The Redskins Blog

Daniel Snyder Remembers Abe Pollin

I was in the car, sitting in Beltway traffic, when news broke today that Abe Pollin had passed away at the age of 85. I spent the drive flipping back and forth between the two major local sportstalkers, listening as they each brought on one person after another who had been somehow affected by Pollin during his 45 years on the DC sports scene.

And, on ESPN980, one of those people was Redskins owner Daniel M. Snyder. You can hear the interview in ESPN980′s Corona Audio Vault, but — thanks to the intrepid Redskins PR staff, since I was (still) stuck on the Beltway — here’s the transcript of his comments to THe Sports Reporters show, featuring Steve Czaban and Abe Pollin’s cousin Andy Pollin.

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Wizards Owner Abe Pollin Passes Away

Redskins owner Daniel M. Snyder issued the following statement about the passing of Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin: “Abe Pollin was a great owner for Washington, as well as a personal friend. His legacy will live through his teams and the arena he built, and just as importantly, through his commitment to his family and to Washington. My thoughts and prayers go out to Irene and the rest of his wonderful family.”

Pollin’s importance to the Washington D.C. area really can’t be overstated; for a good overview of that importance, I recommend Joe White’s AP obituary for Pollin. Here’s a brief excerpt:

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Daniel Snyder (Very Briefly) Speaks At The Harvest Feast

Today is the Harris Teeter-Redskins Harvest Feast Presented By Ryan Homes, which is — in plain English — the turkey giveaway. Redskins players, team officials, Hogettes, and assorted volunteers distributed thousands of turkeys and other traditional Thanksgiving foods to Prince George’s County residents in need. It’s always a good event, and today was no exception.

I’ll have more from today’s event later on, but the lead story would have to be that Redskins owner Daniel M. Snyder briefly addressed the media. Very briefly, and mainly just about the the Redskins giving back at Thanksgiving, but it was an address nonetheless. And since he speaks so infrequently, that tends to be something of an event.

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Here’s as complete a transcript as I could put together, for those of you who aren’t captivated by my stellar camera work. Read more »

Tuesday, November 24: The Likely New Kickoff Backfield

With the injury to Clinton Portis, Ladell Betts became the primary running back. This removed Betts from his duties as upback on kick returns and put Devin Thomas in that spot. Rock Cartwright, of course, remained as primary deep back return man.

With the injury to Betts, Cartwright becomes the primary running back. This moves Thomas to primary kick returner, and cornerback Byron Westbrook to upback.

At upback, Westbrook’s role is fairly straightforward. “Sometimes I make sure the closest guy doesn’t hit the returner,” he says. “Sometimes I actually have a specific person to hit or to block. So it’s just dependent on the type of coverage we’re running that game.”

But — despite the fact that he worked at return man during his first season with the team, when there were no designated speed guys in training camp — Westbrook says that he’s not secretly hoping for a short kick to show off his skills. “Not really,” he says. “They kick it short, I’m still gonna give Devin the chance. Sunday when they squib kicked, if I really wanted to go attack the ball and get it, I could have. But at the same I know that if I caught the ball, it would’ve been impossible for Devin to get in front of me to make that block. So if the ball can get to him, he’s always the first option.”

It helps that Westbrook seems completely confident in Thomas at kick returner. Read more »