Tag: Washington Redskins (Page 24 of 44)

Report: Redskins targeting Shanahan for 2010

The Denver Post is reporting that Mike Shanahan has been in discussions with the Redskins about their head coaching job in 2010.

The two sides still have some issues to work through, however, before an agreement is reached. The 4-9 Redskins long have been eliminated from playoff contention and have three games remaining with coach Jim Zorn.

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder began housecleaning Wednesday with Bruce Allen replacing Vinny Cerrato as general manager. One NFL source said that when Shanahan spoke with the Buffalo Bills last month about their new front-office/coaching openings, Allen was to be included in the package there.

If he can land Shanahan, Snyder would have made two good football decisions (something foreign to him) for his team in 2010. But he also has to allow Allen and Shanahan to do their jobs and not meddle in the process of building the roster, like he’s done over the past couple years.

Snyder always wants to throw money at things without thinking about the ramifications of his decisions. If he does that with Allen and Shanahan, he’ll be looking for a GM and a head coach again in a couple years.


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Redskins GM Cerrato resigns, Snyder hires Allen

Redskins fans got an early Christmas present this year as vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato has decided to resign. ESPN.com reports that owner Daniel Snyder has hired former Raiders and Bucs GM Bruce Allen to take Cerrato’s place.

In a statement released by the team Thursday morning, Cerrato said he has had numerous conversations with team owner Daniel Snyder over the last few weeks about the team’s future.

“We agreed that the franchise needs someone different in this position,” Cerrato said in a statement released by the team. “I’m thankful to Dan Snyder and other members of his ownership team for the opportunities I’ve been given over the years.”

For the past two seasons, Cerrato has held the post of executive vice president of football operations. This year’s Redskins are 4-9 and have struggled in part because of a lack of depth along the offensive line.

“Of course, I am disappointed with this year’s results, but I strongly believe that with outstanding draft picks and encouraging performance by our younger players, we have laid a strong foundation for the franchise,” Cerrato said in the statement.

Allen should provide an instant upgrade over Cerrato, who had no clue what he was doing during drafts and who wildly spent money on the wrong free agents. He also managed to alienate a proud Redskins fan base, which was arguably his biggest crime.

It’ll be interesting to see Allen in action with an owner that is willing to spend in attempts to win. In Tampa, Allen was handcuffed by cheap owners and he still managed to build a talented roster. He might be a perfect fit in Washington.


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Rookie Brian Orakpo is a beast

When the Redskins selected Brian Orakpo in the first round of April’s draft, they knew they were getting a player that could get after the quarterback. But they probably didn’t figure that they were getting a game-changer right off the bat.

Thus far, the defensive rookie of the year candidate has 11 sacks on the year. On Sunday, he ranked up six tackles, four sacks and forced a fumble in the Redskins’ 34-13 stomping of the Raiders in Week 14.

Orakpo has been outstanding in his first year, which is quite a testament to his abilities both as a player and as a student of the game because he had to learn how to learn the linebacker position this summer after playing end at Texas. It usually takes most rookies a season or two to adjust to a new position, but Orakpo has picked it up right away.

He faces stiff competition in the Bills’ Jairus Byrd and the Texans’ Brian Cushing, but Orakpo has to be the leader of the defensive rookie of the year award. Who would have thought that Orakpo would have made a bigger impact this season for the Redskins than massive free agent acquisition Albert Haynesworth.


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NFL Week 13 COY Power Rankings

It’s not like we can dock Sean Payton here, but let’s face it. If Shaun Suisham kicks that 23-yard field goal for the Redskins, Payton’s Saints are 11-1 right now. Sure, they proved that they are never out of any game, but based on how Jim Caldwell’s Colts handled a red-hot Titans team, we give him the nod this week.

1. Jim Caldwell, Indianapolis Colts—We’ll say it again. Rookie head coaches, no matter how much talent they inherit, do not start 12-0. And don’t think Caldwell’s boys can’t run the table. Very impressive.

2. Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints—The bottom line is 12-0 and an early division crown. Next up, trying to lock up home field, which would make getting to the Super Bowl for any other NFC team next to impossible.

3. Marvin Lewis, Cincinnati Bengals—Did anyone else expect a shift in the balance of power in the AFC North like this? The Bengals have a three-game lead over the Ravens and a 3.5 game lead over the Steelers with four to play. And Lewis has his now defense-and-ball-control team believing.

4. Josh McDaniels, Denver Broncos—Maybe those four losses were not the norm, after watching the way the Broncs dominated both the G-men and Chiefs. Whoever winds up playing these guys in January should be really afraid.

5. Brad Childress, Minnesota Vikings—So finally the Vikings went up against an explosive offense their defense couldn’t stop. But that was likely just a bump in the road.

Honorable mention: Ken Whisenhunt, Cardinals; Jack Del Rio, Jaguars; Mike McCarthy, Packers; Andy Reid, Eagles

NFL Week 13 MVP Power Rankings

The way the Saints have been winning each week has been like a gift to their fans. That is, it’s been a SURPRISE each week. Sometimes they dominate, sometimes they make it more interesting than it should be, and sometimes they flat out get a, well, gift, from the opposing team. Last Sunday it was the latter against a Washington team that let the Saints back in the game by missing a chip shot field goal. Drew Brees and company took care of the rest, and that’s why our man remains atop this list, with Peyton Manning right there behind him.

1. Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints—He’s got a 111.3 QB rating to lead the NFL—3536 passing yards, 69% completion percentage and 29 touchdowns to 10 picks. Oh, and yeah…his team is 12-0 and has already clinched the NFC South.

2. Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts—Not much different from Brees’ numbers—3685 passing yards, a ridiculous 70% completion rate, 25 TDs and 11 interceptions…and the same 12-0 record for his Colts, with a clinched AFC South.

3. Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings—A much more human game for Favre against Arizona Sunday night, but despite those 2 interceptions, he still threw for 275 yards and two scores. It just wasn’t enough, and even worse, the Cardinals may have gotten into the Vikings’ collective head.

4. Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers—Despite being sacked a league high 45 times, Rodgers had led his team to four straight wins and has them in position for a wild card berth. And he probably hates this comparison, but his numbers are very Favre-esque: 3399 yards, 25 TDs, 7 picks.

5. Cedric Benson, Cincinnati Bengals—After missing a few starts due to injury, Cedric returned (albeit against Detroit) and promptly carried 36 times for 110 yards. Sure, there are two RBs with more yards per game (Chris Johnson and Steven Jackson), but Benson is making more of an impact for his team…the definition of MVP.

Honorable Mention—Chris Johnson, Titans; Philip Rivers, Chargers; Adrian Peterson, Vikings; Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars, Reggie Wayne, Colts; Jared Allen, Vikings; Vince Young, Titans; Elvis Dumervil, Broncos; Darren Sharper, Saints; Randy Moss, Patriots; Wes Welker, Patriots

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