First Down

HE SAID WHAT?

“The question was whether geography and family was going to be enough to convince [Mark Teixeira] to come to Washington. At the end of the day, it wasn’t.” — Nationals general manager Jim Bowden

LOCAL POWER RANKINGS » WHO’S GENERATING BUZZ IN THE D.C. AREA?

COREY PATTERSON

For all the talk of the Nationals making a splash in free agency, this is who they get? Thanks a lot, Mark Teixeira.

DESHAWN STEVENSON

The Wizards shooting guard asks to be removed from the starting lineup. If only the other four starters would do the same.

STEVE FRANCIS

Earl Hickey would love this: Little Stevie gets traded back to the Grizzlies, the team the former Maryland guard spurned when it drafted him in 1999.

VINNY CERRATO

The Redskins’ de facto GM reveals some news on his radio show. And the news is that someone actually listens to it.

ALEX OVECHKIN

The reigning MVP leads the Caps’ comeback from a 4-0 deficit Tuesday. Of course, it wouldn’t have been necessary if Jose Theodore hadn’t allowed three goals on the Rangers’ first five shots.

TWT FIVE » FREE AGENTS THE NATIONALS SHOULD SIGN

1. Mark Teixeira — Oh wait, never mind.

2. Manny Ramirez — Because he certainly will be motivated to play hard by losing 100 games in 2009.

3. Sidney Ponson — He’ll fit in perfectly in D.C. as a foreign dignitary who once had legal troubles.

4. Plaxico Burress — According to the police, he has been hiding the fact he has a gun.

5. Luis Ayala — Ah, good times.