The Redskins Blog

Casserly: A Giant Dose Of Confidence

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Despite a disappointing finish to the 2011 season, the Redskins had very rare success against the conference rival Giants, sweeping the season series for the first time since 1999.

On Sunday, the Giants will take on the San Francisco 49ers for the NFC conference crown, leaving Redskins fans to wonder if this has any bearing on the value of the Redskins’s season.  Redskins.com’s Gary Fitzgerald felt one way about it, and I outlined another.  With so many variables at play in terms of roster composition and schedule, everyone is entitled to his or her own valid opinion.

Which brings us to former Redskins general manager Charlie Casserly, who approached the issue from the perspective of the players and the organization.  In a recent interview with Jennifer Williams of CSNWashington, he outlined the feeling in the Redskins proverbial locker room, following the Giants’ run of success: Read more »

Redskins-Giants At Second Glance

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Want to impress your friends with the pregame knowledge?  Take some notes:

• The last time the Redskins took the field in regular season action, it was with the same quarterback, in the same stadium, against the same team.
• It’s been 252 days since that game.  Of those days, 127 were consumed with the longest work-stoppage in league history.  That’s almost exactly half (50.38 percent).
• The Redskins have nine rookies on the roster and 25 players with three years of NFL experience or less.
• The average age of the roster this year is 25 years, 7 months old.
• There are only four players left on the team born before 1980: Sav Rocca, Mike Sellers, Santana Moss, and London Fletcher.
• During the September 11th attacks, the average age of the roster was 15 years, 7 months.  In most states, that’s a sophomore who has yet to get his driver’s license.
• Altogether, there were 30 of the Redskins 53-man roster still in grade school on 9/11.  Of those, nine were still in middle school.

Besides age, there’s  also a very telling difference in attitude going into this game.  Check out some of the comments from the locker room after the last Giants matchup. Read more »

Where Were You When They Took Over The Planet?

In the weeks leading up to the Giants game, I have diligently sought out the best hype video to get your blood pumping on gameday.

This aptly named video makes me want to suit up and take the field.

Crank up the speakers and push play:

“From here, the fight will be your own.”

H.T.T.R.

Redskins vs. Giants: A Photographic Tribute

Every now and then when I’m looking for something else, I stumble upon some really awesome old photos here at Redskins Park.

These three photos tell at least three thousands words, so I’ll shut up:

Read more »

Chris Neild Remembers Ground Zero

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While tomorrow’s game will be played in Washington, nose tackle Chris Neild’s memories will be drifting back to 10 years ago when he was a kid growing up in Stroudsburg, Pa.

“I was in English class when I found out,” he said quietly.  ”I was in eighth grade. I remember because my AAU coach, he worked in New York. He had a meeting or something, and I was good friends with his son and daughter.

Like most people on that Tuesday morning, Neild couldn’t believe what was happening.

“I saw her running down the hallway crying and I didn’t know what was going on,” he remembered.  ”I knew he worked in the city and he was in and out of that building, so y’know, that’s the first thing that popped into my head.”

Neild was let out of school early to be with his family, and found out later that his AAU coach was out of the office at the time of the attacks.  He was shocked to see the New York skyline when he went to visit his sister the following weekend.

“When I lived in Pennsylvania, I would go to New Jersey all the time, and on the way to New Jersey you can see the whole NY skyline. I drove there that Saturday, and it was weird.  You could see the smoke from Ground Zero.  My sister lived right near the Hudson River and smoke came over there. It was bad, it was really bad.”

Neild got his first glimpse of the 9-11 Ground Zero Memorials the other day and tweeted his thoughts: Read more »

Giants Showered With Injuries

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While it’s been raining cats and dogs in Washington, it’s been raining medical reports in theBig Apple.

The Giants come into the game on Sunday with four potential starters unable to practice (as of Thursday), and three currently listed as Out.  Via NFL.com:

Justin Tuck, DE, (Neck), QUESTIONABLE, (Did Not Participate In Practice)

Prince Amukamara, CB, (Foot), OUT (Definitely Will Not Play),

Jonathan Goff, MLB, (Knee), OUT (Definitely Will Not Play)

Osi Umenyiora, DE, (Knee), OUT (Definitely Will Not Play)

These four Giants join an already stocked injured reserve:

Marvin Austin, DT

Sage Rosenfels, QB

Clint Sintim, LB

Terrell Thomas, DB

This, however, is not a concern for Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan.

He said that regardless of whether the starters take the field, that there’s a lot of talent in every NFL roster.  His game-plans don’t change:

“I don’t fall into the trap of people talking about injuries,” he said.  ”It happens to every team in the NFL. You don’t dwell on it because all 53 guys on your football team can play. You’re one play away from being the starter and there are a lot of guys that all they need is that opportunity to show people what they can do, especially in a special game like this.”

Check out the full video of his press conference and injury report below: Read more »

NFL Debuts Special Game Balls For Sunday

The NFL has really gone all-out to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of 9-11-01.

There’s a fine-line between ignoring a tragedy and turning the memorial into a circus, but the Redskins, Giants, and NFL have really gone above and beyond to meticulously plan a fitting tribute.

The NFL on FOX just tweeted a photo of the game ball that will be used in all of the games on Sunday:

#NFL Fans, check out the special game ball from Sunday! #NFLisback yfrog.com/mgpx9nj—
FOX SPORTS: NFL (@NFLONFOX) September 08, 2011

Sunday should be a special moment of memorial for those that lost their lives, but should also be considered a celebration of how far we’ve come.  It’s going to be a very special afternoon of football in America.

Cofield Ready To ‘Start A New Era’ In DC

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With such a long list of obvious story-lines going into this weekend’s opener against the Giants, it’s hard to believe that anyone can focus strictly on football.

Not a problem for the Redskins, says defensive end Barry Cofield.

“With game-week officially starting, I’m focused, the whole team is focused,” he said.  ”We’re ready to start a new era in Redskins football.”

That’s a bold statement for any player to make, but Cofield plays at the nose tackle position.  In other words, there isn’t anyone on the field who has more of a team-first perspective.

His plan for this Sunday is pretty simple:

“Just go out there and do what I do, which is play hard and be a good teammate,” he said.  ”That’s all I’m gonna do. I’m not gonna do anything to jeopardize our team. I’m not gonna let any personal battles, or anything like that, come in between us or get in the way.”

Coming to a division rival usually entails spilling the beans on all former teammates and playbooks.

Cofield a proud non-exception to that rule.

“Absolutely,” he said with a big smile.  ”Every weakness that I think they’ve got will be shared with my new teammates. There’s a lot of little things I know about each guy from facing linemen every day in practice, and stuff like that, and relating those things to my teammates. I’m sure they know a lot about me.”

Cofield admitted that it’s weird to prepare against his old teammates, but don’t expect him to let up during the game.

After the game is another matter.

“Y’know, I don’t expect much interaction before the game, but after the game it’s hugs for everybody,” he said.  ”Everybody on the roster gets a hug, but leading up to the game and during the 60 minutes of the game, it’s gonna be a battle.”

“I’m happy to be here and I’m excited to be playing those guys.  Hoping to beat those guys.”

For full video and his appropriate use of the word “prognosticators,” check out the video below: Read more »

Cofield Sack Dance Will Live On In NYC

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Defensive tackle Barry Cofield confirmed the worst-kept secret in Ashburn yesterday: he’s excited to play his former team on Sunday.

“Yeah, I’m excited, I’m excited,” he said, trying to conceal a huge smile.  ”Like I’ve said, I’m definitely looking forward to it. Obviously coming to a new defense, I had a lot to learn during training camp. So I had to balance the two and I had to put my excitement on hold.”

I can confirm that the excitement is no longer on hold.

Cofield played at defensive end for the Giants for six years before bringing his talents to the Nation’s Capital, and has nothing but respect for his old teammates.

“I’ve always stayed in contact with my friends that I played with, y’know, those relationships go past just teammates on the football field,” he said.  ”It’s a weird sense of familiarity, but at the end of the day, it all comes down to what we do.”

After yesterday’s media conference call with Giants defensive end Justin Tuck, it’s clear that the respect is mutual, despite Cofield jetting for a division foe.

“He’s just a solid guy and I hate to see him go,” he said.

Tuck also gave Cofield positive reviews on his position move from end to nose tackle.

“I talked to Barry during camp and I think he feels pretty comfortable with playing nose He can multi-task. He can play the nose, two-gap, three-gap or whatever. I know he’s going to help the [Redskins] football team at that position.”

But Tuck did assure the media, that if he gets a sack on Sunday, Redskins fan will have visions of Barry Cofield’s sack dance: Read more »

Vote For Redskins-Giants On The American Forces Network

In truly democratic fashion, the American Forces Network allows Facebook users to vote on the NFL game of the week that will be broadcast to soldiers, sailors, airmen and women, and proud military personnel around the globe.

This week, this Sunday, and throughout the year, take every opportunity to thank them for the courage and sacrifice that they’ve made so we can worry about depth charts and division matchups.  It doesn’t matter what your personal beliefs are, because these people don’t discriminate in who they protect.

Also, in honor of the members of Redskins Nation that are stationed overseas (especially on a day remembering the tragic events of nearly a decade ago,especially in a game between New York and Washington), please take a second to vote and make the Redskins-Giants game available on AFN.

This is a little taste of home for these men and women, and it’s sincerely the very least you can do.  At last count, the game had slipped to fourth in the voting.

Vote for old DC! Read more »