(photo by Kevin C. Cox)

Ladies and gentlemen, back by popular demand, it’s time for another round of “caption this.”

The game is fairly simple, as you hopefully know by now. We supply the photo and you bring the witty reader-submitted captions. You might not win any cool prizes, but you’ll be formally recognized for being better than your peers and will get some love here on the blog.

Here’s our humble offering for this photo to help get folks started:

“Rookie Stephen Strasburg has become so desperate for run support in the Washington Nationals’ lineup that’s he now holds auditions on his off days.”

Think you can do better? Leave a comment below with your best caption.

[Editor's note: The winner is Milhouse44 with a caption of, “You kids get off my lawn or I have 95 mph change up for you AND your old man.”]

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[Editor's note: For those who still haven't heard the news, I've started writing a weekly sports column for SB Nation DC. So every Tuesday, my contribution to society (or at least the D.C. sports scene) is located over there.]

I know this is going to sound crazy, but hear me out. Could it be possible that, for the first time in recent history, the Washington Redskins have a better offense than defense?

While it’s completely foolish to make bold declarations based on summer football being played in shorts and no pads, I can’t help but think the 2010 Redskins will be carried by their offense for a change, as opposed to the top-10 defense that has kept the team in games for most of the last decade.

By the numbers, here’s how the Redskins have stacked up in total offense over the last decade: 22nd, 19th, 15th, 13th, 11th, 30th, 23rd, 20th, 28th, 11th.

Conversely, here’s their total defensive rankings over the same span: 10th, fourth, eighth, 31st, ninth, third, 25th, fifth, 10th, fourth.

Doing some quick math, the ‘Skins have averaged the 19th-best offense in football since 2000 while failing to crack the top 10. The defense, even after finishing 2006 with the second-worst defense in football, still averaged 10th place in the NFL over the last decade, thanks to eight top-10 finishes.

And yet, I’m still of the mindset that this year the offense will outperform the defense. Why? That’s where all the time,money and resources have been spent this offseason.

First, the team added Mike Shanahan. Dude’s a two-time Super Bowl winner who just so happens to be an offensive-minded coach. And nothing against Jason Campbell, who was serviceable, but the huddle is now being run by Donovan McNabb – easily the best quarterback the Redskins have had in 20 years.

Even at 33, McLovin’ is still a top-10 talent in a league where quarterbacks matter most. Just having him around is going to make a difference because younger players have seen him lead his teams to countless NFC championship games. Sure, he’s only been in town for 10 minutes, but his words are already going to carry more weight than most in that locker room.

At running back, the team has Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson and Willie Parker. I fully concede that this isn’t 2006 and no one can say for sure that any of these guys has much left in the tank, but at least Shanahan and friends have been smart enough to stockpile these aging veterans. I am of the mindset that Portis will do just fine as the every-down back with Johnson excelling as the short-yardage/goal-line back, but that’s far from a certainty at this point.

But here’s why I’m feeling good about the running back rotation: if one guy (i.e. – Parker) doesn’t have it anymore, there are two other established vets who can step up and make plays. If they still don’t feel like there’s enough there to get through the season, Brian Westbrook is only a phone call away. This isn’t a situation where a coach foolishly ties his season to an over-the-hill running back. No, what we’ve got here is a guy bringing in anyone who might be able to contribute and saying: “It’s your job to lose. Make plays or we’ll find someone else who can.” Now, you tell me that when your livelihood is at stake you wouldn’t step up your game. I know I would.

Click here for the full article.

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After neglecting the offensive line for more than a decade, the Washington Redskins have gone out of their way to make up for lost time this offseason.

The first sign that the front office’s philosophy had shifted came during free agency, when the Redskins signed a relatively obscure lineman named Artis Hicks. Then, the team completely shocked the world by using three of their six picks on offensive linemen.

With the fourth overall pick, the ‘Skins selected tackle Trent Williams out of Oklahoma, and then in the seventh round, the team nabbed New Mexico center Erik Cook with the 229th selection and West Virginia tackle Selvish Capers with the 331st pick.

Rounding out the impressive overhaul, the Redskins pulled off a trade with the New Orleans Saints for Pro Bowl tackle Jammal Brown.

Somewhere, future general manager Fred Smoot is crying tears of joy as the team finally realized that stockpiling “fat boys” is the way to go.

With so many new faces in the mix, I thought it’d be a good idea to chat with some of the new guys. Earlier this offseason, I chatted with Hicks. This time around, it was Capers.

For those who don’t know much about the rookie, he stands 6-4 and 304 lbs. He came to West Virginia as a tight end, but converted to the offensive line during his sophomore season.

Capers started at right tackle each of the last three seasons for the Mountaineers, protecting the blind side for their left-handed quarterback. The scouting report says he’s got a big frame and he’s very athletic, although he’ll have to bulk up to compete at the pro level.

“I really like it here,” Capers said of Washington. “I’m starting to get the offense down, because it’s totally different than what we did at West Virginia. The scheme is similar, but the plays, terminology and things like that are a whole lot different. I’m just trying to get into a rhythm and I’m hoping that all this hard work pays off.”

It’s not like West Virginia is on the other side of the country or anything, so how much did you know about the Redskins prior to the NFL draft?

“Not much at all,” he admitted. “I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana and grew up a big Saints fan. I pretty much started learning about the team once I got here.”

Well, it’s no secret that the offensive line has been a weakness for the Redskins in recent history, so you could actually see the field sooner here than with other teams. How important is it for you to get playing time in your rookie season?

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“It’s a new dawn, it’s a new day … and I’m feeling good.” – Michael Buble

If you woke up Friday morning with that song in your head, it’s safe to assume you were tuned in to the NBA Draft last night as the Washington Wizards took their first step in the right direction by selecting Kentucky point guard John Wall with the top pick.

Unlike Kwame Brown, the team’s last number-one overall selection, Wall can actually play.

Wall averaged 16.6 points, 6.5 assists and 4.3 rebounds last season for Kentucky. He’s got good size (or length as Jay Bilas loves to say). He’s got blazing speed. He’s got great vision and court awareness. He even excels on the defense, something most current Wizards know nothing about.

All in all, Wall is one of the more complete players to come out of college in recent history and definitely provides Washington with a much-needed boost.

“He’s an outstanding talent,” said Wizards general manager Ernie Grunfeld. “Great speed, quickness, very good defender, has a very competitive nature to him, and he wants to be a really great player. Great work ethics, so we think he’s going to be a focal point for this organization for many, many years to come.”

Welcome to Washington, Mr. Wall. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to become the face of the franchise while making professional basketball relevant again in our nation’s capital. No pressure.

“I feel like I had pressure since I became number one in high school and was one of the top players,” Wall said. “I always got there hungry wanting to fight hard and compete in every game, so when I step on the court I’m going to take on any challenge there.”

Heading into the draft, the Wiz had only six players under contract for next season – Gilbert Arenas, Andray Blatche, Nick Young, JaVale McGee, Al Thornton and Quinton Ross.

Guys like Mike Miller, Randy Foye, Josh Howard and Shaun Livingston who played on the team last season could return to Washington, but chances are each of them will be playing elsewhere next season.

This draft night was all about seizing the opportunity to overhaul the roster and give Wizards fans their first glimpse at what the future holds for owner Ted Leonsis’ newest project.

Earlier in the day, the Wizards agreed to a trade with the Chicago Bulls in which they’ll receive guard Kirk Hinrich, the 17th overall pick and $3 million in exchange for a future second-round choice. I use the future tense because the trade cannot actually be completed until July 8 for salary cap reasons.

From Chicago’s perspective, the deal works because it allows them to clear enough salary cap space to pursue two top-tier free agents this summer, when the likes of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh could be on the move.

Hinrich, a seven-year veteran who is versatile enough to play either point or shooting guard, averaged 10.9 points per game and 4.5 assists last season for Chicago. He’s a solid/dependable player who is credited for mentoring Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, the top overall pick two seasons ago. The biggest downside to Hinrich is the hefty price tag.

That’s why Chicago was willing to move the 29-year-old, and even sweeten the pot by adding a first-round pick and cash.

For the Wizards, this move is happening for one reason – to provide Wall with a better role model than Arenas. Hinrich isn’t a great shooter, isn’t even really an above-average point guard and yet, he’ll make $17 million on the last two years of his contract.

The question we’d love to ask Grunfeld is simply – don’t you think that’s an awful lot of money/salary-cap space to commit to someone to play the role of big brother?

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They don’t make them like Neal Olkewicz anymore.

That’s not an indictment of the modern-day athlete. It’s merely a statement of fact.

Anyone in doubt can feel free to name one player on today’s Washington Redskins who you could honestly envision working during the NFL offseason as a prison guard. Yeah, that’s what I thought. It ain’t happening.

For 11 seasons (from 1979-89), Olkewicz quarterbacked the Redskins defense as the middle linebacker. Although he was never the biggest dog in the fight, Olkewicz won over the fans with a blue-collar work ethic on and off the field.

He was a part of two Super Bowl winning teams and was named one of the franchise’s “70 Greatest Redskins.” Simply put – when Joe Gibbs talks about “core Redskins,” you should probably just close your eyes and picture guys like Olkewicz.

We caught up with Olkewicz during the team’s alumni day last week to see what he’s been up to and to figure out why in the hell a professional football player would actually moonlight in a local prison.

Before we get started, what are you up to these days?

“I’m living up in Maryland,” Olkewicz said. “I’ve got a vending machine business that keeps me pretty busy and I’m just trying to stay healthy.”

How cool is it to have a reunion of sorts like this and to see so many old, familiar faces?

“It really has been a long time, but better late than never,” he said. “A lot of these guys, it’s been a long, long time since I’ve seen them. Some of them, you see at different golf tournaments and stuff like that, but some of these guys, I haven’t seen in years.”

You were chatting with your former teammate Clint Didier earlier. How good is it to see him?

“It’s great, especially with him running for political office,” Olkewicz said. “I don’t think I ever would have guessed that, but I wish him the best of luck.”

I’ve got to say, you’ve turned into a local internet sensation lately with you posting a bunch of throwback photos on your Facebook page. Have you seen all the attention fans are giving these photos?

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Is it better to have loved and lost or to have never loved at all? That is the question I explore this week over at SB Nation DC as I detail my history as a fan of the Washington Redskins.

In marriage, there has got to be give and take. But does the same hold true in the marriage of a professional football team and its fanbase? And is it considered poor taste to compare rooting for a sports franchise to an abusive relationship?

Click this link to find out.

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I’m going to come right out and say it – if the Washington Redskins invited only one former player to come out and address the current team this season, it has to be Gary Clark.

That’s because I had a chance to chat with the four-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl winning receiver during the team’s alumni day last week and, in all honesty, was ready to throw on pads and take the field after spending a few minutes with him. Clark has that type of an impact.

It’s been 15 years since Clark played in the NFL, but he still has the fire and the passion  football fans dream of. It’s readily apparent when he talks about the game and, more importantly, when he talks about the Redskins.

Like many others, he felt that this moment when the current regime and the old guard repaired their fractured relationship was a long time coming. But he’s more than ready to make up for lost time.

This has got to be a pretty special moment for you guys, being invited out to Redskins Park for an long overdue alumni day like this, right?

“Oh, it’s great,” Clark said. “When we first heard about their plan to bring in their alumni to coexist with the current team, a lot of the former players got excited. We’re Redskins in our blood until the day we die. As you can see from the turnout, this is something we all really care about – we care about the organization, we care about how the team is doing, but most of all, we care about those players out on the field. We care about how they carry themselves and how they perform and we’re looking forward to the season starting.”

Art Monk spoke of his early playing days and how a bunch of the older, retired players were always around Redskins Park. He said he hopes this is the first step in restoring that kind of relationship between current and former players. Is that something you’d also like to see around here?

“That’s exactly how it was when I first came here,” he said. “Former players were here in the locker room, in the weight room – they basically did everything but take the field during practice. But even then, they’d come out and watch practice so that they could give us pointers and honestly, they would give us trade secrets and tips from their playing days. Guys like Joe Washington were great about coming in and sharing their experience and offering tips to running backs and receivers. It was common courtesy when I came in.

“I had the chance to play with a guy like John Riggins my rookie year, in ‘85,” Clark continued. “But I saw Riggo in the weight room, from time to time, from 1986 through ‘89. It was common to see former players around the facility. It was taught to us early on that the Redskins were a family. When you’re a part of this organization, you’re a part of the tradition. You’re a part of the family and this is what we do. You’re a part of this until the day you die. It’s nice to see that coming back here again.”

As far as the current Redskins, how many of these guys do you know?

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