Redskins Insider

Redskins will interview Bill Romanowski

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:34:10 -0500

The Washington Redskins are planning to interview Bill Romanowski for their strength and conditioning coach opening, but a league source warned that an interview doesn't mean Romanowski is any type of favorite for the job. The Redskins parted ways with their entire strength and conditioning staff last month and have yet to hire anyone. Pitt assistant Buddy Morris interviewed for the position a couple of weeks ago and Fox's Jay Glazer first reported that the team will also talk with Romanowski, a controversial figure who was intimately tied with the BALCO investigation and has admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs.

Shanahan's plan will become clearer over next month

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 10:29:25 -0500

The end of the Super Bowl marks the beginning of the NFL's offseason, which figures to be a busy time for the Redskins' new management team. Coach Mike Shanahan and General Manager Bruce Allen have revealed little publicly about their plans for a team coming off consecutive last-place finishes in the NFC East. But it seems obvious the roster needs to be improved after last season's 4-12 debacle in which the Redskins had one of the league's least effective offensive lines, no running backs with "home run" potential and gave up too many big passing plays because of breakdowns in the secondary. The Redskins currently hold the No. 4 overall pick in the three-day draft (April 22-24). In addition to Washington's No. 1 pick, it also has selections in the second, fourth, fifth and seventh rounds. In order to select defensive lineman Jeremy Jarmon in the previous supplemental draft, the

Redskins add assistant special teams coach

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:13:11 -0500

Special teams coordinator Danny Smith will have more help next season. The Redskins today announced the hiring of Richard Hightower as their assistant special teams coach. Hightower, who last season worked as assistant coach-wide receivers for the University of Minnesota, will assist Smith, the team's longtime coordinator. Washington has struggled on special teams while finishing last in the NFC East the previous two seasons. "We knew we would need someone with a lot of energy to keep up with Danny Smith, and Richard is that kind of coach," Coach Mike Shanahan said in a statement released by the team. "He has both youth and experience, and will be a great asset to our special teams and our organization." During the 2007-08 season, Hightower was a special teams assistant for the Houston Texans. He joined the Texans' staff during the 2005-06 season as a coaching administrative coordinator, working primarily with the

Payton award goes to Brian Waters

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:21:53 -0500

(Updated at 6:17 p.m.) When the Walter Payton Man of the Year award was announced just before kickoff of Super Bowl XLIV, Redskins linebacker London Fletcher's name was not called. Fletcher was one of the three finalists for the annual award, but Kansas City's Brian Waters was this year's recipient. Waters was also a finalist in 2007. Don't expect to hear any sense of disappointment cross Fletcher's lips. He'd said several times this week how honored he was simply to be nominated by his teammates and selected as one of three finalists. (Cleveland's Mike Furrey was the other finalist.) Fletcher said earlier this week he enjoyed time in South Florida. Last weekend, he played in his first Pro Bowl, and he and his family enjoyed the the days leading up to the Super Bowl. Fletcher met with the commissioner, appeared at a news conference for the Man of the Year

Redskins react to Grimm's election to the Hall of Fame

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:58:19 -0500

Dan Steinberg recounts Russ Grimm's antics while Redskins' extended family, via a team release, reacts to Grimm's election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame: Daniel M. Snyder: "Our Redskins fans have always appreciated the Hogs. This is a long deserved honor and we are proud to have Russ as a member of the Hall of Fame. Hopefully Russ is the first of the Hogs to be inducted in Canton representing one of the greatest offensive lines in NFL history." Joe Gibbs: "I'm thrilled for Russ. He is very deserving. He was a big part of our success and our three Super Bowl championships. He was a versatile performer that could play center, guard and tackle and was a great leader. He is a great addition to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and I know there are a lot of Redskins fans that are very happy right now and

Grimm of the Redskins' Hogs is elected to Hall of Fame

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:34:06 -0500

Finally, there's room for a Hog in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Russ Grimm, a guard on the famed offensive line from the Redskins' teams that went to four Super Bowls and won three in the 1980s and early '90s, was elected to the Hall of Fame this afternoon in south Florida. Grimm joins Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Rickey Jackson, John Randle, Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little in the seven-member class of 2010. From the Redskins' championship teams, Grimm will join Coach Joe Gibbs, running back John Riggins, wide receiver Art Monk and cornerback Darrell Green in the Hall of Fame. Throughout those years, the Hogs were a constant for a team whose three Super Bowl triumphs came with three different quarterbacks. "That offensive line had a great run for a long time," former general manager Charley Casserly told Mark Maske recently. "The players changed, but that group was

Portis confirms that he asked for Sellers to be benched

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 15:45:04 -0500

Clinton Portis appeared on the NFL Network and admitted that, during a game last fall, he asked for Mike Sellers to be benched. Dan Steinberg has the full transcript at the D.C. Sports Bog.

Hall voting and a Zone topic

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 11:28:01 -0500

Members of the Pro Football Writers Association voted for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2010 this morning -- will it include Russ Grimm?.The group will be announced shortly after 5:30 p.m. on the NFL Network. In the Zone ... Today, in the snowy Redskins Tailgate Zone, moderator Matt "Bobby" McFarland asks which players the Redskins should consider trading. Join the discussion now; it's either that or do more shoveling.

Grimm must clear Hall of Fame hurdles

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 12:28:20 -0500

A selection committee of 44 media members will decide Saturday whether one of the Hogs will finally get his Pro Football Hall of Fame ticket punched. But it's just one man who has to stand before the group and present Russ Grimm's case for enshrinement. David Elfin is the long-time Redskins reporter for the Washington Times, and he's the D.C. representative on the Pro Football Writers Hall of Fame selection committee. That means he'll not only be in the room voting tomorrow on the Class of 2010, but he's also charged with the task of selling the other voters on Grimm's credentials. [Washington Post writers do not participate in voting.] "It's a weird role because you're a defense attorney - you're making the client's case - but you're also the jury," said Elfin, who has been on the committee for six years. Committee members are charged with presenting the case

Fletcher finds positives in his upbringing

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 11:24:35 -0500

We spend so much time debating and discussing the unsavory side of sports that it's worth a moment to pause and reflect a bit more on London Fletcher, one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. It's an award that honors one NFL player each year for his work off the field - not on it - and it's important to remember what motivates Fletcher in his charitable efforts and why the mission of London's Bridge is so personal to him. Fletcher, who on Sunday played in his first Pro Bowl, overcame a horrific background to become one of the league's best linebackers. When he was younger, Fletcher's sister was raped and murdered, his mother hooked on drugs, his father wasn't around and the hungry streets of Cleveland swallowed so many promising children.

Fletcher 'honored' to be a Walter Payton award finalist

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 09:38:46 -0500

Redskins linebacker London Fletcher was introduced at a new conference this morning in Fort Lauderdale as one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. Fletcher was initially one of 32 nominees -- one from each team -- and was chosen as a finalist by a small committee that includes NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Connie Payton, the widow of Walter Payton. The other finalists are Kansas City's Brian Waters and Cleveland's Mike Furrey. "To be a finalist with Mike and Brian is extemely humbling and I'm honored to be here," Fletcher said at the news conference. "Just to be nominated by the team was a great honor." The winner will be named on Super Bowl Sunday and will receive a $25,000 donation to the charity of his choice. Fletcher said no one from the league has tipped him off as whether he's won the award

Redskins prepare for season with and without a salary cap

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:00:15 -0500

The annual Super Bowl week owner-union grandstanding dance got off to a good start Thursday, when the NFL Players Association warned that a 2011 lockout seems increasingly likely. Commissioner Roger Goodell will get a chance to respond at his own news conference today. Whether the two sides iron out their differences in time to save the 2011 season, it's a near-certainty that 2010 will be played without a salary cap. So, what exactly will that mean for the Redskins? Well, it's not entirely clear, and in an interview Thursday afternoon, general manager Bruce Allen didn't exactly reveal any state secrets. "Really we've prepared for both scenarios and feel comfortable that we've game-planned for whatever takes place," Allen said. But teams aren't saying how their offseason plans would change during an uncapped year - whether we'll see fewer long-term contracts, bigger bonuses, smaller deals, larger deals. What we do know is

Allen: 'We're going 100 mph getting ready for free agency'

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:14:38 -0500

In case there was any doubt, Redskins fans can expect to see a very different product on the field next season. "We are going to have a new style of defense, we are going to have a new style of offense," general manager Bruce Allen said today on ESPN 980. "It's going to be Redskins football, and the pieces we can acquire this year will be the first steps to building that philosophy." Allen made his comments during an in-person appearance on "The John Thompson Show," this afternoon in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Allen made a quick visit to radio row at the Super Bowl media center, making stops by the ESPN 980 table and the Sirius booth. He offered few specifics but when he was asked about Clinton Portis' status with the team, Allen noted that the running back has met with Coach Mike Shanahan, and "we're looking forward to

Bill Dudley, ex-UVa. star, former Redskin, dies at 88

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:03:43 -0500

Bill Dudley, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who played for the Redskins in 1950, 1951 and 1953, has died at the age of 88 in Lynchburg, Va., according to the Associated Press. A halfback out of the University of Virginia, Dudley was the Pittsburgh Steelers' top draft choice in 1942 and led the league in rushing that year. After serving in the Army for two years, he played two more seasons in Pittsburgh. He led the NFL in rushing, punt returns and interceptions in 1946. He also played defensive back. Dudley, who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1966, played for the Detroit Lions from 1947-49. He is a member of the Redskins' Ring of Fame. During his time in Washington, he led the Redskins in scoring every year. He served four terms in the Virginia House of Representatives and the Bill Dudley Award,

George Allen, Shula used gamesmanship off the field, too

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:20:12 -0500

We mentioned earlier that Washington general manager Bruce Allen was in attendance Wednesday night for a fund-raiser that honored Don Shula for his philanthropy. Shula didn't expect Allen to be in the audience but was happy to see him. "Bruce is a good football guy," said Shula. "Coming up with George as your father, you're going to know a lot about football." Shula, who turned 80 last month, thinks highly of the Allen family and had a funny anecdote to share about George Allen, against whom he coached for several years. "I had a great relationship with [Bruce's] dad," Shula said. "George was a guy I enjoyed competing with, had a lot of respect for. He went on to the Rams, and he would never know what time it was. It would be 11 or 12 o'clock [at night], and he's working in his office and he'd decide to call