War Imagery Still Gone from the NFL

Hell of a ground gameIn an update to what is an old story at this point, Les Carpenter at the Washington Post writes about the disappearance of war imagery in the NFL. You know, trench warfare, field generals, death marches, things of this nature. Two wars going on and all, wouldn't be prudent, gotta support the troops.And while this is not news in general to generational football fans, it is not news in specific to readers of The Curly R. We...

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Happy Birthday Stephon Heyer

Work it outPlease join me and the staff of The Curly R in wishing Redskins rising third year tackle Stephon Heyer a happy birthday, Stephon turned 25 on 16 January.The Redskins nabbed Stephon as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Maryland after the 2007 draft, after right tackle Jon Jansen was injured in the first game of the season and replacement Todd Wade wore out in ten games, Stephon stepped in and started five of the final six...

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Russ Grimm Not Elected to Hall of Fame

This is colloquially known as a quote shit bummer unquoteRuss Grimm was not elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame today. Part of the 2009 qualifying class of seventeen, fifteen modern eligibles and two seniors candidates, Russ made it through the first cut down from fifteen modern players to ten and did not survive the second cut down to the final five modern players.In an eleven year playing career, all with the Washington Redskins, Russ played...

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Happy Birthday Fred Davis

There's an upside in there somewherePlease join me in wishing rising second year Redskins tight end Fred Davis a happy birthday, Fred turned 23 on 15 January and shares a birthday with my supermom Judith.Fred was a second round draft pick by the Redskins in the 2008 draft out of USC. Fred was selected with the second of two second round picks acquired by the Redskins in that draft in exchange for the Redskins first round pick number twenty one,...

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Do Not Confuse Mark Newgent with a Blogger

Or a Ravens fanAs I was perusing my Washington Examiner today I read the unfortunate story of the Baltimore Examiner's closing, their final edition will be 15 February, they were unable to find a buyer, something the reporters and support employees did not even know management was looking for. I have been busy putting together an enterprise piece on old media decay, and this is just more evidence of the death of the old ways. More on that later,...

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Get Well Jim Johnson

The NFL still needs youThis afternoon it was reported that 67 year old Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson has had a recurrence of cancer, a melanoma bone tumor that was found in his spine. Jim had a melanoma removed from the base of his spine back in 2001 and had been testing cancer free since. Back pain caused Jim to need a scooter to get around Philadelphia's practice facility in the final weeks of the season. He sat up in the booth, which...

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Happy Birthday Leigh Torrence

Still should be herePlease join me in wishing former Redskins cornerback Leigh Torrence a happy birthday, Leigh turned 27 on 4 January.Leigh was an undrafted free agent out of Stanford in 2005, he was signed and then cut by Green Bay, then signed by Atlanta, seeing action in ten games that year. In 2006 the Redskins signed Leigh and put him on the practice squad, he was signed onto the regular roster before the final game that season against the...

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Happy Birthday Kirk Olivadotti

Got your continuity right herePlease join me and the entire staff of The Curly R in wishing Redskins linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti a happy birthday, Kirk turned 35 on New Year's Day.Kirk joined the Redskins before the 2000 season yes folks that was the 2000 season back when Norval Turner was head coach in town. Kirk was a receiver at Purdue University from 1992 to 1996, earning Academic All-America honors his senior year. Right after graduating...

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Chris Horton Interview on Sirius NFL Radio

No longer a rookieToday I happened to be sitting at my computer listening to Jim Miller and Howard David Sirius NFL Radio's weekend The End Zone show when Howard promo'd up an interview with Redskins rising second year safety and steal of the 2008 draft Chris Horton.I got the whole interview, in it Chris shares his thoughts on his first year in the NFL, his impressions of head coach Jim Zorn (hint: Chris thinks coach Zorn did a great job in 2008). Chris also talks about the Redskins falling flat on their faces in the second half of the season...

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Is This Guy Insane?

Take two smart pills and call me in the morningThe Washington Post is amping up their interactivity, giving readers ever more opportunities to get in on the discussion and get in the paper through online comments and now, video responses to WaPo content which I think is pretty cool.Anyway this morning Sports published the best Redskins comment of the day (note: this link appears to reflect the current week's entries and changes, the original reader...

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Championship Games Open Thread

This one is for almost all the marblesPost game update: again, three out of four, that makes Curly R nine out of twelve in the past six games. Cardinals and Steelers, Let there be Super Bowl!Update, noon: Big Daddy Redskin in comments reminded me of a very simple and obvious fact about this game and that is that the Redskins owned the two teams in the NFC Championship Game, going a combined 3-0 against them, I happened to attend all three of these...

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Happy Birthday Jason Campbell

How do you autograph a football jones?Please join me and the entire staff of The Curly R in wishing Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell a happy birthday, Jason turned 27 on New Years's Eve, 31 December 2008.A native of Laurel Mississippi, Jason graduated from Taylorsville High School in Taylorsville Mississippi in 2000 and elected to attend Auburn University. Jason played saw significant playing time all four years, including his final two as the...

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Sunday Division Playoffs Open Thread

Pennsylvania state of mindPost games update: Curly R once again finished three for four, let there be Championship weekend.After a three for four performance in yesterday's picks, The Curly R is throwing up another playoff thread with picks for those surfing teh webs on a playoff football Sunday.1:00 pm ET FOXPHI @ NYG (-4)Spread pick: EaglesStraight up: EaglesThird time is the charm for a divisional matchup, the visiting team won both regular...

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Saturday Division Playoffs Open Thread

The last time for Saturday football this seasonUpdate 11pm: Curly R finished three for four, and that fourth one I am pretty sure every serious football fan in the country missed.For those sitting around surfing the internets here are Curly R's picks for today's games FYI:4:30 pm CBSBAL @ TEN (-3)Spread pick: RavensStraight up: RavensI think the 2008 Tennessee Titans are a textbook example of peaking too early. The Ravens put the hammer down.Results:...

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Happy Birthday Malcolm Kelly

Hoping to see more of this on SundaysPlease join me in wishing Redskins rising second year receiver Malcolm Kelly a happy birthday, Malcolm turned 22 on 30 December of 2008.Malcolm was selected by the Redskins in the second round of the 2008 NFL draft, 51st overall, Malcolm was the third of the Redskins three second round picks in this draft. Malcolm grew and played high school football in Longview Texas, midway between Marshall and Tyler Texas,...

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Happy Birthday Shaun Suisham

I'll have an order of backbacon and toast hold the toastPlease join us here at The Curly R in wishing Redskins kicker Shaun Suisham a happy birthday, Shaun turned 27 on the 29th of December 2008.Shaun is originally from Wallaceburg Ontario Canada, a few miles east of the international border near Detroit. His claim to fame in high school was kicking a 58 yard field goal in the mud to win the Kent County championship in 1999. Shaun later attended...

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Should Have Let This One Go, TO

More like a fumble than an incomplete passLast week Bags at A Cowboy Nation pointed out to me retired receiver and Hall of Fame finalist Cris Carter's comments about Dallas receiver Terrell Owens and what Cris would do with TO if Cris were in charge of Cowboys' personnel decisions: shoot him.Well we have a story update. With a tip from Alana, senior athletes editor, TO now has his own blog at Yardbarker, a network of blogs and writers, including...

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Happy Birthday Chris Horton

New favoritePlease join me in wishing Redskins rising second year safety Chris Horton a happy birthday, Chris turned 24 on Monday 29 December 2008.A seventh round draft pick out of UCLA, Chris was by far and away the take of the 2008 draft by the Redskins. Chris played his way into a starting job by week four and though he missed two games with injury Chris still managed to finish the season with three interceptions, a fumble recovery, a sack and...

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