Author Archive

There is no room left for optimists at Redskins Park.á Jim ZornÆs goofy brand of rambling optimism is the opposite of what the 2010 Washington Redskins need to be successful.á Going into next season, the Redskins need an objective look at this roster.á The first mistake of Mike ShanahanÆs tenure would be to re-sign and promote Jerry Gray from secondary coach to defensive coordinator. Gray still hangs onto flawed optimism, resting his ...

Washington Redskins: Where Gilded Eyes See No Rain

Posted: 3rd January 2010 by Eric Holmberg in NFL
In between my eyes and the world lies a filterùa kaleidoscope of resplendent goldùthrough which I saw no rain.á IÆm not exactly sure who was wearing the golden glasses, me or Daniel Snyder, but being betrayed by the reality of the Washington Redskins is no easy way to wake from a fantasy. From Nov. 8 to Dec. 13, the Redskins played better, a whiff of effort in an otherwise worthless season.á ...
With Vinny CerratoÆs official resignation as Executive Vice President of football operations, RedskinsÆ fans saw their dream come true.á It was an odd feeling to have pride in one of Daniel SynderÆs decisions.á Under the yoke of a repressive regime, our voices were heard.á I imagine this is what the fall of the Berlin Wall felt like. Leaving aside the historical hyperbole, what happened at Redskins Park on Wednesday? The movie WALL-E is ...

The Washington Redskins Can Play Hard: The Zourne Identity

Posted: 17th December 2009 by Eric Holmberg in NFL
With three weeks left in the regular season, the Washington Redskins are still playing hard.á OoohÆs and AaahÆs and looks of disbelief ripple through the crowd. After the Redskins skimmed through the first half of the season like it was a training manual, and got reamed out by Joe Bugel, they have been competitive.á But, even more amazing than actually trying during an athletic contest is the league-wide reaction to it. A ...

Lost in the Shuffle: The Washington Redskins’ Offensive Line

Posted: 12th December 2009 by Eric Holmberg in NFL
In the tragic comedy that was last weekÆs game vs. the New Orleans Saints, the Washington Redskins offensive line gave a flawless performance. Even though it went mostly unnoticed in the reviews of the reviews, the LaRon Landry outrage, and the Shaun Suisham buzzsaw, the offensive line was the backdrop to the best offensive performance of the Jim Zorn Era. For a group with no Pro Bowlers, and two starters who ...
When the impossible happened on Sunday, the inevitable happened on Tuesday. The Washington Redskins cut kicker Shaun Suisham and replaced him with Graham Gano. It is a move seeded in irrationality, soaked in vengeance, and, almost equally as absurd, the perfect decision. It’s irrational because Suisham is better than the next best option. He’s been an accurate NFL kicker with the Redskins for the past three seasons. In 49 games with the Redskins, ...

Jason Campbell’s Maturation: One Positive from Life in the Cellar

Posted: 2nd December 2009 by Eric Holmberg in NFL
It is a sore subject in Washington. Redskins’ fans can get a bit testy (or mercurial, for those of you nearing the end of another fine year with your Word of the Day calendar) about Jason Campbell. They are frustrated because the book on Campbell has been written, the discussion is over, and Redskins’ fans are left resigned to the fact he will finish out the year. Campbell’s good not great, ...
As anyone in the glamorous world of used cars will tell you, age is irrelevant. The trusted used car salesman cares as much about the model year as he does buying a necktie made in the last 25 years or a properly fitting toupee. ItÆs the odometer that tells the truth, inescapable numbers in black and white. Only a couple months past his 28th birthday, Clinton PortisÆs odometer wonÆt roll ...
There are times in golf when a playerámakes aágreat swing or hits a solid putt and the ball misses its intended target. The golfer doesnÆt get mad because the shot was properly executed. The action becomes independent from the result. ThatÆs the way to assess the Washington Redskins 16-13 victory over the hapless and winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Separate the action from the result and it paints a different picture. The Redskins managed 277 ...
There are times in golf where a player will make a great swing or hit a solid putt and the ball will miss its intended target. The golfer doesnÆt get mad because the shot was properly executed. The action becomes independent from the result. ThatÆs the way to assess the Washington Redskins 16-13 victory over the hapless and winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Separate the action from the result and it paints a ...