(photo by Brian Murphy)

[Note: Every Tuesday I write a column for SB Nation DC. This is that column.]

When you root for a team often referred to as the NFL’s offseason champs, you become conditioned to splashy moves, overwhelming positivity and a constant barrage of headlines during the time of year when no actual games are played. That’s the life of Washington Redskins fans. You live and eventually, you learn to accept it.

This particular offseason has easily been the most intriguing since Joe Gibbs shocked everyone by putting his successful NASCAR career on the back burner and returning to the coaching ranks. Bruce Allen, Mike Shanahan and Donovan McNabb represent clear upgrades over Vinny Cerrato, Jim Zorn and Jason Campbell, so for that reason alone, the Redskins should be more competitive week in and week out. They might not win double digit games in 2010, but they’ll at least resemble a professionally run organization and take the field each week with a chance at victory.

For my money though, the biggest addition this offseason has to be rookie tackle Trent Williams. After a decade of ignorance by the Redskins braintrust, Allen stepped in and finally addressed the offensive line – using the fourth overall pick on the Oklahoma standout.

The move represented the first time a Redskins first rounder was used on an offensive lineman since 2000, when the team selected a tackle out of Alabama named Chris Samuels. Even though Samuels became a perennial Pro Bowler at one of the most vital positions in football, Cerrato and friends apparently didn’t feel that offensive linemen sold season tickets. So they continually focused their high draft picks on flashier positions and prayed the line held together in spite of them.

If McNabb is going to stay healthy this year, which isn’t guaranteed, he’ll need improved play from Washington’s offensive line. Getting guys like Stephon Heyer and Chad Rinehart away from the football field is a good start, but adding a bona fide talent to protect the blind side was key.

With Samuels retiring this offseason, the team was in dire need of a successor. By all accounts, they’ve found him.

During training camp, it was readily apparent that Williams was gifted. The rookie had more natural athletic ability and agility than anyone at 6-5 and 318 lbs. should. He just needed his head to catch up with his body. Once he gets his responsibilities down in this high-powered Shanahan offense, ‘Skins fans are confident he’ll solidify the position for the foreseeable future.

But here’s the funny thing: even though Williams has fared well for much of this preseason, he’s not in a hurry to pat himself on the back. The kid is staying hungry and humble – two traits you love to see in a rookie.

“I think I did okay,” Williams said after his preseason debut against the Buffalo Bills. “Nothing amazing and I can definitely do better, but I think I did okay for my first game. I thought after I got the first play over with that I would settle down, but I was still nervous the whole game.”

And why is that, you ask?

“As long as McNabb is in there, I was walking on egg shells,” Williams said. “He’s so vital to our franchise. We don’t want nobody to lay a finger on him.”

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(photo by Brian Murphy)

With the Washington Redskins preparing to take on the New York Jets this Friday night, I couldn’t help but wish that these two franchises could magically change places.

I know what you’re thinking – the Jets came within one win of the Super Bowl a year ago while the Redskins went just 4-12. Of course I’d want to see the teams flip flop.

But that’s not what I meant. You see, the Jets are the featured team on “Hard Knocks,” HBO’s popular reality sports documentary series. For those not familiar, the show gives fans an inside peek at the life of a football franchise, whether it’s through the eyes of an undrafted rookie free agent hoping to earn a roster spot or a sage veteran trying to extend his career one more year.

I admit that the Jets were an easy choice for HBO. They’ve got more intriguing storylines than anything you’ve ever seen on “Entourage.” Just to name a few:

• They’ve got Rex Ryan, a second-year head coach full of piss and vinegar who happens to be the son of Buddy Ryan – the architect of the 46 defense. His colorful language alone was the talk of the first episode.
• They’ve got franchise quarterback Mark Sanchez, hoping to avoid a sophomore slump after a solid rookie season.
• They’ve got Darelle Revis, who, for my money, is the best cornerback in football (although he’s nowhere to be found at the moment thanks to his displeasure with his contract situation).
• They’ve got LaDainian Tomlinson, one of the best running backs of all time, who was cast aside by San Diego and is motivated to show the world that he can still be productive.
• They’ve got Antonio Cromartie, who provided one of the most enjoyable TV moments in recent memory when he failed to name all seven of the children he’s fathered in last week’s episode.
• They’ve got Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes, two productive receivers who have been known to find controversy off the field.
• They’ve got Bart Scott, the loudmouth linebacker who never met a microphone he didn’t like.
• Hell, they’ve even got a rookie fullback named Jon Conner, who his teammates have naturally nicknamed “The Terminator,” turning heads every time he has a chance to hit somebody.

Seriously, the Jets were a no brainer for “Hard Knocks.” I fully admit it.

It’s too bad though. If ever there was a year for the Redskins to be featured on the Emmy-award winning program, it’s this one.

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(photo by Brian Murphy)

[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.]

Preseason or not, the Washington Redskins put together one of their most inspired performances in recent history with their 42-17 thumping of the Buffalo Bills Friday night.

In the debut of head coach Mike Shanahan and quarterback Donovan McNabb, the Redskins had little trouble moving the ball on offense, they created constant pressure on defense and special teams, for the first time in seemingly decades, tilted the field in favor of the burgundy and gold.

McNabb was solid, completing five of eight passes for 58 yards and a touchdown in limited action. The 33-year-old even surprised a few folks by keeping the team’s second drive alive with his legs – something Philly fans were convinced he could no longer do.

Once the six-time Pro Bowler was done for the night, backup quarterback Rex Grossman saw his first action as a member of the Redskins. And if McNabb was good, then “The Rex Cannon” was great.

Having spent last season in Houston with Kyle Shanahan, it was readily apparent that Grossman has already found a comfort level in this offense. The only thing prettier than Rex’s first touchdown pass – a nine-yard dart to tight end Fred Davis in the second quarter – was his second touchdown.

On that play, Grossman was able to do something rarely seen during the Jason Campbell era – display touch and accuracy on a deep ball – dropping a 44-yard bomb into the waiting arms of receiver Devin Thomas to effectively end the competitive portion of the evening at 35-3.

If McNabb is ever forced out of action for any length of time this season, ‘Skins fans can only hope that Grossman is able to replicate his performance on this night. And if Grossman goes all Colt Brennan on us – playing lights out in his debut and never coming close to that level again – well, at least Hawaii will love him.

Jim Haslett’s 3-4 defense was equally impressive against Buffalo. While keeping things admittedly “vanilla,” the Redskins were able to pressure Bills quarterbacks to the point that even disgruntled defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth was impressed with the showing.

And special teams … wow. What can I say?

Someone allegedly named Brandon Banks came out of nowhere and is now the talk of the town, after busting out a 77-yard punt return for a touchdown. The undrafted rookie out of Kansas State finished the game with four returns for 97 yards and a touchdown.

To put those numbers in proper context, Antwaan Randle El finished the 2009 season with 17 punt returns for 102 yards. In 90 attempts over the last three seasons, Randle El never returned a punt for a touchdown and his longest return was 43 yards.

So basically, on Banks’ next punt return, he’ll likely match Randle El’s production for an entire year. Whether that says more about Banks or Randle El is your call.

In short, the preseason opener was everything ‘Skins fans could have ever hoped for. The stadium was rocking, the new high-definition video boards were a dream come true and the Redskins actually resembled a competent football team for the first time since Joe Gibbs said goodbye.

Here’s the thing though – none of it matters.

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(courtesy photo)

[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.]

If you were asked back in January to predict the two players who would benefit the most after Mike Shanahan took over as the new head coach of the Washington Redskins, I’m willing to bet you wouldn’t have immediately landed on tight end Fred Davis and safety Kareem Moore.

And yet, since the Redskins began preparing for the 2010 season, those two third-year players have easily been the biggest standouts for the burgundy and gold this offseason.

It seemingly doesn’t matter what day you go out and watch a practice. All you have to do is make the trip out to Redskins Park and you’re almost guaranteed to see both Davis and Moore shine.

Think about it this way, if you started a conversation about a Redskins tight end or safety with fellow ‘Skins fans, they’re probably not going to talk about Davis or Moore. No, they’re much more likely to bring up more established players such as Pro Bowler Chris Cooley or the hard-hitting LaRon Landry.

But if these youngsters keep it up, it’s only a matter of time before they become regular household names.

Lets starts with Davis.

Sure, he did an admirable job filling in for Chris Cooley last year when the veteran tight end was injured, but we’re talking about a guy who, until that point, was most famous for oversleeping on his first day of work as a professional. That’s not really the first impression you hope to make. So when, exactly, did he get to the point where he’s playing so well that he’s suddenly forcing Shanahan and friends to figure out ways to get him on the field?

For my money, the transformation happened over the course of the final six games of 2009. You see, while some of his teammates had unofficially thrown in the towel on the season as early the Week 3 loss at Detroit, Davis was a guy who refused to quit.

Many players stand in front of a camera and spout clichés after a loss. Not Davis. He takes each and every loss personally. He openly admits that losing sucks and he’ll do anything to avoid it.

That’s probably because defeat wasn’t something Davis dealt with before coming to Washington. Through four years at USC, Davis’ Trojans went 47-5.

Sadly, the Redskins matched that loss total by their bye week last season (they were 2-5 at the break). Some guys accept defeat. Others take it personally. You can guess which camp Davis falls into.

“I’ve never been a part of a situation like this and I hope I don’t ever have to again,” Davis told me after the Redskins bungled away a chance at victory against New Orleans last season. “With everything that has happened, I really hope I don’t have to go through this again in the future. It needs to turn around somewhere. I know it is going to turn around; I just wanted it to turn around this week against this team. It would have been really great to have a win against a team like that.”

As the losses mounted in painstaking fashion, Davis tried his best to provide an offensive spark to the team’s dormant attack – as evident by his team-high six touchdown receptions.

Fortunately for ‘Skins fans, that first taste of success has only made Davis more determined. He’s dedicated this entire offseason to making himself the best football player he can be, whether it be in his route running, his blocking or anything else the coaches ask of him.

“Man, I’ve been waiting for this for a while now,” Davis said. “I’m tired of being a backup. If they give you an opportunity, you’ve got to take it, you know what I mean? It’s on me to show these coaches what I can do and make them want to put me on the field.”

Click here for the full article.

(courtesy photo)

[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.]

While the award for least productive offseason by a member of the Washington Redskins goes to defensive/nose/disgruntled tackle Albert Haynesworth in a landslide, not everyone in the burgundy and gold followed the same script.

Let’s see: The front office was busy emulating their favorite Extreme Makeover episodes, the head coach and the offensive coordinator were re-enacting The Apprentice and the quarterback took a handful of his teammates to Hell’s Kitchen … er … Hell Week.

But the player who had the busiest offseason was receiver Devin Thomas, who has officially become the Snoop Dogg of the Redskins roster (which, to put it kindly, means he’ll happily show up anywhere there’s a combination of hot chicks, video cameras and a party atmosphere.)

Here’s a quick rundown of everywhere Thomas has appeared since the 2009 season mercifully ended:

• Back in February, half-nude photos of Thomas appeared on a website called Young, Black and Fabulous (coincidentally, my nickname in college). I’m guessing the shoot was sprung on him at the last moment because most of the shots were taken before he even had a chance to get out of bed.
• In June, former American Idol contestant Fantasia released her single “Bittersweet” off of her new album Back To Me with a video that featured … you guessed it … everyone’s favorite third-year receiver.
• More recently, Thomas spent some time with another receiver who enjoys the spotlight – Cincinnati Bengals wide out/Dancin’ with the Stars contestant Chad Ochocinco. While the dynamic duo was a Will Ferrell cameo away from filming a Hollywood blockbuster, it turns out the focus of the get-together was actually football related.
• And finally, just days before the start of training camp, Thomas joined his new quarterback, Donovan McNabb, out in Arizona for a week’s worth of bonding.

Simply put – every time you read an article this offseason about a Redskins player that didn’t use phrases such as “unhappy,” “nose tackle,” or “lawsuit,” chances are it was about Thomas.

So it should come as no surprise that, on the first day of training camp, I was joking with a handful of Redskins players about filming a music video for my soon-to-be-release musical debut titled, “Sportsboyz II Men,” Santana Moss cheerfully jumped in and said, “Talk to Devin. He’s our diva.”

With all that in mind, I had to catch up with the diva. If for no other reason than to see how one player can juggle so many different extracurricular activities while also trying to absorb an entirely new offense.

Brian Murphy: How was your offseason?

Devin Thomas: It’s been great. I’ve been working hard, man. Doing what I need to do and doing a little bit of fun stuff on the side also. It’s been exciting and there’s been a lot of big stuff happening with me.

Murf: I understand your mindset that this is a “put up or shut up” season for you and that you’re convinced you can work hard and play hard at the same time. But there are definitely critics out there who see you doing the modeling stuff, the music video, photos of you out at nightclubs and they’re asking if your priorities aren’t out of whack with all of these possible distractions. What do you say to those people?

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(courtesy photo)

[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.]

Former Washington Redskins receiver (and current disappointment) Antwaan Randle El is in the news this week after making critical comments about his former organization.

According to Randle El – and stop me if you’ve heard this one before – the recent failures of the Redskins can be traced to one man: owner Daniel Snyder.

When Jim Zorn was there, he was hands-on,” said Randle El of The Danny. “He had great potential, but Dan Snyder was too involved because he didn’t trust coach Zorn as much as he did coach (Joe) Gibbs, and those were things that prevented us from success as a team.”

Let me start by saying that I am by no means a Daniel Snyder apologist. After all, my ideal scenario for the 2010 season involves disgruntled tackle Albert Haynesworth being paid to ride the bench in an effort to teach “Fat Albert” a little humility while teaching the owner an equally valuable lesson about the dangers of frivolous spending.

But I find interesting, to say the least, that Randle El would feel compelled to make these remarks.

For starters, he’s now a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He’s returned to the first franchise he ever knew and the team he won a Super Bowl ring with. So why drudge up the past? Isn’t there more to do in Pennsylvania than take shots at Snyder?

Maybe Randle El could go bar hopping with Ben Roethlisberger or send a thank you note to Santonio Holmes’ substance abuse issues that created an opening for his return to Pittsburgh. Any of that would appear to be a more constructive way to spend his days than slamming the man who signed off on his seven-year, $31-million contract back in 2006.

After all, it’s not every day that a receiver coming off an absolutely mediocre season (35 catches, 558 yards and one touchdown) takes home that kind of cash. But whatever. That’s his business.

Aside from the timing, the most surprising aspect is that Randle El was available for comment. During his four years in Washington, Randle El was routinely one of the first guys out of the locker room following a game. Don’t believe me? Ask around.

Sure, he’d happily appear on a pre-recorded segment hosted by Larry Michael or some other team employee, but it was always a safe bet that Randle El would be long gone by the time the media was allowed in the locker room (roughly 10 minutes after the game ended).

I never took it personally; I just figured he was staying consistent. Randle El rarely showed up during games, so why would he be any different in the post-game locker room? I mean, we’re talking about a guy who, rumor has it, when the Redskins gave him his pink slip this past offseason, responded by signaling for a fair catch.

What exactly should we expect him to say?

But enough about the messenger. Let’s tackle his message.

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(courtesy photo)

[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.]

Now that the World Cup has come and gone and ESPN’s shameful slurping of the LeBron-a-thon is mercifully over, it’s almost that time again folks.

Before you know it, it’ll be time for training camp – a wonderful time of year where fans from 31 cities optimistically believe this could be the year something special happens with their favorite football franchise (only Cleveland is downtrodden enough not to get their hopes up).

There are a few staples of this time of year.

There’s the new sheriff in town (Mike Shanahan). There’s the veteran player hoping to rejuvenate his career as he finds himself in a new city for the first time (Donovan McNabb). There’s the disgruntled holdout, who is unhappy with his contract or something else and isn’t in a hurry to show up for work until someone fixes the problem and/or cuts him a new check (Albert Haynesworth). And then there’s the “Rudy.”

You know what I’m talking about: the underdog who seemingly comes from nowhere to become the feel-good story of training camp.

In the past, unheralded players such as Jesse Lumsden, Jimmy Farris and, most recently, Marko Mitchell have filled that role for the Washington Redskins. (I’d include Colt Brennan on the list, but honestly, his fanatical fanbase kind of scares me).

Well, with camp just around the corner, I wanted to go ahead and point you in the direction of the newest member to the club.

Ladies and gentlemen, meet Anthony Armstrong.

Sure, most of you have never heard of him and couldn’t pick him out of a police lineup if he was wearing his jersey, but that’s not going to stop you from falling in love with the guy in about two or three weeks.

Why Armstrong?

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