The Redskins Blog

Fastest Redskins Debate, Version 2.012

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During the darkest hours of last offseason’s lockout, Redskins receivers Anthony Armstrong and Brandon Banks livened up the debate with a playful Twitter war of who would be faster in a foot race.

While the race was never consummated (due to concerns of injuries), the merit of each competitor was debated back and forth, 140 characters at a time.  Banks is traditionally thought of as the team’s speedster, but special teams coordinator Danny Smith has clocked Armstrong at a sub-4.2 on kickoff coverage.

Whichever man is faster, we may never know–but other Redskins receivers threw their hats in the ring this afternoon, declaring their shot at the title of ‘The Fastest Redskin.’

Here’s a Twitter recap between Brandon Banks (@SpeedyBanks16), Niles Paul (@Niles_Paul) and Terrence Austin (@Terrence_Austin), with their respective merits:

It started with an admission of weight gain from Paul–a number that he then rationalized as a product of his workouts.  Paul filled the role as a reserve receiver, returner, gunner, coverage specialist, running back and tight end last year:

Y'all would judge me if I told y'all how much a weigh right now—
Niles Paul (@Niles_Paul) April 02, 2012

I promise it's all healthy weight though, when I train I tend to put on weight…—
Niles Paul (@Niles_Paul) April 02, 2012

Austin guessed that Paul had ballooned from his listed weight of 224 up to 240, which was approximately six pounds over the correct number. Seeing his opportunity to take a stab at Austin, Paul fired away this boast:

@Terrence_Austin I would lol crazy part is I feel more explosive than ever though! & I'm still faster than you & @speedybanks16—
Niles Paul (@Niles_Paul) April 02, 2012

And shots were officially fired in this Twitter-galactic battle.  It should be noted that all three players have spent time in the return game, so all are considered to have game-changing speed and elusiveness.  Going back to their respective Combine performances, Banks ran a 4.43, Austin ran a 4.58, and Paul ran a 4.51.

And here’s the subsequent stream posturing and smack talk among the three:

@Terrence_Austin @niles_paul this is a dreeeaaaaamm—
Brandon Banks (@speedybanks16) April 02, 2012

@Terrence_Austin @speedybanks16 Ay man, I don't like all this doubt. We can race 15 yards, 100 bucks says I'd win lol—
Niles Paul (@Niles_Paul) April 02, 2012

@Terrence_Austin @niles_paul lol u don't have a chance—
Brandon Banks (@speedybanks16) April 02, 2012

Now that pride was a factor for all three men, a gentleman’s agreement was in order. A Twitter-iffic handshake, if you will:

@Niles_Paul @speedybanks16 lol run dat—
Terrence Austin (@Terrence_Austin) April 02, 2012

@Niles_Paul @terrence_austin BET!!!—
Brandon Banks (@speedybanks16) April 02, 2012

And the rest of the conversation devolved into “I bet you’re slower than’s,” and rationalizing the different contestant’s testimonials of speed.

Paul finally squashed all debate, cementing a date for his teammates to race when the team reassembles in the middle of April:

@Terrence_Austin @speedybanks16 Enough talk lol I'll see you fellas in Mid April & we will settle this. I like my 100 in 1's though—
Niles Paul (@Niles_Paul) April 02, 2012

With the start of offseason activities only two weeks away, who would win a race for the title of ‘The Fastest Redskins?’  As a followup question, does it even matter?