The Redskins Blog

Maurice Brings ‘Mo’ Hurt To O-Line

AP Image

It’s said that NFL linemen should have a mean streak in them in order to survive in the trenches.  They may need to ‘bring the hurt.’

New Redskins guard Maurice ‘Mo’ Hurt is proving that they can be polite off the field as well.

Following his promotion from the practice squad to replace injured guard Kory Lichtensteiger, Hurt answered his first interview requests with a series of “yes ma’am/sir” and “no ma’am/sir” answers.

“I just think it’s a great honor–a privilege–to be here,” he said quietly.  ”I’m just ready to work and help out as much as I can.”

The 2011 seventh-round draft pick (217th overall) marks the eighth member of his rookie draft class that will appear on the Redskins active roster this season.  After about 11 weeks in the Shanahan offense, Hurt said he’s taking it as a vote of confidence that he’s been called up to play.

“Yes ma’am,” he told the reporter who asked.  ”I don’t think they would’ve brought me up if they didn’t think I knew enough about the playbook.  I feel like I know enough about the playbook, where if I get put in a situation to play, I’ll do well.” Read more »

Flawless Friday Finished For Redskins

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Looking to rebound from last week’s loss to the Eagles, the Redskins have been battling to stay the course this week in a sea of change.  The team will likely trot out four different starters from last week, with various other position changes possible.

In order to adjust to the changes, the coaches and players have held themselves to a higher standard in practice.  Receiver Anthony Armstrong tweeted that sentiment this morning:

Gotta close out the week strong! Flawless Friday!
#GTAU—
Anthony Armstrong (@MrArmstrong13) October 21, 2011

Coming off the practice field, players looked determined and focused, as they were greeted by front office personnel to wish them on their way: Read more »

Atogwe Turns The Tables On The Media

[Editor's Note: The audio picks up about 34 seconds in...give or take a second].

Redskins Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe enjoys reading his opponents eyes and making adjustments.  When he catches them off guard, he wins.

This was his approach to the media yesterday, as he was asked to be interviewed after practice. Rather than taking his customary spot in front of the camera, he relieved the CSN Washington crew of their cameras, and panned the crowd of assembled media.

“Let’s see how you like having the cameras pointed at you,” Atogwe said, as CSN’s Kelly Johnson attempted to avoid being on camera.  ”Everybody gets shy all of a sudden.”

Here are some of the more amusing screen shots from the CSN Washington footage of the interview: Read more »

Behind Enemy Lines With Ron Rivera

AP Image

Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is an NFL rookie.  Redskins quarterback John Beck is in his fifth season in the league

Newton has already started more games this season than Beck has in his career.

Newton will have had six days to prepare for this start.  Beck will have had 1,393 days, or approximately 199 weeks.

Newton has six weeks of game-tape for the Redskins defense to review, and Beck has 15 minutes at the end of the Eagles game.

Advantage, Redskins.

Panthers head coach Ron Rivera tried to downplay the situation during his Washington media conference call on Wednesday. Read more »

Local Student Interviews Dan Snyder

Writing someone a letter may seem outdated in today’s ever-growing world of technology, but there’s something special about the effort that it takes.

Take Sullivan Carr for example, a fifth grade student at Frances Hazel Reid Elementary in Leesburg, Va.  ”Sully” needed to write a report for class, based on the personal and professional life of someone he didn’t know.

Why not ask the owner of his favorite sports team?

One simple letter later, and Sully was interviewing Redskins owner Daniel M. Snyder on the set of “Redskins Nation.”

Before Mr. Snyder appeared, “Redskins Nation” host, Larry Michael, asked Sully what he thought of the recent quarterback switch to John Beck.  Sully responded, “I think it’s a good idea, it is not horrible.  I think he can do great in his first game.”

Not horrible, and he’ll do great on Sunday.  I like it.

[Editor's Note: Much respect to Sully for sporting a No. 72 Dexter Manley jersey, given that he wasn't alive during Manley's playing career.  This young man knows his Burgundy and Gold football.]

The real fun began when Mr. Snyder appeared on the set to be interviewed.  This was no LeBron James-Jim Gray softball interview; there were some creative, and challenging questions.

One Redskins-related question was Mr. Snyder’s favorite football player.  He noted that he didn’t really have “favorites,” loving all of the Redskins alumni.  He did note, however, that he was close friends with Sonny Jurgensen, so Sonny was a step above the rest.

He also noted that he had a deep respect for cornerback Pat Fischer.  ”I love Pat Fischer because he was my size and packed a wallop,” Snyder said.  ”He was a great, great player.”

In his personal life, Mr. Snyder confessed to being “terrible” at video games, that he wouldn’t mind being featured on “Undercover Boss,” and he’d like to meet President Obama and “Late Show” host David Letterman.

When the interview concluded, Mr. Snyder presented Sully with a Redskins football signed by Snyder, Beck, general manager Bruce Allen, and head coach Mike Shanahan.

That should be enough to get him an ‘A’ on that report.

Check out the interview, in its entirety, below: Read more »

Hail! Prepares For The John Beck Era

With all of the intense media coverage of the Redskins quarterback change, it’s time for a light-hearted perspective.

John Beck takes the field on Sunday for the first time in regular season action since his rookie season in 2007.  For the football heads and devout followers of the Redskins, he’s a familiar entity.  But when No. 12 takes the field on Sunday, it will be a new experience for many.

And as this week’s edition of Ben Ceccarelli’s Hail! comic illustrates, he may need some introductions: