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This is the first of many mocks, which have become so popular across the blogosphere in recent years. For our Washington faithful we have here the first ten overall picks of the 2012 NFL Draft as mocked by Riggo’s Rag with the help of it’s Fansided NFL affiliates. It’s never too early to decide your future.

Andrew Luck will go #1 overall [Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

1st Overall Selection – Indianapolis Colts: Andrew Luck, QB, Standford

- It’s safe to say that with Jim Irsay announcing the Colts will take Luck, that well, they will. Peyton will be looking for a new home in all likelihood.

The Redskins must do everything they can to get to #2 [Brendan Maloney-US PRESSWIRE

2 – Washington Redskins: Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

- The Redskins fans and media have been toying with ideas such as Matt Flynn or Peyton Manning through free agency. There are also rumors that they will do something similar to 2011 and create a million picks out of a few or even go after Brandon Weeden from Oklahoma State. I don’t buy it this year. Continue reading this post »

A true Redskin leader - photo courtesy of espn.go.com

In the past several years, the Redskins haven’t been known for making the best decisions in free agency. Bringing in guys who didn’t fit in Washington like Adam Archuleta, Albert Haynesworth, and Brandon Lloyd has made us the league’s laughing stock every year in March. We also let go of the likes of Ryan Clark, Antonio Pierce, and Carlos Rogers who have gone on to have success in other places. As a Redskin fan, my stomach turned a little as I watched Devin Thomas recover two fumbles last Sunday to send the Giants to Super Bowl XLVI. This year, Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan have some big decisions to make.

The first order of business should be locking up London Fletcher. Give him a big, backloaded contract with a nice signing bonus, and let him retire a Redskin. It’s a no-brainer. He’s old, but he plays harder than anyone on the team, and just might be the best ‘team leader’ in the NFL. The biggest question mark on the team is LaRon Landry. There’s little doubt that he will want big money to stay, but after opting out of surgery on his nagging achilles injury again, he is a huge risk. When healthy, he has the potential to be the best safety in the NFL. Achilles injuries, however, have been known to kill careers in the past. The money would have to be right to keep him in burgundy and gold. Continue reading this post »

As the “rebuild” phase continues in Washington, certain positions will experience new coaching next year. Keenan McCardell, receivers coach and Steve Jackson, safeties coach, were both dismissed by the Redskins earlier this month, most likely because of the poor play in each of those categories. The ‘Skins front office wasted no time in hiring new coaches that will hopefully bring a little more “spark” to the team. Raheem Morris, former Tampa Bay head coach, was hired by the Redskins to lead the team’s defensive backs just weeks after being relieved of his duties with the Bucs. Also, Ike Hilliard, former Giants WR, joined Washington to coach the position in which he played. Here is a closer look at what these new faces will bring to the table:

Raheem Morris: With a 17-31 overall record as head coach of Tampa Bay, many teams looked right past Morris in the frantic search for coaches. I believe the Redskins made the right choice on this one, in part because of his experience, and he also has a feel for defense. Continue reading this post »

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Jan 2, 2012; Glendale, AZ, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys quarterback Brandon Weeden (3) throws a pass in the fourth quarter of a game against the Stanford Cardinal in the 2012 Fiesta Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium. The Cowboys won 41-38 in overtime. [Credit: Chris Morrison-US PRESSWIRE

If the Redskins cannot move up the draft board (presumably to the second spot currently held by the Rams), they will most likely consider drafting a quarterback in the later rounds (or late first should they move down) to either sit behind a free agent pickup or *gasp* Rex Grossman. Most people, including myself, believe Shanahan won’t stake his reputation on another year of Grossman. So, just incase Washington can’t get that franchise leader with their first pick, here’s a look at a QB with a lot of promise despite his age.

Weeden is 6’4″ and 218 lbs. He has the physical skills and all indications from the Senior Bowl practices are that he has the arm as well. Weeden led Oklahoma State to a 41-38 win over Stanford, who had Mr. Luck at quarterback. He played baseball in college as well, which is what created that age disparity between him and some of his peers. He was no slouch though, being taken in the second round of the 2002 MLB amateur draft by the New York Yankees. The kid has promise.

ESPN’s Todd McShay had this to say about Weeden and his performance during the week: Continue reading this post »

Ravens just can't seem to catch a break (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

What a game in Foxborough. Washington Redskins’ fans collectively rejoiced as former Cowboy’s kicker Billy Cundiff sailed a 32 yard field goal that would have tied the AFC Championship at 23-23 with 15 seconds left wide left. Cundiff and the Baltimore Ravens could have potentially avoided the entire last-second situation had quarterback Joe Flacco not thrown a crucial interception as the team was driving for the go-ahead score with 7:32 left in the game.

Most Washingtonians are pulling for a San Francisco vs. New England Super Bowl, simply for the fact that the Giants are NFC East foes and well..the Ravens represent everything that Redskins fans hate. Hate is a strong word, but fitting. Some people claim “dual-citizenship”, they believe because they live in Maryland they are entitled to support the Ravens and Redskins. These people are commonly referred to as “fair-weather fans”. Continue reading this post »

(AP Photo/Mike Albans)

With LaRon Landry’s health in question from the Achilles injury two years ago that is still giving him problems, it makes you wonder what’s next for the Redskins secondary. Carlos Rogers leaving for San Francisco didn’t help either. You have to notice the huge void left in that part of the defense. After last year’s draft, we can safely say that the front seven is pretty solid. But the back four is an issue. Especially when facing teams with huge receivers and/or oversized tight ends. There’s no one on this squad to cover them.

The bigger problem is, since the greatest need is a quarterback in the upcoming draft, you can’t really see them drafting a defensive back with that first round pick. Maybe a good idea would be to draft someone in the second or third round who could be flexible enough to play safety or corner but big and fast enough to cover the Gronkowskis and Dez Bryants of today’s NFL. Continue reading this post »

Shanahan will look to stay happy in 2012

This offseason promises to be a hectic one in Washington, and right now our future is leaning on Mike Shanahan. He is the one in control (as is Bruce Allen), and he is the one who will be making most of the changes, cuts, trades, and drafts. It’s obvious that Shanny will be under a ton of pressure, and many are wondering what he will do. Unfortunatly, nobody except the coach himself knows, and that is why I’ll throw in a different look at it. No, I am not a coach or manager, but after years of watching the Redskins, I have an idea of what will happen. This is what I would do, if I was Mike Shanahan:

1) Find a way to Pick up Manning without a loss: Most of the Redskins Nation want a QB in the first round or the draft, but in order to get RG3, we’d have to TRADE (which means to get rid of valuable possessions) up. If the Colts get Andrew Luck, there is a good chance that Manning will become a free agent. This is someone who could help the Redskins win now, and help teach a younger QB for the future

2) Get a new offensive Coordinator: It may make family gatherings awkward, but Mike needs to relieve his son Kyle from play-calling duties. It eventually got better, but Kyle’s 2011 season was rocky. Bringing in a fresh-face like Jim Caldwell or another former head coach could have a BIG PAY-OFF. Continue reading this post »

Should we give up the house for a quarterback? - photo courtesy of born2argue.com

The Redskins have a lot of holes to fill in the 2012 offseason if they want to compete in the NFC. We all have opinions about what Bruce Allen and Shanahan should do to make our beloved Skins a winner again, so let’s hear them!

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Bram Weinstein hosting ESPNEWS (photo courtesy of ESPN/John Atashian)

This is part two of Riggo’s Rag’s interview with ESPN anchor, Maryland native, and devout Redskins fan Bram Weinstein. In part I, Bram spoke about his introduction to the Redskins and the glory days of the 80′s. This is the second part of that interview. Bram now speaks on the current status of the Redskins as a team and what lies ahead for our beloved sons of Washington. Enjoy!

RR – Okay, well I guess this is where we make the jump to now- a time the younger generation will have a little more knowledge of.

Neither Beck nor Rex will be the answer in 2012 (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

RR – Did Shanahan do the right thing in benching Rex for Beck?

BW – I think he had to give Beck his shot. Now that said, the week he got in was after Cooley was hurt, I think Moss was out. They’d lost their center and Trent Williams was hurt. Not exactly a full deck and it showed.

BW – His real mistake was “staking his reputation” on these two. They needed a QB and didn’t get a QB in a division chock full on all-world ones. That same mistake won’t be replicated. Someone is coming in either by free agency, trade or the draft.

RR – Some were saying that Shanny only said that as a confidence boost. Like he does now when he’ll “fully back” a player and later say ” you gotta build up a guys confidence.”

BW – He didn’t have to go that far. Those are the quotes that come back to haunt you. Continue reading this post »