drunk and having a one stand that you shouldnt have had not only does it have immediate repercussions (as in the embarrassment of getting out of there the next morning), but the potential long term .um, effects (in a burning sensation sort of way) are a bummer as well. The loss hurts now, and once you get over that, you can look forward to the realization that theres another 7 months to go before you see your team on the field again. Excuse me while I throw up. If I have to listen to one word of that 12th man crap, Im gonna lose my balony sandwich. Yeah, it had such an effect on the Redskins that they took almost three and half quarters before they had their first false start. Open mouth, insert foot. Funny how Cris (or Chris, if youre from Seattle) Collinsworth failed to mention his statement a few weeks ago after the Bears game that the Redskins had no chance to make the playoffs. Perhaps it slipped his mind. And now, back to Antwaan in the studio After watching Randle Els introduction, tell me he wont be on TV someday. Somebody get a doctor! I am convinced that Matt Hasselbeck has what I refer to as Favre Disease. The symptoms are an involuntary unsnapping of the chin strap immediately following the play, and trying to look cool. Get well, Matt. Wow. LaRon Landry was all over the place. How does this guy not get any recognition for Defensive Rookie of the Year? Aside from the two brilliant picks, he made tackles all over the field. Wait and hes only going to get better?!? Pressure, pushing down on me. In my opinion, the key to this game was pressure. The Seahawks applied to our QB, and we failed to return the favor. When we did, Hasselbeck made mistakes. When we didnt, he hit his receivers perfectly. All the more reason we need a disruptive, strong, quick defensive end in the draft. And the effect of the pressure could not have been more apparent on the touchdown pass that should have been, if not for Collins getting pummeled and underthowing a wide open Santana Moss. Just like they taught him. Bobby Engram had a picture-perfect hold on Lee Torrence on the first touchdown. His shirt looked like sail, for crying out loud. Speaking of which the officiating was HORRIBLE both ways. Lets see, aside from the blatant holding on the TD, there was Collins incomplete pass which should have been at least called a fumble and then reviewed, Campbells low block on a kickoff return where he his the guy in the chest and then slid down, Betts taking a swing at a Seahawk with no penalty, and Torrences pass interference on Landrys second pick. Bad day for the guys in black and white. Its not you actually, yeah, it is you. As much as I applaud Fabini and Heyer for stepping in and playing almost the entire season, Ill be happy to see our right side back again in 08. Fabini had a horrible day, and Heyer had his hands full. But I guess you cant expect to go too far in the playoffs with half of your starting Oline in street clothes. Sweet! Knight Rider is back, baby! Who? If you dont know how to spell Hackett, as Shawn Springs. He should have the name memorized by now, seeing as though he was looking at it most of the game. My official favorite play of the game. Smoots hit on Hasselbeck. True colors. Todd Collins has played admirably in place of Jason Campbell. But I think we saw that he is not the long term answer as he fell apart under pressure in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. Both interceptions were not only poor throws, but worse poor decisions. There is no reason to rush a throw to Moss in double coverage with five minutes left on your own 45 yard line. Turning point. You can blame Sean Squeeze em if you want, but by the time he stepped on the field to miss his 30-yarder, the tide had turned already. The Redskins recovered the ball on the 14 yard line after the botched kickoff return, and failed to score. Even if they hit the field goal, thats a victory for the Seahawks. Keep in mind that Cooley dropped a pass on the two yard line on that drive. The Joe Gibbs School of English . Anyone catch Collinsworth saying that our guys fought their guts out? Stop making sense. As much as I cant stand Collinsworth, he was dead on when he argued the benefits of a weak division. Having cruised to a fast start, the Seahawks had the luxury of resting players as they played the Cards, Rams and 49ers a luxury we dont have in the NFC East. True love. I absolutely LOVED seeing Landry sitting on the bench after the game with his head down. Do I like seeing our players depressed after a loss? Heck no. But tell me that guy isnt feeling pain. His teammates are all shaking hands, laughing, joking, and hes replaying the game in his mind over and over. Tell me he wont be thinking about the game while hes training in the offseason. Or during training camp. Tell me he wont take the pain with him into next years playoffs. Bittersweet déjà vu. Having jumped on the bandwagon back in 83, I remember the pain and shock I felt when Joe Gibbs retired the first time. You could almost sense the storm coming as he walked out the door. This time, I feel almost the same way, but more disappointment. I understand why hes leaving, but are we really better off than we were four years ago? Are we a contender? I agree that we have more character than any other team in football, but is Joe Gibbs leaving us a winner? Only time will tell, I guess, but Im a bit concerned that if a brand spanking new coach is hired, well be starting from scratch yet again. Get me Dan Snyder on the line. Despite the NFL owners failing to take my advice when they discovered that Paul had been in a coma for nearly four years (no one noticed) and need to select a new commissioner, Ill take a shot at my top three candidates to take over as head coach of the Redskins: 3. Steve Spurrier ha ha ha! Whooo! Gotcha! Okay, not funny, I agree. Moving on 2. George W. Bush I have on good authority that he will be available around this time next year, and he has experience running a sports franchise (not to mention various other enterprises) into the ground (Texas Rangers). Plus, the added benefit is that you all get to see crazyhorses head explode with fury. 1. Rebecca Romijn Yes, I may have a slight obsession with Ms. Romijn, but tell me you wont tune into Redskins TV every freaking day to watch the interviews. She could join the cheerleaders at halftime, do post-game interviews clad in a bikini. You think we set attendance records this year?!? Only crumbs left in the donut box. So thats it. Thanks for tolerating my drivel this year. I may pop my head in once or twice this year if my brain starts leaking uncontrollably. If I decide to give my other arm and leg to DirecTV for the NFL Sunday Ticket package next year, youll see me in 2008, like it or not. In the meantime, while Ill closely monitor the selection of the new head coach of the Washington Redskins, I do need a break. Its been a long, exhausting season, and I need lie down for a few weeks. And eat some...

And away we go....

Wed, 02 Jan 2008 15:32:12 GMT

Life, as they sometimes say, gets in the way of drivel, which explains the lack of said drivel in the past couple of weeks. Darn that pesky life. Wah. Ive been really surprised by the talk by Terri Glenn (and no, that misspelling is no mistake) that Landry was intentionally targeting his knees. First of all, in case Terri hasnt noticed, this game is violent. Players try to knock each other out. If it bothers you, try soccer. Next, its clear from the video that Landry wasnt even looking at Glenn, and was diving for the ball. Any Cowboy fan who argues otherwise is probably just sporting a bruised ego from the beating. Speaking of which I know Cowboy fans and players alike will argue that the game didnt mean anything to them, that had it been a meaningful game, they would have played with more passion, and how they would have staged a comeback in the second half. Still, as meaningless as the game was, this was not the type of game that Dallas wanted to see. Joes Donut of the Week Award goes to Tony Romo! Of course, there are many great moments during the course of the game when we beat the Cowboys, the one that made me laugh was the slo-mo replay of Romo slamming his coat down on the bench. You could almost hear him whine Im so mad I could slam my coat! Some players will slam helmets, Gatorade tables, even other players. But Romo slams coats. Poor coat. When fiction becomes reality. You know that Pepsi commercial where the offensive coordinator for the Cowboys sends in a play with a yawn at the end, and it gets sent to the field, and then Cowboys are bouncing off each other? Well, it became reality during one defensive play, when Bradie James (I think it was him) called an audible, and as he and Ware switched places, they bonked smack into each other. I love him, but I love Chris Samuels, and I think hes a true Redskin, but it seems like it may be time to start grooming his replacement. He had quite a bit of trouble with Ware, and while Ware is an excellent pass rusher, Samuels should be just as excellent in his pass blocking, and I didnt see that on Sunday. Shhh. Andre Carter has quietly has a successful season. Led the team in sacks, played the run well all year, and did a good job of generating pressure. The Carter is a bust threads have been few this season. If only. With the Joe Gibbs December record now at some amazing percentage, it sure would be nice to go into the month with 7 or 8 wins, instead of having to play catch up every year. Someone get an eye doctor! I have some serious concerns about Roy Williams health, specifically his eyesight. After watching him play for several years, I have come to the conclusion that he suffers from a condition that allows him to see opposing ball carriers only from the shoulder pads and above. I mean, why else would he be seemingly unable to make a single tackle by hitting a ball carrier below the head?!? Get well, Roy. but they dont fall down While Wade may have changed the staff in Dallas, one requirement that has remained from the Parcells era is the size of the belly. In his all-blue jumpsuit, he looks a bit like a Weebil. Write in candidate. I vote for more dump offs to Portis. Hes cutting up the secondary right now. Bully. Flozell Adams must have been one of those guys who picked on smaller kids in school (of course, there probably werent too many kids larger than him), given his cowardly showing of shoving a 200 pound Shawn Springs around. Do it again! As many times as it was shown, my kids never get tired of seeing the Fox robot guy dodge a few snowballs, catch one in the face, and have a load of snow fall on him. It was the one time when I cursed my TiVo, because I was constantly pestered to rewind so they could watch it again. Challenge challenged. Joe Gibbs luck on challenges just stinks. Four reversed calls in the first half alone that went the other way. Brain fart. Everyone is allowed to have them, I just wish that Al Saunders would have them while hes mowing his lawn or playing Madden or something, and not while hes calling plays. A swing pass with 9 seconds left in the first half?!? Its a good thing it was off target, or we would have missed the opportunity to kick the field goal. Could it be. that were actually learning to finish games? No more second half collapses. We can only hope that this new killer instinct carries over to the playoffs, and 2008. Speaking of which. If youve watched any of the Patriots games this year, youd have noticed that they attack your weaknesses without mercy. The Redskins attacked the Cowboys weak corners until they had their fill. As little respect as I have for the Pats integrity, you have to admire the approach to the game, and hope that the Redskins are finally learning how to finish teams off. Am I right, or am I right? Ive spoken numerous times about the critical importance of third down conversions on both sides of the ball. This past week, the Redskins were a modest 9 for 15 on third down, but held the Cowboys to zero conversions in 11 attempts. Zero. You cant get much better than that. Biggest question of the game. Ryan Seacrest Dallas fan or Redskins fan? Bigger question do we WANT him as a Redskin fan? I was wrong (dont tell my wife). A few short weeks ago, I was beginning to be convinced that Joe Gibbs was done, that the game was now too much for him, and that he should move into a front office role, and let someone younger take over the head coaching duties. Shows what I know. After watching player after player hug him and have a few words with him after the game, I dont know of a coach in the NFL that has more support from his players right now. Yay! Yay! Wheeeee! Seattle is a tough opponent, and its a very difficult place to play, but I cant help but laugh every time I see that clip of Alexander clapping and jumping up and down like a little girl (my apologies to little girls). Deeper Meaning quote of the day: Dallas defensively is a bit confused When Joe Buck said this, he was talking about a single play, but I think you could apply this to the whole game, and both sides of the ball. Expletive of the Week goes to. While I usually win this award, this week Julius Jones and Marion Barber get the honors, because of their visible frustration at the whopping one yard they combined to gain. One. Yard. Dont talk to me. Boy, its a good thing that Joe Gibbs didnt have someone telling him the status of the Vikings game, given Denvers collapse. How do you let a game go into overtime when youre up by 16 with 6 minutes to play?!? Dumb. While I was shaking my head in disgust at the squib kick to end the first half, Im sure Cowboys fans were doing the same thing as Romo was pulled to the ground while trying to generate some magic on the untimed down. Not better, just different. Watching Todd Collins run the offense, I felt that the problem with Jason Campbell was not his abilities, but that he was simply trying too hard. Im hoping that he is watching and learning, and will return next year a calmed quarterback. Score! If we wish to continue with the high school cheerleader metaphor a bit longer, it looks like after being teased earlier this year, weve now been invited over to her house on Saturday night while her parents are away for the weekend. Waka waka. How far is far enough? Making the playoffs is wonderful, especially after the accomplishment seemed impossible a few short weeks ago. But how far is far enough? If we lose in the first round, is it still a successful season? Or do we need a NFC Championship appearance to honor Sean Taylors death? How far should the motivation of his passing take us? The final word. If I traveled back into the past and told my past-self that the Redskins this year would endure the tragic death of their star defensive player, plus season ending-injuries to two offensive lineman early, plus others as the season wore on, not to mention key injuries to the secondary and receiver cores, and top it all off with the second most difficult schedule in the league, my past-self would no doubt have predicted a very poor finish. And yet we sit here at 9-7, and are going to the playoffs. I love that. It speaks directly to the character of the players and coaches on this team. The Pats can have their 16-0, the Cowboys can have their number one seed, Seattle can have their loud stadium. Ill take this team and its character any day. Go...

Redskins 27, Cowboys 6: Post-game wrap

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 11:33:41 GMT

THE SKINS MAKE THE PLAYOFFS! Whooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Here are some game links to re-live the magic... At NFL.com Game Center Recap Box Score Play-By-Play Official Gamebook Stats At Redskins.com Recap Wild Redskins Head to Seattle For Playoffs Collins Continues His Impressive Run Manley Honored Before Cowboys Game Other Recaps: ESPN Fox CNNSI Some articles: Red-hot Redskins clinch playoff spot TWT: A Hall of Fame coach demonstrates why TWT: On defense, just dominant TWT: Portis returns to form during four-game tear TWT: Seen and Heard at Fed Ex WP: Redskins Find a Reason To Celebrate Their Season WP: Gibbs Soaks It Up Resurgent Redskins in playoffs Redskins earn playoff berth with win over Cowboys, 27-6 Videos: Highlights at NFL.com Photos: NFL.com ESPN.com Washington Times Our message board threads: Official Game day thread (now locked) Official Post game Discussion http://assets.espn.go.com/media/apphoto/ac50440f-0d23-4eab-add9-028a25e72c01.jpg CP shows off his Taylor-pride after his touchdown Photo Credit: ESPN: AP Photo/Nick...

Redskins 32, Vikings 21: Post Game Wrap

Mon, 24 Dec 2007 18:42:54 GMT

Another big win... and STILL in the playoff hunt... actually now in the driver's seat with a win over Dallas this upcoming week securing the Wild Card slot. Here are some links to Sunday's coverage: At NFL.com Game Center Box Score Play-By-Play Official Gamebook Stats At Redskins.com Recap Joe Gibbs Post Game Transcript Redskins' Defense Bottles Up Peterson Other Recaps: ESPN Fox CNNSI Some articles: TWT: Seen and heard at the Metrodome TWT: To Suisham, finishing kick carries weight WP: Backup Steps to Front WP: Suddenly Sitting Pretty Inspired Redskins race past Vikings Videos: Highlights at NFL.com Photos: NFL.com ESPN.com Our message board threads: Official Game day thread (now locked) Official Post game Discussion http://assets.espn.go.com/media/apphoto/dd61b878-99c5-47e5-8865-c45384220033.jpg Smoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooot. Photo Credit: ESPN: AP Photo/Tom...

Redskins 22, Giants 10: Post Game Wrap

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:41:50 GMT

Big win... still in the playoff hunt... here are some links to info from the Redskins 22-10 victory over the Giants: At NFL.com Game Center Box Score Play-By-Play Official Gamebook Stats At Redskins.com Recap For Portis, Mission Accomplished Collins Turns in Steady Peformance Other Recaps: ESPN Fox CNNSI Some articles: TWT: Challenges coming from every angle WP: Redskins Ride With the Wind WP: New Life For Redskins Videos: Highlights at NFL.com Photos: NFL.com ESPN.com Our message board threads: Official Game day thread (now locked) Official Post game Discussion http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/getty/2007/09000d5d8052baee_gallery_600.jpg Tough to resist posting a dejected looking Eli Manning. Photo Credit: Chris McGrath/Getty...

Monster Game For Portis

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:20:42 GMT

There's a great hockey analyst in Canada named Pierre McGuire, who hosts a segment on TSN (the Canadian major sports network) known as McGuire's Monsters. His Monster of the Week (or Month or Year) is a distinction going to the player with the highest combined total of hits, blocked shots, and goals. It may seem like an eclectic combination of factors, but really, it just means that it takes both skill and HEART to win the award. Had Mr. McGuire witnessed the Washington Redskins' 22-10 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday, he would have surely chosen Clinton Portis as his monster performer. What a game CP had. I know he ran for 126 yards on 25 carries and had a touchdown, which alone would be great, but that doesn't really even begin to describe Clinton's 'monster' performance. Never in my armchair quarterback career have I witnessed such a text book display of blocking from a running back. In fact, never have I had so much occasion to just WATCH the back to see what he's going to do from a blocking standpoint. I think my favorite block was on Justin Tuck who was coming on a moderately delayed inside blitz. Portis not only picked him up, he blew him up. Clinton just smacked him in the chops with absolutely no regard for the fact that he was giving up more than 50 pounds. Tuck looked completely surprised as he scraped himself off the grass. It was blocking poetry. Truth is, I could pick out a half-dozen or more terrific blocks from Portis on Sunday alone. It just seemed that when Clinton wasn't earning valuable ground yardage, he was eating up blitzing defensive linemen on almost every play. The tenacity with which he plays will undoubtedly shorten his career, and I'm sure he knows that - he just doesn't care. Clinton is just being Clinton. What an animal. What a complete football player. What a monster. My 2...

The NFL Network Dining Experience

Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:37:40 GMT

Did you not see this win coming a mile away? I could have told you the Redskins would win days before the game. When have they ever missed an opportunity to raise our hopes about a playoff spot? I wouldnt be surprised if they pull out another squeeker this weekend against the Giants, just to drag it out a bit longer. Awhile back, a very wise man wrote this: And three, which may be the worst of them all, the Redskins continue to play Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde football, beating a very good team here and there, and then losing to mediocre teams. Like that cheerleader in high school, they stroke our hope, then leave us with blue..um, feelings. It looks as if we are once again that nerd in high school who gets to go out with the hot cheerleader, only to find out afterwards it was all a big joke. On to the drivel. Check, please. The difference between the high quality of the NFL Network pregame, and the absolute atrocity of in-game commentators was like having the best appetizers youve ever had, and then being served poop on a plate, with a side of vomit (Gumbel being the poop, Collinsworth the vomit). The on-field pre-game reports and interviews, the camera work, the Sean Taylor tribute, everything about the pre-game seemed better than Ive seen from Fox or CBS this year. And then, once the game started, it all fell apart. Work with me. Okay, whoever made the decision to film the old head-turning shot for Todd Collins deserves big props. I mean, what are the chances you'll need that? New from Halls The Brain-cell Killing Lozenge! Greg its Anwaan, not Anton. Cripes, hes only been in the league six years. Sheesh. Kiddie size. Brad Maynard either needs a larger helmet or a smaller forehead. Out, damnd spot, I say! It felt dirty and wrong to cheer when Romo hit Witten for the game winner against the Lions. I showered afterwards. Things that make you go duh. The fact that JC had attempted more passes in the last three weeks than any other Redskin in history has much to do with the absolute dismal performance of the o-line in the running game during that span. I dont want to look up the stats, for fear that were averaging two yards per carry or something like that. But Ive noticed a trend of a lot of big guys standing around the line of scrimmage after the play, while Portis is on his back. Love. I love it when Gregg Williams sends 8. Boing. As scary (and embarrassing) as it might have been, I laughed when that joker who ran onto the field literally bounced off of Tommie Harris. Kudos. To Springs and Randle El, who despite being doubtful for the game, toughed it out, played hurt, and both turned in good performances. Double kudos. Go to Smoot, for coming back on the field during crunch time after being treated for cramps. Speaking of which Springs interception at the close of the first half was a huge gamble on his part. He did a great job being aware of the blitz, and that the ball would be thrown quickly, and jumping the route. But there was no safety help behind him, so if Hester gets behind him, its six. Speaking of which, part deux Sweet play call by Saunders on the touchdown before the half. I fully expected him to call a run play, gain a yard or two, call a timeout with 4 seconds left, and go into the half with a 3-0 lead. It looked like the Bears expected that as well. Speaking of which... (where will it end?!?) Yoder made a great catch, with the defender hanging onto the ball. Judge him by his size, do you? Trendy. Im hoping that the recent trend of getting the ball to Portis on screens and short dump offs will continue. He seems to do his best work beyond the line of scrimmage, where he can fake defensive backs and linebackers out of their jockstraps. With the run game hurting, it may be the only way to get the elusive, slippery fellow into the game. Love. I love that it very rarely takes less than three guys to take Cooley down. Bum-smacker. I have come to the conclusion that Marcus Washington, whatever his sexual preference, loves to smack people on the bum. Players, coaches, refs, no one is safe. Hope for different results. I couldnt help but think, when Collinsworth states that well enjoy watching Laron Landry play for years to come, that many commentators had said the same exact thing about Sean Taylor, and yet here we are without him. License and registration, son. Did you notice the guy driving JCs cart after he popped his knee? He looked like he was about 14 years old. And thats fine for when Jimmy Farris stubs his toe, but this is the franchise quarterback were talking about here. Get a driver who has at least gone through puberty. My house. As dumb as Landrys personal foul was, I cant blame him. Sure, chalk it up to a rookie mistake, but you cant tell me that receivers wont think twice about venturing into his neighborhood. E6. Despite the stress of the situation, I had to laugh at Sellers for letting the onside kick go through his legs. Im sure hes getting it from all sides in the locker room for that one. True colors. Gumbel is going on and on about how Ogunleye is being held, meanwhile Cooley is knocked on his keister well beyond the 5-yard mark. Figures. If the brain-cell killing lozenges didnt to all of Gregs brain, and his statement that the Redskins are now ties for the toughest schedule in the NFL, then my reaction is Figures. Would I expect anything less from a season full of injuries, setbacks, blunders, and tragedies? Speaking of which (and you thought I was done) Despite all those injuries, setbacks, blunders and tragedies, here we are with three games to go and still a chance to make the playoffs, our own destiny almost in our own hands. Youre a poopyhead! So Desmond Clark can push Landry in the face, get up, push him again, talk trash, and no flag?!? And yet Fletcher gets flagged for taunting a few games back for talking to the bench. Sheesh. Play of the Game: 1st and goal from the one, seven minutes left in the game, skins up by 7, and Griffin stuffs Peterson for a four yard loss. This puts the Bears is throwing mode, and two incompletions later, they settle for the field goal. Redskins keep the lead, and win the game. Expletive of the Week award goes to. Me, whenever I checked in on the Vikings-Niners game. Most times, it was preceded by a holy, and went on to inquire as to whether the Niners could do anything...

Not just a clipboard holder...

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:43:52 GMT

Todd Collins... extraordinary?!? Huh? NFL stud? Nah. Elite quarterback? Nah. Good quarterback? Nah, not really. Good enough quarterback? Apparently. Wow, what a performance from a guy that I KNOW not many people would have given even an outside chance of being able to do so. It started out tough, but he hung in there. Largely due to the play of the offensive line, he was able to stand in the pocket and work the offense that he knows so well. It may SOUND ridiculous... but that's the best ANY quarterback has looked in Al Saunders' system since coming over from K.C. Campbell obviously has a ton more physical talent, but he hasn't worked the offense like Collins did... at all... ever... not in his 20 starts. Collins isn't our savior, or our 'missing piece of the puzzle', but he did show that he can run the offense. Can he do it next week when the other team actually game plans around him? I don't know but I didn't think he could do what he did on Thursday night either. Definite recipient of the game ball, and also a recipient of the, 'Gee I can't believe the guy actually played that well when he hasn't seen significant playing time in a DECADE' award. Kudos Todd. 15 of 20 for 224 yards - 2 TD, 0 INT - By my calculations, that' about a 144.6 QB rating. Man... how good does it have to feel if you're him? You've been earmarked a clipboard holder for pretty much your entire career - certainly since the turn of the new century, and you go out and play the game that he did? That's got to be satisfying for him. Well done. We got a much-needed and well deserved win. Thanks in large part to...

Bill me later.

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 14:10:13 GMT

I have never been accused of being a realist. I dont believe in fairies (at least not the kind that fly), or the Bermuda Triangle, or Dick Cheney, or foolish stuff like that, however my mind does not always operate in the most logical and grounded manner. Often, after a close game in which the Redskins lose due to one or two key plays, Ill be found in bed that night, staring up at the dark ceiling, wishing that key play had different results. Many times, Ill think about it so hard, Ill wake up the next morning, and need a few seconds for the truth of what happened to sink in again. I had the same feeling as I watched Sean Taylors funeral on Monday. I sat there thinking, This cant be happening. I have never met Sean Taylor, nor come within 100 feet of the man, and yet I have had to bite my lip on more than one occasion over this past week. And I have no idea why. Players have died in the NFL, been seriously injured, have left children behind, and none have affected me the way this event has. Maybe its because of the potential that Sean had as a player, or as a person, maybe because of the fiancé and child that will never see him again, maybe the reason is a bit more selfish, such as I wont be able to see number 21 roaming the field again. Maybe a combination of all of it. I can comfort myself with one thought about Sean Taylors death, which on the surface seems utterly pointless and stupid: the man died to protect his family. Most, if not all of us would do the same to protect our children and loved ones, and in the end, after all the negative things that people have said about him, Sean Taylor stood between his attackers and the people he loved most, and sacrificed himself for them. I had no drivel to offer last week in the aftermath of Seans death. Beyond that, there was no point in discussing a game (Tampa Bay) that could not have had less meaning. This week, however, the drivel once again slowly started to seep from my brain and out my ears. Ug. CBS coverage stinks. Really. The down and distance below the score comes up only intermittently, theyre horrible at showing replays, and there were very few updates from the bench on injuries. It was painful. And I bet he could kick Cris Collinsworth's butt, too. Behind Troy Aikman, I think Solomon Wilcots may be the best color man in the business. He always had something intelligent to say, and was usually right about what he was describing. When he was wrong (the PI call), he actually admitted it! We wont see Soloman again this year, but I think he did a fine job. Wow. That was the first pass interference call on the Bills in 12 months?!? Whoevers palm Ralph Wilson is greasing to avoid those calls, Dan Snyder needs to get in on it. Tee hee! Call me immature, but I did chuckle when Ian Whatshisname said that Edwards started to pull out prematurely on the QB fumble. Duh. It looks like the coaching staff has finally figured out that Jason Campbell does better on throws where hes throwing to a stationary target in the middle of the field, rather than a receiver on a moving route. Aside from a couple of slants, most of the routes run in the middle were stops. Nostradamus Wilcots. He was dead-on when he said that Portis had to have a big day for the Redskins to win. The ineffectiveness (and thats being kind) of the running game seemed like it might be a meaningless stat until the Redskins couldnt run out the clock with less than 2 minutes to play in the game. To fumble or not to fumble. I think Cooley fumbled on that play in the first half. And I cannot understand why Dick Jauron did not throw his red hanky. It was a play that could have had a pretty serious motivational impact on the game. Kudos. I ripped Todd Wade a couple of weeks back for not playing hurt, while Marcus Washington left everything on the field. This week, Todd was hurt, and then came back in, so for that I owe him some props. That being said, he, along with the rest of the o-line, played like crap. Hook him up to the power grid. Wow, was Smoot fired up or what? The guy had a great game, and looked like could have powered the stadium lights with the energy he had. He, more than any other Redskin, seemed to be channeling Sean the most. The Future. I know this board isnt yet sold on Jason Campbell, but I thought he looked great throwing the ball this week. He does need to work on holding on to the ball (although he was hammered on the fumble), but I believe his earlier errors will be corrected with experience. The safety was not his fault, in my opinion, as there was nowhere to go. The play call should have had an option for an audible once the Bills stacked the line. Scott Brunell, meet Joe Campbell. At one point in the first quarter, Ian Whatshisname had a senior moment and said that Joe Campbell scrambled for the first down. Play of the Game Part One. The false start on practically the entire offensive line on 4th and one on the Redskins first offensive series was huge. We get the first down, push it in for six, and the momentum builds from there. Play of the Game Part Two. With about 30 seconds to go in the game, Roscoe (love the name) Parrish catches a ball at the hash marks, dodges a Smoot tackle, and gets out of bounds. The Bills at that point had no timeouts, and would have had to get to the line and spike the ball, which would have left 15 seconds on the clock, maybe less. If Reed still catches that ball over the middle on the next play, the clock runs out before they can get the field goal unit out. Game over, skins win. Mashed banana, mashed banana Whats with the little dance that Lindell does before he kicks a field goal? I see a Wiggles audition in his future. Do I have to? I guess I have to mention the timeout debacle. I firmly believe that it would not have mattered. Lindell drilled the kick before the first timeout, he would have done the same after it. Missed starts. I havent calculated how many starts the Redskins have lost to injury, but Id bet my Brittany Spears CD collection that wed be in the top five. Were down to half an offensive line, a receiving core where the numbers 2, 3, 4 and 5 receivers are out with injury and the number one guy is hurt, and a secondary where only Landry remains from the four original starters. And people complain that we stink?!? Were lucky to be in the game in the fourth quarter. In my bones. I dont know about you, but I could feel this one coming. Little things that weve seen all season happened again against the Bills. Their QB fumbles, the balls squirts into the hands of an o-lineman. Campbells pass is deflected, it lands in the hands of a Bill, while the Bills deflections landed harmlessly on the ground. The wasted opportunities on offense. The key plays given up on defense. The injuries. Im not saying that Im giving up on this season, but I am conceding that sometimes Fate just doesnt want to take you to the dance. Expletive of the Week Award goes to the entire Redskins Nation. If theyre anything like me, they sat there watching the Missing Man formation the Redskins used on the first defensive play, and uttered a simple yet heartfelt four letter...

Pedro Taylor

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:13:13 GMT

I've observed a lot in the last eight days - mouth often agape as I see the Sean Taylor tragedy bring out both the best and the worst in people. I've found true inspiration in the man that Sean Taylor called dad. Very little was known of Sean's personal life, let alone about Pedro, or Pete as he is known to many. Sure I knew from Sean's bio stuff that he was a chief of police in Florida City, but other than that, I knew very little. I still don't. But a small glimpse of the man through this tough ordeal, has certainly told me a few things about him. As I've watched him stand in front of reporters and fend off one seemingly offensive question after another - I wonder where the man finds the patience. I understand that his job likely mandates that he's comfortable at a press conference, but we're talking about barrages of questions about his dearly beloved, recently deceased son. It's not exactly the same. Yet he stands tall, he stands proud, and he honors all that know and look to him for his strength. He answers questions with conviction and with compassion, and to be honest, he really doesn't have to. Not many would hold it against him if he didn't speak to the press ever again, not after the charade they put on last week. And yet still he stands; a pillar of the community even in the wake of such horrific circumstances. Truly honorable. It isn't hard to see why Sean was so caught up in his new baby daughter... he was just anxious to be everything to Jackie, like Pedro had probably been to him. He was just following an example set by his father. I don't know that for a fact - but I personally think that Sean's actions speak for themselves - and so do his father's. When you juxtapose this man's great spirit, with the bottom-feeders that tragedies inevitibly bring out, it's quite a study in human essence. Witness the idiots out there selling Sean Taylor merchandise at premium prices. Capitalism? Maybe, but it's exploitive at best. Witness the countless grandstanders - people leaping onto soapboxes, and constantly pointing to themselves during this tragedy. Witness the 'impartial' press that seemed to forego all shreds of decency for the sake of a splashy story or two. Truly despicable. What a stark contrast to the type of human being that Pedro Taylor appears to be. I believe that's a CHOICE that people can make, and not some foregone conclusion. Mr. Taylor has inspired me with his strength, and he has comforted me with his belief in his own faith. I don't know if it makes him a hero, or just a good human being - I only know that the world needs more of...

Let us grieve!

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 15:01:44 GMT

The last 48 hours have been difficult times in my home. The loss of a great member of the Redskins community has been very difficult to deal with. The life he lived on and off the football field has come under great scrutiny by the media and the public in general. I dont know if certain presumptions are being made based on stereotypical journalists that find it necessary to sensationalize everything or if the public is coming to these conclusions from their own preconceived notions about wealthy young black men. Either way the path it is leading public opinion down is wrong. Sean Taylor was not a thug, he was not a gangster. I feel I need to get my opinion down on paper as opposed to screaming it at the television or radio when I hear these comments being made. Certain public media personalities have said that this was an inevitable event that anyone could have seen coming. Others have questioned what the NFL will do to teach these young wealthy men that guns mean trouble. All of these statements are ludicrous. Sean Taylor was a father; he was a gentle human being. It seems that the cold shoulder that Taylor gave the media translated into a lack of respect for his life and his family after his passing. Sean Taylor did not have a gun in his possession at the time of his passing. He was mortally wounded protecting his own. He stood strong to protect his daughter and girlfriend in the face of danger. The bedroom that they all shared was attacked by a bad guy, by a thug, and he stood strong. I pray that if I am ever faced with this type of adversity I would be as strong as Sean was. He is a brave soul and his life should not be remembered by national media who never met him. If you want to know who he was in life ask someone who had more to base their opinion on then what the media has reported. Aristotle -- "Courage is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which guarantees the...

Seriously... when will people say 'enough is enough'

Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:51:20 GMT

As the sports journalism world does it's best imitation of the National Enquirer and exploits the Sean Taylor tragedy, I find myself both disgusted and appalled. If the mainstream media got any more sensationalistic, they'd have to call it fiction. While I would love to individually go through all of the worst offenders and tear them a new bunghole, I feel that I would only be falling victim to their true motivations - selling papers and getting clicks to a website. So I will not to dignify any of the offenders with links (and this blog is to ask that you do the same), but I reserve the right to perhaps touch on a few of the guys that may have offended me the most in the last 48 hours. I don't know when it happened exactly, but the last few years have seen a dramatic fall-off in the integrity of sports journalism. In fact, even using the word 'integrity' as it pertains to the sports media makes me throw up in my mouth - not just a little bit - a whole lot. The internet has created a 'NEWS NOW' mentality, that seems to forego things like credibility, integrity, and actual facts. Newspapers seem to think that by 'shocking' the public, or even 'offending' them, they can gain back some of the readership that is being taken away by on-line sources. And you all line up like lambs at the slaughter. Did it ever occur to you that by even citing a link and saying, 'go crap on this guy,' that you're actually magnifying the problem, not helping it? Every person that visits the 'offending' site will be served up advertisements, and consequently, reward these establishments for their 'wonderful' work. They don't care if you're offended - you supported them - and it doesn't seem like there's EVER any recourse from Joe Q. Public. Why? I've seen hundreds of examples of people that are truly trying to do the right thing, but continually doing the worst thing. I've seen dozens of examples of people spending a considerable amount of time and effort 'rallying' others to support their 'angst'. I think that's great; I just wish that some of them would put a little more thought into what they're actually doing. Why not focus their efforts around actually BOYCOTTING these offending sites, as opposed to asking people to voice their opinion directly to the offender at the source? The ONLY way that you can hurt the media, is by completely bypassing these bottom-feeding 'journalists'. Anybody catch Michael Wilbon's comments this week? If you did, I hope it was because someone cited the article here at THN or on someone else's forums, and not because you visited the WP site to see it for yourself. How about the fantastic piece thrown out by Leonard Shapiro on Tuesday? That was brilliant stuff. I can't tell you where to find it... because I'd be doing what I am implicitly asking you NOT to do. I read it on the board here and frankly, it made me sick. But are Shapiro and Wilbon even the ones to blame? Aye, there's the rub. It seems to me that at some point, you just have to start looking at the people who sign these guys' checks. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that the Post have been on a seemingly mandated hate trail for quite a while. Their writers aren't being rogue journalists and going against the flow, they're following a directive issued to them by their employer. The 'culprit' in all of this is the one who reads these pieces and actually has a synaptic fire that says, 'Yes, that's worth publishing.' And you're supporting it. I'm asking you not to... and I'll go one further and ask that you focus your energy on encouraging others to do the exact same thing. That's the only way you'll ever hurt them - by completely ignoring their existence. I've had this conversation a fair bit and the most common rebuttal I hear is, 'Well then how am I going to find out what's going on?' I would suggest to you that if you think you're reading about 'what's going on', you're kidding yourself. You read spin, nothing else. You're not educating yourself on events, you're filling your head with rhetoric and making it near impossible to truly know what's going on. The ironic thing is that the Redskins not only embrace it, they encourage it. A news source like theHogs.net is given NO consideration as a media outlet for the simple reason that we are an online entity. We're constantly told that there just, 'isn't room for everybody.' And all the while, they bump us and others like us, for the bottom feeders and the sensationalists. Makes perfect sense huh? Encourage the sensationalism by facilitating nothing else. What a mess. The players seem to dislike the media. The media seem to dislike the players. It's a sure-fire recipe to breed the exact situation that they have. When will enough be enough? When will people open their eyes and see that if you take away the sensationalism, it just might be replaced by factualism if you encourage truly healthy relationships. I'll tell you when... when you take away their 'power' and stop supporting their product. My 2...

The loss of a Hero and a super star!

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:20:23 GMT

This morning brought shocking news. I was lying in bed and heard the reporter state the unthinkable. I was convinced, like many that the positive signs were going to mean good news in the morning. This is tough enough to deal with as an adult. I now try to figure out how to explain this to my son. Anyone that knows Jackson, knows that there is no bigger Redskins fan. He will hear this at school, so his father and I have to explain to him this morning that one of his heros has senselessly had his life taken from him. I cannot imagine how his own child or family will deal with this news. I kept fighting anger yesterday as local news stations felt it neccesary to bring up his previous legal trouble. This was a changed man. Those of us here know how he has changed. I am emotional and sometimes I am quick to judge. It was difficult for me to get past Sean's previous troubles but this year during training camp, he showed me that he was changed. The story was better told by his father but I want to share it anyway. Jackson knows his players and typically the numbers. He unforunately struggles because of free agency and players moving back and forth between teams. When he saw number 21 run by he instinctively called out "Mr. Smoot, Mr. Smoot!". From what the media has reported, you would expect him to run right past and ignore Jackson's mistake. He did not. He took the time to stop and tell Jackson that his name was Sean and asked Jackson's name. He signed his autograph and continued to engage Jackson in conversation. He ended with telling him that he was glad that he came out to camp. Jackson was moved, as were his father and I. So this morning, as the hogs.net's resident over reactor and emotionally charged person, I fight tears. Tears for the loss of a player, a father, a son, a hero to my young son. I want my son to know that you are more in life then what you do. Sean has helped me teach him this lesson. I hate that he was taken from this life before more people got to see the side of him that he shared with us that day. My thoughts are with his family. The Redskins family will suffer through this loss for a long time to come. Sean you will be missed not on the football field but in life. Rest in...

Stress, Disappointment, Grief: Another Redskins-Cowboys game

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:24:05 GMT

I often joke with my kids when theyre watching Pixars Cars for the 427th time that maybe this time McQueens tires wont blow on the final lap and hell win the race, instead of tying with the King and Chick. Thats how I felt as I watched the game again last night (yes, thats how committed I am to you, the reader, that I will suffer that pain again). But, alas, they couldnt pull it out the second time, and rather than go for best of five, I deleted it forever from my TiVo. Did someone set off a stink bomb in the owners box? Say what you want about Dan Snyder, but at least he isnt on the sidelines halfway through the third quarter when his team is in trouble. The worst part is that now the cameras can get up nice and close to Jerry, so we can see all that stretched skin on his face. Its like something out of a Hannibal movie. Just like they drew it up. Okay, Ill fake to you Clinton, and then you make a flying block at the blitzing linebacker dont forget to get hurt. Chris, you whiff on your block on Ware. Antwaan, you run a post, and then do that stupid box thing that you do with your hands that no one understands. Santana, go down the sidelines, Ill overthrow you a bit, and you make the one-handed catch. Ready-break. Captain Obvious. Okay, lets get the obvious out of the way JC should have run for the first down rather than try to throw to Randle El; Sean Taylors absence was mega-super-huge, given the secondarys unwillingness to get within 20 yards of TO; Shawn Springs had an absolutely horrendous day; and finally, yes, Dallas fans should be happy that their team escaped with a win, playing at home against a struggling 5-4 team. Lets move on. Moooom, Terrell pushed me! So theyll call a taunting penalty on Fletch for yelling at the sidelines a few weeks ago, but TO pushing Springs is okay? In my opinion, neither should be a penalty, but at least be consistent. Motion sickness. Ive mentioned the need to change up the snap count in past blogs (before Troy Aikman did so on Wares forced fumble), but a thought occurred to me: with all the motion and shifting in Saunders offense, I imagine its tough to go on a two or three count. With some motions, it may be possible, but in most cases, the quarterback is calling for the snap when the player in motion gets to a designated spot. So while all the motion may help confuse the linebackers and secondary, it may not help the offensive lineman much. New, from Nike The Air Sellers sneaker. Mid-afternoon booty call. If you believe in such a thing as the god Fortuna (as opposed to her sister, Lady Luck), you would have to guess that the Cowboys are sleeping with her, and she may even be their Sugar Mama. Three bad snaps, all falling neatly into the hands of a Cowboy (including the ol off the facemask to the RB play), one even for a completion. Great bounces on punts, limited injuries this year, and the list goes on. Sometime, you cant fight fate. Unsung Hero of the Week: goes to Rock Cartwright. Quietly, the guy is having a monster year, and consistently puts our offense in a position to score (not that they take advantage of it). He doesnt look like much, but hes doing a heck of a job. Et tu, Joe? It looks like Joe Buck has joined the rest of the media on the Cowboys train. So sad. Whatcha gonna do when they come for you? Im no cop, but Im sure its illegal in several states for a former Cowboy great to say that his favorite player in the league is a Redskin. Theres no winking in football! Just who the heck is Tony Romo winking at?!? Or does he have some sort of medical condition? Funniest moment of the game was in the first quarter, the Cowboys were on offense, and Jones and Kosier were blocking Flozel Adams out of the huddle. So he grabs them both by the shirt and shoves them out of the way so he can hear the play. Classic. More than meets the eye. Mike Sellers looks like a Transformer with his new helmet and facemask. You almost expect to see him transform into a tank after he catches the ball. Oh, thats right, he already does that. Apples to apples. You can compare Romos stats with Campbells and say that Romo had a better game, which is true, but I think Campbell threw the ball better. Romo was very fortunate (maybe THATS who hes winking at) that three of his throws over the middle were not picked off. Two drops by Rocky Mac, and one that went through the hands of Fletcher. All three would have had HUGE impacts on the game. Romo seemed to be forcing it a bit on his throws in the middle. Déjà vu all over again. 3rd and 19. 3rd & 19?!? How do let anyone get behind you, let alone that big guy with Owens on the back of his shirt?!? Of the four, that one pissed me off the most. I was here last week saying the same thing about 3rd and long. We need to fix this. Your NFL Rule Tidbit of the Day. I dont know if this was done on purpose by the Redskins, but on the drive that resulted in the touchdown to make the game 28-23, the Redskins were huddling after players went out of bounds with more than five minutes left. As Im sure all of you know, the clock will restart once the ball is set with more than five minutes left in the 4th quarter, even if a player steps out of bounds. Apparently, some of the Redskins didnt know that. Todd Wade, pay attention. See that guy out there, number 53? He's got a bad hammy. He's in obvious pain. He can barely get up after each play. And yet he does. Because it's the Cowboys, and he's a Redskin. Meanwhile, you're knee is good enough for you to be standing on the sidelines chatting it up, or walking around the clubhouse without a limp. Maybe your knee really is messed up, and I'm wrong, but it sure looked to me like you could take a lesson from Mr. Washington on what it means to be a Redskin. Nothing to see here. In a thread earlier this week, one poster suggested that Santana Moss should sit this week, and every week until hes really healthy. I have inside information that said poster was about to jot down some notes to this effect after Moss was invisible in the first half, with the intention of placing the comment in some sort of blog or something. Well, where is that poster now, after Moss great second half, eh? Show your face, coward! Elizabeth! Im comin to join ya! I can say with confidence that I have never been more nervous this season than I was when the skins were driving for the potential game-winning score (Im sure Cowboy fans may have felt the same way). It was fun. Isnt that why we watch the game? To see how our emotional investment will work out? Unfortunately, this week, my investment left me face down on the living room floor for several minutes. But you can bet your sweet patootie that me and my emotional investment will be back next week, heart meds in...

A moment of silence for Sellers' fertility...

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:53:10 GMT

Ouch. That hurt. Its only one loss, but 6-3 is miles away from 5-4, especially with the Cowboys coming up, in Dallas, no less. The only bright side to the Eagles game is that my friend Moose Johnson was the color guy, so I get to make fun of him some more. Moose is an Idiot: The Sequel. Immediately after Moose states with authority that the Redskins offense is going to pound it, pound it, pound it, they go play action, and proceed to throw the ball more than Ive seen them do in a long time. Impeccable. It has been talked about this week, but its not so much the volume of penalties the Redskins are committing, its the timing. I feel confident in saying that if just those critical penalties are eliminated, the score swings at least 14 point in the Redskins favor. Im a genius. Ive been calling for it all year, and finally they ran it: fake the WR screen and go deep. Of course, it fell incomplete, but hey, genius is a theoretical thing, you wouldnt understand. Lo knows football. So now Lorenzo Alexander has played on the defensive line, offensive line, tight end, and now fullback. The next step is to have him return punts, then, in the offseason, hell sign with the Royals, and be the next guy to go 40-40. Shut up, already. I said it last week: turnovers are important, but third downs are more important. The turnovers were equal, but the Eagles converted a better percentage of third downs than the skins (plus a 4th down conversion), and more importantly, converted at critical points. That stat changes for the better, we start beating teams without me having to chew my fingernails off every week. and thanks to our producer Hugh Heffner I noticed that there were more cheerleader shots this week than in the past. And the shots were better in quality as well. Not just a shot where the girl is shaking her pom poms (the ones in her hands), covering up her, um talent. But shots of them moving andwell, moving. Ill leave it at that. Not that Im complaining. Although there were several humphs from my wifes side of the couch. No Moss. Again, mentioned on the board already (I really need to get my act together and get this blog done on Monday), but I think they should sit Santana until hes really ready. Hes proven that hes ineffective when hurt, so lets sit him and try to muscle through the next few games without him. With any luck (ha!), well get him back when were fighting for a playoff spot in the last few games. The pregame pep talk no one heard between Carlos Rogers and Randall Godfrey: CR: Hey Randy, I hear youre filling in for Marcus again this week. RG: Yup. CR: Well, for good luck, I want to give you my lucky gloves I wore every game before I got hurt. Hopefully, theyll be as lucky for you as they were for me. RG: Gee, thanks (author: okay, he probably doesnt say gee) - *wipes away tear*. CR: Go get em, tiger. Moose is still an idiot. So that little card that tells you when you should go for 2, you should pull it out with about 6 minutes in the 4th quarter? Some teams go six minutes without touching the ball. So youre supposed to go for one, and then let the other team run out the clock, according to Mr. Johnson. 3rd and freaking 21. There is no way a team should even come close to converting a 3rd and 21. Heres a hint theyre probably going to pass. Cover the guys with the 80s on their chests running towards that tall orange thing. No way. On the subsequent 4th and inches, Moose states that there is no way that the Eagles run a quarterback sneak with the Redskins stacking the line. And what do the Eagles run? A QB sneak. The chair recognizes the annoying little man with the glasses. After 4th quarter collapses to the Giants, Packers and now Eagles, expect Dan Snyder to petition the league to eliminate the 4th quarter entirely at the next league meeting. Wow. Im not hearing much talk this week about how much Jason Campbell stinks. The guy was sharp this week. The throw to McCardell for the touchdown was a major league throw, on the money. If he plays at that level every week, well get better. Ch-ch-changes. So now weve confined Joe Gibbs play-calling stupidity to the offensive series in the 4th quarter where the Redskins failed to score a touchdown despite numerous attempts. But what about how conservative he was the rest of the game? Oh, wait, we used lots of play action, the no-huddle, and let Campbell air it out? Perhaps Joe really means it this time when he says hes willing to change Speaking of which That offensive series (no pun intended) has been the talk this week. What Joe should have done, what he didnt do, prayers he should have said. Let me throw this out there say Joe does throw down there more, and the Redskins still fail to score. Then youve stopped the clock for the Eagles, and saved their timeouts for them. You still kick the field goal, and instead of getting the ball with 3 ½ minutes left and no timeouts and needing to go 70 yards, the Eagles get the ball with 6 or 7 minutes left, and two timeouts. Big difference. And lastly The Eagles go-ahead touchdown was a disaster, start to finish. I mean, they have to go 65 yards in three minutes. What are the chances? With the skins luck, pretty good. Heres how improbable that screen pass was: Gregg Williams blitzed Godfrey, the backer on the side of the play, Fletcher read the play, but was blocked out of the way by two lead blockers, Rocky was late getting there, Pierson took a bad angle to wards the sideline, and was blocked out of the way by Landry, who was being held. The only thing that didnt happen that I expected to was ACL tears to every Redskin player, including those on the sidelines. Best Use of an Expletive Award goes to Mike Sellers. While I wasnt there to hear it, I can only imagine the words coming out of his mouth after getting whacked in hisuhspecial place by Samuels (who had a horrendous day, by the way). Ouch. Schadenfreude of the Week goes to Earnest Byner, who made the effort to actually come on to the field to laugh at Sellers after his date with Samuels arm. Onward, upward. This loss hurts. And yet I cant help but be slightly impressed that were still 5-4 after losing so many key players to injury. After the o-line was cut in half with the losses of Jansen and Thomas, plus Rabach and Kendall hurting, I figured the season was over. And here we are still in control of our own density, I mean destiny. Not bad not great, but not bad considering. And theres still a chance that we can get better between now and Week...

Goose poo mixed with Moose poo.

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 18:59:57 GMT

I never understood the whole J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets! cheer thing. Good thing they didnt name them the Knickerbockers. I dont think New Yorkers can spell that good. Moose is an Idiot, Part I. Can someone really have the mobility to create? Is that even possible? One can have mobility, and can have the ability to create, but I dont think you can have both at the same time, at least. Don't they teach those kids English over in Syracuse? Enough, already. This has been bugging me for awhile, and I finally lost it when viewing a clip of the Jets cheerleaders during the game. All of you in Cleveland, Colorado, Pittsburgh, and elsewhere, listen up: waving a towel above your head does not: a) make your team perform any better, b) strike fear in to the hearts of your opponents, or c) do anything but make you look like a complete and utter dork. Stop it. Correction. It has been in this very blog that perhaps Clinton Portis missed his calling as an Olympic gymnast. After watching him fly around trying to hit anything that moves in the Jets game, I have decided that in the gymnast off-season (whenever that is), he would be perfect for the WWE. With the attitude, the costumes and the Superfly Splashes, hes a natural. And.time! I was wondering when it would happen this season the questioning of Jason Campbell. We Redskins fans are a fickle bunch, and when a player does not perform to our expectations, we gripe. I, for one, am willing to give JC a bit more time before I hand him a Patrick Ramsey Going Away Basket. However, I do agree that in order for this team to get any better, he needs to take his game to the next level. That means hitting receivers on third down, and commanding the offense. It also means changing his demeanor on the field. In the first half, he had defeat in his eyes. If he doesnt improve soon, we'll be debating spending our first round pick (assuming we still have one at draft time) on a QB this offseason. That being said I love the *thunk* that accompanies JCs mid-range throws something that I missed during the Brunell era. Moose is an Idiot, Part II. Twice Moose rambled on and on and on (you get the point) about a well-thrown ball by Clemens (who was born the same day that Roger Clemens ate some food wow, talk about coincidence! Nugget!), only to see in the replay that the ball was tipped. Perhaps we dont give this young quarterback the credit he deserves, seeing as though he can purposely angle his passes to deflect off a defensive linemans hands and into the waiting hands of his receiver. Thank you sir, may I have another? It was fairly obvious to me that the Patriots have exposed the flaws in Gregg Williams defensive scheme. It has appeared as if the strategy is to avoid the big play, while allowing the underneath stuff, and depending on the linebackers to make tackles. Tom Brady took what we gave him, and picked us apart. I saw the same from the Jets on Sunday, and, for the most part, it appeared to work. Im hoping that Gregg can fill the hole before the Eagles game. &%$^# TiVo! I have a love/hate relationship with my Tivo. As I usually do, I sat down at about 1:45 on Sunday, expecting that TiVo has recorded the game from the beginning. Instead, the recording starts at about the 9-minute mark in the first quarter. Unless they started the game 15 minutes early for some reason, I got hosed. Stupid or just crazy? I cant decide if Gibbs decision to try the onside kick before the half was a well-planned strategy, inspired by confidence in his defense, or a desperate attempt to save the season. Im hoping that it hasnt come to the latter, but either way, I think it was a great call. Tee hee! I am old enough to know better, but I cant hear the name Cotchery without thinking Crotchery. Its like something out of a My Name is Earl episode. I cant hear you I have a banana in my ear. Man, Smoot was fired up. It looked like he was talking so much trash that the receivers should have been wearing earplugs. Third and zero. I know they say that the turnover differential is a key stat in determining the success of a team, but I think third down conversions may be equally telling. The Jets were 11 of 18 on third down, including 4 big ones (of 2, 10, 4 and 5 yards) on the last drive in regulation that resulted in a game-tying field goal. And a couple more could have been converted if it were not for dropped passes. On the flip side, the Redskins offense converted only 6 of 13 third downs. That stinks. Both sides need to improve, or it will quickly turn into a long season. Tony S. has been hanging out with Moose too long. Ive only seen Cooley play live once, and it was a preseason game, and I dont know the guy personally, so I cant speak to his personality. But I do watch quite a bit of Redskins football, and I can say that if you label Cooley as emotional and boisterous, youre a moron. Emotional? Randle El is emotional. Tammy Fay Baker is emotional. Cooley, despite his touchdown celebrations, I would not consider emotional. And boisterous? Randle El is boisterous. Tommy Lee is boisterous. Cooley may be eccentric (and perhaps challenged when it comes to selecting shorts in his size), but he is most certainly not boisterous. Maybe Tony got Randle El and Cooley mixed up, since they look so much alike. Zzzzz*snork* hunh? Wha? Are Jets games THAT boring so that fans need to constantly make paper airplanes? Heavy Super Mega Jumbo. I enjoy watching the Redskins pound in a short-yardage touchdown as much as the next guy, but sending in the Jumbo package from the 5 yard line? Really? And no play action? Unsung Hero of the Week goes to Ethan Albright, for five perfect field goal snaps. Shazam gets all the credit, but without Albrights perfection, wed be 4-4. And he could-go-all-theor not'. The collision between Cartwright and Moss was pretty amusing. What was not amusing was the possibility that the lateral could have worked for a touchdown had they done it right. The entire left side of the Jets cover team had compressed to tackle Rock, and if Moss got outside, he could have taken it to the house. Land-ry Lover. As much attention as some other rookies have gotten this year, LaRon Landry is doing everything that Gregg Williams has asked of him. He blitzes, he plays the run, he covers, he plays special teams, and he sticks HARD. If, as one would expect, he improves over the next couple of years, he and Taylor will be a deadly combination. No doubt that Kellen Clemens agrees. When is a rose not a rose? I realize that much has been made of the fact that it took overtime and 431 yards on offense to defeat a 1-7 team. But do 1-7 teams ALWAYS play like a 1-7 team? Isnt it possible that, for one week, they could have played like a 5-3 team? Is a stretch to say that while the Redskins did not play their best game, that the Jets may have? The Jets made mistakes, as most mediocre teams do, but they also had a good game plan and stuck to it. Clemens looked sharp, and could have looked sharper if his receivers didnt drop so many balls (I counted five). I think we should take the win at face value a needed victory against a team that played above their heads. The Best Use of an Expletive Award goes to me, for my creative use of one particular four-letter word (many times), which I used to gently ask of the defense who was covering Mr. Crotchery on the overtime pass that almost got them within field goal range. Apparently, I was not gentle enough, as I was reprimanded by my 7-year...

Redskins 23, Jets 20 OT; Game Wrap

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 00:01:43 GMT

Um... yeah... a lot closer than I'm sure anyone had hoped for... here are some links to re-live it if you dare... At NFL.com Game Center Box Score Play-By-Play Official Gamebook Stats At Redskins.com Recap Portis Leads Physical Rushing Attack Other Recaps: ESPN Fox CNNSI Some articles: TWT: Back From the Brink TWT: A victory, but what's to like? WP: Suisham, Redskins Boot Jets In Overtime WP: Defense Struggles, but Succeeds NY Times: Clemenss 4th-Quarter Drive Not Enough to Save Jets Suisham Kicks Redskins Past Jets In OT WP: For Redskins' Suisham, an Upright Showing Videos: Highlights at NFL.com NFL.com Photos: NFL.com ESPN.com http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/getty/2007/09000d5d803e09a5_gallery_600.jpg The Canadian was money... again. Photo Credit: Al Bello/Getty...

Confessions of a Redskins fan.

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 17:39:02 GMT

Not much to write about this week, obviously. Writing less will help me move on, which I think we can all agree is what we need to do this week. A couple of things stuck out to me though. All or nothing. I was very surprised at the game plan Coach Gibbs decided on against the Pats. In a game where the difference in talent level is substantial, and against a coach who has a reputation for finding and exploiting weaknesses, I had expected Gibbs to come out with a game plan different from his typical style. The Pats expected us to come out and try to dominate the line of scrimmage and run the ball. They expected us to be in third and long situations, and they knew they could do some damage with a blitz on the weakened right side. So rather than do what theyre expecting, why not be more aggressive that usual? Why not try to set up the run with the pass, and slow down the blitz a bit? Throw more on first and second down, to keep them guessing? What do we have to lose? Instead, it looked to me like the Redskins were playing their typical style of football, and hoping not to get blown out. And that worked out well. I could live with being out-played against such a talented team, but there should be no reason to be out-coached in a game like that. Pride. This thought came to me moments after the game, but I let it stew a few days to make sure I wasnt just bitter. It comes down to this statement: I would rather be on the wrong side of a 52-7 drubbing than be a fan of the New England Patriots. As bad as that loss was, I am less embarrassed to be a Redskin fan this week that I would be if I were a Patriots fan. Yeah, maybe theres still some bitterness in there, but I asked myself how I would feel if Joe Gibbs were caught cheating, or running up the score, or sleeping with someone elses wife (allegedly). I would have some very serious reservations about the team that I support and cheer for. For me, integrity and pride are a big part of sports, and I would be unable to say that I believe in a coach or player or team that I knew lacked those qualities. Now, Pats fans may say that everyone cheats, or that running up the score is part of this big boys sport, or explain away anything else that their team, coach or players do. Thats fine. I wont argue with them, because I know its futile. Either they are in denial, or they truly deserve to be Pats fans. Me, Im happy to be a Redskins fan every week, win or lose. Onward, upward. So its those thoughts that helped me cope with the loss this week, and look forward to this weeks game, and beyond. No matter what, I know I can have pride in the team that I support maybe not in the quality of their play, but in the quality of their character. Were lucky, not everyone can say that. Go...

Patriots Lots, Redskins Whatever: Post Game Wrap

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:13:02 GMT

Um ... yeah ... not that anyone wants or needs to relive that but we'd be remiss to not offer the chance: At NFL.com Game Center Recap Play-By-Play Official Gamebook Stats At Redskins.com Recap Los Might Be No Mas for Quite Some Time Campbell Lives (Thankfully) and Hopes to Learn Other Recaps: ESPN Fox CNNSI Some articles: The Gibbs Restoration Isn't Working AP: Worst Loss in 60 Years WP: Did Patriots Run Up The Score? ED: No, they did not Washington Slapped Here ED: Hey, it is kinda funny Videos: Highlights at NFL.com More From NFL.com Photos: NFL.com ESPN.com http://assets.espn.go.com/media/apphoto/f323aa86-aef3-458e-943f-6ad2b35fd61b.jpg A sadly accurate way to sum up the Redskins effort Photo Credit: AP Photo/Stephan...

The Cards before the Storm

Fri, 26 Oct 2007 13:15:19 GMT

It took me awhile to get this done, but luckily Boss doesnt dock my pay when Im late. Boo. Whats more terrifying than all that talent on defense? Talent that plays well together. All game I saw guys sprinting to the ball, high fives, hugs, players excited about another players performance. It all points to defense thats tight, that is truly playing together as a team. And its a dangerous sign for opponents. Run away! Wow, that onside kick coverage was horrible. Redskins players looked like the ball had been dipped in cooties, and they were making sure they didnt catch anything. Neil Rackers is still an idiot. That is all. (I couldnt use the word I really wanted to, seeing as though this is a PG forum, but you get the idea). Mother Teresa is turning in her grave. The burning bush was a miracle. The Virgin Marys image on a piece of toast, miracle. Sanjaya lasting as long as he did in last years American Idol (my wife makes me watch), miracle. Kurt Warner playing with a busted elbow definitely NOT a miracle, despite what the announcers said. And he could have split ice blocks with that thing, it was made out of some sort of space metal you see in comic books. If Kurt had done one-handed lefty cartwheels down the field, avoiding Redskin defenders, all the while stocking shelves, then maybe someone should get the Pope on the line. Otherwise, its just a guy making a gutsy start. Whoops. Im sorry, but the penalty of Dockett for the late hit on Sellers was bogus. Landrys was more legitimate, but Docketts was a big call that changed the game. Are they booing? Thats what my wife asks every time Smooty makes a play, which seems to be quite often. I didnt watch him play in Minny that much, but if he played there like hes playing here now, I cant imagine theyd let him go. Its not so much the pass coverage Im impressed with, but how physical hes playing. I continually see him taking out the blocker on screens, and crashing the corner on runs to get in on the tackle. And he had a key block on Fletchers interception return for a TD. Im happy to have him back. Music to my ears. Portis behind Sellers. This phrase usually ends in touchdown Redskins! I hope to hear it for many years to come. I love how London Fletcher plays football. That is all. Carry on. My TiVo is smarter that I am. Due to a power outage, my lover-er, I mean, TiVo, failed to record the Redskins-Packers game while i was away. I knew they had lost, but I was pissed to miss the game anyway. So what did I do? Despite my TiVo's warnings, I watched the Replay on the NFL Network. Stupid me. Whoops, Part Duex. Speaking of Fletcher, I hated that taunting call. What is this, Pop Warner? I understand the image that the NFL is trying to project, but come on. This is an emotional game, guys get jacked up. Its like asking Mike Tyson to NOT bite ears, or Britney Spears to wear underwear. Like a cat on my couch. Anyone notice how well Rocky is shedding blockers and making tackles? It seems like every play hes taking on a huge tackle, keeps his separation until the play develops, then slides and makes the tackle. Hes fun to watch. No wonder they didnt want to give him up. Poise. Im sure its been mentioned before, but I was so impressed with Campbells ability to recognize trouble and adapt. His improvisation on the intended shovel pass to Portis, scrambling for a first down, gave me hope for the years to come. The Front 14. At least, thats how it feels, given the pressure that the defensive line has applied this year so far. I dont know whats changed between last year and this year, but the defensive line play has allowed Gregg Williams to be much more creative with his schemes. Who? Ill be the first to admit that I know very little about Chris Wilson. But when I saw him play this week, the first thought that crept into my head was Dwight Freeney. Now, I know thats a big leap, but he has the build (tall and lanky with arms down to his knees) and the speed. He was frequently in the backfield on a speed rush, and it seemed as though a little work on technique might make him into a difference-maker. Next, on The View. The hot topic is Whos to blame for the offenses poor performances? But I think there are a few things that people are forgetting. We have one healthy starter on the offensive line. One. How many teams could struggle through that and get a win? Not many. Injuries on the line have forced Campbells favorite weapon, Cooley, to stay in more than theyd like him to. Add to that a sub-par season from Moss (which is due to his injury, in my opinion), and youve got all the ingredients needed for a miserable season. But is that happening? No. Somehow, someway, theyre finding a way to win ballgames. Know why? Because they fight their guts out. Hey kid, you want some candy? As a resident of New England, I am forced to watch parts of Pats games (state law). And what Ive been seeing is that, while he is a great quarterback, Tom Brady is slipping into what I call the Daunte Culpepper Coma. The most obvious symptom is throwing deep into double coverage to Randy Moss. He catches a few of those, and all of a sudden, the play is part of the playbook. The disease is named after Culpepper, who contracted it in Minnesota, died in Miami, and is now wasting away in the hell they call Oakland. If Brady isnt careful, he could catch it as well. In steps Sean Taylor, who, being a man who is deeply concerned about the welfare of others, will try help Brady avoid the disease. Hell proverbially put his arm around the quarterback and say, Tom, you cant do this. Sure, Moss will catch a few bombs, but eventually, the magic will fade. Plus, if you try to throw deep on me, Ill punish you. What a guy. Pretty please with sugar on top? I was born and bred in the Boston area, spent most of my life in New England (except for three glorious years in Maryland), and still live here. Most of the friends Ive picked up along the way are Pats fans. Who like to talk trash. It would feel so incredibly great to hear my phone not ringing on Sunday night. Aside from the Dallas games, this is the one I want the most. Pretty please...

Hockey Fights Cancer

Tue, 23 Oct 2007 16:13:00 GMT

I got this press release from the Caps today, and I thought it bore sharing. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Oct. 23, 2007 Capitals to Host Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night, Oct. 26 vs. Vancouver Team to honor legendary beat writer Dave Fay, launch Courage Caps initiative ARLINGTON, Va. The Washington Capitals will host Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Night on Friday, Oct. 26, when the team hosts the Vancouver Canucks at Verizon Center. The evening will feature activities to mark the 10th anniversary of Hockey Fights Cancer (HFC), a league-wide initiative founded by the NHL and NHL Players Association. Washington is one of the leagues 30 teams taking part in the year-long celebration, which commences in October with Hockey Fights Cancer Awareness Month. Capitals president Dick Patrick, vice president and general manager George McPhee and the teams coaching staff and broadcasters will wear pink Hockey Fights Cancer ties provided by the NHL. Capitals staff will also be donning HFC pins to denote the evenings importance. Capitals players will be featured in HFC public service announcements shown throughout the game. Legendary Caps beat writer Dave Fay, who passed away in this summer after a long battle with cancer, will be honored during the first period. Capitals chairman and majority owner Ted Leonsis and president Dick Patrick will present a check for $10,000 to HFC on behalf of Fay. Fays wife, Pat, and son, Michael, will join team officials and NHL vice president of community and diversity programming Ken Martin for the presentation. Fays friends, colleagues, readers and the NHL have donated an additional $10,000 to HFC in his memory. The evening also marks the official launch of Courage Caps, team-issued and branded hats that will be sold throughout the season at Capitals home games, at Kettler Capitals Iceplex and online at WashingtonCaps.com and NHL.com. Players wives and girlfriends will help sell the hats on the concourse during intermissions for $20 with 100% of the sale price benefiting CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation, a nonprofit based in Bethesda and an NHL charitable partner that focuses on raising funds for the Childrens Oncology Group, the worlds largest cooperative cancer research organization that treats 90% of children with cancer. A group of CureSearch families and patients will also be in attendance at the game, sitting in the Olies All-Stars and Alexs Crazy 8s sections. They will be recognized during the evening and a pair will receive intermission Olympia rides. Hockey Fights Cancer is a joint charitable initiative founded in December 1998 by the National Hockey League and National Hockey League Players Association. It is supported by players, NHL member clubs, NHL alumni, the NHL Officials Association, Professional Hockey Athletic Trainers and Equipment Managers, corporate marketing partners, broadcast partners and fans throughout North America. The goal of Hockey Fights Cancer is to raise money and awareness for national and local organizations involved in cancer care and research. To date, Hockey Fights Cancer has raised more than $9...

Overwhelming evidence of our future victory against NE!

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 15:51:09 GMT

Forget all about the hoopla and buzz about the New England Patriots defeating us by a landslide at their home next Sunday. It is not true. And I can provide well document evidence to prove it. We are better on defense: They have allowed fewer yards per game, just two meaningless yards. They have allowed fewer pass yards per game, about 14, almost nothing if you ask me. Aaaah!!!! but ... we have allowed fewer rush yards per game, a humongous TWELVE! and ... We have allowed fewer points per game, a HUMONGOUS 2.4 points on average! Defense leaders Rank NAME YDS YPG RUSH RUSH YPG PASS PASS YPG PTS PTS/G 3 New England 1924 274.9 649 92.7 1275 182.1 120 17.1 4 Washington 1661 276.8 484 80.7 1177 196.2 88 14.7 Not convinced yet? Look at the offense, we are better: They have 432.9 yards per game, a mere paltry 130 more yards per game than we do. They have 133.4 rush yards per game with a mediocre Sammy Morris and an injured L. Maroney, a mere 20 yards more than we do. They score almost 40 points per game, an amount barely but -UNDER- twice as we do. Offense leaders Rank NAME YDS YPG RUSH RUSH YPG PASS PASS YPG PTS PTS/G 1 New_England 3030 432.9 934 133.4 2096 299.4 279 39.9 29 Washington 1827 304.5 688 114.7 1139 189.8 122 20.3 So, what is there not to like? We have very similar defenses and the only difference is that they have an offense but their offense is just running up the score and yards on some weak teams at the end of games. They are over-rated. OK, maybe you are not convinced yet and there might be grounds for some skepticism. I am a patient and understanding fan. How about injuries? Aha! They have an injured RB who may or may not play. We, on the other hand, have an almost brand new, fresh and uninjured OL! See the difference? A pattern is beginning to emerge! OK maybe you are not convinced yet and there might be still grounds for further skepticism. They do have a scouting department and a clever front office which provides them with great depth at every position, and we have Vinny Cerrato and Dan Snyder. Who would not like to go to Six Flags or watch Mission Impossible XII? OK, you still do not believe me. Here it goes: the one and only Ace under my sleeve: We will WIN -because- any team can beat any other team if they prepare and play with character as brothers in arms on any given Sunday. That is why the game is played. Got it?...

Redskins 21, Cardinals 19: Post Game Wrap

Mon, 22 Oct 2007 10:53:58 GMT

The only thing that would have made it uglier was losing the game; nevertheless, here are some links: At NFL.com Game Center Recap Play-By-Play Official Gamebook Stats At Redskins.com Recap Springs Returns to Team, Plays vs. Arizona Fletcher Leads Way In Redskins' Victory Other Recaps: ESPN Fox CNNSI Some articles: AP: Redskins 'Lucky to Get out of Here' with 21-19 Win over Cardinals WT: Seen and Heard at FedEx Field WP: As Necessary, Corner Springs Into Action Cardinals turn down gift from Redskins Videos: Highlights at NFL.com More from NFL.com Photos: NFL.com ESPN.com http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/getty/2007/09000d5d803777ff_gallery_600.jpg Photo Credit: NFL.com - Photo by Win McNamee/Getty...

What a difference a D makes!!!

Sun, 21 Oct 2007 22:13:52 GMT

Wow what a game. Im not sure that my nerves can take another week of this. Im so happy we won and after Neil Rackers three year old temper tantrum earlier in the day I wouldnt have wanted to win any other way! I was so angry that they called offset penalties on that play. He clearly attacked Carlos Rogers and in my opinion should have been ejected for his poor sportsmanship. The only thing that made me feel a little better was seeing him so dejected at the end of his game when his kick just didnt make the grade. Message to Neil Rackers, GROW UP! London Fletcher was remarkable this week. He made a huge impact when he was really needed and Andre Carter also impressed. They (the defense) had a lot on their shoulders this time. The offense just couldnt compensate for the loss of the majority of the offensive line, thus leaving the defense with a lot of time on the field. They played well until the end when they were clearly getting tired. London took a bogus penalty for doing something that is done on almost every big defensive play by someone on the field. He came right back and showed that it was not going to stop him from performing. Carter forced a fumble and although he had a clear shot at taking Kurt Warner out of the game he focused more on making the play. Great effort by the entire defense, those two get special mention. I was not impressed with the referring during this game. I mentioned two of the instances earlier but I also do not understand how a referee can give forward progress to someone who does not have possession of the football. The difference? This week we beat the other team and the refs! Their calls could have cost us the game but we managed to win despite them. The other thing we managed to overcome was the play calling. I just dont understand why were going the way we are with the plays. We seem to do alright when Jason is able to throw the ball. Hes going to make some mistakes but he needs to be able to do what he does best. Running the ball to the left side for 85% of our plays is not going to get the job done and its not doing anything for Jasons confidence. We need to get that straightened out before we play the Patriots. Were not going to win against a strong team like the Patriots without making every effort. Relying on a one possession lead and becoming passive with the offense will never cut it in New...

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:30:46 GMT

To my dear fellow poster joebagadonuts. Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Dear Hogs, It is Monday, 15 October 2007. Yes, the day after you know what, -again-. And yet ... we are here alive and the world is still turning. The way I see it we have two options. Either, a) we suffer the emotional and physical hangover of an irresponsible, incompetent and unintelligent loss and let it linger for an ENTIRE week making our lives and the lives of those close to us at home and work miserable; OR b) we tell it like it is and live with it from now on until the end of the season. Sure, I am an experienced and practicing fan of option 1 above. My family knows when to withdraw from the TV room and close the door behind them as soon as they see the game going to the dogs. They know when it is best to leave me cursing at players, coaches, the front office, the refs, the announcers, and even the commercial advertisements! I am an expert at getting down on what could have, should have, and would have happened if ONLY they had done this and that. I have considerable experience at coming back to the board and either VENT in anger and frustration in search of a catharsis or let the steam build while restraining myself to try to make as much or little sense from the loss through a "rational" explanation. But when I exercise option 1, not only do I ruin Sunday for myself. I ruin Sunday for my family as well. And that is only the beginning ... then it is the turn of my co-workers, family, friends and fellow posters here, or even the unlucky person who phones me at a wrong time at the office over the ENTIRE week. But no more. I have decided to exercise good judgment starting today. I have decided to select option 2. I have decided to keep in perspective not only a loss, no matter how irresponsible, incompetent and unintelligent it might be, but the ENTIRE record (wins and losses) of the Washington Redskins throughout the ENTIRE season. Football is a great game but nothing more and nothing else than a great game. It is not fair to my family, friends, co-workers and fellow posters here to be affected by my anger and frustration as a result of a football game, no matter how great the sport as a whole might be. But most importantly, it is not fair to me. You see, I can and probably should get all worked up about the things I can change and make better in my daily life whether with family, friends and work. Sometimes it is not only the things that I do but the things that I do not do but I should. And that is the problem. A loss and the ensuing emotional and physical hangover that is inherent with option 1 prevent me from doing well the things that I should do well. And it also affects me negatively by not doing at all things that I should do. This is quite selfish and childish in perspective but it is the outcome of allowing irrational passion to interfere with my growth as a mature person and fan. So, I have chosen option 2. Let's look at it and tell it like it is once and for all: joebagadonuts gave us a great blog a while back entitled A Giant Pain , in which there is a paragraph that is worth quoting: Onward, Upward. I see three possible outcomes from this game. One, ... . Two, ... . And three, which may be the worst of them all, the Redskins continue to play Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde football, beating a very good team here and there, and then losing to mediocre teams. Like that cheerleader in high school, they stroke our hope, then leave us with blue..um, feelings. Yes, we have a schizophrenic team with not one but two radically opposed personalities. We will win a few more and lose a few others, about 50% / 50% if you ask me. Our team is nowhere near on its way to win a Super bowl but they are giving us good enough "entertainment" to keep following the season and potentially put up with the Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde syndrome from week to week. We knew from the start that this was not our season, at least not yet. In any event, whoever goes to represent the NFC to the Super bowl is going to be embarrassed by the Colts or the Pats in a blowout. So, hey! Do not let the mediocrity of the NFC and the schizophrenic behaviour of the Washington Redskins organization affect you personally and those around you. Look at the individual player success stories from game to game and throughout the season. There is much to celebrate if you look at individual achievements, valuable lessons and the performance of certain units. We have improved a lot from the 2006 disaster in several important areas. I am still optimistic about the progress of our team this year. Yes, I know that football is a highly competitive activity. That is why it attracts us. That is why we are fans. But even the most physically competitive sport that I choose to follow is not worth it in terms of affecting negatively my personal and professional life. After all, I do have a life and when everything is said and done, football and this board are entertainment and a valuable source of information on it. Hopefully I can draw some lessons from these hobbies that allow me to improve the activities that define me as a family member and a professional. Please do not assume for a second that I am giving up on the Washington Redskins. I will follow every game. I will follow every play in each of them. I will cheer as loud as my lungs allow it. I will only do it removing all the negative elements that may distract me from being a better person, a better fan and a better THN poster. Yours truly, Redskin in Canada PS This Blog was going to be entitled "Anger Management for (Redskin Fan) Dummies" but I want to make it a tribute to the hindsight of...

Redskins, Packers: Post Game Wrap

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 13:08:57 GMT

"The Redskins aren't Who We THOUGHT They Were!" At NFL.com Game Center Recap Play-By-Play Official Gamebook Stats At Redskins.com Recap Moss takes loss personal. Cooley leads offense in 1st half. Oline to be tested again/News&Notes Other Recaps: ESPN Fox CNNSI The warm side of the pillow: WP: A Reversal of Misfortune WP: Mystique-Free Football WP: Moss Takes Blame for His Worst NFL Game Ball-hawking defense picks up offense Videos: Highlights at NFL.com Photos: http://scores.espn.go.com/nfl/photos?gameId=271014009 http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/getty/2007/09000d5d80342106_gallery_600.jpg Photo Credit: NFL.com For Extra Credit:...

Redskins 34, Lions 3: Post Game Wrap

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 12:58:33 GMT

Run, run, pass...? A Carlos Rogers interception...that was not only caught in stride but caught cleanly and returned for a TD? 5 sacks by the defense in one game without blitzing? 34 points?!? Mike Sellers finally got the ball? Brandon Lloyd was in the game?!? Who's team is this again? This is one to bookmark guys! At NFL.com Game Center Recap Play-By-Play Official Gamebook Stats At Redskins.com Recap Defense shuts down Lions passing attack Jason Continues to Progress News&Notes Other Recaps: ESPN Fox CNNSI Full of Praise: WP: Shutdown Mode WP: Lions feel Redskins pain WP: Injuries hit Redskins ROADSKINNED Videos: Highlights at NFL.com Photos: DETnews.com DETnews.com http://static.nfl.com/static/content//public/image/getty/2007/09000d5d8030af62_gallery_600.jpg Photo Credit: NFL.com (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty...

Pig-Headed?

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 17:55:40 GMT

A very concerning trend is emerging from Redskin Park lately - pig-headed personnel decisions. Now I know that it's near sacrilege to speak ill of Mr. Gibbs in Washington, and I'm certainly one of his biggest fans and supporters, but where is the football logic behind some of these decisions? I don't even know that it is Gibbs, I just know that there continue to be cases to point at and wonder what on earth... Lavar Arrington. I'm not going to make this a 'should he / shouldn't he be a Redskin' type blog entry. It's up to the individual to decide if Arrington was worth keeping around despite his freelance tendencies. I do know that it seemed that the team deliberately turned him INTO a pariah in the middle of a season. I do know that the team consistently made the wrong moves with benching him, and playing him only on certain downs. I do know that regardless of what you thought of Lavar's play, he was a team leader at the time - if not THE team leader. They virtually assured his failure by crushing the very essence of what made him - his spirit. He was castigated to what - make a point? It's one thing to tailor or reduce a role for a player, but it's another thing entirely to just turn him into a scapegoat, and then pay millions of dollars to get rid of him. Adam Archuletta. Pay a guy a boat load of money to come and play in D.C. and then put him at free safety instead of at strong (where he belongs) when he gets here. Then, because he really isn't suited to his new role, he doen't do well, you ostracize him, you stick him on the bench, and you pay him big money to do absolutely nothing. The guy never even got a chance to play his position. If you look at both how Arch is fitting in with the Bears, and the fact that the Redskins moved Sean Taylor BACK to free safety this year - how was Arculetta not a personnel error? Not only did he not live up to his fullest potential, but the Redskins panicked, dumped him, and ate another huge cap hit. You just can't do business like that in modern football, let alone repeatedly. The salary cap mandates that you take your 'investment' into consideration or you're constantly paying millions and millions of dollars in dead cap, while you make 'points'. It's CRAZY to think that having millions and millions of dollars in dead cap money DOESN'T affect the product tht you're able to put on the field. And now the Redskins are doing it again with Brandon Lloyd. I know that I'll be accused of being biased because we did a show with the guy last year, but in reality, that really just gives me FIRST HAND knowledge of a lot of what went on. Not press snippets conjured up by sensationalist writers, but the actual facts and events as Brandon experienced them. I also know that Brandon worked really hard in the off-season both at getting in great shape, and at putting last year behind him. That's admirable whether you like the guy or not. He came to camp hoping to make a difference and it was all for not. Why? Pig-headedness. He was never even given a chance and it seems that the longer we go, the less chance there is that B.Lloyd will ever make a meaningful contribution to the team. The real question is, is that all Brandon's fault? In my opinion, the answer is no. I'm not going to defend the guy because as I said, I'll be accused of bias and the point will be entirely missed. He must accept some of the blame as there have been some issues, but all of it? No way. Still, I want to remove any potential for accusation of 'feelings' towards Brandon, so let's just look at the results of the actions as it pertains to the product that the Washington Redskins put on the field. The Redskins moved Antwaan Randle El to the number two spot. With all due respect to El, he just isn't a number two guy and now he's just playing at a position that doesn't really allow his particular skill set to be showcased. He had a great first game, but he's really struggled to get open and make much impact at receiver since then. Let's remember that in the Redskin offense, a lot of what the number two guy needs to do is draw coverage away from Santana Moss - that isn't happening. So not only do you have El out of place at number two, the Redskins aren't getting anything in coverage that helps their number one receiver. Since personnel-wise we also seem to have decided that Chris Cooley should block the opposition's leading pass rusher as many as 15 times in a half (Giants), the Redskins have once again become a very predictable, defendable offense. Next part of the equation - the number three spot. The Redskins said that they were going to use Lloyd in the slot due to the move, but they haven't. Brandon's lucky to see the field five times in a game and usually he's blocking. Gibbs or Saunders decided that James Thrash would be better suited to the role. The result? Zero catches for zero yards for Thrash. I love Thrash, but not as my number three receiver in an offense with a ton of three receiver sets. Why? Because he could go the whole season without a catch - he's not getting open - he belongs on special teams and as an injury back-up at this point in his career. He isn't scaring any secondaries that's for sure. Then the Redskins bring in Reche Caldwell. Caldwell has the same number of catches as Thrash so far - zero. But wait you're saying - he doesn't know the offense. Yeah - so what? That's what happens when you pick up a guy in September - what do you expect? By the time he learns the offense well enough to make a contribution, it might be too late. All the while, catches are being taken away from others at practce as Caldwell tries to get up to speed. Now Moss has a tweaked hammy and the Redskins bring in Keenan McCardell. Awesome, see Caldwell entry for thoughts. How long will it take him to get up to speed and make a contribution? Days... weeks... months... how's it going to help with Moss' injury unless they plug him in right away? How is McCardell's signing NOT also proof that Caldwell hasn't exactly blown the barn doors off. So instead of what was potentally a solid receiver line-up with Moss, El and Lloyd, it's turned into a horror show. We could actually have El, Thrash, McCardell, and Caldwell in against the Lions? Yeah, that'll put the fear of God into the opposition - three guys with a sum total of zero catches this year. All instead of just trying to be professionals and using the receiver that you already have, that already knows the offense, and that has kept his mouth shut through this entire debacle. Let's face it - this could have (and still might) get ugly, but at least Brandon has done the right thing and not bitched and complained to everyone that wanted to listen. From a football stand point - none of it makes any sense. The Redskins are just a better team with Lloyd contributing than sitting on the bench and collecting a pay check. Clinton Portis said this week that, "... the sooner he can get on the field, the better we'll be." He paraphrased it with some player speak about practicing well, but wasn't he really just keeping the peace and getting it out there that the Redskins should at least give Lloyd a chance at this point? But it just doesn't look like it's ever going to happen. Miraculously though, management and coaching get a pass and this is all Lloyd's fault. Of course it's Brandon, this couldn't possibly be anyone else's fault, because it might require pointing at the infallible Joe Gibbs. After all, whether certain decisions are made by Gibbs or not, he's the team president, so he's accountable for the results of those decisions. I love Gibbs. None of this affects my feelings for the man who has brought so much Redskin happiness my way - but this obvious trend is both alarming, and disconcerting. It's not putting the best possible product on the field for the Washington Redskins - and what else should matter? I've heard Mr. Gibbs called a 'father figure' by so many former players that there must be truth to it. So riddle me this - do fathers send their kids for five-minute timeouts, or do they ground them for the rest of their lives? The situation with Lloyd isn't much more complicated than that. Benching him just smacks of pig-headeness and stubbornness, especially given the potential injury that Moss has (again). How does it make sense to penalize an entire roster of players by NOT giving them their best opportunity to win? It doesn't; yet, here we are. I don't know if it's Gibbs' decision, or Al Saunders' decision, or Dan Snyder's decision... I just know it's a crappy football decision. This is theHogs.net; we love almost anything related to the pig. But not pig-headedness. My 2 cents My 2...

Mary Poppins: New starting middle linebacker.

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 14:21:08 GMT

I hate bye weeks. Hate em. There should be anticipation on Sundays. You should be checking your watch every minute and a half, disappointed that the day is not somehow moving faster towards kickoff. There should be the feeling of absolute schedule clearing when the game does start. Religious education be damned, the game is about to start. But during the bye week nothing. No anticipation. No pregame jitters. Nothing to look forward to. Depressing. So, in my depression, I thought Id do a little Week 4 recap, talk a bit about what I know, what I dont know, and hit some points that perhaps I missed earlier. The Real Deal. Okay, so maybe Im counting my chickens a bit, but Jason Campbell has not just shown flashes of greatness, he has been steady and good. Patrick Ramsey showed flashes. Gus showed flashes. Jason isnt just showing flashes, but had been getting more consistent every week, and is looking like the real thing. Thatll be 100,000 brain cells, please. Laron Landry should work for the state, because he is awesome at collecting tolls at the goal line. Mr. Buress? You would like to score the go-ahead touchdown? Sure thing, but itll cost you some gray matter. Enjoy it now, because you wont be able to tell your grandkids about it - you wont remember it. Mr. Curtis? Youd like to score the tying score? Sorry, no goofy white guys allowed in MY endzone. The guy just hits, and sure, hes missed a few tackles here and there, but again, hes a young guy whos playing very solid ball. If he develops into the type of flying-around, no-regard for my body player that Sean Taylor has in the last few years, watch out. I have not given up hope. That Dallas will still stink this year. Sure theyre 4-0, but the teams theyve played are a combined 3-13 this season (Redskins opponents are 3-9). Thats pretty dismal. My kids flag football team could probably be 4-0 at this point too, and he has kids on his team that dont know their right from their left (of course, Im sure a large percentage of Cowboy players need help putting their shoes on too). The Dallas offense is explosive? They have not yet faced a team with a defense ranked in the top half of the league. So while Im willing to begrudgingly give them an okay, theyre decent, I am not yet willing to admit that theyre actually any good. Thats too painful so early in the season. Ho hum. Its started already, after four weeks the undefeated talk. The 72 Dolphins talk. Can we move on, please? All of us know (except perhaps for the 72 Dolphins) that its a vastly different game these days. The chances of a team going undefeated in this era in the regular season alone are probably astronomical, never mind adding three games in the post season. Yes, it was a great accomplishment. Yes, they deserve accolades. But it was frickin 35 years ago? Can we move on already? Balance. Im liking the running back situation. I said it before that Im excited abut the idea that Clinton Portis, by virtue of his sharing time with Betts, will be fresh come Week 18 (thats playoff week, for those of you who cant count). Agreed, Betts is not Portis, despite what Joe Gibbs thinks, but hes good enough to not have a significant drop in production when Clinton takes a breather. If Portis were the workhorse, with no viable backup, Id guess that his knee situation would be much worse by now, to the point where he may not be available. This way, they can lean on Betts a bit more, and wait for Clinton to heal up. (Im still not happy that Clinton was not in with the game on the line). An enigma. Wrapped in a riddle. I just cant figure out whats up with the Brandon Lloyd situation. If he peed on Joe Gibbs shoes and is in the dog house, then thats one thing. But to have yet another acquisition that doesnt pan out (see: Duckett, TJ), and the player quietly slips in to Redskin Oblivion, seems like a bit of mismanagement. Its one thing to pick a guy in the draft, and it ends up that he cant cut it for whatever reason. But to trade draft picks (which are like play money to Dan Snyder) for a guy who has NFL experience on tape for all to see and evaluate, and then be completely wrong about him is a sign of either overconfidence in the abilities of our coaching staff to make that player better, or a sign of poor management. Im an idiot. Of all things, this I am most sure. Joe Gibbs would not call me Supersmart. I may fight my guts out from time to time, but Supersmart I am not. Way back in the offseason (*shudder*), I planned a trip to Disney for the wife and kids. We settled on October because the crowds are smaller, and it doesnt matter if the kids miss school since theyll be on a scholarship anyway come college time. Now that Ive made all the reservations, the horrible reality that I will miss not one, but TWO games (this week and next) in a row.following a bye week.which followed a crappy loss. Thats almost a whole month with no Redskins. Sure, Ill have the games TiVoed. Sure, I can catch the scores in between character meals (Mary Poppins is a hottie, you have to admit plus she can do magic *wink*), but you all know its not the same. So the bye week for me really means bye. No blog from me following the win against the Lions. Like they say in the cheesy 80s action movies. Go on without me! So while youre watching the game, jumping up and down with excitement, spittle on your TV screen, think of me, crammed into a fiberglass Dumbo, surrounded by screaming 6 year-olds, wondering how my Redskins are doing - and pity me. Enjoy the...

A Giant Pain

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:28:19 GMT

Ouch. That one hurt. I mean, what can you say about that. Not much without violating that little no cursing rule they have round this forum. It was like watching a horrible car accident before it happens, and not being able to warn those involved. I could feel it coming in the second half when the Giants scored right away. The Redskins looked uninspired and not ready to play coming out of the locker room. Well, anyway, before I go depressing myself any further, here are my random and much maligned thoughts. Pathetic. Disgusting. Poor. Repulsive. Nauseating. Just plain embarrassing. Thanks but no thanks. We all love Mr. Lombardi, and even with the fact that the helmets and pants were brighter than the sun, its time to burn em. You dont lose a game like that and then wear those suckers again. iBuck. I am convinced that Joe Buck is a highly-sophisticated robot, sent to conquer sports broadcasting. Its genetically impossible for one man to have that voice AND perfect hair. The Man I Hate to Love. Troy Aikman. Can this guy just be an idiot so I can go back to hating him please? Why does he have to be all reasonable and unbiased, and even compliment the Redskins once in awhile? He was even dead-on in comparing RFK to FedEx Field. Life was so much simpler when I could hate him without feeling guilty about it. Sheesh. Mr. Pierce, meet Mr. Portis. Aikman was even right about Portis being a solid pass blocker. Early on in the game, Portis steps up and clocks Pierce in the mouth, which drew a nice round applause from my end of the couch. Ive made my feelings known in the past regarding Mr. Pierce, but his continued lack of class (mock-waving to the fans after the game) towards the fans that he once claimed he loved brings to mind some very choice expletives. Scrum. I noticed that on Elis fumble, how many Redskins were around the ball for the recovery. True, the blitz was on, but it still seemed like they were flying to the ball in the first half. They would have been flying to the ball in the second half, but they were tied and gagged in the locker room while imposters stole their uniforms and proceeded to lose the game for us. True Calling. If you believe in past lives, then Clinton Portis was Nadia Comaneci in a past life (yes, I know shes not dead). First a couple of brilliant cartwheels last year, and now the head stand. Im now waiting for a double salto. Dont Be Alarmed. Im getting a bit nervous about how easily the Giants ran the ball wide to Andre Carters side. Troy even pointed it out (darn him). Hopefully, the Redskins can address this, otherwise, well be giving up 8 yard runs too often. I Want My Money Back. This is now the third game Ive noticed the lack of replays on certain key plays. I want to see the replay of Eli getting smushed. Its a sack, how do you not replay it 47 times? And this is America. We have replays of everything the war, dads getting smacked in the jewels by waffle balls, Nancy Kerrigan crying her eyes out lying on the floor, and yet I cant get a replay of a sack. Thank you Fox. Really, Dont Be Alarmed. It seems as if defensive linemen are getting pretty good at anticipating Campbells cadence. I know itll take time before he is mature enough to think of everything as he stands behind center, but I just hope he learns it before some big, fast dude ends his career with a blind side hit. Grumble. Theres obviously quite a bit of grumbling in Redskin Nation over the past couple of days regarding the final set of downs. I, for one, think that the play calling was fine, and it was a failure to execute. Heres my thinking: First down; the spike. Okay, I can live with it. Others have argued that they should have run the play action pass to Sellers on first down. But if he catches that pass, theres a good chance hes stuffed short of the goal line, because the backer was right on him. So now you have to scramble to get set, and you only have about 45 seconds to run as many as three plays, one of which wants to be gut left. Plus, youve now given yourself three downs to score from the one. Piece of cake, right? Second down: play action pass. I like the call. The typical version is run, run, play action pass on third down. Here, Al is trying to catch the Giants sleeping. Unfortunately, they werent. Even if Sellers catches the ball, he doesnt get in. Third down: run off-tackle left. This is the Washington Redskins. We own third and goal from the one. Its who we are. There is no reason why we should not be able to score here. Betts makes a mistake when he cuts back inside, when Sellers had cleared a lane to the outside. If Betts waits another split second and cuts outside, were into OT. Fourth down: run off tackle left. This is the Washington Redskins.blah blah blah (see above). I still think this is the right call. The Rams would roll the QB out. So would the Falcons and the Eagles. The Redskins run the ball right down your throat. This time, it didnt happen. So I see it as a failure to execute, rather than poor playcalling. Which brings me to my only complaint: why wasnt Portis in there? The game is on the line, you want your playmakers out there. Portis has this greased pig sort of ability to squeak through the smallest of spaces and create room to run. In a situation where every inch counts, it seems like a no-brainer to me. My guess is that it was Joe Gibbs call, and yet I still cant understand why. Mint, please. The worst thing about a loss like this is the aftertaste that will last through the bye week. I know, I know, were 2-1, which is where we had thought wed be anyway. But when the waiter brought by the 3-0 dessert cart, my mouth started to water. And yet we chose the 2-1 after-dinner chocolate covered poopy. I just hope that this loss doesnt hurt us in the end. Onward, Upward. I see three possible outcomes from this game. One, the Redskins use this as a valuable lesson that a football game is actually 60 minutes long, and in order to succeed, they need to punch the other guy in the mouth until the gun goes off. Two, they spiral out of control to a 6-10 record, including two losses to the hated Cowboys. And three, which may be the worst of them all, the Redskins continue to play Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde football, beating a very good team here and there, and then losing to mediocre teams. Like that cheerleader in high school, they stroke our hope, then leave us with blue..um, feelings. Personally, Im voting for option one, but Im interested to see how the Redskins players...

Giants 24, Redskins 17: Post Game Wrap

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 15:12:53 GMT

As fans look for a specific reason that the Redskins lost to the Giants, they're over-analyzing; the fact of the matter is that the Redskins just flat out played badly and let one get away from them. Here is the game information... if you dare re-live it... At NFL.com Game Center Recap Play-By-Play Official Gamebook Stats At Redskins.com Recap Transcript of Joe Gibbs Press Conference Final Play Ends in Frustration Other Recaps: ESPN Fox CNNSI The Fall Out: WP: For Defense, the Outcome Hurts in Many Ways WT: Total Collapse WP: A Half-Off Deal Giants Defense Comes To Rescue WT: Giants stun themselves in triumph Fox: Giants Find Winning Formula Videos: Highlights at NFL.com Photos: NFL.com ESPN http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/getty/2007/09000d5d8029f875_gallery_600.jpg Photo Credit: NFL.com (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty...

Decisions, Decisions... Aaaaah Payday!

Thu, 20 Sep 2007 11:10:22 GMT

I'm likely making myself look 'old' but, does anyone remember that old board game Payday? http://www.fatbraintoys.com/images/products/large/WIN004.jpg They used to have this cheesey commercial that had game players saying... " Decisions, decisions... aaahhh... Payday! " That's all I could think on Monday night when Chris Cooley hauled in a 16-yard touchdown pass to put the Redskins up 10-6 at the half. If you missed the game, Washington had first and goal from the one yard line, and having no timeouts left, Jason Campbell spiked the ball to stop the clock with just fourteen seconds to go in the half. Decision time for Joe Gibbs - try to get off another play and risk not being able to stop the clock again, or send out Shaun Suisham for a field goal and go into the half tied at 6-6. Surely there's time to take one crack at it, right? Gibbs sends in a play and keeps Suisham on the sidelines. The Redskins line up to run a play, but not before the play clock runs down, and they're tagged with a five yard delay of game penalty. Starting from the six instead of the one, Gibbs sends in the kicking unit and decides to go into the half even, but Philadelphia calls a time-out before Suisham can kick. Were they trying to freeze a kicker that proved last week that he has ice water in his veins? Regardless of the Eagles reasoning, now Gibbs was faced with "Decisions, decisions," those of you that remember the old Payday commercials can fill your own head with the old commercial right now please. Coach Gibbs changes his mind, and sends the offense back on to the field. At this point, it's becoming near comical as the units run and off the field. The Redskins line up for the play, and Jason Fabini moves before the ball is snapped - false start Washington. It seemed like everyone in the stadium, on the field, and in TV land all looked at Gibbs to see if the Redskins were still playing musical units. Not this time - the Redskin offense stays on the field to run their play, but this time from from the eleven yard line. They line up again and unbelievably, with the exact same results. Fabini moves early again, and the Redskins are tagged with another false start and five more yards; they're now first and goal all the way back at the sixteen yard line. Again, the collective mass looks on at Gibbs to see what he will do; cue that Payday clip in your head again please. "Decisions, decisions..." After three straight penalties, it was actually a bit of a surprising 'decision' that Joe didn't change his mind again at this point. With sixteen yards of real estate between the ball and the end zone, there was certainly a much greater risk of running a play that didn't reach the end zone and having the clock run out as they tried to get up and spike the ball again. Gibbs dug his heels in though, and appearing firm in his conviction, looked on as the Redskins finally got the play off without a penalty. Campbell drops back, surveys the field, and threads the ball between two defenders to Chris Cooley in the end zone. Payday! (Now would be a good time to let that old ad play in your head it's entirety - "Decisions, decisions... aaahhh Payday!") After a bit of comedy, and a bit of drama, coach Gibbs' decision to bring Suisham off the field and put the offense back out there, ultimately resulted in the Redskins' second big payday of the...

The Over and Under

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 17:26:29 GMT

The Over and Under Monday night games are tough; they are televised to a national audience. Road games on Monday night are even tougher. Add to this the fact that the road trip took the Redskins to one of the most hostile environments in the NFL and our win should get us at least a little respect. Imagine my shock to wake up Monday morning and hear that the Eagles are a horrible team. All week long, Ive been hearing how strong they are. How agile and quick Donovan McNabb is even when he is not playing at 100%. I have tried to figure out just where this derogatory attitude towards my team comes from but it just does not make sense. Thanks to the magic of Wikipedia, I found the following definition of underdog: An underdog is a person or group in a competition frequently in electoral polictics, sports, and creative works, who is popularly expected to lose. The popular opinion of the Redskins is that we will lose. Obviously, that is no surprise. Hence, we are the underdog. We hear it on every channel, every Sunday. I personally like the theory of being the underdog. It motivates the team and the players to silence the media. However; the reality of being one stinks. I hate hearing the deprecating remarks constantly. I scream at the television and cringe when I know an analyst is going to be breaking down our upcoming contest. I know what this prophet is going to say, I know where the break downs always lead. It continually leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. The media just angers me. I would use the word upset but it goes beyond being upset. It makes me want to take action, to do something to get these men the respect they deserve. Our game was not perfect. There were several instances where things looked out of sync. But we did win the game. We won the game based on our ability to exploit Philadelphias weaknesses. That is what football is all about. Our defense hit hard, covered well, and kept Donovan McNabb out of the end zone. They did not score ONE TOUCHDOWN. Do we get credit for that? NO Our offense moved the ball, converted on 3rd down and even when we failed to do so, we still called the right plays to get it done. The pieces of a playoff team are in place and they are starting to work. I heard someone from the local media this morning say that our team gets no respect from national media. And that makes me a little angry, what makes me even angrier is seconds before I heard the commentary of this same personality and his cohorts. They had no respect for our team either. Next Sunday we began again. Same story, same outcome I hope. We are only 3 point favors over a torn up Giant team that is coming to our house to...

Redskins 20, Eagles 12 - Post Game Wrap

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 13:23:23 GMT

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t250/sonnyboy__/Team%20Logos/100redskins.gif VS http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t250/sonnyboy__/100eagles.gif The Redskins proved the entire nation wrong last night. ESPN showed a graph of the entire nation choosing the Eagles to win this MNF match up, yes even the District of Columbia picked the Eagles. Not only did the Redskins win in convincing fashion, you can tell that they're still not firing on all cylinders yet. Game Center via NFL.com Play -by-Play via NFL.com Drive Chart via NFL.com Game Recap via NFL.com Links to other Recaps Game Recap at Redskins.com Game Recap at CNNSI Game Recap at USA Today Some headlines from today... A Winning Formula Is Taking Shape, an article by Michael Wilbon, Post Mike Wise writes that it's an An Exorcise Routine . Jason Reid writes about how the the injury at RG, the defensive line and our newest WR. From our opponents point of view. Headlines from Redskins.com... Game Recap from Redskins.com. Gibb's post game transcript . RG Randy Thomas leave games with a triceps injury . Game pics can be found here courtesy of NFL.com. Our next opponent: http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t250/sonnyboy__/100giants.gif http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/getty/2007/75557853CM001_WASHINGTON_RE_20070917194148_gallery_600.jpg http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/getty/2007/75557853CM003_WASHINGTON_RE_20070917194151_gallery_600.jpg...

Look out, I'm driveling

Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:49:26 GMT

Ill warn you up front: this may not be pretty, and Ill explain why. As the new season began, my thoughts drifted to the responsibilities thrust upon me as a member of the Blog Hogs forum. As I began to think about it, I became a little uneasy. Ive done the Rah rah Redskins blog, the No respect from the Media blog, the Never say die, even though we stink! blog, even the very common Comparing the offseason to my wisdom teeth extraction blog, a variation of which can be seen on every sports site on the Internets. I was tired of the old drivel Id written. I wanted to write new and fresh drivel. Drivel that made THNers exclaim, Wow, thats some really fresh drivel. So this is usually the part where the author states his new and fresh idea. Unfortunately, I couldnt come up with one. So I decided to just ramble on and hope no one notices. And you? Yes, youll sit there and read it, and youll like it! Why? Because I said so! Okay, just kidding about the whole no-idea thing (although I do reserve the right to ramble uncontrollably at any given time). I thought to myself, What is a blog? Its a web-log, a log of my thoughts and actions that I post on the web, in the hopes that someone will read and comment on it, thereby proving my self-worth to my wilting ego. So thats what youre going to get this season my blow-by-blow account of each game from my perspective whether you want it or not. I believe that this style of blog will suit my style of thinking coincidental, random and unorderly. Hopefully youll find it amusing. At worst, its probably better than a sharp stick in the eye, although I have never had a sharp stick impaled into my eye, so I cant be certain. And without any additional foreplay, here are my thoughts and observations on last nights game, as random and wandering as they come. Wheres my heart medicine? I hate Sunday night and Monday night games. It might be because we seem to always be playing a good team on the road when we do play in primetime, but its mostly because of the hour. Its 11:48 p.m. (eastern standard time), the Eagles stand close to our goal line on a 4th down and look to tie the game, Im on my feet, my heart is beating rapidly suddenly the skins make a play to deny the Eagles, and Im jumping up and down and cheering silently (sleeping kids and wife upstairs). A few minutes later, the game is over..and now Im supposed to go to bed?!? Oh sure, give me a few seconds to dial down my heart rate here and Ill be snoozing in no time. Nope, doesnt work that way. The way it does work is that I stay up and watch the highlights several times, watch the interviews, watch South Park reruns, and maybe get to bed by 1:30 a.m. For some of you, this may be normal. For a guy whose 3-year old climbs into bed at 5:50 a.m. the next morning and announces that he has to go poop, its not good. Ouch. Really. Emmit Smith is bad. And I mean that in a nice way. Maybe he needs to take out the mouthguard when he speaks, because he fumbles all over the place. Im sure the guy is trying really hard, but its painful to watch. I try to look away but I cant. But at least its not Michael Irvin. It goes to 11. Whats up with Suzy Kolbers hair? She looks like Nigel from Spinal Tap. I had flashbacks to my 80s days. Wait, is that real? Ill admit that I had a moment of stupidity when I thought, Did they get all those Redskins to charge McNabb like that? for the opening. But when I saw McNabb throw aside Sean Taylor (if that is his real name), I knew it was as fictional as Scientology. Ooops. This will be discussed all over the Internets this week, Im sure, and scrutinized by Eagle fans in prisons throughout the country. Andy Reid decides to ice a kicker on a field goal to close the half. A 31-yard field goal. Practically a chip shot. This decision had a huge impact on the game. If Andy Reid doesnt have a brain toot and lets Squeeze Em kick the 3, they go into the half knotted at 6. Instead, theyre down by 4, and demoralized to boot (Nigel even said so in her halftime report). Granted, they lost by more than 4, but the momentum swing was ginormous. Who are these people, and what have they done with the Redskins defense? I realize that McNabb was off tonight, but you cant put it all on him. The Redskins did two things that they havent done much of lately they got pressure, and they covered really well. At the end, they seemed to slip back into zone coverage, but I think they were just looking to give McNabb whatever he wanted underneath to take time off the clock and prevent the big play. But during the game, they played great bump and run, and the d-line, while they didnt get many sacks or hits on McNabb, definitely made him uncomfortable. Apologies. To Todd Yoder. I cursed you when you dropped that short pass on an early 2nd down that eventually led to a punt, but later on you made a very clutch catch and run to set up Portis touchdown. Plus, you hurt Dawkins. Sorry, bro. To Carlos Rogers. I cursed you (loud enough to wake the wife, actually) when you gave up the crucial 4th down catch, and you let a pick go through your hands later on, but you made a clutch tackle in the final moments to save the game. On the 4th down, Im not sure how you let a receiver get inside of you when you know the house is coming after McNabb. Hes going to be throwing quickly, let him take a chance on getting the ball over your head. Hed have to make a perfect throw. Man on a Mission. Man, did anyone else get the sense that Portis wasnt kidding when he said he has something to prove this year? In two games, the man is bouncing off people and giving third and fourth efforts. The idea that giving Betts more carries will keep Clinton fresh for the end of the year gives me goosebumps. Props. Jason Fabini did have a couple of false starts, but you didnt hear his name the rest of the night, and he helped open some nice holes for the running game and protect Campbell. Like most of you, Im concerned about the o-line with two starters down, but if anyone can whip em into shape, ol sour-puss can do it. Duh. I love it when the refs all stand around and look at each other after a play. It just symbolizes the ineptitude that results when you have 60 year-old guys trying to make sense of a game that moves very fast. Its like watching my dad try to work his cell phone. The ball was moving before his knee hit the ground, by the way. I was surprised they overturned the call. Like, bowling ball size. I LOVED the deep ball call on second down when the Redskins were trying to run out the clock. Loved it. Al Saunders got mucho respect from me on that one. He has weapons, and hell use them as necessary to get the win. And folks, Jason Campbell will hit those throws, and when he does, hell be dangerous. And you have to love that Gibbs and Co. have enough confidence in the defense to do something like that. Theyre saying Were going to try to put the game out of reach with our offense. If it doesnt work, our defense will stop them. I love the confidence, and the swagger that a play like that suggests. Did I say bowling ball size? I was not enamored, however, with the decision to go with a halfback pass up only 10-6. It was a great decision by Portis to abandon the play since no one was open. Sometimes I think Al makes calls just so he can see the look on Joe Gibbs face. You know things are bad when The applause by the crowd for a fair catch was comical. As toothless as they are, you have to admit that sometimes Eagles fans are funny. Pet Peeve No. 1. I dont understand what the deal is with fireworks and fog before the game. The first few plays look like a scene from Hamburger Hill. Its a wonder that anyone down there can breathe. The futures so bright I love what Jason Campbell can do. He has impressed since he stepped onto the field last year. But what I loved about him more in this game is that you can actually see his maturity in progress. He looked off the defense several times, made good decisions (for the most part), and took a few hits but delivered the ball, and then bounced back up. I dont know how much more potential the guy has in him, but I dont think well need too much more to be a participant in the playoffs. I know, hes not there yet, and hes still making mistakes. But the guy played a great game against a hard-hitting defense in a hostile environment. If he keeps growing as quickly as it seems he has over the first two games, we could be in for something special. As Emmit says, Umuh..umwell.. Thank you sir. How long has Tony been watching sports, and he doesnt know to keep his mouth shut about winning when theres still 12-minutes left in the game?!? Was he TRYING to jinx us?!? Rock the Vote. Barkley for Governor in 13! Best Use of an Expletive Award goes to. Me. For telling Mr. Portis to get in the bleeping end zone. Id like to thank the...

Shootout At The Ohio Corral

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 21:25:41 GMT

Anyone catch the Cleveland Browns versus Cincinnati Bengals defensive masterpiece? Okay, so it wasn't defensive at all, but it was still pretty darn entertaining. The Browns put up 51 points, the Bengals put up 45 points. Wow. There were twelve touchdowns and four field goals in the 96 point game that was in the balance right until the final seconds. There was a stunning 1085 yards of offense - 531 yards for Cincinnati, and 554 yards for Cleveland. Some of the individual numbers from the game were gaudy... For the Brownies, Derek Anderson may have only completed 20 passes, but five of them were for touchdowns, and they totaled 328 yards. Braylon Edwards caught two of the touchdown passes and had 146 yards; Kellen Winslow caught one of those touchdowns and had exactly 100 yards, and Joe Jurevicius caught just four passes but two of them were touchdowns. On the ground for Cleveland, Jamal Lewis ate up a massive 215 yards on 28 carries, highlighted by a 66-yard touchdown run, and another 47-yard gain off left tackle. Josh Cribbs had an 85-yard kick return, that the Browns converted into six points three plays later; but he also had a 97-yard kickoff return that got called back for a penalty. In a losing cause for the Bengals, Carson Palmer had SIX touchdown passes and a monster 401 yards on 33 receptions (50 attempts)! Chad Johnson caught two of those touchdowns and had 209 yards on eleven receptions. T.J. Houshmandzadeh also had two touchdown receptions, and Rudy Johnson and Glenn Holt both had a touchdown each. Johnson also had 118 yards for the Bengals on the ground on 23 carries. The Bengals actually had a chance to take the game total over 100 points and win the game when they got the ball back with just over a minute to go. They had no timeouts left though, and Palmer ended up getting picked off with about 20 seconds to go. It's only the third time in NFL history that both quarterbacks have thrown five or more touchdown passes each. I'm sure this game will be on NFL replay this week, despite the fact that there wasn't a stitch of defense, so if you like offensive football games, make sure you catch it. Surprisingly, it's not the highest score total between the two teams as they had a similar game in 2004 that ended up with 106 points at 58-48 Bengals. That's a whole touchdown less than the NFL record of 113 points put up in 1966. Washington fans should know that - it was a 72-41 pasting of the Giants by our beloved...

Cheater, Cheater, Play Call Eater

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 12:50:21 GMT

The NFL passed sentence down on the New England Patriots on Thursday for their 'scandal' last weekend. If you somehow missed it, the Patriots were caught video taping the Jets calling in their plays. The Pats are expected to be a powerhouse in 2007, but apparently they felt the need to cheat anyway. Considering the penalty handed down by the league and Roger Goodell yesterday, why wouldn't they? The official cost of cheating as far as the NFL is concerned? One draft pick and $750,000 in fines. Wait a minute... the Pats get to keep the victory that they cheated to get? Yes they do. And the guy who signed off on it all got a fine and no suspension? That's right. A league that has money falling out of it's proverbial butt end, thought that it would be a real detriment to a team to hit them with a big fine. Ooooohhhhh... very scary. Penalizing them money is a joke... penalizing them a draft pick or even draft picks makes no sense... what a mess. How do you NOT reverse the decision of the game? Wouldn't that have not only been fair and just, but a punishment befitting the crime? How does it seem 'just' to let the team get away with something that undoubtedly had a DIRECT affect on the game? In my opinion, the league should have SUSPENDED Belichek (that would hurt the team IMO), and reversed the game. We're not talking about some paltry one or two game suspension... half or a full season would seem appropriate. That would send a message... to me, they sent the message that it's okay to cheat and you'll just have to pay a fine and lose a draft pick. How does it make sense to penalize the 2010 Patriots for the acts of the 2008 Patriots? That's all stripping draft picks does. It's a slap on the wrist for a team with such phenomenal depth and structure. Call me an opportunist... but if it's the Conference Championship game... and I know that all I will lose is my draft pick next year (which if your deep in the playoffs is a mid-to-late round pick at best)... I'm cheating and grabbing the plays if I can. Let my owner pay my fine, let my team lose a pick, and I'll see you in the Super Bowl thanks to knowing every play that the opposition was going to run. Wait, take it a step further. Why not cheat IN the Super Bowl, pay the fine, lose your 30th pick, and take the Lombardi home to momma? That's the message that I personally got from the penalty handed down by the league. Go ahead and cheat... take your shot... and the league will tell you it's a no-no while you're on the way to your Super Bowl...

Pig Pen: Week 1

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 18:35:35 GMT

Sunday was a great way to start the season for me. We got a good, character-building win to start off the season. We fought our guts out and made the plays we had to, when we had to, to pull out a tight victory over the Dolphins. That being said, the purpose of the pig pen is to talk about tailgating. While we at THN aren't having the full bells and whistles all out tailgate like we did last year, we are still meeting up on Sundays. There's no catering or Hogettes, just a bunch of THN'ers getting together to hang out before the game. This week, we had some new members come out, and it was great to meet them. Making a very special, one-time, limited engagement appearance was UK Skins Fan. A very cheeky chap on-line, he's a very down-to-earth guy in person, and it was great to get to know him on a more personal level than making fun of him in smack. Cappster also made the tailgate with his future-Redskinette girlfriend Shannon. These two turned out to be great people to hang out with. On behalf of THN I wish Shannon all the luck in the world with her try-outs. Hopefully at this time next year, she'll be the official Redskinette of THN. Also putting in a brief appearance were Jake and SkinsJock. Jackson loves it when Jake comes. Those two always have a blast playing football. SkinsJock stopped in with UK Skins Fan to say, "G'Day" before heading into the stadium. It was fun for all. I hope to see a few more of you drop by as the season goes on. We will be setting up shop in lot A72 for most games. We aren't catered this year, so just bring what you want to eat and drink. If you need a grill, we'll have one. Hail to the Redskins, and happy...

Dramatic Win

Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:03:59 GMT

The last six months or more of my life has brought many changes. I have had no time to sit down and put my thoughts or feelings down in written form. With a first grader, soccer practice, cub scouts, a new baby, and a husband holding down pretty much two full time jobs and a full time job of my own, that wont likely change anytime soon. However, something I heard this morning has inspired me to squeeze a few minutes out of my schedule to express exactly how I feel. The power of media amazes me. On more then a few occasions I have heard something very off the wall expressed on the radio or television and then later heard it perfectly regurgitated by coworkers or people on message boards as their opinion on the subject. I am a very opinionated person. Sometimes my opinion comes out even if I try to hold back. My opinions, as wrong as they may seem to some are not arrived at lightly. I contemplate evidence put before me and formulate my own answers to lifes questions. I wish everyone had the ability to do this. On second thought I think everyone does have the ability to do so. It is a matter of being lazy. You can take what you hear as fact or you can research, observe and form you own opinion. I choose the latter even with my full schedule. This morning on the way to work I made the mistake of listening to one of my least favorite stations. I will not name names but you will likely figure out which station it is if you read this entire blog. In my early morning daze I assumed after a win the commentary would be easy on my ears and I would not be subject to gratuitous drama. Was I ever wrong. The first thing I hear is a voice that has caused me to scream at the radio more times than I can count. I knew I should have pleaded with my Scott to change the station at this point. I let it go, thinking maybe something would come out of the mans mouth that would be enlightening or even entertaining. Again, I was wrong. The first point I hear him make is how stellar the defense looked. Dont get me wrong, I believe yesterdays defensive performance was a vast improvement from the 2006 season however; the performance was not without flaws. Given this particular radio personalities proficiency for pointing out defects, I fully expected his evaluation to go a little beyond saying they had a solid showing. It only got worse. The next subject he tackled was the running game. He was not impressed by the performance that Clinton Portis gave yesterday. Are you kidding me? He was not even the man getting the bulk of the carries and he almost broke 100 yards. I was impressed with not only his numbers but with the passion that he played yesterday. This radio personality was a former running back so maybe he saw something I did not but he most certainly cannot convince me that Clinton did not play with heart yesterday and thats something that technique cannot measure. He wanted to win that game and his zeal made me proud to be a Redskins fan. The next subject that he broached was the wide receivers. I watched every second of the game yesterday and was slightly disappointed in our offense on several levels. The wide receivers were definitely an area that did not live up to expectation. The entire receiving corps, with the exception of Randle El needs to hit the practice field this week and hit it hard. The first point I would have made given the forum is that our number one receiver dropped several passes thrown at him. After one drop he even seemed to complain. Not the attitude I would like to see, at all. Jason Campbell did not throw with great accuracy and it could have been a better pass but a seasoned receiver that is trying to boost the confidence of a new guy doesnt get up grumbling about the errant pass. Not once does this expert mention Moss. He goes after Brandon Lloyd. Are you kidding me? I know that Lloyd made a mistake. I am sure that Lloyd knows he made a mistake. But his was not the only mistake made on the field. There was an entire series of mistakes on the defensive end of the ball that lead to a touchdown. Carlos Rogers made so many mistakes I actually wondered why he got the start in lieu of Springs. The offense struggled on a whole and Cooley, Moss, Lloyd, and several others should take the same amount of grief for their mistakes. Even Campbell should be given a little bit of a hard time for his faults. He has less experience being a starter and that is why I says a little bit. This radio personality really went out on a limb to call names this morning. I was very disappointed that he would try to create drama even after a win. One thing I find I need less of in my life is drama. So from now on I will turn down the radio dial the second I hear his voice. I will not subject myself to his theatrical displays. Maybe thats why he gets the big bucks. Hes willing to single someone out and label them a loser over a single mistake. It must be nice to be...

Redskins 16, Dolphins 13 - Post Game Wrap

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 23:55:55 GMT

It wasn't pretty, but the Redskins came away on the winning side of the ledger in a close game, thanks to an overtime field goal by Shaun Suisham. Here are a collection of links for you to get game information from: Official Gamebook Stats via NFL.com Game Center via NFL.com Box Score via NFL.com Drive Chart via NFL.com Game Recap via NFL.com Links To Other Recaps: Redskins.com CNNSI USA Today ESPN Other Related articles: For openers, just good enough - Ryan O'Halloran Jansen done? - David Elfin Redskins Lose Jansen to Ankle Injury - Gary Fitzgerald Videos: Redskins Post Game Press Conference - 3:51 - NFL.com Dolphins Post Game Press Conference - 2:04 - NFL.com Photos: NFL.com Gallery CNNSI ESPN http://static.nfl.com/static/content/public/image/getty/2007/75557831WM002_MIAMI_DOLPHIN_20070909141538_gallery_600.jpg Photo credit:...

What a week one W does for the Skins

Sun, 09 Sep 2007 21:19:59 GMT

It was a tight game, decided by three points. Early in the game the Skins had lost a key player, Jon Jansen, at one of the positions where our depth is most questionable. Our quarterback is still learning the offense, but played well enough that he led Redskins deep into Miami territory in the fourth quarter and set up the field goal that would tie the game. John Hall lined up to kick, within his range, but it hooked wide left. . . My apologies, I slipped into the nightmare that was last year's opening game: a new offense that had yet to click, losing Prioleau on the first play of the game (in an already weak secondary), and an excruciatingly close game that simply broke in the wrong direction for the Redskins. And with that, the 2006 season began. Losing away at Dallas, they showed some promise by creeping back to 22 before dropping three straight and losing almost all of their hope at 25. What a difference a single game can make. Now the Redskins sit at 10, facing Philadelphia next week in Philly, a game that the Redskins don't need to win. In the next three weeks they face a weak Giants squad at FedEx followed by a bye, and then Detroit (again at home). Coming out of this stretch at 31 is expected, and 40 would be a bonus. Were the Redskins sitting at 01 after today's game, 31 would be a stretch and 22 would be what we would hope for. What a difference one game can make. Not that this Redskins squad doesn't have some serious problems to address. But for right now those don't matter quite as much, and the sting of seeing Campbell struggle, or Moss drop a few balls, or Rogers getting burned, or Lloyd being a non-factor. . .it's diminished: for now. These problems aren't salt in the wound, they are issues a winning team can address. This team will be able to win games this, and that's what this opening day showed more than anything...

What worries me and what doesn't

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 18:36:48 GMT

Week 1 of the NFL is the often the answer to eight months of questions for every team. For the Redskins, it's finally time to see whether the payoff of Campbell's offseason work ethic will be immediately apparent. LaRon Landry has looked good in practice: will he step seamlessly into a full-length NFL game, without too many mistakes? And what about that defensive line? In recent weeks, some questions, like those surrounding first round pick Landry, have become less a point of concern and more a bit of optimism. Other questions, like those surrounding the offensive line, have become the focus of fans and media. I want to highlight three areas that are important and about which I have some concerns: The Offensive Line What worries me: Our five starters for the season will play together for the first time. Chris Samuels admits that the knee injury was a major setback in his conditioning for the season, and he has to face the NFL defensive player of the year Jason Taylor. What doesn't: Pete Kendall stepping into our line. He looked very good against the Jaguars and is an accomplished pro with at least one or two years left in the gas tank. A newly acquired Kendall is better than the Todd Wade experiment or Mike Pucillo. Speaking of the backups, the depth on our offensive line for several seasons a concern is no longer an issue. We are very strong coming off the bench. Receivers What worries me: Health. Our receiving core returned strong to OTA's and camp, but since then each starter has missed some time with various injuries. Moss has a hamstring that seems tender, and the team has often held him back in practice. Lloyd developed shin splints. Antwaan Randle El suffered a bruised quadriceps, although to be fair he seems to have recovered fully from it. What doesn't: Attitude. Last season had an air of stardom, with Moss and Cooley coming off career seasons and the high profile entrances of Brandon Lloyd and Randle El. This was, of course, followed by a disappointing season with little production. In response, Lloyd worked hard in the offseason, returning to camp with an extra 15 pounds of muscle. He admitted that, in previous years, training camp was his way of getting in shape, but that this year he came in focused and ready to play. He has since scored his first TD as a Redskin, hopefully with more to come. Randle El looks sharp and had great concentration on his TD grab against Jacksonville. Moss appears more in his 2005 form than his 2006 form. The arrogance of last year has been replaced by a sense of urgency. Defensive Line What worries me: Losing veteran leaders Joe Salave'a and Renaldo Wynn in an offseason where the Skins were criticized for not bringing in fresh talent. Griffin's health remains a concern. What doesn't: The fact that we released Salave'a and Wynn suggests that young players such as Chris Wilson and Lorenzo Alexander may be the real deal. Put those two names together with last year's draft picks Anthony Montgomery and Kedric Golston, and you've got a veritable youth movement on the defensive line. The success of such a movement, thankfully, is not something to worry about for another year or...

Redskins 14, Jaguars 31 - Post Game Wrap

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:54:30 GMT

http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t250/sonnyboy__/Team%20Logos/100redskins.gif VS http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t250/sonnyboy__/Team%20Logos/100jaguars.gif Fans were treated to the 1st offensive TD via Jason Campbell during the Redskins final preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. In a game mostly played by backups, the Redskins went into the half feeling good about their 1st and 2nd string players with a 14-10 lead over the Jags. The Jaguars would go on to win the game 31-14 but there is no reason to hang your head about it. The players who will impact the regular season games played well and the offense rested many restless fans. For those who may have missed or were unable to attend the game, we have put together some links together you. Game Center via NFL.com Play -by-Play via NFL.com Drive Chart via NFL.com Game Recap via NFL.com Links to other Recaps Game Recap at Redskins.com Game Recap at CNNSI Game Recap at USA Today Some headlines from today... Thomas Boswell's column in todays Post ask the question, Gibbs believes in the team, do you? Jason La Canforas take on the game can be found here . Jason La Canfora reports that the Seattle Seahawks are interested in obtaining Mark Brunell . From our opponents point of view. Headlines from Redskins.com... News and Notes from Redskins.com. Jason Campell reports that his knee feels fine. This game was the last chance for hopeful rookies to make a good impression on the coaching staff. Click here to find out who made the most of their opportunities. Game pics can be found here courtesy of NFL.com. http://espn-i.starwave.com/media/apphoto/f0709e43-1578-4c5a-aa8c-fd1b420e7e12.jpg Pic Courtesy of ESPN Our next opponent:...

Redskins 13, Ravens 7 - Post Game Wrap

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 06:06:14 GMT

Fans waited out a one hour rain/lighting delay for the pre-season game between the Ravens and the Redskins on Saturday night. Washington led 13-7 with 11:38 to go in the 3rd quarter when the game was suspended then canceled due to a second thunder/lighting storm passing though the area. Our post-game analysis can be found here . If you missed the game, here are some links from NFL.com to help you check out what you missed. Game Center Full play-by-play Drive Charts Video Recap Links to other Recaps Game Recap at Redskins.com Game Recap at CNNSI Game Recap at USA Today Some headlines from today... Jason La Canforas take on the game can be found here. Along with his post game REDSKINS NOTEBOOK David Elfin discusses the players that didnt play Thomas Boswell hasnt seen enough this pre-season Joseph White with the Ravens point of view Headlines from Redskins.com... Collins Gets Bulk of QB Work vs. Ravens With First Cuts Looming, Who Stood Out? Redskins 13, Ravens 7 Veiw game photos from espn.com and even more photos from the Baltimore Sun Visit our News portal for all of the Redskin...

Steelers 12, Redskins 10 - Post Game Wrap

Sun, 19 Aug 2007 15:01:37 GMT

Fans were treated to an unusually competitive pre-season game between the Steelers and the Redskins on Saturday night. Despite coming away with a loss, Washington led 7-3 at the half when the starters gave way to the back-ups. If you missed the game, here are some links to help you check out what you missed. At NFL.com Game Center Full play-by-play Game Recap Week 2 Pre-Season Scoreboard Redskins.com Game Recap CNNSI Game Recap Some headlines from today... Mike Wise gives the Redskins defense a good grade for their performance. ESPN on Jason Campbell's Knee Redskins.com on Campbell's Knee Injury Redskins.com on Washington's Elbow Injury Visit our News portal for all of the Redskin headlines Photos at ESPN at NFL.com Videos: Game Highlights Campbell getting hurt Gibbs on Campbell's...

The P Must Stand For Pansy

Wed, 08 Aug 2007 12:33:57 GMT

Today's society never ceases to amaze me. We, as a culture, are so caught up in being politically correct that it often supersedes common sense. This is the case with ESPN and the QB challenge. The NFL put on the QB challenge in the Cayman Islands in May, and many of us have been chomping at the bit to see how it turned out, as the Washington Redskins sent Jason Campbell and Brandon Lloyd down to participate. ESPN had the rights to show the event, and chose August 3 as its air date. Unfortunately for those who hoped to see Campbell and Lloyd battle some of the NFL's stars, Michael Vick participated. This is where common sense flew out the window. Apparently, ESPN thinks that its viewing audience is so stupid, that we will see Michael Vick and instantly assume that the network fully supports dog fighting. NFL Films has tried to work around ESPN's objections. After delivering the initial coverage, they sent a second version that limited Vick's coverage and it still wasn't good enough. NFL Films then sent a third version, which completely cut out Michael Vick, and the stuffed shirts in Bristol still balked. As a result, football fans across the globe miss out on the type of skills challenge we typically lap up like thirsty dogs in August in D.C. Hey ESPN. Vick is on the Falcons' roster. You better not cover any Georgia-based teams or teams with bird logos. It could come back to bite...

Hognostications 2005 and 2006 mini-review

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 02:02:04 GMT

Dear fellow THN posters and Hognosticators, As you know, we ran Hognostications over the last two seasons with increasing success and participation from you. Texas Hog's effort and weekly Hognostications have been keys to this success. BossHog put in place a much improved addition to the site for the 2006 season, which allowed for a larger number of Hognosticators. JSPB22 has organised the famous Super Hogs Bowls during the playoffs. In light of all this work, I felt appropriate to do a mini-review of the results obtained so far: 2005 regular season 1. Redskin in Canada 175 - 81 68.3% 2. Texas Hog 167 - 89 65.2% 3. JSPB22 164 - 92 64.0% 4. Redeemed 158 - 98 61.7% 5. joebagadonuts 157 - 83 65.4% (one week less) Adjusted values (with an equal numbers of weeks): 1. Redskin in Canada 166 - 74 69.1% 2. Texas Hog 160 - 80 66.6% 3. joebagadonuts 157 - 83 65.4% 4. JSPB22 156 - 84 65.0% 5. Redeemed 152 - 88 63.4% 2005 playoffs and HB I 1. joebagadonuts 2. FFA aka Irn Bru 3. Texas Hog and JSPB22 ------------------------------------ 2006 regular season 1. HOSS 152 90 62.8% 2. airhog 151 91 62.4% 3. funbunch 148 94 61.2% 4. JSPB22 148 94 61.2% 5. joebagadonuts 148 94 61.2% 6. Redskin in Canada 147 95 60.7% 2006 playoffs and HB II Divisional Championship The Hogs Bowl II 1. Redskin in Canada 2. HOSS 3. air_hog and joebagadonuts The good news are that we will have Hognostications for the 2007 season. As usual, the keys to success are perseverance to participate during all 17 weeks of the regular season as well as much study and luck. The bad news are that the games are getting more and more difficult to Hognosticate. Anybody can beat anybody else in the NFL on any given week, and the unexpected happens more often than not. Still, we do have a great group of Hognosticators and I am sure that many are looking forward to show their improvements together with our team. Official announcements will follow later on from Boss Hog. I will be on hand to keep everybody excited from week to week as usual in the Around the League Forum. Sincerely, Redskin in Canada Regular Season Champion 2005 Super Hog Bowl Champion 2006...

Forget What You've Heard About Sean Taylor

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 16:27:30 GMT

Most of the time, when you hear Sean Taylor's name, you hear about the monster hits, the spitting incident or ATV's. Very rarely do you hear anything positive and personal about the 'skins safety. I was lucky enough to witness a very different side of ST yesterday, and I want to recount it here. First, I'll need to start with a little background information. My son, Jackson, is a soon-to-be-six year old that has gained a bit of a reputation as a kid with an uncanny knowledge of Redskins personnel. After his second training camp, just prior to turning two, we bought him a 'Skins' yearbook and he would pick pages and ask who the players were. We would, of course, tell him who each player was. Soon, he could name every - and I mean EVERY - player listed inside that guide. He could pick out Laveranues Coles on commercials without his uniform. His favorite player was Gibran Hamdan. Heck, the following year, NikiH took him through the lines of Fan Appreciation day and came back with a signature I couldn't read. NikiH didn't know who had signed it, only that it was the last guy at the table. Jackson says, "Oh. That was Bill Ferrario!" Anyone here beside Jake that could pick Bill Ferrario out of a line-up? Now that that's out of the way, I'll get to Sean Taylor. I was taking Jackson around the VIP section getting autographs from some of his favorite players. We tried to get Fred Smoot, without any luck and I spied Sean Taylor. Jackson walks up with his book open, sees the 21 jersey and has a freudian slip. He says, "Excuse me Mr. Smoot. Will you please sign my yearbook?" I lean down to correct him, but before I can, Taylor says, "I'd be happy to sign your book. What's your name?" My son replies, "Jackson." Taylor says, "Well, it's nice to meet you Jackson. My name is Sean and I'm very pleased to meet you. " He signs the book, and Jackson says, "Thank you!" , to which Taylor replies, "Thank you for coming out to practice today." I was thoroughly impressed with the way Taylor handled the situation. Many players don't interact with the people they are signing for. They step, sign, step, sign. Sean Taylor proved what I've come to realize in my dealings with Brandon Lloyd. Don't believe everything you read. These guys are human, too. I know one, very happy 5 year old who...

Camp Friends

Sun, 29 Jul 2007 15:11:14 GMT

Every year I come to training camp, I make more and more Redskin fans. To be honest, I come to camp now more for the relationships forged than for the football. There's a few people that I come to see that are very dear to me... Scott, Niki, Jackson and now Marlee Hurrey. It's pretty cool to me that some of my best friends on the planet are ones that I made through this website, and that I only get to see but once or twice a year. I cherish those few times immensely. Scott and Amy aren't here ths year and are sorely missed. Two more people that were it not for geography, we'd see each other 5 times a week. Camp's not quite the same without our annual tequila night, but I know that we'll likely just have two next year. :shock: But the list grows longer and longer every year.... Stephen (you know him as Fios or Sippy Cup) is becoming a mainstay in my camp plans. I haven't seen Grant P. yet because he's in New York until Monday, but we talk all the time and will catch up with each other before I head back. Terri and Jake haven't been to practice yet, but I'm sure we'll catch up with each other before I go... after all... we've been doing the camp/lunch thing for four or five camps in a row. Taz and I always love to spend time with Junior and his mom - they're great people. There's CLL and Irn-Bru too. Will we catch up this year? Maybe not, but it won't change our friendships... and I'll be back soon. Last year we met Ed Gardiner... he comes up from Florida every year, and now it's just become part of the process to look for Ed in his hat and do dinner together. There's so many people actually... I could go on and on about the people I've met down here when visiting from Canada, and not really make a dent in the list. If I didn't mention you, it doesn't mean anything more than I don't want to type for hours . :oops: But I also wanted to quickly mention the 'faceless' or at least the 'nameless' friends that I meet down here. Every year there are dozens and dozens of people that I befriend at camp. Some young, some old... the only real common denominator is the Washington Redskins... and that's what this blog is about. People always ask me why I come to camp to watch what amounts to glorified practice and the answer is really very simple - for the friends that I make and have already made. Yesterday I met four guys in the parking lot of the hotel - they were all decked out in Redskin gear, and being the 'shy' guy that I am... I just walked up and struck up a conversation. Before we knew it, we'd been out in the hot sun talking football for over an hour. It turns out that only one of them was really a Redskin fan and the rest were family members along for the ride (two Eagle fans and a Cowboy fan to boot). It didn't matter that they were fans of the 'opposition', we're all just here to have some good, clean fun and watch some football. It was great talking to them, and I couldn't even tell you their names. Truth is that I love meeting new people down here. Don't ever be shy about walking up to me and introducing yourself if you see me. My picture is posted in my articles, my profile etc... so you have the benefit of knowing what I look like... but I don't know what you look like. So if you see an ugly, long-haired blond dude walking around in a THN shirt... please, come up and introduce yourself. After all, it's the camp friends that bring me back to Ashburn every...

NHL To "Regulate" Bloggers??

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 15:24:13 GMT

From On Frozen Blog , one of my favorite hockey blogs, comes this little nugget... NHL Plans to Formulate Blogger Policy By Gustafsson In todays Globe and Mail , William Houston continues a discussion started when the NCAA expelled a blogger from a college baseball game this spring. In the piece he mentions the New York Islanders Blog Box but fails to discuss the unprecedented access granted by the Washington Capitals and their blogger-owner Ted Leonsis. He does feed us this little nugget: This summer, the NHL and National Basketball Association plan to formulate their own policies for bloggers. Frank Brown, the vice-president of media relations for the NHL, said the league wants to set boundaries without inhibiting coverage. We are incredibly respectful of the voraciousness with which the digital consumers participate in NHL dialogue, he said. At the same time, we have to be equally protective of entities that are entitled to protection. You have to serve several masters. Leonsis has frequently commented on the positive impact bloggers have on expanding coverage of the Capitals. He also believes that bloggers can fill in the cavernous void commonly created by mainstream medias indifference/hostility to, and superficial coverage of, hockey in general. This sentiment comes from the team with a blogger policy already in place and a blogger presence established in the press box. The most troubling part of the article? Some speculate that blogging rights will eventually become revenue sources for the league. Having already junked hockey sweaters in favor of a more expensive Uniform System, is Commissioner Bettman poised to try and profit from a free press as well? Is a Blog System on the horizon? A tap of the stick to Paul Kukla for the assist. The NHL in the US NEEDS the fans to embrace the sport in order to grow the sport. What good does it do to have the obligatory coverage most sports editors give the local NHL team when the information is generic and stale. This is the electronic age, and for a league still on the rise after a meteoric fall due to the work stoppage to intimate that the fans are less important than the local beat writer is insane, and to do so in direct conflict with an individual team's policy would be utterly ridiculous. Even the NFL defers to the franchise's policy. I tried to apply for credentials to the draft last year, and I was told that to be considered for NFL credentials, I had to meet set criterion, all of which came from the Washington Redskins organization. There are f2fa members who are credentialed by their respective teams, most notable the Jets Insider and Panthers Huddle sites. Gary Bettman, I say this to you: be careful what you decide in this matter. Hockey fans are some of the most passionate fans in all of sportsdom. You'd be wise to remember that the best and most coverage comes from those passionate fans and not the local beat writer whose likely covering hockey until he can get an NFL...

Capitals Media Relation Staff Wins Dick Dillman Award

Sat, 23 Jun 2007 19:33:30 GMT

To anyone who has dealt with the Washington Capitals PR staff, this honor comes as no surprise. They are nothing but helpful, whether you are Tarik El-Bashir from the Post or Scott Hurrey from theHogs.net. Their professionalism and attitude is nothing but tremendous. Making this award extra special, is that it comes the Professional Hockey Writers Association. Professional writers don't tend to like bloggers, yet they awarded the Caps this honor despite the fact that they are one of the teams that embraces fan reporting. Congrats to Nate, Julie, Paul and Kurt for running such a first class organization. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2007 Capitals Media Relation Staff Wins Dick Dillman Award Professional Hockey Writers Association honors club as best in Eastern Conference ARLINGTON, Va. The Washington Capitals media relations staff is the 2006-07 recipient of the Dick Dillman Award for the NHLs Eastern Conference, given annually to the team judged to be the best in media relations by the members of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA). The PHWA made the announcement this weekend in Columbus, Ohio, in conjunction with the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. For the first time this year, the PHWA presented separate Dillman awards for the Eastern and Western conferences, with the San Jose Sharks earning the honor in the West. The Dillman Award honors the late Dick Dillman, a highly respected media relations guru for the Minnesota North Stars. All members of the PHWA are eligible to vote on the award, and voters are asked to consider multiple factors, including fairness, cooperation, efficiency, accuracy and presentation of media notes, quality of media guide and willingness to help facilitate interviews. The Capitals media relations staff, overseen by vice president of communications Kurt Kehl, includes Nate Ewell, Paul Rovnak and Julie Petri. Fans can gain priority access to open seat locations at Verizon Center before public sale by placing a $100 deposit for the 2007-08 season today. Call 202-266-CAPS, email ticketsales@washcaps.com or visit WashingtonCaps.com for more...

NHL Draft

Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:58:38 GMT

The NHL has their annual entry draft this weekend in Columbus, Ohio. Nationwide Arena, Columbus, OH Round 1: Fri., June 22, 7 p.m. ET, Versus, TSN, NHL Network Rounds 2-7: Sat., June 23, 10 a.m. ET, NHL Network Live video stream will also be available on NHL.com The Capitals have the fifth overall selection. Washington also have a second first round pick (the 28th overall selection), thanks to the Dainius Zubrus deal with the Buffalo Sabres. (Buffalo traded C Jiri Novotny and its 1st-round pick to Washington for RW Dainius Zubrus and D Timo Helbling - Feb. 27, 2007) JansenFan will be at the Draft day event today... the Caps are also unveiling their new uniforms. We'll have coverage of varying types over the weekend. Personally, I'm hoping that the Caps make Sam Gagner from my hometown London Knights the first player to wear that new red, white and blue Caps uni....

What's it Going To Be Then, Eh?

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 19:52:14 GMT

What's it Going To Be Then, Eh? Just days away from the NFL Draft and with the Redskins picking in the sixth spot, and then not again until day two, the proverbial wad is going to be blown early. I love draft day. I love the boredom of it. I love the pain-staking amount of time between each pick. I love the repetitive interviews. I love the bad commentary when lesser known quantities are selected. I love the over-zealous predictions. I love the bloated value that players' post playing careers have on their draft stock. I love all of it. I don't really know why. The Redskins have the sixth pick in the draft and the only thing that I personally am certain of, is that the Redskins would love to deal that pick into a few more. The truth of the matter though, is that everybody wants to deal down for an extra pick on draft day, and it's become increasingly difficult to accomplish. We can wax poetic about what could happen, but in reality, the Redskins will likely actually make the sixth selection in the 2007 NFL Draft. It's fun to play NFL genral manager though, isn't it? Here's an ideal Redskin scenario in my opinion: The Raiders take Russell with number one, the Lions trade their pick to Tampa Bay who are afraid that someone else will grab Calvin Johnson. The Bucs take Johnson and the Lions take Joe Thomas with the pick from the Bucs at four. In between, the Browns take Adrian Peterson; and the Cards round out the top five with Gaines Adams. Are you with me so far? Nothing too radical right? The Bucs/Lions trade doesn't even need to happen to see those four go to those four teams, it was just fun to put it in. Russell, Thomas, Peterson, Johnson, and Adams could just go in the one through five selections as is. Then it's the Redskins turn to pick, and Brady Quinn is still on the board. The Vikings want Quinn and so do others, but the Vikings can offer the very next pick and a later round pick. They don't want someone else to get Quinn, so they pull the trigger. They send their seventh pick, their fourth round pick (102nd overall), and their seventh round pick (217th overall) for the Redskins sixth overall pick. Pick values for the picks are 1600 for the Redskins pick, and 1500, 92, and 5.6 for the Vikings' picks. So after all of that, the Vikings select Brady Quinn with the number six overall, and the Redskins are on the clock. Now you hope the Falcons call, and if they don't, you call them. It's not any secret that they really like LaRon Landry and he's a very viable pick for Washington at number seven. Can the Redskins move down one spot again? Sure they can, it's a fantasy draft. Washington trades the seventh overall pick (1500 points) to Atlanta, for the eighth overall pick (1400 points), their fourth round pick (109th overall - and worth 76 points), and their sixth round pick (185th overall - and worth 18.4 points). The numbers add up fine, and to add to the possibility, the Falcons would STILL have a fourth round selection thanks to a compensatory pick, as well as an additional seventh rounder to make up for the sixth that they shipped off to the Redskins. Atlanta selects LaRon Landry, and Washington is on the clock. This time, they pull the trigger on Amobi Okoye to address their defensive line concerns, and take a breath. They get a player that they could have easily selected at number six and been happy with, plus two additional fourth round picks, a sixth round pick, and a seventh round pick. That would give them a total of eight picks in rounds four through seven. They could make another move up into the third round by combining those picks, or just enjoy the few added selections that some poignant dealing got them. After all, it's all so easy on paper. And judging by the increasing number of mock drafts on the internet, it's even easier on your...

Panic At The Rumor Mill

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 17:09:12 GMT

If one were to heed the doom-laden chat that has accompanied much of the off-season thus far, the Redskins plan to or already have done the following: -Trade their sixth pick and future picks to draft Calvin Johnson -Ditto but for Jamarcus Russel -Ditto but for Brady Quinn -Traded their sixth pick and Rocky McIntosh for the Bears 31st pick (maybe) and Lance Briggs -Traded their sixth pick to the Broncos for XX and agreed to send additional picks just for fun -Given away all of their picks ever and lured Deion Sanders out of retirement to play all-time QB Here is what all of those scenarios have in common: none are true. Yet fans (many who should know better) react to those scenarios as if they were fact when, in reality, the team hasn't moved an inch beyond speculation, save for the Briggs rumor, where they've moved about a foot past that line. The Redskins hold the sixth pick in the draft, that's not news to anyone. However, what that means, in a way that is more subtle than it might seem, is that the Redskins do not hold a Top 5 pick. Again, that's not a shocking revelation but it does have wide-ranging implications. The sixth pick, for one, is not very sexy. There is an inherent value tied to picks one through five, one that carries over from draft to draft regardless of the available talent. Teams with a Top 5 pick have lots of suitors and, thus, lots of options. Teams just south of that simply have a high first-round pick. In past years, the notion of the relative sexiness of the sixth pick was just that, relative. Depending on who drafts there and what needs that team has, the sixth pick might be just perfect. Unfortunately, that's not the case with the Redskins ... or at least that doesn't seem to be the case. This is where the genius of Joe Gibbs can't be underestimated. Gibbs, despite what many might have you believe, is not a stupid man. The coach has done his homework and surveyed the draft landscape and, it seems, come to the conclusion that the Redskins can not justifiably address their most pressing need at their current position. The lineman they've scouted seem to have enough question marks as to make snagging one of them that high a bit of a reach. So what to do? Well, Gibbs knows that virtually ANY rumor to which the Redskins attach themselves, even in the most abstract fashion, is bound to spread. So why not leverage that? Look, the team finds itself with very few picks in a draft where they must address a need, not an enviable position. When your potential trading partners know your dance card is wide open, they can dictate the terms. So, you have to fudge things a little and, in the world of professional sports, the idea of something is almost as powerful as the thing itself. What Gibbs has managed to do by playing the non-denial game is to make it seem as if the Redskins have boundless options. He has managed to create the idea that the sixth pick is highly coveted by any number of teams and, as such, he has created a perceived value for that pick. He's moved the Redskins from the position of passenger to driver. The simple fact is that, as of today, no one knows what the Redskins will do with that pick. The draft choices of the past few years, for a variety of reasons, have not been terribly surprising. You could judge with a fair degree of accuracy exactly who the Redskins would take long before the draft. Any team that is locked into a plan is a team sans options. I am of the opinion the Redskins will spin this pick into gold by dropping down a few slots and getting both the player they want plus extra picks. But I can't be certain about that, they might move up, they might stay put, heck, they might do nothing at all. But at the center of that whirlwind of speculation that surrounds the Redskins sits a crafty coach who is counting on being underestimated. There are any number of people who think Joe Gibbs has lost his luster, that the game has lapped him, to borrow a racing analogy. That's fine, that's precisely what he wants. I think he's just getting warmed up and I, for one, am glad to be along for the...

Compensatory Picks

Mon, 02 Apr 2007 17:19:03 GMT

The NFL recently announced the 32 compensatory picks awarded for the 2007 NFL Draft: 3rd round - 33-96th overall - San Diego 3rd round - 34-97th overall - San Francisco 3rd round - 35-98th overall - Indianapolis 3rd round - 36-99th overall - Oakland 4th round - 33-132nd overall - Pittsburgh 4th round - 34-133rd overall - Atlanta 4th round - 35-134th overall - Baltimore 4th round - 36-135th overall - San Francisco 4th round - 37-136th overall - Indianapolis 4th round - 38-137th overall - Baltimore 5th round - 33-170th overall - Pittsburgh 5th round - 34-171st overall - New England 5th round - 35-172nd overall - San Diego 5th round - 36-173rd overall - Indianapolis 5th round - 37-174th overall - Baltimore 6th round - 33-207th overall - Baltimore 6th round - 34-208th overall - New England 6th round - 35-209th overall - New England 6th round - 36-210th overall - Seattle 7th round - 33-243rd overall - Green Bay 7th round - 34-244th overall - Atlanta 7th round - 35-245th overall - Tampa Bay 7th round - 36-246th overall - Tampa Bay 7th round - 37-247th overall - New England 7th round - 38-248th overall - St. Louis 7th round - 39-249th overall - St. Louis 7th round - 40-250th overall - New York Giants 7th round - 41-251st overall - Jacksonville 7th round - 42-252nd overall - Jacksonville 7th round - 43-253rd overall - Cincinnati 7th round - 44-254th overall - Oakland 7th round - 45-255th overall - Detroit Total 2007 NFL Compensatory Draft Picks Baltimore - 4 New England - 4 Indianapolis - 3 Atlanta - 2 Jacksonville - 2 Oakland - 2 Pittsburgh - 2 San Diego - 2 St. Louis - 2 San Francisco - 2 Tampa Bay - 2 Cincinnati - 1 Detroit - 1 Green Bay - 1 New York Giants - 1 Seattle - 1 TOTAL - 32 Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason...

Overspending ???

Sun, 04 Mar 2007 06:22:35 GMT

We know the Salary Cap goes up every year and every year the new class of free agents will make more than those in years past. (see Dockery vs Hutchinson deals). We didn't fork over the $49 million that it took to get DD to sign a peice of paper but had we the big story all weekend would have been how "the Danny" is overpaying players and throwing the payscale out of whack. If ttiT were to do it, they'd blame big market teams but it's the Bills that got this started and the players have to be loving it. Today on the four letter network you still here how the Redskins are spending big in free agency :hmm: Best I can tell the Redskins have signed 2 players to a total of $50 Million. That's not throwing money around, that's finding guys to fill needs and paying signing them to deals they may actually complete. Given a guy 1 million dollars less and signing him for 7 seven years is probably back-loaded but $16 million up front :?: That's throwing money around. To summarize: The Redskins get two guys that will be on the field day one of the upcoming season, both know the scheme and have played for the DC in the past and together they cost $50 million for 5 years and a total of $10 million up front MAX (not sure what Smoot got yet). The Bill got one guy who will have to learn a new system, new coaches, new tendencies and hadn't shown anything until his contract year (not knocking Dock , but it is what it is) for 2 years longer but only spent $1 million dollars less than the Skins and at least $6 million more upfront. Whose the team throwing money around :?: :shock: :?: The Niners paid $80 million for Nate Clements - Nate's no Champ, I wonder if San Fran realize they could have signed three Smoots for what they paid for for Nate (another guy whose best year was his contract year :shock: ). I lot of this took me by surprise, the money being thrown around is crazy, but we knew it was coming. Last year before free agency started everybody knew what the cap would be this year, in past years you could guess but last year there was a hard number to shoot for. With the Redskins taking a low profile in free agency so far I had a little time on my hands, it's not good when I have free time (mental impulses arn't normally a good thing for me and they normally happen when I have too much time on my hands). My mind drifted but not far. I remember the flack the front office took last year for the deals that were made at this time last year. We signed Randle-El and traded for Brandon Lloyd, so I looked at how much more receivers were getting this year compared to what we paid last year. Randle-El signed as a free agent last year and he got a 7 year $30 million deal. (LAST YEAR) http://images.nfl.com/images/players/60x80/302217.jpg Position: WR Height: 5-10 Weight: 192 Born: 08/17/1979 College: Indiana NFL Experience: 6 Receiving Year Team G GS Rec Yds Avg Lg TD 20+ 40+ 1st TOTAL .. 80 39 194 2363 12.2 63 10 35 3 115 His last year is voidable, so what we have here left is a 5 year deal thats worth roughly $26 million. Drew Bennett was signed today to a 6 years/$30 million deal http://images.nfl.com/images/players/60x80/245091.jpg Position: WR Height: 6-5 Weight: 206 Born: 08/26/1978 College: UCLA NFL Experience: 7 Receiving Year Team G GS Rec Yds Avg Lg TD 20+ 40+ 1st TOTAL .. 87 57 273 4033 14.8 55 25 59 13 203 Comparable stats but one has a year in the system, returns kicks and and the most of the cash pay out is in the past. Throw in a years worth of NFL inflation and can you really say the Redskins overpaid for ARE :?: If you think so, then how about this "the Jaguars agree to terms with Northcutt " ](*,) An average of $3.4 million per season with a $4.5 million signing bonus on a 5 year deal ROTFALMAO Doesn't seem like we overpaid considering where the market is heading The Pats (aren't the a bit out of whack thiss year too) will have to give up a draft pick for Wes Welker... http://images.nfl.com/images/players/60x80/493735.jpg Position: WR Height: 5-9 Weight: 185 Born: 05/01/1981 College: Texas Tech NFL Experience: 4 Receiving Year Team G GS Rec Yds Avg Lg TD 20+ 40+ 1st TOTAL .. 47 3 96 1121 11.7 47 1 15 2 53 They signed him to a 7 years/$38.5 million offer sheet today. We traded for B-Lloyd http://images.nfl.com/images/players/60x80/396021.jpg Position: WR Height: 6-0 Weight: 192 Born: 07/05/1981 College: Illinois NFL Experience: 5 Receiving Year Team G GS Rec Yds Avg Lg TD 20+ 40+ 1st TOTAL .. 60 41 128 1875 14.6 89 13 24 8 84 and gave him roughly the same thing ARE got, so we know where we stand currently on him. Again A year in the system and a lot less money compared to what he would have cost this year. Most weren't happy with BLloyd's production last year but he's done more than the guys getting paid more this off season. This all led me to 2 questions. 1. Did the Redskins really over pay for ARE and BLloyd or are they again ahead of the curve? 2. Would you rather have Wes Welker and Drew Bennett at their current contracts or Lloyd ans Randle-El at what they are making? Bonus question... Does answer 1 jive with...

Jack Bauer, save us!

Thu, 22 Feb 2007 13:32:32 GMT

With free agency set to explode in about 183 hours, Im torn as to how involved I want the Redskins to be this year. Ill admit that part of me loves the big name splashes, if only for the immediate hope of what the future may bring. However, the other half of me feels that the countdown is like a season of 24 where that clock keeps ticking away down to zero, and unless Jack Bauer saves us, were doomed. While its rather obvious that our previous free agent signings havent worked out great, I think their failures are a bit exaggerated. First off, you have the media which despises Daniel Snyder, and enjoys reminding us of the poor choices that his team makes in free agency. Add to that the natural fact that when you have a dismal season (and weve had our fair share in the past few years), the negative tends to be accentuated, and the positive forgotten. While Adam Archuletta, Brandon Lloyd, and Andre Carter have fans screaming for Dan to put down the checkbook and step away, they forget about guys like Marcus Washington and Corny Griffin. Springs and Salvea havent been too shabby either. Casey Rabach, Randy Thomas, Santana Moss, all guys we picked up through means other than the draft. The bottom line is that while I agree that we havent done as well as we should be doing in free agency, I dont think weve done as poorly as some may try to lead you to believe. I know some of you will disagree with me on that one. As long as the impetuous Dan Snyder is the boss, well be debating the value of free agency and trading draft picks. But understand that Im trying to be positive about this. And that positive sentiment leads me to believe that perhaps if we target the right free agents, rather than simply the biggest names, the whole process can be successful for us. Plus, Ill admit that I enjoy that instant gratification of a big name signing. Player X has crushed his opponents for the last couple of years, and I cant wait to see him do the same in burgundy and gold. I ignore the possibility that Player X may now sit back with his paycheck and underperform. Or the possibility that perhaps Player X doesnt really fit into our schemes, or into our locker room. That instant gratification removes all logical thought. Im aware of the value of home-grown players, of keeping the guys who have already bled for their team in Redskins uniforms. I understand that a guy like James Thrash may be more valuable to us than a London Fletcher or Nate Clements. But its that rush of the big name signing that gets me sometimes, like unwrapping that brand new Transformer on Christmas morning. All that being said, Im fearful of March 2nd. I dont want another Archuletta. I fear that Dan, and perhaps Joe Gibbs, cant control themselves. They have money, money that wants nay, BEGS to be spent. And there is a lot of apparent talent out there that is happy to take it. The Redskins are in need of help, theres no doubt about that. My fear, like yours, is that Dan and Joe will try to some (or all!) of those needs by signing the biggest name, rather than the player who will best help us fill those needs. And of course, the media is watching. The second Redskins One touches down with a free agent on board, the headlines read Dan Snyder is at it again. Its inevitable. Dan is Dan, and he wont change, and the media will continue to love bashing him until the end of time. Its annoying, however, that the media will bash without even attempting to evaluate the free agent in question, and make an objective determination as to whether hell help the team or not. No matter who it is, the skins get bashed for signing him. Its like a natural law. And I hate that part of it. I try to ignore it, but the way that some of our fat friends over at that four-letter word of a sports network seem to take delight in mockingly reporting the Redskins activities irks me. Big time. So Im not sure what Im rooting for this March 2nd. Part of me will be glued to the wire, tracking Redskins One on the net, looking for that big signing. The other part of me will be in bed with the covers over my head, waiting for it to be over. Like you, I have no choice but to trust in Dan and Joe, and hope for the...

licking our wounds, but looking foward. i guess.

Wed, 21 Feb 2007 04:51:28 GMT

Im bored. Im really bummed that football is over At the end of the season though, I couldnt wait for the suffering to end. Or so I thought. Man did we ever suck. Now that feeling has followed most of us into the off-season. For some reason, I dont want to get excited over the draft or free agency. Its almost written in stone that the Redskins WILL BLOW IT. Doom and Gloom it seems. With this team, its all or nothing. Win now. And it just hasnt produced. A lot of us fans have thought about adding a General Manager(most recently, Floyd Reese). That position, at this point, won't really solve anything. I think we all want something to throw a little blame on. Or, at least, see a little bit of a more normal structure in place. A GM is a piece of the puzzle that also has to fit with whats going on around him, unless you are in the mood for another "re-building year" (or three). Round pegs don't fit into square holes. Furthermore, hiring a GM at this point would almost "step on" Joe Gibbs' toes. When he was hired, most of us said, "as long as Danny doesn't get in his way, good things blah,blah, etc. Let Joe run it." To this point, as far as it seems, Danny has only done what was asked of him. Cerrato is still judging talent though. :x And, unfortunately "part-time and back seat" GMs don't really exist. You end up with a guy like Cerrato. A guy like Reese is probably not looking to work under anyone. Hes looking to take charge of a team, ground up, so to speak. So I think that hiring Reese is a moot point. Cerrato, is however, the ONE consistent name that has been in place while the Skins have fumbled a large number of draft picks, and free agents. So, as long as his 2 cents are on the team draft and free agent rankings, :puke: I've been saying for years, start by axing Vinny. Too bad he plays in to what is going on with the team now. No. Its Joe Gibbs mess. Let him fix it. Or at least give him his time. He signed for five years.. two years left. I like to think well be able to compete for it all by the time he goes. But who knows. The team has a win now approach. Joe is a great coach, but if we dont make a run while hes here, its back to the drawing board. He can only prepare us for the future so much with the win now approach(not to mention salary cap) in place. Hes a great team leader, so Im hoping for the best. Hell, Ive suffered this long, two more years wont hurt. Maybe then, it will be time for a GM. Im depressed about our team, but still hoping for the best. So raise your drink, heres to a SMART off-season.. for once.. and a pass rusher - and, please, please, PLEASE can we keep an idea of a group of players and scheme in IN PLACE for longer than six months at a time??!! It can't get any worse right? -drinking (gulps entire brew, slams beer bottle on desk until it shatters, then slams head into broken glass, cracks desktop and skull at the same time, rolls onto floor bleeding like a stuck hog for 3 hrs then dies ) /end rant. Go Skins...

Jansen Extension

Thu, 08 Feb 2007 02:07:36 GMT

The longest tenured player on the Redskins roster signed a contract extension on Tuesday that virtually guarantees that he will remain a Redskin for his entire career. At 31-years old, it's doubtful that Jansen's football days will see much more than the 2011 season that he extended his contract through. Despite some tough stretches last season, the Redkins' offensive line actually posted some decent numbers. The 19 sacks that they allowed were the league's third lowest total. Jansen himself struggled with injury for a lot of the season. A calf inury hobbled him for much of the back half of the season, and actually sidelined him for a game, although it was only once the Redskins' playoff hopes were over. While I haven't seen the breakdown of the contract yet, it has been reported that it is a 5-year extension worth some $23 million. There is $10 million in bonus money, but it appears that $5M is in the form of a signing bonus, and $5M is in the form of an option bonus next year. The Redskins should realize some small cap relief in 2007 which will help them free up some space for the upcoming free agency period (starts March 2nd). Jansen still had two years remaining on his old contract, but 'The Rock' will now surely be here for the remainder of his career. When the Redskins drafted him in the second round (1999) out of Michigan. I remember being excited and thinking, 'this guy could be our tackle for the next ten years'. After all, you say that about any first day pick offensive lineman don't you? The difference with Jansen, is that the wishful thinking came true. This new contract ensures that Redskin fans did gain just that back in 1999 - a bookend tackle for a decade or more . That alone is something to marvel at in this day and age of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and free agency. Hopefully that calf mends well and 2007 can be his best year yet as a Redskin. With right-handed Jason Campbell at the helm, J.J can go back to doing what he does best on the strong side of the line - smashing holes for running backs with his friend Randy...

Canada Advances to Finals at NFL GJC

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 04:47:01 GMT

Canada staved off two tough battles on Wednesday to earn the right to defend their titles at the NFL Global Junior Championships on Saturday. Both Japan and France pushed Canada in preliminary action, but in the end, the Canadian team's running game was just too much. In Canada's first game of the tournament against France, they scored on just the third play of their first possession to earn an early 7-0 lead. They would never surrender that lead. Anthony Woodson slammed it in from the one-yard line, after fellow running back Edem Nyamadi had scampered 24-yards on a Bruno Prudhomme screen pass. The score stayed that way until Woodson scored again late in the game on a 22-yard toss right to make it 14-0. He finished with 42 yards and two touchdowns on six attempts. Canada's second game against Japan was a tougher affair. The Japanese crushed the French 28-0 in their opener and came into the game confident. Neither team manged to score on their opening possession, and then Canadian Kyle Smith intercepted a Japanese pass to give Canada great field position. Four plays later, Nyamdi ran it in from the two to give Canada a 7-0 lead with less than a minute and a half remaining in the first half. Japan rallied from the score quickly though, and marched to Canada's 19-yard line on back-to-back plays of twenty-plus yards. A penalty forced Japan to try a field goal with just 0:01 remaining in the half, but Yoshytaka Imae's 36-yard attempt came up short and Canada took the lead to the break. Despite a valiant effort in the second from the Japanese, they could not solve the Canadian defense. And when Canada got the ball back with just under three and a half minutes remaining in the game, they couldn't stop their rushing attack either. Canada methodically ran over Japan nine consecutive times for 73-yards and more importantly, to eat the remaining clock. They mercifully took a knee on the Japanese seven-yard line to close out the game, and cement their place in the final. Canada will face the United States in the final on Saturday, February 3, at Lockhart Stadium. The Americans looked very convincing in the preliminaries beating Panama 27-0 in their first game, and Mexico 16-0 in their second. It is Canada's third straight appearance in the NFL Global Junior Championship final. Something has to give. Neither the Canadian team, nor the American team have given up a point in the tournament. One will on Saturday afternoon, and that might be all it takes. You can catch the live webcast at the nfl-gjc.com site on Saturday at 3...

NFL Playoff schedule and seedings

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 17:53:45 GMT

All times Eastern: NFL WILD CARD WEEKEND Saturday, January 6 AFC: 4:30 PM ET Kansas City (9-7) at Indianapolis (12-4) (NBC-TV) NFC: 8:00 PM ET Dallas (9-7) at Seattle (9-7) (NBC-TV) Sunday, January 7 AFC: 1:00 PM ET New York Jets (10-6) at New England (12-4) (CBS-TV) NFC: 4:30 PM ET New York Giants (8-8) at Philadelphia (10-6) (FOX-TV) The NFL Divisional Playoffs will be played on Saturday and Sunday, January 13-14 AFC and NFC Championship Games on Sunday, January 21 Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in South Florida on Sunday, February 4. AFC-NFC Pro Bowl will be played in Honolulu, Hawaii on Saturday, February 10. Playoff Seeding: American Football Conference 1. San Diego (West Division champion) 2. Baltimore (North Division champion) 3. Indianapolis (South Division champion) 4. New England (East Division champion) 5. New York Jets 6. Kansas City National Football Conference 1. Chicago (North Division champion) 2. New Orleans (South Division champion) 3. Philadelphia (East Division champion) 4. Seattle (West Division champion) 5. Dallas 6. New York Giants Once teams are ranked for the playoffs, positions do not...

Late season win in the Madden Sim.

Sat, 30 Dec 2006 21:27:45 GMT

We apologize for not being able to provide a simulation for the past two weeks. With an overheated Xbox 360 out for repair we were without a gaming system. Within our simulation the Eagles and Skins are locks for the playoffs. A win for Dallas would catapult them into a wild card berth. The Giants needs to beat the Skins today to keep their slim hopes alive. The Eagles and Skins are tied for 1st in the East but the Skins hold tie breakers that would give them the honors if they win today. Betts takes the first play of the day for a gain of 5 yards. The run up the middle catches the Gmen off guard and reeling. The ball is at the 26 yard line on 2nd down with 5 yards to go. Jason Campbell fakes the run to Betts and moves outside the pocket to his right. Brandon Lloyd is double covered but Moss is open across the middle, Jason connects with Moss for the first down. With the ball at the 38 yard line the Skins run a stretch play to the left for no yards. For the consecutive second down in a row the Skins throw the ball but the pass for Lloyd is batted down. Lloyd was late coming out his break but the DB wasn't and was able to close on the ball faster than the WR. Facing a daunting 3rd and 10 situation the Skins come out in the shot gun with 3 WR's. Jason rifles a pass to Moss again for the Redskins consecutive conversion and new position in Giants territory at their 42 yard line. Sensing an urge to move from the run game the Skins abandon that thought. Another dose of Betts is the doctors orders as he gains 8 yards on 1st down to the 34 yard line. On 2nd down the Skins look to pass the ball but it's intercepted. Jason never saw a wide open Cooley but tried to force the pass to Moss instead. #51 Emmons was covering underneath of Moss and made the interception for no gain as Jason Campbell tackled him to save the TD. Manning doesn't waste any time trying to move down field. The Skins looking for run are in a bad position to defend Shockey, who catches a pass for 18 yards. With the ball securely in Skins territory the Giants opt to pass again. The pass is intended for Cooley who has Taylor, Rocky and Rogers converging on him as he attempts to catch the ball. However, he's not able to get a hold on it and the Skins let him have it as he walks back to the huddle. The Redskins defense has the Giants in a hole and know that they need to pass from here on out. On 2nd down out of the shotgun formation, Manning throws to Toomer but instead hits Rogers in the helmet with the pass and subsequently falls incomplete. 3rd and 10 is what the Gmen are facing and its time for the Skins defense to tee-off on Manning, but they are too excited and are called for encroachment making it 3rd and 5. The Skins don't back down and still blitz, confusing the Giants offensive line. The line was so worried about Rocky and Marshall that they forgot about Griffin who gets the sack. The Giants now have to punt to Randle El who lets the ball go into the end zone. With a new set of downs and another chance to score the Redskins come out in the full house formation. With Betts, Sellers and Cooley in the backfield they run for a gain of 1. The next play is a broken play, with Moss and Lloyd covered JC attempts to pass to Sellers but it falls incomplete. JC's next pass to Lloyd falls incomplete as the Skins are forced to punt. The Gmen have the ball at their 38 yard line after the punt but lose a yard during their 1st run of the night. Marshall met Tiki behind the line for a loss of a yard. On 2nd down at the sight of a blitzing Marcus Washington, Manning audibles. The play is a toss to the right that causes Marcus to blow past the runner but he is able to foul up the blocking which aides his team in stopping the play after a gain of only 2. Faced with a 3rd and 9 the Giants again are forced to pass, a blitzing Marshall is held up at the line which allows Manning to get the pass off but its deflected by Taylor and falls incomplete. The Skins start their drive at the 31 yard line after a 9 yard punt return by Randle El. Its 1st down with Lloyd, Moss, Randle El, Cooley and Betts on the field. Jason throws a bomb to Brandon Lloyd who has to dive to catch the ball at the 4 yard line exactly. Jason threw a 64 yard pass that puts him at 94 for the day. The Skins run the ball twice, once to the 1 yard line and another to punch it in for the TD. 7-0 Skins The Gmen don't seem too intent in brandishing their great RB Tiki Barber and start another drive off by passing, Manning connects on a 25 yard pass with Toomer down to the 45 yard line. The Giants get another easy 1st down by running a draw play with Tiki that goes for 12 yards. With another set of fresh downs the Giants pass but only gain a yard down to the Skins 42 yard line. Another pass from Manning gets the Giants to the 29 yard line, Toomer seems like he can't be covered today. Griffin rears his head again on 1st down, tackling Barber behind the line of scrimmage for a loss of 4. Shawn Springs drops a gimme interception on 2nd down, he wouldn't have been touched as he raced down the sidelines. The pass was intended for Burress. On 3rd and long a quick pass to Shockey beats the rush and gets the ball to the 14 yard line. The defense calls a time out to conserve time but get torched on another draw play that goes for a TD. 7-7 Tie The Redskins have a little over a minute to score a TD before the half. Antwaan almost breaks off a return for a TD but is caught. On 2nd down JC is saved by Betts who stops Wilkinson who was on a jail break. The entire Giants defense chased JC until he threw up a pass for grabs to Lloyd and Madison. Lloyd came down with the pass in Giants territory but not before taking a nasty shot. An aggressive play call on the next play falls incomplete, the TD bomb for Moss is batted down in double coverage. On 2nd down a pass to Lloyd is caught for a 1st down with McQuarters covering. JC takes another shot in the end zone but its batted down after he waives Cooley to break off of his route. With 1 minute and 16 seconds left the Skins elect to run the ball. Betts gets 8 yards on the run and the Skins go into a hurry up mode. The Skins get multiple chances to get the ball in the end zone and fail to. Gibbs gambles and fourth down and the perfect play is called. Nobody covered Betts coming out of the backfield but he drops the pass as time expires in the half and the game remains tied. HALF Tiki gains 5 yards on the 1st play of the second half. Another run for a gain of 4 makes it 3rd and 9 but Manning converts on 3rd with a great pass. Another Manning pass goes for 10 yards taking the pass to the 44 yard line of the Skins. The Skins finally get some pressure on Manning on his next pass falls incomplete. The refs call a horrible pass interference call and gets the Giants down to the 20. Sensing an impeding score the defense lashes out and goes for broke. They blitz the entire defense aside from the two DB's and Taylor. The usual suspects Griffin, Marcus, Rocky and Archuleta converge on Manning sending him back to the 33 yard line. The defense forces the Giants to kick the FG. 10-7 Giants Not looking to be shown up by the Giants, the Skins know they must put up TD's. Jason's 1st throw of the drive is another strike to Lloyd who knowingly broke from his pattern to aid his QB in distress. Lloyd is having a huge day and is showing why he was acquired in the off season. After 2 losses in the backfield by Betts and a failed 3rd down conversion the Skins are forced to punt. The Skins down the punt at the 13 yard line. A run from Tiki is for a loss as the Skins attempt to get the ball back for their offense. On 2nd down the Giants attempt a pass to Shockey but the pressure forces an errant e throw and its batted down by Taylor. The Giants run a draw to no avail on 3rd down and are forced to punt. The Skins get the ball at their 45 yard line. TJ Duckett get his number called for the 1st time today, he rumbles for 5 yards as the Skins attempt to milk the clock. Another run for 5 yards converts and allows the Skins to continue their drive. From the 32 yard line the Skins run a counter out of the full house package. TJ runs throw Umenyiora as he's escorted by his line into the end zone. TJ had 5 rushes for 47 yards on this drive, now its up to the defense to stop a Giants TD, will going for it at the end of the half come back to haunt the team? 14-10 Skins From their 20 yard line the Giants attempt to pass with 1:50 remaining in the game. The pass to Shockey falls incomplete, coverage by Adam Archuleta. Eli drops back to pass on 2nd down and is forced into another bad throwing decision but this time it's intercepted. Rogers gambles and leaps for the pick, if he had missed there was no safety help to stop the TD. Rogers races in for the TD and carries a desperate Eli Manning with him into the end zone for 6 points. 21-10 Skins The Giants get the ball back in hopes to score quickly and try an onside kick. However, Manning is intercepted again by Rogers at Washington's 43 yard line. The Skins run out the clock and seal up a win. *The Redskins finish the season with the 14th ranked offense and 10th ranked defense. *Jason Campbell finished the season with a QB rating of 73.8. *Kenny Wright led the team with 8 interceptions. Taylor, Springs, Marshall came up with 4. *Marshall led the team with 84 tackles. *Daniels led the team with 6 sacks, newcomer Carter...

Toys For Tots

Thu, 28 Dec 2006 18:40:19 GMT

As a former Marine, one of my favorite charities is the toy drive run annually by the Marine Corps Reserves, Toys for Tots . That's why I brought them up to BossHog when we were trying to decide what to do for the holidays as a website. http://toysfortots2006.com/google/tft_2004.jpg As a result, we held a Toy Drive at the two home games that BH came down for in early December. Between toy and cash donations, we were able to gather close to 100 toys in those two weeks. On December 16 at Verizon Center, THN gave the toys to the Marines prior to the Caps vs. Flyers game. The night was a success for the Marines and Toys for Tots, according to Gunnery Sergeant Ray Fenwick: "We collected more than 1,000 toys and $1,500 in cash donations. The toy drive was a huge success and on behalf of the Toys for Tots program we appreciate all of the help that we received from the Washington Capitals and their fans." Simple math will tell you that the generosity of THN and their members and tailgate party attendees were a big part of that success. Hopefully next year, we can do even...

Hognostications NFL Week 17 - Last call!!!

Wed, 27 Dec 2006 16:00:17 GMT

Here we go for the last time this season. It is incredible how fast (and painful) it went. Saturday, December 30 (ET) Giants at Redskins 8:00 PM Sunday, December 31 (ET) Jaguars at Chiefs 1:00 PM Browns at Texans 1:00 PM Panthers at Saints 1:00 PM Rams at Vikings 1:00 PM Steelers at Bengals 1:00 PM Patriots at Titans 1:00 PM Lions at Cowboys 1:00 PM Seahawks at Buccaneers 1:00 PM Raiders at Jets 1:00 PM Dolphins at Colts 4:15 PM 49ers at Broncos 4:15 PM Falcons at Eagles 4:15 PM Bills at Ravens 4:15 PM Cardinals at Chargers 4:15 PM Packers at Bears 8:15 PM It almost looks impossible to reach a perfect score this week. It has certainly eluded us so far this season. If there was ever a time in need for one for several of us, it is NOW! Good luck and thanks for participating in this contest....

Hognostications NFL Week 16

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 21:07:47 GMT

I almost forgot to do this. Sorry that I can not say much more at this time. Thursday, December 21 (ET) Vikings at Packers 8:00 PM Saturday, December 23 (ET) Chiefs at Raiders 8:00 PM Sunday, December 24 (ET) Buccaneers at Browns 1:00 PM Patriots at Jaguars 1:00 PM Bears at Lions 1:00 PM Ravens at Steelers 1:00 PM Colts at Texans 1:00 PM Saints at Giants 1:00 PM Redskins at Rams 1:00 PM Titans at Bills 1:00 PM Panthers at Falcons 1:00 PM Cardinals at 49ers 4:05 PM Chargers at Seahawks 4:15 PM Bengals at Broncos 4:15 PM Monday, December 25 (ET) Eagles at Cowboys 5:00 PM Jets at Dolphins...

Sid the Kid

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 12:45:08 GMT

The Pittsburgh Panguins are on a bit of a roll - but Sidney Crosby is on fire. Last night in an 8-4 win over the Flyers, he put up six points to steal the league lead in scoring. I say steal because he started the evening in fifth place, but a six-point game will catapault you some ways. Sid not only took over the lead, he put three points between himself and the next guy (Jaromir Jagr). Now the young phenom will have to shoulder the additional strain of the media buzzing about the possibility of him becoming the youngest player to ever lead the league in scoring. Crosby was undoubtedly the beneficiary of some good bounces and some 'secondary' assists last night against Philadelphia, but so is every player over the course of a season. It's not very often that a hockey fan gets to see a six-point performance, so regardless of how they all came about, it was very impressive. Nobody talks about the 'quality' of Darryl Sittler's infamous ten points (6 goals, 4 assists) on that record breaking night back in the 1975/1976 season, they just remember the milestone and that nobody else has been able to achieve it. It was Crosby's best game of his career. Until Wednesday night, he'd never scored more than four points in a night, though he has done that three times already in just his second season. 'The Kid' is becoming a 'Flyer Killer' as he now has 29 points in just 13 career games. Sid's big performance also meant big nights for other Penguins. Sergei Gonchar had 2 goals and 3 assists for five points, and Ryan Malone had a goal and 3 assists. Amazingly, Evgeni Malkin didn't register a single point for the Penguins. Just one game removed from the Penguins / Capitals tilt at the Verizon Center this week, perhaps Sid felt the need to try and distance himself from the pack. The league put a lot of hype into the matchup between Crosby and Alex Ovechkin and while neither disappointed, Malkin may have outplayed both of them on the evening. If I had to choose between Sid the Kid and Ovie, I personally lead towards Ovechkin. He's just such a complete hockey player and his aggression appeals to my 'darker' hockey side. But I'd gladly 'settle' for Sid any day too... and what a talent he is becoming. Only time will tell which one will have a more productive career. The NHL has put a lot of undue pressure on these two youngsters. Pressure to resurrect a sport that has suffered state-side since the year long lockout season. That's a lot to ask of two young players. Especially when you consider that until Ovie's recent birthday, neither of them were old enough to legally drink alcohol in the United States. But that might be the best thing about these two young phenoms. Neither of them seem at all jilted by the added responsibility. In fact, they both seem to thrive on...

A Little Perspective

Wed, 13 Dec 2006 15:39:48 GMT

As I listened to caller after caller tell John Riggins that Joe Gibbs should quit, that the team should be blown up, that major, wholesale changes were the only way to save the sinking ship that is the Washington Redskins, I couldn't help but throw up in my mouth a little bit. Aren't these the same people who always used to talk about how there was no stability in the organization and that this team would never be successful until there was. Where has all of the new coaches, the wholesale changes and roster implosions gotten us as Redskin fans? It got us one playoff appearance in 12 years prior to the return of Coach Joe. Is that really what we as fans want to strive for? Not this fan. As a matter of fact, it was a wholesale change this season that undoubtedly has contributed to the struggles this season. Al Saunders high-flying offense will make us an offensive powerhouse in the future, but implementing it the year after a deep playoff run means that the Redskins offense has to take a step back in order to take two steps forward. Was it absolutely necessary? Perhaps not, but then what do fans really know about the inner workings of the team? The bottom line is this: what this team needs in stability. What Jason Campbell needs is to have to off-season to build on his experience and knowledge of Al Saunder's system, not learn a completely new offense for the eighth straight season. What the team needs is to continue to grow and move in one direction, rather than trying a new direction every couple of years. Besides, the attitude of Redskins fandom when Joe Gibbs came back was to trust in Gibbs, because if he can't win here, no one can. He is fighting an up-hill battle to change a culture of losing twelve years in the making. How quickly we fickle fans...

Hognostications NFL Week 15

Tue, 12 Dec 2006 14:16:56 GMT

I am really overloaded with work at the moment. Sorry I can not say much at this hour. I will try to say a few things about this week's disaster later on Enjoy. Thursday, December 14 (ET) 49ers at Seahawks 8:00 PM Saturday, December 16 (ET) Cowboys at Falcons 8:00 PM Sunday, December 17 (ET) Jaguars at Titans 1:00 PM Browns at Ravens 1:00 PM Buccaneers at Bears 1:00 PM Redskins at Saints 1:00 PM Lions at Packers 1:00 PM Jets at Vikings 1:00 PM Texans at Patriots 1:00 PM Dolphins at Bills 1:00 PM Steelers at Panthers 1:00 PM Broncos at Cardinals 4:05 PM Rams at Raiders 4:15 PM Eagles at Giants 4:15 PM Chiefs at Chargers 8:15 PM Monday, December 18 (ET) Bengals at Colts...

Redskins vs Eagles, Madden Sim

Sat, 09 Dec 2006 17:03:47 GMT

Its week 13 in the NFL and the NFC East has seen its first alteration at the #1 spot of the season. Washingtons loss to Atlanta knocked them down to #2 behind Philly. On opposite ends of the spectrum the Eagles are coasting on a 3 game winning streak while Washington is on a 2 game losing streak. These two teams meet today to decide who will be #1 in the NFC East The Skins win the toss and elect to kick off, it's a good kick and the Eagles elect to down it in the end zone. At their 20 yard line McNabb drops back to pass on their first play. Its a 2 yard throw over the middle to #86 Brown that goes for 9 yards, Carlos Rogers was in coverage. On 2nd down the Eagles show run but pass again. McNabb tosses a strike to #86 again and the ball is now out at midfield. Rogers didnt receive help from Taylor who had his nose in the backfield. With a fresh set of downs the Eagles drop back to pass and dare the Redskins to stop it. Lemar Marshall comes in on the blitz and gets to McNabb without being touched. On 2nd down with 16 yards to go the Eagles regroup and pass again. This time its a pass to Stallworth who makes a catch on Springs and gets down to Washingtons 31 yard line. The Redskins defensive front four arent getting any pressure on McNabb and he's picking the secondary apart. Its clear that this team will have to blitz if they want to have a shot in this game. The next play marks Philly's first run of the day, its a run by Moats up the gut for a loss of one yard. On 2nd down McNabb drops back again, Marcus Washington comes in on the blitz and pressures McNabb but cant get to him. Donovan passes to #84 Baskett, gets the completion and the TD. Kenny Wright was in a one on one situation and simply got beat. 7-0 Philly Philly kicks the ball off and towards Randle El which is common, he gets a good return taking the ball out to the 27 yard line. The Redskins offense comes out onto the field knowing they will have to be more consistent than they have been in recent weeks. The first play is a run by TJ Duckett up the gut for a gain on 1 yard. On second down Jason drops back looking for Fauria. The Philly defensive line breaks through their blocks and forces Jason to his left, Moss follows suit and gets a missile from JC taking the ball to the 48 yard line. With a fresh set of downs the offense runs the ball, TJ gets another run between the tackles on the left side and gains 12 yards this time. The ball is at Phillys 38 yard line, its another run to TJ. Its a counter to the left and TJ gets it down the 21 yard line. It seems that the offense has gotten into a bit of a groove and has calmed early jitters. JC goes for the end zone on the next play to Cooley but it falls incomplete after being batted down. On 2nd down the Skins opt to pass twice in a row. They have two TE's on the field but Fauria is in the slot. JC looks to Lloyd but a LB was aiding the DB in coverage. Jason looked to Fauria who was open, he made the throw, and Fauria made the catch and got the ball to the 7 yard line. TJ Duckett receives the hand off after Mike Sellers slid to his left in the backfield. Trotter went unblocked and was able to push TJ down to the ground before he could get to the edge and the ball comes out. #90 Howard picks up the ball and runs it back for a TD. Coach Gibbs challenged the play and it was reversed since TJ was down before the ball came out. Jason drops back to pass on 2nd down and gets the ball out to TJ on a swing pass but only gains a yard. Jason looks for Cooley on 3rd down but he drops the pass in the end zone. The Skins kick the FG. 7-3 Philly Philly downs the kick off in their end zone, choosing to take the ball at the 20. Philly comes right back out moving the ball through the air. McNabb's first throw is a strike to #86 between Rogers and Taylor. Donovan completes the pass in the face of pressure and still was tackled by Marshall. With a fresh set of downs the Eagles run the ball with Moats for a 4 yard gain. For the first time in the game the Eagles decide to run the ball twice in a row and hand off to Moats again. The Eagles exploit the Skins fear of their passing game and run a draw. Rocky McIntosh gets to Moats after he gained about 8 yards but as he drags Moats down he punches the ball out with his right arm. Griffin recovered the fumbled in Philly territory. Washington takes the ball and runs it up the gut of Phillys defense for a 4 yard gain on 1st down. TJ is held to a gain on one yard on 2nd down making it a 3rd and 5 situation. JC gets the 5 yards on 3rd down and adds on more with a 16 yard pass to Cooley which gets the ball to Phillys 16 yard line. With the end zone in sight Washington drops back to pass but they forgot one thing, Jevon Kearse. Jon Jansen fails to block Kearse and protect JC who wasn't looking that way. Kearse nails JC in the back and forces a fumble but its recovered by TJ. Faced with a 2nd and 21 situation JC drops back to pass and Eagles smell blood. They overload the offensive line again but JC gets out of the pocket to buy himself some time. He hits Randle El on a post pattern for the 1st down. The Skins fail to get the ball into the end zone again after 3 consecutive Jason Campbell throws. Two were to TJ in the backfield with made a 3rd and 4 situation. JC went into the end zone on 3rd down to Moss but the ball was batted down. 7-6 Philly With the ball at their 20 yard line the Eagles have 1:20 left on the clock. Quickly moving down the field via the air hasnt been an issue for them thus far and they intend to do so again. McNabb drops back eyes #86 Brown again, he makes the throw into zone coverage and is intercepted by Sean Taylor at their 37 yard line. With a sense of urgency and frustration JC connects with Randle El on an out pattern. Antwaan was able to get both feet in on what looked like a late pass and fall out of bounds at the 11. The Skins who thus far have passed when in the red zone today elect to run the ball and wear down the clock. They hand off to TJ 3 times in a row, each time he inches closer. Faced with a 4th&1, the coaches tired of settling for FG's go for it. The Skins run TJ one more time and it looks like he's going to be stopped when #51 McCoy holds up Sellers in the hole and gets a hand on TJ but TJ drags him with him and pushes Sellers forward into the end zone. Philly kneels down to end the half. HALF The Redskins come out and look to build on their success in the 1st half. Betts downs the kick in the end zone and the ball is taken out to the 20 yard line. JC lets one rip out to midfield to Brandon Lloyd but its batted down by the Eagles defense. On 2nd down TJ Duckett is halted for no gain. With 3rd and long looming JC looks to Antwaan but a mix up in the route almost causes an interception. The Redskins are forced to punt. Frost gets off a nice punt that rolls to Phillys 24 yard line. The Eagles run on 1st down to the right but its sniffed out by the defense with Moats tackled for a loss. Moats is able to make it 3rd and 8 after his 2nd run where he's tackled by Taylor. On 3rd down McNabb is blitzed and tackled by Kenny Wright but not before he gets the pass off to Moats in the flats for the 1st down. Sean Taylor was in position to save the 1st down but got turned around. Moats gets another pass in the flats for 8 yards but takes it much further. He jukes and makes two Redskins miss as he gets the ball out to the 39 yard line of Washington territory. McNabb continues to pass down the field and with the ball at the 17 yard line he drops back again. This time Skins blitz everyone except Rogers, Springs and Taylor. Archuleta got to McNabb first and knocked him into Marshall for a loss of 11 yards. The Eagles strike back and get to within one yard of converting. On third down they run a sweep but Marshall and Springs converge on Moats and hold him back. 13-10 Skins Jason Campbell has the ball at the 20 yard line and the Skins dont waste any time. In a change of pace the offense starts out in the shotgun formation. Santana Moss runs a drag route right down the conversion line and makes the catch. He runs the entire length of the field for the TD. An unselfish Brandon Lloyd makes a key block on the play. Trotter would have blind sided Moss, those types of hits lead to fumbles but Lloyd took him out which aided Moss in his TD run. 20-10 Skins The Eagles down a booming kick off in their end zone and take the ball at the 20. Moats gains 6 yards on 1st down to open up some options for their offense on 2nd down. McNabb drops back to pass on 2nd down to no surprise but the blitz forced an early throw and the subsequent incomplete pass but that would be the Redskins last bit of luck. McNabb continues to pass his way downfield and its obvious that the inconsistent Redskin offense will be forced to win this game. As the Eagles march down to the goal line well rested and hardly used Moats pushes his way into the end zone. The Skins simply cant stop the Eagles passing game. 20-17 Skins Antwaan receives the Eagles kick off and runs his way to the 38 yard line, setting up the offense with great field position. On 1st down the Skins run the ball for a gain of 1 yard. Cooley is the recipient of a pass on 2nd down and gets the 1st down while moving the ball into Philly territory. With a fresh set of downs the Skins hand off to TJ, he gets 6 more yards. On 2nd down TJ is forced to leap over #52 Sharper who bursts through the line unblocked, Randy Thomas breaks off of his block and pancakes Sharper but they clog the hole and the commotion causes TJ to lose the ball but Randy Thomas recovers the fumble. Faced with a 3rd and 8, JC drops back and looks downfield. He finds Brandon Lloyd across the middle for the 1st down. JC drops back again and looks to pass to TJ out in the flats but TJ lets the ball fall out of his hands and incomplete. At Phillys 30 yard line JC drops back again and looks at Brandon Lloyd, the pass is high so that Lloyd can use his jumping ability to get it and he does just that, the ball is at Phillys 5 yard line. In a very un-Gibbs like chain of events, Jason Campbell drops back to pass again in the red zone, maybe it was due to TJ's butter fingers. Jason runs out towards his left with 2 Eagles pursuing and #51 McCoy guarding the end zone. Lloyd is in the mist of 3 Eagles deep in the end zone; he runs back to the front and catches a high pass from JC for the TD. 27-17 Skins With that score the Skins make it a two possession game with 2:19 left in the game. McNabb and the Eagles take the ball at the 20 yard line to begin their drive. McNabb drives the Eagles down the field with dinking and dunking passes. The Skins defense is willing to allow the Eagles to eat up the clock and yardage but dont want to give up the big play. With the ball in Redskins territory the McNabb is intercepted by Rocky McIntosh on a pass intended for Stallworth over the middle. The Skins run the out the clock. Final 27-17...

Short Bus Journalism

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 13:51:15 GMT

I just wanted to take an opportunity to dispel a few myths in this whole 'saga' that the media has created about the B.Lloyd helmet toss. First off... 90% of the impetus of this story comes STRICTLY from the fact that Joe Gibbs did not answer affirmatively that B.Lloyd would play this upcoming Sunday when asked by the media (on Monday). Gibbs NEVER said that he wouldn't, NEVER said that there would be discilplinary actions against Brandon... all he did was answer that he was going to sit down with Brandon again on Tuesday and talk about some things. As usual, the media pundits filled in all of their own blanks. Having any basis in fact is obviously completely optional in modern sports journalism... so they just took it and ran with it. It made for 'good press' in a week where Redskin fans were coming to the realization that the playoffs weren't coming in 2006. I'm going to lay out a few things for you... you can choose to believe whatever you like, but I want you to keep in mind that I spoke to Brandon personally about it both on Monday night and last night at the Washington Capitals game. 1) Brandon told JF and I from the start that he couldn't believe the media were just running with the fact that Gibbs didn't give a definitive answer. He told us Monday that he was meeting with Joe on Tuesday and that he had no reason whatsoever to believe that he wouldn't be playing against the Eagles. 2) Brandon hasn't once changed his stance. He's consistently said that he apologizes for costing the team 15 yards, but he was frustrated and he can't 'undo' it. 3) Somehow, some media outlets were posting yesterday that Brandon was being suspended by the team and even went as far as to say that he might be deactivated for the rest of the season. A sphincter says WHAT? I'd be interested to know what Cracker Jack box those credentials came from... 4) I got it STRAIGHT from Brandon's mouth that not only was he playing, but that he and Joe had a really good chat and that he thought that both he and Joe came away with a better understanding of some things. This is just yet another example of the media making a mountain out of a mole hill. It's their job. Apparently they're just here to convolute issues for you the reader, and to try and sensationalize their way to a successful career in journalism. There wasn't much to this story from the start. There wasn't much truth to most of what has been printed. Just look at the ACTUAL QUOTES in any of these 'telling articles'. They're fluff pieces. They stem from an inability to do anything but errantly interpret events. There's no accountability for the reporters because you - JOE READER - is going to click on the links, or pick up the paper and read it regardless of the level of truth in them. It's the 'easy' way. It's easier and quicker to write something that isn't true than to actually find out the truth. Frankly, it makes me sick. I implore you to learn how to read the modern sports piece... with about ten grains of...

Hognostications Counterpoint NFL Week14-YET ANOTHER SHORT WK

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 13:08:54 GMT

Hognostications Counterpoint NFL Week 14 - YET ANOTHER SHORT WEEK Well, I have not seen the updated weekly or season standings yet. Hey! I have not seen the weekly picks for week 13 yet. So, I do not really know who won (or lost badly) or if there were any HognostiTRAITORS (or not) this week. All I know is that from among the group that was kind enough to make their picks public in these threads in advance, the results were not really good. Most people had a 50% / 50% or worse score. :cry: The elusive PERFECT score still looks remote for most of us throughout the rest of the season. This week saw the return of Redeemed and his promises for a perfect score. Call his PERFECT predictions bravado, funny, sad or irrelevant if you might but at least he seems to have obtained one of the better scores this week nonetheless. :shock: There were other predictions about a perfect score from more serious posters. Unfortunately, those predictions matched their Hognostications record this week: not great. UK Skins Fan and others, who made such claims for glory, found their effort matched by the play of the Redskins on Sunday: not good at all. So, there you have it. At a time that there seems little for Redskins fans to cheer about, we still have two motivations left: 1) To arrive at a perfect score for the first time this season; and 2) To win the Hognostications marathon. If I made it from the bottom of the table to a more respectable position, I am sure anybody can do so as well. Do not quit. We do not have quitters in this board or in our team regardless of our records. The games scheduled for this week are: Thursday, December 7 (ET) Browns at Steelers 8:00 PM Sunday, DEC 10 (ET) Falcons at Buccaneers 1:00 PM Giants at Panthers 1:00 PM Raiders at Bengals 1:00 PM Eagles at Redskins 1:00 PM Patriots at Dolphins 1:00 PM Vikings at Lions 1:00 PM Titans at Texans 1:00 PM Colts at Jaguars 1:00 PM Ravens at Chiefs 1:00 PM Packers at 49ers 4:05 PM Seahawks at Cardinals 4:05 PM Bills at Jets 4:15 PM Broncos at Chargers 4:15 PM Saints at Cowboys 8:15 PM Monday, December 11 (ET) Bears at Rams 8:30 PM Start your engines! The picksheet will be posted...

My Schizophrenia

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 13:49:34 GMT

I havent blogged in awhile. Most likely because there hasnt been much to blog about lately since the ship started sinking. Sure, I could have written a piece a few weeks ago on why Mark Brunell needed to be replaced, since we hadnt really addressed that question on the boards (where IS that sarcasm button when you need it?!?), but I decided against it. I could have written on what the heck has happened to the defense, or why we signed Adam Archuletta to keep Greg Williams company on the sidelines (we could have bought him a dog or a hamster and it would have been cheaper). In fact, there are a whole host of topics that I could have blabbered on about (and make no mistake, my blogs are all about self-serving blabberingand stuff in parentheses). But when it comes down to it, I just couldnt bring myself to write anything negative. The bottom line is that, as much as I like to sulk and moan and look mean, Im an optimist. Im reluctant to admit it, since its very not cool to be one. When I was a kid, the other kids would point and laugh and shout Hey, look, there goes the optimist!, and then theyd throw slightly rotten fruit at me (I grew up in a rather affluent neighborhood rotten fruit was hard to come by). So I bypassed the negative stuff, and held out for when I could deliver a more positive message. After this week, I think were there. Jason Campbell has showed promise, and the defense looked hungry at home against the Panthers. Things are looking better not great, but better. However, there is a danger. I see a We can still make the playoffs! thread on the boards and I cringe. The poster lays out a seductive, complex scenario where the Redskins back into the playoffs. And once theyre there, they will of course run the table. Its all so believable, so....delicious, I just want to succumb to it. My wide-eyed goofy optimist side exclaims Hey.playoffsyeah! It could happen! Woo hoo! Were going to the playoffs! My realistic side just shakes his head. He knows that all we should really be looking for at this point is some solid development from Jason Campbell, a string of decent games from the defense, and a sign ANY sign of team character between now and when the season comes to a close. Dreams of playoffs and sugar plums will have to wait until next year. He begins thinking about the offseason, who the Redskins should look at drafting, which free agents they will inevitably target, what changes might happen with the coaching staff. But the realistic side cant concentrate on all these realistic things, because theres this loud noise coming from the other side of my brain. Its the optimist screaming at the top of his lungs, shirt off, chest painted, beer hat on, clearly insane. So, I guess Ill have to wait on all the realistic offseason planning until the Redskins are mathematically eliminated from the playoff picture, and the optimist in me is lying face down in the gutter, hungover and exhausted. Until then, however, I guess Im doomed to believe until the bitter end. Call me a homer or a bandwagoner or an idiot. I cant help it. Playoffs, here we come. Go...

A response to Peter King: It is time to right a wrong on Art

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 05:18:26 GMT

A response to Peter King: It is time to right a wrong on Art Monk By Rick Anuck After many years of opposition to the nomination and induction of Art Monk into the NFL Hall of Fame, Peter King decided to reflect further and he has retracted from that position. In his own words: "As I made my rounds of training camps this year, I asked veteran coaches about Monk and the one word that kept coming up was "unselfish.'' His downfield blocking prowess kept coming up. His long-term numbers were almost Yastrzemski-like (one or two great years, lots of productive ones, very reliable). But when I talked to Joe Gibbs on Friday, the one thing that stood out was the body of work we don't see -- the downfield blocking, the quiet leadership, and this: Unlike his louder receiving mates Clark and Ricky Sanders, Monk, according to Gibbs, never once said he wanted the ball more. "We used him almost as a tight end a lot,'' said Gibbs, "and not only did he do it willingly, he was a great blocker for us. If he'd been a squeaky wheel, who knows how many catches Art would have had. But he cared about one thing -- the team.'' So many of the things Carson did can't be quantified. Similarly with Monk. Not only did he lead the NFL in all-time receptions when he retired, but he blocked superbly and was the most important locker-room influence on a three-time Super Bowl champion. I'm voting for him. " The argument to have James Arthur Monk inducted in the NFL Hall of Fame has had many tangible and intangible reasons over the years. Many of the tangible qualities that make Art Monk a worthy inductee in the Hall of Fame can only be described in numbers: Art holds numerous Washington Redskins records including most career receptions (888), most career receiving yards (12,026), most receptions in a single game (13 against Detroit in 1990), and most receptions in a single season (106 in 1984). He retired as the NFL's All-Time receptions leader with 940 and the most consecutive games with a catch (183). He had nine 50-reception seasons. He made it three-times as a Pro-Bowler. The numbers of Art Monk during regular seasons, playoffs and Superbowls compare more than favorably with other contemporary wide receivers already inducted in the Hall of Fame: Regular Seasons Player name Career Receptions Yards TD's Charlie Joiner 1969-86 750 12,146 65 James Loften 1978-93 764 14,004 75 Steve Largent 1976-89 813 13,089 100 Art Monk 1980-94 940 12,721 68 John Stallworth 1974-87 537 8,723 63 Lynn Swann 1974-82 336 5,462 51 Playoffs Player name Games Receptions Yds TD's SB-Rings Charlie Joiner 8 33 599 5 0 James Loften 12 41 749 8 0 Steve Largent 7 23 434 4 0 Art Monk 15 69 1,062 7 3 Lynn Swann 13 43 830 8 3 John Stallworth 15 52 1,014 12 3 Super Bowls Player name Games Receptions Yds TD's SB-Rings Charlie Joiner 0 0 0 0 0 James Loften 2 8 153 0 0 Steve Largent 0 0 0 0 0 Art Monk 3 9 179 0 3 Lynn Swann 3 16 364 3 3 John Stallworth 3 8 244 3 3 But it is also the quality of his play not captured in tangible numbers, which makes Art Monk a worthy inductee in the NFL Hall of Fame. His qualities and abilities are best captured by the nickname given to him by Richard Justice: the quiet hero . Justice best captured the human essence of Art when he wrote in the opening paragraph: "Few athletes handled success with less pretense than Art Monk. Yet sometimes the goodness of the person overshadowed the magnificence of the performer. Occasionally lost in all the accolades about Monk the man and Monk the teammate and Monk the husband and father is the simple fact that Art Monk was one of the best receivers in NFL history." http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bf/Artmonk.jpg Art played with great skill and courage as a designated target against the toughest defensive backs in the League and he was able to consistently move the chains to keep countless key drives alive. His ability to attract coverage and his generosity to block tacklers opened up the game for other receivers. His work ethic made it possible for his team to win over an entire era. The NFL honored Monk by naming him to the NFL 1980s All-Decade Team but the just recognition that he deserves for his work in the NFL has been taken away from him by a few influential voters so far. Ronnie Lott captured best the essence of this injustice when he said: "Art Monk was an example for Jerry Rice. That's what Jerry always told me. There's nothing negative to say. He has the numbers, the catches, and the championships. You have a Hall of Fame for all it represents. I know he represents all that it's about. Integrity, love and passion for the game, community, is what he gave back. Look how he conducted himself. Nobody I know deserves it more." Ronnie is right. It is about integrity, love and passion for the game. When those three words are put together, the name of James Arthur Monk comes to mind. I would like to believe that this attitude removes the last obstacle to have Art Monk inducted in the Hall of Fame. But after so many years of frustration, you will forgive me if I remain a bit skeptical and incredolous about this change of heart among other voters, such as Paul Zimmerman. If Peter Kink keeps his promise and Paul Zimmerman truly acts in accordance with the words quoted by Peter to him in this article, I promise to remove my signature and I will not oppose Sports Illustrated as an institution. It is time Peter. It is the honorable thing to do. It is time to right a wrong on Art Monk. Acknowledgements. Thanks to Joe Gibbs, Len Shapiro, Michael Wilbon, Bill Polian, Pat Kirwan, Harry Carson, and many coaches and players not named here. Thanks to the thousands and thousands of NFL fans who have recognized the value of Art Monk on and off the field. Thanks to our fellow posters Todd Westerfield, Mark Solway and Scott Hurrey for their constant support for this cause. There is a large number of videos and articles in support of the induction of Art Monk in the NFL Hall of Fame. The list provided below is very probably incomplete but each of these articles contains very powerful arguments. Interviews: http://www.usafootball.com/articles/19-press-box/95-featured-articles/354-interview-with-art-monk.php Interview with Art Monk by Hilary Strahota Videos: http://www.monk4thehall.com/ Monk for the Hall http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoID=1313055692 Art Monk makes history http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWgVVVmGkLA Art Monk http://vidsearch.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1264126967 Art Monk and the Skins Articles: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51024-2005Feb24.html A Hall of Mystery by Leonard Shapiro. http://www.thehogs.net/History/ArtMonk/ Quotes from Monk's peers. http://www.thehogs.net/History/ArtMonk/index1.html The Road to Canton http://www.thehogs.net/History/ArtMonk/index2.html Not in the Hall? Flash Video http://www.footballcamps.com/default.asp?page=20&camp=1&psub=12 'Big Money' Should Be in Pro Football Hall of Fame" by John Wiebusch. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A47421-2005Jan29.html Monk Has Run Into This Pattern Before. George Solomon's response to King. http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-406865.html Try Again, Pete, Steve Czaban's response to King. http://czabe.com/daily/archives/2006/01/index.html#000186 Bettis Backyard No Longer Field of Dreams, Steve Czaban's response to King, Part II http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=5759 In HoF Voting, Monk Deserves Better, Gary Fitzgerald's response to King http://www.protrade.com/... Hey Canton, Make Some Room for Monk! by Ben Alamar http://www.hailredskins.com/Pond.htm A View from Across the Pond by Andrew Williams http://czabe.com/daily/archives/2006/01/silent_as_a_mon.html Silent as a Monk, the HOF Snub Continues by Steve Czaban http://redskins.scout.com/2/493893.html?refid=400 Explaining the Obvious to the Dense by Rich Tandler http://espn.go.com/classic/s/2004/0805/1852886.html Immortality on hold by Ray Ratto http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/07/AR2006020701115.html Before Moving Ahead, One Final Look Back by Leonard Shapiro http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=5706 Good Samaritans Bowl' A Redskins Effort by Ryan Basen http://archive.sportingnews.com/nfl/100/91.html Sporting News profile http://www.theredskinreport.com/2006/01/28/is-art-monk-a-hall-of-famer-part-one-introduction/ Is Art Monk a Hall of Famer? - Part 1 of 4 The Redskin Report http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/000960.html Art Monk up for Canton by Murdoc Online http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FCL/is_9_32/ai_99378829 Art Monk: how's this for selfless? The former Redskins wideout didn't play in the game that stands out the most of him - The Game I'll Never Forget by Chuck O'Donnell http://journals.aol.com/dcsportsguy/mrirrelevant/entries/613 Art Monk Is a HOFer by Jamie Mottram http://ruleofreason.blogspot.com/archives/2004_02_01_default.htm#107582071983917682 Sports: Media Credibility and the Hall of Fame http://www.allsports.com/cgi-bin/showstory.cgi?story_id=50437 Art Monk deserves to be in the hall of fame by Derrick Pearson http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18640-2005Jan18.html The Chat House by Michael Wilbon http://www.sportscolumn.com/story/2005/2/21/112054/527/nfl/Is_It_Time_to_Tweak_the_Rules Is It Time to Tweak the Rules by Robert Janis http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20040117-121634-5779r.htm Art Monk deserves spot in Hall by Thom Loverro http://www.sportspage43.com/e_article000224543.cfm No Art Appreciation.How the Hall Punk'd Art Monk by Mike Bruckheim http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A1162-2004Jan31?language=printer Monk Is Passed Over Once Again. Elway, B. Sanders, Eller and Brown Are Elected to Hall of Fame by Mark Maske http://nesportsdudes.8k.com/e031504Monk.html How in the Hall? by Steve Eifler http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=22717 Hall of Fame: New Hope For Monk by Gary...

Hognostications Counterpoint NFL Week 13 -ANOTHER SHORT WEEK

Mon, 27 Nov 2006 13:06:12 GMT

Hognostications Counterpoint NFL Week 13 - YET ANOTHER SHORT WEEK ALERT Finally! We arrive at the long-awaited NFL Week 13. Why would I make such a big thing out of it? Well, because UK Skin promised that -this- would be his perfect week. No, this is not another joke the kind of which we read on and off every once in a while from Redeemed Skin. This time it appears to be a serious effort. UK Skin has been improving in his scores lately and those of us who know his capabilities from last season know that he is one of those quite capable to pull it off. How about JPM36 and airhog? Shhhheeeesh! They are tough people to caught on to, let me tell you. They are consistent and they are closing the season very well. The group in pursuit has a hot trail though. One, I mean, only one week off and they are back with the rest of the group in a scramble for survival. HOSS did well but could not keep pace with JPM36. JSPB had a decent week but not spectacular. Unfortunately, several posters contending for good positions appear to have missed the deadline this past week. PLEASE do not allow the short week (this one too and the next two coming) to get you flat-footed and post your picks early in the week. The deadline for this week's picks is: Week 13: Wednesday November 29 (9:00 PM) I have not caught my breadth yet with work and the actual results of this weeks Hognostications Texas Hog picks are/will be HERE . Mine will be added on to this thread later on with a commentary on the positions in the weekly and season Hognostications standings when they are posted. Thursday, November 30 (ET) Ravens at Bengals 8:00 PM Sunday, December 3 (ET) Colts at Titans 1:00 PM Jets at Packers 1:00 PM Lions at Patriots 1:00 PM 49ers at Saints 1:00 PM Cardinals at Rams 1:00 PM Chargers at Bills 1:00 PM Falcons at Redskins 1:00 PM Vikings at Bears 1:00 PM Chiefs at Browns 1:00 PM Texans at Raiders 4:05 PM Jaguars at Dolphins 4:05 PM Buccaneers at Steelers 4:15 PM Cowboys at Giants 4:15 PM Seahawks at Broncos 8:15 PM Monday, December 4 (ET) Panthers at Eagles 8:30 PM What are you staring at? Go, go and think about your choices and remember to place your picks on time! :wink:...

Campbell's Soup Not Quite Hot Yet

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:02:41 GMT

Jason Campbell would have undoubtedly liked to begin in his NFL career on a winning note, but he has to be happy with what he was able to accomplish in his first NFL start. The Washington Redskins chose what some people thought was an odd quarterback scenario this season; Mark Brunell would start games, Todd Collins would backup during games, and Campbell would be the third string quarterback. Somehow a misconception seemed to develop that Campbell wasn't able to take hold of the reigns as the team's number two quarterback developed. It isn't, nor was it ever the case. People paying close attention know that the Redskins have stated all along that Collins was just the backup to close out any game that Brunell might be taken out of. Campbell was always the guy that would get the ball if at any point the Redskins decided to turn over the keys to the offense for any reason other than injury. Nevertheless, the Redskins reluctance to pull Brunell as the starter seemed to only fuel the talks in the media, and consequently amongst fans, that maybe Jason wasn't ready to play in the NFL. Otherwise, why not give him a shot? Well he finally got that shot against Tampa Bay this weekend, and one thing is certain; he didn't look out of place out there. In fact, there's a lot to be said for the composure that he showed in his debut. He didn't get the win, but he showed a lot of poise and ability for a quarterback that has never played a snap at the NFL level. He may not have been able to jump start a Redskins offense beginning it's post-Clinton Portis season, but he certainly made some great plays, and he didn't make any 'rookie mistakes' that hurt the team. Campbell completed 19 of his 36 passes for 196 yards, and threw for two touchdowns and perhaps more importantly, no interceptions. He looked comfortable in the pocket, didn't struggle with the speed of the game, and put on an excellent showing for his first NFL start. Campbell may not have got the win, but he proved to everyone including himself that he could play in the NFL. I'll go one better and say that Jason Campbell had a better game than any other Redskin on Sunday. In a season with little left to play for in the standings, it's good for the fans to have something of interest to watch from now until the end of the season. The possible future of the Redskins debuted last week against Tampa Bay. After seeing Campbell play, it's nice to have at least one reason to believe that the near future can be brighter than the immediate...

Hognostications Counterpoint NFL Week 12 - SHORT WEEK ALERT

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 18:53:57 GMT

Hognostications Counterpoint NFL Week 12 - SHORT WEEK ALERT So our playoff hopes are finished realistically if not mathematically. The season has been a nightmare from the start. Am I the only person depressed when I read that some of you rather look forward to the off season and even September 2007 when there are still -SIX- more games to play? I do not blame anybody. I understand you. I empathise with your feelings. In fact ... Let me take advantage of this opportunity to express to the Redskins organization our heartfelt gratitude for their kind assistance to provide the loyal Hognosticators at THN with SEVEN losses so far. But since the season is not over yet, there might still be more reasons to bestow upon them further thoughtful tokens of our appreciation in the near future. The only constructive things I can find in my bag of goodies to cheer you up a little and help you get over this debacle are: 1) This season still provides with a much needed opportunity to analyse the team and to determine what players are worth keeping and which ones must be weeded out off the Redskins garden; and 2) Hognostications! Yes, ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages, the best part of the Hognostications season is here and we are closing strong with an exciting finish to the latter part of the season. There has been a ton of movements in the season's standings. While we have had two leaders over most of the season: CLL and JPM36, others are closing in on them. Many players are still very much in contention and (almost) anybody can win this competition easily. This week is trickier than most others not only due to the tough schedule but because it is a VERY SHORT WEEK. The deadline for the submission of picks is: Wednesday, November 22 (9:00 PM) I will add to this Blog later on with an analysis of the final weekly standings and the current Hognostications season standings after the Monday Night Football game is played tonight. I will post my picks later on as well. I will show mine and hopefully you will show me yours. :wink: Regards, RiC In the meantime, start your engines: Thursday, November 23 (ET) Dolphins at Lions 12:30 PM Buccaneers at Cowboys 4:15 PM Broncos at Chiefs 8:00 PM Sunday, November 26 (ET) Steelers at Ravens 1:00 PM 49ers at Rams 1:00 PM Jaguars at Bills 1:00 PM Saints at Falcons 1:00 PM Cardinals at Vikings 1:00 PM Panthers at Redskins 1:00 PM Texans at Jets 1:00 PM Bengals at Browns 1:00 PM Raiders at Chargers 4:05 PM Bears at Patriots 4:15 PM Giants at Titans 4:15 PM Eagles at Colts 8:15 PM OUCH ! Monday, November 27 (ET) Packers at Seahawks...

Hognostications Counterpoint NFL Week 11

Tue, 14 Nov 2006 17:06:12 GMT

Hognostications Counterpoint NFL Week 11 So, where do the Hognosticators stand after 10 weeks in the NFL season? According to the Pool History , the following Hognosticators have won on a weekly basis: Week 1: TincoSkin Week 2: CLL Week 3: Cvillehog Week 4: theoneandonly9 Week 5: Scottish Hog Week 6: Kearney420 Week 7: gus Week 8: joebagadonuts Week 10: 1niksdeR Interestingly nobody has been able to win twice since the MNF score tie breaker was introduced. I notice also that JPM36, the leader in the Season Standings , has not won a single week. He has been third only once during week 4. But he has been consistently good in his percentages throughout the entire season. We have had some significant movements throughout these 10 weeks. Do you remember the prehistoric days when Redeemed was somewhere near the top of the standings? How far back does that sound? Well, let me tell you: exactly 10 games from the lead at this time with the gap widening week after week. There have been other less predictable changes in fortune. How about CLL? It looked for a while as if he could do no wrong whatsoever. A couple of disastrous weeks later, he finds himself in a more than decent fourth place and only four games from the lead. But it looked for a while that -nobody- could catch up to him. On the side of rising trends, how about 1niksdeR? His excellent and very unconventional picks have propelled him to the top of the standings over the last three weeks. He is living proof that going against the grain and conventional wisdom is a good thing in today's NFL. There are also some interesting family connections to speak about. I am not going to say that they truly reveal who is the expert at home and who is the wannabe but oops, I said it. NikiH is ahead of JansenFan by two games and SkinsChic is ahead of Jake by three games. Nothing that could not be recovered before the end of the season by the ones on the lower side of this friendly competition but still a bit of an incentive to go on. Another trend that has developed over the last ten weeks is the general tightening of the scores at the top of the table. There are 14 Hognosticators within five games from the lead between 83 and 78 wins (without week 9). From what we have learned during this rather unpredictable season, a difference of five games can happen any week between any combinations of Hognosticators. How are we doing vis-à-vis other media experts? As usual, some of our players are better, others are not. The scores for the ESPN crowd this week are: Schlereth 10 - 6 Theismann 10 - 5 Allen 9 - 7 Golic 9 - 7 Mortensen 9 - 7 Salisbury 8 - 8 Hoge 8 - 8 Jaworski 8 - 8 Compared to our scores in the Weekly Standings : 1 1niksder 10 - 6 2 SkinsChic 9 - 7 3 airhog 9 - 7 3 ArizonaHog 9 - 7 5 JSPB22 9 - 7 5 REDEEMEDSKIN 9 - 7 7 Jeremy81 9 - 7 8 Redskin in Canada 9 - 7 9 skins2win 9 - 7 10 EA7649 9 - 7 11 Mursilis 9 - 7 12 juansushi 9 - 7 13 riggins85 8 - 8 14 funbunch 8 - 8 14 HOSS 8 - 8 14 JPM36 8 - 8 14 SkinsJock 8 - 8 18 hailskins666 8 - 8 19 Countertrey 8 - 8 20 Fios 8 - 8 21 UK Skins Fan 7 - 9 22 TexasHog 7 - 9 23 Thaiphoon 7 - 9 24 bluskinsfanforeve 7 - 9 24 Cappster 7 - 9 24 gus 7 - 9 24 Justice HOG 7 - 9 24 NikiH 7 - 9 29 JansenFan 7 - 9 29 theoneandonly9 7 - 9 29 wbbradb 7 - 9 32 DCGloryYears82879 7 - 9 33 CLL 7 - 9 34 TincoSkin 7 - 9 35 FFA 7 - 9 36 rick301 7 - 9 37 Dangerfield 7 - 9 38 Jake 6 - 10 38 tazlah 6 - 10 40 joebagadonuts 6 - 10 The only conclusion I can draw from these comparisons is that the "experts" find the NFL this season just as unpredictable as the rest of us do, some of them even worse. :twisted: The games for NFL Week 11 and my picks (compare them with Texas Hog's own HERE ): Sunday, November 19 (ET) Vikings at Dolphins 1:00 PM Pick - Miami Raiders at Chiefs 1:00 PM Pick - Kansas City Titans at Eagles 1:00 PM Pick - Philadelphia Bengals at Saints 1:00 PM Pick - Cincinnati Steelers at Browns 1:00 PM Pick - Pittsburgh Bears at Jets 1:00 PM Pick - Chicago Patriots at Packers 1:00 PM Pick - New England Falcons at Ravens 1:00 PM Pick - Baltimore Rams at Panthers 1:00 PM Pick - Carolina Redskins at Buccaneers 1:00 PM Pick - Washington Bills at Texans 1:00 PM Pick - Buffalo Seahawks at 49ers 4:05 PM Pick - Seattle Lions at Cardinals 4:05 PM Pick - Arizona Colts at Cowboys 4:15 PM Pick - Indianapolis Chargers at Broncos 8:15 PM Pick - San Diego Monday, November 20 (ET) Giants at Jaguars 8:30 PM Pick - Jacksonville You can post your picks in this thread BUT you MUST fill the official Picksheet in the Hognostications Secton for them to count. The deadline for submission this week is Friday November 17 (9:00...

Anger - Sadness - Hope

Mon, 13 Nov 2006 15:32:13 GMT

An all too familiar cycle for a Redskins fan: Anger - Sadness - Hope Yes, I watched the game against Philthy. Yes, I stayed away from the board yesterday. Yes, just like all of you, I did suffer the humiliation to watch not just another game go down the toilet. I watched an NFC East rival get plays when it counted. I watched the incompetence of the Redskins to get plays on offense and defense when it counted too. Yes, just like all of you, I did suffer the humiliation to watch a lack of chemistry and leadership on our defense and offense. The paradoxical situation in this team could not be more painful. We know that the individual talent is there at least in most positions. The Skins could march down the field onto Philthy's territory without too much trouble. But once they were there, it stopped. The game time of possession was on our side on a proportion of 2:1 and we still had seventeen points against us with a miserable field goal on our side of the score at half time. How could that happen? Very simple: They executed huge plays on offense to score and key plays on the defense to stop our team, and we didn't. Some might argue that the Pantheon of Greek Gods aligned the stars to conspire against us. I will argue that it is not true. That fumble by Brown which was caught and run for a touchdown by Buckhalter was no accident, at least not all of it. Buckhalter hustled to assist in the play. He had the instinct to run towards the play. He had the alertness of mind to identify an opportunity and he had the physical ability to execute the catch and the run. And that lost ball by Westbrook on the 1 yard line, Was that a fumble? The call after the challenge truly could have gone either way. In the end it did not matter. They got the 3 points they were going to get anyway. The depressing part is that while we have not had a half decent offense during the last three years, we could take pride in the game of our defense during the last two seasons. No more. This is one of the most incompetent and frustrating defensive units I have ever seen as a Redskins fan over the first or second tenures of Joe Gibbs. It feels almost as if Greg Williams is playing with a half-hearted attempt to call defense sometimes. Whereas his first two years with us were characterized by courage and daring, this season has been filled with self-doubt about the personnel in the defensive unit and his ability and timing to call aggressive plays. So, now let us get started on offense And no, I am not going to repeat the obvious. I am going to say something different; I am going to say WHY: Our offense is unable to execute because the combination of Al Saunders with his 700-page playbook and Mark Brunell simply does not and can not possibly work together. How bad can it not work? Oil and water? Nope. It does not work like the negative and positive poles of a high-tension wire. That's how !!! Mark Brunell is not the versatile QB capable to execute the quick release, long distance down-field, accurate timed passes required by Al's offense. Just look at the QB's that Al Saunders had in his successful tenures and it is not difficult to arrive at the conclusion that there are tragic irreconcilable differences between his offensive style and the abilities of Mark. The receivers are running the correct routes at the right times. But Mark is unable to release the ball with the quickness necessary when there is pressure or a blitz, and he is also unable to reach accurately downfield when the first or second short options are covered. Could have things worked out differently this season if Al had not been with us??? I suspect that the answer is yes but not for the right reasons. Mark could have still played reasonably well without highlighting his weaknesses in a run-first, time control offense in the old-style tradition of Joe Gibbs. He would have executed much better last year's playbook than the much wider range of plays incorporated in Al Saunders's scheme. Mark Brunell is not Trent Green, as much as some of us would like to. Mark has a great mental strength. He is a very experienced leader. He is just unable to execute 600 pages of that book at this point of his career. Like all irreconcilable differences in a marriage, a divorce is urgently needed here. It is healthy. It is necessary. It is unavoidable. But who stays at home and who goes to the dog house??? It is Mark Brunell or Al Saunders but not both from now on. Al must be as frustrated against Joe and Mark, just as much as Mark must be against Joe and Al. Interesting position for Joe Gibbs to be in, isn't it? I think it is called a sharp rock and a very hard place. There is no question in my mind about what the right answer is to the dilemma formulated above. Between the choice to stick with a QB playing during the last year of his career and the future offense of your team, anybody should choose the latter. Al stays at home and Mark goes to the doghouse. The experiment failed notwithstanding the unending patience learned by Joe from Job in the Holy Scriptures. This experiment only served to highlight the need to bring somebody who can actually execute the full offense book and not only the part about late, inaccurate less-than 10-yard passes. Yes, I stayed away from the board yesterday too. At times of anger and frustration the Redskins fans crowd can be as negative and destructive as the size of their expectations at the beginning of the season. While I respect your desire to vent and your need to experience a good deal of much-needed catharsis, I frankly can do without it. I am not your psychotherapist, nor your babysitter to take care of your rants. In your frustration and anger after the game, I find nothing to help me move forward constructively and help me find the difference between the trees and the woods. There is a sadly familiar cycle in the life of a Redskins fan: Anger, Sadness and Hope. I expressed my anger, I shared my profound sadness but I also want to convey to you my hope. No, I am not looking for playoffs anymore. I actually do not and can not believe in seven-or-no-go. I love my team but I am a realist. I am a Washington Redskins fan and I am looking forward to watch my team make the necessary adjustments to improve and play their guts every minute of every game from now until the end of the season. I am a loyal fan and I will be supporting every player and every coach. I will relish every second that I watch burgundy and gold take on the field this season. I will be on their side suffering or enjoying every play. This season is only the painful price to pay for a great future ahead. By the way, as far as the Hognostications go, I am -sure- I will predict a win for my team from now on until hell freezes over. :wink: Hail to the Redskins! Hail...

A Win is A Win

Mon, 06 Nov 2006 00:30:01 GMT

It wasn't pretty. It didn't ever look like the end result would be a Redskin win except for after the safety, and after Novak kicked the game-winning field goal. The offense struggled at times. The defense struggled at times. The Redskins showed a lot of the same problems that they have shown for the last few games with one small exception... ... they won the game. In two or three years if this game comes up, only two things will likely be remembered... the bizarre way that the Redskins came about the victory on the 'last play' of the game... and the fact that they earned a victory. You can dress it up however you like but at the end of the day, all that matters is that Washington got the 'W' and kept what seem like slim playoff aspirations alive. They also beat their biggest rivals... cause enough for celebration. Don't cheat yourself of enjoying the victory because of the way it came about... treat yourself and realize that a win is a...

Hate is a Beautiful Thing

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:08:40 GMT

I like to consider myself a pretty decent guy. Probably not in the top-ten all time, but certainly ranked higher than Hitler or the guy who thought it would be a good idea to sell baskets to wives of unsuspecting men at outrageous prices so they place them in every room of the house. One of the stipulations of being a Decent Guy is to pass along all that decentness to my kids. Its rather easy, actually, if you try to avoid the Do as I say, not as I do situations. Those just create too many unanswerable questions. One thing that is forbidden in my house is hate. In fact, I dont even let my kids say the word. Hate has led to some pretty bad stuff in the history of the world, in my opinion, so I dont see any need for it. However, whenever the subject of hate comes up with my kids, and I tell them Dont hate!, I feel an immediate sense of guilt and hypocrisy. Why? Because I, myself, do in fact, hate. I hate the Dallas Cowboys. Ive tried to analyze my feelings, persuade myself that its just a very intense dislike combined with some gastrointestinal discomfort. But to no avail. Its pure, unconcentrated, turn-your-stomach hate. Im a rather calm person, but when I see that ugly star, or hear a fan claim that theyre Americas Team, my blood begins to boil. If I were to quantify the true measure of a fan, I would say it is the hatred one feels for the teams rivals would be a good indicator. Ive heard of fans brag that theyve gotten autographs from players on teams that theyre supposed to hate. Why? Why even bother? If I were to meet Roy Williams, I would probably be more inclined to kick him in the shins and make lewd references regarding his mother than to ask him for an autograph. As far as Im concerned, Id be perfectly happy if he broke his ankle and couldnt play football anymore. Its nothing personal, its just hate. Ive heard some Redskins fans say things like, My wife/girlfriend is a Cowboys fan and What?!? I cant understand how a relationship like that even begins. The allegiances of a prospective mate should be one of the first questions out of your mouth. I, myself, actually considered postponing my nuptials when my soon-to-be wife admitted she rooted for the Broncos in the '87 'Bowl because a boy she liked was a fan. If for some strange reason the relationship continues, I cant understand how it doesnt end up in some bloody finish with cops setting up a perimeter and negotiators trying to talk someone out of their house. And you know what? I want Dallas fans to hate us too. For a long while, I dont believe that hate existing on the dark side, precisely because the Redskins were so awful for so many years. I mean, can you hate the Cleveland Browns? Not really. The best you can do is pity them, and I think for a long time, thats all we got from Dallas fans. Last year, after the stunning upset in their own house, and then a good butt-whoopin in ours, I could feel the burning hatred from the other side. It was nice, like a warm blanket on a cold Sunday afternoon. Finally, my hatred would not go unreciprocated. We talk about how Joe Gibbs has been assembling a team of True Redskins, and lets face it, you cant be a True Redskin without some hatred in your heart for that star. Go on, Joe, say it and mean it, dont apologize for it, Cowboys fans are ugly. It has nothing to do with how they look, its whats inside that counts. If Rebecca Romijn declared she was a Dallas fan, shed drop below Rosie ODonnell on my hotness list (which is pretty far down there). So, for me, I may just have to amend my no hate rule to allow the Cowboys (and Yankees while were at it) to sneak in there. The baskets, however, must...

Scapegoat in Review

Tue, 24 Oct 2006 17:56:09 GMT

There is a groundswell of disdain for Mark Brunell who lead us to our most recent playoff appearance and win. Now most rational minds know that the QB gets too much of the credit when things are going good and too much of the blame when things are going bad. However, that doesn't change the way we feel.....and we feel pissed off! When a team is losing fans get impatient and the back up QB becomes the most popular guy in town. It doesn't necesaeily matter that the O-line might not be blocking well, or the the receivers aren't getting open....The QB gets the blame anyway. Now I'm not telling you guys anything that you don't already know. I'm simply hoping to put it into perspective so as to reduce the level of vitriol on this board. Lets look at teams who are in a similar situation as us. Lets take teams with either 5 losses or 2 wins and see where we stand in comparison to those teams. The teams are; Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Houston, Oakland, Gree Bay, Tampa and San Fran. Now as far as starting QB's go that would leave; J.P Losman, Brett Farve, Jon Kitna, Gradkowski, Carr, Alex Smith, Roethlisbergr/Batch, and Brooks/Walter. For sake of this argument its probably not fair to include the QB's who have missed more than one game due to injury, so exclude Roethlisbergr/Batch, Brooks/Walter and Gradkowski. The remaining QB's rank; 2 Jon Kitna DET 1853 264 167 9 9 42 81.2 8 Brett Favre GB 1481 238 134 9 5 75 78.8 9 Mark Brunell WAS 1465 206 132 7 3 74 90.4 14 J.P. Losman BUF 1314 197 122 6 6 56 78.9 16 Alex Smith SF 1285 183 109 8 4 75 86.4 19 David Carr HOU 1217 172 121 9 4 53 97.9 So, Mark is a top ten QB so far and has thrown the least amount of INT's and has the second highest QB Rating of the others here. In fact Peyton Manning and Marc Bulger are the only starters who have thrown less INT's. He has thrown for more yards and has a higher QB rating than Tom Brady, Matt Hassleback and Mike Vick. Lets not forget also that Brunell recently set a record for consecutive completions in a single game, and on Sunday against Indy the only way that we moved the ball was behind Brunells arm....and not Portis' legs! I'm not willing at this point to register for thirty message boards but I'm sure that if you went to the Bills, Lions, Texan's, San Fran's website you would hear the same things from there fans. But is it David Carrs fault that the Texan's stink? Or Alex Smiths? The only thing that sets these other teams and QB's apart from Brunell is that none of these teams were in the playoffs last year nor were they expected to really compete this year. But lets take a look at some QB's from teams that did! What do Hassleback, Brady, Grossman, Palmer, Leftwich and Roethlesbergr all have in common? They all played in the playoffs last year and opened the season with playoff expectations........AND! They all are rated lower than Mark Brunell! No one would disagree that Palmer is a good QB....lets compare his numbers to Brunells. 9 Mark Brunell WAS 1465 206 132 7 3 74 90.4 11 Carson Palmer CIN 1418 196 122 9 4 51 90.9 They look awfully similar don't they? Look, Brunell angers me at times as well. But given the hatred that he receives here on this board and given our record, I would expect his stats to look less like Carson Palmers and more like Jake Plummer. Nor am I opposed to putting in Jason Campbell. But Brunell isn't our problem. It goes much deepeer than that! Portis isn't what he was a year ago...neither is Cooley. The Line seems to not be playing with the swagger they once had. The defense is a baffling mystery. How do you go from that TB game in the playoffs to giving up 25 at home to the Titans? There are reasons to worry. Personnel decisions and coaching are looking poor to date. If there is one thing I'm not worried about its Brunell. If anything he has been the lone bright spot on our offense. Chad...

Our REAL Problem?

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 03:53:24 GMT

Well, I talked to CLL after the game and he brought up something interesting that kind of clarified what the team's problem may be. He mentioned how Brunell had less of a receiving corps last season but produced under pressure in Joe Gibbs' system. This offseason, coming off of a playoff season using HIS system I might add, Joe decided to relinquish his playcalling duties on offense and hand the reins over to Al Saunders. Saunders, known throughout the league as an offensive genius and a great coach, brought in a complicated, yet successful, system involving the now infamous "700-page playbook." Coming into the 2006 offseason, we needed a receiver (maybe two, which was stretching it) as a support system to go along with Santana Moss. Well, we stretched it and got two in Lloyd and Randle El. Well, we stretched it. Until the last two weeks, Lloyd had been seldom used but has produced as of late as has Randle El. That being said, I believe that bringing in Saunders was the biggest mistake of the offseason. I am in no way saying Saunders is not a great coach. He is. But his acquistion was NOT needed. At least not here in D.C. His acquistion was needed for a team in transistion and a direction change. The Redskins just needed some minor tinks, which they got in Lloyd and Randle El. I feel the biggest problem is that the offense is failing at trying to grasp so much information and perform his complicated offense. Had they (Randle El and Lloyd) been performing in Gibbs' system, I think it would have been easier for them to fit in considering the REST of the offense would already know the system and not be starting over like a team in transition trying to start from square one. The Redskins were coming off of great season with a roster that had GREAT chemistry and a regular season ending with five straight wins. A precident was set. The pieces were set in place. Another mistake, which has been pointed out by Chris since the offseason, was not retaining safety Ryan Clark. Clark's story was a great one. An overachiever coming from nowhere to start at safety alongside Sean Taylor. When it came time for him to get paid, the Redskins didn't step up. Instead, they opted to give the highest contract to a safety (at the time) to Adam Archuleta, who unlike Clark during his time in burgundy and gold, has underachieved IMMENSELY, especially when you consider his high price tag. Giving up big plays, not being in position. It's all been the same for Archuleta this year. He has so far been a huge bust and it doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon. What was the reasoning behind Redskins management when making this move? "Why give one of our own a decent raise and possibly watch him NOT live up to expectations when we can just pay top dollar to a big name and just cut him in a couple years if he doesn't perform?" Clark wanted more than the Redskins would offer, which led to him signing with Pittsburgh. But Clark's raise would have been exceptionally less than the money handed out to Archuleta. My point is that we had something special in place in 2005 and just added too many toys to the toy box in 2006. I used to like this idea of top-tier free agents coming to the Redskins but not anymore. It's the criteria this organization has been living by ever since Dan Snyder took over and destroyed a playoff team from 1999 by overhauling the team a season later. Maybe the front office sees how the few draft picks that we have had pay off for us look at the team when it's time for their pay day after their rookie contracts run up and say to themselves "well, they paid that free agent X amount of dollars, why can't they pay me?" and feels that just by that notion, the draft picks just don't work out. Maybe we wouldn't have this problem if they actually KEPT their own players and tried to maintain some sort of continuity. It's just a product of the Free Agency Monster created by Daniel Snyder since his purchase of the team in 1999. My brother-in-law is a Bears fan and right now I envy the position they're in and how they've gotten to be 6-0. They have a dominating defense, which for the exception of Adewale Ogunleye, was BUILT THROUGH THE DRAFT. Their offense had been horrible for years so they tinkered through free agency year after year at positions they needed such as o-line, running back, and receiver. But keep in mind that along with those free agents comes depth involving talented players acquired through the draft. I guess I have three points to make. 1. Hiring Saunders was unnecessary and was overkill. His system has been a detriment to the team because it was unnecessary to learn a WHOLE NEW system just months after making the playoffs. I believe that the main problem with the offense this season is trying to learn a whole new system and starting from scratch like a scrub team. 2. Retaining our own should be a priority in the front office fron now on. Ladell Betts is the first person to come to mind considering he is a free agent at the end of the year. 3. BUILD THROUGH THE DRAFT and STOP building through free agency. CONTINUITY is the key and yearly turnover does the exact opposite of building continuity. But of course, hindsight is 20/20 after five losses in seven...

YOU GUYS SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mon, 16 Oct 2006 22:16:09 GMT

Before you jump on the coaching/Brunnell/defense sucks bandwagon look in the miror because fault lies in you! Ok first of all our team did not play well yesterday but I have a finger to point and it's not at coaching, it's not at the defense or the offense. It's at YOU! That's right YOU! If you chanted we want Jason Campbell during the game, I'm talking to you. If you were doing this while Mark Brunnell was still on the field, this is for you. :Monkey: If you boo'ed our defense while we still had a shot to win this game then you are worse then any aspect of the team that took the field. I was going to post this in smack and I apoligize that it is not G rated but there is not other expression I could possibly use to explain how I feel. I just watched an interview with Renauldo Wynn. He was so disappointed in the fans, his expression was one of great disappointment when he asked about the boos he heard. If you want to be this kind of fan then you go right ahead but as I've said before being a fanatic has to have some form of support involved or you are no more then following a trend. I do not jump on the bandwagon and I definitely refuse to jump off while we are on the field facing a 3rd and 9 situation. "We want Jason Campbell" rung out over the field while this offense was trying to put something together. You need to realize that they hear this. Just as the defense heard the Boo's when Tenessee got their first down late in the game. We had a darn good chance to come back. Has anyone here thought about their actions? Have you thought about whether or not you were the best fan you could have been for the ENTIRE game? Then why do you feel it is the players responsibility to play the ENTIRE game without mistake. You expect them to continue playing at their best ability the entire game. The truth is the fans cut out on this team. I plan to make it known that I did not boo my team. I know there are issues. I know that we may not make the play offs. I still will not stoop to being the low class type of fan that some of you believe is your right. If you don't like what you see on the field, no one is forcing you to stay. Hit the road and take your bad attitude with you. I love this team, faults and all. I cannot say the same for the fans at this point. Loyalty is hard to find in this day and age but I know one place that you will not find it in abundance. FED EX FIELD Before you type your violent rebuttal, you should know that if you take offense to what I've said, there is good reason for it. I am not saying that there was no loyalty shown because there were several people I talked to who like Jansenfan, Jackson, and I were disgusted by this behavior but we were definitely in the minority yesterday. It is extremely sad. As a final note, I might as well add how disgusted I am at the media. They are pushing this issue. They did not start the chants but they are making sure that this controversy continues, as evidenced by the reporting of the Titans pathetic...

FFAs Game Notes: Titans (4 secrets)

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 21:00:39 GMT

I'm taking a different format for today's Game Notes. The following are 4 "secrets"--things that I think will fly under the radar as other issues dominate the media this week. Secret 1: Mark Brunell is not the reason why we lost the past couple of games. No man is going to take more heat over the next week than Mark Brunell, and, while he was no all-star, he doesn't deserve about 80% of the criticism that he's about to get. Brunell started the season under fire because he couldn't make anything happen. When he turned it on big-time against the Texans and the Jaguars, the big criticism was that he wasn't throwing the ball down the field. The two theories on this were that he either lacked the arm strength to do it, or that plays were being called short so that it wouldn't stretch him too much. It looks as though the latter was true, as Brunell has shown plenty of zip (and accuracy) on passes in the last few weeks. Now the criticism will be turned once again to a vague sense that he can't get things done. Unfortunately for Brunell, this criticism is true. At his age he brings a lot of positives to the Washington Redskins, but it doesn't seem apparent that he will ever be the kind of game-changer, playmaker that he was in years past. All of this is something that our coaches try to take into account, but with the rest of the offense not quite clicking yet--and with our defense really suffering--the heat will still be on Brunell. Secret 2: Our defense isn't going to get better immediately with the full return of a healthy Shawn Springs. The Reason: Last week Skins fans were a bit frightened at our lack of ability to stop the run. After shutting down Fred Taylor completely and making the Jags a 1-dimensional team, Tiki Barber seemed to have little trouble stacking up 123 yards on us. This week it was even worse, as Travis Henry had a career day and rushed for 178 yards on 32 carries. In the Titans final 11 runs, when it counted most late in fourth quarter, they were able to get 4, 3, 9, 12, 3, 2, 14, 1, and 10 yards before the Skins shut them down to get the ball back--but it was too late. With about a minute on the clock and positioned on their own 16, Washington hoped for a miracle that rarely comes in the NFL. Shawn Springs may help a secondary (there are plenty of problems there, too, that make me think he won't be an immediate fix), but unless the linemen and linebackers do something about the running game, Springs being in the game won't help the run D one extra bit. Secret 3: Brunell's biggest problem is not his decision making, his accuracy, or his arm strength--his most criticized "weaknesses." The Reason: Brunell's biggest problem is either (a) his downfield vision, or (b) a lack of open receivers, and there's good reason to think that it isn't (b). I'm not sure whether there is still an issue with learning the system or whether Brunell's field-vision has simply declined the more he has aged, but there seem to be many plays where an open receiver goes unnoticed or the dump-off pass is made a half a second too early. Nevertheless, one of the most frustrating experiences for Skins fans, no doubt, is seeing Brunell drop back with plenty of time to throw. . .and he isn't able to get the ball downfield. Our offensive line struggled early in the season but has played very well in the past few games. Portis' ypa average is high, and Brunell has rarely been sacked, hurried, or even pressured. The receivers are big names and we have seen their quickness and ability to make things happen. All of our problems in the passing game nowadays seem to be that short moment when the QB needs to make a read and decide what to do with it. We've got the right players in place, the protection for Brunell is there, he has the arm strength, and we've all seen what these exciting receivers can do after the catch. What we're missing is a good read by Brunell--or, still possible though not probable, our receivers simply aren't getting open. Secret 4: The season isn't over yet for the Washington Redskins. Don't plan out a top ten pick in April's draft yet. If the Skins can play so inspired that they win 6 in a row en route to the divisional playoffs, then you'd better believe they can climb out of a 2-4 hole to make something happen. We've got another game to prove ourselves and then a bye week to heal up and gather our bearings for the final 9 games of the season. Anything can happen....

Just in the Nick of time!

Tue, 10 Oct 2006 23:26:48 GMT

Many fans are exasperated by the kicking in Washington. Today the Redskins showed they are quite serious about fixing this problem. The coaches were planning to work out a rather inexperienced kicker today, Nick Novak, and a veteran kicker would have chance at the spot tomorrow, Todd Peterson. Redskins faithful will recall Nick Novak from his appearance in burgundy and gold last September. The undrafted free agent stepped up when Hall first began his struggle with the same groin injury he cannot seem to escape this year. Officials appear somewhat impressed as to what he can offer. His performance at Redskins Park today resulted in his signing to the active roster. Derrick Frost took over kick off duties again during the Giants game when a still sore Hall suggested it to the coaching staff. Frosts performance as a punter seems to dissipate when he plays double duty for kick offs and punts. With the signing of Novak, the special teams unit can rely on Frost solely for punts and thus hope that he returns to the spectacular form we witnessed during the Texans defeat. The Redskins organization hopes that signing Novak proves a spark for the kicking game. During week one against the Minnesota Vikings, Hall missed a 48 yard field goal with 17 seconds on the clock, thus ensuring a Vikings victory. During last weeks match up against the Giants, Hall missed again on a 42 yard field goal attempt late in the third quarter. Both games were with in reach when the missed field goals took the wind out of the teams sails. Sometimes making a change makes things better all around. Maybe signing Nick Novak will be the move that changes the tide. Special teams is not the only portion of the game that needs shaking up but perhaps the change will change karma, chemistry or something else that will move the Redskins forward and give them the momentum they need to go into their bye week with two consecutive...

Where is my Redskins game simulation??

Sat, 07 Oct 2006 19:17:37 GMT

http://www.thehogs.net/content/index.php?id=762 In an effort to provide you all with more exclusive content we have decided to turn the simulation/blog into an article. It can be found at the above link. The simulation can be found on the front page of the site every Saturday during the course of the season. This will be the last time that the simulation will be mentioned in our blogging area and another thread will most likely be opened for discussion of the simulation if needed. Thanks for reading, replying and...

On Track

Sat, 07 Oct 2006 14:42:23 GMT

With the Redskins now four games deep in the 2006 season, several players seem to have found a groove or at least returned to old form: Mark Brunell has obviously rebounded from a terrible beginning to post two big performances and two big victories. The Brunell topic has been beat to death, but sufficeth to say, that the 36-year old quarterback has played well enough the last two starts to quiet even the loudest of complainers... at least for a week. John Hall may not have kicked a fifty-plus yard field goal yet this year, but he hasn't missed any lately either. Perhaps more of note is that his leg strength seems to be returning as his kickoffs are consistently stronger. He's not going to be registering many touchbacks, but he is kicking off with enough distance to allow the special teams coverage units to get down field and stop the opposition from starting from beyond their 30-yard line. Chris Cooley finally sprung to life against Jacksonville. His four catches for 70 yards were his best effort of the season, and he looked a lot more like the focused Cooley of yore. Maybe it was the crazy hair; it's gone now, and so is the lack of concentration. Captain Chaos looked ready to start living up to his nickname again after just being Captain Non-Factor in the first three games. Andre Carter had his best game as a Redskin last Sunday. Not only did he register his first sack of the season, but he also made a few good tackles and was effective against the run. Hopefully as he continues to settle in to Gregg Williams' defense, things will become more and more automatic for him. The entire offensive line is definitely on track again. After struggling in the first two games of the season, they've come on to not only play well the last two weeks, but to dominate both of those games. Derrick Dockery is playing the best football of his NFL career; so good in fact that some people think that he's playing the best of all the Redskins' linemen right now. Analyze until the cows come home, when the quarterback hasn't been sacked for two weeks and the running backs have put up over 350 yards rushing in that time, the offensive line deserves a lion's share of the credit. Games are won and lost in the trenches and right now the Redskins are winning those battles again. Who will find their groove this week against the...

Irony

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 19:15:23 GMT

Over the last two years, weve heard quite a bit about Santana Moss, and deservedly so. Last year, as the only deep threat guy on the team, he stepped up and helped inspire a run of wins that vaulted the Redskins into the playoffs. Before that, however, many people, including some on this very board, felt we gave up to much for another number two receiver. In fact, a certain Jets fan who used to visit this board frequently reminded us to remember the name Sideline Santana . In the wake of Sundays victory over the Jags, this reminder is just soaked in irony. The claim is that Moss would rather step out of bounds than take a hit. Well, at 5-10 and 185 pounds, Im not sure I can fault him. But on Sunday when the referee stepped back onto the field at about three minutes into the overtime period to declare that no, Moss had not stepped out of bounds during his game-winning catch and run , I got the sense that he was speaking metaphorically as well as literally. In fact, I counted a couple of times during this game where Moss had the opportunity to step out of the way to the safety of the sideline, but chose rather to cut inside and gain a few more yards. Further, Im not sure I can recall a single time over the last 21 games where Ive noticed Moss shy away from a would-be tackler (unless you count faking them out of their shoes). So I thought that we should once again listen to the poignant words of Mr. Triplett as a reminder of what Santana Moss is really all about: After reviewing the play, the player did not touch out of bounds. It is a touchdown. The game is over. Sideline Santana? Please. Game...

Yes Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 18:26:01 GMT

OK, while it may be hard for you to believe in a jolly fat guy with a white beard, who lives at the North Pole. Who once a year on December 24th delivers toys made by elfs to every kid in the world by way of his sleigh guided by 9 reindeers (one with a red nose). Heres something you can believe inTheHogs.net tailgate party is absolutely real and absolutely free!! Sunday at the tailgate party, while I was feasting on my kielbasa and pasta salad that Isaacs provided and cooked. I was talking with JansenFan about why we dont get the turnout we had anticipated for a free tailgate pre-game meal. I for the life of me cant understand why you wouldnt want to be a part of one of the best tailgate parties at FedEx, did I mention it was FREE? I mean heres a chance to meet up with some of the great personalities on the site and did I mention it was FREE? A chance to enjoy a fully prepared meal provided by Isaacs Restaurant and did I mention that its FREE? A chance to tailgate and have you photo taken with the Hogettes and (say it with me) not to mention it FREE!! Well I think JansenFan and I finally came to the conclusion, that nobody believes that anything is free anymore. Maybe you think theres a catch or something. I remember when I first told BossHog I wanted to have a place and meet up with people to tailgate with. What TheHogs.net tailgate party has turned into is nothing what I had in mind, its way better!! So my question is why dont you come? Would you come if TheHogs.net started charging $5 or $10 for it? I think I have the answer, most of you here fall into one of the following three categories. 1. You live out of town. 2. You live around town but dont have tickets. 3. You already have tickets and are happy with your current TG setup or you dont have a parking permit (very weak excuse, talk to SkinsChic and Jake about this one) Well I have a solution, why dont we pick a future game and ALL make an effort to get to that game and tailgate together like the Eagles game on December 10. Everyone for one game can come together and celebrate the site and a Redskins victory. What a great trip that would make. Think about itwe could make it an annual event; it would give you a chance to check out one of the best tailgate party going on at FedEx. We could call it TheHogs.netGate or whatever. What a great time it would be for all, and dont forget its FREE!! Whos in sound off...

FFAs Game Notes: Jaguars

Mon, 02 Oct 2006 02:42:51 GMT

This game played far closer than it should have, according to the stats. Of course, the stats don't show the kind of danger that Leftwich posed in the fourth quarter, slinging his way down the field and picking the Redskins' secondary apart in the process. Since stats don't tell the whole story, let me express what every Redskins fan is already thinking: "Hail to the Redskins! Hail Victory! Braves on the warpath--Fight for old D.C.!" Ahh, it doesn't get much better than this. On to the game notes: Notable Stats Rushing Yards Skins - 152 Jags - 33 Coming into the game, Jacksonville only allowed opponents an average of 59 yard rushing per game, and did not allow a 100+ yard runner. Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts rolled behind a mobile offensive line and ate up huge chunks of yardage per carry. By setting up a running game early and sticking with it, Gibbs, Saunders, &co. went into the final stages of the game with a 2-pronged attack. Jacksonville, on the other hand, was smothered in every sense of the word. They did not lack the talent for a good running game, having 2 dangerous backs and a respected line; however, the Skins gave up nothing on the ground. The Jaguar's backs combined for 33 yards and averaged (get this) 2.2 yards per carry . Jacksonville ran only 1 running play in the fourth quarter and 3 running plays in the second half. The Skins' dominance on the ground is really what allowed them to control the pace of the game. The Redskins had 11 first downs on running plays (the Jags had 2). With successful running on 1st and 2nd down, the Skins also made 3rd down easier on themselves and converted 7 of 13 third down situations (Jags: 2-13). Washington beat Jacksonville in time of possession by over 10 minutes and ran out the clock when it counted in the fourth quarter. Washington ran 70 total plays to Jacksonville's 54. In the end, the Skins had 40 rushing attempts to the Jaguars 15. Quaterback Comparison Mark Brunell - 18/30, 329 yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT Byron Leftwich - 21/35, 289 yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT Brunell and Leftwich, formerly the center-point for controversy in Jacksonville, had nearly identical games according to the stats--right down to each having exactly a 60% completion percentage! Given that the Jaguars running attack had disappeared by the second half, Leftwich was given the burden of gunning his way to a Jax victory. Leftwich gave Skins fans ulcers as he moved down the field at alarming rates in the 4th quarter. One drive, responding to a Skins TD, was a 4 play, 84 yard, touchdown drive with impeccable throws on the part of Byron. Leftwich also took his team 44 yards on 11 plays in the final 2 minutes--including a conversion on 4th and 8--to put his team in field goal position. The Jags faltered only on a couple of plays that were a combination of poor throws and drops by their receivers. Brunell scared Redskins' nation pretty well by making his first pass an interception on a botched flea-flicker. After the initial hiccup, however, Mark took control of the offense and made few mistakes for the rest of the game. Brunell worked the ball downfield more than last week as well, managing throws of 68 and 55 yds on TD passes to Moss, a 34 yd. pass to Cooley, a 33 yd. pass to Lloyd, and a 19 yd. pass to Randle El. When was the last game (aside from Houston) when Brunell had comparable stats to tonight's win? Check and judge for yourself, but I'm going to throw out Week 10 in Tampa, and perhaps even Week 7 in San Francisco. Oh, and did I mention that the Jags were ranked #3 in defense (after playing Dallas, Indy, and the Steelers) coming into Sunday? Sacks Skins - 4 Jaguars - 0 Not only did the Skins prevent heartache by protecting Mark Brunell (i.e. the lost yards and momentum, the disruption of confidence and timing in the passing game, etc.), but they also shook up Byron Leftwich on several occasions and managed 4 sacks tonight. The defensive line in particular began to apply pressure on their own, getting 3 sacks of their own, and Andre Carter finally looked dangerous on the pass rush, getting a sack of his own. Archuleta was able to time a blitz perfectly and brought down Leftwich on a 2nd and 10. At least 2 of the sacks can also be attributed to the coverage of our secondary. There were times when Leftwich kept holding onto the ball and looking for an open man (to no avail), which gave the line enough time to bring him down. Our passing game has now taken off, being built on the foundation of a solid running game and excellent protection. The sky will be the limit (even for Brunell!) if both of our lines can continue their success. Other Notes * I have been scanning page after page of stats trying to find one that exemplifies exactly how the Jaguars--with no rushing attack, a battered QB, and a 15% third down conversion rate--were able to make this game so close. I've concluded that, like all winning teams, the Jags were simply able to find a way, any way, to make ends meet. Even after the Redskins made the score 27-17 in the 4th quarter, Leftwich gave a phenomenal effort, bringing his team back on 2 stunning drives and using the talents of Reggie Williams in particular to gut the Skins' secondary. Good teams simply find ways to win a close game. . .and, fortunately for Redskins fans, this was true of Washington tonight. Kudos to the Jags for their efforts, but (in my opinion) it only goes to show how much the Skins wanted this one. * Our o-line dominated once again. Nearly every stat speaks of their greatness as a unit. Portis and Betts looked great behind the pulling, rumbling guards and tackles en route to 149 yards of rushing. Brunell, almost always having time to throw, was never sacked and found Moss for 3 TD passes. You'll see a lot of talk about Moss, Portis, or Brunell this week (and rightly so), but all of this was made possible by the Dirt Bags, or the Hogs, or whoever they are. * Marcus Washington blitzed on one play and found himself with a lane toward the quarterback just around the RB who was positioned to block in the middle. Instead of moving to the outside, however, Washington engaged the RB head on. . .and Evans came around the same side (on a stunt) and sacked the quarterback. I haven't watched the tape, and I have no special knowledge, but I wonder if Washington didn't engage the running back on purpose in hopes that he might clear up room for the defensive end to make a play. On one of Jacksonville's final rushing attempts, a sweep to the left side, Washington penetrated to the fullback and threw his body into the blockers. The disruption caused Fred Taylor to hesitate, and he was swallowed up by Redskin defenders. . .including Washington, who had managed to get back up and still make a play. * Last year the media-heat was laid on Portis, who hadn't score a touchdown going into Week 6. Portis responded by scoring 3 touchdowns as the Redskins trounced the 49ers. This year, Moss had experienced some frustrations as the offense has worked to establish itself. He hadn't found the endzone going into Week 4, but responded with 3 TDs and 138 yards, including the game-winning reception in OT. * Rock Cartwright had 5 returns for 150 yards--that's a lot of field position that he's giving to our offense. Rock almost broke one of his returns and looked solid on all special teams today. I should start a "Rock Watch" stat, because he is going to be an important player in our success this year. * After a Skins rushing play, the announcers noted that the Jaguars' defensive tackle had been double teamed and pushed 10 yards off of the line of scrimmage. Rabach, Jansen, and Thomas were routinely making blocks 3-6 yards off of the line of scrimmage after pulling. How is that for some smash-mouth football?...

Madden Simulation: Jags come from behind for a victory...

Sat, 30 Sep 2006 23:07:09 GMT

Welcome to the fourth installment of our Madden series. Todays game took place in muggy Jacksonville Florida and the weather surely lived up its reputation. In a drenching downpour the Jags elected to receive the kickoff to begin the game Drenching rain, jags receive kickoff The Jags pound the rock with their 1st play from scrimmage and are rewarded with a 36 yard gain by Fred Taylor. You would think with the current weather conditioin that the Jags would continue to run but Leftwich connects with Matt Jones for a 20 yard strike but that is the last pass completion of this drive. Adam Artchuleta batts down a sure interception intended for M. Jones and Sean Taylor knocks Fred Taylor back into his own o-linemen to force the Jags to kick a field goal. 3-0 Jaguars Not to be left out in regards to putting their name up on the scoreboard the Redskins offense comes out with guns a blazing. Betts brings his kick-return out to the 27 yard line to give the offense decent field position. Two miraculous catches by an alert Chris Cooley and a 40 yard run by Clinton Portis put the Redskins 5 yards away from the goaline where a fleet footed Mark Brunell is able to scoot in for 6 points. John Hall comes out and kicks the extra point to make the score 7-3 Skins. 7-3 Skins With the rain not letting up the Jags continue to pass often and the Redskins took advantage of it. Using the sloppyness of the field and the slick ball to their advantage they continuously bliz the oppoaing QB. Greg Williams is relentless even after the Skins get burned by Matt Jones again, he continues to blitz and its pays off big time. While Being hurried by a blitzhing Carlos Rogers Adam Artchuleta steps infront of a pass intended for Matt Jones and takes it in for a TD. 14-3 Skins Out of three downs the Jags run once and are stuffed and have to punt. Sean Taylor appears as if he is personally intent on holding Fred Taylor to minimal to no gain at all and thus far in the game it appears that Carlos Rogers is finally stepping up. The Skins takeover after the Jags punt and it appears as if Del Rio is stole a page from Gregg Williams. The Jags constantly blitz Brunell even though the Skins keep it on the ground for the most part. With CP taking a breather TJ comes in and with one star out and Lloyd dropping two passes the Skins are forced to kick a FG. The yardage on the kick was pretty impressive, 55 yards is a boom for anyone. 17-3 Skins The Jags marginal success with the run causes the Skins to respect it and allows the Jags to continue to pass. With plenty of motion in the backfield the Skins should have known to key in on M. Jones but it allows him to get a step on Shawn Springs. When Jones makes the catch he is able to shrug off Springs due to his momentum and rumbles in for a TD. 17-10 Skins With 3 min left in the 1st half the Skins plan to run time off of the clock. A healthy dose of CP and Moss move the chains. Lloyd who cant seem to catch today is on the sidelines. When Lloyd is back on the field Brunell tosses more passes to Cooley and Moss and doesnt seem to look Llyods way. Brunell adds another 7 before the half with a td toss to Moss. Being sacked on 2nd down and feeling pressure on 3rd down forces him to the right. Moss is running a drag in the end zone and Brunell fires it for the catch. 24-10 Skins After the half the Skins throw a pick due to pressure. A poor pass by Brunell thrown up for grabs is intercepted and ran back for 15 yads. The Skins defense is put into horrible position on their 22 yard line but they hold the Jags to field goal. Blitzing is key to their success as the Jacksonville offensive line picks up Jimoh and Rogers but let Griffin free as he goes in for the sack. 24-13 Skins Santana Moss gives his all on every play and it showed on this possession more than any other. He consistently got open for a heavily pressure Brunell and when he was double teamed he still took the ball away and came down with it. He and Cooley kept the chains moving as the defense focused in on Clinton Portis. As they marched down to the 13 yard line TJ is brought in to sledge hammer his way into the end zone. In a shocking play Brunell tosses a TD pass to Lloyd in the back of the end zone for a TD. Brunell who had not even looked his way for the previous two possessions due to his dropping of the ball was the first person coming up to Brand in congratulations. 31-13 Skins With 10 minutes left the momentum completely shifts with a score by the Jags. Leftwich connects with Matt Jones again for another TD, this time the casualty is Kenny Wright who can do nothing but watch as Jones celebrates beside him. 31-20 Skins With 7 min left in the game the Skins attempt to grind out the remaining time but when Portis spins to avoid a tackle he is nailed and fumbles. The fumble is recovered and returned for a TD. 31-27 Skins After giving away two scores the Skins offense gives the ball up again via punt. The defense holds the Jags to another FG and is trying their best to keep the lead. Salaeva, Rocky and Carlos all step up and contribute outstanding displays of effort during the drive. 31-30 Skins However, after another Redskin punt the defense finally folds to Byron and his long winding throwing motion. After marching down the field into the redzone Leftwich pump fakes to Jones causing Rogers to bite and then fires it to Jones for the win. Its a testament to the lack of pass rush by the Redskins front four that Leftwich had time to go through his throwing motion twice. 37-31...

FFAs Game Notes: Texans

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 15:14:36 GMT

The Skins came out swinging on Sunday. At 1-2, things don't look quite so bad. Of course, the 4 game stretch in front of us looks tough (Indy, Giants, Titans, and of course the Jags this coming Sunday), but I have every confidence that the Skins can emerge from it's first 7 games with a 4-3 record. However things in the future may turn out, nothing can ruin my mood this week. Notable Stats Rushing Yards / Average Per Carry Skins - 234 / 5.7 Texans - 61 / 3.4 The Skins started with a 3 and out--3 carries to Portis, 9 yards, and a punt. As flashes of the previous two weeks came to my mind, Houston marched down the field and scored a touchdown in only a few plays. But the Redskins made things happen on the next drive. Brunell's shovel pass to Portis technically goes on the stats as a pass, but the play looked and functioned like a run/screen hybrid. The offensive line created huge lanes for Portis and had some great downfield blocking, and 74 yards later the Skins never looked back. Betts ran it in from nine yards out and Houston's defensive line spent the rest of the day getting pushed around. After 2 tough losses, I'm sure there was nothing that our offensive line needed more than a game where they could finally beat up on the other team rather than try and absorb every blitz and pass rush, which they had to do when the Skins were behind in Dallas and became pass-happy. Instead, the Dirt Bags pulled, pushed, and smashed their way across the field well into the fourth quarter, and it showed. 234 rushing yards for the Skins (315 yards if we count the shovel pass), and 3 rushing touchdowns. Time of Possession Redskins - 38:27 Texans - 21:33 When you rush the ball well everything else seems to fall in place. The time of possession shows, perhaps better than any other single stat, just how thoroughly Washington dominated yesterday. When the Skins offense got on the field, Houston couldn't get them off, and their defensive performance only got worse late into the game. Betts, our backup RB who saw action mostly in the late 3rd and 4th quarters, registered 124 yards with a 7.8 yards-per-carry average. The Skins clock-eating drives went as follows: * 5 plays, 91 yards, 2:46 * 11 plays, 74 yards, 5:53 * 10 plays, 82 yards, 4:49 * 14 plays(!), 70 yards, 8:28(!) * 12 plays, 53 yards, 7:20(!) And our last drive ended the game with 5 plays, 22 yards, and the final 2:50 off the clock. The Skins' drives of 14 and 12 plays, respectively, took up a quarter's worth of clock time in the second half--after the Skins were already up by 2 touchdowns. When your offense performs that well, it's only going to sit on, and improve, your lead. Number of receivers with more than 1 reception: Texans - 2 Redskins - 7 With their rushing attack shut down, Houston was 2-dimensional in their passing game: Andre Johnson and Eric Moulds combined for 179 of Houstons 208 total passing yards. Moulds himself had only 27 of those yards, and even though Johnson posed a legitimate threat to our Springs-less secondary, it simply wasn't enough to make the difference in the game. Brunell, on the other hand, spread out the ball and did so with maximum efficiency. Completing his first 22 pass attempts (and setting an NFL record in doing so), he got the ball into the hands of each one of our playmakers. The only receiver to record less than 2 catches was David Patten (our 4th receiver!), whose quality, acrobatic, 3rd-and-9-to-go, 25 yard catch more than made up for the quantity of his receptions. Since our run game was so dominant, including a number of draw plays that thrashed Houston's front 7, Brunell had his way on passing downs. Most of his completions were 4 to 5 yard throws, but the plays ran so well that our receivers managed a huge number of yards after the catch. Other Notes * Hidden in the Redskins' ugly losses, and buried by the Redskins dominance on Sunday, was Derrick Frost, who has continued to punt very well. His stats on Sunday were 2 punts for 102 yards and a 56 yard average. One of his punts traveled 60 yards, sending the return-man back -peddling in order to make the catch. Coverage was superb on these kicks, and Frost looks as if he can be our man this year, something fans haven't predicted but would certainly be comfortable with--provided he continues with this level of production. * Night and day; night and day. Of course, to Skins fans, we knew that this team had the potential all along, and that talk of the playoffs was never in vain. It was, as history has taught us, only a matter of time before Gibbs would put together a great looking offense. The short passes have continued, but Saunders seems to be in a groove with his playcalling. 4 and 5 yard completions are nothing to complain about when they are as diverse and exciting to watch as the plays that we saw on Sunday. * Skins fans are likely to hear from the media this week that our victory was against Houston, and therefore shouldn't be seen as that significant--especially with respect to Brunell's performance. Yet, neither Houston nor Dallas nor Minnesota can affect Brunell's arm strength , and Brunell was in good form on Sunday. His downfield passes to Patten and Randle El in particular had considerable zip, and his accuracy was excellent. Brunell's career may be over after this year, but he has certainly displayed that he still has the physical skills needed to make big plays. * Portis' draw for a touchdown at the end of the half was significant for a number of reasons. The Redskins, faced with a long field and little clock, fought their way through penalties and frustrations to position themselves on the 30 with 9 seconds (and a timeout) left. The play call, a brilliant move by Saunders, caught Houston completely off guard. Portis showed remarkable vision and speed on the run itself, allowing the play to develop in front of him and hitting holes precisely when he needed to. Randle El showed remarkable hustle in making a downfield block that few receivers might make. And, it showed that the Redskins are, in fact, dangerous when they have the ball. (It also, in my opinion, put the first nail in Houston's coffin, since they went into the locker room down 21-7 at the half, as opposed to 17-7 or even 14-7). * Rock Cartwright continues to shine on kickoff returns. He isn't the fastest player in the league, but great kickoff returns are the product of great vision and timing more than they are raw speed. Rock contributed 3 returns for 62 yards (an average of 20.7 yards), and had 10 additional yards called back due to holding on the return. He could provide a few more game-changers as the season goes on. * The refs didn't call a great game, and I'm afraid that the Skins might start to get penalty flags on reputation rather than for their actual play. The Skins drew 3 holding calls on the final drive of the second half, including 2 on one play. It seemed to me that the defenders were rushing around their corner, and once their progress was stopped they would throw their arms up in the air. To reward their moving performances, the refs would throw the yellow flag. A pass interference call later in the game gave Houston first and goal, leading to their second touchdown. On the play, Carlos Rogers closed in on Andre Johnson, who had a step on the cornerback. Carr's pass was underthrown, and Johnson slowed down to adjust for the catch. As he slowed down, Rogers turned around and put his arms in the air. Rogers' body ran into Johnson, and Johnson grabbed Carlos' arms so that he would not make the interception. The refs called interference on Rogers. Our secondary continues to have frustrating experiences without Springs, and unfortunately I think this will continue, as refs are far more likely to flag a backup or young CB when there is a big-name receiver on the play. * Rookie DT Kedric Golston continues to impress. Drafted in the 6th round, Golston's name was buried behind starters Salave'a and Griffin, not to mention 5th round pick Anthony Montogmery. However, Golston has proven to be a fighter, finding a starting spot early in the year and making big plays whenever he gets the chance. He recorded 2 tackles, half a sack, and a fumble recovery on Sunday. * Even in our losses, the linebackers have been a bright spot for the Redskins, and in yesterday's victory it was no different. Marcus Washington in particular had a great day, recording 3 tackles, 2 passes defended, and a spectacular forced fumble on a David Carr scramble. Holdman co-led the team with 8 tackles (6 solo), and Marshall had 5 tackles and split a sack with Golston. The Texan's TEs were not a factor in the passing game, and runs were routinely stopped at or near the line of scrimmage. * 31-15. . .a sweet victory no matter how you look at it....

I Have Seen the Light!

Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:58:55 GMT

Ive been converted, I am now a believer. Whereas I once knew nothing, I now know everything. I am referring, of course, to Antwaan Randle-El. Before the offseason, I knew about as much of Randle-El as the rest of the country did. I knew he was a converted quarterback, I knew that he could run, throw and pass, I knew that he didnt catch many passes. It is what I didnt know that now impresses me so much. When the Redskins pursued Randle-El vigorously in the early morning hours of the free-agency period, I kept an open mind. Joe Gibbs knows a thing or two about football, I figured, so I thought Id give him the benefit of the doubt. This time, at least. But then the mediots got to talking. The Redskins paid too much. Randle-El doesnt affect the game enough to warrant the 8 billion dollar contract Daniel Snyder just gave him. Hes a waste of money. Ill admit that I got scared. I started listening to what was being said, and questioning the move. Most of all, I had visions of Dexter Jackson in my head, a player who performs in the Super Bowl, signs a big contact elsewhere, and then fades off into football oblivion. I was concerned now that Randle-El had snagged that big contract, he would settle into a nice, lazy playing style for a couple of years before he was released, and he and Dexter could compare signing bonuses on a beach somewhere. I like to think of myself as a big enough man to admit when Im wrong, and boy was I ever wrong on this one. I dont know if Randle-El played this way in Pittsburgh, because I wasnt paying attention, but since he joined the Redskins, I cant say Ive seen him not go full-speed on any play. There are few players in the NFL (Sean Taylor is in this group) that youll notice flying around on every play, where you can actually see them giving 110%, sacrificing their bodies on every play. I am now convinced that Randle-El falls into that elite group. I had noticed his efforts in the first two games of the season, remarking on several plays during the game on a nice block he made, or when he would fight for extra yardage, or run fearlessly into a bevy of tacklers on a punt return. But one play convinced me that this man loves to play football and moreover, appears to love being a Redskin. It was the draw play to Portis the Redskins ran in the closing seconds of the first half, which appears to have been an effort to gain a few more yards for Halls field goal attempt, but ended up going for the touchdown. On the play, Randle-El started in the left slot. On the snap, he cut inside and hit the outside linebacker, slowing him enough for Portis to slip by and into the secondary. Randle-El lost his feet, but jumped up and sprinted downfield after Portis, and threw his body at a would-be tackler in an effort to spring the running back into the end zone. Once Portis was in for the touch, Randle-El came over and excitedly congratulated him. On this play, Randle-Els play was the definition of extra-effort. He could have easily made his first block, and sat there on the turf and watched the rest of the play. He could have walked back to the sideline afterwards, wondering why his number wasnt called. He didnt have to make the effort that he did, but he made it. And that effort, combined with the mounting evidence from the earlier two games plus the preseason, is what convinced me that Randle-El is a Redskin. I mean, we all know hes a Redskin. But hes a Redskin according to Joe Gibbs definition, a definition that only us fans know and understand. And that, my friends, makes Antwaan Randle-El worth every penny hes being...

Madden: WAS vs HOU

Sun, 24 Sep 2006 16:09:24 GMT

Welcome to another week of our Madden simulation. There are just a few things to mention before we get to the game. EA has just recently released an update to the game to reflect every teams roster accurately. What does that mean for the Skins? Well, the most notable additions are TJ Duckett and Rumph. To bring a more accurate experience the season had to be restarted and caught up to the current week. If you have ideas on what could be done to bring a better experience send an email to chris@thehogs.net A rainy day at Reliant Stadium forced the Texans to close their retractable roof. The dreary conditions outside seemed to have no effect on the home crowd as the intensity grew during the coin toss. Maybe it was chance, luck or the wind but if you were at the stadium youd have to give the crowd a pat on the back as they seemed to force the coin to land in favor of the home team. David Carrs success early on with short and intermediate passes tested the Redskins defense that seemed to look bewildered at times. With a mix of those pin-point passes and runs that gashed the defense the Texans rumbled all the way down the field. Thus far in the season the Skins defense has bended time and time again but has yet to break. The run defense which 3-6 yards a gain through the 1st possession tightened up in the red zone and forced a Texans punt. 3-7 Texans Not to be shown up by an impressive Texans drive the Redskins come out with a 29 yard pass to Moss. Moss was not able to take his drag route to the house as he was forced out of bounds by Greenwood. Next up was Portis with a highlight reel play. Portis running a counter to the right spun past 3 defenders back into the heart of the defense and took 2 more defenders for a ride for a 9 yard gain. On 3rd down with a yard to gain a failed pass forced the Redskins to do something unusual. With a fresh Ladell Betts in the backfield Joe opts to go for it and is rewarded for his gamble. The Redskins score a TD and take the lead. 7-3 Skins With the Texans looking to capitalize off of their earlier effort the Skins defense was looking to do the same. With this second bout it seemed that defense won again thanks to Lemar Marshall and Kenny Wright. Lemar Marshall set the tone for the possession with a tackle for a loss on 1st down. Wright saved a 1st down on 2nd down and on 3rd & 2 Lemar picks off one of those highly successful Carr slants. A poor Redskins offensive showing gives the ball right back to the Texans. Sacks and a missed 45 yard FG rejuvenate the crowd who has gotten quiet. The next few possessions are up and down for both teams. Both offenses are stopped with great defensive play. The Skins halt the Texans with great run stopping after a gash here and there and the Texans are nailing Brunell left and right. Derrick Frost has been a bright spot for the Skins recently and pinned the Texans deep in their own territory. The Texans march down the field again and the Skins defense rises to the occasion again. 7-6 Skins The Skins looked to add more to their score but it seemed they were adding to the Texans score. Mark Brunell attempting to throw an out pattern to Lloyd is intercepted. The lame duck that was thrown had enough air under it to allow the beaten defender back into the play and get the ball. The Texans who were trying to get some momentum back in their favor seemed to lose whatever bit they had left with a fumble. Mike Rumph made and open field tackle on Morency and stripped it out. Kenny Wright recovered the fumbled and returned the interception back for a minimum gain. Brunell and the Redskins offense capitalize with a score. Feeling pressure and forced to scramble Brunell finds Moss streaking across the field. After the reception it was a gimme TD for Moss as he strolled past defenders. 14-6 Skins A good team does not allow another team to dictate what it does on offense and it seemed as if the Texans were going to run the ball regardless. Morency continues to gash the Skins defense and seem intent on punishing the Skins front seven. It was not until Moreceny met with a Mr. Shawn Springs for the 2nd time that he was stripped again and the Skins once again recover. Pass protection has been an issue for the Skins throughout the game, to remedy that Joe turns to Clinton to carry the team. Clinton marches down the field with numerous runs and catches. On one particular play CP catches a swing pass and takes it 14 yards by shaking defenders out of their socks. Although CP led the offense down the field it was Brandon Lloyd who took them over the top. Lloyd was rewarded with a TD pass for 10 yards and a sure Skins lead deep into the 3rd quarter. 21-6 Skins To end the game Carr throws two more picks as the Skins turn the ball over on a Mark Brunell fumble while trying to run the clock out. Carr was truly a Jekyll and Hyde in todays match-up, when he was on he was able to complete any pass he wanted but when he was off he was really off. End 21-6...

C-A-P-S CAPS CAPS CAPS!!

Fri, 22 Sep 2006 15:33:24 GMT

The Washington Capitals came into Wednesday night's game with one objective: winning. This was not your typical pre-season game. There was no vanilla plays; no half-efforts; the Caps showed fire and heart on the ice. In a season where the expectations around the league have been set low, the Capitals are out to prove that they can compete with anyone. That winning attitude starts now. After the first two periods, it looked as if the Caps were fulfilling their wishes. They were dominant. In the intermission between the second and third, the score was 2-1 in the Capitals favor, and the lone Lightning goal appeared to come off Olie Kolzigs own stick. Then came the third period. In the third period and into overtime, the Caps still played well; they just were unable to dominate the way they had during the first two. The penalty-killing unit allowed both the tying and winning goals to push the Caps to 0-1 in the preseason. In spite of the loss, the game experience is excellent. The Washington Capitals really put forth an effort to connect with the fan base, with fan profiles on the jumbotron (hello Goat, if you are reading), shooting T-shirts and towels into the crowd and a real family-friendly atmosphere. In keeping with the commitment to the fans and the community, the Caps are sponsoring an auction to benefit the Childrens National Medical Center and Olie Kolzigs Athletes Against Autism foundation. If a person is so inclined, he or she can bid on everything from an autographed Alex Ovechkin sweater (thats jersey, in Canadian) to a Freddy Adu autographed soccer ball. It is a great cause and there is some great stuff to boot. Be sure to check it out, and support a great cause by grabbing some killer...

Obsession.

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 03:34:16 GMT

From another BlogI heard Brandon Lloyd on his show this evening saying that they want our support. They want us to believe and thats not what hes feeling from us. When you point that finger, just remember that more then some buddies on a message board are reading your venting and if you care about this team, you need to show it. Be part of the solution rather then causing our team grief and turmoil. Well, on another note.... it works both ways. We believe, ALL of us do, or we wouldn't be here. Some get more carried away than others, when they vent, but, end of the day ALL of us are on these message boards and at this site for a reason: We DO support the Redskins.... ALL of us. Here lies the problem... What about the grief and turmoil the team has caused the fans? I know its a job for the guys on the field, but its an OBSESSION for the ones of us who live and die with the team My whole week last week went into the crapper just around midnight Monday night/Tuesday morning, when the clock hit zero in the Vikings game. It stayed in the crapper after the dismal performance Sunday night against Dallas. Seriously, Redskins football affects my entire week. Most of these players just got here I remember from '93 on and early into the new millennium. I have defended this team through thick and thin. And, I will continue to do so until the day I die. I live in North Carolina. The Panthers showed up here, in 95. Most people here were Redskins fans until the Panthers had a chance to go all the way in 96. The rest jumped ship about the time the Panthers made it to the big dance a couple years back. Not me. Ive been ridiculed, smacked around, and given crap by all of the locals. But they dont know what I know.. The Redskins Rule!!!! Not to pick on Lloyd(he would be an easy target with only ONE catch for SIX yards, thus far, but whos counting :lol: ), I like the guy(and this is not aimed at him in general, but all Skins players in general, if they are indeed reading), but, his comment inspired this, so, (player x).. I was here FIRST. YOU are the newbie. Not me. Im still here arent I? You didnt have to live through Spurrier. I did. That hurt. More than most can imagine. The Redskins flag is STILL flying outside of my house. I hate to see the team look the way it did the last six weeks, including preseason. Have I given up hope? Absolutely not. Player x will be playing for another team as soon as they offer him more cash, so, take that for what it is. Ill still be here. I dont get paid to leave. I pay to stay. If player x does his job while hes here, then he will be remembered as a good Redskin. Slip in the least in your tenure and you are a bust. Im a homer, what are you going to do, cut my pay? ROTFALMAO And heres to GNOME for the best quote Ive seen all day Bro, it's Brunell's job to shut haters up. Not haters to stop hating. While I am not supporting Brunell in any way at this point(come on Mark, pull your head outbut, that is another Blog topic altogether), I think this is a better way to quote it.. "Bro, it's the Redskins job to shut haters up. Not haters to stop hating. " That quote is still making me laugh. Because its so true. If only people wouldnt go so far overboard, the world would be a better place. Most fans dont know where to draw the line. Be real. Thats all I...

Something Is Missing!

Tue, 19 Sep 2006 00:43:45 GMT

Something is Missing I know some will read the title and assume that this blog is going to be about complaining about the offensive line, Mark Brunell, the D, play calling or all of the aforementioned topics. Well think again. Dont get me wrong, Im disappointed that we lost yesterday. Dallas is a big game. It means more to a die hard fan then most of the games through the year, with the exception of the play offs when it becomes a win or go home situation. What disappoints me more then anything I saw on the field during the game was the behavior of fans. Yes, I am referring to you!! I understand that some people need to blame someone. They need to point a finger so that they feel there is justification for the loss. I am not one of those people. I believe in my team and last night was not fun but it my belief and support of my team does not waiver. The definition of fan, as found on wikipedia, includes the following: Supporter is a synonym to "fan" which predates the latter term and as such is still commonly used in British English, especially to denote fans of sports teams. Hmmm, you mean that a fan is supposed to support their team? Wow, where did wikipedia get this? It may sound ridiculous, but support has always been a part of my feelings for this team. And obviously I am not the only one. This definition was not written or influenced by yours truly. Someone, rather several someones believe that to be a fan you should stand behind your team and do it to show your love not to be the first to point that finger. I have defended my team for the last 24 hours, to everyone here, to people I work with, to passers by on the street. If our fanbase understood what this team needs to hear they would get over themselves and show some support. Its not about you. You were not put here to figure this out. I actually have heard every facet of the team be called out by various posters, people, and callers to radio shows. I was here last night and Im calling out the fans. Prior to the end of the first quarter, there were fans sitting here complaining and giving up on their team. To me this is where we are at fault. I have burgundy and gold in my heart and when someone bad mouths my team, they are going to hear my mouth. If you dont believe me, walk into my office and try it. Everyone, even people I like, got the same talk today. If you are going to bad mouth this team to me now, I do not want to see you jumping on the bandwagon later in the season when this very talented team pulls it together. This is not about me thinking I am a better fan then those of you walking around with that finger aimed at whom ever you believe messed up last night. This is about you people realizing that all of this negativity and this constant asking for someones head is heard by those working their rearends off to fix this. Our team needs us. It needs us to tell them that they can do this; that we still believe. If youre not willing to do that, turn down your volume. Walk away and keep your bad vibes to yourself. This team is going somewhere and I, my friends, am on this bus even with the bumps in the road. A few final thoughts for the evening. If your child brings home a test with a grade of D, do you call them stupid? Do you blame the pencil? Do you blame the teacher? Do you point fingers? Or do you tell your child that you know they can do it? You believe in them. I heard Brandon Lloyd on his show this evening saying that they want our support. They want us to believe and thats not what hes feeling from us. When you point that finger, just remember that more then some buddies on a message board are reading your venting and if you care about this team, you need to show it. Be part of the solution rather then causing our team grief and turmoil. This is what Id like to leave you with. This is also quoted from our friends at Wikipedia: When expressing interest in an organized or consistent manner, fans can sometimes effect changes, especially in the media's portrayal of their subject, or in their own subject's...

FFAs Game Notes: Cowboys

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 15:38:24 GMT

Ouch. Notable Stats 3rd Down Efficiency Cowboys - 6/16 Redskins - 2/14 While not as efficient as the Vikings last week, consider the following statistic: the Cowboys had 5 third down conversions on scoring drives. If the Redskins defense can't get teams off of the field, then opposing offenses are going to be able to put together nice, long drives for scores. The effect of this is that the defense is both worn out and demoralized. Nevertheless, getting the Cowboys off the field would mean nothing unless our offense could put together some drives of its own. Last week seemed promising in some respects: the Skins could move the ball fairly well but would stall in the opponent's red zone. This week the offense could barely stay on the field for more than 3 downs. Sacks Cowboys - 6 Redskins - 1 Going in to Week 2, Skins fans knew that pressuring Drew Bledsoe and protecting Mark Brunell would play a key role in this game (I know, I know, thank you Master of the Obvious. . .) Not only did Dallas get great pressure and penetration through our offensive line, but even when the Skins were able to buy Brunell time things didn't seem to go well. Brunell himself wandered into at least a couple of sacks. He seems to drop back farther than he needs to sometimes, and the pocket forms about two yards in front of him. Instead of stepping up into the pocket, Brunell tends to move to one side or the other, and last night (on at least one occasion) that move put him into the arms of a Cowboy's defender. There are sacks when a D-lineman makes a great move, there are coverage sacks when the wideouts are covered too well, and there are sacks when the quarterback wanders into one; the Redskins saw good examples of all three last night. Penalties Cowboys - 9 for 90 yds Redskins - 11 for 117 yds U-G-L-Y was the word of the day, as refs called a very tight game and the players seemed especially undisciplined. Some penalties of note against our secondary were an illegal contact that turned a 3rd down incompletion into a first down for Dallas and a pass interference call that gave them a 1st and goal. Then there was the 99 yard TD drive by Dallas in the 3rd and 4th quarters that was sprung by pass interference and facemask calls, aiding Dallas as they moved down the field in a mere 7 plays. Undisciplined games are miserable for everyone, even the team that's on the better end of the calls most of the time. But nothing is worse than committing a football field's worth of mistakes. On a curious sidenote, Jansen seemed to have a great feel for when to commit penalties last night. 2 false starts on third down cancelled what appeared to be an incomplete pass and an interception. The results were called no-plays, and the Skins were given another chance to convert the third down. (They didn't). In addition, Jansen was almost called for a hold, but the defender slipped through well enough that the calling was overruled by the head official. On that same play (an incomplete pass), the Cowboy's defense committed a penalty that gave the Redskins a first down. Had Jansen's hold been better executed, the penalties would have likely cancelled out. Other Notes * Adam Archuleta can't seem to find his rhythm in this defense. Of any player on defense he may have had the worst game last night. One botched coverage, when Archuleta bit on a playaction fake, left Lemar Marshall to guard Terry Glenn deep down the middle of the field. The result? TD, Cowboys. * The Skins' other big signing on defense, Andre Carter, is also struggling. Granted, his first two games were against a pair of huge (McKinnie at 6-8 335 and Adams at 6-7 340) tackles. . .but this is the NFL. Being small for a DE isn't an excuse for a lack of production. Carter was decent against the run at several points but has yet to show anything in terms of pass rush. We may see Greg Williams adjust by moving him around and possibly having him stand up as an outside linebacker. Renaldo Wynn, the man Carter has replaced, could at least take up space a little more efficiently. * Chris Cooley continues to have a very frustrating start this season. Last night he recorded one or two bad block, a couple of dropped passes, and seemed to have trouble getting open. But even when he was open. . . * We have yet to see any serious production from our WRs. Brandon Lloyd has disappeared since his amazing diving catch in preseason. Randle El has shown some life on punt returns but hasn't yet been the possession receiver that the Skins are looking for. Moss leads our production for WRs still, but is nowhere near the level of performance that made him a star last year. It is possible that the wideouts were simply smothered last night, as Brunell would sometimes have plenty of time to throw but couldn't seem to find anyone that was open. But it's also possible that. . . * Brunell had his worst game in 2 seasons last night. There is simply too much to go into, but it is clear that the pressure will be on Gibbs this week to switch QBs. Whether or not Jason Campbell gives us the best chance to win next week is unclear, but something about this offense is keeping it from clicking and performing well. * All hail special teams performers Derrick Frost, John Hall, and Rock Cartwright. Frost and Hall put in performances that spoke volumes about each (with punts and kickoffs, respectively). Rock Cartwright is going to do well on special teams this year (I was wondering why he had replaced Betts). His low center of gravity seems to be what let him shake the kicker's tackle and break the 100-yard return for a TD. Betts performed admirably as a kick-returner last year, but let's hope that Rock can be a spark plug. (Now we just need an offense to be sparked!) * Not much to say about the running game. It simply doesn't seem to be a central strategy to the Skins' attack this year. With Portis in there were fewer than 25 runs total, and with Betts in there were fewer than 20. Duckett looked good when given the ball, although he seems to pick a route and then stick with it even when there appear to be cutback lanes at times. Betts ran hard and performed well given the circumstances, but obviously the Skins will benefit greatly once Portis is back in the game....

Excuses, Excuses

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 13:19:55 GMT

There are a number of things not to look forward to this week. The pain that comes with a loss to the hated Cowboys. Ribbing from hated Cowboy fans. Those I told you so smirks on the faces of countless commentators. Leftover meatloaf for lunch on Wednesday. But the thing Im dreading the most this week? Excuses. Specifically, excuses for Mark Brunell. Now, before I get started, let me say that this is not a Brunell-bashing thread. There are plenty of those already. If you feel like enlightening the world with your Brunell sucks comment, please take it elsewhere. This is a Brunell-lovers-bashing thread. Its dedicated to those among us who cannot or will not observe and judge his play objectively. For those among us who can, the truth is fairly obvious. Mark Brunell was hired by my ex-girlfriend to give me false hope and then drive a dagger through my heart. Plain as day. There are some that feel that my conclusion is somewhat far-fetched, and feel that its simply a matter of the wrong quarterback for the wrong offense, or, that Mark has lost it, and its time for him to hang up his cleats. These board members express their anger and frustration in various threads, and, to make matters more frustrating, their cries for help are met with excuses. These excuses have started already, but let me see if I can head off the main arguments for why Brunell holds no responsibility for the first two losses of the season: 1. The offensive line is playing horribly. 2. Theres no running game (see item 1). 3. The defense is playing horribly. 4. The new acquisitions are not playing up to their potential, and/or are destroying the locker room (see item 3). 5. Al Saunders is an overpaid moron who couldnt play call his way out of a paper bag. 6. The receivers arent getting open (see item 4). 7. There is a vast Al Qaeda conspiracy to keep Mark Brunell down. I could go on, but I think that sums it up. Like I said, this isnt a thread to list the reasons why someone else should be running the offense, and I wont dissect Brunells play bit by bit, nor will I suggest who should take over at quaterback. Its simply a complaint about what I know Im going to see all over the board this week. The complaints and excuses will be plentiful, and while I usually enjoy the exchange of ideas that this board supplies, the excuses for Mark Brunell are not based in reality, at least for anyone who has been watching him play this year. I believe Mark is probably a great person, and he is definitely a team leader, but I can say with confidence that he is a large part of the reason the Redskins have started 0 and 2. I usually cant wait for the week following a loss to go away, but until we can look at a quarterback with a rating of 67.7 and an average of 6 yards per attempt with objective scrutiny, were going to bicker amongst ourselves all week, and Ill hope for the days to pass less slowly than usual. Either that, or Ill keep my metaphoric fingers in my metaphoric ears, so I dont have to listen. Because Im tired of...

Madden 2007 Gameday Prediction

Sun, 17 Sep 2006 14:19:26 GMT

Welcome to the beginning of a season long simulation of the Washington Redskins football season. The 2007 edition of Madden no longer allows you to pit the CPU against itself so for each game yours truly will play a game against our upcoming opponent and see what the results are. Each game will be made as realistic as possible and please bear with us as each game is a work in progress as we try to bring you the best representation of the current playing conditions as possible. Skins vs Dallas With the memories in the hearts and minds of Dallas fans and players the atmosphere is thick with timid feelings as the game begins. Dallas wins the coin toss and hope to get the crowd into the game early but coming out with a 4 WR set. The defensive secondary provides great coverage as a hurried Brunell throws a pass directly to Rumph who drops the sure interception. A Lemar Marshall sack and Carlos Rogers batted ball leave the Cowboys high and dry to start the game. With Randle-El back to receive a punt you could hear The Tuna barking instructions to his team. After being shut completely down against the Vikings in game one, Randle-El returns this booming punt for a TD by running up the middle of the field and using his elusiveness to keep defenders at bay as he streaked to the corner of the end zone. 7-0 Redskins The Redskins defense steps up again but shows that the offense will be needed to win this game. Drew Bledsoe is in prime position to even the score after a terrible J. Hall kickoff that lands at the 30 yard line. Andre Carters sack on Bledsoe and Sean Taylors monstrous hit on Terry Glenn set the tone but did not prevent a TD. The Redskins defense was caught in a zone leaving A. Artchuleta covering T.O who caught the TD pass in the back of the end zone to even the score. 7-7 The Redskins next two points came courtesy of one Mr. Derrick Frost. The Skins went three and out after some hard running from Portis, a pass to Cooley and a failed conversion to Moss. Punting from midfield Frosts lucky bounces from 2005 came back. Landing at the two yard line, the ball bounces back into the arms of a Redskins special teamer. Backed up against their own end zone the Dallas Cowboys try to pound the rock through a stout Skins defense. The 1st run was stopped by Sean Taylor up the gut and the 2nd run to the left was stopped by Marcus Washington for a loss and a safety. 9-7 Skins Weary of another Randle-El return, Dallas kicks away from him to Betts. The drive ends in another three and out as a pass to Moss is broken up for the conversion. A faint call of booing can be heard from the few Redskin faithful daring enough to be in attendance. The booing stems from a Dallas safety who, not looking at the ball impeded Mosss route to the ball with no flag called, the only bright spot of the possession with a 10 yard Clinton Portis run. The Redskins woes carried over to the defense who again feels the wrath of a healthy Terrell Owens. Bledsoe with time recognizes that Rumph is on an island with TO and by getting the ball out before a blitzing Artchuleta can interrupt the deed was sealed. Dallas scored another 7 points and basically dare the Skins offense to produce. 14-9 Dallas. Both teams failed to get a TD their next two possessions although Dallas did achieve 3 points. . The Skins offense sputters horribly and is only saved by a booming Frost punt downed at the 10 yard line. Dallas marches to the Skins 33 just to be stopped on a 3rd and one. Quick passes from a pressured Bledsoe connect but ultimately arent enough as the Skins try new ways to get pressure without getting burned like before. In-sync and possessed is the only way to describe the next Redskin possession. In what seemed to be an exact duplicate play from their scoring drives in game 1 of 2005, Mark Brunell hooks up a long bomb for Santana Moss. The DB bit on a pump from Mark Brunell giving Moss an open window of opportunity but not before a play saving block by Thomas sends a determined Ellis reeling. Another pump seemed to be excessive as Mark finally released the ball to an awaiting Moss who shook off an unbalanced defender on his way to a TD. It was shocking that the booing wasnt louder as memories from 2005 flooded the minds of everyone in attendance, which was all the spark the Redskins offense needed. 17-16 Dallas With the Skins getting the ball back after the half Dallas knew they needed to score with 2 minutes left on the clock. By going back to what worked, Dallas moved up the field quickly while keeping the Skins honest by throwing in a run. By learning from past mistakes and keeping Artchuleta in coverage the Skins force an interception thanks to Lemar Marshall. With the momentum already swaying to their side it seemed the defense had snatched it all the way into their grasp. Enter in TJ Duckett and with time to kill they stuck him behind Sellers. The combo seemed unstoppable but there was not enough time on the clock. Skins settle for FG after 2 missed passes one of which as a wounded duck looking for safe refuge in the open hands of a Dallas defender. 19-17 Skins Half Time To start the half the Redskins shuffle the lineup and receive the kickoff. Lloyd starts opposite of Moss and had a pass intended for him picked off after a stunning march down the field by the Skins. Dallas was able to rattle the Skins by consistently creating pressure and causing Brunell to rid himself of the ball before he wanted. Keeping the momentum in check and the Skins from scoring gave Dallas hope. Sensing a change in the wind and a sudden shift in momentum the Redskins defense quickly reacts. Trying their best to stick to their game plan with time running out Dallas runs the ball to the right. Barber gets threw the 1st and 2nd level of defenders and spots daylight. Just as that ray of light hit his eyes Sean Taylor was there to shut it out. Taylor who finished the game with 5 tackles and 2 forced fumbles gained one of those fumbles on this very play. Mike Rumph (2 tackles, 1 fumble recovery/TD) returned the ball for a score and the special teams unit wasted no time kicking the extra point. This was a very questionable point in the game as confusion engulfed Dallass sideline as to whether or not Barber was done, it was later determined he was but was not called. 26- 17 Skins The entire 4th quarter was dominated by the Redskins. Drew Bledsoe ended any chance of a Dallas comeback by throwing three interceptions. He did not get much help from his wide receivers as Glenn got alligator arms around Sean Taylor and T.O ran lazy routes. Mark Brunells (178 yards, 2 TDs) day ended with a streaking pass to Randle-El in the end zone. With Brunell on the bench it was prime time for JC to get some needed experience. Taking full advantage of a dead crowd and no pressure he proceeded to 3 of 4 for 66 yards and one TD. Final: 50-17 Skins The game was a lot closer than the score may indicate. If Bledsoe who is notorious for throwing picks at the worst possible time had been able to keep his composure, the game may have ended differently. Washington is currently tied with the Eagles at 2-0 in the NFC East. Lemar Marshall was rewarded with the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award for his 5 tackles and 3 interceptions. The Skins rank fourth in the NFLs power rankings and second among the NFC teams to...

The Doctor Is In

Thu, 14 Sep 2006 21:20:02 GMT

Ive been paying close attention to the boards this week following the loss to the Vikings. At first I noticed, as Im sure most of you did, many threads and posts early in the week displayed disbelief, denial, and anger. Lately, as we inch closer to the Dallas game, Im noticing a more positive attitude from many posters. This seemingly shifting attitude struck me as very similar to the stages of grief that people who have experienced a significant loss go through. So, I made a few modifications to the stages to suit the specifics that we Redskins fans go through after a loss (I tend to spend more than my fair share of time in the Denial stage myself, particularly around the whole 'time machine ' idea): Phases of Grief: 1-Numbness: This reaction often follows a Redskins loss and may last for three to six days. A sense of being paralyzed, distant, and removed from one's feelings of grief is present. Some have referred to numbing as the body's mechanism for protecting itself from being overwhelmed by the shock of the loss. Beer no longer tastes good during this phase. 2-Denial and Isolation: Here the bereaved individual has significant difficulty accepting the reality of the Redskins loss. This may be expressed in more severe forms as a complete denial of the loss or in less severe forms in lapses of thinking and behaving as if the game was really lost. While complete acceptance is part of the work of the entire grief process, the initial more acute difficulties with acceptance are included in this phase. This phase may include incessantly wondering if it's possible to invent a time machine and go back and make things right. It may include your family avoiding you like a plague because of your grumpy attitude. Beer still no longer tasting good. 3-Anger: In this phase the bereaved person feels anger with the world, fate, God, or people in their lives. A sense of "Why me?" and/or "Why not someone else?" give a flavor of this phase. Bargaining with God for the win may be part of this phase. Other symptoms may include posting very negative and wildly unrealistic threads on your friendly neighborhood Redskins board. Still no beer. 4-Depression: As acknowledgement and acceptance of the Redskins loss and the reality of life after the loss grow, sadness and depression become more present. Beer not only tastes good, but does well to drown sorrows in this phase. Drink up! 5-Acceptance: The bereaved person comes to terms with the Redskins loss, and is able to move on to re-invest in the new life (and beer) that lies ahead. An absence of the extremes of emotion previously experienced is present. If you or anyone around you exhibits any of the above symptoms after a Redskins loss, you may have Redskinsfanitis. If you experience these feelings approximately six to eight times a year, your chances of a full recovery are not good, and you are will most likely spend the rest of your remaining days with this condition. If youre able to recover from these symptoms, and fail to exhibit them after several Redskins losses, congratulations, youre cured. You can move to Dallas or New England or Pittsburgh. And for those of you who cannot seem to move past phase 3 (you know who you are), you may need medication. Seriously. Since it is unlikely that future events will unfold in such a manner that we wont have to deal with these feelings again, we should all learn recognize these symptoms should they arise again. The Redskins may, in fact, lose another game this year. The question is: how does that make you feel? (By the way, I realize this was posted in another thread, but due to an overwhelming number of request (one), Ive expanded the idea here, because I can,...

Accentuate the negative?

Wed, 13 Sep 2006 15:27:18 GMT

I want to make a quick distinction. Being pessimistic does not make you pragmatic, it does not lend you some special or unique insight and it does not make you the sighted man in the land of the slavish and blind. Too much of the recent fan response to the Redskins first game seems to be predicated on the notion that only those fans who embrace a bleak future have a grasp on reality. Those who choose to remain positive or upbeat or even hopeful, are simpletons, adrift in a sea of unrealistic expectations. Those who predict a season of misery act as if their opinions are rooted in some undeniable logic that the rest of us either refuse or are unable to comprehend. Please, come off it. Was any Redskins fan pleased with Monday night's performance? I have yet to meet one who was. The team fell well short of my expectations for it, especially on the defensive side of the ball in those crucial third and long situations. So, to be clear, I am acknowledging the team's performance was not impressive ... but ... it's one game. Two halves, four quarters, ONE hour. How can anyone possibly make a sweeping determination based on that? You don't even have enough empirical evidence to cite a trend at this point. I'm not saying that the more positive proclamations have any more validity than the negative ones, just that nobody knows at this point. Yet we have a contingent of fans who felt some turbulence and are predicating a plane crash with no survivors. And if someone were to turn to said fans and say "Hey, that wasn't fun but I'm still optimistic about our chances of landing comfortably" they would be dismissed as menial drones, incapable of criticizing the deity known as Gibbs. I'm not going to bother citing the reasons Gibbs has earned my patience, suffice to say that he has. Yes, even after a loss like the one on Monday night, I choose to remain upbeat. I'll say it again: I am optimistic about this team. You might disagree with me but that doesn't make you the savant to my idiot. It makes you depressing and pessimistic. You can choose to suffer through a season and wallow in your self-imposed despair and maybe you'll turn out to be right about this team. But misery loves company and I'm not coming with you. Go...

FFAs Game Notes: Vikings

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 21:15:51 GMT

Yesterday was the kind of loss where I want to bury my head in the sand for the next 4 days so as to miss all highlights and game summaries. A tough night to be a Skins fan, but (as always) every cloud has a silver lining. On to the game notes: Notable Stats 3rd down efficiency : Vikings 9-17 (53%) Redskins 4-13 (31%) The Skins D was rather unreliable on 3rd downs no matter the distance. Brad Johnson seemed to be able to pick us apart on 3rd and 5+, and Chester Taylor could usually get one or two yards past the line of scrimmage before he was even touched. Passing Brad Johnson 16/30, 233 yds., 1 TD Mark Brunell 17/28, 163 yds., 0 TD Brunell had an average to good game, managing the ball well and not making many mistakes. Both QBs had to throw away several balls, showing their patience and vision. However, Brad Johnson made probably only one or two mistakes--the both of which were nearly intercepted by the Skins (and probably could have been, if only there weren't for 2 or 3 defenders converging on the ball and knocking it down). Other than those two passes, Johnson's throws were on the money, away from the defenders, and perfectly timed to hit the soft spots in Washington's zone defense. Had his number one wideout, 1st round pick Troy Williamson, held on to 2 passes that hit him in the hands, his stats would look even better. (Luckily for Washington, and Carlos Rodgers in particular, Williamson dropped those two additional long bombs). Mark Brunell tends to stare his receivers down, and it showed last night when Vikings cornerbacks were able to jump on a receiver or two. He looked more comfortable on short passes than he did in the preseason--his quick-slant to Randel El was a play that was attempted several times in August but never worked. It's a good sign that timing is getting there, and I look forward to the day when the Brunell quick-slant pass works as well as it used to in St. Louis with Kurt Warner. Offensive Plays Vikings - 64 Redskins - 53 Last night, when the Vikings took the field, it felt like they would never get off. Not only would Brad Johnson be a shrewd field general, making efficient passes and few mistakes, but the Vikings would also (as mentioned) convert most of their 3rd down attempts. The Skins matched styles fairly well, but kudos to the Vikings for excellent field management. 64 plays will wear down just about any defense, and for Minnesota this meant valuable clock time eaten up in the 4th quarter. Other Notes * The Redskins had 4 trips to the redzone, 1TD, and 3 field goals. Enough said. . . * Watch out for Randel El on punt returns this year. He twists and turns more than the traditional return-man (perhaps to his detriment), but he has the patience and vision to make some great decisions. He also has a knack for making people miss, something that is difficult to teach but valuable to have in a return man. Since he's used to big games and big pressure, expect him to have solid hands when it comes to catching balls. * Minnesota's early missed extra point turned out to be huge in a game that came down to a three point difference. Had the holder made a better play after their first touchdown, the Skins would have been looking at 35-yard shots toward the end zone instead of relying on Hall for a 47 yard field goal attempt at the end of the game. * Hall has really broken the hearts of Skins fans. He's a likeable character but Derrick Frost seems to do as well (if not better) on kickoffs. . .and that's saying something. Just a few years ago Hall nailed a 33-yarder with five seconds left to defeat the Jets on the Skins' opener. Last night his longest field goal was from 27 yards out. * Saunders' new offense had some tantalizing moments but failed to deliver as much as most fans were probably hoping for. The longest passing play for the Skins, a 37 yard connection with Moss, was but one moment of downfield excitement that accented an otherwise short-pass, conservative attack. The swing passes last night looked good, however, and the Redskins are now starting to run a wide receiver screen from a trips formation. In the screen, Brunell throws to the receiver in the slot, as the other two WRs standing nearby get out on their blocking assignment. The extra room lets the receiver make some moves (and hopefully shed the first tackler)--watch to see how they can get Moss some space with this play later in the year....

A late Madden Prediction

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 20:14:25 GMT

The football gods could not have rewarded the Redskin faithful with a more beautiful day. With clear skies, a temperature of 78 degrees the weather was beautiful and seemed to energize an eager crowd. The Redskins seemed to feed off of the crowds intensity and routed the Vikings 52-17 in a series of plays and possessions well describe for you. A booming kick by John Hall begins the day as the Vikings choose to down the kick in the end zone. The Vikings very first play of the game ends in disaster, as sweeping Chester Taylor runs to the left to be met by Sean Taylor who lays a devastating hit. That hit jarred the bar loose from Chesters possession just to be recovered by the Vikings but not after a substantial loss in yardage. The Redskins defense gets the Vikings into a 3rd down situation but lose that battle because of an anxious Andre Carter who was called for encroachment. On the ensuing play, Lemar Marshall is barking out audiles for his defense as he tries to match the shifting of Brad Johnsons offense. Brad Johnson tries to throw an out pass to #40 Jim Kleinsasser but its intercepted by Sean Taylor and returned 49 yards for 6 points. The Vikings second possession of the game is once again controlled by a menacing Sean Taylor who is making tackles all over the place. It almost seemed as if the Vikings offense was a bit stiff when the usually efficient and conservative Brad Johnson is picked off in their territory by Mike Rumph. Mikes 1st interception as a Redskin was returned for 27 yard and another 6 points. The Redskins offense has yet to see the field and the Vikings yet to see Redskin territory. More defensive control is exuded by the Washington Redskins as another Vikings offensive possession is sputtering horribly. The possession almost ended in another Sean Taylor highlight but an overly aggressive Mike Rumph bats away a sure interception for Taylor. The 3rd Viking possession ends in a punt enter the Al Saunders offense. Mark Brunell and the new offense do not disappoint. Clinton Portis breaks off an 8 yard run and a 12 yard reception by Chris Cooley seems to further animate an already enthusiastic Fed-Ex stadium home crowd. The 3rd and most successful play of the drive came from a broken play. Clinton Portis ran out into the flats to set up a screen pass from Brunell but the play was held up by Randy Thomas who was being held. Mark Brunell turns his eyes back down field to see a streaking Brandon Lloyd going across the middle of the field. Brunell connects his 37 yard pass with Lloyd for the 3rd Redskin TD of the game but only the 1st for the offense. On both teams following drives 3 & out was the consequence. Sean Taylor stopped a pass to the C. Taylor in the flats one yard shy of a conversion while the Vikings batted down an attempted pass to ARE to convert. The Vikings following possession netted them their biggest play of the game thus far, a 35 yard strike to Travis Taylor. However, a near interception by Marcus Washington ended the Vikings drive prematurely on 3rd down which led to another Vikings punt. Broken plays seem to be working out really well for the Redskins in this game. On a play where Mark was looking for B. Lloyd in the flats, he was flushed from the pocket. Scrambling to his left, with #93 Kevin Williams closing in, Mark fires a pass to S. Moss who was running a drag route. An aware Randle El blocks Antoine Winfield which subsequently blocked Fred Smoot also and a block by Brandon Lloyd on Darren Sharper sealed the Vikings fate, a 74 yard pass for a TD. To end the first half, the Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell nailed his only kick of the game, a 50 yarder with 3 seconds left on the clock. After the half the Skins offense stalls and punts the ball to the Vikings. Coming out with a sense of renewed urgency the Vikings try to make a game out of this travesty. They score quickly and efficiently via the air. M. Robinson received a pass from Johnson to put their points on the board. The rest of the game is pretty even with the Vikings scoring 14 points in the second half and the Skins scoring 17. Travis Taylor finally hauled in a 21 yard pass from Brad Johnson in the 4th quarter with TJ Ducket and Chris Cooley receiving TDs as well. The last TD to Chris Cooley was of special importance. Joe Gibbs, dedicated to his QB of the future inserted Jason Campbell into the game with 1:50 on the clock. Taken almost as a slap in the face the Vikings defense came out with a renewed vigor and sacked the young QB. JC fired back by completed 4/5 of his passes and throwing an 8 yard strike to Chris Cooley in the end zone. Redskins 52-17 In summary, the Redskins offense looked pretty good considering the circumstances. After an abysmal preseason showing youd expect the offense to look worse, especially the passing game. However, its the running game that was spotty. The absence of CP in the backfield on every play took a toll; hopefully hell be healthy enough to start the entire game for Dallas in week 2. The Redskins defense looked astounding even in the absence of Shawn Springs. 52 - WASHINGTON REDSKINS (1-0) 17 MINNESOTA VIKINGS (0-1) DIVISION STANDINGS New York Giants 0-1 Philadelphia Eagles 0-1 Washington Redskins 1-0 Dallas Cowboys 0-1 TRANSACTION WIRE...

Capital Investment

Fri, 08 Sep 2006 10:38:18 GMT

I love hockey. I know that's surprising to anyone who knows me; I am after all, a Canadian. I was going through my things to do list last night when I came across a press release I printed from the Washington Capitals announcing the opening date for the start of their training camp. The Caps kick off their season next Friday at 10:00am, when the first of two player groups hit the ice.. Running a Redskins website puts my finger on the pulse of most Washington sports - the Capitals, the Nationals, and the Wizards are all talked about on the message boards from time to time. I don't care much for baseball or basketball, so I pay little attention to the Wizards and the Nationals. But as I said, I love hockey as much as I love football, and I actually started watching the Capitals for one reason last year - Alexander Ovechkin. I'm sure that most of you Washingtonians are at least familiar with the name, he's 'das wunderkind' who took the National Hockey League by storm last year. This guy is so good, that he actually made me watch a fair bit of Capitals hockey last year just to see if the hype was warranted. Now I recognize that most of you are Redskin fans and that most of your sports entertainment budget is going to go to the Redskins, but have you ever thought about what you're missing? Ovechkin is a once-in-a-generation type of hockey player. Let me say that again... Ovechkin is a once-in-a-generation type of hockey player. I am not trying to say that he is good... I'm not trying to say that he is very good... I'm saying that a player of his caliber doesn't come around but once every 15-20 years. In his rookie season he put up some gaudy numbers... 100-plus points (106) ... 52 of which were goals... and some of those goals were some of the nicest goals you'll ever see in a game of hockey. And none of that has anything to do with my fascination for 'Ovie' as he's more affectionately known. You see, he's also an animal. I don't mean he's the team tough guy, or a goon, but there's absolutely no fear in the twenty-one year old either. Last year I watched in amazement as Ovie bruised his way through the league en route to his rookie of the year Calder Trophy winning performance. Sure it was his goal and point totals that likely got him the recognition, but it's the kid's fire and passion that has most hockey pundits excited. I've been watching over 100 games of hockey a year for more than 20 years, and I don't think I have ever seen a player with such wonderful skills that possesses such tenacity and toughness. The closest thing in the league right now is probably Jerome Iginla and he's considered by many to be the top player in the sport. Ovie isn't quite the physical presence on the ice that Iginla is, and Iginla is known as a great team leader, but Ovechkin is making huge strides there as well. Ovechkin definitely matches up in terms of skills, in fact, it's conservative to not just say that he is slightly superior. It's only one season as well, whereas Iginla is a perennial powerhouse, but let's remember that we're comparing the young Russian phenomenon to one of, if not THE very best in hockey. In fact, the only player I can remember ever having the type of hockey abilities that Ovechkin has, that also played with a mean streak, was one Mario Lemieux. Now before you throw stones at me, even Ovechkin has a long way to go to reach that type of upper echelon. But remember when Super Mario broke into the National Hockey League? He fought, he checked, and of course, he wowed people with his amazing talent. Mario's mean streak seemed to dissipate as he learned that he owed it to his team to play smart and stay healthy. Lemieux is one of the game's greatest players ever, so some likely think that Ovie would do well to take queues from the Magnificent One. But I'm not sure Ovechkin even has that type of 'stop-gap' in himself. The kid is just flat out... lights out; and if you skate around with your head down, he'll put YOUR lights out. He loves to crash and bang, seemingly as much as he likes to roof a slap shot from the slot. I'm pretty sure that Ovechkin led the Capitals in body checks as well in his rookie season. No joke. he was certainly leading the team late in the season. That's impressive for any player of Ovie's considerable skill level, let alone from a rookie. He's basically still just a kid. A kid having fun, and that's what makes him so entertaining to watch.. Are you Washingtonians even aware of what you have there? If Ovechkin lived and played in Toronto, there might actually be 20,000 people at Maple Leaf practice. And that's just the media. :wink: So that brings me to my point of this whole blog... WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GO SEE THE GUY! The Caps training camp opens Friday September 15th, and like Redskins training camp, it IS open to the general public. The Capitals will practice at the Ashburn Icehouse in Ashburn, Virginia. That's just a stone's throw from Redskin Park. I don't care if you've never been to a hockey game... it's not even all that relevant if you like hockey... just go and treat yourself to seeing one of the very best athletes on the planet. It won't cost you anything to go, and if you've never been to a hockey game or practice, you just might be surprised at how much better the game is live. If just going to a practice isn't something you fancy, then go to a game. It never ceases to amaze me that all of you will pony up top dollar to see a Redskin game and then gripe about the costs, and don't seek an occasional, more reasonable entertainment alternative. Families can go see a Capitals game for a fraction of what a trip to Fed Ex will run you, and you can take the metro right into the basement of the arena. I'll go you all one further. I'm going to talk to the Capitals and see if I can arrange some sort of promotion for THN on tickets... or maybe some special day for THNers to go see a Capitals game. Maybe if I can get you to go and see what you're missing... you won't want to miss it. Frankly, I can't believe there's ever an empty seat in the Verizon Center with Ovie playing, but I know that there are. The kid is phenomenal. So phenomenal that the team decided that rather than rebuild through the draft, they would try and grab some talent more quickly to make a run at the Stanley Cup. When you have the ability to make an entire franchise change direction based on your performance in one year of hockey - you're a real superstar. And Alexander Ovechkin is definitely a real superstar. http://www.washingtoncaps.com/uploads/players/3F5B76EF845B402D8554ADF9B008C86A.jpg Here are some links on the Caps site where you can find out more information: Ovechkin's Player Page Washington Capitals Training Camp Schedule Washington Capitals Preseason and Regular Season Schedule Verizon Center...

NFL 2006 Hognostications: Science, Art, or Chance?

Mon, 04 Sep 2006 23:21:28 GMT

NFL 2006 Hognostications: Science, Art, or Chance? The truth is that no one single formula can lead anybody to consistently prognosticate winners and losers with 100% accuracy any given week in the NFL. Surely, there are quite a number of very sophisticated statistical and quasi-statistical models that are put in place by a number of organizations, companies and experts based on past player performance, strength of schedule, players' injuries, and any other tangible and intangible variables of the game. Some of these models are better known than others. Some appear to be, if not more sophisticated, at least more difficult to understand than others. Every possible mathematical attempt may have been made from weighted Gaussian to Bayesian to Robust Statistics, a myriad of models have been attempted. There are fans who have attempted to transplant the time series prediction mathematical models applied in the stock market to sports. These are very- sophisticated tools for those in the know. The bad news are that if any- single one among the myriad of them had managed to be able to predict with accuracy the future outcome of a given season schedule of NFL games, somebody out there would have been called a genius and- a millionaire! Surely, there are many people that trust their gut far more than they do any quantitative approach to engage the world of predictions in sports. These are people in the know. At least that is what they say. To them, the ability to prognosticate is truly an Art with capital A. Not a skill available among mortals like you and me, they really know-. They have been watching the games as professional spectators for decades. They may have met the players, coaches, and management. They simply know who matches best against whom. Well, I hope I do not need to remind you about that prediction by Jimmy the Greek that had the mighty John Elway Denver Broncos simply blow out of the field the lowly Washington Redskins led by an African American QB with nothing but a long history of failure at Tampa a couple of decades ago, do I? Surely, there is an element of sheer luck in prognosticating games isnt it? No question about it! After all, Casinos in Las Vegas make a fortune in fees inviting you to gamble whether lady luck might be on your side this week or not. Well if all youve got is the feeling that lady luck might- be on your side, it might be appropriate to quote detective Harry Callahan: Do you feel lucky today, punk? Well, do ya? Lady luck is not a very reliable companion to put it mildly (and I certainly have no intention to insult her many other virtues in the slightest). Nobody I know is consistently lucky. So what now? At The Hogs Network, we are serious about prognostications of every NFL week during the regular season. We call them Hognostications when they are made only by registered members of THN. No others, lurkers or not, can post their picks. So, if you intend to participate during this season, register as a member NOW. But let me explain what is it that we mean when I say we are serious. First, we make a commitment to compete for the whole season. But we also accept others that challenge us on one or a number of weeks. Second, we tend to remind one another who won and who lost. :twisted: How good are we? Well, I could tell you that naaaaahhh! Let it suffice to say that among the Hognosticators that participated during the entire last season, only one did not have a better record than Peter King from Sports Illustrated. Not a great achievement, you might add. And you would be more than right! Still, we love to put down the professionals here to show them that these amateurs- are better than them. QED. Can you measure up? Well, coming back to the title of the thread: Science, Art or Chance, which is it? Do you want the truth in my humble opinion? It is an inconsistent combination of research, numbers, history, gut feeling and lady luck. Surely not a model that I can fully describe solely as a science or an art or pure chance. There are millions of tangible and intangible variables that affect the course of each game, let alone a week or the season. But I am sure you feel you can challenge us. I am sure you feel that you are a respectable and very knowledgeable NFL fan. I bet you feel you can beat us. But you know what? I am sure you are full of yourself. So, I respectfully challenge you to join us in this years fun. The official announcement with the format will be made very soon by Boss Hog whom, I might add, has done a FANTASTIC effort to make this season look really professional. I will not steal any thunder from him and I will leave it at that: the challenge has been issued to all of you. Bring it on Hogs! My pal Texas Hog and I are waiting. :lowblow: RiC PS Sorry TH for getting you in this season long bragging rights fight. But I am sure you will enjoy it...

My Two-Year Old Sports Journalist

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 19:51:50 GMT

My scientific conclusion is thus: Sports journalists are all two years old. It must be the case. I know, because I have one (a two year old, not a sports journalist). When something bad happens, that thing is set in stone, and no amount of explaining (or begging or pleading) can convince them otherwise. A bug flew in the face of my two-year old a few months ago, and now hes forever terrified of bugs. Dan Snyder (admittedly) tried to purchase a Super Bowl title in 2000, and now he is eternally a big spender on old, worthless free agents. No amount of arguing can convince them otherwise. And dont bother using logic or statistics, because they dont mean anything to two-year olds. I like to call this irrational dislike of the Redskins the Dan Snyder Effect, which isnt some climactic phenomenon, like El Nino. But it does seem to have an effect on the ability of some in the sports world to judge the Redskins with objectivity. If we spend some money on a free agent, its Dan Snyder going crazy again. If the Eagles land a Jevon Kearse or the Cowboys spend a load of dough on a T.O., theyre brilliant. Is it jealousy? Hatred? Stupidity? Indigestion? One can only speculate. It will always seem to us as fans that the media is set against us, no matter what we do. If we lose, its I told you so. If we win, its Yeah, but I used to get my Fruit of the Looms all twisted every time I heard a journalist illogically slam the Redskins, but no more. Ive developed a new mantra to combat this hopeless situation: Whatever. Sean Salisbury makes a bet to walk from Bristol to D.C., but wont back it up? Whatever. Mark Schlereth (who played for Joe Gibbs, for goodness sake!) wants to doubt that Coach Gibbs can succeed with the plethora of talent on this team? Whatever. ESPN and SI want to continue to place us dead last in the competitive NFC East? Whatever. Peter King wants to pursue his claim that Art Monk does not belong in the Hall of Fame? Whatev- no, wait, that one I wont concede so easily. This time of year, at the cusp of the regular season, is the worst time to be a sports journalist. All their predictions, all their statements, all their beliefs, are about to be true, or bogus. Theyre scared. Theyre afraid. Theyre most likely hiding in caves right about now. Of course, theyll forget that they ever said that the Niners would take the division, or deny that they claimed that AJ Feeley is set for a breakout year, or simply avoid discussing any of their past incorrect predictions, and move on to their next set of soon-to-be incorrect predictions. But I wont forget. I have a long memory, as do many of us fans. They can try to smile and act like they didnt say that, but we know. We know that deep in their hearts (assuming they have those), they KNOW that they were wrong. And now that Im all about the Whatever, thats good enough for...

The "Get a new one!" fallacy

Thu, 31 Aug 2006 17:34:16 GMT

Weaknesses on a football team are the bane of any fan's existence. Come Sunday, you simply hope that Ade Jimoh isn't in there on a big 3rd down play, or that the game won't come down to a last-second 50+ yard field goal when Hall is out with an injury. You hope that we won't need a long bomb from Brunell, even after his arm made for one of the better moments in Redskin's history. Whatever your opinions are of particular players, last year Redskins fans were unquestionably unified in our horror of every 4th down punting situation. We've become accustomed to "Frost bounces"--lucky rolls that make our punter look statistically competitive to other punters in the league--but Skins fans see beyond the numbers to numerous 15-yard shanks and booming end-zone-bound kicks. With Frost, you're never quite sure whether the other team will start on their 4-yard line or on your 40. Lately I've heard a lot of talk about Gibbs and our front office not addressing this dire need in this year's offseason. While I can sympathize with the sentiment, I'm not sure how much blame there really is to go around. Please remember that there is a limited supply of good punters out there. For everyone saying that we should have used a draft pick on a punter, how about listing a single punter that was selected in this past year's draft? (Hint: there were two, and you can find them here and here ). Only one of them is looking to start this season. Will he be better than Frost? I don't know--only time will tell. But it would have been a gamble to have drafted him, and if we had there's a good chance people would still be complaining right now. (Is it even debatable that weak positions are rarely fixed with a 5th round-or later-draft pick?) Was this year's class a good class for punters? Probably not. After all, guess where did David Lonie came from? (Hint, "Australia" isn't the answer that I'm looking for ). Suppose we had drafted Lonie rather than picking him up as a walkon--would wasting the draft pick have made anyone feel much better? There is an argument to be made that we could have selected Plackemeier or Koch (who is, by the way, 2nd on the Ravens depth chart). By midseason we'll know for sure whether such a move would have been effective at all. Hindsight is 20/20, after all. So here is what I call the "Get a new one!" fallacy: the belief that a front office--if they really want to--can simply upgrade a position whenever they please. This is similar to the thinking that we can always "just trade our 1st round pick for lots of mid round picks!" or that we can "just trade x here (like Ramsey) for some draft picks!" The NFL isn't Madden, and often it can be very hard to find good players. It could be that Frost *shudder* is our best option right now. So the next time Frost trots out to punt and we all cringe, remember these two things: (1) You don't pull these guys out of thin air --they have to come from some place. (2) If he's really this bad, Frost won't last much longer on the team. Lastly, there's always hope that a player can improve. After all, I don't mind it as much anymore when Ade Jimoh takes to the...

Message to Joe Gibbs and the Washington Redskins

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 16:32:36 GMT

Message to Joe Gibbs and the Washington Redskins There can be absolutely no way of sugar-coating the obvious: Joe Gibbs Washington Redskins played their worst game of the 2006 preseason against Bill Belichicks New England Patriots yesterday, August 26. Gibbs team played so bad that he said at the press conference held at the end of the game: Offense, defense, special teams, we are in this together. Thats the bad news. It is the good news too. This is the kind of statement that one expects to hear when he sees such trouble across the board and the collective challenge that it represents to the entire team. How could he not worry? It has been a long while since the Washington Redskins had not only been humiliated to a 41-0 score but plainly played so bad on all sides of the ball. How bad was it? The game was so bad that our offensive line, the backbone of every team coached by Joe Gibbs, gave up, not one, two or three but a total of seven sacks. Joe Bugel's language or thoughts may not be fit to be published in a PG forum like this one. I know mine are not. Our combined running game resulted in a paltry 76 yards and the largest part of that total number, a monumental 26 yards, was added by the third string QB Jason Campbell. The defense fared not a lot better. It did not have a single sack in the entire game, not even against their third stringers. The combined running game against us accumulated a total of 171 yards, which was only surpassed by their passing game with a total of 294 yards with 10 different receivers according to my operating systems calculator. This was not certainly the kind of performance that a defense coached by Gregg Williams had played at any game over the last two seasons. Special teams contributed to this defeat with purpose as well. There was that long 36-yard kick-off return. The punting averages of our two punters over a humongous nine tries were inferior to that of the opposing punter. How about any miscues, mental errors and penalties? Far plenty if you ask me. It had been a while that the Redskins had a field goal attempt blocked. Joe Gibbs had pointed out at penalties as a big contribution to our defeat against the Jets. Yesterdays penalties were an even greater contributor to our humiliating defeat. You name it. The Redskins had it almost all: holding penalties, delays of game, pass interferences, to name a few. In the simple but emphatic words of Coach Gibbs; "We had three games. We didnt play well." Are there reasons to worry? You bet. Why? - Simply because our coach is seriously worried. Yes, Joe Gibbs -always- worries, you might add. But this time he is seriously worried. This time he faces the abyss in his third year in what is expected to be a deep run into the playoffs. This time he faces the prospect of at least a slow start to the season in the most competitive Division in the NFL. This year five in a row or we dont go just might not be enough to make up for a disastrous beginning of the season. Playoff spots might be very well decided not only by a single victory difference in the standings or face-to-face records but even by point score differentials against our East Conference rivals. Joe Gibbs is worried and we should worry because he knows that this game is as mental as it is physical and the Washington Redskins simply are not playing the game according to his and our expectations up to now. Sure, there is a new offense and several new players have been asked to perform under it. Al Saunders has introduced a new game book and we may not be showing even a small part of it in preseason. But still, execution has been awful. This is certainly not the powerful Air Coryell or Kansas City offense we expected to watch. I did not see anybody that looked anything close to Dan Fouts, Trent Green or Tony Gonzalez yesterday, even in preseason. Oh! And that defense and those special teams will get fully deserved earfuls from Gregg Williams and Danny Smith, respectively. They really should. Wait a minute! So, what now? Well, first things first: take responsibility. Yes, as usual, Joe Gibbs took ownership and full responsibility for the current state of affairs: I am a big part of that. Any time we dont play well I have to be the lead guy. Gregg Williams, Al Sunders and Danny Smith are next in line followed by all of our position coaches and players. But he also passed on to all of us coaches, players and fans a very meaningful message that makes in my mind the most important difference between him and other coaches in the NFL: "The way you get out of that is all of us together. We have a hard-working group. We're being tested and when you go through a test, you find out what you're made of. The biggest thing for us is getting out of this." He expects no less specifically from the fans. He said so in his post-game statement. When Mr. Gibbs comes to Washington we ALL are together in this. Front office, coaches, support staff, players and FANS are together in all victories and all defeats, no matter how one-sided they might be. If you hear anybody say -they- lost, "-they- are awful, and on and on and on, really what they mean is that -they- are not Washington Redskins fans. We win and lose with OUR coaches, with OUR players, with OUR entire team. We look great or awful together with OUR team. OUR coach Joe Gibbs calls us the best fans in the NFL and -if that is true-, we also have to take responsibility to show, as he puts it, what we are made of. He expects nothing less than that from coaches, players and us fans. Message to Coach Gibbs You can count on us the life-long fans of the Washington Redskins to overcome all adversity and support our team regardless of the outcome of any game, and even regardless of the outcome of the entire season. We are Washington Redskins fans for life in victory or defeat. Please remind the coaches and players that we, YOUR fans, are TOGETHER with you on and off the field. Defeats have lessons to teach to everybody in one way or another. In our case as fans, it helps to differentiate who truly bleeds burgundy and gold and who dresses up as clowns for carnival in whatever colours are fashionable at the time. As Coach Joe Gibbs put it last night: If we are going to be in a tough time, I like being in a tough time with this bunch of guys Hail to the Redskins! Redskin in Canada (Now in NY and...

Flag Football World Championships

Sun, 27 Aug 2006 14:38:08 GMT

This last week, the NFL held the Flag Football World Championships (FFWC) in Cologne, Germany. Ten teams from around the world were represented by young athletes between the ages of 12 and 14, who competed for the world title. I had the opportunity to do up a couple of articles on the event for various different outlets, and it was suggested to me that maybe I should post those articles in a blog so that he THN community could learn a bit more about it. So here are a couple of articles, and I will have another one today. Former Redskin Ray Brown was the guest of honor for the FFWC and I spoke to him last night about the event, his future, and of course the Redskins, so I'll have one or two articles on that and maybe a podcast over the next day or so. Flag Football World Championships Monday, August 21st The seventh annual NFL Flag Football World Championship (F.F.W.C) will kick off in Cologne, Germany this week. Ten teams from Canada, the United States, Germany, Holland, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, China and Thailand will all vie for the title of World Champion. The tournament will be held at the Leichtathletik Stadion in Cologne from August 22nd until August 26th. The NFL, along with Reebok, EA and Gatorade proudly sponsor this prestigious coed tournament, which encourages girls and boys to participate in a fun and safe sport. Canada will be represented by the Ecole River Heights team from Winnipeg, Manitoba. They earned their berth by winning the Reebok NFL/CFL Flag Football Championship as part of the Super Bowl XL festivities in Windsor, Ontario in February. The team is coached by Shawn Gretchen who introduced the program when he started teaching at the school seven years ago. They hold open tryouts each fall to select the team' Gretchen told NFL Canada, "Our team has been practicing three-four times a week to prepare for the tournament. They are thrilled to have the opportunity to represent their school, Winnipeg and now the country." The players range in age from twelve to fourteen, and there are six players per squad. Christoff Hasselfield looks after quarterback duties for the team; Ben Allen, Colton Farago, and Vinnie Cannata all double as both running backs and wide receivers. Ainsley Johnston-Weiss also plays receiver, and Emily Zarychta looks after center. Each team has five players on the field, two of which must be females. Chicago Bears defensive end Israel Idonije was born about one hundred and fifty miles east of Ecole River Heights in Brandon, Manitoba. Idonije didn't have a unique program to participate in like the Reebok NFL/CFL Flag League, and as such, didn't even start playing football until his senior year of high school. The 25-year old defensive end had a message for the young Canadians, I just want to say good luck to the Canadian team." Idonije added that, "If you work as hard as you can and stay together, youll be successful. The F.F.W.C is one of the highlights of the NFL's international calendar and obviously offers the crowning glory of the NFL Flag Football season. The young athletes that qualified for their country represent more than 800 teams that competed around the world for the honor. Apart from the games, the athletes will get a trip to a local theme park, and visit local attractions. NFL Canada spoke to Kerry Carter of the Washington Redskins about the journey that these flag footballers were about to be embark on. Carter hopes that all of the kids remember the importance of truly enjoying themselves while they are in Germany. "The game is a gift and can teach us so much about ourselves and about life, that we must take advantage of every opportunity we get to step out on to that field," he told NFL Canada. As for advice on how to be successful at these championships, Carter offered, "Take nothing for granted, give it every thing you've got and leave the field knowing that you gave your best effort and have no regrets. To succeed in anything in life, you must believe in you, because you are truly more powerful than you know." The Canadian kids should believe in themselves. They enter the tournament on an impressive 17-game winning streak. They will be trying to improve on Canada's fourth place result last year by Tomken Road School (from Mississauga, Ontario). Regardless of the tournament results, all these young athletes are winners thanks to this wonderful NFL program. They get to travel half way around the world, meet new friends from different countries, and experience many other cultures. The football games are just a bonus. Qualifying Teams Canada - Ecole River Heights, Winnipeg, Manitoba China - Pei Zhen Middle School, Guangzhou Japan - Fujitsu Junior Frontiers, Kawasaki Korea - Suri Middle School, Seoul Mexico - Las Aguilas, Monterrey Germany - Schuldorf Bergstrasse Hillsiders, Seeheim Jugenheim Netherlands - Da Vinci College Leonardo, Leiden Spain - IES Pere Vives Vich, Igualada Thailand - Chaopraya Wittayakom School, Bangkok USA - DAC Panthers, Queens, NY A website has been set up at http://www.nfl-flag.com with all kinds of great facts and information. The site will be having a daily blog, and will be updating with news, photos, quotes, results, statistics and more. Other websites: http://www.flagfootball.ca http://www.nflcflfutures.com/ Canada Through to the Semi-Finals Friday, August 25th Canada advanced to the final four of the Flag Football World Championships at the Leichtathletik Stadion in Cologne after beating host Germany. They will join Spain, Japan and Thailand in the semi-finals on Saturday at 12:45 pm. Canada's task in the quarter finals was made slightly easier by an unfortunate injury. Home team Schuldorf Bergstrasse Hillsiders from Seeheim Jugenheim were without their star receiver Lukas Kleinsorge. It's doubtful though, that any one player could have stopped the young Canadian athletes from posting their decisive 45-18 victory. Canada's coach Shawn Gretchen promised a lot of scoring before the tournament opened, and he and his team have definitely delivered. In tournament play so far, the Canadians have scored 238 points in just five games - that's just less than 48 points per game. The team from Ecole River Heights in Winnipeg, Manitoba reached the quarter final against Germany on the strength of an impressive 4-0 round robin record. They capped off a perfect preliminary play record earlier Friday with a 38-28 victory over Mexico. Those wins and the Germany win, give Canada an impressive twenty-two consecutive victories in FFWC and tournament qualification play. Gretchen and his young team will go up against the Fujitsu Junior Frontiers for the right to play in the world championship final. The Japanese finished round robin play at 2-2 but their two losses were by a combined nine points. Canada outlasted the Frontiers 54-46, and the tough Thai team beat Japan by just one point to give them two very tough day one losses. The young team from Kawasaki found their groove Friday though, winning both of their games to get to the semi-final. They beat China in thir last game of the preliminaries before completely dismantling the Netherlands 61-36 in their quarter final match. Japan gave us a tough game last time and we only just came away with the win, so we know it wont be easy," said the Canadian coach. On the other side of the draw, the IES Pere Vives Vich from Spain secured their place in the final four with a very exciting 30-27 quarter final victory over the Chinese. Spain were the only members of Group B to make it through to the final day, as Canada, Thailand, and Japan all qualified from a strong Group A. Spain would seem to be the underdogs despite having only lost one game. Their loss came at the hands of Korea whom Thailand beat soundly 48-15 to earn their berth in this game. The stage may be being set for a great re-match of the FFWC opener between Canada and Thailand. In the first match, Canada scored the game tying touchdown in torrential rain at the very end of the game. They then kicked the extra point to win 60-59 and secure their closest victory of the tournament. The young team from Bangkok would surely love a shot at redemption, especially in the tournament final. Spain and Japan have no interest in seeing the re-match. Canada's coach knows they can't look past the Japanese at all, Now we face the biggest and most important one or hopefully two games of our lives. There's likely only one thing better than participating in the FFWC for these young athletes, and that's being crowned champion. On Saturday afternoon at the Leichtathletik Stadion in Cologne - Canada, Thailand, Japan, and Spain will all try to add the world title to their already unforgettable...

Good News

Thu, 17 Aug 2006 23:27:35 GMT

I have been moping about recently and I think you all know why. The Redskins lost the Super Bowl to the Bengals last Sunday night and it was painful. I was saying as much to a friend of mine, and he had a puzzled look on his face: Friend: Um, dude, why are you so hung up on that Bengals game? Master of the Universe (aka me): Um, duh, the 'Skins LOST THE SUPERBOWL Friend: I hate to break it to you this way but that was the first game of the PREseason, not the last game of the POSTseason MotU: Are you asserting there is a difference? Friend: Why yes I am, pre season is the part before the regular season, the post season is the part after the regular season. MotU: Ohhhhhhhh ... it is, like, soooooooooo helpful that you speak in hyperlinks, I really must learn that trick. But, I mean, the game was still a loss, I should tear my clothes and beat my chest and say things like 'woe is me' right? Friend: Um, if you want, but while the game was technically a loss, it has no bearing whatsoever on the regular season. MotU: But that's all I can focus on right now, we lost man, we looked awful. Friend: Yeah but reacting to this part is akin to walking out of 'Empire Strikes Back' when they freeze Han and screaming: 'Well, the Jedis are all going to be dead soon, no point in carrying on.' MotU: They made a movie after 'Empire'? You're not counting the holiday special are you? Friend: OK, so that point was lost on you ... um, I suppose what I am saying is that you have to learn perspective as a fan. It's ultimately self-defeating to become hyper-focused on one game, it serves as much purpose as becoming focused on one player or one series, etcetera. That isn't to say you can't objectively come to the conclusion that the performance in the first preseason game was less than stellar. But we're in the opening moves of a chess game, to panic at this point would be akin to flipping out the minute you lost a pawn. MotU: Lost my pawn? Are you hitting on me? Friend: No ... sigh ... I'm just trying to make the point that just because the ship rocks doesn't mean you scream 'women and children first' and jump into the water. MotU: Well, duh, I'm not a jerk, I'd throw the women and children in first. Friend: OK, so analogies are totally worthless ... to be clear, I'm saying that we have just as much reason to be excited and hopeful about the regular season as we did three weeks ago, it's far too soon to worry that this experiment is a failure. MotU: BUT WHAT ABOUT THE INJURIES?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Friend: ... please never scream in my ear again ... MotU: My bad ... holy mother of all that is holy, I have hurt your ears, your life is going to screech to a halt ... er ... it will flutter to a halt, since you won't actually ever be able to hear a screech again ... oh my god, it must look to you as if I am simply flapping my lips as you are trapped in your prison of silence, your fortress of silent solitude, your ... Friend: I'm OK man, some injuries are temporary, they aren't fun and you hope to avoid them at all costs but they come with the territory and you have to learn to step back and assess what they actually are and what the pragmatic results of those injuries might be. MotU: IT'S A MIRACLE, YOU CAN TALK AGAIN Friend: MotU: Dude, you really need to calm down, they play the Super Bowl again next year. The End P.S. The good news is that, as it turns out, they DO still make frosted strawberry Pop Tarts!!!! I know, how sweet is...

My Bad

Wed, 16 Aug 2006 13:54:02 GMT

Despite my fear of being castigated, I will openly admit it: Clinton Portis injury is my fault. I know, I know, it sounds a bit odd that I, a Redskins fan living 600 miles away from Redskins Park could have been the cause of his misfortune, but its true. You see, Boss puts a tremendous amount of pressure on us Bloggers to produce content, its practically a sweatshop around here. Last week, over a slice of stale bread that Boss provides us twice a day, I had been mulling over the possibility of a post that explored and contemplated my pessimistic side, my What if? side. And one of my What if? questions was indeed, you guessed it, What if Clinton Portis gets hurt? Now, Im not a superstitious guy, but its plainly obvious that had I not asked this question, Portis wouldnt be in a sling today. Any fool could see that. But his injury just adds to my originally intended point about pessimism, as youre about to see. Im mostly an optimist. I dont like to admit it, because its embarrassing. Its not cool to be an optimist these days. Its like wearing your pants up around your bellybutton, instead of showing off your thong (not that I wear a thong). Most Democrats are optimists nuff said. But there is a part of me, a small part that is a pessimist. The part that is always asking What if? when it comes to the Redskins. What if a key player gets hurt? What if Joe Gibbs cant control his diabetes and cant coach anymore? What if Al Saunders isnt all hes cracked up to be? What if all the cheerleaders get kicked off the squad because Chris Cooley dated them? So many questions with so little purpose, and so difficult to ignore. But there is one shining concept that gets me through those questions, and that is that I am a part of the Redskins Faithful. That group of people who think that, despite being down 28 with 3 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, we can somehow pull it out. The key part there is faith. We talk about it on the boards quite a bit in reference to Joe Gibbs, but after somewhat poor performances (like last weeks), we tend to forget. But Ill take that faith a step further. I have faith that Joe Gibbs knows what hes doing, but moreover, I have faith that Joe Gibbs has faith in his players, and I think that says a lot. Its not an easy thing to have faith in someone elses faith. We all know that when a problem arises, such as an injured key player, that Joe Gibbs frets. He doesnt really worry, I think, more of a fretting thing. He has to fret because hes the head coach, and its in his job description. Anyway, within that fretting I believe is also a knowledge that his players, the ones he has hand-picked to be a part of his team, to be Redskins, will not let him down. He has built this team on character, not egos, and that construction method is most valuable when things are not all ice cream and roses. If you believe that Ladell Betts and Rock Cartwright thought anything other than Im going to need to step up when they saw Portis go down, you may need to check your faith in Joe Gibbs faith. I dont go to training camp, I dont hang around the players, and I dont eat dinner with Joe Gibbs regularly. But I do pay attention, and it's blatantly obvious that this selfless attitude runs rampant throughout the team. As the preseason continues, well see many more pessimistic posts and threads on this board. You may even be temped to jump into that dirty pool of pessimism (I think someone may have peed in there). I mean, Joe Gibbs is a genius, but faith in his coaching abilities has nothing to do with injuries..right? Wrong. Have faith that this team is composed of men who think more of their allegiance to their team than they do of their own stats. Have faith that Joe Gibbs selected each of these guys for a reason, for their willingness to buy into what hes selling even when things look bleak. Have faith that our team, unlike so many other teams in the league, is a team where the whole is truly greater than the sum of its parts. Have faith that when one goes down, there will be another there to take his place. I believe that Portis or no Portis, this team will be successful. You can chirp at me all day with statistics that compare Betts to Portis, or Rumph to Springs, and Im not buying it. Ive got more important things to do. Like think What if? about Terrell Owens hammy. Wish me...

The Sky IS NOT falling

Tue, 15 Aug 2006 00:48:48 GMT

Seems like a lot of fans had a bad day today, after watching a night of Redskin Football. Sorry, the wife is a Packer fan and if I start whining shell breakout the cheeseheads and lay them throughout the house. So I got with Tcwest10, who was offering to loan out his spare pair of B&G (Rose) colored glasses and I borrowed them (I've been saying for years that I didn't wear them, this is further proof that I didn't even have a pair). Anywho, this is my opinion of what has taken place over the last 24 hour Rumor has it that people are falling of the bandwagon. They aren't falling; most of the doom say-ers are really die-hard fans that know CLL let too many on during the off-season and they are trying to scare some of them off. This would have been a terrible game if it had meant something; it was bad enough with the lost of the players that got hurt. Other than the injuries there really isn't anything to complain about. Brunell made a bad throw while trying to throw the ball away that can be fixed - if he had been throwing it into coverage that would be a problem. The worst part of that play was the injury to Portis. If you look at the tape, don't look at Portis and you'll see that many a Redskin was chasing the DB in a meaningless game that they knew they wouldn't be playing in for long. Those were the starters out there and they were chasing the ball like they were chasing a roster spot.That's the kind of players that Gibbs wants on the field and that is what I saw early in the game. When the game ended, the Ben-gals had more points than we did. When the starting defense left the game Cincy had negative 19 yards. Some will say Carson Palmer didn't play, but -19? That's a statement in itself. Then came the back-ups... Back-up lineman that gave Collins no time whats-so-ever (I think he was trying to hit his blockers in the back of the head with the ball, butt the defenders were blowing by them so quick they kept getting their hands on the ball). Collins is 3 inches taller than Brunell so I know he can get the ball over the lineman, it the only explanation I can come up with for the pick and near pick that turned into a safety. Again there is no reason to open the hen house, so cut the Chicken Little act out. Here's why... Gibbs has always said Brunell is the starter and that Todd and Jason would compete for the #2 spot. When Collins was signed it was stated that he would be the emergency QB and that he knew Al's playbook. Sounds like conflicting statements but it's just "Gibbs Talk." It means Brunell is the starter and Campbell is the #2 when he is ready to be the #2, and until then they'll compete for the spot. Todd has the full knowledge base but is limited in his ability to execute; Campbell is the flip-side. If Mark can lead the team for the complete season, Jason should have the knowledge base in 2007 if Mark gets hurt, then we'll have to where he is at, until then he'll stand on the side line and watch (and listen to Todd). Collins had limited blocking, and may have had a bad night but from what I saw from JC last night, if he did take the #2 spot outright it'll be his by 9/11. But if Brunell went down during the season, it wouldnt surprise me if Gibbs played Collins over Campbell to finish out that 1 game and insert Jason the next week. Gibbs got just what he wanted out of his QBs last night. All three played well, all three made mistakes as all three threw interceptions. Gibbs got it all on tape. Look at the offensive fire power we brought in this off-season. It's no wonder we saw a flea-flicker in the 1st pre-season game of the year. You have to call those type of plays, when you are unsure or your players are unsure. They need all the headlines they can get about football players doing things on the football field in Cincy. If Gibbs had called it, I can't think of a receiver - or TE for that matter - that would have been caught from behind (maybe Robert Johnson but he would have dragged them into the endzone). Gibbs picked up a copy of that film also. John Hall looked good for the first time in a long time and Frost was probably smart not to unpack everything when he got to camp. Betts could have played but didn't (for those that thought he may have been held out for a possible trade with the Jets, they made a deal with Cleveland today), and we got to see Nemo at HB and it was not a bad sight to see considering he hadnt shown anything at FB or HB. With Carter being out for the year, Nemo may hold on to a roster spot. Many felt we need more depth or should I say better depth on the O-line. Well, many were right. After the starters went out it was open season on QBs in white jerseys for a while there. Fortunately for us, Gibbs - yep you guessed it had his own personal DVD burned so he could play it on Buges laptop. Mike Espy sent Jacobs to the 9ers almost over night. Buck Ortega caught a nice one from Campbell. This showed Campbells arm strength and Saunderss ability to open up the middle of the field. Brandon Lloyd reminded us why the Skins went out and got him. In the end I had to give Tc his shades back and noticed a few other things. * Reed Doughty has a nose for the ball. * Robert McCune is a Redskin. * Without the blocking Collins is as stiff as Ramsey. * Campbell doesnt always make the right decisions. * The running back depth aint what it use to be. * The defense gave up 17 points and forced no turnovers. * Kenny Wright looked lost and couldnt catch up (which creates a hold at the #3 CB). I remembered that Brunell had thrown a interception while both teams had their starters on the field and I must have said something out loud because that Packer fan that had spent most of the game in another room (watching 4400) said Its the pre-season, week one to boot you need to chill-out. So Im...

Why am I a poster at THN website?

Fri, 11 Aug 2006 17:21:26 GMT

Why am I a poster at THN website? Let's face it: I have not sent several thousand messages to any members of my family, friends or anybody else in my life. I have not sent more than a few hundred messages to any of the very few other specialised professional boards to which I am subscribed to. So, what is it that attracts me to come back again and again to THN website? Let me try to answer this question below in different forms that come to mind in no specific order of preference. Democracy First of all, to a new comer to a sports fan forum like me the experience was, well, strange to say the least. One of the first experiences I had was one of a profound -democratic- sense. THN does not recognise its members based on their ages, genders, religions, ethnic backgrounds, nationalities or any other cultural factors. You could be exchanging views intensely with other members that probably would be impossible to meet in person and become acquainted with otherwise. Members seldom share the same preferences for hobbies, literature, music or anything else, let alone political views! We often find truly interesting exchanges about the NFL and the Redskins among any combination of posters who could be decades apart in age, miles away in economic and ethnic background, and who could have any or no religious beliefs whatsoever. What you will find here are people that have the opportunity to stand on the same level and with the same rights under the rules of the board to exchange their views with anybody else. If there was ever a true expression of free speech conceived in any culture, this board is a perfect example of democracy in action. Knowledge What differentiates one fan from another in this board in my view is only their knowledge about the game of football and the Washington Redskins. We are fortunate in this regard here. We have posters and staff whose views and insight truly surpass anything else anybody can find in the commercial news market. While the Orwellian tenet made in Animal Farm is correct: all posters are equal but some are more equal than others, there are differences in my regard of their equality. Respect is earned in this board based on the strength of our arguments and not the tone or the frequency with which they are made. While posters with greater number of posts can show the scars that experience has given them, numbers of posts alone are not an absolute indication of the qualitative weight of one poster in my mind. Surely there are some posters that I am interested to read on and on. Some know the histories of the game and our team as if it was written on the palms of their hands. Others have a great knowledge about football strategy and execution from experience. Yet others have a great sense of humour and enormous wit. I wish I had their many talents. The previous version of the board had avatars and quite frankly, I knew whose avatars I was going to pass on without reading at all and which ones I was going to stop over and read from beginning to end -several times-. Call it my bias and prejudice if you might. Some posters have the ability to shine in one part of the message boards but not in others. A few posters make a living in the Lounge talking about politics or cracking jokes. Yet other posters have different "virtues". One useful "virtue" I sorely lack is any ability whatsoever to engage in hearty exchanges in the Smack forum. Whenever I have had to go at it, I regret it later with good reason and even inner personal shame. Independence One of the greatest values of this board is its independence from the NFL, the Washington Redskins organization and any other interests. Anything can be written within the Rules and the only requirement is to support any opinion with information and facts. Passion for our team and the principles of our coach are not synonymous with a lack of constructive criticism when we believe that it is warranted. If sports can become a paradigm for other activities in life, and we often quote our former coaches and current coach beyond this board in our daily professional and family lives, it goes without saying that independent and impartial opinions are warranted. The common Washington Redskin fan needs a voice and THN is the perfect vehicle for it. Content Where else, I ask, could anybody find a compilation of news, informed exclusive articles, posts, and numerous other features that you find here in a single location? Nowhere else, stop looking, this is it. I find it simply amazing that there are cap experts (capologists is the new term coined here, I think) capable to create an interactive section to highlight the "what ifs" of any player transactions. There is something for almost everybody. In fact, there is a potential tendency to bye-pass several important parts of the board entirely while rushing to the message boards. This is unfortunate because the site contains a tremendous wealth of information and data. Think of it as ammunition to engage the discussions held in the message boards. Ah! and then there is the famous Hognostications! The place where knowledge meets luck. The place where statistics may mean something, or not. The place where pride and bragging rights become challenges among posters and we confront the predictions for game winners made every week by professional sports writers. I love to have the opportunity to measure up against people whose knowledge of the game I truly challenge in a certain sports magazine. With one season in my pocket, I feel good. Let's see how the second generation of Hognostications pans out. Add to all of the above that the board is entirely free of charge to its members and we should feel guilty and embarrassed not to contribute economically or to try to help in any other ways more often. Personal touch Every once in a blue moon, there is a chance to send a personal message to somebody in a way that touches each other's lives one way or another. Sometimes it might be related to work, family or a particular state of mind. This is rare but when it happens, you know you have found your home away from home. Sometimes posters come and make their presence known and, like lost childhood friendships, they just simply fade away never to be read again. One day, it might happen to me for one reason or another. I hope to have the chance to say goodbye if I see that happening. The Redskins There are also ways in which a fan can be reached by our team through interviews and articles posted in this website. Some of us strongly believe that for football to be truly meaningful, it is not only about winning. It is also about the process to get there. It is about character and personal sacrifice, win or lose. It is about the journey and the arrival with honour, pride and integrity. From Vince Lombardi to George Allen to Joe Gibbs, to name a few coaches, we have been fortunate to accumulate enough good memories that transcend to the daily lives of various generations of fans. The lessons taught by our coaches go far beyond football. The achievements and sacrifices made on the field by a good number of our players are also remarkable. For example, who can not remember with pride The Hogs and their history? But again, the roles of some players transcend the confines of the football field. While Art Monk in my view is a worthy NFL HOF candidate for his work as a player, his main achievements lie to be in a league of his own as a human being. I am a fan of the Washington Redskins simply because there is no other team like it in the entire NFL. Escape If your daily life, work and/or occupation become stressful at times, there is no better escape valve than an activity that challenges your intellect and knowledge of your favourite sport and team. This board has the right size and quality to be our home away from home. Let us support it in whatever form we can if you share with me one or several of the thoughts expressed above. Some members have developed true friendships in this board and others had them to begin with. Not me. Not because I would not like to. I might enjoy it enormously in all likelihood. But I enjoy the anonymity of the board in a way that makes it possible to avoid any interference with my work and my public life. It is difficult to explain but I hope you can understand somehow. I appreciate very much your respect for my choice to remain anonymous. I will read you around, Redskin in...

Jesse Lumsden: Pure Class

Wed, 09 Aug 2006 15:27:22 GMT

How about a little more pop for Jesse Lumsden? Sick of hearing about him here at THN? Too bad. It seems that down here he has become 'my boy' to many people on the sidelines and I have even been accused of having a man-crush on him. So what? Big deal... say what you want... I think I opened a lot of people's eyes this week at Redskin Park and personally... I think the kid has earned every bit of it. Obviously Jesse's performance is the REAL reason people are taking notice. I don't see any harm in doing what I can to accentuate the positive things that he has done. I think he is one of the brightest, most polite players I have ever had the pleasure of talking to. He's a credit to Canadian athletes and I'm sure his parents must be very proud of raising such an even-keeled, balanced young man. Jesse and I had a couple of casual conversations, as well as the more formal interviews that we did. He even thanked me yesterday for giving him the little bit of extra 'pub' that I have been able to afford him. We joked a little yesterday about the fact that his former coch Greg Marshall (both with the TigerCats in the CFL and at McMaster University ) has just been asked to take over the reigns as coach of my hometown university and alma mater, the Western Mustangs . I actually felt at some points that I was just talking to a buddy of mine who happened to be trying out for the Washington Redskins. It's been simply awesome to go from being the ONLY one at Redskin Park who knew who he was, to just one of many talking about how great he has played at camp. It's great to hear the young fans screaming at him for autographs and to see reporters starting to line up to talk to him. I can honestly say that regardless of what happens with the Redskins, I will follow Jesse's career intently. If he does make this team, I hope that I can do some more things with him throughout the season because he is quite simply one of the nicest guys I've met in a football uniform... and trust me, it just isn't always the case in these days of multi-million dollar contracts. He's so humble, so polite, and so well-spoken that it truly is refreshing for me as the 'interviewer'. It's very endearing, and I personally think that it will have as much to do with him making it in the NFL as his raw talent and ability will. If you have aspirations to play football at an elite level... take your queues from a guy like Jesse who hasn't sacrificed any integrity for the sake of 'fitting in'. I just hope that the coaching staff can find a spot for him because to be honest, I'm sure they are as impressed with the way the young man conducts himself as I have been. I mention all of this because I think it's the kind of thing that you aren't likely to read in the press or find a 'headline' on. Football is just a game... being a good person is far more important. Stay real Jesse... and best of luck the rest of this...

Water Gate

Sun, 06 Aug 2006 12:42:39 GMT

Yes I know... watergate was one word. But this is a different kind of watergate, it actually refers to water. Today the Washington Redskins took to Fed Ex Field to play the Baltimore Ravens in a scrimmage. The day was marketed as a scrimmage / fan appreciation day. The only problem is... I didn't see much real appreciation for Redskin fans at all. For starters, there was a section reserved at Fed Ex Field for RAVENS fans. Yes, that's right... it was a free-for-all for Redskin fans to find a seat, but Ravens fans were treated to an entire reserved section in the lower bowl at center field... arguably the best section in the stadium. Fed Ex Field staff went to great length to keep Redskin fans out of the great seats awesome. But no Ravens fans showed up to sit there. To make it just a little more irritating, they kept the section EMPTY for the entire day. Seems like the Ravens appreciate their fans enough to ENSURE they have a good time even at an away game by securing seats for them. Heaven forbid that the Redskins take the opportunity to do something like, thank some of their bigger fan sites by giving them SOME kind of sectioned off area of the stadium, or some kind of acknowledgement for the THANKLESS work they put in supporting the team. I didn't get as bent out of shape as some people did about the $25 parking. Last year I went to M&T Stadium and I paid $20/ticket to watch the scrimmage... so paying $25 a car didn't seem that bad to me. I do know however that a lot of the people that showed up today had a few things to say about it; and most of it wasn't very flattering. I figure they didn't have to come if they didn't want to pay, but plenty of people had a few whines in my ear at Fed Ex over the course of the day regardless. But this has nothing to do with water gate. Water gate is actually about WATER. Who knows how hot it was in the stadium today... 100 degrees plus I'm sure... a day in which all of the 47,000-plus fans in attendance would need liquid replenishment and need it all day long. I guess that's why a bottle of water was five dollars . Yes, that's right folks... water was a walloping five dollars a bottle today at Fed Ex Field. If you brought a family of four with you to the scrimmage, you could treat your family to a round of water for the low, low price of twenty bucks. I find it odd that I asked for a four-dollar milkshake instead (as listed on the menu) but was told that it wasn't available. I also found it odd that the menu was in order of price all the way down to the bottom where you reached water and the price suddenly went back up again. I swear it looked like a water might perhaps normally be three bucks but had been bumped to five. Does 'ouch' even cover it? I know that as I walked back to my seat with that liquid gold that looked a lot like a bottle of water, I hardly felt 'appreciated' as a fan. As a matter of fact, I actually felt totally exploited. Please don't misunderstand, I'm used to exhorbitant arena and stadium food costs, but I'm pretty sure I've never paid five dollars for a water. You can rest assured that were it not for the fact that I might have dropped dead of heat exhaustion out there, I wouldn't have today either. But there was a real threat of sunstroke or dehydration for all in attendance today, and most of us had to take the plunge. Of course fans aren't allowed to bring their own food and drink into the stadium - not even on Fan Appreciation Day. Who cares if a lot of the people there were there only because they can't afford to go to a regular season game, that's no reason not to rape someone's pocket at every turn, right? There may not have been a 'Deep Throat' today at Fed Ex, but almost 50,000 Redskin fans had to dig deep into their pockets all day long and most of them just to keep from passing out. If we had passed out, who knows how much we would have had to pay for a little first aid. It wasn't until late in the day that I realized the error of my ways. I actually felt kind of stupid once I figured it out too. Fan Appreciation Day apparently isn't about the team showing you how much they appreciate you... it's just another day that Redskin fans got to show and how much they appreciate the team by paying five bucks for a bottle of water. As we figured out in the jersey blog , apparently KY jelly has become a staple for Redskin...

My day at camp

Thu, 03 Aug 2006 02:15:05 GMT

As a younger fan, I have only made it to one training camp before this year. The first training camp I attended was quite the spectacle: * That coach from Florida was in his first season * Our QB situation was a furious competition between stars Shane Matthews, Danny "the one-glove wonder" Wuerfful, and Patrick Ramsey * Bruce Smith, Jesse Armstead, and Big-Daddy roamed the sidelines * We were coming off an 8-8 year under Schottenheimer, and were optimistic with a new system that was nicknamed the "Fun and Gun" offense Needless to say, this year's experience differed greatly. The curious optimism of the first-year Spurrier days are gone. We no longer speculate whether Clifford Russell will become a deep threat (if only he can overcome injuries), whether Matthews should start over Wuerffel, or if Spurrier will have what it takes to make an NFL team win. (2002's strongest argument that Spurrier would succeed in the NFL: Hey, he won at Duke --and if you can win at Duke, you can win anywhere). Tuesday's practice featured routine work-outs and drills. The interesting thing about training camp is that it isn't often very interesting. You can get good looks at unknown prospects: for example, some no-name receivers were making tough grabs, fighting for balls, and taking big hits on occasion. And, every once in a while, you see a flash of greatness. On one drill, Sean Taylor leveled Jimmy Farris, who somehow bounced right back up from the ground and kept running. Other highlights included Portis running out to the woods in order to relieve himself , as well as Chris Cooley's fashion display . Of course, everyone's eyes were on our new receivers and our future quarterback Jason Campbell. Our new WR recruits are already having an impact on the team. Their routes were crisp, and they made a few good grabs. Antwan Randel El even caught a screen pass and threw it to Moss in the end zone for a touchdown, leaving all of the fans on the sidelines drooling for gameday. Campbell seemed sharp in the drills, and in my opinion it is likely that he will beat Todd Collins for the #2 spot this preseason. Jason shows great mobility (he scrambled once or twice in drills) and has a good feel for the pocket. One of the THN members present remarked that Campbell is not only good at moving around, but that he also looks to make the throw even after he has avoided a defender or two. Unlike other quarterbacks (such as Michael Vick), Campbell uses his mobility primarily to buy more time for throwing. And with the weapons that he will have at his disposal--Moss, Randel El, Lloyd, Patten, Cooley, Sellers, and perhaps Portis or Betts out of the backfield--this is a very, very good thing. Under Joe Gibbs, our Skins have turned around a decade of losing and are now putting the final touches on what could be a division (and perhaps conference) winning team. I didn't know it at the time, but my optimism with the 2002 Spurrier-led team would only end in heartache. If history serves as our guide, and if we get a little lucky, 2006 promises some good things for Redskin...

300 bucks for THAT????? What the hell is THAT?????????

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 09:12:12 GMT

This is my first blog here at THN, or anywhere for that matter, so here goes........ WOW....... !!!!!! I'm not a resident of NOVA(Northern Virginia), nor am I a taxpayer in the state of Virginia, Maryland or the District of Columbia. I'm from North Carolina, and a DIE-HARD Skins fan who remembers the days BEFORE the Panthers showed up. I'm also not a season ticket holder, nor anyone with any investment(other than love) to the Redskins organization. But, what I am is an individual who can see a scam when I see it. I get a chance to visit NOVA once a year for training camp and meet with some friends. We see NOTHING but Panther merchandise in stores in NC. I don't have the benefit of having Redskins stores in local malls. As a matter of fact, when I actually saw the store in a mall in VA for the first time, I really went "gaa-gaa". I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Earlier today, I went into the Redskin Store as I do each year when I make a trip up to watch training camp. I bought a jacket, and some small items. It's really nice to actually be able to walk into a store and see so much Redskins merchandise that I don't know where to begin. I actually spent the $300 to get an authentic helmet. And, just for the record, it is worth every red cent. I also wanted to get a Sean Taylor replica jersey. But, they didn't have any in stock. So then, I decided to check out the rack that had the authentic jerseys, which were chained down like a repeat convict in the county jail. I mean crap, these things are locked up tighter than our national borders. But then I just weighed the fact that I was about to spend $300 on a helmet, AND $300 on a Taylor jersey. So, then, I spent a half an hour looking about, and drooling over everything there. I saw checker boards, shirts, door knockers, and even trash cans. But, in my madness, I actually had convinced myself to spend the extra $300 on that authentic Taylor jersey, instead of the EXTREMELY over-priced replica that any fool could create with a PC printer and an ordinary household iron. I mean the quality of the replicas is complete crap. I spend $75 and two weeks later, the freaking numbers are peeling off as i'm wearing it in a bar, and a fan of another team says, "see, your team is all about the money, not winning, as proved by that cheap-assed jersey you're wearing". ....... I mean really, how messed up is that? But the replicas are a different topic altogether. So, I'll get to the point. What I'm here to talk about is this...... I had just about decided to drop the extra $300 on the authentic Taylor jersey. So, which color? Burgandy or white? Well, I've never even thought about buying an authentic jersey before, so this was something I had to think over with myself. Every team has white. So maybe the burgandy was good for me. I stroll by the rack at least five times. I know I want a size 56 in burgandy. I look and walk away. I go back and see that my size is in stock. Bonus! Well a few minutes have passed, and I'm not just thinking on raw emotion anymore. I actually start to look at the jersey I want to purchase. And then, I begin to notice things........ and none of them are good. I stood back and looked. The first thing I notice is that the ENTIRE nameplate is a different shade of burgandy than the rest of the material on the jersey. Hmmm..... not a terrible feature, but not exactly a feature that you really want on a $300 jersey. So I looked at the whites for a moment. I couldn't see any difference in the nameplate. So, I decide to shop again for a bit. But, it didn't matter, I still couldn't get my mind off of those Taylor jerseys. Back to looking. HOLY CRAP! After shaking my head while looking at those nameplates for five minutes, I see stitching marks in the shape of another nameplate. NO, I must be seeing things. So, I ask another person to look and see if they see the same thing I see. It wasn't just me. This person was seeing the same thing I saw. Now, this raises questions. So I ask the cashier. This nameplate seems to be a different shade of burgandy than the rest of the jersey, why is that? The reply, "that's a tough color to match". OK, legit answer, but, I didn't see this on ANY of the other authentics in burgandy...... and I checked, thouroughly. Well, knowing that Fred Smoot was the last one to wear number 21 on this team, I poked further...... "Are these recycled Smoot jerseys"? ..... ........ I didn't get a direct answer. Of course, I didn't actually want to be told that the Redskins Store was actually trying to screw me knowingly. Man, that would totally suck. But, not only are they trying to screw me, but they are trying to screw YOU as well. Not only were these features defective or unattractive, but if you look at the gold and white bands on the sleeve of theses jereseys(not just the Taylor jerseys, but ALL of the authentics, Portis, Cooley, Moss, etc.), all of them are wrinkled. ALL! Not a few, not a couple here and there, but ALL authentic burgandys have this defect. I'm sure any Skins staff will tell you differently, and try to beat around the bush, but I can tell you, I didn't fall off the boat yesterday, I fell off the day before..... And a LOT was learned between day 1 and day 2, such as, you can pull the wool over certain sheeps eyes, but you CAN'T SNOW THE SNOWMAN. Tards. Like nobody would notice..... ????? !!!!!! I mean if it were a replica, that the store was trying to rip somone a new one for, I wouldn't really have a problem. But, really, $300 bucks for that???? What the hell is that????????? I actually feel cheated. If i had actually bought that without seeing that, I would have been pissed. Really pissed. As would most people. Not only is that bad business, but it is just plain wrong as well. I run a business too. And, I would NEVER cheat one of my customers, ESPECIALLY any of my customers who would actually be willing to spend MORE money on something that costs more than what my base items do. Dan Snyder is ripped left and right by the mainstream media. And after this, I won't turn the blind eye, as it is for obvious reason. I mean really, aren't the other teams the enemy? Every year we see things jacked up price wise, by the Danny, for Danny. I have defended him left and right. NO MORE. Not after this. The Skins are selling USED items for NEW item prices. And I'm sure if Dan Snyder actually spent any of his money on this crap, He'd feel the same way. Or maybe not, I don't know the man. But, what I do know is what i saw. $300 for a piece of #&@*!!!!! I mean really, 300 bucks for that????? What the hell is that??????? Maybe I should bring the vaseline next time, huh...

GET OUT OF MY STADIUM!

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 02:04:03 GMT

Im going to start this blog with a warning. The month of July has been extremely stressful for everyone in my household. Things seem to hit us out of no where and at this point we are struggling to see the silver lining in the rain clouds. That being said, this particular issue did not start in July, it started quite a while back. Perhaps the last few weeks have pushed me to have this cynical attitude or maybe it was something already in the making that Im just letting out because I personally do not care about whose toes I step on at this point. Being a football fan can be a pretty expensive hobby. Tickets cost a fortune and, for some, are impossible to come by. The last few years we have been lucky. Weve gotten tickets from family and friends and been able to see quite a few games in person. Some of the biggest fans that I know cannot go to games. They either live too far away or have families to support and cannot justify the expense of the tickets you find on ebay or with ticket brokers. That does not make them inferior fans. So here finally is the point, you are NOT better because you have lower level seats. You are NOT better because you have all of the latest tailgating paraphernalia! Nothing that you do, have, or can acquire can make you a better fan. Being a fan isnt about your STUFF! Being a fan is about how you feel when you see that touchdown or how your heart sinks when you lose. If you dont feel those things, I dont want you in my stadium. I know Im a little forward to call it my stadium. Its not the price of the tickets that make me feel like I have part ownership in this team. Its all about that love and that feeling. So here are a few things you can ask yourself and if any of them apply, please give your tickets to a member of THN who is an actual fan. If you have trouble determining whether or not this person is worthy, just ask, some of us around here are not shy and will flat out tell you what we think. If you have EVER: Told someone who did not ask how much you spent on tickets, a jersey, a hat.etc. Bought tickets, a car, a motorcycle, anything only so that you could hear yourself say you have it. Spent more then one series away from your seats for anything that was not a life threatening illness. Not attended a game because it was too cold, hot, wet, snowy, frigid. Etc. Gone to a game without so much as a stitch of burgundy or gold on your clothing/body or person. (And this one is somewhat conditional. I do not doubt that there are some fans with premium tickets who actually love the team, however; the majority of people in these seats do not love anyone but themselves. ) Own Club Level or Dream Seats. If any of the above identify you, PLEASE GET OUT OF MY STADIUM AND DO NOT LOOK...

Defending Dan Snyder

Thu, 27 Jul 2006 01:06:40 GMT

Without casting myself in the role of a psychic, I imagine the general response to the headline of this blog (outside this site) would be: Huh? Really? Why? Lets dismiss with the stuff we all know: Dan Snyder is a very, very wealthy man. His status as a billionaire is well-documented. The tales of his wealth and what hes done with it have been rehashed and picked apart and criticized. That is all fine and well; I am not here to examine the mans finances. What I am addressing here are the cheap shots. Pieces like this one at Deadspin (a site I admire greatly, and one I have praised in a previous blog) are starting to grate on me. Since its a relatively short piece, I am going to include it here so I can reply to it in a more public fashion: We have always found the notion of Fan Appreciation Days amusing. Even though every single salary of every single player in every single sport is paid for exclusively by fans -- whether it be tickets, merchandise, cable bills, whatever -- big-time sports still feel the need to acknowledge the fans once a year, if just so they don't notice their being bent over the other 364 days. The whole thing seems distasteful to us; not to sound cheesy, but jeez, if not every day is Fan Appreciation Day, then none of them are. Anyway, good ole Washington Redskins skinflint Daniel Snyder has taken Fan Appreciation Day to an art form. August 5 is Fan Appreciation Day for the Redskins, and man, you get all kinds of goodies. A "free" invitation to the scrimmage. (Parking is $25, $75 for RVs.) A performance by the Redskins Marching Band. Vinny Cerrato addresses the fans! "Due to the structure of the scrimmage, there will not be any organized autograph sessions with players or coaches." Man, Potomac region ... the Redskins sure do appreciate you! First, I agree wholeheartedly that the average fan is being priced out of modern sports and I would love to see that trend reversed. But Im confused as to how a Fan Appreciation Day is symptomatic of that problem. Deadspin clearly finds the whole exercise to be duplicitous and hopes to disabuse us of the notion that were actually appreciated. However, I will absolutely be there on Aug. 5 to participate and Id like to believe that Im not a total sucker. So if I, as a Redskins fan, appreciate the gesture, however fleeting, it has value. In other words, I feel appreciated. Additionally, if this is a piece aimed at Fan Appreciation Days conceptually, why is only one team listed? Do other teams even have days like this? If so, who? What do they offer? If not, does that lend some perverse credibility because they arent bothering to hold events? Im not suggesting it is the responsibility of the fine people at Deadspin to provide a comprehensive list but all this entry ends up being is a chance to take a shot at Snyder. To wit: Right off the bat, hes called a skinflint. To save you a trip to the dictionary, skinflint is synonymous with cheapskate, a person who is who is very reluctant to spend money; a miser. Um, we are still taking about Snyder, right? That charge is ridiculous on its face, how can the man who has been (sometimes fairly) accused of OVERspending suddenly become a miser? There are quite a few wealthy players (some we'd all rather forget) and coaches (ditto) who would laugh at that notion. So is Snyder under some obligation to give us his money? Is this a complaint about his charitable spending? Nope, the source of that charge is, apparently, that the Redskins have the gall to please hide your children CHARGE FOR PARKING. Clearly this is a scheme designed to enrich Danny even further, hell probably man the gates and dump hot tar on the peasants. Please, come off it. :roll: So I pile in the car with a few friends and we split the $25 $75 if were in an RV or a limo (note the limo portion was conveniently omitted from the post). Is that supposed to bother me? I know for a fact the fine people at Deadspin have visited this area. We pay for everything, surely they dont think we even bat an eye at the notion of paying that much for parking. And, on a picky note, paid parking doesnt render the free invitation moot since you do have the option of taking the Metro and then taking a bus over, all for less than $10, something Ive done many times. So then we get a list of events at Fan Appreciation Day. Here are the things not included on that list: 11:05 a.m. Performance by Redskins Cheerleaders 2:10 p.m. Joe Gibbs addresses the fans 2:15 p.m. Gregg Williams addresses the fans 2:20 p.m. Al Saunders addresses the fans 2:25 p.m. Performance by Redskins Cheerleaders 2:40 p.m. "Best Dressed" contests begin For non-Redskins fans, I cant quantify the value of getting to hear the coaches speak, hang out with fellow fans, drool over the cheerleaders and get excited about the upcoming season. But I can say, without equivocation, that I do value that. As for the autographs portion? Deadspin, surely youve heard of a little thing called training camp. Autograph opportunities are plentiful there, that complaint is totally baseless and you know that. Besides, is there some other team that parades its players out and makes them available for autograph sessions after scrimmages? Or was that another excuse to take a cheapshot? Additionally, the team is giving away posters, visors and T-shirts and is hosting other activities throughout the stadium. And I have to pay $5 to park and drink with my friends and see some football? Yeah, were totally getting screwed. Deadspin has taken a day full of things Redskins fans appreciate and pared it down to make it sound as if the team is charging us $25 to see Vinny and some music. Their central complaint is this: Deadspin does not like Snyder. Rather than just say that, they engage in buffet-style journalism to make him look bad. Enough. I am tired of apologizing for Snyder. Why should I? The litany of complaints around Snyder can be summed up thusly: He overspends on free agents, hes trying to buy a Super Bowl, all he cares about is making money, FedEx is a monstrosity and everything about it is too expensive and, lastly, he somehow cheats the salary cap. My answers, in order: So? So? Partially true but Id prefer to root for a team that is fiscally solvent. I like FedEx, the prices do stink. And, lastly, hahahahahahaha key words there are salary cap. Snyder loves the Redskins and does everything in his power to make them winners. That, in an of tself, means he appreciates the fans. If he simply charged exorbitant prices and did nothing to field a competitive team, this complaint might have some legitimacy. But that isn't the case, Snyder has consistently tried, by spending much of HIS money, to improve the team. That hasnt always worked, granted. Trust me, we as Redsksins fans are reminded of that on a consistent basis. But Snyder brought Joe Gibbs back, he retained Greg Williams, he lured Al Saunders, they won a playoff game, the team looks fantastic for the coming season and I am proud to be a fan. At the end of the day, I know that Snyder is doing everything he can to make my favorite football team a winner. I cant help who owns my team and, if I could, Id take an owner who tried too hard every single time. Anything less means Im not appreciated as a...

Redskins Radio

Fri, 21 Jul 2006 15:28:11 GMT

I've tried to contain my impatience as I peruse over the ever-growing message board posts and media articles taking an opportunity to take their shots at the new Redskins Radio. Really... I've tried. I've actually bitten off so much of my tongue that all I can really say on the matter anymore is... 'Lah, blah-bla.... yabba-labba-dabba... blah-ya-blah-blah.' But it occurred to me that though I had ostensibly chewed my way out of having to talk about it, I still had the ability to pound on my keyboard. So it seems that no matter how I curb my passion for the subject physically, I can't shake the thoughts. Therapy would probably point me in the direction of perhaps 'venting my frustrations' a little, so what better place than a blog? Isn't that what blogs are all about? Mindless banter from the masses that prove bouts of hysteria, and even euphoria are rampant in the Internet community? What was I talking about again? I really only have one point to make on the actual subject; a point that precedes all else to me, and makes most arguments / conversations / discussions / debates about what will be on Redskins Radio in terms of content, completely moot. Here it is, ready? In order to listen to a radio, you use a tuner. A tuner allows you to choose radio stations by going to a certain frequency. At any point in your radio life, if you decide that you do not like what is coming out of your stereo, you have the unique ability to have your brain tell your hand to reach out towards the stereo thingy, find the mechanism that humans use to tune in radio frequencies... access those controls... AND CHANGE THE DAMN CHANNEL :!: I don't care if you do or you don't think that the content on Redskins radio will be impartial and fair. I really don't. I don't care if you view this as some Orwellian attempt by the Redskins to systematically propagandize their intended audience either. Those are really big words for a simple football fan like me. I just thought that I owed it to simple-minded folk such as myself to take some of the grandiosity out of the equation, and make it easy for some of us. If you for any reason think that you as a Redskin fan will find something that you find interesting on Redskins Radio, then you can tune in on your radio, or log in from their web site. If you have one or any number of reasons for not tuning in, you can turn the channel and find something more to your liking. Wicked, huh? Isn't being human and having the ability to think and make choices awesome? It really doesn't matter what the dynamics of it are, or how the station will handle their business, you can change the channel at any point if you don't like something. Simple. I personally think that I'll like some of what the station offers... at least in terms of Redskin specific content. Taking Bram Weinstein from 980 was a brilliant stroke. The bulk of the media attention has obviously been on John Riggins, but adding Bram gives them the best Redskins beat reporter around, in my opinion. I'm actually looking forward to the type of coverage he will bring to Redskin fans with such unprecedented access. I'll likely opt to not listen to most of the ESPN coverage myself. It's neat having that prerogative huh? I'm comfortable and confident in my own decision-making ability too. If at some point, I come to the realization that integrity is an issue, then I'll have to take my Redskins Radio coverage with a grain of salt, or not at all. I already have to take everything I read with a grain of salt anyway, but for completely different reasons. As a fan I've grown accustomed to the premise that sensationalism has more place in sports journalism than integrity, so I'm well practiced. I know that there's news, and then there's 'spin'. And until the integrity of the positive 'spin' is compromised, I look forward to listening to Redskin Radio. Thanks for tuning...

Officially Frustrated

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 00:21:48 GMT

NFL officiating is one of the few subjects likely to prove more unifying than divisive among todays fans. Among the many NFL fans I know, the attitudes toward the officials range from mild disgust to outright contempt. We need only to think back to Super Bowl XL to see why that might be. That game sparked fan ire on an almost unprecedented level. In fact, there is an entire Wikipedia page devoted solely to the subject of the officiating in that game. In the unwritten rules of sportsmanship, its considered bad form to blame the refs for the outcome of a game. Yet you wouldnt have to go far to find a Seattle fan willing to do just that. And, frankly, while I feel the impact the officials had on that game is the subject of too much attention, something is clearly amiss. The problem lies in getting the league to address the issue. More accurately, the problem is getting the league to even admit it. Im not going to bother with the usual look these guys have tough jobs line of dissembling that seems to accompany every one of these pieces. We know they do. And, to its credit, the league has taken steps to mitigate some of the more frustrating situations which rob the refs of any discretion, i.e. the down-by-contact calls will now be subject to replay. Those changes aside, fans are left with the perception, accurate or not, that officials can make obvious mistakes, week in and week out, and suffer no repercussion. When was the last time you heard of the league chastising an official for a blown call? It seems the most we get is a letter of apology, if that. The more common reaction is for the league to close ranks and refuse to admit any sort of error. It's hard for the average fan, who faces very real consequences for repeated mistakes in the workplace, to stomach that lack of a reaction. Witness the official statement re Super Bowl XL: "The game was properly officiated, including, as in most NFL games, some tight plays that produced disagreement about the calls made by the officials. Produced disagreement is putting it mildly. Having just watched the Seahawks knock the Redskins out of the playoffs, I had no great desire to see them win. But the officials that game did make mistakes and those mistakes did have a quantifiable impact on the game. I recognize the league, as a business, has a vested interest in presenting a united front when it comes to this kind of thing. And there may be some behind-the-scenes discussions Im not aware of. But none of that does a bit of good where the leagues tarnished reputation is concerned. In fact, the league seems more concerned with exercising strict control over end zone celebrations that it does addressing the in-game issues. Im not suggesting I have a panacea to address the leagues officiating woes. But I know this much, you cant address a problem until you acknowledge it exists. To over-simplify it: the NFL needs to learn to say Were...

Shhhhhhhh!

Thu, 13 Jul 2006 01:20:38 GMT

Hey. You. Yeah, you. Did you hear the rumor that Sean Taylor was caught driving his ATV through the halls of the Capitol Building? Or that Casey Rabach was found passed out in a D.C. alley wearing nothing but womens underwear? Or about what Adam Archuleta said about Joe Gibbs mom? No? Yeah, me neither. In fact, aside from the small amount of controversy surrounding Taylor's non-existent trial, its been awfully quiet this offseason. Abnormally quiet. Whether this lack of noise is an intentional effort from the Redskins front office, or whether its simply a byproduct of the type of character we have on this team, I dont really care. Im just enjoying it. As a father of two young boys, the quest for quiet is what my life is all about. Joe knows quiet. While Big Ben tries to write his name in the pavement with his teeth, Sean Taylor is sitting at home watching Sponge Bob reruns. While the Broncos punter is drinking protein shakes so he can.punt..better, Clinton Portis is planning his Week One press conference. While the letters T and O are on everyones lips, Jason Campbell is studying his playbook so hard I can smell the smoke from here. You barely hear anything about the skins these days, except maybe an article or two once in awhile by a sports writer who makes predictions that hes hoping everyone will forget come December. Its quiet. Too quiet, actually. So quiet that I expect that when the season begins, its going to get awfully loud, awfully quick. And not in the Jamal Lewis caught selling drugs sense of loud. I mean the Sean Taylors helmet in your ear hole, Andre Carters hands on your quarterback, Santana Moss doing his little first down jig, Clinton Portis doing cartwheels in the end zone kind of loud. FedEx Field going nuts kind of loud. We Want Dallas chants kind of loud. Real quick. My dad always told me to watch out for the quiet ones. Theyre the guys who, instead of flapping their gums, are scheming of ways to knock your block off. You have to get the sense that with this offseason drenched in quiet, many minds are tucked away in Redskins Park, collectively scheming of ways to knock some blocks off. So, for now, Im going to sit back and enjoy the quiet. Come September, its going to get loud. Very. Very. Loud. Loud enough for the whole world to...