By Andrew P. Napolitano
The president's men trash the Constitution to pursue antagonists
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Overall, coach Mike Shanahan lived up to his word. The Redskins mostly remained idle, limited by having only $3 million or so of salary cap space because of their $18 million cap penalty.
To Richard Crawford, it was so simple. Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan told him Friday he'd be replacing Brandon Banks on punt returns, so he got his mind right and prepared.
Brandon Banks spent part of his bye week in the film room with Danny Smith because something is not right. The Washington Redskins' return specialist has not been the explosive player he showed flashes of being in the past. Banks says he's carrying a right hip injury that likely will require surgery in the offseason – but that's not the whole problem.
Trent Williams tried. After leaving Sunday's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals on the Washington Redskins' second offensive play from scrimmage with a right knee injury, the left tackle attempted to come back.
Lorenzo Alexander has heard fan criticism directed toward special teams coordinator Danny Smith this week after the Washington Redskins had punts blocked in each of their first two games.
One day you're celebrating because the competition was released, suggesting that you won the training-camp battle. The next day, you're looking for work because the Redskins signed another team's discard and gave him your job. Such is the life of a kicker.
Talking to Brandon Banks, the travel-sized Washington Redskin, you can see the uncertainty in his face, hear it in his voice. He knows he has to contribute as a receiver this year if he wants earn a spot on the final roster.
There have been 23 blocked field goals and extra points in the NFL this season. The Washington Redskins account for five of those.
Browns kicker Phil Dawson stood in front of his locker and lectured like a calculus professor at Harvard.
Sav Rocca has been one of the Washington Redskins' most effective players this season.
Graham Gano concluded his first full NFL season on high alert. The Washington Redskins' kicker was on shaky ground after 2010 because he missed 11 field goals, tied for most in the NFL. Coaches believed in his potential, but he had to validate it with production in 2011 — or else.
Carlos Rogers found himself standing with the ball in the Candlestick Park end zone last month. He had intercepted a pass — Oh my gosh, yes, he held onto it — and ran it back 31 yards for a score. He had a touchdown dance all planned out, The Dougie. But before he could start the party, he asked himself: "Am I really here?"
Brandon Banks sat at his locker and shook his head, thinking about the difference between this season and last year's breakout campaign, when he emerged as the Washington Redskins' threat-to-break-a-long-one returner.
When hulking Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell swatted Graham Gano's 30-yard field goal attempt in the closing seconds of the first half, the Washington Redskins kicker could have sulked into the locker room with his confidence derailed. Instead, he used that jarring moment to help his team stay undefeated.
The chaos of covering a kickoff return is a beautiful thing to Lorenzo Alexander. Maybe that's because, to him, it's not chaos at all.
Improved vision and better reads of cutback lanes are the keys to increasing his effectiveness, he said this week.
Improved health, better vision would help Brandon Banks return to form →
"Danny I think is probably the most beloved coach, maybe, on our roster," he said. "He's been here the longest. Especially from a special teams standpoint, everybody respects him and loves him as a coach and what he does. It's easy to go out there and play hard for a guy. It's important to us, and I think that's why guys are going to continue to work hard and get this thing corrected."
