The Washington Redskins marched to an impressive 47-14 victory over the defensively-challenged New Orleans Saints at FedEx Field, Nov. 15. Here is a selection of my favorite images I was able to capture from the blowout. The full gallery of my Week 10 photos can be found here.
The Redskins picked a fine time to welcome back alumni members from the good old days, as Washington staged the largest comeback in franchise history — defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-30 at FedEx Field, Oct. 25. Here is a selection of my favorite images I was able to capture from the sidelines during this historic occasion. The full gallery of my Week 7 photos can be found here.
My good buddies from Big O and Dukes might not be in a band, but that doesn’t mean they don’t know good music. Every once in a while, Big O and Dukes decides to use their powers of persuasion for good and convince a musical act to come to town and play a show for the horde. That’s exactly what happened on this night, when the Wrinkle Neck Mules, along with If Birds Could Fly, played in front of a sellout crowd at Jammin’ Java in Vienna, Virginia, Sept. 19.
The Washington Redskins stumbled out of the gates — losing their 2015 season opener 17-10 to the Miami Dolphins at FedEx Field, Sept. 13. Here is a selection of my favorite images I was able to capture from the sidelines. The full gallery of my Week 1 photos can be found here.
The Pietasters have played with everyone from The Mighty Mighty Bosstones to the legendary James Brown, and if that doesn’t tell you all you need to know about this D.C. institution, I don’t know what to tell you.
On this day, The Pietasters, along with Black Masala and Askultura, kicked off the new year in style with their annual show at the historic 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C., Jan. 10. While I had been fortunate enough to attend a Pietasters show or two previously, this was the first time I ever worked a show as a credentialed photographer.
What I quickly learned is just how spoiled a photographer is because there are so many people on stage, all playing their asses off, it’s almost an embarrassment of riches as you’re deciding which musician to focus the camera on.
(photo by Brian Murphy)
I have no idea whether or not the Washington Redskins are the only professional football franchise who celebrates a homecoming game each year. But I can tell you this — I fully understand why being named Washington’s homecoming opponent could be perceived as a slight by the team on the other side of the field.
“I look on there and it says ‘homecoming.’ And I’m thinking to myself: This is the National Football League. Are you serious? Homecoming,” said Carolina Panthers running back DeAngelo Williams after last year’s homecoming game. “And it’s not like you tried to hide it — you blatantly put it on the front of the Game Day. And you’re talking about somebody fired up today? I was pissed.
“It was the whole team,” he continued. “That was definitely motivating. You don’t say you’re going to have a ‘homecoming’ in the National Football League. You do it in college. It’s one of those teams that’s just terrible. You don’t book, like, a good team for homecoming.”
That being said, I can also see why the Redskins would want to hold a homecoming — to honor those players of yesterday who helped make the burgundy and gold worth rooting for. After watching so many losses pile up during my eight seasons on the sideline, it was refreshing to see Doug Williams, Dexter Manley and many other players from Washington’s Super Bowl XXII winning squad honored at halftime.
And let’s not forget, there was also a game to be played on Sunday — one that saw Washington rack up 500 yards of offense, the defense make a possible season-saving goal-line stand and special teams … well … let’s keep things positive for this post.
So please take a moment to check out my favorite photos I was able to capture from the sidelines this week. There are some pretty solid action shots, as well as some photos of the homecoming festivities that should be enjoyable to anyone other than DeAngelo Williams.
(photo by Brian Murphy)
1. “Hail to the King” by Avenged Sevenfold
It wouldn’t have surprised me if fans of the Washington Redskins were less than enthusiastic about the team’s decision to hold their annual alumni homecoming game Week 9. After all, the Redskins came into the game against the San Diego Chargers winless in these nostalgic affairs — having lost 21-13 to Carolina last season and 19-11 to San Francisco back in ’11.
And yet, I can’t help but think that one of the primary reasons Washington was able to emerge victorious — defeating the Chargers 30-24 in overtime — had a little something to do with one of the old timers who was in the house Sunday.
Former Redskins quarterback Doug Williams, who was the most valuable player of Super Bowl XXII, and more than 30 of his teammates from that championship squad were honored during halftime. But before then, Williams had a chance to chat with local reporters about the burgundy and gold.
During a pre-game interview, Williams was asked what the Redskins need to do in order to salvage this season before it’s too late.
“You know, I think the guys that are here every day watching the Washington Redskins –- the coaches, the personnel guys –- they can probably answer that better than I can,” said Williams. “I can’t sit here watching them twice a year on TV and tell them what they need to do.”
And then, Williams was asked about quarterback Robert Griffin III. For a guy who just seconds earlier said he was too far removed from the situation to provide any real advice or feedback, he sure did manage to hit the nail on the head with this response.
“Last year, he came in and elevated his football team,” he said. “I think right now the football team needs to elevate Robert.”
As simple as it sounds, that’s what this team has lacked in 2013. With Griffin not quite playing up to his all-pro standard as he recovers from major knee surgery, it’s become painfully clear that he can’t do it all by himself these days.
If the the Redskins are going to be able to turn things around and be a more competitive football franchise in the second half of the season, it’ll be because players other than the franchise quarterback were able to help shoulder the load.
