Yardbarker: chrishorton

Win autographed Kicks and Gloves

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:44:43 -0500

I want to take some time out to talk about Monday night’s game and the great Redskins fans. Monday Night Football is always exciting. Growing up, every player dreams of playing on MNF. Hearing the theme song “dun dun dun duh” fires you up even more. I thought I played well my first time back in the starting lineup so that was a plus for me, but I wish I could have a made a couple more plays and created a turnover. These past couple of weeks have been rough. I am not really concerned whether I get the start or not - I just want to play. There have been some games where I had one play on defense and there have been some games I had 58 plays on defense without starting. It’s just one of the things you go through as a player. I am still young, still learning and I’m doing what ever it takes to show the coaches that I belong out there.

Playing at home is great because the players can feed off the energy of the fans. I just wish we could have delivered a W to them. One of the best things about being a Redskin is the unconditional support from the best fans in the NFL. We are thankful and appreciative for their support despite how the season is going. We are having some rough times right now, but we are going to get out of it and I appreciate the fans sticking with us.

As you know I am giving away a pair of game worn autographed gloves and cleats this week. To win them, you need to find the answers to last week’s and this week’s questions. Submit the answers to info@predator48.com. The first person to get both questions right will win the prize.

This week’s question:

When I was growing up what was my favorite NFL team?

Hint: read my blogs from last season

Good Luck!

Chris

Win some signed gloves and cleats

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:27:52 -0500

What up YardBarker. Sorry I missed my blog last week I am going to try and stay on top for the rest of the season. I gave away my first prize, a signed Predator48 shirt to AMY FOSTER of Maryland who is a huge Skin’s fan. Congratulations Amy!

I want to continue my contest and the next prize is going to be a pair of signed gloves and cleats. Remember to keep track of the answers these next two weeks so you can submit them to info@predator48.com after the Falcons Game.

Question:

So many of you know I have the nickname “Predator” because of my dreds, but do you know the nickname my teammate Fred Smoot has for me?

Remember you can find the answers on my website www.predator48.com

Have a good week and Watch Monday Night Football!!

Chris

Controversy About My Predator48.com Blog

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:59:45 -0500

First of all I want to apologize to my coach, my teammates and my fans for the recent blog that was posted on www.predator48.com. I held a contest during the preseason where a fan could win the chance to become the official blogger for my website. I held this contest because I wanted to create some more fan interaction and give a cool opportunity to a Redskins fan. Up until this post, our blogger Matt had done an excellent job, but as soon as I found out Matt had made some comments that were negative in nature about my coach and some of my teammates, I had it taken down immediately. I don’t promote or agree with what was stated in the blog.

I understand that what is posted on my site is a reflection of me and I can assure you this won’t happen again. I’m a positive, upbeat, team oriented person and that is what I expect for anything that goes on my website. Go Redskins!

I am giving away an autographed shirt this week!!

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:23:59 -0500

What’s up YardBarker? I am giving away an autographed shirt this week!!

To win the shirt you will need to find the answers to my previous two questions and the new question at the end of this blog.

You can find the answers to the questions on www.predator48.com or www.chrishorton.yardbaker.com

Once you have the answers to the questions, submit them to my websites email info@predator48.com and the first person to get all 3 questions right wins the autographed shirt.

Question of the week: How many solo tackles did I have while in college at UCLA?

UCLA & Question 2

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:20:47 -0500

YB what up? As you all know I am a Bruin so I got to talk about my team. I am extremely excited to see my team at 3-0 the first time since 2005!! They are out having fun, competing each week and it has been fun to watch them . The secondary has been balling out especially Rahim Moore 5 picks in two games RIDICULOUS!! I still text a bunch of guys on the team during the week and before the games on Saturday so it is awesome to see them doing great.

I just want to let my boys know that I am watching them, keep grinding and good luck!

On to the Redskins… Man that game was ugly but I was happy to come out with a win. I have been asked a couple of times about the play when I forced a fumble and whether or not I was trying to knock the ball out. The truth is I was just coming inside out trying to make a play and I happened to get my head on the ball. I didn’t realize that I forced a fumble until I heard everyone screaming. It was an awesome play and I am happy I took that opportunity to score away from them.

I just posted a new video with my 2nd question to the contest. Next week I am giving away a signed shirt so find all of the answers to my questions on my YardBarker blog or www.Predator48.com. Remember to keep track of all the answers (in order) and submit them to info@predator48.com when I tell you to! Full contest details here.

Chris

I am a Gamer

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 14:35:46 -0500

You can find the answer to my question in an old Bark or on my website www.Predator48.com. Keep track of the answers I will be giving away the first prize, a signed predator48 shirt in two weeks.

Remeber to keep track of all the answers (in order) and submit them to info@predator48.com when i tell you to! Full contest details here.

HAIL

I"m giving away an XBOX 360 & Tickets to a Game!!

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:30:23 -0500

I am holding a season long contest. The grand prize is an XBOX 360 and tickets to a game this season. There will also be several other prizes including an autographed shirt, gloves, and cleats.

YardBarkers check out the details for my new contest Good Luck.

Rules:

• Each week Chris will ask a question on his YardBarker blog. The answers to his questions will be located on his website www.Predator48.com or in one of his previous YardBarker blogs.

• You will need to keep track of all the answers to Chris’s questions throughout the whole season.

• After the Buccaneers game submit your answers in order to info@predator48.com for a chance to win an autographed shirt.

After the Falcons game submit your answers in order to info@predator48.com for a chance to win autographed gloves & cleats.

After the Eagles game submit your answers in order to info@predator48.com for a chance to win an XBOX 360 and tickets to a game!

Chris Horton Blogging Contest

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 11:13:37 -0500

What up YardBarker, My first Preseason game is coming up tomorrow and to get things started I am having my first contest this season. I sat down with the guys who run my website and after reviewing all the messages that were sent to me during the season through my myspace, facebook, www.predator48.com, & blogs I realized that my fans are extremely opinionated.

So I came up with the idea to give one blogger the opportunity to take over my www.predator48.com blog on my website (predator48.blogspot.com) for the entire regular season (seein as that I blog on YardBarker now). So the winner of the contest will win the right to blog on my website each week and win an autographed Predator48 shirt. (for more details visit my website.)

Contest Rules:

Each participant will be required to submit a summary of Chris Horton’s and his teams performance after each pre-season game. Chris is looking for someone who is original, can think out of the box, and can entertain him with their portrayal of his performance. The response will be limited to a maximum of 1500 characters and will need to be submitted no later than 48 hours after the game. Each summary will be sent to info@predator48.com with the heading “Horton Blogging Contest.” (gotta love cut and paste) haha

For more information visit my website www.Predator48.com

My Season, My Thoughts

Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:55:19 -0500

What's up Washington Redskin and Predator48 fans! This is Chris Horton blogging in my hometown of New Orleans, Louisiana. This blog is somewhat special because it is my year ending summary, and every question is derived from you, my fans.

Chris being an overlooked 7th round draft pick, can you give us a summary of your expectations coming into this year?
I definitely exceeded my expectations by a long shot. My first priority was to make the team and maybe play special teams. Due to some injuries, I was able to not only play, but make an impact early. When the starting position became available I became determined to make the most out of the opportunity. The ability to excel in the Redskins defense came from the football knowledge I have acquired over the years, and from working hard to obtain the ability to adapt to the defensive scheme.

Chris what is it like to be a starting rookie in the NFL?
Being able to start as a rookie in the NFL is an enormous honor and accomplishment. Starting in the secondary is even more difficult because of the numerous composure issues that arise. Maintaining a mentality of giving 110% on every single play made it easier for me to accept the fact that I wasn't going to make every play. I feel extremely honored to be a part of the Washington Redskins organization.

Do you think that you should have made the pro bowl or defensive rookie of the year?
I don't know how the pro bowl voting and picks go, but if it is determined by your level of play compared to other guys, I definitely think I should have been in the mix. I have an immense amount of respect for Adrian Wilson. Adrian has put his time in, and continually proven that he is a top safety. I think that I could have been an alternate for the pro bowl, or in consideration for defensive rookie of the year. However, that has never been my concern. My focus this year was going out there, getting my feet wet, and showing the league that I can play.

Watching you play is truly exciting, have you always played with that predator like instinct/style, and where did you get it?
Since I started at age 5 I have always played with a sense of urgency. One of my nicknames that I took on around 6 or 7 was Hard Head Horton. I believe that football can only be played one way: physically. If you can't play physically then you shouldn't be playing this game. I love playing football and testing myself every time I play.

When looking back on the Redskins this year how do you think that the team did?
Have you guys talked as a team about this season and/or talked at all about next season?
As a team I believe that we started the season off well and did some great things. I have never been apart of a winning team and it kills me to see how the second half ended. It makes me sick to go from such a high at the beginning of the season to ending our season the way we did. Our organization needs to go back as a team including players and coaches to make improvements both individually and collectively. Looking forward, we are going to take everything that we did positively and carry that into next year.

Have you talked to the Redskins organization about restructuring your contract?
I haven't heard anything about that and I am not in the realm of restructuring contracts. I am more focused on building upon the great year I just had, and improving every facet of my game this off-season. Of course I would like a new deal, but that is for my management and the Redskins to discuss.

Are you going to be participating in any upcoming autograph signings?
I would definitely be willing to do some autograph sessions during the off season if my fans are interested. I have to talk to my marketing guy and the Redskins organization to see what off-season (activities/festivities) are going on. I would love to sign autographs for all of my Predator48 & Washington Redskin fans.

What are your plans for the off-season? Are you going to be in Washington, New Orleans, and/or LA?
My plans for this off-season consist of coming home to New Orleans, eating some home cooked food, and relaxing. I am going to hang out with my family for a while because I did not get the opportunity to spend much time with them during the season. I am also going to head out to LA for a while and hang out with some friends. I may also take a few small vacations. Other than that, I am going to sit back, review my year, and work towards getting better for next season.

What is going to happen during the off season in regards to your website?
I am going to definitely continue with the Blogs, which will now focus on my life outside of the NFL season. I am also going to try and get some raffles going because I have a bunch of gloves from various games as well as couple of game cleats that I want to autograph for my fans. I will also start video bogging sometime this off-season!

I want to also take this opportunity to thank my fans and supporters. You have been amazing this year and have made me feel welcome in my new home. Remember to keep checking in on my site as I will be posting new things periodically.

Chris

Redskins are looking to bounce back against Philly

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:42:37 -0500

Hello Predator48 fans, Washington Redskins fans, Yardbarker readers, and those who want to check out the Chris Horton Daily Life. Thanks for stopping by.

First, I want to address my absence on the playing field last week. The decision for me not to play against Cincinnati was made by the coaches, training staff, and me because we felt that my shoulder wasn't progressing quickly enough. I wish I could have played, especially because there were playoff implications for that game. However, it was in my best interest to let my shoulder rest. As of today, there is a 99.9 percent chance that I will be out there next week.

Our upcoming game against the Eagles will be a battle because not only are the Eagles a division opponent, but they are trying to make the playoffs. McNabb, Westbrook, and the rest of the team are fighting for their playoff lives. This is evident by their play in their last three games. In order for our defense to be successful this week, we must neutralize their weapons.

Second, I would like to address all the Redskins naysayers. For those people who say there are quitters on our team, I want to assure them that they are wrong. Although we have been in a slump the last couple of weeks, we as a team are determined to dig our way out of it. We are working hard and believe we will finish the season on a positive note. There are no quitters on our team. We will prove that this week by playing hard for 60 minutes. We fully expect to walk away with a victory.

I would like to tell the Redskins fans to keep the faith. We feel and appreciate your support! We are going to make it through this trying time together, and I look forward to seeing all the fans support us for our game against the Eagles.

Thanks 'Skins fans, and Happy Holidays!

Fan Questions 101

Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:07:25 -0500

Hello Yard Barker,

Here are some questions that were sent to me by fans who visited my website Predator48.com. Keep the questions coming and I will do my best to answer them.

What advice would you give to a high school athlete who is getting ready to start college?

Going from high school to college you need to learn how to handle football, school, and your social life. Now that you are away from your parents you have a lot more free time. You can do basically what you want. Learn how to manage those three aspects effectively, and of course work to be successful on the football field.

How did you manage going to school, playing football, spending time with your family, and your social life?

What helped me was that I knew exactly what I wanted in life. I had a goal I was working towards. I know that you can't have one without the other. For example, if you don't go to class and make the grades to stay in college, there isn't a football life because you won't be eligible, and there isn't a social life because no one is going to want to hang out with someone that's not doing well. If you can make good grades, stay on the football team, balance the family life, you will be able to go out and have good time because you have your life priorities in line.

How has the transition from living in the sun your whole life to moving to the cold temperatures in
Washington D.C.?

I am still adjusting to the weather here. The experience of growing up in a region where I was in the warm sun everyday, and could go to the beach year round, to stepping out into the freezing cold weather here has been different to say the least. I actually need to go buy a winter coat before I get sick!

What routines or habits do you complete before games?

Before a game I like to sleep as much as possible. Also, I always eat the same thing: chicken and pasta with red meat sauce. As far as pre-game music goes, I listen to everything from rock, heavy metal, rap, to just a little bit of everything. For morning games, I try and listen to something a little slower and then transition into something that is going to get me pumped up to make plays.

Thanks fans! GO 'SKINS!

Got to get it done!

Fri, 12 Dec 2008 13:27:29 -0500

Hello Yard Barker, Predator48 fans, Washington Redskins fans, and those who just want to check out the Chris Horton Daily Life. Currently I am hanging out and getting ready for a big game against the Bengals. I wanted to take a moment to touch base with my readers, and answer some fan questions.

Basically what happened with the shoulder was that I tweaked it a little bit. I am continuing rehab so I can get it back to where it needs to be for the game. I would call my injury a sprained shoulder, and not a stinger. As of right now, my goal is to play. Unless the training staff and coaching staff have other plans for me, I am definitely going to play.

We have one plan this week and that is to do whatever it takes to win. The approach we are taking is that we only have one game the schedule right now and that is against the Bengals. As a team, we are going to play better defense, better offense, and pick up our special teams game. We are going to play the way we started this season: at a high tempo while trying to create turnovers.

The team's morale is fine after last week's loss. Our number one goal is still to make the playoffs but we are taking things one game at a time. Our defense doesn't have one main focus this week because of the explosive players the Bengals have on offense like Chad Johnson, TJ, Coldwell, Hearing, and Cedric Benson. Our goal is to come out not let anyone go off. We need to stop them all.

Redskins vs Baltimore

Sat, 06 Dec 2008 18:26:36 -0500

What up YardBarker, Predator 48, and Washington Redskins fans today is Saturday December 6th. This week we are facing the Baltimore Ravens which is a must win situation for us. We are trying to get where we need to be which, which is the playoffs, so everything from this point on is basically a playoff game in my eyes. We have to win. Defensively to give our team a chance to win we have to create turnovers, give our offense the short field, and try to score on defense. We need to force the Ravens offense to punt from deep in their territory and take advantage of their mistakes. I am not going to go out there and tell you our specific defensive schemes, but I will tell you that against Flacco the Washington Redskins are going to play our game and were going to put the best plan to beat the Ravens. I also can't tell you where I will be lining up whether it be close to the line of not, but I have been up close all year so I wouldn't expect anything different. Hopefully you will see me blitzing or you might not, there have been some games where I haven't blitzed once; all I know is that when I get that call from the defensive coordinator I have to be ready to do my assignment. When looking at the three Ravens running backs they are great compliments to each other and have completely different running styles. Rice has that speed and can get outside, McGahee can get outside but also run in the middle, and McClain is a straight downhill runner; so watching film as a player we have to prepare for everything and be ready for all three of their styles. Last week we went up against a great trio of running backs and I had 11 total tackles. Basically what it came down to is that I like to hunt, I like to get after people, and I like to run. When your watching film of me you will notice one thing, I am always running to the ball. Against the Giants there were just several times where the ball came my way and I knew that I had to make this tackle to help my team win the game. I just wanted to let the fans know that I am looking forward to having another big game this week and doing everything I can to get a W.

This week against the Giants

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 21:35:15 -0500

What up YardBarker and Predator 48 fans this is your boy Chris Horton coming to you from my apartment. I was just playing halo but I decided to take a break and do a little Blog. Well first off our game this weekend against the Giants is one where we have another opportunity to go out there and get a win against a pretty good football team. However, most importantly from the Washington Redskins standpoint it's going to be a great day of remembrance for our safety Sean Taylor who passed away last year. So it's going to be a chance to go out there and represent the Redskins, and hopefully get a win for Sean. Like always my most important goal for the week is to come out with the win. I am going to try and make every play I can without having to force myself and get out of position. This weekend is going to be tuff because I think all of these backs are really good and they do a great job of complementing each other. It's just going to be a good challenge to go out there and play with those guys like Derrick Ward, who is real shifty, has numerous good moves, and power. I also wanted to let my fans know about my Myspace page so they can hit me up and use it as a way to find out what going on with my life. Its http://www.myspace.com/d_block_hound so check it out and become my friend. I wish you and yours a great Thanksgiving weekend and lets get a win for Sean.

Redskins Fans Questions

Tue, 25 Nov 2008 18:50:57 -0500

Hey Yard Barker, Here are some questions that some of the Redskins fans sent me last week. If you want me to answer your question, just go on to my website www.Predator48.com and click on contact link and send me your question and I will try and answer it. Fan question #1: What do you do at home to relax? Well, my favorite thing to do is pull out the XBOX360, get on the sticks in Halo or Madden. I have to let my teammates know that I am the best. Every opportunity I get, I call up my teammate Kareem Moore and play Halo. When I was in college, I used to spend hours playing Halo, but I have just started to play Madden. Now, I go back and forth between the two. For all the guys who think they can compete in a game of Halo or want to play a game of Madden, my gamer tag is D5block. Fan question#2: Who was my favorite team before I enter the NFL? When I first started watching football my favorite NFL team was the Buffalo Bills. I remember 1992 when Buffalo played the Dallas Cowboys and lost 52-17 in the Super Bowl, I will never forget the score. My brother is a huge Cowboys fan and I am a Bills fan, I don't think my brother will ever let me forget 1992. Fan question #3: What is my favorite memory as a Redskin so far? My favorite memory thus far was going out that first game and not knowing I was going to start. I was put in the game because my teammate was sick. I had that kind of special game against my hometown team, and it was amazing. It was exciting to get all those emails, texts, and phone calls asking why I had to do the hometown team like that. Fan question #5: What has been your favorite moment throughout your career? My favorite moment in my entire career as a football player was that first Preseason Hall of Fame game. It has been my life's goal to play in the uniform of a NFL team. I am truly blessed to be a Washington Redskin where our fans are the best and the organization is first class. Thanks to the Washington Redskin fans and the Chris Horton fans for supporting the website. I look forward to hearing your questions next week. GO 'SKINS!