The Redskins Blog

Footage Of The Earthquake On Redskins Nation

Now that it appears that no one was killed or seriously injured by this afternoon’s earthquake, it’s time to share some of the lighter moments from the event at Redskins Park.

1. After the quake rolled through the business side of the office, everyone hung up their phones, took off their headphones, looked up from their computer screens and did a quick personal check.  Fearing that they had only imagined it, no one spoke for about 10 seconds, until someone was brave enough to ask “Did anyone else feel that?”  That was followed by an eruption of stories.
2. CSNWashington.com’s Ryan O’Halloran was in the studio shooting a segment for tonight’s “Redskins Nation.”  He has a hilarious Beaker-face moment:                                                               
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‘Dead-Man-Suit 2011 Award’ Is Ready And Waiting

In anticipation of tomorrow’s “Welcome Home Luncheon,” many players have gone out and rented or bought top-notch suits for the festivities.

But not everyone is a snappy fashionista.

Inside linebacker Rocky McIntosh wanted to remind me that he will be giving out the annual award to the worst-dressed teammate.  The ‘Dead-Man-Suit award,’ as he calls it, is a tradition that he’s carrying into at least its fifth year, with the help of teammates LaRon Landry and others.

He describes the award as: “It’s given to the player who wears a ugly 1960s suit that looks like they stole it from a body at the graveyard.  I have prizes and awards for whoever ‘wins’ this year.”

I’m no judge, but here are some interesting choices from last year.  First, defensive back Kevin Barnes:

And then defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth:

I’m excited to see what walks through the luncheon doors tomorrow.

Josh Wilson Now Has A Better Definition Of ‘Home’

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Approximately one year ago, Josh Wilson was at practice at the Seahawks facilities in Seattle, when he was pulled off the field and told that he was traded to the Baltimore Ravens.

Talking to the media shortly after, he admitted that he was “shocked,” but that there was definitely a silver lining.

“There’s no place like home,” he said of going to Baltimore. “I went to college a mile away from where I went to high school and now I’m going just down the highway from where I went to college to play in the NFL.  So I’m not too upset about that.”

Fast forward a year, and Wilson jumped at the opportunity to sign with the Washington Redskin in free agency, a move that he once again compared to coming home.

In light of the upcoming match-up with the Ravens on Thursday, the Upper Marlboro native explained how “home” is a relative statement.

“This is definitely home,” he said with a smile.  ”When I was in Baltimore, I never figured that I’d get even closer to home, but I’m a Redskins fan for sure.”

The distance from his hometown to FedExField is a fraction of the distance to M&T Bank Stadium, where he will take the field in Burgundy and Gold on Thursday night.  But he explained how his affiliation to Washington is much more than geographically convenient.

“Growing up, I never really knew too much about Baltimore,” he said.  ”I’m a P.G. County kid, and that’s like Northern Virginia and Virginia Beach.”

Wilson’s eyes still light up when he talks about his favorite Redskins, including his appreciation for the special teams.

“I had a Mark Rypien jersey growing up.  I’m like a huge Gary Clark fan, Ricky Sanders.  I was a big Ken Norton fan, Darrell Green,” he listed off.  ”I really wanted to meet Chip Lohmiller–I dunno why.”

Anybody that wants to meet the kicker, is a true fan of the team.

At the moment, it’s not clear if Wilson will be available to play against Baltimore, but if he is, he likes the way he fits into the defensive scheme.

“I’m gonna be making plays,” he said.  ”When I’m getting my groove on, I can make plays on the ball, creating situation that help our team win. I’m definitely going to get my opportunities, and the way that the defense is set up, I definitely have a chance to make some plays.”

Baltimore may be relatively closer to home, but it’s nice for this Prince George’s native to be back in the real DMV.

DMV Has An Earth-Shaking Moment [Updated]

In officially the strangest happening I’ve ever encountered at Redskins Park, there was an 5.9 magnitude earthquake at Redskins Park today.

The epicenter was said to be in Central Virginia between Richmond and Charlottesville, southwest of Washington D.C.

No one in the building can remember seismic activity of this magnitude in the area.  No damage to the building, here’s hoping that everyone in Redskins Nation is okay.

Seismologist Lucy Jones just said on CNN that this is the biggest earthquake on the east coast “in decades.”

Anthony Armstrong wins the award for the first Redskins tweet:

Was that an earthquake?—
Anthony Armstrong (@MrArmstrong13) August 23, 2011

Followed by:

..did I just survive my first earthquake?—
Chris Neild (@TruckNeild) August 23, 2011

Yall feel that cali natural disaster!!! Earthquake on the east coast—
DeJon Gomes (@HuskerHybrid_7) August 23, 2011

Never seen so many football players scared!!!!!! EARTHQUAKE!!!—
Brandon Banks (@speedybanks16) August 23, 2011

Funniest thing ever seeing a bunch of east coast natives scrambling because of an earthquake lol it's a west coast thing!—
Terrence Austin (@Terrence_Austin) August 23, 2011

Niles Paul with the obvious:

Pretty sure that was an earthquake…—
Niles Paul (@Niles_Paul) August 23, 2011

And I think Donte Stallworth had the best:

YOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! Was that an EARTHQUAKE in Virginia??? Everybody TOOK OFF in the locker room!! And of course I grabbed my phone to tweet lol—
Donte' Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) August 23, 2011

Redskins Practice With Two Birthday Boys

On this day, separated by 46 years, the Redskins celebrate the birth of two quarterbacks, both of whom were at practice today.

Current Redskins quarterback Rex Grossman was out on the field warming up, while former Redskins great Sonny Jurgensen sat in a golf cart on the sidelines.  Grossman is 31 years old today, and Jurgensen is 77 years young.  Congratulations to both men, and it couldn’t be a nicer day.  Here are some other observations:

• Players were not wearing practice shells today, so it won’t be a hard-hitting practice.
• Linebacker Edgar Jones was back out on the field today, as he recovers from the concussion that he sustained in Indianapolis.  He was relegated to work on the stationary bike, where he joined LaRon Landry, Brandon Banks, Malcolm Kelly, Kareem Moore, and Adam Carriker.
• The coaches were pumping in crowd noise through speakers, in anticipation of this week’s away game.  Baltimore has a notoriously loud environment, and the artificial volume was dialed up from last week’s practice before the Colts game.  Clearly the noise didn’t hurt the first team offense last week, but M&T Bank Stadium will be a new test.

Here’s a quick view of the defensive line going through drills against the stretch play:
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The Power Of A Name

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At some point or another, everyone has been pegged with a nickname that they don’t really like.  Maybe it’s embarrassing or offensive, but the time eventually comes to put your foot down.

We learned yesterday that when H.B. Blades became Horatio Benedict Blades in the media guide, he didn’t have a preference to what he wanted to be called, “it wasn’t a big deal either way.”

But for another Redskins player, the power of a name is deeply personal.

Oshiomogho Atogwe has been known for much of his career–and indeed most of his life–as ‘O.J.’  In order to answer the question of why he made the change, he answered with a few questions of his own.

“What is your name?” he asked me.  ”What do people know you as? That was the idea behind it.”

As he explained, his decision to change his name in the media guide came down to a matter of respect.

“There’s no problem with me having a nickname as long as people know what my real full name is,” he said.  ”It’s just an issue of respect and just honoring my Nigerian heritage.” Read more »