5/16/13: Washington is starting to sign their draft picks. The team did not have a first round pick this year (or next year) because of the 2012 draft trade that gave the team the second overall pick. That pick, of course, was Robert Griffin III. However, they have signed safety Bacarri Rambo and fifth rounder Brandon Jenkins. Jenkins may be the steal of the draft. A great defensive lineman and pass rusher in college at Florida State, he missed last season with a foot injury. While that gave Tank Carriaine and Bjorn Werner the chance to shine, Jenkins may be better than both when he returns to health.

5/9/13: There have been many calls over the years for Washington to change their nickname from Redskins to anything else. Many people believe that it is a racist term for Native Americans, while many other think it is tradition, and still others do not even have an opinion. Now a Washington DC council member plans to introduce a resolution to change the name to Redtails, in honor of the Tuskagee Airmen. A recent poll showed that nearly 80% of Americans do not think the name should be changed and only 11% think it should. It is certainly a touchy issue, but the only vote that really counts is owner Daniel Snyder's, and he says he is not changing.
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/2/13: Washington did not have a pick in the first round this draft (or next year, unless they trade into it). They surrendered their league given picks to the St. Louis Rams last year by trading up to the No. 2 position overall and taking Robert Griffin III. That has worked out for both sides so far. Their first pick this year was the 19th in the second round, where they chose cornerback David Amerson of NC State. Washington may have gotten the steal of the draft with Florida State defensive tackle Brandon Jenkins late in the fifth round. Jenkins is a rare talent who was hurt all of last season. When healthy, he will be an All-Pro.

4/25/13: Washington will be on national TV a full five times next year, as all the networks want to put RG3 on the air. Still no word if Griffin will be ready for the opener or even the first month of the season as he rehabs from that torn ACL. But Washington is in good hands with Kirk Cousins as a fill-in. Washington will likely be waiting a while for their first pick. St. Louis owns that pick (22 overall) from the trade a year ago that gave Washington the second overall pick (which was RG3). The Rams also own Washington's first round pick next season, so Rams fans have a vested interest in a poor Skins season.

4/18/13: The Redskins figure to have a pretty tough schedule this season, which includes five games against teams that made the playoffs last season and the regular line up of NFC East rivals Dallas, New York Giants, and Philadelphia. Of those five games against playoff teams, four are on the road, including Denver, Green Bay, Minnesota, and Atlanta. They do get the 49ers at home. It is just the way the schedule works out. The NFC East plays the the AFC West and NFC North this year, and by finishing first in the division last year, they have two games against division winners this season.

4/11/13: Why do people not learn? A few weeks ago, Dr. James Andrews said that Robert Griffin III's recovery from a destroyed ACL was superhuman - and he caught a lot of flack for that statement. Now comes word that Washington head coach Mike Shanahan believes that RG3 will set a record for recovery. He did stress that RG3 will not play until he is 100% healthy. But this type of comment can only raise expectations unrealistically high and put pressure on the young QB to play before he is ready. That puts him at risk for another big injury and can ruin his career.

4/4/13: Torn Achilles tendons were all the rage among the NFL injured last season, including Washington's tight end Fred Davis. Davis tore his in an October 2012 loss to the New York Giants, and it certainly affected his free agent status. Had he been healthy, he likely would have been among the most coveted tight ends. Instead, he only could explore options with Buffalo, the New York Jets, and Washington. In the end, he settled for a one year deal to stay with the team, which will give him a chance to build his market value for next off season.

3/28/13: Dr. James Andrews is the best known surgeon in the world, at least among athletes and sports fans. His most recent star athlete is Robert Griffin III, the young and dynamic quarterback for the Redskins. Dr. Andrews publicly said that his recovery is superhuman at this point. That may sound great, but there may some unintended consequences at play here. Team officials and fans may believe that RG3 will return ahead of schedule - even by Week 1 of the 2013 season. Realistically, that is not fair to RG3, and may end up hurting him more in the long run.

3/21/13: The St. Louis Rams organization and their fans were the most disappointed in the Redskins turnaround last year. Washington was 3-6 and went on a season-long winning streak to win the NFC East. That cost the Rams a big drop in the 1st round pick for April from the RG3 trade (probably 10 to 15 places). With that in mind, head coach Mike Shanahan is complaining that he has not had a normal offseason or free agency due to the rules and the $18 million salary cap penalty the NFL imposed. He may have valid points, but he did pay a king's ransom for RG3, and that asset is rehabbing a major ACL tear at this moment in time.

Unfortunately RG III couldn't bring the Redskins to the Super Bowl this year, but there is much promise there indeed. Next year! But that doesn't mean you can't have a great time at the Super Bowl this year. Check out more info on Super Bowl tickets and prices over on the SeatGeek Blog.

3/14/13: Many people may have forgotten, but Washington mush play defense and not solely rely on Robert Griffin III. The team has a good, but not great defense. Unfortunately, they got weaker this week with the release of DeAngelo Hall, the team's top cornerback. Hall had earlier indicated that he may be willing to take a pay cut to stay with the team, but head coach Mike Shanahan never mentioned that that was an option. Losing Hall leaves a gaping hole in the secondary, which right now has just some unheralded youngsters in need of a leader.

3/7/13: Kirk Cousins was the other quarterback that Washington drafted last April, behind that one guy, Robert Griffin III. Head coach Mike Shanahan, and his son, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan made the unusual decision to list two rookies as their top two QBs last season. It obviously paid off as RG3 had a monumental rookie campaign and Cousins stepped in ably when RG3 got hurt. It is doubtful, but Washington may be willing to trade Cousins for the right price, which Shanahan believes is a first round pick. Washington does not have a first round pick this year or next, trading those away to St. Louis in order to draft Griffin.

2/28/13: Good news for the Redskins and their fans. According to Dr. James Andrews, Skins QB Robert Griffin III is ahead of schedule on his recovery from ACL and MCL. RG3 suffered a horrible injury in his last game against the Seahawks. The Washington coaching staff took a lot of blame for keeping him in the game after he was visibly hurt in the first quarter, but RG3 just claims it is a tough injury. His type of play is prone to injury (see: Michael Vick), but with any luck, he may be able to get back on the field by the early part of next season - the same way that Adrian Peterson got back in eight months.

2/14/13: All-pro quarterback Robert Griffin III is confident that he will be ready for next season. RG3, of course, tore his ACL and LCL in his right knee in Washington's playoff loss to Seattle in January. He claims he is ahead of schedule and anticipates a full recovery and return. Griffin tore his ACL in 2009 while with Baylor, so he knows what type of rehab is needed. If he needs any inspiration, he need only look at this past season's MVP, Adrian Peterson. Peterson tore his ACL on Christmas Eve in 2011, but made a full recovery to lead the league in rushing and falling just eight yards shy of tying Erik Dickerson's single season rushing record.

2/7/13: The Redskins just won the NFC East behind a rookie quarterback, so logic would dictate that the team is on the rise and only can improve with a few tweaks. Not so for the Redskins. The team has multiple holes, starting with the secondary. Cornerback Deangelo Williams is due $7.5 million next season - so the team must either part ways or restructure the contract because Williams has not played to that level in a while. Washington also needs another receiver. Santana Moss is still on the roster, but he is not a true number one, nor is Pierre Garcon. Washington's first round pick is going to St. Louis, so the team needs to make moves in free agency.

1/31/13: Washington's uber-rookie Robert Griffin III received a nice honor from his hometown, who named a street after him: Robert Griffin III Boulevard. No word if Mike Shanahan is unnecessarily and needlessly driving it way too recklessly. Washington won the NFC East this season but lost in the first round to Seattle, when RG3 went down with a shredded ACL. Assuming he can return healthy for next year, then Washington will seek to improve on their surprising season. The team is without a first round pick for the next two years, as they traded those to St. Louis for the rights to draft RG3.

1/24/13: Time will tell if Washington's trade to St. Louis will work out. Washington traded three first round draft picks and two second round picks to move up to the second spot in last April's draft in order to select Robert Griffin III. Two and a half months into the season, when the Skins were 3-6, it looked bad. But Washington rallied and went on to the playoffs behind RG3. Now, the QB has a major knee injury (ACL +) and who knows how he will turn out. The Rams, meanwhile, are an improving team that will only benefit from the extra draft picks.

1/17/13: Losing in the playoffs was bad, but losing Robert Griffin III is far worse. RG3 injured his knee late in the season, but came back two weeks later to lead the Redskins to their final two victories and the NFC East crown. He aggravated the knee in the first quarter of the playoff game against Seattle, and was ineffective from then on. But then he shredded the ACL and LCL in the third quarter, the same ACL he tore in college. He had surgery to repair the torn tendons, but is questionable for the start of next season. Meanwhile, head coach Mike Shanahan is being skewered in the press for not pulling him earlier.

1/10/13: The Redskins hosted their first playoff game since 1999 and started off perfectly. They quickly took a 14-0 lead, but then RG3 re-aggravated his knee. He was gimpy and not effective in the second quarter, and was finally forced from the game in the third quarter. Without RG3, Seattle was able to rally and hold off Washington for the win. RG3 had tests performed after the game, and the team is waiting for the results. It is feared he tore his ACL, which would put some of next season in jeopardy. If there is a silver lining, Adrian Peterson suffered a torn ACL late last year and returned for one of the best seasons ever by a running back this year.

1/3/13: Washington won their first NFC East title since 1999 and will host a playoff game against media darling Seattle this weekend. The Redskins hosted their arch rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, in the last game of the regular season and came out with a 28-18 victory in the winner take all match. The win was Washington's seventh in a row, the second longest streak in the NFL (Denver has 11). The 10-6 Redskins have the fourth seed in the NFC, good enough to host the first playoff game in the nation's capital since Clinton was in office.

12/27/12: Robert Griffin III returned from a knee injury that kept him out against the Browns last week to lead the Redskins to their sixth win in a row. The 27-20 victory, combined with losses by both the New York Giants and Dallas Cowboys, put Washington only one win from the NFC East crown. A month and a half ago, even coach Mike Shanahan counted out the then 3-6 'Skins. Now they have a chance at their first division title in 13 years, and it only takes a victory, at home, against the hated Dallas Cowboys to do so.

12/20/12: The Redskins traveled to Cleveland to take on the surging Browns last Sunday, in a game many viewed as an upset in the making. The only ones upset were the Browns faithful, as Washington showed they are much more than just RG3. Griffin was held out of the game with a knee injury from a nasty hit in the Baltimore game the previous week. But backup QB Kirk Cousins was up to the task, throwing for a whopping 329 yards and two TDs. The 38-21 win was the Skins fifth straight and leaves them in control of the NFC East. Washington has a chance to solidify their hold with a trip to Philly this Sunday.

12/13/12: The Beltway was buzzing about the Ravens/Redskins game last Sunday, and RG3 and team did not disappoint. Washington battled back from a late deficit only to see star quarterback RG3 injure his knee at the end of the game. Backup and fellow rookie Kirk Cousins threw a touchdown and ran in the two point conversion with 29 seconds left, before Washington won in overtime 31-28. RG3's availability against the Browns next week is unknown. He was diagnosed with a sprained knee, but fortunately did not have any ligament damage which would immediately end his season. For now, the Redskins are still in the playoff hunt, but need to win out.

12/6/12: The Washington Redskins defense tightened up when they had to, and kept the game against the Giants close enough to steal a win. New York moved the ball with ease in the first half, but were limited to field goals rather than TDs in the first three quarters. Trailing 16-10, the Redskins scored the lone touchdown in the fourth quarter and won 17-16. The win boosts the team to 6-6 on the year, tied with Dallas and one game behind the Giants in the NFC East. RG3 has invigorated this team, and some people believe they can win out. Their first game in the home stretch is a home game against the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday.

8/10/12: Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III made his debut today against the Buffalo Bills. Last year's Heisman trophy winner, went 4 for 6 for 70 yards with a touchdown. The touchdown came on a screen pass to receiver Pierre Garcon that went for 20 yards. The only error for Griffin came on a botched handoff to running back Evan Royster that was fumbled. RGIII was poised and executed a conservative gameplan. He did not take any deep shots but most of his throws were on the mark. Rex Grossman took over for RGIII after the first two series.

4/12/12 With the second overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins are looking to pick up a new franchise quarterback that they hope will solve their problems on offense. With a defense that is already among the best in the league, the Redskins will put their faith in whichever quarterback falls to them with the second pick. Of course, that depends on who the Colts end up taking with the first pick. Many experts believe that means Washington will likely end up with Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III from Baylor who will arrive with his Superman socks to save the Skins.

Washington Redskins Tickets - Season Preview

After finishing the 2010-11 NFL season 6-10 and fourth in the Eastern division of the National Football Conference, the Washington Redskin selected Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan with the No. 16 overallpick in the 2011 NFL entry draft. With the exit of nose tackle AlbertHaynesworth, the Redskins continued overhauling the defensive linethroughout the draft. Washington selected Clemson defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins with the team's second pick and would select two moredefensive linemen in the final round of the draft. While two other players were chosen ahead of him, no Redskins rookieenters 2011 with as much hype and fan attention than former Miami Hurricane wide receiver Leonard Hankerson. Redskins faithful haveplaced high expectations on Hankerson following a record-breakingcareer at Da U, surpassing former Hurricane greats like MichaelIrving, Reggie Wayne and Andre Johnson. With former Cane Santana Mosssigning a five-year contract this offseason, Skins fans can expect tosee game-breaking plays from the due for years to come.

Washington moves into the 2011-12 NFL season without six-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donavon McNabb. After being benched in favor of backup RexGrossman during a week eight game against the Detroit Lions, itappeared McNabb's time in the Nation's Capital was over. Following the worst statistical year of his career since his rookie season in 1999,he was traded to the Minnesota Vikings on July 27, 2011 in exchangefor a 2012 sixth-round draft pick and another conditional pick in 2013.

Washington Redskins Tickets - Team History

The Washington Redskins have represented the nation's capital since 1937, winning five league championships and three Super Bowls in the process. With only two playoff appearances in the past decade, the new millennium has not been overly kind to the Redskins and, unfortunately, 2011 may be another rebuilding year for the team. The Donovan McNabb experiment does not look promising, and a rocky relationship between McNabb and head coach Mike Shanahan possibly foreshadows an end to the quarterback's time in D.C. Though the Redskins may not be favored to win the NFC East this year, Shanahan is a proven winner and is a good man for Washington to have in its corner.

Washington Redskins Tickets - 2011 Season Info

Though he showed flashes of what made him a perennial Pro Bowler in Philadelphia, 2010 was a rough year for Donovan McNabb. His 14 touchdowns were his lowest total since his rookie season, and his 15 interceptions were a career high. Rex Grossman will probably take over this season, but the team's offensive weapons do not exactly send goosebumps throughout the NFC. Neither, unfortunately, does the defense. Call it a player cashing in and checking out or a coach unwilling to bend his philosophy for a superstar, but Albert Haynesworth has been a complete disaster in Washington. His brief flashes of dominance mixed with constant bickering with Shanahan have made him a far cry from the player who commanded a $100 million dollar contract just two years ago. At 36, London Fletcher was incredible last year, and Brian Orakpo is a very good strongside linebacker. Wins over the Eagles, Packers, and Bears last year showed that not only do the Redskins have the ability to win tough games, their defense is capable of stifling tough offenses. Yet the same team that gave up 12 points to the Eagles in Week 4 gave up 59 to the same squad just six weeks later.

Washington Redskins Tickets - 2011 Schedule

Washington's schedule just may allow the team to contend this year. Depending obviously on how the season plays out, out of conference games against the Cardinals, Rams, Panthers, Bills, Dolphins, Seahawks, and Vikings all present games Washington can look at right now and expect to win. Their six conference games, however, are going to be challenging, as the Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants should be tough once again.

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• Philadelphia Eagles
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