The Redskins Blog

Redskins Ready To Rumble In ‘The Linc’

AP Image

Redskins players have taken and exited the field this afternoon, and they look ready to find meaning in this supposedly meaningless Week 17 game.

For Redskins punter Sav Rocca, this is his first return to his first NFL city, to take on a team that wanted to get younger at the punter postion.  In the first game against the Eagles this season, Rocca had a fine game, booting four times for a 42.5 average, a long of 53, and two punts downed inside the 20.

In pregame warmup, he and battery mate Nick Sundberg was rocketing bombs down the field.  Here’s his last effort:

Fellow special teamer Graham Gano was knocking his own missiles through the uprights from distances of 60 yards.  They both look calm and unaffected by the 10-15 mph winds.

On the offense, this is also the return of Jabar Gaffney and Donte’ Stallworth to Philadelphia.  Gaffney is chasing a career-year, having already matched his touchdown mark and exceeded his yardage output for a season.  With a touchdown and 81 more yards, he’ll finish the season as the team’s top receiver, with his first 1,000 yard season and six touchdowns.

Stallworth wasn’t backing down from heckles during pregame warmup, and seemed especially fired up–even for him.  Here’s footage of the receivers warming up with coach Keenan McCardell:

Gaffney seems to have perfected the one-handed touchdown catch.  Nothing like a little flair to go with his best season ever.

Here are the players’ tweeted thoughts as kickoff approaches:

#TheLinc – last day to have some fun until September 😔 DAMN!!! Let's go out with a bang #Redskins—
Donte' Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) January 01, 2012

Happy New Year! Let's start this new year off right with a "W". HTTR!!!—
Adam Carriker (@AdamCarriker) January 01, 2012

Season Finale. #HTTR. Hail To The Redskins.—
Travon Bellamy (@Travon_Bellamy) January 01, 2012

Rumble young man rumble…—
Brandyn Thompson (@BThompson_BT) January 01, 2012

Nothing like playing vs your old team… #Philadelphia I love you!! But for these next 6, 7 hours it's on and poppin' #HTTR—
Donte' Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) January 01, 2012

And in case you were wondering, not even one nationally recognized NFL expert is picking the Redskins to win.  This reminds me of when the Redskins went on the road two weeks ago and knocked off the Giants in decisive fashion.

Don’t count that out from happening again.  And don’t forget to participate in the “2012 Social Showdown” in the next few minutes.

Happy New Year, Redskins Nation!

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Another year has come and gone in Redskins Nation, a special place where the clocks tick down, but there’s always time for one last drive.  In the calendar year of 2011, the team went 5-11 in regular season games, and turned in one of the best preseasons in franchise history.

Between the first and second games of the 2011 calendar year, there was the longest work stoppage in NFL history.  The team that took the field in game No. 2 was remarkably different from the last, both in personnel and direction.

Sure, there were times of adulation and times of disappointment, but there were, and still are lots of reasons for hope and excitement.

I’ll recap all of this in the hours, days and weeks to come, but hey, happy new year to everyone!

On a separate note, I must admit that based on my experience today, the lore of the Philadelphia sports fan took a hit today.  I’ve seen Eagles and Phillies fans in their native habitat before, so I know that their reputation is earned.  But I was disappointed by the ambivalent reception by the team buses today in the parking lot.

In years past, I’ve heard tales of eggs, rocks, snowballs, and batteries being hurled at the visiting buses.  I’ve heard of lovely gestures and verbal pleasantries.  I’ve even heard of full moon sightings in broad daylight.  But not today.   Read more »