(AP photo)

Since 1934 the Redskins and Eagles have squared off 156 times and unlike the heated rivalry with the Cowboys and the longstanding tension with the Giants, the Redskins have won over 50 percent of their games against their Pennsylvania counterparts.

Similar to the inaugural installment of Redskins-Eagles in 1934, the Redskins swept in 2012 thanks to a clipping of the Eagles wings in a 31-6 victory in Week 11 and a seven point victory in Week 16 that sprung them into a do-or-die matchup with the Cowboys a week later.

While the Eagles had been the Redskins worst nightmare throughout the early 2000’s, one man didn’t even blink when Philly came to town last year–Robert Griffin III.

Going into the Bye Week the Redskins sat in the cellar of the NFC East and it seemed as if Redskins Nation would have to wait out another long winter before having the chance to see playoff football.

No. 10, however, was having none of that.

After the Eagles won the coin toss at the start of their Week 11 battle they eagerly elected to receive hoping to catch the Redskins D off-balance after two weeks away from game action. After gaining only two yards on their first two plays, the Eagles looked to air it out on the Redskins only to have DeAngelo Hall snag his third interception of the season.

What was next for the Redskins seemed like a scene out of Madden.

Griffin III would connect on 14 of his 15 pass attempts for the first perfect quarterback rating (158.3) by a rookie since Drew Bledsoe in 1993, Santana Moss would take two defensive backs to school, and Brandon Meriweather showed the FedExField faithful just how good he can be even if it was a one game sample.

The 31-6 victory showed the league that the Redskins weren’t going to roll over and call the season a lost cause. Instead, it jump-started their unimaginable seven-game winning streak into the playoffs.

Win six of that streak may have provided the most nerve-racking moment of the season.

Late in the fourth quarter of the Redskins-Eagles Week 16 matchup, the Eagles got the ball with less than five minutes left down by seven. With nothing left to play for on the season, the Eagles cared less about tying the game at 27. If they were to steal some of the Redskins late-game heroics and score a touchdown, they were going to go for the win.

On the last play of the game Eagles quarterback Nick Foles tried to do his best Griffin III impression by scrambling out of the pocket to find some free space to hit one of his receiver in the end zone.

But with a 310-pound Stephen Bowen breathing down his back Foles had no choice but to get rid of the football—nowhere near an Eagles player. The result was an intentional grounding call and a 10 second clock runoff.

Game over.

For more highlights of the Redskins sweep of the Eagles, check out this gallery of the top-12 images from their 155^th and 156^th encounters.

Hail to the Redskins!

(via CareFirst Commitment)

Last Tuesday, April 30^th, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield hosted its’ first-ever CareFirst Commitment event for Northern Virginia nonprofits at the Fairview Park Marriott in Falls Church.

The event was an opportunity to give CareFirst’s beneficiaries the chance to meet and mingle with each other, elected officials/CareFirst board members and company leaders.

Represented at the event were 12 nonprofit foundations. Also featured at the event was celebrity guest speaker and your Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall, as well as Henry Lopez, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington’s Youth of the Year recipient.

But Hall is no stranger when it comes to doing yeoman’s work in the community.

When he’s not on the field intercepting Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, Hall is an active member in the community with his own foundation, the DeAngelo Hall Foundation which is “committed to helping young people choose alternative paths to violence through self-empowerment, advocacy and support of anti-violence programs.” You can find more information about his foundation here.

So thank you DeAngelo for continuing to make an impact on and off the field!

(AP Photo)

Redskins Nation–finally after the first 50 picks had been made NC State cornerback David Amerson became the newest member of the Redskins with the 51st overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Amerson will be the newest member of a secondary that is headlined by former Pro Bowlers DeAngelo Hall and Brandon Meriweather as well as 2012 draft pick Richard Crawford.

Many predicted that the Redskins would take a defensive player with the No. 51 pick and well those predictions have indeed come true, but did they predict the former Jack Tatum Award winner?

In 2011, the NC State product had 13 interceptions.

Yes 13. That isn’t a typo.

Oh, and did I tell you he also has 4.4 speed?

The Redskins will gladly take that.

Here are some draft profiles and a highlight video to get you acquainted with the newest Burgundy and Golder:

NFL.com:

 Bottom Line: Amerson is one of the more interesting prospects in the draft. His play making and ball skills are reminiscent of Asante Samuel. However, unlike Samuel, Amerson isn’t nearly as fluid out of his breaks or as technically sound in the fundamentals of the position. Amerisont is tall, physical, and some may project him to free safety because of his size, but it is likely that some team will take a chance on Amerson as a cornerback if he can prove that his foot quickness and fluidity are up to par.

CBSSports:

STRENGTHS: Amerson has rare height and length for the position and actually played primarily at safety in high school. He has the size and ballskills for the next level, but scouts are also impressed with his competitive drive to get better, showing vast improvement between his freshman and sophomore seasons. And the coaching staff says there is no problem keeping Amerson hungry, as he is one of the top practice players each week. Could prove a fit in a press-based scheme. Highly aggressive defender who intercepted many of his passes reading the eyes of quarterbacks and jumping short routes.

Oh and here’s a little visual to get you pumped up.

See all those plays he made against the University of Maryland on their home field?

You’ll be seeing that all over again, only this time it will be at FedExField.

Follow Amerson on Twitter (@DavidAmerson1) to welcome him to the Nation’s Capital.

Hail to the Redskins!

Quarterback Robert Griffin III is one of the hottest players in the league after posting over 4,000 combined yards and 27 touchdowns in his rookie season. Numbers like that are a rare for players transition to the pace of the professional game.

While I am still in amazement of Griffin III’s 76-yard touchdown scamper against the Minnesota Vikings, as we approach the six month anniversary of that play, one thing always stood out to me during that game and every game he appeared in for that matter.

His visor.

I have always wondered why Griffin III, and some of the rest of his teammates wear the protective shields across their faces.

So I decided to take a gander through their playing days to see how long the have been wearing a visor and why they chose to snap one on during game days.

For some its simply a style statement, for others, it might be from past facial injuries. Lets take a look at some of Washington Redskins and their visors.

Griffin III might be the flashiest player in the NFL today with his lethal concoction of a quick release strike and fleeting footwork, opposing defenses struggle to game plan for the AP Rookie of the Year.

His accessories equally match his flair on the football field as he is always sporting a visor and compression sleeve on his left arm.

After going through some pictures of No. 1o’s days in high school at Copperas Cove High School, I noticed that he did not wear a visor, but from during his four year stay in Waco, he wore a clear shield.

So, why the visor?

Well to be honest there is no definite answer as to why he wears it, other than its likely for the style. Or maybe its to block the wind from his eyes when he’s running down field for a touchdown?

Anyways, we do know why 2012 Pro Bowl linebacker Ryan Kerrigan wears one.

As he wrote last year during training camp, the 2011 first round selection began wearing one after he was poked in the eye during practice.

Poking Kerrgian’s eyeball may be the only way offensive lineman can stop the Purdue prospect as he leads the team in sacks the last two years with 16.

Trent Williams, Rob Jackson and DeAngelo Hall are also members of the Redskins who donned visors during the 2012 NFC East championship campaign.

To see photos of the Redskins “All-visor team” check out this photo album to relive some of the top moments of the 2012 season by players wearing a visor.

So Redskins Nation, what are your thoughts on players wearing a visor?

With official word that the Washington Redskins have resigned cornerback DeAngelo Hall, his teammates were excited to have him back to help defend the 2012 NFC East title.

Hall has been with the Burgundy and Gold since 2008 when the team signed him to a deal that November. In his five years in Washington, number 23 has appeared in 68 games, starting 64, and was selected to represent the NFC in the 2010 Pro Bowl.

While Hall will see familiar faces from his time in the DMV such as Josh Wilson, Reed Doughty and Robert Griffin III, there is one man who has seen the talented player grow since his high school days in Chesapeake, Virginia.

Last week, the Redskins signed veteran Darryl Tapp. Tapp is a seven-year veteran who brings playoff experience and a familiarity to the NFC East with him to the franchise. Tapp spent the previous three years in Philadelphia with division foe Eagles.

While Tapp has technically gone against Hall on numerous occasions, the two haven’t been on the field together for a snap…since high school.

Hall is a year older than Tapp and was a grade higher than the Redskins linebacker in high school. During Hall’s last three years at Deep Creek High School, he was joined by Tapp on the Hornet’s football squad.

After an incredible career at Deep Creek, Hall decided to attend Virginia Tech where he instantly thrived under NCAA coaching legend Frank Beamer. He would appear in 11 games and made one start his freshman year before becoming one of the most diverse threats in Virginia Tech’s history.  

In Hall’s sophomore year he stepped up and became a leader of a talented Hokies defense. Another future NFLer was joining Hall and the Hokies that year in Blacksburg—Darryl Tapp.

The two men and current Burgundy and Gold teammates spent two years together on Virginia Tech’s roster as the Hokies posted an 18-9 record and held opponents to single digits eight times during that two year span including a shutout during each campaign.

Hall would go on to NFL and was the eighth overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Tapp would stick around in Blacksburg until 2006 and was teammates with two other future NFL stars: Will Montgomery and Josh Morgan.

Oh by the way, those two also happen to be part of the core of the 2012 NFC East Champions.

While Redskins lineman Chris Baker recently showed the world that he and his high school teammates have all reached the professional ranks and are continuing to play at an elite level, they currently live in different area codes and the color of their jerseys do not match.

Hall and Tapp, however, find themselves together once again in Burgundy and Gold and if their past success is any indication of whats to come, you better prepare yourself for a Super Bowl push begin this fall.

Hail to the Redskins!

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With the clocks turning forward an hour and the sun shining brighter later into the evening, spring is on the horizon as many look forward to turning in their winter jackets and scarfs for sandals and ball caps.

While the NFL is shifting focus to the 20th anniversary of the free agent signing period, baseball season is swinging into full gear.

Currently, teams have migrated to Arizona and Florida to prepare for the upcoming season in the “warmer” winters that each state provides during this time of year.

NFL.com has released a gallery of various football players and coaches tossing out the honorary first pitch and to no one’s surprise, several Redskins are on it.

Find out who here:

In February, 2012, the Washington Redskins hired former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Raheem Morris to the staff as the defensive backs coach.

In 2010, Morris had the honor of throwing out the first pitch for fellow Tampa Bay professional franchise, the Rays, against AL East foe the Boston Red Sox.

Judging by is form in this picture, I think it is fair to say that he threw the heater straight down the middle:

In 2o10, former Redskins great and Super Bowl winning quarterback Joe Theismann was asked to throw out the first pitch of a game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Los Angeles Angels.

As expected, Theismann had perfect form on his throw and even managed to have a slight smile as well:

This timeless tradition, however, isn’t something new for the Redskins.

In 2010, Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall threw out the customary pitch for the hometown Washington Nationals, in a red, white, and blue number 23 jersey against the Atlanta Braves. Atlanta was Hall’s home for his first four professional seasons, and enjoyed a matchup of two of his cities going against each other.

Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins has one of the smoothest throwing motions in the entire league and in July 2012, he was asked to use his arm to throw out a different ball for the first pitch between the West Michigan Whitecaps and Lansing Lugnuts, in his home state of Michigan.

While Cousins threw a perfect pitch right down the middle of the strike zone  things have always gone so easy for the Redskins as they step foot on the diamond.

In 2011, Redskins tight end Fred Davis was asked to throw out the first pitch for the MiLB Toledo Mud Hens. Davis, normally on the receiving end of anything being thrown out, had some difficult placing the ball down the middle of the plate. Watch the video of Davis’s wild pitch here.

Redskins ballhawking safety Reed Doughty had the honor of throwing out the first pitch for the Potomac Nationals at Pfitnzer Stadium in Woodbridge, a short drive from Redskins Park.

While it was said that Doughty threw out a perfect pitch from those looking on from behind home plate, it was what was behind Doughty that received all of the attention.

Womp-womp.

Good luck to all of the Redskins throwing out the baseball this season!

Hall posing with teammate Chap Petersen

Virginia State Senator L. Louise Lucas and her nephew, Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall, have partnered in the past to help raise money for charity. So it’s no surprise that last Tuesday was no different.

Hall in the Senate gallery, via ja4vmi on Instagram.

Lucas apparently convinced Hall to coach the Senate in its charity basketball game last Tuesday night to help raise money for the Massey Cancer Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.

She pitted her nephew against a rival team consisting of members from the House of Delegates. The two teams squared off at the Siegel Center in Richmond, Virginia.

According to American University’s Michael Pope, “The House basketball team trounced the Senate team 35-25”.

But even though his team was on the losing end, we say congrats DeAngelo for helping to raise money for a good cause!

This also isn’t the first time Hall has shown off his basketball skills. Check out this video back in June at Kings Dominion Amusement Park for the Redskins 80th Anniversary Bus Tour:

Who do you think would be the Redskins’ best two-sport athlete? Share your thoughts below.

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(AP photo)

Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall has been around the league long enough to know the difference between playing for a postseason spot and simply playing for pride.

So what are the Redskins playing for right now?

Hall yesterday was a guest on the NFL Network’s “Around The League,” and was asked if he and his Redskins teammates still believe they can make a run for the playoffs this season.

“Absolutely,” Hall said. “We feel like we haven’t played our best football by a long shot, especially defensively. We feel like [if] we can just focus in on what we need to do and just get our personnel assignments right and correct and not blow things, we definitely we feel like we’ll be able to challenge a lot of these guys in these remaining teams, and that’s all you can ask for. You know, for a team to be 4-6 now, but 3-6 before that game last weekend and still have a chance looking at the numbers, that’s encouraging. The guys in this locker room have definitely rallied around that, and they’ve giving it their all right now.”

The Redskins (4-6), of course, need to keep on winning to keep the playoff hopes alive. Their next obstacle is tomorrow, as they travel to Dallas for a Thanksgiving Day matchup against the Cowboys (5-5).

Hall said the Cowboys have several offensive weapons on which the Redskins’ defense will be keeping a close eye.

“Anytime you’ve got those kind of threats out there receiving, you’ve got a chance to make a lot of plays,” Hall said. “[Then] you add Witten into that equation, the running backs coming out of the backfield — whether it’s Felix Jones or DeMarco Murray — and just Tony Romo extending plays with his feet. He’s just so magical back there in that pocket, is probably the best way to describe it. He just seems to always be able to get out of the way of pressure and make the throw down field. We definitely have our hands full with that passing attack [Thursday].”

Here’s video of the full interview with Hall on “Around The League:”

(AP photo)

A review of the Nov. 4 Washington Redskins-Carolina Panthers game by the league and Elias Sports Bureau has parlayed into a blocked field goal for Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall.

The play was originally labeled simply as a missed field goal by Panthers kicker Justin Medlock.

It came at the 4:27 mark of the fourth quarter of the 21-13 Redskins loss. On 4th and 8 from the Washington 32-yard line, Medlock attempted a 50-yard attempt, but it appeared to be well short.

Turns out Hall was able to get a hand on the ball and force the miss, Elias determined. Nonetheless, it was Medlock’s first miss of the season in eight tries to that point in the season. He also missed his only attempt — a 43-yarder — last Sunday against the Denver Broncos, a game the Panthers lost 36-14.

Hall for the season has 58 tackles, two interceptions and a sack heading into Sunday afternoon’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField.

AP Image

It’s a city defined by its political divisions, the Washington sports community is coming together over one of their own in the playoffs.  The NHL Washington Capitals hosted the Boston Bruins last night for Game 4 of the first round of the playoffs, and several Redskins players had a night out at the Verizon Center.

Newly re-signed captain London Fletcher helped organize a linebackers’ trip to the game, and the starting unit (Fletcher, Riley, Orakpo and Kerrigan) Rocked the Red with the rest of D.C.:

Let's go Caps! http://t.co/3sxI0x4w—
London Fletcher (@LFletcher59) April 20, 2012

Caps game tonight wit the fellas! #Playoffs—
Perry Riley (@PR56) April 19, 2012

At the Caps game with the LB's! Caps gonna take care of business tonite—
Brian Orakpo (@rak98) April 19, 2012

Even though he isn’t a linebacker, longsnapper Nick Sundberg was also in attendance, after battling traffic to get downtown:

Yep, Caps game tonight, can't waaaaaaaait.—
Nick Sundberg (@NickSundberg) April 19, 2012

With 22-year-old goalie Braden Holtby continuing to cement his legacy as a shutdown netminder, the Caps surged to a 2-2 series tie, on the back of a 2-1 win.  I know this is a football blog, but any Redskins fan can appreciate stout defense, and the Caps only allowed one goal for the third time this series.

Is it any coincidence that some of the Redskins’ best defenders were in the building?  Probably, but they served as a good luck charm last night, and guaranteed that the series will come back to Washington after Saturday’s game in Boston.

After the win, Redskins players offered their congratulations from both near and far:

Caps win!—
Ryan Kerrigan (@RyanKerrigan91) April 20, 2012

Great win by the #Caps!—
London Fletcher (@LFletcher59) April 20, 2012

Great win for the #Caps. Holtby was unreal tonight.—
Reed Doughty (@doughty37) April 20, 2012

Just landed in Vegas ready to have a lil fun and relax. Shout out to the Caps. Good job fellas—
DeAngelo Hall (@Dhall23) April 20, 2012

Congratulations to the Capitals and their fans, and good luck in Boston.