In practice, I might not notice the Houston Astros’ disappearance from the National League all that much. With 162 games and oodles of non-divisional opponents on your dance card, what’s one home series and one road series in the scheme of things? But in theory and sentiment, I will surely miss our fraternal twins when they are snatched from our midst and set down in some foreign...

The Cowboys looked completely lost. But they managed to steal an 18-16 win over the Redskins as oft-criticized Tony Romo delivered another clutch performance, writes Chris Burke.

Tony Romo wasn't healthy, but he was gutsy in the Cowboys' 18-16 win over the Redskins. While both teams are 2-1, Chris Burke says the gap between the two couldn't be any bigger.

by Chris BurkeFiled under: Redskins, Vikings, NFL InjuriesAfter topping the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season, Vikings RB Adrian Peterson exited Sunday's game against the Redskins with a right ankle injury. He was initially listed as probable to return at halftime, but was later downgraded to questionable. Rookie Toby Gerhart took the field with the Minnesota offense to start...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: Bills, Lions, NFL AnalysisThe Bills entered Sunday's game with Detroit winless on the 2010 season. The Lions, meanwhile, headed to Buffalo sporting a 24-game road losing streak. Something had to give. In the end, the Bills were the team that broke through -- Buffalo knocked off bumbling Detroit, 14-12 on Sunday, extending the Lions' road misery to an NFL...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: Redskins, NFL Rumors, NFL QuarterbacksNFL castoff JaMarcus Russell, released by the Raiders in May after three disastrous seasons, was among a group of players to work out for the Redskins Monday, according to multiple reports -- a bit of news that could hint at another weird turn in the Redskins' sudden quarterback controversy. Washington offensive coordinator...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: Vikings, NFL RumorsRandy Moss has been fined $25,000 by the NFL for refusing to talk to the media for nearly three weeks following the Vikings' loss to the New York Jets on Oct. 11. According to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN, Moss answered reporters' questions two days after that game, then did not address the media again until Thursday, when he briefly offered...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: Rams, Redskins, NFL InjuriesRunning back Steven Jackson and safety O.J. Atogwe -- the Rams' top players on offense and defense, respectively -- both exited Sunday's game against Washington due to injury. Jackson, a 1,000-yard rusher for each of the past five seasons, suffered a groin injury late in the first half and was not expected to return to action...

Columbus, Ohio–I’ve taken a weekend off from the drug-induced euphoria that is Phillies fandom of late to spend some time with Kate, the Long-Suffering Girlfriend, who’s in grad school at Ohio State. Though I’m currently being terrorized by a 10-week-old kitten who thinks he can eat my feet, the long, solitary drive gave me the opportunity to sample some sports talk radio...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: RedskinsLarry Johnson's Redskins career lasted all of two regular-season games and five carries. The team announced Tuesday that it had released the veteran running back. "We appreciate Larry's attitude and contributions to the Redskins," Redskins general manager Bruce Allen said in a statement. "However, we needed to make a roster move in preparation for...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: Cowboys, Redskins, NFC East, NFL AnalysisThe Cowboys and Redskins have certainly played more aesthetically pleasing games in their long and storied rivalry. Even so, Sunday night's 13-7 Redskins victory went down to the wire, with a potential game-winning Cowboys touchdown erased on an offensive holding call with no time left. It's just one week, so you...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: CowboysMiles Austin was a breakout star during the 2009 NFL season. The Cowboys are betting a lot of money that he's more than just a one-year wonder. Dallas signed Austin to a six-year contract extension worth a reported $54 million, according to the team's website. Austin, who had 81 catches for 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns during a Pro Bowl...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: Redskins, NFL Injuries, NFL Rumors, NFL Training CampMalcolm Kelly spent the entirety of Redskins' training camp trying to nurse his injured hamstring back to health. Those efforts failed, however, and as a result, Washington placed Kelly on injured reserve, ending his 2010 season. Kelly left the Redskins' first training camp practice after tweaking his...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: Bengals, NFL AnalysisThe list of NFL teams in need of receivers seems to grow by the day. St. Louis suddenly has to replace Donnie Avery, who was placed on injured reserve after hurting his knee Thursday night. San Diego might still be forced to find someone to take Vincent Jackson's spot, if he's traded or continues his holdout. The Jets could use some...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: Redskins, NFL Injuries, NFL Training Camp, NFL QuarterbacksQuarterback Donovan McNabb, who's dealing with a sore ankle, won't play in the Redskins' final preseason game, Thursday against the Cardinals. That's not much of a surprise -- plenty of teams will shut down their starters for this coming week's final round of exhibition contests. But Washington...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: Redskins, NFL Rumors, NFL Training CampSo you thought the rift between Albert Haynesworth and Redskins' head coach Mike Shanahan was a thing of the past? Think again. Haynesworth, who missed multiple days of practice this week after feeling ill, sat on the sideline for the first half of Washington's 23-3 preseason loss to Baltimore on Saturday. When he...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: Redskins, NFL Rumors, NFL Training CampThe Ravens have traded quarterback John Beck to Washington in exchange for cornerback Doug Dutch, according to Aaron Wilson of the National Football Post. Beck, 28, was expected to battle Troy Smith for a spot on the Ravens' active roster, behind Joe Flacco and Marc Bulger. Beck has not played in a regular season game...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: NFL Training CampASHBURN, Va. -- Unlike every other team workout this offseason, which a disgruntled Albert Haynesworth skipped in protest of Washington's new 3-4 defense, the veteran lineman joined his teammates at Redskins Park on Thursday. Just like those previous workouts, though, Haynesworth wasn't in action. Redskins coach Mike Shanahan confirmed...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: Redskins, NFL Injuries, NFL Rumors, NFL Training CampRedskins offensive lineman Mike Williams will likely miss the entire 2010 season and his career could be in jeopardy after doctors discovered blood clots near his heart, according to Jason Reid of The Washington Post. Reid cited two people familiar with the situation, who verified that Williams had been...

Links for Monday... There's not a lot of optimism within the Dodgers' organization that the club will be able to add much payroll to improve its pitching staff, writes ESPN.com's Buster Olney (Twitter link). Dodgers GM Ned Colletti told MLBTR's Tim Dierkes that the team's ability to make a deal depends on many variables. Will Carroll of Baseball Prospectus...

DOTF Player of the Day: Louisville’s Travis Wood – 8 innings of 5 hit shutout baseball. He’s on a roll. AAA Louisville 7 – Norfolk 0 Travis Wood threw 8 innings of 5 hit shutout baseball, walking 1 and striking out 9, lowering his ERA to 3.12 and his WHIP to 1.08. In his last 8 starts, he’s thrown 56 innings with a 1.92 ERA. Chris Burke (HR), Wladimir Balentien, Todd Frazier...

6/25 Game Review Louisville won 7-0. Box Score Chris Burke went 2-5 with a solo Hr (5). Yonder Alonso went 1-5 with an RBI. Wladimir Balentien went 2-4 with a walk and solo HR (10). Juan Francisco went 1-4 with a walk. Todd Frazier went 2-5 with a double and 2 runs. Drew Sutton went 1-3 with a walk and a run. Chris Valaika went 2-4 with 2 doubles, 2 RBI and a run. Wilkin Castillo...

6/21 Game Review Louisville lost 6-0. Box Score Chris Burke went 2-4 with 2 doubles. Zack Cozart went 1-3 with a walk and a double. Juan Francisco went 1-4 with a double. Chris Denove went 1-2. Philippe Valiquette and Carlos Fisher each threw a scoreless inning of relief. Carolina was off. Lynchburg was off. Dayton was off. Billings won 11-3. Box Score Theo Bowe went 1-5 with...

6/20 Game Review Louisville lost 5-1. Box Score Chris Burke wwent 2-4 with a run. Zack Cozart went 1-4 with a double and RBI. Wilkin Castillo went 1-3. Travis Wood allowed 1 earned run in 6.2 innings with 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. Jesus Delgado threw a scoreless inning of relief. Carolina lost 5-4. Box Score Sean Henry went 2-4 with a triple and solo HR (4). Brandon Yarbrough went...

by Chris BurkeFiled under: Redskins, Saints, NFL RumorsThe Redskins are close to finalizing a trade with the New Orleans Saints that would bring two-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jammal Brown to Washington. Jeff Duncan of The Times-Picayune reported on Twitter that the teams had agreed to a deal. In order to complete a trade involving Brown, a restricted free agent, the Saints must first...