It’s a disturbing place to be. However, in a 10-year radius, the Redskins have managed to deplete any and every excuse they have in why they haven’t had good seasons.

And just like every commentator says at fourth and inches before a loss or win is determined “It’s come down to this. It’s down to this one final play.”

This is where head coach Mike Shanahan finds himself. He’s been shocked, caught off guard, and shut out during his Redskins tour. He’s down to his one final play.

I think he knows it, and isn’t afraid to face the “around the bush” question of whether or not this could be “it”. You know, his last shot at making his tenure with the Redskins count. Here’s what he told  ESPN 980 in D.C. with The Sports Fix:

“Anytime you are in this league for as long as I have been you gotta win. That is the nature of the game and you gotta put a good football team together and that’s what I plan on doing. I think we’ve got the foundation to have an excellent football team. We’ve got  some young players, but I think we are night and day different from two years ago. That’s what you are trying to do. We’ve got that quarterback. We’ve got a couple of quarterbacks that I feel very confident in. We went out and got a couple of receivers in free agency. Our offensive line is a lot more solid as well as our tight ends and our backs as well as our defense. It gives you a chance to have success and like you said everybody’s legacy is what you do in this league and that’s why you go to war each week trying to prove yourself.”

The Redskins now have the tools. There are no more excuses to use, but there is a shortage in results that needs filling.

Ricky Allen is a Washington Redskins Blogger with Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @UltimateRedskin

I’m not saying to ignore what’s going on with the New Orleans Saints, just don’t read too much into it. The Saints know that after all the media chaos caused by the alleged “bounty” system, the suspensions, and with Sean Payton living in Exile like Star Trek’s Khan, the last thing needed is not to sign their fearless hero.

Brees gave his thoughts today on the issue said, “We’ve reached out on a number of occasions and at times I’ve been frustrated by the lack of response.”

He also said, “There should be a sense of urgency and yet it seems like there’s not.”

Drew Brees has a right to be mad though.  Is he worth whatever dollar amount he wants? Yes. Do the Saints have to put a rush on his contract? Of course not.

Drew Brees isn’t going nowhere.

Brees and the Saints franchise know that would tear the city apart. It’s enough they have to endure the Scarlet  Letter “B” on their jerseys when they take to the field this season. However, to watch their Super Bowl Champion play for another team when it didn’t have to happen? “Nowlins” would riot.

Another factor to be considered is the new and improved Washington Redskins.  Having RG3 come into town for his first professional football game and winning would not look good for them. This should be their primary worry. A loss at home against a team who has had their fair share of hype this off season would make the Saints look unstable without Payton at the helm.

It would also make all the investments the Redskins have made look spot on.

So yeah, RG3 vs. Drew Brees? It’ll happen.

Ricky Allen is a Washington Redskins Blogger with Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @UltimateRedskin

Now here’s a man who redefined what it meant to be a Redskin.  Monk was part of three Redskin Super Bowl teams. The former wide receiver from Syracuse holds the school record for most receptions in a game with 14, against Navy in 1977.

But it will be his Redskin presence that will be remembered most.

When you look at his receiving stats in comparison to what we had last season, they don’t even compare.  What Art Monk called an off night we would call a great game nowadays. However, his stats are something special:

• 1984: 106 catches for 1,372 yards.
• 1985: 91 catches for 1,226 yards.
• 1986: 73 catches for 1,078 yards.
• 1989: 86 catches for 1,186 yards.
• 1991: 71 catches for 1,049 yards.

This is just a snippet of Monk’s contributions. In total, Monk had 940 catches for 12, 721 yards, averaging 13.5 yards and 68 touchdowns.

However all is not well for the Redskins veteran. According to reports he suffers short term memory loss, speech issues and headaches. He’s also a lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the NFL for their alleged failure to protect players from experiencing concussions.  While I do sympathize with Monk, I cannot believe I’m saying this, but I have to agree with the Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.  When it came to the lawsuits, Cutler said, “You know, I signed up to play football. I understand that. I understand you’re going to take hits, you’re going to get beat up.” Hopefully Art will get the help he needs to deal with his ailments.

In the end though,the excitement he brought to the Redskins Nation will always be a “Work of Art”.

Ricky Allen is a Washington Redskins Blogger with Rant Sports. Follow him on Twitter @UltimateRedskin

This is round two for Hightower, who played in five games for the Redskins last season. He carried the ball 84 times for 321 yards and one touchdown and made 10 catches for 78 yards and one touchdown. However, with a torn ACL in Week 7 against the Carolina Panthers, he was out for the season.

For Hightower, this season will go one of two ways: Star-studded, or humbling.  He returns to a roster that saw a great performance from two up and coming running backs: Roy Helu and Evan Royster.

Last season, Helu finished strong with 100-yard games in Week 13 and 14, complimenting Royster’s 100-yard games Weeks 16 and 17.

This is where you’ve got to ask the question of where Hightower fits on the depth chart. Will he be a mentor? Or will he be a playmaker?

Evan Royster and Roy Helu have both earned their place in starting, don’t get me wrong. However, I would rather see Royster take the lead this season. He’s moving the ball at least 5 yards a carry and has a mean two-step. Be sure to make a note of that when you watch him cut up the middle. You will also notice that Royster doesn’t need a huge hole in the middle to make it happen: He only needs 2 seconds worth. Helu, on the other hand has a wonderful turnaround when he’s playing off the ball. He makes solid catches, and is a great option when you want power after reception. He’s also wonderful at getting to that first down marker, and plays the outside like a veteran. Still, Royster deserves the start.

This trifecta of backs could be the NFL’s “Three The Hard Way” if orchestrated right. I’ve been a fan of all three men for quite a while.  This is what stability looks like in the backfield.  When you add the running ability of Robert Griffin III, a panic button should probably be installed on the visiting team’s side.

But I don’t think we’re going to see a case of Michael Vick 2.0. This is a quarterback that doesn’t mind airing the ball out. People are going to work this season, and should be prepared to do so.

In the past couple of years the NFC East, along with the rest of the National Football League has taken pop shots at the Redskins over the years. From enduring the Jim Zorn era, to watching Jason Campbell to Donovan McNabb to Rex Grossman and down to John Beck at times, it seemed there was a joke around every corner.

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The lack of stability led to even more questions and jeers each week as the country watched as one of the most storied franchises in the NFL were becoming laughable.

The Redskins were the “50 Cent” of the NFL: Causing chaos just to stay relevant.

Take DeAngelo Hall’s comments about Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo as an example. In Week 3, Romo was playing with a broken rib and pain injections.  The storyline was Rocky-like, which made the Redskins 16-18 loss even worse, but epic for him.

Hall said, “… I want to get a chance to put my helmet on whatever’s hurt…Romo’s ribs — I’m going to be asking for some corner blitzes. If I know Felix Jones’ shoulder’s hurt, I’m not going to cut him. I’m definitely going to try to hit him up high, so that’s just part of it…If you know something’s wrong with an opponent, you’re going to try to target in on that. We’re going to try to definitely get as many hits on that team as possible.”

This year, comments like these will be unnecessary. This is a new season, with new goals that overshadow desperation comments such as those mentioned above.  So when they speak about the Washington Redskins now, yeah, people sit up and take notice. I wouldn’t be surprised if opposing fans in the NFC East are wearing RG3 or Kirk Cousins Jerseys.

They want to watch this movie. They need to watch this movie. Why? Because everyone is anticipating two things: The first game, and the last snap of the 2012 season.  The NFC East shouldn’t fear the Redskins—they should take them seriously.

Ricky Allen is a Washington Redskins Blogger for Rant Sports. Follow Ricky on Twitter @UltimateRedskin

There was no reason to wait.

To invest as much as the Washington Redskins have in acquiring the second round draft pick that landed RG3 and not have him as the starter would have left us all scratching our heads. While it may have been common sense, it needed to be publicly said.  The importance of getting the word out became more prevalent with the pickup of Michigan State’s Kirk Cousins.

If there were any worries or concerns, those issues would have been revealed at the Scouting Combine.

This is where the mindset of Mike Shanahan makes Donovan McNabb look stupid.   McNabb stated RG3 would never be able to match up with the Shanahan system of football. Mike Shanahan has not only made RG3 the starter but has also said this: “We’re going to adjust our system to what he feels comfortable with, and we’ll watch him grow, and we’ll do what we feel like he does the best.”

Shanahan knows he doesn’t have the time, the money, or the seasons to waste.  He knows that no one wants to see some pointless quarterback competition: He’s not dealing with Rex Grossman and John Beck. He’s dealing with the future of the franchise.

Let’s just be honest with ourselves-What would we all think if we saw RG3 benched? If that happens, it’s because of RG3’s performance, nothing else. However, to show some confidence in Shanahan’s coaching, he did pick RG3 for a reason, and we should all remember that.

Ricky Allen is a Washington Redskins Blogger with Rant Sports. You can follow him on Twitter  @UltimateRedskin

Apparently, I was wrong.

Last week I was drifting through the Internet looking for information about Robert Griffin III and realized there was a company out there that has the perfect name right now for their web site:

“RG3 Suspension – Home”.

At first glance you’re thinking “Oh come on, he just got drafted!” Relax. It’s not what you think.

Started by Rob Henricksen in 1998, RG3 Suspension is focused on bringing “… the art and science of off-road motorcycle racing suspension to a whole new level. From the original shop in Anaheim, California, a seed was planted and the reputation of “RG3 tuned” suspension and along with the performance of our products started to grow.

RG3 products and services were born at such legendary race tracks as Daytona, Anaheim, Hangtown, Buds Creek, Unadilla, Southwick, and in the Baja desert and GNCC courses. Year round testing and racing on major tracks and courses across the country are the proving grounds for RG3 products and services and is our winning formula. The RG3 approach to racing proved very successful. The attention to detail and passion for perfection was instilled in every employee from day one.”

According to their website, they also support six race teams: Factory Makita Suzuki Lites, Factory FMF/Suzuki Off-Road, Hart and Huntington, Suzuki City, and Fun Center Suzuki– and with the Freestyle groups like The Metal Mulisha.

Pretty cool.

So no, they’re not a football site, but I’m sure by now they’ve realized that for the next couple of months they will be a part of a very popular search term/phrase on the Internet: “RG3”.

I contacted them to see if they were receiving any extra page views/hits beyond the norm and here’s the response:

“Hi Ricky,

I’m sure we have had some additional page views but once the person realizes it’s a motocross suspension company that move right off the page.

Sasha
RG3”

That may be true, but I bet they got some great exposure for their company, and there’s nothing wrong with that. However, I’m sure there’s a another company out there that woke up the day after the 2012 NFL Draft and was like, “Oh wow”.

The odds of this happening? One in every four downs.  Injuries are a part of football and can happen to the healthiest and strongest of individuals. The Washington Redskins would be seen as a big gamble if they hadn’t drafted  Cousins. He brings credibility to their definition of the word “depth”. While we all know that he will most likely be the backup quarterback for RG3, I think that’s a better option than reverting back to the performance of Rex Grossman.

Don’t get me wrong, Rex has a role to play in this entire operation. He can graciously share with RG3 what led to a lot of his missteps, insight on how the offensive line operates, and why mobility is key.

Kirk Cousins knows this. This is nothing more than a place for him to get his feet wet. As much as I would like to dream, looking at his numbers at Michigan State shows he will not stay a backup quarterback for long. He will be a starter somewhere, but not with the Redskins unless the unthinkable happens. He will play his role as the backup, and he will do it well–more  for the chance to market himself in front of  scouts and agents that will be watching his professional football performance.

He will not be John Beck. Cousins will arrive and will deliver.

So I’m surprised at how so many commentators, columnists, and freelancers are “surprised” at the acquisition of Kirk Cousins. Didn’t anyone see what happened to the Indianapolis Colts? As soon as Peyton Manning was out of commission they sunk. This was a wakeup call to everyone in the NFL.

I wish people would just admit the obvious: This year, the Redskins got it right.  They should be given credit to providing the depth to the QB position it desperately needed. They have two rookie quarterbacks (one a Heisman trophy winner) that have proven themselves in their college years and who are ready for their professional debut. They have a veteran quarterback that while suspect at times, has managed to gain useful intelligence on teams (believe or not it’s called experience) that he can pass along to these young guys.

The Washington Redskins no longer look like one big gamble: They look like a football team that has dotted all the I’s and have crossed all the T’s.   Anyone  surprised by the Kirk Cousins draft pick doesn’t know the business of football: They just watch football.

Thanks to a company  known as hashtagart, there’s a mosaic of Robert Griffin III on the Redskins site completely made of the tweets of Twitter users who add their message on the page.  It’s probably the most original way I’ve seen any NFL drafted player welcomed by a franchise.

Here’s a screenshot of what you’ll see below when you goto Redskins.com :

SOURCE: Redskins.com

Cool, ain’t it?

All you have to do is click the “add me” button and type your message to RG3.

You gotta credit the PR Department over there. They were on the ball with this: This really puts a scope on how excited Redskins fans are with having RG3 on board.

On their website, hashtagart describes their purpose as follows: “For the past few years, there has been a growing trend to acquire fans & followers. The challenge now has become using the networks to generate buzz. It’s easy to have a conversation with 10 folks, 100 or even 1,000. With larger followings, the conversation is lost. At that stage, it’s difficult to avoid being just noise and almost impossible to get fans to spread a message. ”

This is true.

They add, “That’s where hashtagart can help. hashtagart has proprietary technology and a suite of apps that make it fun for consumers to spread a brand’s message. Consumers are no longer advertised to, they BECOME the advertisement, and they have fun connecting with the brand.”

Nice. I’m sure they’re going to get their fill of job orders after their work on helping the Redskins Nation welcome RG3.

But I did tell my Twitter followers “I told you.”

Ok, I told my Facebook friends too. Alright, so I failed at being modest about my prediction.

I’m not sure what’s left for the Redskins to do other than win games. This has been a great off season.

The fact is, as I’ve said since February (at the risk of sounding like I have a big ego), Cousins fits the attitude and talent the Washington Redskins need. However, to be a backup? This is going to be interesting. I think Mike Shanahan is buying insurance:  Should Robert Griffin III go south (which will not happen so don’t call me a heretic) or gets injured, he’ll have a good backup quarterback to fill the spot. That’s just good business.

Sorry John Beck. I don’t care how many games it was, you gotta make them count.

I’m sure Kirk Cousins will.

In an interview with the Detroit News, Cousins said while he was surprised he wasn’t drafted in earlier rounds, going to Washington did catch him off guard.

“I hadn’t talked to them in the process at great length and didn’t know they were interested, but when I saw a Virginia number on my cell phone, I knew it was a possibility. When I answered, Coach (Mike) Shanahan told me, ‘I can’t passyou up and have to pick you.’”It’s a unique situation with Washington picking Robert No. 2 overall and I didn’t expect it, but Coach Shanahan knows quarterbacks. He worked with Steve Young and John Elway, and I think he held getting me in the fourth round was a steal. I think Robert is in their immediate plans and the long-term hope for their fan base, but they wouldn’t have selected me unless they believed in me. Now it’s up to me to learn the playbook and support Robert, and when I get my opportunity to play, Robert will support me.”