Hogs Haven

RSS Feed Homepage

Articles: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

John Clayton: Without Cap Redskins Could Be in Roster Depth Hell
2008-05-29 17:55:00
[Note by Skin Patrol, 05/29/08 1:28 PM EDT ] Promoted, enjoy. Edited very little. Thanks once more to CptChaosSidekick. John Clayton wrote an article on five of the best -- and five of the worst teams to be affected if there was no salary cap in 2010.  The Redskins come in at # 5 on the teams sure to suck list. The Redskins are in great shape for the next two seasons, but 2010 could be tough. Eleven of their 22 starters are in their 30s, including five starters on the offensive line. Age is also creeping up on their defense. Cornerback Shawn Springs is 33. Linebacker Marcus Washington is 30. Defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin is 31. Linebacker London Fletcher is 33. Defensive end Phillip Daniels is 35. He goes on to say that finding replacements for older starters becomes harder and harder as teams will be trying to lock up future free agents much earlier than in years past. When the COB was unanimisly opted out by the owners, the Cowboys owner wasted no time in re-signing C...
More About: Hell , Roster , Depth

Erasmus James gets physical today
2008-05-29 15:35:00
Hat tip to ReggieBullits for posting the news in this FanPost, but in case you weren't aware, Erasmus James is now a Redskin and, pending his physical, his former Vikings are now the proud owners of the Redskins 7th round draft pick in 2009. Per the Official Site: "We really liked Erasmus coming out of college," executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato said. "He's young and talented, and he has a great deal of potential. We like the fact that his defensive line coach at the University of Wisconsin--John Palermo--is our current defensive line coach." This quote tends to confirm my suspicion that Palermo was the driving force behind this move. The article quotes Palermo as well, who calls James "an every down player." That's high praise for a player who has spent the majority of his young career not playing 1st, 2nd, or 3rd down; James has been plagued by injuries since joining the league. His best year, as the article notes, was by far his rookie season in 2...
More About: Physical , Today

An interview with Redskins fullback Pete Schmitt
2008-05-27 18:37:00
As readers are well aware, this space is big, big time on Pete Schmitt. I've already called Pete Schmitt as a lock to make the team, and chose him in our Adopt-A-Redskin program to follow throughout the offseason. However much I appreciated Pete Schmitt then, consider it doubled and then some now, as he very graciously agreed to take time out of his busy schedule to answer a few of my questions. Below you'll find an interview with him where he discusses, among other things, the changing coaching staff, Mike Sellers, the normalcy of a Midwestern accent, delicious Miller Lite, and the very fascinating process he's currently in that can turn a substitute teacher into a Professional Football player overnight. Please enjoy. Side note: I am indebted to Pete Schmitt's agent, John Perla, Jr, for his assistance in setting this up. As far as Hogs Haven is concerned, John is the best agent in the biz. Hogs Haven: This is actually your second stint with the Redskins , as you spent the 2007 ...
More About: Interview

Inside The Numbers: Fred Smoot
2008-05-26 15:32:00
[Note by Skin Patrol, 05/26/08 12:16 PM EDT ] Promoted,  thanks to CptChaosSidekick for this excellent Fan Shot and reader(s) should expect more front page material out of him in the near future. Edited slightly, enjoy. Also: Happy Memorial Day. I found a good article by ESPN Inside r writer, KC Joyner, who statistically breaks down the leagues best vertical cornerbacks.  What does that mean, and how did he come to these analysis? As was the case with the receivers, this metric review measures medium (11-19 yards), deep (20-29 yards) and bomb (30-plus yards) pass attempts on a yards-per-attempt basis. Because cornerbacks tend to see fewer passes than wide receivers, I lowered the qualifying-attempt mark to 24. The yardage totals once again include "pass in the air" penalty attempts and yards (i.e., pass interference, defensive holding, illegal contact, etc.). On his top-10 list of best CB's per his mathematical equation, Fred Smoot ranks #5 on his list. Smoot's Stats:&...
More About: Numbers

The offensive line is an age old question mark
2008-05-23 20:55:00
Let me first state what this is not: I am not panicking. I am not actually all that concerned with the age of our offensive line at this moment, because I think they have enough juice in the tank to at least get the replacement parts installed before the whole thing crumbles. And, indeed, some of those service orders have already been placed; we just drafted Chad Rinehart and last year we developed undrafted rookie free agent Stephon Heyer. We also have a couple young bloods on the roster currently. Although they are mostly undrafted free agents, we've had success with Heyer and there is reason for optimism that lightning will strike twice on one of these guys. As reader Romans12 reminded, don't overlook Kerry Brown, who DraftGuys called a future Pro Bowler. Also, he can see into the future: We also have one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL in Joe Bugel. The list of "legendary" offensive line coaches is pretty small, but Bugel is on it. He's also been in the coachi...
More About: Question , Mark , Line

Cooley is Albright's backup and other randomness
2008-05-23 16:51:00
Yahoo! Sports has a weekly rundown on all the NFL teams, and the report for your Washington Redskins came out today. Inside it is all sorts of fun information, like how Buges is defending Jansen and Thomas against calls of their untimely demise and how Zorn says that Alexander might have to go both ways... again. But the best part of the article is the closing quote, from special teams coach Danny Smith regarding Cooley: "He?s a knucklehead. He messes with me all the time. He?ll say, ?Do you want to see it? Do you want to see it?? I say, ?No, we?ll work it tomorrow? and he?ll snap three perfect ones, laugh his butt off and go. The kid can do anything."?Special teams coach Danny Smith on Pro Bowl tight end Chris Cooley being one of his emergency long snappers along with right tackle Jon Jansen. Yes, Cooley is Ethan Albright's backup. Yes, that is Ethan "I'm the worst fucking player on Madden" Albright. This is an interesting part of the depth chart that I didn't know. I won...
More About: Backup , Randomness

Devin Thomas training as a flanker, Malcolm Kelly studying up on split end
2008-05-23 16:27:00
This is an update on the status of our two first day wide receiver picks as well as on the emerging playbook under Head Coach Jim Zorn. Timely, too, as it comes hours after this FanPost by Ach where he wonders what immediate impact either receiver will have in the coming season. I guess that all depends on how willing Coach Zorn is to line up in three-receiver sets. Hat tip to Extreme Skins on this Pro Football Weekly article: "I feel like I picked up on it pretty quick," [Devin] Thomas told PFW. "I noticed it’s a big playbook, so I am going to have to keep learning, but overall it’s not that hard." Thomas has been learning the "Z" (flanker) position so far, while Kelly has been working at the "X" (split end). "It’s the West Coast offense, so there are going to be a lot of three- and four-wide sets, so there will be a chance for me to get playing time," Kelly told PFW. Before we get into just what those terms mean (and most of you probably know, but a quick refre...
More About: Training , Studying , Split

Former Redskin says Nay to Patriots IR methods
2008-05-23 03:59:00
[Note by Skin Patrol, 05/23/08 8:55 AM EDT ] Promoting this story for a couple reasons. First, it's an interesting story from Ross Tucker, who is a former Redskin . Second, CptChaosSidekick is going to be helping me with content on the site in the coming weeks; this is just the beginning. Edited slightly. I've listened to former Redskin O-Linemen Ross Tucker a lot on Sirius satellite radio, and everytime he's on, the man spits truth. Link: Last Friday, in an article published on SI.com, Tucker wrote that: "I had heard the Patriots did this before I signed with them in 2005 and I saw it firsthand during my time there. I asked veteran receiver Troy Brown about it one time and he responded, 'Every team in the league does that.' I quickly let him know none of the three teams I played for previously had done so. It's my personal belef that the Pats do go out of their way to get a competitive advantage on other teams, but do they all pratice this? Apparently not, he thinks: Basic...
More About: Methods

Florio: Skins won't make the playoffs in 2008
2008-05-22 20:59:00
Mike Florio, of PFT fame, recently picked six teams he didn't think would return to the playoffs in '08 after successful seasons in 2007 (hat tip: Behind the Steel Curtain). Your Washington Redskins made the cut, so to speak: 3. Washington Redskins The Redskins rallied late in ‘07, coming together as a cohesive unit after the tragic death of safety Sean Taylor. They unexpectedly qualified for the playoffs, sneaking in as the sixth seed and nearly shocking the Seahawks in the wild-card round. But then came the unexpected retirement of coach Joe Gibbs, followed by the curious decision to hire Seattle quarterbacks coach Jim Zorn as the offensive coordinator, and then to promote him to head coach. Zorn very well might become a great head coach, but it’s a tall order to expect him to navigate a competitive NFC East and get back to the postseason. The Redskins would have been wise to give the gig to defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who is now with the Jaguars. In a lea...
More About: Playoffs , Make , Skins , 2008

Shaun Suisham: Ethan Albright is the best player in the NFL
2008-05-22 19:48:00
This is a post about our kicker (hat tipped to Extreme Skins; if you are on the prowl for Redskins related news, you could do a lot worse than the ES Breaking News Forum). Patrick Maloney at the London Free Press caught up with Suisham via email and got him to answer a few of the critical questions we've all been waiting for, such as: SUISHAM SAYS 1) My all-time favourite movie is . . . Tombstone 2) In the movie about my life, I will be played by . . . Matt Damon -- according to my wife 3) My favourite food is . . . Fresh fruit 4) I drive a . . . F150 SuperCrew 5) I think the best player in the NFL is . . . Ethan Albright (the Redskins' long snapper) 6) I could retire happy if . . . Our family was healthy and I didn't have a mortgage. I, too, appreciate Tombstone and would be played by Matt Damon (it's a looks thing) though I have to part ways with Shazzam on... fresh fruit? Oh really, Shaun? Well then I'm calling you out and demanding you take a giant delicious yikes bite ou...
More About: Player

Antwaan Randle El, something about a bear, what?
2008-05-22 17:52:00
[Note by Skin Patrol, 05/22/08 3:06 PM EDT ] MJD at Shutdown Corner has a post up about this segment with, I believe, video of the entire exchange, so you don't have to suffer through my nonsensical attempt at transcribing the entire thing. I don't know if he has video of ESPN's First Take (it might be Grizzly Man) because my laptop died yesterday and I'm forced to work on a circa 2000 Dell right now that is begging me to mercy kill it; I'm too afraid to download the necessary plugin to view the video because it may just end this miserable piece of machinery. I need it, though. MJD picks Antwaan: I like 'Twaan's chances here. I know what the bear expert says, but a professional athlete can change directions with such blinding quickness. A regular dude off of the street is probably going to be picked out of the bear's teeth. But Randle-El is paid so handsomely because athletically, he's ridiculously superior to the average dude on the street. So a friend of mine ok, I...
More About: Bear

Clinton Portis channels Marie Osmond
2008-05-22 17:27:00
Hat tipped to Deuce of Davenport, Dan Snyder has now made the Country Music Awards Redskins relevant: The Washington Redskins owner acquired the show last year as part of his $175 million buyout of dick clark productions inc., and has quickly infused a highlight-reel mentality. Redskins running back Clinton Portis went to the show, and Sacramento Kings owner Gavin Maloof said he took part in a bit at Snyder's request. When asked to pick winners, Maloof picked Rascal Flatts, the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Former backyard brawler (isn't that illegal?) and now famous MMA fighter Kimbo Slice was also on hand, making this the official Greatest Country Music Awards ever. Slice apparently said he'd fight Mike Tyson and, honestly, I'd pick Kimbo Slice (but what do I know; check out Bloody Elbow for more info on Slice) Back to Portis, Dan Steinberg tracked down the diverting running back to get his thoughts on the festivities. Clinton Portis ... likey? "Because there...
More About: Channels , Marie , Marie Osmond

Fred Davis is really sorry, Chris Cooley is getting married
2008-05-21 21:35:00
Redskins 360 says Davis apologizes: Davis said that after switching rooms the previous night to get his own room, he awoke the next morning and practice had already begun. He reached front office boss Vinny Cerrato and then came in later that day to meet with coach Jim Zorn. Ditto over at Redskins Insider: "I just wanted to let everybody know that I'm apologetic about what happened," Davis said in his first public remarks since the incident. "I want them to know that when I come here I'm going to work hard and try to make as much progress as I can on the field and off." The Redskins were not aware of Davis's whereabouts as the team took the field on the morning of May 4. Several members of the organization have said privately that there were rampant rumors that Davis was partying in downtown Washington Saturday night, but he has denied those allegations to team officials, sources said, and reiterated again yesterday that he did not leave the Ashburn area on the night he went m...
More About: Fred , Chris , Getting Married , Married

Hogs Haven needs your help
2008-05-21 20:18:00
The good news is that I've attained gainful employment in my summer home and now will no longer need to sweat the passing days as inching closer and closer towards personal financial insolvency. Many thanks to the Federal Government for partially subsidizing my lifestyle for the past few weeks (but they'll get theirs back when I repay loans, don't you worry Uncle Sam). The bad news is that with this new J-O-B I won't be in a position to post at the hours. So for all those reader(s) who have grown accustomed to my poorly drafted and randomly timed (though typically during the working hours) posts, this could mean content comes at even stranger times in less consistent bunches. I'm not yet certain how I will adjust returning to the old 8-5 though we're all adaptable animals and I hope it works for the best. I don't know what TexSkins or the other contributors schedule will permit in the way of posting, but I assume it will be much of the same. In order to both secure more frequ...
More About: Hogs , Haven

Jim Zorn, Dr. Darrell Green, and Dexter Manley get to catch up
2008-05-20 16:24:00
First, who is this Dr. Darrell Green ? Redskins 360: Green was introduced as Dr. Darrell Green. Did No. 28 receive a doctorate in the land of the rising sun? No. Green said he has honorary doctorates from George Washington, Marymount and St. Paul's (Va.). Indeed he does, per Wikipedia which informs me that he received two Doctorates of Humane Letters. Is there anything this man can't do? No, there isn't anything he can't do, up to and including successful use of triple negatives. I model my life after his (except for the part about having talent). So what's all the hub-bub about? I [David Elfin of Redskins 360] just got back from a reception in honor of Hall of Fame inductee-to-be Darrell Green given by Japanese ambassador Ryozo Kato. Green and the ambassador became friendly in 2002 when the Redskins were preparing for their preseason game in Osaka and have stayed in touch since. Mr. Elfin also notes that Jim Zorn, Kedric the Barbarian, and former Redskins Darryl Pounds and ...
More About: Dexter , Catch

Redskins Insider: 'Skins uninterested in Odell Thurman
2008-05-20 15:58:00
Why was Odell Thurman cut from the Bengals? For missing voluntary minicamps, says the team: "The NFL provided Odell the opportunity to earn his way back onto our team, but we have not seen the right steps taken by him," Lewis said. "With our offseason work in progress and new talent added at our linebacker position, we've determined it's best to keep moving in a direction that does not include Odell."... [Thurman's agent John] Michels said "it''s purely a money issue right now" because the Bengals have a pending grievance against Thurman. Cut and dry, right? Well the article also notes that Thurman's agent Michels is considering grievences, or at least leaves open the possibility of that in the future. So what's the big deal, can't the team cut a player for missing a voluntary mini camp? Players aren't obligated to attend and can't be cut for not attending the voluntary sessions. Yea, but, since he's a Bengal and all he was probably off being a criminal and doing othe...
More About: Skins , Insider , Redskins

Football operations staff complete with addition of Morocco Brown
2008-05-20 15:32:00
[Note by Skin Patrol, 05/20/08 11:03 AM EDT ] Update per my amigo WCG at Windy City Gridiron. He has his own post up right now on the move, that probably deserves attention. Here's what he told me in an email: He worked for Bobby DePaul who is well thought of around here. The Bears scouting department, homer status aside, is one of the best in the league.  They get more from late round draft picks then a ton of of teams do with their 1st rounders.   I know the Bears did not want to lose him, I've seen a few blurbs talking about the Bears trying to up his money, but you can't keep a guy from a promotion and DePaul wasn't going anywhere. I can't recall if I told you this or not, but the Redskins released their pro personnel director Louis Riddick a couple weeks ago. Per the Insider his contract was up this summer, and the team did not intend to extend it, so bon voyage. This created a void in the football operations heirarchy that the team will apparently soon fi...
More About: Football , Morocco , Brown , Staff , Complete

Is the end of the salary cap era upon us?
2008-05-19 20:22:00
My quick editorial on the salary cap, the current CBA, etc: I love it. This is a strange position for a Redskins fan, since there are few, if any, franchises that would benefit more from an end to revenue sharing. The Redskins are currently 2nd on the Forbes list of most valuable NFL franchises , in virtue exclusively of the Cowboys' new stadium. At 312M in revenue last year, the Redskins are over 50M richer than the field. The team's 60M operating income is likewise tops in the league. So why do I love it? I think the NFL as a whole benefits from a system the fans believe encourages and equal field of play, and what is good for the sport is good for the Redskins. I don't want to overstate either the point or my knowledge of it, but I wouldn't be the first to attribute the NFL's successful growth since the 1993 CBA to that agreement. The reasons that a business entity as large and complex as the NFL cannot logically be attributed to simply one aspect of the game, though growth ...
More About: Salary

Greg Blache simplifying the defense
2008-05-16 17:21:00
We retained a good bit of coaching continuity defensively, even if we let Greg g Williams walk. Greg Blache has been around these players, under that former system, for some years now. And while much of that defense will remain, he's making his own changes, per Inside Slant: However, minicamp revealed that there are substantial differences between Williams, now Jacksonville’s coordinator, and Blache, Chicago’s coordinator from 1999-2003. For example, Williams’ beloved “packages,” which numbered well into the teens, have been considerably reduced. “We will have fewer packages because this is about the players,” Blache said. “This is not about building the perfect castle. It’s about giving the players something they can execute in the heat of battle and under stressful situations. The biggest thing is being able to execute, get to the football and knock the ball out. We’re trying to be a hard, physical defense that’s i...
More About: Defense

June 7th basketball game will all end in tears... of joy
2008-05-16 16:50:00
This is where soundbites are made. Dan Steinberg sets us up: So in this dream, we're talking about an early June charity basketball game at UDC featuring Clinton Portis, Fred Smoot, Caron Butler, DeShawn Stevenson, Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens, Gary Payton, Braylon Edwards, and all the rest, with the promise of celebrity halftime entertainment even better than the game itself. Yeah, that'd probably be good for a few days of blog copy. If only, right? And indeed, it is on like donkey kong (who I played as on the new Wii Mario Kart yesterday, which was fantastically awesome): Washington, DC (PRWEB) May 13, 2008 -- BET host and internationally syndicated radio personality Big Tigger will assemble an impressive line-up of iconic athletes and celebrities for the All-Star Basketball Game during Big Tigger's 7th Annual Celebrity Classic. The game will be held Saturday, June 7th at 6:00pm at the University of the District of Columbia. Presented by the Street Corner Foundation Inc., the...

Well that was quick; Jerome Mathis cut
2008-05-16 16:35:00
First the bad news -- I guess that depends who you ask though -- per Redskins Insider: Wide receiver/return specialist Jerome Mathis, the only outside free agent the Redskins have signed this offseason, has been released, according to the team. Mathis, who has been injury prone and has had legal issues, was a longshot to make the team in the first place. That he was a longshot was just one of a few reasons I thought his signing in the first place had many of us scratching our heads. Besides the legal and injury problems, he didn't represent the tall possession receiver we needed and so the presumption was that we brought him in to return kicks. Which is strange, since we just resigned Rock Cartwright to do the same. And I thought Cartwright was just about the most consistent and capable returners in the NFC last season, perhaps in the entire NFL. Redskins Insider says that Mathis' fate was decided by the draft; with Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly on the roster, the receiver spot...
More About: Quick

Football Outsiders: Devin Clark and Dorian Smith the undrafted rookie free
2008-05-15 21:39:00
Football Outsiders has their post-draft analysis of the NFC East up, go enjoy. Author is a guest, one Mike McGibbon, and all seems to be in order in the story. I found no glaring errors, though I'm not sure the Redskins got, as McGibbon wrote, 10 draft picks as a result of our 1st round draft pick trade (I thought we gave up a 1st, 3rd, 5th ro a 2nd, 2nd, 4th. It's been a minute, though, so maybe my memory doesn't serve). Either way, McGibbon knows a lot more about our undrafted free agents than I do, and thus I direct your attention to some guys to watch, per him: Undrafted Free Agents In all, the Redskins brought in 13 undrafted rookie free agents. Of those 13, four were offensive linemen. And of those four, Florida State’s Shannon Boatman and New Mexico’s Devin Clark may have the best chance to make the team, given that both started for most of their final two seasons. Dorian Smith , an All-Pac 10 first-team defensive end from Oregon State, will also challenge for ...
More About: Football , Rookie

Fifth person charged with first degree felony murder in Sean Taylor case
2008-05-14 20:30:00
[Note by Skin Patrol, 05/14/08 4:16 PM EDT ] Here is the video from AP news, I believe:     Per Redskins Insider: A fifth person has been charged in connection with the shooting death of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor , a spokesman in the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office said Wednesday. Timothy Brown, 16, of Fort Myers, Fla., has been charged with first-degree felony murder and armed burglary of an occupied dwelling, according the spokesman, Ed Griffith. Brown was arrested Tuesday and booked into a Lee County jail. It is unclear when he will arrive in Miami. No initial court appearance has yet been set... ...in a sworn statement to the police, one of the defendents, Rivera, said there were five, rather than four, people who drove together from Fort Myers to Taylor's house in Miami on the night of the break in. This comes after the recent news that the prosecutors in the case will not seek the death penalty for any of the defendants. Ostensibly this applies ...
More About: Murder , Case , Person , Felony

Coach Zorn has not changed the rushing offense at all
2008-05-14 19:55:00
I don't know how newsworthy this is as I recall reading something to this effect a while ago, but just to remind, per a Mike Sellers Q&A: Q: Does it help that the terminology of the running game is the same as last year? A: "Well, that's pretty much half the offense right there. For us, it makes it easier. It makes it less of a learning curve. All we have to learn is the passing part of the offense. It's just a matter of getting the pass routes down. It's why everybody is moving forward so fast." He goes farther, I'll emphasize: Q: Is there enough of a smash-mouth element to this offense? A: "Like I just said, we still have the same running game from last year. It's exactly the same. Nothing has changed, so I'll still be doing the same [blocking] that I'm normally doing. It's just the passing game that's different." The story also says Mike Sellers is listing 284 pounds this season (at 6'3). Pro Bowler Mack Strong, by comparison, lists 253. (Pete Schmitt is 252, h...
More About: Coach

Ryan Boschetti is tenacious, can play cards
2008-05-13 21:38:00
As we obsess this offseason over those undrafted free agents who may or may not make the team, it's important to remember that some -- those brave few who weather the storms of practice squads and roster cuts -- end up not only making the team but sticking around for years to come. The short history of one such player, Ryan Boschetti, follows: Undrafted in 2004 out of UCLA (already has a leg up, as this is no Eastern Washington Tech State University, Tappeyokapudding) gets signed by the Redskins. It was great while it lasted; cut sometime prior to the regular season. His tenure started in April, but by September he'd been cut and then promoted (demoted?) to the practice squad. Chin up, guy, he's promoted to active roster duty in November of that season. December 12th of that season he has his first start, against the Eagles. One tackle later and hte game is over. Has another start in 2005 and records time in a majority of our games. He is a part of Gregg Williams rotating defens...
More About: Play , Cards

D+arrel Green
2008-05-12 22:24:00
Football Outsiders outdid themselves tracking down some brilliant quotes from the 1983 draft (which had a number of good players, including the one listed above). Although I realize how easy it is to get something profoundly wrong when analyzing the NFL -- I do it daily, I believe I have more practice at the craft than virtually anyone -- I don't know if I've yet been this totally, absolutely wrong on anything. Perhaps there simply isn't enough history between my statements and emerging realities, as this blog opened just years ago. One day, if I ever read my own print so absolutely ruined by subsequent history, I hope I was wrong about all the right things, as was this guy: “For a Super Bowl winner, ‘Skins need help all over. It doesn’t look like they got it. Darrell Green , the No. 1 from Texas A&I, is an excellent returner … but only 5-8, which might be too small for the corner. Grade: D-Plus.” – Gary Myers, Dallas Morning News. The Red...

The 2008 NFL Power Rankings... in May
2008-05-12 21:49:00
[Note by TexSkins, 05/12/08 2:57 PM CDT ] Skin Patrol types faster and writes better. As part of the plan to create sports news (specifically NFL news) when there is none to feed to global machine that is ESPN, the Mouse Ear NFL Division has released the first (of many) versions of the NFL Power Rankings. There are some interesting things here. First, the top NFC team in May is the NFL Champion New York (football) Giants the Dallas Cowboys? Wait... you're telling me that the team that won the Super Bowl and has only added pieces is not only the second best team in their conference, they're the second best team in their division? Is it because TO is now a TV Star? Or is it because Romo butchered "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley worse than Harry Carey ever did? I mean, it has to be something like that, since it can't be on the field where the Giants won... in Dallas... in the playoffs... before winning the Super Bowl. I mean, I can understand having the Patriots,...
More About: 2008

How good are Your Washington Redskins?
2008-05-12 21:45:00
I'm done with Law School year uno, so here I am, back, returning to regular treatment in this space. All apologies (but for serious, I was busy) for my absence.   The loooooong offseason drags on. And on. And on. Content is light today, which I hadn't anticipated seeing as how I've been gone since the middle of last week. But really there isn't much of interest happening. Perhaps that's best; no news means no one has a hurt hamstring. As Redskins 360 notes, ESPN finally got their act together and released their first top-to-bottom NFL ranking of the season. I find these exercises especially useless as predictors, though don't formulate that opinion on reliance of data I'm unwilling to sort out. I just happen to think preseason rankings are, by necessity, overwhelmingly speculative. Of course since I don't actually do any real reporting, speculation is really all we have here at Hogs Haven, so don't interpret my skepticism on the product as reluctance to speculate. Spec...
More About: Washington , Good , Washington Redskins

Zorn the Masochist
2008-05-09 18:10:00
Jason Campbell "tweaked" his hamstring at practice and head coach Jim Zorn couldn't be happier. From the article: "I have him sinking down a little bit," Zorn said. "It?s a change, and so I was kind of excited about it?not that he tweaked his hamstring, but just the fact that different things are happening." Kind of excited? More like hella excited. That's right... I went with hella. AOL Fanhouse also has the story. And they lead with "it is a bit unusual when a head coach is actually pleased when he starting quarterback gets hurt." A bit? More like... you guessed it, hella unusual. Now, I understand that Zorn is changing some of the things JC does, especially pre-snap, but it doesn't seem very productive to have him to the point of tweaking his hamstring. I wonder if the QBs in Seattle got injured after working with Zorn... The article also mentions ARE and his knee's floating-body-freeness. And after a few days, we might have found out what those floating bodies a...

Surgery removes ARE 's "floating body"
2008-05-07 10:11:00
I bet you're all like WTF, mate? I know I was. But, the surgery was "only" an arthroscopic knee procedure that should allow him to be ready for training camp. I say "only" because knee surgery and wide reciever never go together in a sentence without some pause. I'd prefer my WRs to be knee-scar-free just like I prefer my tits breasts to be scar free. Isn't that right, Tara Reid? (Totally NSFW and definately not safe for after lunch.) The Yahoo! article mentions that the surgery was to remove a "floating body" that was causing discomfort and was discovered after an MRI. Hmm. Floating body, eh? Must be a technical term. I'm sure if you ask nicely, SP will take a study break and give you a detailed illustration of what, exactly, a "floating body" is. Pins and needles, my friends... I'm on pins and fcuking needles. I'm very curious about this "floating body" in ARE's knee. I mean... how long has it been there? How did it get there? And is there significant tissue...
More About: Body , Surgery