Big News: Robert Griffin III

Robert Griffin III, or RG3 as media calls him, has officially signed with the Washington Redskins last week. He has fallen under that same old caption that other new quarterbacks or free agents get tagged with when they come to D.C. Expectations are always high to bring this team back to its glory days.

That's right, there was a time when the Redskins WERE ACTUALLY GOOD! I don't remember it, because I was too young. They've won 3 Super Bowls, the most recent one being in 1991. I was...5. Since that time over 20 years ago, they've barely made it to the playoffs...hell they've barely had a winning record.

Each off season they seemed to have brought in the savior, the one that will bring them back to Super Bowl contenders. Names such as Donovan McNabb, Albert Haynesworth, Deion Sanders, Bruce Smith, Heath Shuler and Patrick Ramsey make me cringe, remembering not only how much they disappointed but how much I gave into the hype of these players.

But there is something different about this kid. This guy is not only a mobile quarterback like McNabb but he tries to throws the ball first...he also has a wonderful arm. He isn't arrogant, cocky and selfish like Albert Haynesworth or Deion Sanders, he knows this is a team sport and he put his Baylor teammates before him many times in his college career. He is also a very likable kid, he has a great personality that has got him on the Jay Leno show twice and commercials with Subway, Adidas and Gatoraid...all before he throws his first NFL pass.

The hype going into this season with a kid like RG3 under center is making fans go crazy. Super Bowl chants have begun, even before preseason. He is the second coming of Jesus to Redskins fans...Listen, I'm not going to buy into the hype this time around. I'm going to let his NFL play get me excited. Or at least, that's what I'm trying to do. It's hard when I see him on three different commercials and he is saying all the right things leading up to camp. I mean, he wears crazy Superman socks (to the right) saying that he is only the cape, leading his team, who are the real Supermen where they need to be. He really puts his team before himself, and that is a big change in most of those names I listed above.

Robert, play as well as you are "playing" this offseason, and I'm going to worship you as most Redskins fans have already started doing. But, I've been burnt so many times by Redskins' "Saviors" that I hope you don't blame me for being a bit cautious to jump on the ship just yet. I'm expecting big things, big things like you did in College last year (below), show me that and I'm all in.

2011 Redskins Season Highlights

How did we end up 5-11 after watching this?! Haha. Hopefully RG3 will bring some highlights for next year.

Grading the 2011 NFL Season

Well, the 2011/2012 NFL football season is over. All in all, actual football was pretty dull throughout. Fantasy football on the other hand was awesome! I won two leagues!

But, the Redskins still suck, the Titans were almost playoff contenders and the Ravens were one game away from the Super Bowl.

Sound familiar?

Then, add that Eli Manning and his Giants beat Tom Brady and the Bradettes and everything sounds so 2007. I was rooting for the Giants in the SB, but honestly that’s not saying much. I haven’t been a fan of the Patriots since they won their three super bowls in the 2000s. Tom Brady is a bit into himself and his wife is a bit too outspoken about Brady’s teammates.

The Giants on the other hand are one of my team’s biggest rivals. Eli is as interesting as a dust bunny blowing in the wind. But, I was going for the baby Manning to receive more rings than Peyton, especially in Peyton’s house.

But overall, the season was pretty dull for a hopeless Redskins fan...though this was pretty awesome:


This guy is always good as always:


And this was just straight cool:

Let’s look at my favorite teams and how they did this year:

Redskins

Rex Grossman and John Beck are making Donovan McNabb look like superman. Really, what was Shanahan thinking going with Grossman and Beck this year? We need a QB and we need it bad. I only see two options that I’d be happy with: 1. They pursue Peyton hard and get him here, then spend their draft picks and a little more moola to get him weapons on offense. 2. They trade up and get Robert Griffin III and use free agency to bring in some weapons for him. They need a QB, and need it bad, I’m tired of being in the NFC East cellar and I know Daniel Snyder is too.

Titans

Well, Chris Johnson really screwed up his season this year eh? Where did he go? Did he finally get his payday or was he just out of shape all season? Jake Locker was brilliant when he was in, but looks like Hasselbeck will continue to drive the offense. Kenny Britt got hurt, yet again, but was a shining star before the injury. He needs to stay healthy this year if the Titans have any hopes on building on this season. I think they will contend for the playoffs again – but will fall short due to inconsistency with Hasselbeck.

Ravens

They are aging and aging fast. Ray Rice can only carry the team so far. Other people have to step up and turn their game face on in the playoffs. I don’t think this squad will ever make it to the big game. They do continue to pop out great seasons consistently and as long as Ray Lewis breaths purple and black, the Ravens will have a least an opportunity to make it to the super bowl. Ray Rice is the reason for the success though, without him this team would be trembling in the AFC North.

Predictions for the Redskins in the 2012/2013 season:

Redskins will pursue Peyton Manning hard, but will come up short and he will land in Miami. This will lead the Redskins to consider Kyle Orton (ew) or trading a lot to get RG3. They will do the latter and grab the likes of Pierre Garcon or Vincent Jackson to help the young rookie out. Leonard Hankerson will develop as the WR2 and Santana Moss will find consistency as a WR3. The defense will continue to progress and Ryan Kerrigan and Brian Orakpo will dominate the league in sacks. They will fall short of the playoffs however. 2013 will be their playoff return.

What Everyone's Talking About: Jake Locker

Going into this Sunday’s game neither one of my teams had a favorable game. The Titans were taking on the New Orleans Saints and the Redskins had to deal with the New England Patriots. Both games I thought would be a blow out and I’d be disappointed. However, I was proven wrong in both matchups.

Well, I was disappointed but it wasn’t because it was a blow out, they both had a chance to win the game in the final seconds! But, my biggest surprise was the young rookie QB for the Titans who stepped up for an injured Matt Hasselbeck.

It seemed as though Hasselbeck was going to come back in after aggravating his calf in the first quarter, but even so I got a little nervous seeing a rookie QB come out against one of the league’s best. There was no way that a rookie could come in and lead a team against the super bowl champs from a few seasons ago.

My apologies Jake Locker, I stand corrected.

J-Lock was phenomenal in several areas of his play this past Sunday. But this wasn’t the first time we have seen him play this well, several weeks ago he almost led the team to a win in a 23-17 game against the Falcons. When he came into the game it was 23-3 and toward the end of the third quarter.

Yesterday’s game only adds to that success. In three quarters Locker was able to pop up several great plays, including a touchdown run that only Reggie Bush could mimic (video and picture in this post). He got hit at about the 4 yard line but was able to stretch the ball out over the goal line as he was propelled out of bounds. The ball crossed over the top of the pile-on and it was his first rushing score. This wasn’t a ginger push out of bounds either, it was a hard hit and it only showed the toughness of the young and thirsty Locker.

On the next drive he lofted a picture perfect pass to Nate Washington (who has been having a breakthrough season of his own) for a long touchdown. By picture perfect I mean it couldn’t have been any better.

The Saints answered back though, so Locker was working on a game tying touchdown drive with only a few minutes left in the game. Locker took a tremendous hit and was on his back for several minutes. He was taken out for one play while the hobbled Hasselbeck threw an easy screen pass to CJ, then the tough rookie came back onto the field for more.

They didn’t score on that drive, but they did get led right back down the field by Locker to the 5 yard line with only seconds left. Locker scrambled and mistakenly took a sack instead of trying to throw it out of bounds or go for points. Time expired and it was a heartbreaker in Nashville. The Titans were only 5 yards from taking the game into overtime.

I’m not blaming Locker at all for the loss, if anything he was the reason we were in the game. If there is any bright spots from yesterday’s game it was that J-Lock has a promising future for the Titans. He is the hope that Nashvillians have wanted since McNair departed.

Go get ‘em #10!