The Redskins Blog

The Bill Goldberg/Jim Haslett Connection

(AP photo)

In one of the more interesting nuggets of the morning, it was discovered that legendary professional wrestler Bill Goldberg once played for Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett.

Goldberg talked about the connection on Thursday’s episode of “4th and Pain,” the wrestling-centric show hosted by Redskins’ defensive end Adam Carriker and co-host, Chuck Carroll.

Goldberg, who starred as a defensive end at the University of Georgia, was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 11th round of the 1990 NFL Draft, but briefly left the NFL for a spot on the Sacramento Surge of the World League of American Football, which, in 1992, won the world championship.

A defensive assistant coach on that championship Surge team? Haslett.

“To be able play, win a world championship in the World Football League and be coached by a defensive coordinator so cool as Jim Haslett, I have to pinch myself every day,” Goldberg told Carriker and Carroll. “Anytime you can play the sport [with] a coach that you respect because of his playing days and that you revere because of his mentality, you’re an extension of him, obviously, by being part of the defensive team. It was an honor, and probably the best football experience of my life.”

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Hulkster: Carriker Has Future In Wrestling

When Hulk Hogan speaks, you listen — which is an easy command for Redskins’ defensive lineman Adam Carriker.

Carriker is a huge wrestling fan — I mean, this dude lives and breathes that stuff — and I’m sure he was honored recently when the Hulkster himself told the Nebraska product that he had a future in wrestling.

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Video: Adam Carriker Is Strong

Okay, so we’ve probably said this several times during his time with the Redskins.

But let’s say it again:

Adam Carriker is strong.

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Redskins’ Mother’s Day Wishes Aplenty

Several Redskins players on Sunday took the opportunity to give a public Mother’s Day shoutout to the special women in their lives.

Here’s just a sample of the messages tweeted by the players on Sunday:

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Carriker Blogs 2007 First-Round Memories

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Once upon a time, Redskins defensive end (and amateur blogger) Adam Carriker was one of the top prospects in all of college football.  Just five seasons ago, he awaited the exact same uncertainty that many top prospects face going into tonight.

His between his junior and senior seasons at Nebraska, Carriker was named the team’s MVP, along with the NCAA’s Bronko Nagurski and Chuck Bednarik awards.  He tallied 134 tackles despite starting only two full seasons, and piled up 20.5 sacks in his career.

But Carriker explains in his latest blog post on ProInterviews.org, that the titles and totals were less important than his game tape.  The way he performed on film was the true essence of his NFL job application and résumé.

Everything he had ever done as a football player led up to Draft Day: Read more »

Carriker Officially Out-lifting Phillip Daniels

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During the 2010 season, Adam Carriker was united with Phillip Daniels on the line to form one of the strongest defensive end  tandems in the history of the NFL.  They played together for only one season and made only one start together in that span, but changed the standard for ‘player strength’ in Washington.

The question of strongest Redskin was a dangerous question in those days, with two of the team’s more outspoken interviews making the case for themselves.

Even a review of the Youtube tape sheds little light on the subject, with Daniels squatting 722 pounds, and Carriker allegedly benching over 500 pounds, squatting 600 pounds, and clean and jerking 405 pounds.

I don’t know anyone strong enough to determine who wins that contest.

But after spending 2011 in retirement, Daniels, the new director of player development, has apparently left his power lifting days in the past.  According to head strength and conditioning coach Ray Wright, Carriker is now the undisputed strongest man in the building: Read more »

Players React To Redskins’ 2012 Schedule

In the 21 hours since the the NFL released each of the 32 schedules for next season, most Redskins players have had a chance to take a peak at the dates and times of the 16 matchups.

The two games that jump off the page are the back-to-back nationally televised games in Weeks 12 and 13.  The first is on Thanksgiving at 4:15, when families are finally settling in on the couch after a Turkey Day feast.  On top of that, it’s against the Dallas Cowboys, a game that fires up fans and players alike.

Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall asks and promptly answers the question, ‘what could be better than that?’

Redskins vs Cowboys on Thanksgiving day what's better then that? ……….Ohh yeah NOTHING!!!!!!!! LOL lets go Skins Nation HTTR—
DeAngelo Hall (@Dhall23) April 18, 2012

The following week, the Redskins host their first Monday Night Football game in two years, and get a chance to extend their recent dominance over the Super Bowl Champions.  Back-to-back national audiences for divisional matchups also comes complete with an 11-day layoff between the two games.  The combination has linebacker Ryan Kerrigan raring to go:

A Thanksgiving Day game and a home Monday nighter?! Can't wait for this season to get here! #HTTR—
Ryan Kerrigan (@RyanKerrigan91) April 18, 2012

The third thing that should excite Redskins players is the Week 10 placement of the 2012 Bye week.  As you may remember, the 2011 Bye came in Week 5, which led to a brutal 12-week run to finish the season.

This year, the Redskins have five-of-six division games in the seven weeks after the Bye, and face their toughest stretch after a week off.  That notwithstanding, the Redskins still have the sixth-easiest schedule based on 2011 results (a combined .488 winning percentage), and play only seven games against 2011 playoff teams.

And that’s something that defensive end Adam Carriker can get very excited about:

I can't wait for the first game of the year, bring it on! Only 4 months to go! #HTTR—
Adam Carriker (@BigPoppaPump94) April 18, 2012

I love football! #HTTR—
Adam Carriker (@BigPoppaPump94) April 18, 2012

Gano Fails At Waffles, Carriker Consoles

via @GrahamGano

Here lies the tragically deformed breakfast of Redskins kicker Graham Gano, tasting of sweet syrup and bitter disappointment.

Gano shared a picture of the disappointing waffle with Twitter followers (@GrahamGano) shortly after it’s flawed creation.  With only one of the four quadrants properly filled with batter, Chef Gano was forced to admit his most-important meal’s shortcomings:

 @GrahamGano: Not exactly me best waffle ever…

Indeed not.

But in the true spirit of team camaraderie, Redskins defensive end Adam Carriker (@BigPoppaPump94) tweeted more of his cosmic advice, exactly one minute later.  It’s almost as if he was reaching out to Gano via Twitter: Read more »

Carriker Gives His Take On Wrestlemania

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On the Redskins roster, there is no bigger pro wrestling fan than defensive end Adam Carriker.  Whether it’s the childhood stories of watching Monday Night Wars with dad, or his proposed wrestling moniker (“Dark Horse“), Carriker is an educated, loyal fan.

As all wrestling fans know, Wrestlemania 28 happened Sunday night, the Super Bowl of sports entertainment.   But on Friday afternoon–before any metal chairs were bent over Undertaker’s back–Carriker offered his full analysis and predictions for the show.

Here’s his list of predicted winners, via his player blog at ProInterviews.org.  Click through for more detail:

1- Kelly Kelly & Maria Menounos vs. Divas Champion Beth Phoenix & Eve

2- Randy Orton vs. Kane

3- Team Teddy vs. Team Johnny

4- Intercontinental Champion Cody Rhodes vs. Big Show

5- World Heavyweight Champion Daniel Bryan vs. Sheamus

6- WWE Champion CM Punk vs. Chris Jericho

7- The Undertaker vs. Triple H (H-ll in a Cell Match with special ref, HBK Shawn Michaels)

8- John Cena vs. The Rock.

When the dust settled, Carriker finished 6-2 in his predictions.  Here is what the Redskins’ strongest man had to say: Read more »

Carriker Deal Delayed By Over-Scheduling

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Some of you astutely noted (and some sarcastically noted) that the announcement of Adam Carriker’s signing was delayed a week from when the original deal was struck.  So, here’s the story behind the story.

Mostly delays have to do with filing the paperwork and getting the necessary John Hancock’s on the dotted lines.  Carriker moved his offseason home out to Colorado this offseason, and has been busy lifting weights and being a Dad.  Carriker had to get back to the east coast in order to sign his paperwork, and the paperwork then had to be submitted and approved by the league.

Only then are we allowed to talk about it.

But all of this came after he over-scheduled his Super Tuesday, as he discussed in his recent blog post on ProInterviews.org.  It’s a candid narrative that walks readers through the initial “stomach butterflies” of free agency, all the way through the exciting end–back where he began:

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