The Redskins Blog

Redskins Graduate From Kellogg School

via Twitter

The NFL Business Management and Entrepreneurial Program has produced another class of graduates, including Redskins Lorenzo Alexander, Josh Wilson, and 2011 receiver David Anderson.  After receiving their certificates of graduation this afternoon, each tweeted this foggy picture (above).

Along with the picture, Alexander shared an important sentiment to his followers: “More than just athletes,” he said.  As the proud graduate of both of the NFL’s entrepreneurial programs, Alexander has set his sights on a successful business approach both during and after his career on the field.

“It gives you the tools you need to be successful, whether you’re an investor or someone trying to start your own business,” he told me on the phone after the ceremonies finished.  ”As the owner of my own business with Kedric [Golston], I thought it would be important for me learn the tools of the business world, so we can grow and expand over X amount of years.”

The program is a joint venture between the NFL and Northwestern’s prestigious Kellogg School of Business, and condenses a three-week class into a five-day intense seminar.  Alexander reported that classes typically ran for 12-13 hours a day, and the discussions focused on branding, negotiating, finance, equity and management.

Altogether, he took 26 pages of notes throughout the week. Read more »

Redskins Players Back To The Real World

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For the last four months, 10:50 a.m. on a weekday has been my cue to walk down the steps at Redskins Park to chat with players in open locker room.  There weren’t always a lot of players available at a time, but there was always someone.

Taking a peek into the locker room today, most lockers are cleared out and there are no players in sight.  The only thing missing is a tumbleweed rolling out of the adjacent equipment room.

While some players make their offseason homes in Loudoun County, many others have dispersed across the country, back to the lives they live off the record.  In their first 24 hours of offseason living, some of these players have had a blast, while others have gone about their un-glamorous business.

Here’s a Twitter recap of the first 24 hours. Read more »

Week 15 Madden ’12 Redskins Updates

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Calling all Redskins gamers, it’s time for your weekly Redskins updates for Madden ’12, along with my own wry commentary.  This week, we have the typical increases and decreases, additions and subtractions.  We also have a virtual equipment update and an issue of dominant hand orientation.

Check out the full list of Redskins moves and alterations this week: Read more »

Hail! Foresees End To The ‘Landover Leap’

Last Sunday, touchdown catches by Jabar Gaffney and David Anderson produced high-flying leaps into the crowd, creating the Redskins very own “Landover Leap.”

But as Ben Ceccarelli points out in this week’s edition of the Hail! comic, this is probably a celebratory move reserved for the fleet-footed receivers on offense:

Patriots In The Rear-View Mirror

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The last time that the Redskins clashed with the Patriots was in 2007 under mildy New England skies.

Quarterback Jason Campbell threw a touchdown and an interception, in addition to fumbling the ball three times on three sacks.  The Redskins rushing attack managed only 47 yards on the ground, while the defense yielded 486 total yards to the Pats’ fabled offense.

Fans who watched it all the way through managed to see the Redskins tack on a touchdown onto the scoring parade, with the game mercifully ending at 52-7.

The scary thing is that some people expected that to happen again, yesterday–or worse.  But the Redskins showed up in a big way.

This season has been defined by progress.  When the team came out of training camp with 25 players with less than three years experience, it was considered a sign of progress towards a much-needed influx of youth.  When the team started out 3-1, it was seen as progress towards competitiveness.  When the team lost six-straight, but kept fighting and didn’t fracture emotionally, it was considered progress in character.

And when the Redskins showed up yesterday, they proved that they have the heart to show up ready to play.  Last week’s late loss to the Jets could have deflated this group, but they rose to the occasion.  Injuries and suspensions have utterly decimated a Redskins’ offense that nearly out-dueled the NFL’s No. 2 offense.  The defense picked off Tom Brady, who hadn’t thrown an interception since Week 9.

Even in a loss, yesterday was a fine example of progress, as the Redskins played perhaps their best game all season.  Yesterday, the Redskins showed that their progress is paying off, and that there’s a lot to look forward to, both immediately and in the future.

Special kudos for yesterday’s game go out to the following players:

On Offense: Roy Helu

Who else?  This young man is showing the vast potential of mid-round backs in the Shanahan system, putting up three-consecutive 100-yard games with his 126 yards yesterday.  With yesterday’s performance, he is:

• The first rookie running back to accomplish this feat in franchise history.
• The first of his 2011 rookie draft class to do so.
• The first Redskins running back since Clinton Portis went five-straight in 2008.
• The first 100-yard rusher against the Patriots this season.

Even though he didn’t get his first career start until Week 8 against San Francisco, Helu has already accomplished multiple feats never seen before in this organization.  That’s not just noteworthy, that’s downright impressive.

On Defense: Barry Cofield

Cofield will never get the credit that he deserves as the 3-4 nose tackle in Washington, but fortunately, he doesn’t seem to mind.  He finished yesterday with five tackles, putting him at 55 on the season.  He added in a half-sack of Brady, and was credited with his league leading (among nose tackle) ninth pass defensed.

On Special Teams: Brandon Banks

Admittedly, this recognition goes for his overall performance, not just what he was able to do on special teams.  Banks got all of his work on kickoff returns yesterday, managing 117 total return yards.  But when you combine that with his 49-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter–now we’re talking.  Notes on that pass:

• Was the first by a Redskins receiver since Oct. 5, 2008, when Antwaan Randle El threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to tight end Chris Cooley at Philadelphia.
• The longest by a non-quarterback in Redskins’ history, beating the previous long of 48, set on a Randle El pass to Moss vs. the New York Giants on Dec. 30, 2006.
• It was the first of Banks’ career. He did not attempt a pass in college during his time at either Kansas State or Bakersfield College (Calif.).
• The touchdown reception was the 35^th of Moss’ tenure with the Redskins, tying him with Ricky Sanders for seventh-most in team history.

Here are the rest of your random assortment of game notes: Read more »

Third Quarter Thoughts

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Through the first three quarters, Helu has 21 rushes for 105 yards.  By cracking the century mark, Helu is the new standard of consistency among rookie running backs, becoming the first in his 2011 draft class to rush for three consecutive 100-yard games.

He is also the first Redskins rookie running back in franchise history to pull off this feat.

Running for this many consecutive 100-yard games hasn’t been accomplished by a Redskins running back since Clinton Portis reeled off five-straight between Week 4-8 in 2008.

Are there really 104 rookies in the league that scouted out better than this young man?  If so, he could be one of the best-kept secrets of the 2011 NFL Draft.

In other news, welcome to Washington, receiver David Anderson.  Anderson was brought in as a slot receiver insurance policy when Santana Moss went down, but has quietly contributed in almost every game that he’s been active.  This week, he finally got to show off his touchdown strut, and elected not to do his patented No-Strings-Conan-O’Brien Dance.  Instead, he followed teammate Jabar Gaffney’s lead, and pulled off the “Landover Leap” into the crowd.

Anderson was wise enough to find some Redskins fans that were willing to catch him though.

This game is turning into one of the most unlikely shootouts of the year, with both offenses beating the respective defenses.  The Redskins need only a single point to match their season-high in points, dating back to Week 1 against the Giants.

New England on top with the ball and 15 minutes to play: Redskins 27, Patriots 34.

Redskins Players Share Coats, Memories

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The Redskins Charitable Foundation and Redskins players Oshiomogho Atogwe, David Anderson, Terrence Austin, Brandon Banks, DeJon Gomes, Sean Locklear, Darrion Scott, Donte’ Stallworth, Josh Wilson, Dough Worthington, Logan Paulsen and Travon Bellamy went to the Macy’s in downtown D.C. to hand out winter clothes to 300 underserved children from the greater metro area.

This is a big event for the Redskins and Macy’s, but it’s also a hit with the players.  This is a rare opportunity for them to interact with their youngest fans, and provide them with something that they really need:

Coat drive @ Macy's in dc today!!!! I love giving back and seeing others smile!!!—
Brandon Banks (@speedybanks16) December 06, 2011

This will be a fun event @WRFoundation teaming up with @Macys to hand out brand new coats, gloves, hats & more to the kiddies!!—
Donte' Stallworth (@DonteStallworth) December 06, 2011

on the way to DC with @DonteStallworth to show love to the kids and pass out coats—
Terrence Austin (@Terrence_Austin) December 06, 2011

and me RT @DonteStallworth RT @Terrence_Austin: on the way to DC with @DonteStallworth to show love to the kids and pass out coats—
Darrion Scott 100 (@DarrionScott) December 06, 2011

Upon arrival, the players mingled with the kids, and took a liking to the kids’ balloons.  They instantly gravitated to the balloon booth and got arrows, swords and all manner of Christmas critters:

And then there was Redskins returner Brandon Banks, who got a reindeer balloon hat before helping kids get a Redskins cap and gloves:

Redskins safety Oshiomogho Atogwe showed off his fashionista chic style, by helping find coats for some of the little girls.  If patrolling center field doesn’t work for O.J., I think he has a natural gift for retail: Read more »

Redskins Kickoff Notebook

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The Redskins have taken the field, the fireworks have been fired, and we’re ready for football in Washington.  The Jets won the toss and will defer to the second half, meaning that the Redskins will get first crack at the end zone.  Hopefully the Redskins can find their way to the end zone on the opening drive for the second consecutive week.

The Redskins are nearly fully reloaded at wide receiver, getting Niles Paul back:

Hi Haters 👋—
Niles Paul (@Niles_Paul) December 03, 2011

David Anderson also got the nod over Terrence Austin this week.  These two continue to switch weekly out of the slot.

It’s game time. Hail to the Redskins.

Second Quarter Super Salutations

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Tony Romo, meet our rookie super heroes.  The one with the beard is called “The Pocono Punisher,” and No. 91 is “Captain America.”

The Redskins defense is sending pressure from all directions on Tony Romo, but credit the secondary for allowing the defense to get two coverage sacks in the second quarter.  The first one came from the interior, as Neild mauled Cowboys center Phil Costa en route to his first sack since his breakout two-sack performance against the Giants in Week 1.

Neild now has six-times as many sacks against division opponents as outside linebacker Brian Orakpo.  He also has 10-times the facial hair.

Meanwhile, Kerrigan’s front side sack of Romo came against rookie sensation Tyron Smith.  This was a match-up to watch coming to the game, and it’s a match-up that Kerrigan got the best of.   He has taken over the team-lead in sacks with six, surpassing Orakpo’s 5.5.

Redskins punter Sav Rocca is blowing Cowboys Mat McBriar away in the battle of “Thunder Down Under.”  So far McBriar has  he’s rattled off four punts with a 50-yard average, including a a 64-yard belter inside the 20.  Crikey!  As I type this, both he and Tampa Bay’s Michael Koenen also has one punt inside the 20, meaning that the two remained deadlocked for the league lead with 19.

Redskins newbie David Anderson had another big catch this week to set up the Rex Grossman rushing touchdown, and “served” the ball back to the officials like a waiter with a bottle of wine.  This man is the master of subtle celebrations.

The Grossman rushing touchdown was only the fourth of his career, and the first since he did it as a member of the Bears, against the Titans on Nov. 9, 2008.  This was the first Redskins touchdown in five quarters of football, and the first first-half touchdown since St. Louis in Week 4.

The roar from the crowd was actually a huge sigh of relief.

The follow-up Grossman-Gaffney touchdown was the icing on the first-half cake.  Yes, football games are 60 minutes long, but this is the first lead by a Redskins team since Week 4.  It’s been a long time since Redskins fans could cheer for their team coming off the field, and the boys in Burgundy and Gold got a standing ovation at halftime.

Redskins are ahead at the half: Washington 14, Dallas 10.

No More Counting On Hank Time In 2011

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Yesterday, receiver Leonard Hankerson had his breakout, welcome-to-the-NFL game, with a team-leading 106 yards through the air.  Despite leaving the game with an apparent leg injury at the end of the game, he assured media in the locker room that he was fine.

At this afternoon’s press conference, Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan revealed that Hankerson’s season was over due to a torn labrum, and his subsequent placement on injured reserve.

More specifically, Shanahan explained:

It’s [subluxated], which means it goes out and then pops back in,” he said.  ”If it’s dislocated, it just stays out and they move it back in. It did pop back in, but, usually when it pops back in, there’s a labrum tear in that area. The specialist will look at it and we’ll find out.”

He’s not a doctor, he just plays one on Redskins TV.

Time to do an injury rain dance, my friends.  Has anyone broken a Redskins mirror?  Opened an umbrella inside at Redskins Park?  Spilled salt from a Redskins shaker?  Angered a black cat named Sonny?  Walked under a Burgundy ladder?   If so, this is your cue to seek forgiveness.

And go Feng Shui your Redskins fancave. Read more »