Carlos Rogers is a "long shot" to play on Sunday, coach Mike Shanahan says. (Photo: Associated Press)

Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said hobbled cornerback Carlos Rogers went through some individual drills today in practice, but still looks like a long shot to play on Sunday in the season finale against the New York Giants.

Rogers, who has missed three games this season with hamstring strains, injured a calf in last week’s game against Jacksonville and missed the entire second half. He missed both Wednesday and Thursday’s practices, and today’s activity has been the most he has been able to muster all week.

Continue Reading

Anthony Armstrong needs 13 receiving yards to surpass the 800-yard mark and along with Santana Moss give the Redskins their first 800-plus-yard receiving tandem since 1999. (Photo: Associated Press)

The Washington Redskins on Sunday close out the season at home against a very familiar opponent in the New York Giants, the team they have actually faced more than any other in franchise history.

In addition to finishing 7-9, which would be a three-game improvement over last season, the Redskins have a shot at some other milestones on Sunday. Here are some fast facts for Washington's Week 17 matchup:

> The Redskins and Giants will meet for the 156th time, making them each other’s most common opponent in each franchise’s history. Also, the divisional rivals will close their regular season schedules against each other for the 15th time.

Continue Reading

Left tackle Trent Williams needs to close his rookie campaign out with a strong outing against the Giants for the Redskins to have a chance at winning. (Photo: Heather Farrell)

Well, this is the end of the road for Mike Shanahan and the 2010 Washington Redskins. Taking on the New York Giants at 4:15 p.m. on Sunday, the Redskins are hoping to close out this disappointing season on a positive note.

A victory would give Washington a 7-9 record -- a three-game improvement on last season -- and it also would spoil the Giants’ playoff hopes.

The Redskins say they aren’t focused on playing spoiler, but instead just want to win for themselves. Jobs for next season are on the line. And although Mike Shanhana and his top assistants Kyle Shanahan and Jim Haslett say that they have a good feel for what kind of talent and needs that they have, a player certainly can still help or hurt his chances with strong or poor performances on Sunday.

Continue Reading

Suspended defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth recently tried to arrange an opportunity to speak with defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. (Photo: Associated Press)

Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett said Albert Haynesworth recently tried to reach out to him, but the coach has yet to speak with the suspended defensive lineman.

Haynesworth, who has been suspended since Dec. 7 and will miss his fourth and final game on Sunday, contacted fellow defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday “about three or four weeks ago,” Haslett said, and told Holliday to have Haslett call him.

Haslett declined, however. “I told him I’m not going to call him until this is all overwith,” Haslett said.

Continue Reading

Lorenzo Alexander has been named the Redskins' Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner. (Photo: Associated Press)

Washington Redskins linebacker Lorenzo Alexander has been selected as his team’s winner of the 2010 Walter Payton Man of the year award.

The Man of the Year honor recognizes players for off-field community service as well as excellence on the playing field. A representative from all 32 teams wins the award and receives a $1,000 donation to their individual charity. Three finalists will receive an additional $5,000 and be invited to the Super Bowl where the winner will be announced before the game and will receive a $25,000 donation to the organization of his choice.

Alexander is the second straight Redskins linebacker to win the award. London Fletcher won the award last season.

Continue Reading

Carlos Rogers wants to re-sign with the Redskins this coming offseason. (Photo: Associated Press)

Back in March before the Washington Redskins began their offseason training program, cornerback Carlos Rogers was unhappy with how he had been handled during the 2009 season, unhappy that the lack of a collective bargaining agreement caused him to be an restricted free agent rather than an unrestricted free agent, and as a result hurt his earning potential, and the sixth-year pro wanted a fresh start elsewhere.

But after getting an introduction to Mike Shanahan’s style and Jim Haslett’s defense during OTAs, and with their first full season in Washington drawing to an end, Rogers’ mind has been changed and he is hoping that he can be a part of the Redskins’ future.

“[Shanahan’s] direction is a strong head coach, like Coach Gibbs. And since he left, we haven’t had that around here. It was just offense, defense and special teams out there,” says Rogers, who this season has 54 tackles, 12 pass deflections, two interceptions and a forced fumble. “But [Shanahan] takes a big pride in the whole team. Special teams can’t slack down, offense can’t slack down -- especially being his offense, he’s on them so hard. And defense, he stays on us as well. It’s like one team, and I like that.

Continue Reading

Clinton Portis believes that Mike Shanahan may have sacrificed wins in the present to achieve greater success in the future. (Photo: Associated Press)

Of all the players at Redskins Park, none of them know Mike Shanahan better than Clinton Portis, who has experienced the coach in both good times and bad times.

The good: Shanahan drafting him 51st overall out of Miami in 2002, making him the Denver Broncos' feature back and guiding him to consecutive 1,500-yard seasons that first resulted in Portis earning offensive rookie of the year honors, and in 2003, him making his first Pro Bowl.

The bad: The offseason of 2004 when Portis sought a raise after earning $300,000 in 2003 only to have Shanahan refuse to reward him with a rich deal and instead trade the back to Washington.

Continue Reading

Carlos Rogers missed practice with a calf injury and isn't a lock to play in the final game on Sunday. (Photo: Associated Press)

Washington Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers missed practice today with the same calf injury that forced him out of this past Sunday's game in Jacksonville, and his status for this week's game against the New York Giants is uncertain.

Rogers on Sunday had an interception and a pass deflection before getting hurt late in the first half. He didn't return in the second half.

Rogers this season has missed three games while suffering from hamstring injuries.

Continue Reading

Santana Moss didn't make the Pro Bowl despite enjoying a career year, but he isn't bothered by the snub. (Photo: Jay Westcott)

Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss is enjoying one of the best seasons of his career, and his production ranks among the best in the NFL. But when the NFL released it’s Pro Bowl rosters on Tuesday night, Moss wasn’t on the team and didn’t even get a nod as an alternate, which would make it possible for him to represent the NFC if a selection ahead of him was injured or declined the invitation to play in Hawaii on Jan. 30.

The 10th-year pro says, however, that he isn’t stung by the Pro Bowl snub, and that with or without the recognition, he knows that he is valuable to the Redskins and one of the best in the league at his position.

Continue Reading

Starting free safety Kareem Moore is the 13th Redskin this season to be placed on the injured reserve list. (Photo: Jay Westcott)

Update 2:51 p.m. -- Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said that starting free safety Kareem Moore will have surgery on his right knee -- the same knee he injured in the preseason -- but didn't know the extent of the damage that the third-year player has sustained.

"He's played hurt most of the season," Shanahan said. "It's nice to see somebody fight as hard as Kareem has done, but it's a little too sore to play, and he'll have surgery on Monday."

Moore two years ago was coming off of surgery to his left knee as he opened his rookie season.

Published 12:16 p.m. -- Washington Redskins starting free safety Kareem Moore is headed for the season-ending injured reserve list, according to two league sources.

Moore missed the last game with knee injuries and this season was limited to 12 games because of injury.

Moore, a third-year pro out of Nicholls State, tore ligaments in his right knee during the preseason and then had to have arthroscopic surgery, and that caused him to miss the first two games of the season.

Continue Reading

DeAngelo Hall, who leads the Redskins with six interceptions, has been voted to the NFC Pro Bowl team. (Photo: Associated Press)

Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall has been selected to the NFC’s Pro Bowl roster.

It is the third time in Hall’s seven-year career that he has made the Pro Bowl.

Hall leads the Redskins with six interceptions (ranking second in the NFL) and also has recorded 89 tackles, 14 pass deflections, two forced fumbles and two defensive touchdowns this season. Hall's eight total takeaways also rank second in the NFL.

"I'm extremely excited. It was always a dream of mine to play [in the Pro Bowl] for this team. I'm stoked," Hall said in a conference call with reporters. "I wasn't really ever excited to make it with any other team, but as a Washington Redskin, I'm extremely excited. I remember making the Pro Bowl when I was in Atlanta and seeing Chris Samuels with his Redskins helmet. ... Now, to wear a Pro Bowl jersey representing the Washington Redskins, I'm extremely humbled."

Continue Reading

Donovan McNabb still wants to return to the Redskins if he is the starting quarterback, but if not, he wants a quick resolution to the situation. (Photo: Associated Press)

Donovan McNabb told TBD.com that he and his agent haven’t asked for a release from the Washington Redskins and that he still wants to return to the team -- if he is the starter for the 2011 season.

McNabb spoke with TBD columnist and SportsTalk host David Aldridge during the recording of his weekly television show on TBD TV (Channel 8 in the D.C. area). The interview will air in its entirety tonight at 8:30 p.m.

McNabb told Aldridge that if he is not going to be the starter, then he hopes that some resolution can be reached -- and quickly -- so he can turn his attention to getting in a full offseason of training in Arizona, where he makes his offseason home, as well as preparing for the upcoming season with whatever team he begins the next chapter of his career with.

Continue Reading

Mike Shanahan said Rex Grossman needs more time in the offense before he can be fairly judged. (Photo: Associated Press)

Mike Shanahan didn’t come right out and say that auditioning quarterback Rex Grossman isn’t as far along in the Washington Redskins’ offense as coaches thought he would be. But the head coach sounds as if he may be modifying his expectations for Grossman, who is auditioning for the team’s starting quarterback job next season.

Shanahan has expressed confidence in Grossman, saying at two different points this season that the eighth-year pro -- because of his knowledge of Kyle Shanahan’s offense from -- may give Washington a better chance at winning than does Donovan McNabb. (The first claim came on Oct. 31 when Grossman took over versus Detroit with the game on the line and Shanahan said, "At the end of the game, with Donovan, with Rex knowing the offense, I felt with the time and no timeouts, [Grossman] gave us the best chance to win in that scenario." And then two weeks ago, when Grossman was named starter for the final three games of the season, Shanahan again said “I think Rex gives us a great chance to win” because of how the quarterback had demonstrated his knowledge in practices and meetings).

Continue Reading

Mike Shanahan said he is disappointed over how Donovan McNabb's benching has played out. (Photo: Associated Press)

Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said that he has yet to speak with Donovan McNabb’s agent, Fletcher Smith, over the misunderstandings between the quarterback’s camp and the team's management and coaching staff. Shanahan also expressed disappointment with how the "soap opera"-style saga has played out.

Smith last week blasted the Shanahans for mistreating McNabb and leaking negative reports about the quarterback to the media. The agent also accused offensive Kyle Shanahan of pushing for the six-time Pro Bowl quarterback’s benching because the coach didn’t want to take McNabb’s suggestions for modifications to the offense.

Mike Shanahan hours later issued a response and stood by his stance that the benching was performance based and a result of the coaching staff wanting to evaluate the other quarterbacks on the roster. Kyle Shanahan also called Fletcher's claims false, and "a joke." Mike Shanahan, also the executive vice president of the team, said that he would be meeting with Smith to clear up any misconceptions.

Continue Reading

Rookie defensive tackle Joe Joseph played in his first game for the Redskins on Sunday, but was arrested under suspicion of DUI on Monday morning. (Photo: Associated Press)

Updated: Tuesday, Dec. 28, 6:37 p.m. -- The Redskins have released a statement in regards to Joe Joseph's arrest. It reads:

“We have talked with Joe and he is very remorseful for what happened and the embarrassment he caused himself, his family and the organization. We will let the legal system run its course and withhold further comment until the matter is resolved.”

The Redskins haven't revealed any disciplinary action at this time. Going off of the depth chart that the Redskins released today in advance of Sunday's game, they are planning on keeping Joseph on the team. He is currently listed as the No. 2 right defensive end.

Published: Monday, Dec. 27, 4:03 p.m. -- Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said he has yet to speak with rookie defensive tackle Joe Joseph, who was arrested around 3 a.m. Monday in Loudoun County for suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Joseph, a 25-year-old, 6-foot-2, 315-pound University of Miami product, was promoted from Washington’s practice squad on Friday. He was originally signed by Tennessee this season, but a brief appearance for the Redskins versus Jacksonville represented his first action of the year.

Continue Reading

Kevin Barnes' first career interception denied the Jaguars in overtime and set Washington up for the win. (Photo: Associated Press)

The Redskins as a reward for earning their first win since Nov. 21 will receive today off and then will report on Wednesday to gear up for their final game of the season: a home game against the New York Giants. That game was originally set for 1 p.m., but last night was flexed to 4:15 p.m.

But before attention shifts to the Giants, here's a look back at some of the highs and lows from win No. 6 of the Shanahan Era:

1.) Young guys shine
They weren’t perfect by any means, but whether it was Kevin Barnes, or Rob Jackson, or Jeremy Jarmon, the younger members of the Washington Redskins team came up with some big plays despite their inexperience. Obviously Barnes’ INT stood out the most. He had a few mistakes out there, he said because he misread some things and thought some plays were going another direction than they ended up, but given that he’s been playing safety two weeks, that can be expected. Jackson showed that he has a bright future, recording three tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and another hit on the quarterback. (The problem is he plays the same position as Orakpo. How would he do on the opposite side?) Jarmon combined with Andre Carter for the sack/forced fumble on Garrard to end the first half, and he had another QB hit and tackle on the day. Macho Harris even had a few big hits. He admitted he was slow in recognition a few times in the first half, but he did make some halftime adjustments and took some plays away in the second. Even Terrence Austin got in on the act with a six-yard catch -- the first of his career.

Continue Reading

Santana Moss recorded his 84th catch of the season (tying a career high) and also topped the 1,000-yard mark. (Photo: Associated Press)

Uncertainty may remain regarding how well some of the Redskins players fit in the offensive and defensive systems that Mike Shanahan and top assistants Kyle Shanahan and Jim Haslett have installed this season, but one of the questionable fits isn’t wide receiver Santana Moss.

With five catches for 85 yards against Jacksonville, Moss both tied a career high for catches in a single season (84) and topped the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth time in his 10 NFL seasons.

Moss’ production has come despite the fact that the Redskins opened the season without a consistent No. 2 wide receiver to help ease pressure on him, and the fact that although Anthony Armstrong has emerged, Moss continues to command a high amount of attention from defenses.

Continue Reading

Graham Gano made a 31-yard field goal in overtime to give Washington a 20-17 victory over Jacksonville. (Photo: Associated Press)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Spirits were expectedly high in the visiting locker room at EverBank Field as the Washington Redskins were able to snap a four-game losing streak with a 20-17 overtime win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Although battered and seven-point underdogs, the Redskins managed to upset the hosting Jaguars despite being out-gained 336 to 251 and going 4-for-15 on third downs.

They jumped out to a 10-0 lead, saw Jacksonville come back to tie the game at 17-17, and then thanks to a Kevin Barnes interception in overtime and a 31-yard Graham Gano field goal, came away with the win.

After the game, the 6-9 Redskins summed up their first victory since Nov. 21.

Continue Reading

Trent Williams, Fred Davis and the Redskins snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 6-9. (Photo: Associated Press)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Update 4:23 p.m. -- Graham Gano drilled a 31-yard field goal to lift the Washington Redskins over the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-17 in overtime.

The play was set up by an interception by Kevin Barnes deep in Jacksonville touchdown, and with the victory, Washington snapped a four-game losing streak and improved to 6-9 on the season.

Much more coming later, but here's a look back at the five areas highlighted pregame in our Five things to Watch.

1.) Grossman's play -- Grossman wasn't nearly as sharp as he was last week in the second half against the Cowboys. He was 19-for-39 for only 182 yards, a touchdown and an interception in the end zone. Grossman was under pressure many times, and had a chance to direct a game-winning drive, but didn’t receive the protection that he needed from his line and got sacked on third-and-10 with 40 seconds left.

2.)  Defensive replacements -- Kevin Barnes came up huge with an interception in overtime to set Washington up with the ball on the Jacksonville 14 yard line. That made up for some struggles he had in coverage as a safety. Rob Jackson had a strong game in place of Brian Orakpo at the right outside linebacker position and in addition to notching frequent pressures, he also had a sack and forced fumble.

3.) Special teams -- Sam Paulescu struggled with his hang time, and that allowed the Jaguars to get some nice returns. Brandon Banks was held in check much of the game, but Graham Gano drilled a 31-yard field goal to win the game.

4.) Ryan Torain -- The back had 20 carries for 65 yards and a touchdown. When the Redskins turned to him in the second half to ignite a struggling offense, he delivered.

5.) Will power -- The Redskins definitely showed they had some. They certainly would’ve had an excuse to come out flat, being so shorthanded, and then having ended the game on a down note. Typical Redskins fashion would’ve been for them to fizzle. But they kept battling and snapped a four-game losing streak.

Update 4:15 p.m. -- The Washington Redskins and Jacksonville Jaguars are headed for overtime after Rex Grossman was unable to lead his team downfield and into field goal range. Washington had to punt on fourth-and-20 after Grossman was sacked for a 10-yard loss on third down.

The Jaguars ran two plays and time expired. Jacksonville has won the toss and will get the ball first.

Update 4 p.m. -- Tie game here at EverBank Field.

The Washington Redskins had the ball with a chance to run some time off the clock, but they instead went three-and-out. A very low, line-drive, 35-yard punt from Sam Paulescu was fielded by Mike Thomas, who ran it back 21 yards and gave his team a short field to work with.

Four plays later, David Garrard took the snap, dropped back, and then took off up the middle and ran 20 yards for the touchdown that has tied the score at 17-17 (after the successful PAT) with just more than two minutes left to play.

Can the Redskins respond? Or do we have overtime coming?

Update 3:40 p.m. -- The Washington Redskins offense has come to life and just scored on a 14-play, 68-yard drive that was capped by a one-yard Ryan Torain touchdown run to take a 17-10 lead.

On that Redskins drive, Kyle Shanahan committed to the run like he hasn't for some time. After calling seven runs in the first half, Shanahan dialed up 10 running plays on that last drive and the commitment to the rushing attack set Washington up for their most effective drive of the game, and one of their most effective of the season as well. After going 0-for-7 on third downs today, Washington converted three of four third downs for first downs.

The Redskins' drive lasted 7 minutes and 50 seconds, which was the second-longest drive (time-wise) that Washington has had all year. The 14 plays were the second-highest total for a Redskins' scoring drive as well.

Torain's touchdown run came on fourth-and-goal from the 1. Torain took the handoff and leaped over the line for his fourth rushing TD of the season and his sixth of the season.

Update 3:20 p.m. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars have finally managed to tie this game up on a 34-yard Josh Scobee field goal with 4:57 left in the third.

The play that set up the field goal was a 37-yard pass to Justin Hill. On that play, the Jaguars did what they were expected to do and that was go over the top to take advantage of Washington's inexperience at safety.

DeAngelo Hall got beat by Hill, but appeared to think he had help over the top. Kevin Barnes, however, was slow to recognize what was unfolding and wasn't there to provide bracket coverage. The positive for the Redskins was that the defense buckled down after that and forced the Jaguars to settle for a field goal.

Both teams have struggled on offense, and Washington's defense twice in this half has hit David Garrard hard and forced fumbles both times, but they haven't been able to come up with the ball.

The Redskins' struggles have been on third down where they opened the game by going 0-for-7 on third downs. On this current drive, however, they have converted two third downs and are moving into scoring position.

Continue Reading

Redskins vs. Jaguars: Because you officially have nothing better to do today.

And if you are going to be couch-bound, you might as well be couch-bound with us. Join John Jeffries of BGO.C.D., Jon Kelman of DC Landing Strip, Mark Steven of The Om Field, and (weather permitting) Walking Deadman of It Is What It Is: Another Redskins Blog as they lead the way on our in-game chat.

Please join in with your comments, complaints, analysis and overreactions. We'd love to have you.

Continue Reading