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Zac Boyer

Zac Boyer

zboyer@washingtontimes.com

Zac Boyer is a sports writer at The Washington Times. Before joining in October 2013, he covered the Washington Redskins for The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, Va. for parts of three seasons and spent the previous five years at the Hartford Courant. A University of Connecticut graduate, he can be reached at zboyer@washingtontimes.com.

Articles by Zac Boyer

Washington Wizards guards John Wall, left, and Bradley Beal celebrate after an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, in Washington. The Wizards won 118-92, and clinched a playoff berth. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Wizards’ return to postseason is a rewarding moment for Randy Wittman, players

At last, Randy Wittman and the Wizards have broken through. Their 118-92 victory over the Boston Celtics on Wednesday allowed them to clinch a spot in the playoffs for the first time in six years, and they'll play their final seven games, beginning Friday on the road against the New York Knicks, comforted by their accomplishment.

April 3, 2014
Washington Wizards guards John Wall, left, and Bradley Beal celebrate after an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, April 2, 2014, in Washington. The Wizards won 118-92, and clinched a playoff berth. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Wizards top Celtics, clinch first playoff appearance in six years

John Wall had his hands in the air, celebrating, enjoying the moment on the Verizon Center floor when he walked over to his coach, Randy Wittman, and gave him a hug. For Wall, four years had been too long to go without a feeling like this. Six years after they made their last appearance, the Washington Wizards clinched a spot in the playoffs on Wednesday, thrashing the Boston Celtics, 118-92.

April 2, 2014
DeSean Jackson signs his contract with the Washington Redskins on April 2, 2014 (Washington Redskins, via Twitter)

Redskins putting up to $24 million worth of faith into DeSean Jackson

By adding DeSean Jackson, the Redskins have gained one of the top receivers in the game – a elite deep threat who has averaged 60 receptions and more than 1,000 receiving yards in the six seasons since Philadelphia drafted him in the second round out of California in 2008.

April 2, 2014
Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby reacts after a short-handed goal by Dallas Stars left wing Ryan Garbutt in the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 1, 2014, in Washington. The Stars won 5-0. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Careless mistakes doom Capitals in deflating home loss to Stars

An unlikely pair of victories in California two weeks ago had John Carlson thinking the Washington Capitals were playing their best hockey in several years. Things have changed mightily since, punctuated by a 5-0 loss to the Dallas Stars at Verizon Center on Tuesday.

April 1, 2014
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson (10) beats Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall (23) for a first down in the second quarter as the Washington Redskins play the Philadelphia Eagles in Monday Night NFL football at FedExField, Landover, Md., Monday, September 9, 2013. (Preston Keres / For The Washington Times)

Waiting on DeSean: Jackson, Redskins still in limbo

Several other teams, including the Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers, are reportedly also interested in Jackson, who failed to mesh with the Eagles' new coaching staff last season and was jettisoned despite catching 82 passes for 1,332 yards and nine touchdowns, all team and career highs.

April 1, 2014
Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Ryan Clark (25) sits on the bench during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns in Pittsburgh, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013. The Steelers won 20-7. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Ryan Clark, Redskins reportedly reach 1-year deal

Clark and his representatives had been discussing the parameters of a contract since he first visited Redskins Park on March 13, two days after the free agent signing period opened.

March 31, 2014
Los Angeles Angels's Mike Trout is congratulated after scoring during an exhibition spring training baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Thursday, March 13, 2014, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

BASEBALL 2014: Mike Trout, Angels focused on October

The awards, the accolades, the titles. Mike Trout has had his fair share of success during his first two full seasons with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, but the center fielder hasn't been able to avoid a feeling of emptiness each fall.

March 27, 2014
Washington Wizards Bradley Beal (3) passes the ball while Phoenix Suns' Alex Len (21) and Gerald Green (14) defend during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Washington, Wednesday, March 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Situation in his native Ukraine challenges Alex Len as he adjusts to life in NBA

Alex Len, the former Maryland center drafted by the Phoenix Suns in June, has faced his share of adjustments over the past nine months. Speaking before the Suns’ eventual 99-93 victory over the Washington Wizards at Verizon Center on Wednesday, it was clear coming to terms with the situation back home has been the biggest challenge.

March 27, 2014
Phoenix Suns' Markieff Morris (11) dunks while Washington Wizards' Marcin Gortat (4) watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Washington, Wednesday, March 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Despite falling down 25, Wizards nearly claw back in loss to Suns

Coming off a flat, four-game Western Conference road trip in which the Washington Wizards surrendered more than 100 points each night, coach Randy Wittman emphasized the importance of playing defense – especially as it pertains to a late surge toward the postseason. Part of playing defense, Wittman surmised, is intensity. And for much of the Wizards' 99-93 loss to the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday, any required intensity was sorely lacking.

March 26, 2014
Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder visits with fans before an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Redskins’ Daniel Snyder starts foundation to aid Native Americans

The Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation "will serve as a living, breathing legacy — and an ongoing reminder — of the heritage and tradition that is the Washington Redskins," Snyder wrote in a letter distributed by e-mail Monday night.

March 25, 2014
Dick Heller, longtime Washington Times sports writer and columnist. (The Washington Times)

Dick Heller, longtime Washington Times sports columnist, dead at 76

Heller joined The Washington Times in 1986, and he became a columnist in the early 1990s. He remained with the newspaper until it folded its sports section in December 2009, then contributed bi-weekly columns for a time after the section returned in March 2011.

March 20, 2014
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Roberts (12) runs for yardage as Jacksonville Jaguars strong safety Johnathan Cyprien (37) comes in for the tackle during the first half of an NFL football game in Jacksonville, Fla., Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Stephen Morton)

Andre Roberts anticipates consistency in Redskins move

The receiver had his most productive NFL season in 2012, when he caught 64 passes for 759 yards and five touchdowns — all career highs, and all while playing with four different Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks.

March 18, 2014
Oakland Raiders cornerback Tracy Porter (23) runs in a touchdown score after intercepting a pass from New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Tracy Porter, Jason Hatcher, Darryl Sharpton set to join Redskins

Cornerback Tracy Porter, defensive end Jason Hatcher and inside linebacker Darryl Sharpton all approved contracts with the Redskins that they will likely sign on Friday, while the team also announced it has signed defensive end Clifton Geathers.

March 13, 2014
Washington Redskins inside linebacker Perry Riley (56) walks the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Redskins bypass big splash - for now - as free agency period begins

Entering a normal start to free agency for the first time in five years, the Washington Redskins began spending their $18 million in salary cap space fairly wisely Tuesday, eschewing the big splash in the early hours in favor of quality reinforcements for a team that went 3-13 last season.

March 11, 2014