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Is the legacy of Chris Cooley finished?

Posted by  on Thursday, February 7th 2013     

Any Washington Redskin fan has heard of him. He’s one of the goofiest players in the NFL, a 2-time pro bowler and has been a major threat at the tight end position for his last 8 seasons.

I’m talking, of course, about the legendary Chris Cooley.

“Cooooo-leeeey”

And the crowd goes wild!

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With 429 receptions to this date, Cooley is the Redskins’ all-time leader in most catches at his position. Stats aside, Cooley has the unique ability to be the “go-to guy” on a 3rd down pass to convert for a 1st, being almost flawless at this job.

Throughout his tenure on the Skins, every QB (Brunell, Collins, Campbell, McNabb, Grossman, Beck) has learned to trust the ball in the hands of this man, knowing he will get the job done.

Let’s take at this season, however; 1 catch, 9 yards???

Who does this Shanahan guy think he is?? (Besides bringing the team from a 3-6 season to 10-6, that is)

It all started when Cooley broke his finger in Week 6 against the Philadelphia Eagles 2 seasons ago. Upon further inspection, it was found his knee was worse off than he had thought from a surgery the season prior.

He was put on injury reserve the rest of the 2011-2012 season.

However, leading up to the 2012-2013 preseason Chris Cooley voiced how excited he was to get back into his routine of being awesome.

Then came the very controversial move just days before the final preseason game of the 2012-2013 season that Cooley was released from the team.

“I’ll take some time and make sure what I do in the future is exactly what I want to do.” – Chris Cooley

Fans reacted instantly and were angry to see the way Shanahan treated Cooley and called it unfair. They (and so did I) believe that by waiting until the last preseason game, it greatly hurt Cooley’s chances of being brought to another team that season.

Well, wouldn’t you know it? Shanahan’s golden boy, Fred Davis, became injured against the New York Giants prompting him to re-sign Cooley. 

Fans from everywhere, he’s back!!!!

In Cooley’s first game back in Week 8, fans chanted the usual “Cooooo-leeeey” in excitement to see their idol perform like the old days.

But he got no catches.

And this brings us back to the stats of this season. 1 catch, 9 yards.

Will Cooley bring it back this next season? Will he get playing time with other tight ends, Niles Paul and Logan Paulson?

If Davis comes back, will Cooley receive the same cruel treatment from Shanahan back in the preseason?

Only time will tell, but as a die-hard “Captain Chaos” fan, I truly hope this is not the last we’ve seen of this great man and player.

 

 

Do we have a starter in Kirk Cousins?

Posted by  on Thursday, January 31st 2013     

Washington fans have a common expression and name that comes to mind when they see the future and dynasty of their team: RG3/RGIII/Robert Griffin III or any of these ways written.

Look at that booming smile

Look at that booming smile

Robert Griffin III has broken more records than almost any rookie QB has ever done and was the most talked about player throughout the NFL this season.

As many fans (and practically everyone) know, Griffin was injured during a game against the Baltimore Ravens from a hit by Haloti Ngata after rushing toward the center of the field, a very common (but controversial) mechanism Griffin utilized well throughout the season.

The Redskins were down by 8 points with less than a minute and half left on the clock as they put the fate of the game into the hands of another rookie QB, Kirk Cousins. 

2 perfect passes later, the Skins were in the end zone after Pierre Garçon snatched an eleven-yard-catch with twenty-nine seconds remaining. What seemed like an impossibility was taking place before Washington and Baltimore’s very eyes.

However, the Redskins were still down 2 points.

With RGIII being the elusive QB he is, no one expected Cousins to make use of his speed, as he ran a quarterback sneak up the middle to tie the game and send it to over time.

And Skins got the W.

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Cousins converts a 2-pointer to bring it to OT

Washington has something ‘special’ in Lorenzo Alexander

Posted by  on Tuesday, January 29th 2013     

Lorenzo Alexander, number 97 on the Washington Redskins continues to show that he should never be underestimated as a play maker.

Last Sunday’s NFL Pro Bowl saw Alexander in a starting position as “special teams representative,” marking his first time being selected to go down to Hawaii and play.

Probowl

Alexander stands third to the right in Hawaii where the Pro Bowl is hosted

It certainly will not be his last.

Playing for the NFC, Alexander led his conference with 5 tackles that helped them stomp the AFC with a final score of 62-35.

Alexander is a player that had a slow start up in his career, first signing with the Carolina Panthers in 2005 only to be released a year later. He was then picked up by Baltimore Ravens to be assigned to their practice squad in September of 2006, being released only 5 days later.

Lorenzo

Alexander in Carolina Panthers gear

Finally, in October of 2006, the Redskins signed him to their practice squad. He finally made his first NFL appearance on field in the 2007 season.

From the 2007 season to the 2009 season, he gained the nickname of the “One Man Gang” and “Everything Man,” as he showed true versatility in the various positions he was asked to fill in for ranging from: special teams, defensive tackle, offensive guard, and even tight end for a point in time.

In an interview on October 19, 2012, Alexander responded to the question of what position he played with this statement:

“I’m an athlete, baby, said Alexander. “I don’t just play linebacker. I’m expected to know fullback, tight end, outside linebacker, defensive end, inside linebacker, special teams — I don’t qualify that as being just a linebacker. I’m an athlete.” – Lorenzo Alexander

This is a reference to his 2010 season, where he was listed as “outside linebacker.”

From the 2010 season to the present, Alexander’s career with the Redskins has taken off with no signs of any slowing down.

He was elected “special teams captain” during the 2010 season, a title he still holds to this day.

He was also nominated for the “Walter Payton Man of the Year Award” for his 2010 and 2011 season, which honors a player’s volunteer and charity work, due to his yearly charity bike ride he hosts called “Ride to Provide” and his work with the National Kidney Foundation.

The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in all its glory

The Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in all its glory

The Washington Redskins truly have a talented, gifted, and multi-purpose ‘athlete’ in Alexander and we will see how he continues to develop in training camps and the next NFL season.

“If they use me more, great; if not, I’m fine with that as well because I know what my role is on this team…to be prepared for every opportunity they give me.” – Lorenzo Alexander

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