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Thom Loverro

Thom Loverro

tloverro@washingtontimes.com

Thom Loverro has been a professional journalist since 1977, working for a number of newspapers, including eight years as a news editor and reporter for The Baltimore Sun, where he covered government, politics, and crime. He moved into sports writing when he joined The Washington Times in 1992. He moved to The Washington Examiner as a sports columnist in 2009 and returned to The Washington Times in 2013, where he is currently the lead sports columnist.

Columns by Thom Loverro

FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018 file photo, Washington Redskins free safety D.J. Swearinger sits on the bench in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Landover, Md. The Washington Redskins have lost four in a row, are down to their fourth quarterback and are mired in criticism from several players. A once-promising season has gone off the rails thanks to injuries all over the offense and a defense full of blown assignments and missed tackles. The finger-pointing is well underway for a team that has fallen to 6-7 and has plenty of blame to go around. (AP Photo/Mark Tenally, File)

D.J. Swearinger reminds us all who Redskins are

After Saturday's game, safety D.J. Swearinger reminded everyone of the poisonous dysfunction that defines this generation of Washington Redskins, from the boardroom to the locker room.

December 23, 2018
Washington Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, while sitting on the bench wearing Wizards forward Nene's jersey, watches the second half against the Chicago Bulls in Game 4 of an opening-round NBA basketball playoff series in Washington, Sunday, April 27, 2014. Nene is serving a one game suspension. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) **FILE**

Ted Leonsis has broken his promises on Wizards

There are many things on this list of promises that Wizards owner Ted Leonsis has accomplished, in terms of the arena experience, re-engage with alumni and other points. But the first thing on the list stands out for its sheer hypocrisy: "More transparency concerning strategy and plans via more connection with fans."

December 18, 2018
Washington Nationals owner Mark Lerner, right, greets pitcher Patrick Corbin, left, during a baseball news conference at Nationals Park in Washington, Friday, Dec. 7, 2018. Corbin agreed to terms on a six-year contract and joins the Nationals after playing for the Arizona Diamondbacks. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) **FILE**

Mark Lerner playing hardball on Bryce Harper offer teases future Scott Boras dealings

This was just Boras lashing out at the notion that the Nationals might not play Boras ball at the negotiating table. If that is, indeed, the case, it would be a refreshing change from the way the Lerners have done business over the years with Boras. Maybe, with a new Lerner at the head of the table, the Lerner ATM may be shut down for Boras.

December 11, 2018
Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden walks off the field after an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, in Landover, Md. The Giants won 40-16. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Redskins’ loss to Giants shows disconnect not just within organization, but on field too

Somebody has to pay for a loss like the one that took place at Ghost Town Field Sunday, and, with the Redskins (now 6-7) on their fourth quarterback, league washout Josh Johnson, replacing Sanchez and a defense that is giving up 200 yards rushing a game, there may be more losses like this one to finish the season with three games remaining.

December 9, 2018
XFL founder Vince McMahon addresses the crowd at the start of the inaugural XFL game in Las Vegas on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001 where the Las Vegas Outlaws are matched against the New York/New Jersey Hitmen.. (AP Photo/Laura Rauch) **FILE**

D.C. getting an XFL team while trying to woo back Redskins doesn’t make sense

The Redskins' long-term future -- specifically, where they will play -- we don't know. But we do know that there will be a football team playing in 2020, in the District of Columbia, at Audi Field, a stadium the city helped build. That much we know. And it ought to be enough to worry those who thought the District had a shot at bringing the Redskins back into the city from the Maryland suburbs.

December 6, 2018
Nike sparked fierce backlash after its new ad campaign starring Colin Kaepernick, the former NFL quarterback who led protests against racial injustice and police brutality by taking to one knee during the national anthem. Some football fans and President Donald Trump have railed against the protests.

Colin Kaepernick can’t play for Redskins

How could a social justice warrior like Kaepernick play for the franchise that most, if not all, of his supporters, likely believe is a racist organization with a racial slur for a name?

December 4, 2018
Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, left, talks on the sidelines before an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears, Saturday, Dec. 24, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) **FILE**

Redskins a franchise that’s now beyond salvation after picking up Reuben Foster

The Lafemina Redskins good will era came to an end Tuesday afternoon with the news that the organization he was brought in, along with a team of other suits, to save had yet again committed a self-destructive crime by picking up Reuben Foster, the former first-round pick who had been cut by the San Francisco 49ers after spending Saturday night in jail in Tampa following his third arrest in 12 months.

November 29, 2018
Washington Wizards point guard John Wall, center, with Wizards majority owner Ted Leonsis, left, and president Ernie Grunfeld arrive for a news conference to announce NBA basketball star John Wall's contract extension, Friday, Aug. 4, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) **FILE**

Wizards’ blame belongs to owner

Leonsis has betrayed a Wizards fan base that had been victimized over and over again for decades. You think the Redskins' fan base is damaged? Flesh wounds compared to what has been inflicted on fans of Washington's NBA franchise for nearly 40 years.

November 22, 2018
In this photo taken Aug. 19, 2014, Washington Redskins offensive coordinator Sean McVay, right, talks on the sidelines with his three quarterbacks, from left, Kirk Cousin (8), Robert Griffin III and Colt McCoy (16) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Cleveland Browns in Landover, Md. It's always something with the Washington Redskins quarterbacks: Starter Kirk Cousins has interception problems, No. 2 Colt McCoy is apparently hurt, and No. 3 Robert Griffin III , well, who knows where things stand with him? (AP Photo/Richard Lipski, File)

Colt McCoy, Gruden’s guy, gets his shot

More than three years ago, Colt McCoy came to Redskins Park for practice and was stunned to learn that Kirk Cousins -- not Robert Griffin III -- would be the starting quarterback going into the 2015 season.

November 20, 2018
Washington Redskins quarterback Colt McCoy (12) scrambles with the ball during the second half of an NFL football game between the Houston Texans and the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018 in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Colt McCoy gets a chance to rewrite his own story

If there was going to be a storybook moment for Washington Redskins backup quarterback Colt McCoy in 2018, it wasn't going to be Sunday against the Houston Texans at FedEx Field.

November 18, 2018
After years of suffering, a damaged fan base is staying away from FedEx Field this season despite the Redskins' 6-3 record and their hold on first place in the NFC East. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Redskins fans who stay home prefer style over substance

Among many good reasons for lack of support from a damaged and fatigued fan base, one that emerged that has startled some is that this 6-3 team is pretty boring, and that some fans would rather watch a more exciting offensive team lose than a comatose offensive team win.

November 15, 2018
Washington Nationals relief pitcher Bill Bray (21) pitches as the Washington Nationals play the Atlanta Braves during spring training at Champion Stadium, Kissimmee, Fla., Tuesday, February 26, 2013. (Andrew Harnik/The Washington Times)

Bill Bray, now lawyer, still in the MLB game

Bill Bray was at an amateur baseball tournament in Florida last month when he got the news -- he had passed the bar exam. Bill Bray, former major league relief pitcher for the Washington Nationals and Cincinnati Reds, was now Bill Bray, lawyer.

November 11, 2018