Yardbarker: Washington Redskins

Potential Naming Rights Suitors for Nationals Park

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 02:07:49 -0500

Ok, so the television ratings are on par with the 2 a.m. showing of Cheaters on WDCA. Attendance figures, while not dismal, are disappointing and partly inflated by a season ticket base that might not be so motivated to re-up next year. Other indicators of interest, such as internet traffic and MLB.com's ability to identify which league the Nats play in are embarrassing.

Clearly, this isn't such a good time to be selling the stadium's naming rights...or is it? The price might have come down just enough to let some more intriguing players into the bidding.

1) Easterns Motors - Easterns Motors has achieved local notoriety for their use of local sports celebrities in their commercials. I assume they have used a Nat or two, though I, of course, have no idea what any Nats look like. Perhaps they could jump in with a bid.

2) Kim's Karate - "Nobody bothers me! Nobody bothers me, either!" It's the perfect sentiment for those lonely nights at Kim's Karate Park when you're the only fan in your section.

3) Saiontz, Kirk and Miles - "When you have a phone, you have a reliever." This is perfect for the many, many calls to the bullpen Manny Acta will be making for the foreseeable future. Or at least for the season or so he has left.

4) Senate Insurance - These commercials are a local legend, thanks to the catchphrase "Kiss my bumper! Just kiss it!" There are multiple in-game tie-ins with this sponsorship. If the Nats ever win a game before their last out, announcers could call it the Senate Insurance Run. On the rare occasions the Nats homer, the announcers could do a little "Kiss it goodbye! Just kiss it!". I like the options here.

5) Six Flags - This is too easy to resist. Redskins owner Danny Boy Snyder, when not paying wrongful decapitation and wrongful de-foot-itation damages, owns Six Flags also. If you click the play button below, you'll see that awful We Like to Party/Venga Boys commercial with the creepy old dancing guy.

6) Koons Ford/Toyota/Etc. - Ok, I've always been strangely attracted to Crystal Koons.

Any other ideas?

2008 Fantasy Football Projections - Philadelphia Eagles

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 00:59:51 -0500

Determined to reclaim the starting quarterback position with authority after backup Jeff Garcia led the Philadelphia Eagles to a playoff berth in 2006, Donovan McNabb started the season in solid fashion. The sports hernia injury he suffered that paved the way for Jeff Garcia two years ago was healed and McNabb proved he still had it in him as he played in 14 games – the most since 2004 – and threw for 3,324 yards, 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 61.5 percent of his passes. Unfortunately, the Eagles did not have the playmakers necessary for the rest of the offense to succeed as the team fizzled its way to an 8-8 record. Make sure to read more of what Bruno Boys Fantasy Football staff writer Cory Steger has to say about the Philadelphia Eagles and their fantasy football worthy players heading into the 2008 season by clicking below...

Poe Reigns Supreme Over All NFL Mascots

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 23:23:47 -0500

The results are disputable. The match-up was unlikely. But the dust has cleared on the NFL's Fiercest Mascot competition, and the Baltimore Ravens' Poe strikes fear into the hearts of men and animals. Don't let anybody fool you about automated voting. Poe, the unheralded 16th seed in the competition, faced Washington Redskins mascot and man of a thousand stereotypes Chief Zee in the championship round. In a world where the Ravens are one of the most unheralded teams in the NFL, Poe winning this contest infuses hope in a sports city unsure of its place within the national landscape. The baseball team hasn't be relevant for a generation. The Ravens may be the most looked-down upon Super Bowl champion in the last 30 years due to their lack of offense and lack of historical importance. There is no basketball team, and lacrosse hasn't made the leap to mainstream adoration. Plus, the fact that Poe crushed its Beltway rival makes it all the more sweeter. The Washington Nationals and Orioles interleague match-up provides comedy where the Ravens-Redskins annual scrimmage is a spectacle to behold. There is bad blood between the two cities, but the franchises just aren't good enough for any real competition to genuinely matter. The mascots? They matter. And the fact of the matter is that our Poe is the Big Chief of NFL mascots.

Agonizing Defeats in Jaguars History (#16 - #13)

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:11:36 -0500

Today continues our five-part series where we identify the 20 most-agonizing defeats in Jaguars history. Check back every day this week as we revisit 4 heartbreaking losses per day. Be sure to leave us comments about what you remember about those games. Don't worry: we promise to cheer you up next week during the series "Amazing Victories In Jaguars History." #16 | 11/23/03 vs. New York Jets / 13-10: It was dubbed "The Battle of Marshall Quarterbacks" as former Thundering Herd quarterbacks Byron Leftwich and Chad Pennington squared off against each other. The game was a huge snoozer through three quarters as each team managed only three points. The 4th quarter was a different story. After the Jets took a 6-3 lead from K Doug Brien's 35-yard field goal with 12:49 left in the game, Leftwich and the Jaguars orchestrated a drive that lasted almost eight minutes. RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala rumbled into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown score to give the Jaguars a 10-6 lead. After two drives died quickly for both teams, the Jets took over on their own 6-yard line with 3:00 left in the game. Pennington threw on twelve straight pass plays as he moved the Jets down the field, eventually finding WR Santana Moss for a 3-yard touchdown score with :33 left in the game. The Jaguars' ensuing drive stalled inside their own territory, and the Jets won an ugly game 13-10. #15 | 12/1/02 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers / 25-23: The Jaguars were trailing 22-10 with about 12 minutes left in the game, but they clawed their way back to within 5 points when QB Mark Brunell found TE Kyle Brady on a 42-yard touchdown pass. Pittsburgh would tack on another field goal with about 4:30 left in the game to go up 25-17. Brunell marched the Jaguars down the field, eventually hooking up with WR Jimmy Smith for a 7-yard touchdown pass with 1:19 left in the game. But the ensuing two-point conversion failed, and Pittsburgh held on to edge Jacksonville 25-23. #14 | 10/1/06 vs. Washington Redskins / 36-30: The Jaguars were coming off a tough road loss the week before to Indianapolis, and they were off to Washington to face their former field general: QB Mark Brunell. The thrilling game went back and forth as each team traded barbs well into the 4th quarter. With :06 left in the game, K Josh Scobee booted a 41-yard field goal to tie the game 30-30 and send it into overtime. The Jacksonville joy would be short-lived just 1:49 into the overtime period, as Brunell hit WR Santana Moss for a 68-yard touchdown pass. Washington outlasted Jacksonville 36-30, and it gave Brunell some minor satisfaction against the team that gave up on him just three years before. #13 | 12/17/95 vs. Detroit Lions / 44-0: The Jaguars' inaugural season was not a successful one in terms of wins. By the time Week 16 rolled around, the Jaguars were long since eliminated from the playoff hunt. However, nobody saw the thrashing that was coming courtesy of the Detroit Lions. Led by QB Scott Mitchell and RB Barry Sanders, they contributed four of the five Lions' touchdowns in the lopsided 44-0 win over Jacksonville. It was the first time the Jaguars were shut out, and it remains the biggest margin of defeat in Jacksonville history.

NFL Insider -- 2008 Team Outlook: Todays Team is : Cleveland Browns

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:21:26 -0500

Over the next several days we will take a look at the outlook of the 32 NFL Teams. They will be informative for both the fan of football and also some have information for you fantasy football buffs too. Give us your feedback by leaving your comments. Thank you and have a great season... 2008 Team Outlook: Cleveland As per Joel Welser, Now that the quarterback situation settled itself out, Derek Anderson looks to build on his 3,787 passing yards and 29 touchdowns of a year ago. The Cleveland Browns will look to the air quite a bit and that will boost Anderson's numbers and make him one of the more attractive fantasy quarterbacks. He is also a little risky due to his high amount of interceptions and the fact that if things get bad, Browns fans will be screaming for Brady Quinn. With Donte' Stallworth joining the team, Anderson will have a whole lot of targets. Braylon Edwards caught 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns and will once again be the big play threat for Cleveland. Joe Jurevicius is getting up there in age, but he is still a smart receiver who will compliment Edwards quite well. Stallworth is joining his fourth team in as many years, but he has been relatively consistent throughout his career. Tight end Kellen Winslow caught a team high 82 passes last year and will be Anderson's favorite check down target. With the addition of Stallworth, the rest of the receivers might see their numbers decrease a little bit. However, Edwards will still make all the big catches and Winslow will get plenty of opportunities. Stallworth will not tally a large number of receptions, but he is a big play receiver. After rushing for over 1,300 yards last year, Jamal Lewis hopes to repeat that performance. Heading into the season last year it looked like Lewis would be the main offensive threat, but then Anderson made the passing attack very effective and Lewis was not needed to do as much. However, Lewis did have four of his five 100 yard games during the last six games of the season and if he can stay healthy and strong for the entire season, Lewis will be a great second back on any fantasy team. The defense is not horrible, but they are not a good fantasy defense. The Browns do not create a lot of turnovers or force a lot of sacks. Only the Bills and the Lions gave up more yards per game than the Browns. The bend but not break defense will work on the field for the most part, but it will not give owners many fantasy points. QB Derek Anderson, CLE (QB - #5) - Stud (low risk) Derek Anderson had a superb year last season. The line gave him plenty of time to throw and he took advantage of an under appreciated group of receivers. To make things even better, he now has Donte' Stallworth joining Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and Joe Jurevicius as his receivers. With that group to throw to and a year getting comfortable with the passing game, Anderson could be in for a huge, huge year. But there is the lingering question that neither Anderson, nor the Browns, can keep such a productive offense clicking consistently. When the weather got cold in December, Anderson started to struggle throwing seven touchdowns and eight interceptions in those five games. He also had three of his five under 200 yard passing games during that span. RB Jamal Lewis, CLE (RB - #20) - Solid/Safe Pick There were questions about how productive an aging Jamal Lewis would be behind a questionable line in Cleveland. But Lewis, and the line, put those concerns to rest last year when he rushed for 1,304 yards and nine touchdowns and added 30 receptions and a couple more trips to the endzone. Those are not bad numbers for a second fantasy running back, but the Browns could look to the air a little more this year than they did last year. Anderson is now a relatively proven quarterback and the team added Donte' Stallworth to an already decent group of receivers. RB Jason Wright, CLE (RB - #73) - Fantasy Handcuff Even if Jamal Lewis were to get hurt, does Jason Wright have the ability to be the team's full-time back? Wright had his best season of his career last year when he rushed for 277 yards on 60 carries and a touchdown. As the Browns figured out last year, he is a decent receiver out of the backfield and caught 24 passes for 233 yards. But even if Wright ended up starting due to an injury to Lewis, the Browns have Jerome Harrison and Lawrence Vickers who would likely help cover the carries. At best, Wright is a handcuff just in case Lewis gets hurt, but that will not even be necessary in most leagues unless there happens to be room on the roster. WR Braylon Edwards, CLE (WR - #3) - Stud (low risk) Whoever said wide receivers have a breakout year during their third season in the league has another example to add to their list. Braylon Edwards nearly doubled his touchdown output from his first two seasons in the league and nearly eclipsed the 1,300 yard receiving plateau. He might not reach the endzone 16 times again, but Edwards has proven to be one of the top five fantasy receivers in the NFL. Any fantasy owner who believes the Browns and quarterback Derek Anderson are in for a big year has to have Edwards high on their list of receivers. But Anderson has yet to prove that he is a consistent signal caller at this level and a bad year for him means an average year for Edwards. WR Joe Jurevicius, CLE (WR - #64) - Bye Week Fill-in Nobody's numbers will take a hit due to the addition of Donte' Stallworth more than Joe Jurevicius'. In most leagues, the 34-year-old Jurevicius was a bye week fill-in at best last season. A year older and a year slower, the Browns are preparing for life without the savvy veteran and so should fantasy owners. Jurevicius has not caught a touchdown pass since September and through most of the rest of the season quarterback Derek Anderson was putting up great numbers. Those passes were mostly going to Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. There is potential for the occasional big game, but Edwards, Stallworth and Winslow will be Anderson's first, second and third targets. WR Donte' Stallworth, CLE (WR - #54) - Super Sleeper (high risk/potential) After moving around to four different teams in as many years, Cleveland Browns fans hope Donte' Stallworth has finally found a home. The former first round selection is a big play receiver and averages over 15 yards per catch on his career. The same can be expected in Cleveland this year. It will be interesting to see how quarterback Derek Anderson adapts to Stallworth's style of play and if the two can find a connection down the field. Stallworth probably will not be a favorite target in the endzone for Anderson, but he should still get to the promise land a few times due to his big play capabilities. TE Kellen Winslow, CLE (TE - #3) - Solid/Safe Pick Kellen Winslow has stayed healthy for two straight seasons, so we can put that concern to bed. And in those two years he has led the team in receptions, catching 89 passes in 2006 and 82 in 2007. The touchdown numbers are not as great as a fantasy owner would hope from their 6-4 tight end, but he did go up to five touchdown receptions last year after only three the previous season. Quarterback Derek Anderson will certainly look Winslow's way many times, but the addition of Donte' Stallworth to the receiving corps could take away a few catches here and there.

NFC East - Pressure is on Dallas

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 09:09:32 -0500

The ESPN experts are predicting that the Dallas Cowboys, not the other 3 NFC East teams, are on the hot seat in the NFC East. Lack of depth ar WR, no impact rookies, too many players of questionable character and way too many non-football distractions could add up to a tumultuous season in big D.....

Top 10 Reasons To Hate Washington Redskins

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 22:05:41 -0500

In the final series, we saved the best for last. I truly dislike the Washington Redskins more than any other team in the NFL, with the Eagles a close second. I dislike the Redskins even more because I live in an area loaded with Redskins fans and it is nauseating. Don't give me this "hate is [...]

2008 Fantasy Football Projections - San Francisco 49ers

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 17:38:11 -0500

After finishing the 2006 season on a hot streak, many league officials thought that the 2007 version of the San Francisco 49ers could compete for the NFC West title. Unfortunately, this was before offensive coordinator Norv Turner bolted to take the San Diego Chargers head coaching job and the 49ers were stuck with unproven Jim Hostler calling the plays on offense. The offense was supposed to flourish under the breakout season of running back Frank Gore and third year quarterback Alex Smith showed signs of promise towards the end of the '06 campaign. Instantly, the 49ers got off to a hot start, winning their first two games, but after the quick start it all went downhill. The 49ers proceeded to drop eight straight games en route to finishing the season with a 5-11 record and another disappointing season for the once proud franchise.

Dear Dallas Cowboys Fans

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:16:46 -0500

I would like to write an apology to all of the Dallas Cowboys fans in the world. I see that I recently upset many of you with my comments regarding your favorite wide receiver Michael Irvin. I have offended many of you, and I was wrong for doing so. I really hope that this does [...]

So Nature deals with us

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 12:00:00 -0500

As I mentioned in my bio, I grew up in the wake of the Colts' exodus from Baltimore and turned to the loving arms of the Washington Redskins. I was guided there by my father, and together we cheered the Washington Redskins through three superbowl wins. Football was a bond we shared and I always treasured watching games with him. On July 5th, Redskins Dad –my beloved father– passed away early in the morning. He taught me how to be a proper football fan. He taught me to appreciate sportsmanship and loyalty. He taught me to hate those stankin Cowboys and Eagles and Giants, but to also have respect for your enemy. He taught me to never give up and he taught me to have faith in my team. He also taught me many new swear words when Marcus Allen ran for that touchdown in the Superbowl against the Raiders. Many of my best memories of him revolve around football, and I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that football brought us closer together. So I hope you will all indulge me and take a moment to pay some respect and appreciation to those that got you interested in this wonderful game. We may have different teams and different loyalties, but we share the same love of the game. Let's remember that. Thank you Redskins Guy

Analysis of a dynasty draft

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 11:39:37 -0500

My first dynasty draft now has moved past six rounds, and it is time to hand out some very early grades on all the participating teams. But first, here is an update on how my team — Massive Hits — looks so far. You guys already know I grabbed runningbacks with my first two picks. Clinton Portis and Reggie Bush should be able to score well in this point-per-reception (PPR) league and give me a nice foundation. In rounds 3 and 4 I grabbed two starting wide receivers in Terrell Owens and Anquan Boldin. Being that Owens is a little on the old wise side, I decided to grab a young up-and-comer to fill the No. 3 WR starting spot on my team. Luckily, the guy I wanted fell to me in the 5th round — Kansas City's Dwayne Bowe. ... Story continued at site ...

koolaid's favas

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:13:20 -0500

this iz an allstar team dat can win

Predicting the Top 10 Running Backs Based on Historical Trends

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 19:56:10 -0500

Find out why we believe that LaDainian Tomlinson and Joseph Addai are the only two amongst the top five running backs that could be in the top five at the end of the season in the second article of this series of three on historical trends.

Fantasy Football Notes - Seattle Seahawks

Sat, 05 Jul 2008 02:36:24 -0500

The Seattle Seahawks found themselves in a familiar place at the end of the 2007 regular season, atop the NFC West standings, but the way they got there differed greatly from years past. In recent history, the Seahawks had been driven by their running game.That's what happens when you have an MVP type back lining up behind your quarterback. But, as Shaun Alexander's skills deteriorated, a change in philosophy was needed. And, in 2007, the Seahawks did a 180, deciding to hand the reins to quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and become a pass first team. The change worked as the Seahawks jumped from the league's 19th ranked offense in 2006 to the 9th best in 2007. Hasselbeck, who put up the best numbers of his career, completing 62.6% of his passes for 3966 yards and 28 TDs to 12 INTs, had no trouble becoming the focal point of the offense. The change of philosophy also made Seattle's wide receivers viable fantasy football options throughout much of the season.Like Hasselbeck, Bobby Engram had the best year of his career, which is saying something at the tender age of 35. For the first time ever, Engram topped the 1,000 yard mark with 1,147 receiving yards to go along with 6 scores. Nate Burleson, may have come up a bit short on the yardage side of things with just 694 yards on the year, but his 9 TDs led to 7 double digit fantasy performances. Even Deion Branch and DJ Hackett, who both missed time due to injury, were solid fantasy options. Branch tallied 6 double digit games in 11 played, while Hackett had 3 in 6 games, though he left the first one rather early because of an ankle injury. While the Seahawks' new offensive game plan aided the value of Hasselbeck and the team's wide receivers, it hindered that of the team's running backs as the team finished 20th in rushing offense on the year. Those low rushing totals led Maurice Morris (101 fantasy points) and Shaun Alexander (99 fantasy points) to combine for a total of just 200 fantasy points. Alexander had well above 300+ points on his own in his 2005 MVP Season. To read more about what Bruno Boys Mike Whooley has to say about the Seattle Seahawks, click the link below...

Ranking Who is Tops in The NFC East

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 11:14:36 -0500

Ranking the top 4 at QB, RB, WR, OL in the NFC East. McNabb 1, Westbrook 1, Curtis 4, OL is 2. Looks about right...Curtis could go 3 or 4, but Moss has the Pro Bowl appearances