The Redskins Blog

Local Rapper Welcomes FSU Draftees

(AP Photo)

Tallahassee, Florida is the capital of the Sunshine State, the center of agricultural work in the panhandle, and now can also claim to have produced two Redskins draft picks in the same round.

Hailing from Florida State University, Chris Thompson and Brandon Jenkins were selected within eight picks of each other in the fifth round on Saturday.

While it isn’t a rarity for college teammates to find themselves making the journey together from their college dorm rooms to an NFL locker room (think DeJon Gomes, Roy Helu Jr., and Niles Paul from Nebraska for example), the Burgundy and Gold had never taken FSU teammates together in a single draft let alone in the same round.

As the two prepare to make the almost 900 mile trek from Florida’s capital to the Nation’s Capital, one man who calls both areas home extended a welcoming hand to the newest Washington Redskins:

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Bracket Update: Ranking The Players

Since it’s not football season and there’s no Redskins football on TV, let’s assume that everyone’s attention has turned, at least for the next three weeks, to the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Call it crazy but March Madness is a force to be reckoned with at this time of year because of all the pageantry surrounding nail-biting finishes, Cinderella stories and upsets galore.

The bottom line is that the tournament is arguably one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year, other than the Super Bowl, and captivates audiences across the Nation.

Why try to fight it? Plus, Redskins players seem to be having some fun with the tournament so why can’t we?

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Redskins Social Media Weekly Spotlight

Welcome to your weekly Redskins Social Media Spotlight, where we highlight the trendy topics and social media campaigns going on this week in Redskins Nation. Check it out and make suggestions below.

Last week’s Social Media Weekly Spotlight covered WR Niles Paul and his former Nebraska Cornhusker teammates doing the Harlem Shake, NT Chris Baker’s plea for 10k Twitter followers as well as a mural from Washington D.C.’s own WR Joshua Morgan.

Admittedly so, most people probably don’t get as far as clicking the link to read these weekly social media updates. Contrarily, some of you may be reading this and say, ‘Who cares about the Redskins Social Media Weekly Spotlight?’ To that, we say that it’s time to start taking social media seriously.

Fact of the matter is that social media has rapidly integrated itself into our everyday lives.

For those of you who continue to read, here’s a look at K Kai Forbath and LB Ryan Kerrigan as they hit the links, QB Robert Griffin III’s return to Baylor, LB London Fletcher‘s preparation for season 16 and G Chris Chester‘s odd, and forgettable, experience at his local gym.

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Redskins Social Media Weekly Spotlight

Welcome to your weekly Redskins Social Media Spotlight, where we highlight the trendy topics and social media campaigns going on this week in Redskins Nation. Check it out and make suggestions below.

Last week’s Social Media Weekly Spotlight dived into the Combine, including some of the responses that Redskins players had in regards to the results, as well as WR Pierre Garçon’s plea to LB London Fletcher to play one more year. We still do not know the answer to the latter (hopefully, we’ll have more information by the end of this week).

In fact, at this point in the decision process, all we have to fall back on is the interview with Redskins.com that the saavy vet had following the season. While some may be inclined to sit back and wonder what if, trying to envision the future with or without the middle linebacker, we will not. You may ask, why? Well, because life must go on for the time being.

So without further ado, we bring you another installment of your weekly Redskins Social Media Spotlight, consisting of Niles Paul’s Harlem Shake, Joshua Morgan’s inspiring picture, Chris Baker’s plea for 10k Twitter followers, and more!

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Join Paul In The Fight Against Obesity

AP Image

Redskins wide receiver Niles Paul is helping support the Body by Vi Challenge and is calling for others to join him.

The Body by Vi Challenge is a 90 day weight loss challenge, that helps participants set a weight loss goal and then gives them an interactive timeline to track their progress. Read more »

Burns Brings ‘Special’ Blend of Success

(AP Photo)

Last week, the Redskins filled one of their coaching vacancies with the hiring of Keith Burns as Special Teams Coordinator. He is replacing the departed Danny Smith who took the same position with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Burns bring an ample amount of experience and success with him from his time with the Denver Broncos both on the field and with a headset. Last season as Assistant Special Teams Coach in Denver, he lead a unit that became a  booming sensation blocking punts and multiple return touchdowns.

He reunites with his coach of 11 seasons, Mike Shanahan, in hopes of improving the special teams unit in Washington. During his time as a player, he was the special teams captain for the team’s Super Bowl XXXII and Super Bowl XXXIII victories.

Read up on how Denver’s special team’s units thrived during his tenure and how he will be a resourceful tool for the Redskins this upcoming season:

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Teammates Congratulate Griffin III

(AP Photo)

On Saturday, quarterback Robert Griffin III wrapped up his phenomenal rookie campaign winning the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year award over fellow first-year studs Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson.

The award is just icing on the cake for the quarterback. He smashed his way into the record books the moment he put on his number 10 Redskins jersey.

In his professional debut in New Orleans, he tossed a pair of  touchdown passes in a 40-32 victory over the Saints. He capped off his season leading the team to its first NFC East title in 13 years.

He amassed 20 touchdowns, 3,200 yards, and a 102.4 quarterback rating  through the air along with 815 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground in 15 regular season games.

Griffin III was instrumental in revolutionizing Washington’s offense. He was the catalyst of a top five unit that led the league in rushing with 169.3 yards per game.

While Robert rightfully deserved the accolade for his accomplishments, football is the ultimate team sport. He is just one of 53 men who make up the Washington Redskins on game days.

Find out what some of his teammates had to say to him on Twitter here: Read more »

Paul Was ‘No Dumb Jock’ In High School

Redskins tight end Niles Paul has already proven that he can do most everything necessary on a football field, changing positions at the NFL level and embracing more responsibility in his second season.

Already in his young NFL career, he has 10 receptions for 177 yards, split between the wide receiver and tight end positions. He also has two career rushes for six yards, a respectable 3.0 yards-per-carry average.

Taking over as the full-time kick returner midway through the season, he returned 14 career kickoffs for 298 yards for a 21.3 average. In coverage, he has 24 special teams tackles in two years, with a team-high five punts downed inside the 20-yard line.

His athletic versatility dates back to high school, when he was a star on the gridiron, hardwood and outdoor track. In basketball, Paul was among the Class A leaders in scoring and rebounding, averaging nearly 19 points and 12 rebounds per game as a senior.

In track, Paul won the 110-meter hurdles at the state meet as both a junior and a senior, finishing second in the 300-meter hurdles and fourth in the 100-meter dash as a senior. His 4 x 100-meter relay team also finished second. As a junior, he led the Vikings to the Class A state track title by winning four gold medals.

Individually, he captured the Class A titles in the 110- and 300-meter hurdles and was part of all-class gold medal teams in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400-meter relays. Paul also won the Class A state title in the 300-meter hurdles as a sophomore.

He was also named a scholar athlete award winner in as a senior in 2007. As Paul told the cameras, he’s no dumb jock–maintaining a 3.6 GPA over the course of his high school career. Watch the video, below:

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Paul ‘Wide Open’ For First Career TD

(AP photo)

Niles Paul wasn’t surprised that his patience and hard work learning the tight end position had paid off with his first-career touchdown in Thursday’s win over the Dallas Cowboys.

What did surprise Paul, however, was how wide open he was on the play.

“We practiced it, I sold it and was very patient,” Paul said after the game. “And it was just wide open.”

A quick look at the play shows exactly how Paul was able to get loose with no defenders in sight.

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Watch Niles Paul’s Hit Over And Over

Niles Paul had one of those hits last Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings that you just want to watch over and over again.

So here you go (courtesty of thevikingage.com).

Paul — a special teams ace when he’s not playing his usual tight end position — was asked all about the punt return smackdown on Vikings returner Marcus Sherels after the 38-24 Redskins victory.

“I just knew that was my opportunity to get down there, kicking it to my side, and make a big play,” he said, discussing the single coverage.  “I didn’t see [Sherels] fair catch it, so I just took my shot.

“I was looking around to make sure I didn’t get the flag because his helmet came off,” he continued with a grin.  “I didn’t feel like it was a helmet-to-helmet shot, I just threw my shoulder at him. If he didn’t fair catch the ball, that’s his fault.  I lowered my shoulder; felt like I made a good play.”