9:1 Drama Queens

There has been more media around Redskins park in the last four days than at a Justin Beiber concert. (that's never a good thing) Last Sunday, the Redskins lined up on their own 22 yard line. On the clock, 4:25 remained for them to secure a 25-20 lead. Donovan McNabb stepped back saw a small opening to squeeze a pass into the arms of of Anthony Armstrong. Like almost every play for the entire game, Donovan felt the pressure of the defense around him. As he released the ball, his arm was hit resulting in an interception. The next time he would take the field the Redskins were looking up at a 28-25 deficit. On fourth down, McNabb was sacked. It would be his last snap of the game. Injury? No. Coach Mike Shanahan felt the urge to introduce Rex Grossman, the 'Skins backup quarterback, to the action. The first play by Grossman was a fumble that led to the final score of 37-25 and a Redskins loss to the Detroit Lions.



That decision by Shanahan has led to media swarming Ashburn, VA in droves. The Redskins situation at quarterback is now in jeopardy. Why was McNabb benched? Will Grossman be taking the snaps from now on? Will McNabb return to the Redskins next year? Why are they considering JaMarcus Russell at QB? Did they insult McNabb? Are there problems between Mike and Donovan?..........It's a little ridiculous, can you tell? Shanahan has made it very clear that he and the pro-bowl quarterback are under good terms and the decision was made due to problems with McNabb's hamstring in the two minute offense. Other than that, there is almost nothing to be concerned about. Donovan McNabb is still the starter as the Redskins take a week off before facing division foe Philadelphia.

As for JaMarcus Russell taking snaps for the Redskins, he was among 50 other free agents tested by the Redskins. Perhaps the Redskins' staff feels depleted at the third string QB position. Perhaps they are thinking long term after McNabb is gone. Whatever the case, McNabb is not being replaced by Rex Grossman, JaMarcus Russell, or anyone else. Russell might not be a bad pick up if he has gotten back in shape and focused on football not money.

8:3 Report Cards

It's Week 8 in the NFL. And that means it's time for Mid-term Report Cards. The general consensus of this season is "What the heck just happened?" Teams that were once celebrating in confetti and hoisting trophies are now cowering from first-overall draft teams. Teams once laughed at are now laughing. It's been one crazy year of football filled with shocking surprise wins and equally surprising losses. With that said, our beloved NFC East hasn't quite avoided the chaos of 2010. Some of the season's most jaw-dropping stories stems directly from this division. Let's begin.

1. 2010 New York Giants (5-2)

Yes, I know. I thought the Dallas Cowboys would be on top too, but who's complaining? Actually, the New York Giants have established themselves as one of the top contenders in the NFC this year, and look like they could run away with this division. The Giants began the year with a 1-2 record after embarrassing losses to the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts, but have turned it around to win four consecutive games. The Giants season is by no means over though, as two division rivals sit just one game behind them. Their team looks consistent overall and if they don't putter out like they did in 2009, they can set their expectations high - very high.



2. 2010 Washington Redskins (4-3)

I promise you, this is the truth. The Redskins are only one game out of leading the division. This team.... This team can't win a game to save their life. Fortunately, they can't lose one to save their life either. The Redskins season has been one that has left fans holding their breath on the final play of every game. The Redskins began their campaign with a 13-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys that was decided on the last snap. The following week was a 30-27 overtime loss to Houston. Then, the Week 4 game in Philadelphia, where the Eagles came one dropped pass in the end zone from winning on the final play. An overtime field goal lifted the Redskins over Green Bay. Two of the Redskins' three losses have come by only three points. They hold an undefeated record against division rivals compared to their winless record in 2009. The Redskins are finding ways to win, and have set themselves in the position to contend for an unthinkable division title.



3. 2010 Philadelphia Eagles (4-3)

Ups and Downs have been the story for Philadelphia. They began the season looking mediocre at best under the leadership of Kevin Kolb. However, Kolb suffered a concussion in Week 1, putting the starting quarterback job in the hands of Michael Vick. Vick caught the football world by storm with two dominant victories in the following weeks. Philadelphia looked like the favorite to win the division, however the Washington Redskins injured Vick in Week 4, and pulled off a surprising victory over Philly. Kolb took control again, and this time, shined in the spotlight. This team looks inconsistent at the midway point, yet hold an impressive record of 4-3 after eight weeks. Vick should return to the starting position in the upcoming weeks giving the Eagles hope for 2010.

4. 2010 Dallas Cowboys (1-5)

?........What can even be said about this team? Favored to win the division in early predictions, the team has found no unity. The Cowboys biggest opponent this season has been themselves. They have continued to shoot themselves in the foot week after week with penalties and dumb decisions. This team has the talent to be 5-1 or 6-0, yet they are tied for the worst record in the NFC. In Week 1, the Cowboys appeared to throw the game-winning touchdown in the closing seconds, but a penalty erased it resulting in a 7-13 loss to Washington. Chicago ran over them in the following week. The Cowboys seemed to put the missing pieces together against Houston and destroyed the Texans. However, three straight losses have followed, and now Tony Romo, the starting quarterback, is out for 8 weeks with a broken collarbone. It's time to start considering the season lost for Dallas.

8:2 Goin' Bank

Like Anthony Armstrong, Brandon Banks came from low places to find himself as the Redskins' primary kick returner. Faced with the adversity against his size, he has used the asset of speed to silence the critics. At 5'7 and 148 lbs, you don't get much positive recognition as a potential threat. You might get plenty of attention for looking like a high-schooler, but a 290 lb. linebacker won't be focusing the defense on you. Strangely for Banks, he's usually the one smiling after a play is blown dead.

Banks came from the small rural town of Garner, North Carolina. He started all four years at Garner Magnet High School despite his small size. His speed stood out enough to be named to the USA Today All-USA Team for his record times in the 100 and 200 meter dashes. He spent his first year after high school at a junior college known as Bakersfield. The team was ranked first in the nation for junior colleges at the end of 2007. His talent took him to Kansas State where he stood out as one of the school's all time leading receivers. Banks' strength came on special teams, especially on kick returns. In the 2010 NFL Draft, Banks watched as his name was overlooked and his hope for an NFL career seemed to vanish. All that changed when Mike Shanahan of the Washington Redskins signed Banks to aid competition for wide receivers. Brandon Banks was immediately recognized by his tiny size, but it was his speed that ultimately overshadowed his height. In the Redskins' first pre-season game against Buffalo, his punt return for a touchdown caught many people off-guard, and turned the heads of the coaching staff. Banks was given a miracle chance as he made the final roster as one of six finalist at receiver. He beat out five other competitors with better resumes making his roster spot more accomplished.



Banks was soon sent down to practice squad, but by Week 4 of the regular season, his number was called upon to mimic that of Philadelphia Eagles QB Michael Vick. His job was to evade pass rushes using his speed to prepare the defense for the quickness of Vick. Again, his speed caught the attention of Shanahan, who moved him to the starting kick and punt returner. His debut at punt returner resulted in a 53-yard jaw-dropping return against a stunned Philadelphia crowd. He followed that with a 30-yard return the next week against Green Bay. The next week against Indianapolis he blocked a crucial field goal by Adam Vinateri at the end of the half.


Time and time again Banks has sneaked out of the cellar and into the light. His entire life he has been neglected and downplayed because of his small stature, but sometimes it's not the size that matters. Banks plays with heart and adds electricity to the Washington sideline. For the first time in over a decade, the Redskins have some hope at returning kicks.

8:1 A Cinderella Story

Long shot was an understatement for this player on the Redskins very diverse roster. He was an absolute nobody before the first snap this year. But now teams are scheming against him as he has turned in better performances than some 1st round draft picks. At wide out, Anthony Armstrong has sneaked out of the basement and practice squads onto the big stage and has not disappointed. Shanahan was criticized for holding onto him as opposed to some more popular wide receivers such as Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly, but he has failed to disappoint. No one is complaining now.

Anthony Armstrong grew up in Carrollton, Texas as a Dallas Cowboys fan and a wide receiver at Newman Smith High School. His quick speed made him a star on the school's track and field team. It would not be the last time his speed would be a factor. After high school, Armstrong moved on to West Texas A&M, a Division II college. He lettered all four years in football and was the school's fourth all time leader in receiving. He also graduated with a degree in marketing. The NFL seemed an unreachable goal for Armstrong, who began his career in the Intense Football League, playing for the Osedda Rednecks and making $200 a game. He caught what seemed to be his biggest break of his career when he was signed to the Dallas Desperados of the Arena Football League. Armstrong shined within the walls of Arena Football enough to be noticed by the Miami Dolphins, who signed the player to their practice squad.

After Miami no longer needed their practice helper they released him on waivers to the Washington Redskins. Destined to be a practice player for all of his career, Armstrong spent the 2009 NFL Season catching passes as practice against the starting defense. After the Redskins posted a horrible 4-12 record in '09, change swept through Washington. While many players worried about the change, Armstrong embraced it. He put 110% into the practice reps, which caught the eye of the Redskins new head coach Mike Shanahan. He offered the player an opportunity to compete for a roster spot - something the young wide out had never had before.


The rest is history. Armstrong now starts games along side the veteran Santana Moss. He now catches passes from Donovan McNabb. On October 10th, Armstrong's incredible 48-yard touchdown paved the way for an unlikely come-from-behind win. His route running is now schemed against by the best defenses in the country. Only time will tell if this Cinderella story has a fairy tale ending.

7:3 Sean Taylor Tribute

Going into training camp, it's time to take a look at the defensive side of the team. I'll start with the safety position - one that had literally felt a void since 2007. The Redskins have plenty of talent in their secondary and in 2010, it will be important that the defense stays strong as the offense tries to improve. For the past decade the Redskins' offense has never been able to catch up to it's defense. For a few years, Washington had one of the top 5 defenses in the league while their offense has always been in the bottom half of the standings. This was due in much part to the Redskins' defensive coaches who had been with the team for many years including the glory days. The defense however is making the transition from a 4-3 to a 3-4 this year and this always leads to growing pains. Also the Redskins' defense had one of the worst tackling secondaries in the game last year meaning there is much room for improvement. The Safety position was not always so weak....

On November 26, 2007, midway through the 2007 season, Sean Taylor, the Redskins' Pro-Bowl Free Safety, was tragically murdered in his Palmetto Bay home in Florida. The murder was not aimed at Taylor, but was an attempted burglary, making his death that much more devastating. He was defending his long-time girlfriend Jackie Moffet and his 18-month old daughter Jackie. The intruders did not expect anyone to be home, and upon sighting Taylor, shot him in the upper leg. Taylor spent the night in the hospital suffering from his wounds with the Redskins' nation watching closely. Sean Taylor passed away Novemeber 27, 2007 at 3:30 A.M. He was 24 years old. Sean Taylor was the cornerstone to the Redskins' defense and secondary. It was the biggest loss in Redskins' history and possibly sports history. The Redskins dedicated the remainder of the 2007 campaign in his memory, one that at the time looked hopeless. Inspired by the loss of their teammate, they finished the year on a miracle run winning 4 must-win games securing the final playoff spot. Although they lost to Seattle, the year was a good memorial to the fallen Redskin who had done so much for the franchise. He was the Redskins' and Joe Gibbs' first draft choice in 2004 and really became the team's favorite son. The memories he left on the field have never been forgotten. Sean Taylor is still missed today and his position on the team has never recovered. RIP




We all remember Sean in different ways, but the pain is still the same for all of us. Joe Gibbs claimed that he was making changes in his life to become a better person and father. Sean brought our emotions up and down in both his life and in his death, and three years later his legacy lives on. Going into 2010, LaRon Landry, who replaced Sean Taylor, still lives in the shadow of his predecessor. The team Sean left is slowly evolving and changing with new players and new coaches, but there is one thing that always remains the same. The fans. We are always there after every win and every loss going through the year along side the team. We remember Sean Taylor. We will never forget Sean Taylor.

7:2 Narrowing Down Options

By far, the wide receiver position is most interesting to watch this season. Nearly every spot is up for grabs and there are so many players competing for a chance to make the final cut. In all there are 11 players competing for 4-5 spots. Even more interesting than the amount of players are the bio's of the players. Every player has a different story. Some are in the final years if not, the final year of their careers while most are just kids with little to no experience in the league. These are the eleven wide-outs hoping for a spot on the Redskins:

• Santana Moss
• Devin Thomas
• Malcolm Kelly
• Joey Galloway
• Bobby Wade
• Anthony Armstrong
• Terrence Austin
• Roydell Williams
• Shay Hodge
• Mike Furrey
• Brandon Banks

Santana Moss is the only wide-out who is guaranteed a starting job on the Redskins in 2010. He has been the number one receiver in Washington for over five years and has really become the face of the franchise. His small size is his weakness and causes problems when going after high passes. However, Moss is very fast and runs routes as well as some of the best in the game. Look for # 89 to bounce back from an off-year last year because this year is possibly the most critical of his career. Santana has the number one receiving spot locked up.


Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly came into the league as some of the most anticipated receivers of the 2008 draft class. Many thought the Redskins' receiving corps drastically improved when they arrived. However, both have proved to be draft busts for the most part due to their shocking lack of production. Thomas had a great game against New Orleans last year with two touchdowns, but besides that game his 2008 and 2009 campaigns have both been disappointing. Kelly has been even more disappointing than his counter part. He has yet to catch even one touchdown in two years. If they can't breakout and produce this year it's the end of the road.


Joey Galloway and Bobby Wade add experience to the table as both are in the ladder part of their careers. Galloway had his best season in 2005 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers posting Pro-Bowl type numbers. He has been a valuable asset to any team has played for. His most recent playing time came with the New England Patriots in 2009. Wade has not put up the same kind of numbers as Galloway, but still has plenty of potential.

Anthony Armstrong and Terrence Austin are two wide-outs who are competing for more than just wide-receiver. They are both competing for a kick return job which is an area where the Redskins need plenty of help. Armstrong might be the most underrated of the group as he has been one of the best in offseason activities. Austin was drafted in the 7th round this year by Shanahan from UCLA where he was their best receiver. He specialized in kick returns due to his lightning quickness.

The final four receivers are all long shots to making the team, but anything can happen this year. The Redskins picked up Mike Furrey and Roydell Williams this offseason to add depth to the competition. Shay Hodge and Brandon Banks have the steepest hill to climb, but with dedication and productivity in training camp and the pre-season, they might just pick up a job.

7:1 Carrying Hope?

It was only a few years ago that Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker were some of the most elite running backs in the National Football League, but times have changed. From age to injury, these three once-dominant backs are now skeletons of the players they once were. There's a lot of doubt and skepticism as to whether or not these three backs can perform again. Portis was once the face of the Washington Redskins and could very well be again. Johnson set season rushing records as a Kansas City Chief, and Willie Parker still holds the longest Super Bowl fun in history on the Pittsburgh Steelers. The interesting twist now is that they are all on the same team and that team is the Washington Redskins. There are six players competing at for a spot on the team at running back:

• Clinton Portis
• Larry Johnson
• Willie Parker
• Ryan Torain
• Keiland Williams
• Darrel Young

Clinton Portis has been the starter in Washington for over five years now, and there's no reason why this shouldn't be his sixth. His age and multiple injuries over the years might take their tole this year but he should still prove productive. Interestingly enough, Portis began his career with the Denver Broncos under Mike Shanahan making 2010 a reunion of two ex-Broncos.


Larry Johnson knocked defenses left and right when he began his career in Kansas City, but over the years his productivity has drastically declined. Last year, in Cincinnati his running game was nearly dormant. Washington has given him a second chance in his career, but it is up to him to make the most of it. Look for Johnson to be a third-down back and second string behind Portis


Willie Parker is a big question mark coming into 2010 and has been his entire career. There were times in Pittsburgh where his skills carrying the ball made some of the best defenses look clueless. There were also times where defenses made him look like a college rookie. If parker can stay consistent and take advantage of his speed and quickness, he can guarantee himself a spot on the Washington Redskins. He will most likely be the third-string if not the backup running back.


Ryan Torain has a legitimate chance of making the final roster. He and Keiland Williams will most likely slug it out to beat out Parker for the final running back spot. However, Shanahan might decide to have four backs on his roster giving Torain and Williams a spot to compete for between themselves. Torain began his career in 2008 with the Denver Broncos under who else? Mike Shanahan. He has played in two NFL games over his career accumulating 69 yards with 15 carries.


Keiland Williams was a backup running back at LSU and played in 47 games over his college career. He rushed for 1,699 yards with 17 touchdowns and carried the ball 299 times. He also had two receiving touchdowns. Williams was signed by the Redskins in April as an undrafted rookie free agent.


Darrel Young was a part of last year's Redskins but came to the team competing for a linebacker spot. Young has made the transition to running back. He is versatile enough to play both linebacker and safety. His versatility could prove valuable in his attempt to make the team as a running back. He was a four-year starter from Villanova who signed with Washington last year as a rookie.

There's an old saying in boxing that every boxer always has one good fight left in him. Can that translate to football as every back has one good year left in him? Washington can only hope. If Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker all have season's similar to last year, the Redskins will have one of the weakest rushing attacks in the league. However, if each back has one more year like they once had, the team will have one of the most potent ground attacks in football. These three have different styles of running the ball. Both Portis and Johnson play power football trying to run through tackles and break their way through the defense. Parker, whose nickname was "Fast Willie" in Pittsburgh, tries to find holes in the defensive line and then uses speed to break away. One final thought, power backs tend to have shorter careers due to the amount of punishment they receive from defenses over the years.