Recent News

Washington Redskins Have not Discussed Long-term Contract with Brian Orakpo

June 18th, 2013 at 10:13 AM
By Zach Powell

All indications have pointed to a healthy return for the Washington Redskin's linebacker Brian Orakpo after a torn pectoral muscle effectively ruined his 2012 season. Orakpo is a free-agent after the season, and the Redskins are apparently content with allowing him to play out the season before offering him a long-term deal.

'Brian Orakpo' photo (c) 2009, Keith Allison - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Orakpo has all the tools to propel himself to the upper hierarchy of pass-rushers in the NFL, but injuries have derailed a hot start for the former Texas Longhorn.  He's notched 29.5 sacks in his first 49 games, which earned him a spot on the NFC's Pro Bowl roster in his first two seasons in the league. Washington was confident that it had solved their pass-rushing issues that plagued them in the mid-2000's by pairing Orakpo, who's widely considered the Redskin's best defensive player, with Ryan Kerrigan, a first-round pick in 2011.  

Brian had this to say about his contract issues,

"I'm not worried about it," Orakpo said last week, via the Washington Post. "I'm concentrating on having a successful season. Everything will take care of itself."

Read more...
Join the Conversation...

Washington Redskins Offensive Coordinator Doesn’t Believe Offense Needs to Be Changed

June 13th, 2013 at 9:17 AM
By Zach Powell

The message from the Washington Redskins regarding their offense has been united throughout the offseason.  Kyle Shanahan, the team's offensive coordinator, continued to sing the same tune Wednesday, as Redskins coordinators spoke to the media for the first and last time during OTA's.

“He stayed healthy last year running the zone read,” Kyle Shanahan said. “So I feel pretty good about that. You really hope no one gets hurt. It’s hard to control injuries. … When you do the zone read, everyone [on the opposing defense] is accounted for. There’s not many free hitters in it.”

It seems as if criticizing the Redskins offense has become the new hip thing to do in Washington, as nearly everyone has an opinion on how to best handle Robert Griffin III.  Making sure that Griffin avoids the types of massive hits that put him on the shelf for several months has to be on the top of the Shanahan's list of things to accomplish during training camp.  Kyle Shanahan agreed with comments earlier in the offseason from his father, head coach Mike Shanahan, that the read-option wasn't a factor in RG III's injuries.

Read more...
Join the Conversation...

Washington Redskins’ Pierre Garcon Will Wear Special Footwear to Protect Injured Foot

June 6th, 2013 at 2:13 PM
By Zach Powell

Washington Redskins' receiver Pierre Garcon set the bar high for the season after taking a Robert Griffin III pass 88 yards for RG3's first career touchdown. Unfortunately for Garcon and the Redskins, Pierre would miss the second half of the game and battle a torn ligament in his foot for the rest of the season.  

'Pierre Garcon' photo (c) 2012, Keith Allison - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

He told the NFL Network on Thursday that he was taking special precautions to make sure the injury wouldn't  slow him down this season:

“It’s coming along, I’m getting some special shoes made by Russell so they’re helping me out with that,” Garcon said. ”And continue to go along with the process of rehabbing, but it’s an everyday ongoing process. I’ve been learning a lot about my foot and how I run and things like that with all these injuries, but it’s getting better.”

It's unknown whether the special shoe is a preventive measure or if the torn ligament is going to carry over in to the 2013 NFL season. Garcon opted for rest and extended therapy on the torn ligament rather than undergoing surgery, which allowed him to return for Washington's stretch run to the playoffs.  Washington chose to stand pat this offseason, bringing back the same crop of receivers that it finished last season, with hopes that Pierre would be healthy enough to maintain his position as the number-one receiver.

Read more...
Join the Conversation...

Trial Date in Death of Washington Redskins Safety Sean Taylor Finally Set

June 4th, 2013 at 1:56 PM
By Zach Powell

After nearly six years, the four men accused in the 2007 shooting of former Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor will finally head to trial on August 12th.

On November 26, 2007, Taylor was shot in the upper leg by an armed intruder at his home in Florida, where he had been in the process of rehabbing an injury. The bullet severed his femoral artery, resulting in a tremendous loss of blood, and Taylor would later lose his battle at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami.  

Timothy Lee Brown, Jason Scott Mitchell, Eric Rivera, and Charles K. Wardlow will face first-degree murder and armed burglary charges and face life in prison if convicted.  A fifth suspect, Venjah Hunte, has already submitted a guilty plea and was charged with second degree murder. Hunte will testify against the four and is in the midst of a 29-year prison sentence. 

Sean's father, Pedro "Pete" Taylor, had this to say about the announcement of the trial date:

“It’s been a long time coming,” said Sean’s father Pedro “Pete” Taylor. “I’d like to thank everyone for their concerns, kind words and prayers for Sean and our family. We hope for speedy trials so our family can get the closure we deserve.” 

Read more...
Comments Off

Former Washington Redskins Quarterback Donovan McNabb Wants RG3 to Slow Down

June 3rd, 2013 at 1:40 PM
By Zach Powell

In some ways, the running quarterback, which seems to be all-the-rage these days in the NFL, was made popular by former Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb.  McNabb, now an NFL analyst, has a bit of advice for current Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III: slow down before you become a "sideshow."

'Robert Griffin III' photo (c) 2012, Keith Allison - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

In a relatively slow offseason for the Redskins, RG3 has caused quite a stir, using his social media accounts to voice his opinions on trending topics.  From wedding registries to tyranny, and everything in between, McNabb believes Griffin is taking away from the focus of the offseason.

"…if you're coming off ACL surgery, you don't need to be having a press conference at OTAs. Every week? Really? It becomes a circus, a sideshow. It takes away from the focus of what those sessions are supposed to be about: the team."

Griffin's ACL injury and recovery has become a bit of a lightning rod this offseason.  There doesn't seem to be a blueprint on how to protect RG3 in the future with numerous personalities chiming in on the subject, from Sonny Jurgensen to Robert Griffin Jr., RG3's father, each has an idea on how the Redskins should run their offense.  Meanwhile, Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan has kept his hand close to his chest, only giving little tidbits of information as necessary to the media about potential changes to the offense.

Read more...
Comments Off