The Redskins Blog

Romo Is The Target For Redskins Golfers

Washington Redskins executive vice president and head coach Mike Shanahan will join former Redskins quarterbacks Joe Theismann and Mark Rypien in next month’s American Century Championship celebrity golf tournament at Lake Tahoe.

Shanahan, Theismann and Rypien will join a star-studded field July 20-22 that includes Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Jerry Rice and tournament favorite, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo, according to a media release.

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Annual Mickey Steele Outing A Success

Redskins’ alumni, current players and executive vice president/general manager Bruce Allen were present Friday for the eighth annual Mickey Steele Celebrity Golf Tournament.

The tournament is named in honor of Mickey Steele, a Maryland native, sports enthusiast and business owner, who in 2004 lost his battle to Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

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First-Round Quarterbacks Vs. Super Bowls

via sixteenwins.com

The history of the Redskins’ franchise is highlighted by three franchise quarterbacks: Sammy Baugh, Sonny Jurgensen and Joe Theismann.  The team has also leaned on spectacular seasons by Doug Williams and Mark Rypien, but have been lacking in quarterback production over the last 20 years.

In the past decade, the team has sought consistent play from draft picks (Jason Campbell, Patrick Ramsey), journeymen (Tim Hasselbeck, Todd Collins, John Beck), and former franchise quarterbacks from other teams (Mark Brunell, Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman), but all options have fallen short.

Head coach Mike Shanahan told reporters at the recent league meetings that the team is targeting one of the two franchise quarterbacks believed to be available at the top of the first round.  Why the lack of traditional secrecy?  There’s no reason to be coy about addressing a position with strong correlation to Super Bowl wins. Read more »

Rypien Whistles ‘Hail’ Over Fan’s Voicemail

AP Image

Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien was the gunslinger under center for the 1991 Redskins–arguably the greatest team ever assembled–but had a reputation for being a man of the people.

Outside of the magical season in Washington, he had a journeyman’s career, and forged his best relationships with the fans.  As far as I can tell, he never ‘big-leagued’ anyone during his career or post-playing days, and continues to be a Redskins fan and ardent supporter.

He even whistles the Redskins Fight Song in perfect form. Read more »

Shanahan’s Mark Rypien Senior Bowl Story

via. washingtonsportshof.com

After yesterday’s South Team practice at the Senior Bowl, Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan sat down with Redskins Nation’s Larry Michael to discuss, among other things, a distant memory with Redskins great Mark Rypien.

It all began with a reminiscing of the last time Shanahan served on a Senior Bowl coaching staff in 1986, as an offensive coordinator for the Denver Broncos.  In that year’s draft class, there was a senior quarterback out of Washington State University by the name of Mark Rypien.

Rypien was a mid-level prospect with a strong arm and one solid senior season under his belt, but lacked the résumé for an invitation to the Senior Bowl.

That is, until the three quarterbacks in front of him on the North Team went down with injury, including Ken Norseth who came out of the bowl game needing 40 stitches for his mouth.

Good grief, that’s major surgery.

The Redskins-related point here, is that Rypien went from a non-invite to the star of the show.  According to an AP story that ran in LA Times, Rypien went 13-for-17 for 168 yards and a touchdown, en route to a North Team victory.   Read more »

Team Had Good Luck Charms In Seattle

It was a big weekend of football for former Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien, who managed to catch his former college team and NFL team in the same stadium, 24 hours apart.

On Saturday, his Washington State Cougars took on the University of Washington Huskies in the annual Apple Cup at CenturyLink Field.  On Sunday, his Washington Redskins took on the Seattle Seahawks in the same place.

He had good company while he was at the game, with his daughter Angela, who rocked his No. 11 Redskins jersey:

Yes, I will be be at the #Redskins game tomorrow with @Angela_Rypien and Grandbaby Malayah, giving the Skins some needed love.—
Mark Rypien (@MarkRypien) November 27, 2011

Bout to make an appearance w/ @MarkRypien at the @Redskins game on this beautiful Seattle day ha #sideline #swag—
Angela Rypien (@Angela_Rypien) November 27, 2011

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Rypien Topples Green Bay In Pro Debut

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For those of you that don’t watch MTV 2′s Lingerie Football League, it’s like the Arena Football League, but better.

In her first start as a  quarterback, Angela Rypien–daughter of Redskins great, Mark–did what her pops never did as a pro: beat Green Bay.

As LFL writers Pat Murphy and Jim Wallin wrote in their post game report, Rypien got the most out of her completions on the day:

Rypien, the daughter of former Washington Redskins quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien, completed just 6-of-16 passes for 81 yards but threw for three touchdowns and managed the offense well while avoiding interceptions in the second half as the Mist pulled away.

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Photographic Tribute: Remembering Ryp

[Editor's Note: Despite the black and white photo and "Remembering Ryp" headline, he's alive and quite well.  It's just a tribute.]

As the Redskins prepare for their first regular season international contest in the land of Shania Twain and igloos, it’s important to look back and honor the greatest Canadian in Redskins history: Mark Rypien.

Mark Rypien was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, about a day-and-a-half drive from Toronto.  He came from a family of a family of tremendous athletes, including his quarterback daughter Angela Rypien, his golden gloves boxing uncle Wes Rypien Sr., and his pro hockey playing cousins Wes Jr. and Rick Rypien:

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NRG Solar Bowl Features Star-Power

As part of the unveiling of the brand new partnership with NRG Energy, the Redskins and NRG hosted the “NRG Solar Bowl,” before the game.  Quarterback superstars Joe Theismann, Joe Montana, Mark Rypien, and Doug Flutie were accompanied by NRG Energy CEO David Crane.

The quartet was available for comments before the festivities, and lots of photo opportunities.  They then showed off their own arms, and coached fans through the QB Challenge drills.

After near misses on his first two throws, Theismann said, “We could be here all day.”  He drilled his third throw.

After misses several throws, the double-Super-Bowl-blinged Mark Rypien made the excuse of: “Maybe I should take my rings off.”

Check out the action below:

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Hail To The Redskins Walk: Part 7

Hello ’90′s, my old friend.  Hanson sounds like legitimate music, skateboarding is cool (the first time around), and the Redskins come into the decade riding a wave of talent and determination.

The 1990s panel on the Redskins history wall is book-ended with a flurry of franchise activity at the beginning and end of the decade.  The team soared into the ’90′s behind the arm of Mark Rypien and the sure hands of Art Monk and The Posse.

The Redskins kicked off the 1990s with a Super Bowl run in 1991 that made them Kings of the World once again.  The Redskins dominate the Buffalo Bills 37-24 and Mark Rypien is named Super Bowl MVP, going 18-of-33 for 292 yards and two touchdowns. The defense shuts down the high-powered Bills offense, limited Thurman Thomas to 10 yards and sacked Jim Kelly five times.

When head coach Joe Gibbs retired in 1993, he took some of the magic with him, and the team needed a spark.  In 1997, the doors opened on Jack Kent Cooke Stadium in Landovery, Md., a veritable palace for NFL football.  In 1999, the team was sold to life-long fan and marketing and communications mogul Daniel Snyder.  The team wrapped up the decade standing atop the NFC East with a 10-6 record, their first division title since 1991.

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1930s * 1940s * 1950s * 1960s * 1970s * 1980s