The Redskins Blog

Army Son’s Wish Granted By Redskins

Robert Griffin III was in eighth grade when his father was deployed to serve his country in Iraq.

Griffin III did all he could to distract himself from thinking about the danger his father faced in the Middle East — digging deeper into an already-busy athletic lifestyle, playing video games or being with his friends and family — but nothing could completely keep the 13-year-old Griffin III’s father out of the back of his mind.

Quinten Shibusawa knows those feelings all too well.

Read more »

Young Still Inspired By Military Family

As if Washington Redskins’ fullback Darrel Young needed any more adrenaline last season in the team’s season-opener against the New York Giants — Young’s first-career start — the Villanova product was also hyped by the presence of his brother, David, who has done several military tours in the Middle East in recent years.

Read more »

Young, NFL To Visit Deployed Military Units

I’m not sure if Redskins fullback Darrel Young is a fan of literature, but his life has captured the essence of Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken.”

Coming out of Villanova as a linebacker, Young went undrafted and unsigned in the 2009 NFL Draft.  Most players in that position would give up on their dreams, but not Young.

When Young finally did get his chance in training camp, he couldn’t make the cut and didn’t make the team.  Most players in that position would move on to other opportunities, but not Young.  He focused on improving, and finally got his chance in 2010–as a fullback.

Few players have the physical skills to make a position switch at the professional level, and even fewer have the mental fortitude to handle the frustrations.  Young showed that he was willing and capable of playing fullback at a high level last year, and enjoyed his first season as a starter in 2011.

Breaking the mold has been a theme in Young’s football career, starting at its very roots.  Young grew up in an Army household with 12 brothers and sisters.  When many of his siblings were envisioning their own careers in the military, Darrel was dedicating himself to a future in football. Read more »

Veterans Watch Redskins Practice Today

In honor of Veterans Day, the Redskins hosted 30 current and retired service men and women at practice this afternoon.

The veterans were selected through the Shepherd Veterans Organization, Salute Military Golf Association, Wounded Warrior Project, and the Yellow Ribbon Fund, and were invited for lunch at Redskins Park followed by the watching of Redskins practice.

Although they may have been the spectators during practice, they were the heroes coming off the field today, as players lined up to thank the veterans and sign autographs:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Read more »

Redskins Play Soldiers In Call Of Duty 3

This afternoon at Redskins Park, players Stephen Bowen, Kareem Moore, Brandon Banks, Erik Cook and Nick Sundberg challenged 50 local military members from the Army’s “Old Guard” to games of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

The event was organized by the Redskins Community Relations, the USO, and Pros vs. G.I. Joes, a non profit organization that links up soldiers with professional athletes to play video games in a relaxed setting.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

“It’s just an incredible event,” said Pros vs. G.I. Joes founder Greg Zinone.  ”The thing that makes our events different from anyone else’s, is that you’ll see we’re not a handshake tour, we’re not an autograph session.  Right from that door up there, the troops strip off their rank and the players strip off their uniforms, and it’s just like hanging out with the guys in your basement.  You’re just hanging out with your best friends in your basement.  Who wouldn’t wanna play Call of Duty with professional athletes?”

This is the Redskins third time teaming up for the event, and Zinone called the team one of his organization’s biggest supporters.

“Right when the schedule comes out every year, I get a call and the Redskins set up a date right around Veterans Day,” he said.  ”What better way to support our troops than to do what they’d be sitting home doing anyway?

The event featured a push-ups contest between a soldier and the Pros vs. G.I. Joes’ own Joe Oneto: Read more »

Redskins Timeout For Military Veterans

The Washington Redskins, GlaxoSmithKline and other Redskins’ health and wellness partner organizations will host the fourth annual Timeout for Veterans’ and Military Health which offers free health screenings to veterans and military members on Saturday, Oct. 29 at FedExField.

Military members, veterans and their families will have the opportunity to participate in free cholesterol, diabetes, blood pressure, and lung-function screenings at this exclusive military event. Health educators will also be available to discuss screening results one-on-one with patients.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Former Redskins’ players Ken Harvey, Ron Saul and Ricky Ervins, as well as Redskins Cheerleaders and the Hogettes will be on site honoring veterans and supporting them in taking steps to better protect themselves and their families from chronic diseases. Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour the Redskins locker room and get a player’s perspective of FedExField while learning how to be proactive about their health.

For one Redskins Cheerleader in particular, this event is very near and dear to her heart.  Adriana, a Cheerleader Rookie this year, serves in the United States Air Force as an Active Duty Manpower Analyst. Read more »

A Happy Story About A Redskins Cheerleader

If you’re still down from the Caps’ unexpected playoff exit, NBC-4 has just the upbeat story for you: a Marine home early from Iraq surprises his wife at work. And it just so happens that “work” in this case is Redskins Cheerleading practice.

Not really much to add to this one besides Awwwwww.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/syndication?id=92476074&path=%2Fnews%2Flocal-beat Read more »