Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
The Final Four is here. Who are the best former Washington players representing each of the four schools?
Who are the best Washington football players to play for the 2023 Men’s Final Four universities?
The four colleges who qualified for next weekend’s NCAA Final Four Basketball tournament are Florida Atlantic University, the University of Connecticut, San Diego State University and the University of Miami.
If you can only select one current or former Washington football player from each of the four schools, which one would you choose?
We look back at that run to the playoffs in 2012. What a fun season.
It seems hard to believe but it has been ten years since the 2012 team stormed down the home stretch to win the NFC East.
Washington (3-6) had seemingly fallen out of playoff contention. All that was missing was the Redskins being mathematically eliminated.
The bye week could not have come at a better time. The Shanahan’s Mike (head coach) and son Kyle (offensive coordinator) made whatever adjustments were needed, because Washington came out and destroyed the Eagles 31-6.
On Thanksgiving Day the offense raced out to a 28-3 halftime lead and the team held on for a 38-28 win over Dallas. Next was a Monday Night Football contest at RFK where huge luck appeared to fall on Washington. Robert Griffin fumbled, but the ball bounced right up to receiver Josh Morgan who ran it in 13 yards for a touchdown. Washington beat the Giants 17-16, and were .500 at 6-6.
Griffin was then injured against the Ravens when he once again did not slide as the Shanahans repeatedly had instructed him. Kirk Cousins connected with Pierre Garcon in the last minute, ran the two point conversion and Washington (7-6) won in overtime when Richard Crawford made the punt return of his career.
Griffin being out for the Browns game, Cousins passed for 329 yards and two touchdowns as the Redskins won in Cleveland 38-21, raising their record to 8-6.
In Philadelphia, Griffin returned (though noticeably ailing) but played courageously, going 16 for 24, 198 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-20 win over the Eagles. Washington was 9-6 headed to the season finale at RFK against the Cowboys for the NFC East title.
The running game would be nothing short of phenomenal, running 42 times for 274 yards, led by Alfred Morris who enjoyed his best game in the NFL, running 33 times for 200 yards. Griffin, still ailing, managed to run amazingly for 63 yards in only six carries, including a 10-yard touchdown run in the 28-18 win over the Cowboys.
Washington had won their last seven consecutive games, finishing 10-6, atop the NFC East.
In the playoff game the offense again seemed so precisely planned, scoring quickly, gaining a 14-0 lead. But Griffin tweaked his knee and was visibly worse, limited even more.
Griffin would stay in the game much too long limping around. Everyone could see, he was not going to be able to contribute anything else. Finally, the rookie of the year from Baylor further injured the knee, ending his day.
He too had been guilty in the entire drama, being overheard on the sideline informing tackle Trent Williams he indeed was injured, but not to say anything. Sadly between Mike Shanahan, James Andrews and Griffin there was more than enough blame to go around.
Cousins this time when entering the game was ineffective. The offense was shut out the final three quarters for a 24-14 defeat to Seattle.
It had been a magical seven-game run, and what is most often overlooked is kicker Kai Forbath was a major contributor. Being picked up in October, Forbath then connected on his first 17 attempted field goals, a new NFL record.
Ten years ago the 2012 Washington Redskins were certainly not a great team. However, they certainly had a fascinating and exciting seven-game winning streak to finish the season.
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=01eqbvhghtkmz2182d image=]
Washington has drafted particularly well in rounds 4-7 over the last decade.
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbykgy681k112p8 player_id=none image=https://washingtonfootballwire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
Robert Griffin III is the name most Washington fans remember when discussing the 2012 NFL draft. Griffin would have one of the best rookie seasons in NFL history, leading Washington to an NFC East championship.
That momentum didn’t last, as the 2012 campaign would go down as Griffin’s one shining NFL moment.
It turns out Washington did leave that 2012 draft with two other offensive stalwarts: Quarterback Kirk Cousins and running back Alfred Morris. Cousins would eventually overtake Griffin as Washington’s quarterback and has the two most prolific passing seasons in franchise history.
Morris was as critical to that 2012 playoff run as Griffin and would enjoy 1,000-yard rushing seasons the first three years of his career.
Not bad for fourth-round (Cousins) and sixth-round (Morris) selections.
While that draft stands out for Washington due to the lower-round selections, the team has actually been pretty good over the last decade. ESPN recently conducted a study of the past 10 NFL drafts dating back to 2012, and Washington is ranked No. 10 in having received the best value during that period.
Per ESPN, this is how they graded all 32 teams:
How we rank: To evaluate the players taken in each of the past 10 NFL drafts (2012-2021), we used Approximate Value (AV) — Pro Football Reference’s method of measuring the performance of every NFL player. We took each player’s career AV and measured it against a value based on where that player was taken in the NFL draft — we’re calling it Career Approximate Value Over Expected (CAVOE).
The No. 10 ranking for Washington is third among NFC East teams and is for the entire draft. The Commanders really shine in day-three selections (rounds 4-7). Cousins and Morris are the most significant contributors, but Washington has landed other stalwarts from day three.
Recent examples of Washington doing impressive work on day three are linebacker Cole Holcomb (fifth round) and safety Kam Curl (seventh round). Holcomb is an every-down linebacker, while Curl looks like a future Pro Bowler.
The Commanders have also had plenty of success in the third round recently with Terry McLaurin (2019) and Antonio Gibson (2020). Jordan Reed was a third-round pick in 2013.
The ESPN study ranks Washington as No. 4 in receiving the most value from day-three picks, behind the Packers, Patriots and Ravens. That’s pretty good company.
Other outstanding picks from Washington over the last decade are Matt Ioannidis (fifth round, 2016), fourth-round picks Jamison Crowder (2015), Bashaud Breeland (2014) and sixth-rounder Chase Roullier (2017).
Best class from 2012-2021 drafts: 2020. This class produced quality starters in defensive end Chase Young, running back Antonio Gibson and safety Kam Curl — all of whom are capable of high-level performance. If Young reaches his potential, he can be an All-Pro performer. There’s still hope that offensive lineman Saahdiq Charles becomes a starter, but he’s a decent backup if nothing else, as is end James Smith-Williams. The other part: Washington’s previous drafts had way too many misses. This one did not. — John Keim
CAVOE from Day 3 draft picks (Rounds 4-7): 109.7, fourth
Best Day 3 steal? QB Kirk Cousins, fourth round, 2012. Cousins was the second quarterback taken by the team in that class, along with No. 2 overall pick Robert Griffin III. Now in his 11th year, Cousins has gone on to have a solid career (59-59-2 career record as a starter) and turned into a top-12 quarterback in the league.
With such outstanding draft value over the years, why hasn’t Washington been a consistent winner? That’s easy. The quarterback position. Cousins was no star but that situation unraveled long before he ever left Washington and the team has been unable to replace his production.
The Commanders will again start a new quarterback in 2022. It will be the sixth consecutive season that Washington starts a different quarterback in Week 1. That’s not a recipe for success.
However, the good news is you can expect Washington to find some talent on day three.
The New York Giants have terminated the contracts of RB Alfred Morris and DB Chris Milton, and placed CB Jarren Williams on injured reserve.
The New York Giants reached the NFL’s 85-man roster limit on Tuesday following their latest series of transactions.
Running back Alfred Morris, who was re-signed back on August 2, and defensive back Chris Milton have had their contracts terminated.
[listicle id=672860]
Morris, 32, was a sixth-round pick of the Washington Football Team in the 2012 NFL draft. He remained with the team for four seasons before spending two years with the Dallas Cowboys, one year with the San Francisco 49ers and splitting time between the Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals in 2019.
In September of 2020, the Giants signed Morris to their practice squad before promoting him to the active roster in November.
In 2020 with the Giants, Morris appeared in nine games, rushing for 238 yards and one touchdown while adding 19 yards and one touchdown on three receptions.
Milton, 28, originally signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted rookie out of Georgia in 2016. After three years with the Colts, he was claimed off of waivers by the Tennessee Titans in 2019. In March of this year, he signed with the Giants.
Over his five-year NFL career, Milton has appeared in 55 games (one start), recording 36 tackles, two fumble recoveries and two passes defensed.
Finally, the Giants placed cornerback Jarren Williams on injured reserve with a quad injury. He will miss the season.
The 24-year-old Williams signed with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted rookie out of Albany last April before landing with the Giants four months later.
[vertical-gallery id=672689]
David Moa and Carter Coughlin earned the New York Giants’ highest PFF grades in a preseason Week 1 loss to the New York Jets.
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=none image=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
The New York Giants dropped their first preseason game of the year, 12-7, against the New York Jets on Saturday night at MetLife Stadium.
It was the first game hosting fans since December of 2019, but the Giants provided little to cheer about. There were more negatives than positives, but it’s important to note that the team’s starters saw very little action — some not at all.
[listicle id=672768]
Pro Football Focus completed their grading breakdown on Sunday morning and there were some legitimate surprises.
Linebacker Reggie Ragland, who earned our Player of the Game, was the lowest-graded Giant with a 32.6. Although he did grade out fairly well in terms of tackling and run defense, his coverage grade of 32.1 really drug him down.
Veteran defensive tackle Danny Shelton, who had a drive-changing stuff on fourth down, also graded out at just 39.1.
Some of the team’s other low grades belong to defensive end Raymond Johnson (39.7), rookie cornerback Rodarius Williams (45.5), running back Alfred Morris (45.0) and running back Corey Clement (45.1).
The team’s highest grade belonged to defensive tackle David Moa, who earned a remarkable 92.0 on 41 snaps. Linebacker Carter Coughlin checked in just behind him with a 91.8.
Also earning a 90+ was linebacker T.J. Brunson (90.4).
On the offensive side of the ball, left tackle Andrew Thomas led the way with a 76.0, followed by right tackle Matt Peart with a 73.2.
Meanwhile, wide receiver David Sills earned a 73.0 and offensive lineman Kyle Murphy a 72.2.
Other noteworthy grades include quarterback Mike Glennon (72.2), guard Will Hernandez (60.1) and edge rusher Azeez Ojulari (56.6).
[vertical-gallery id=672689]
Alfred Morris says “it means a lot” to be back with the New York Giants, while coach Joe Judge admits it’s “refreshing” to see his face.
[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx61yex5whq8aq player_id=none image=https://giantswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
Veteran running back Alfred Morris appeared in nine games for the New York Giants a season ago, but that only came after he was initially signed to their practice squad — something many would consider a step back for the former 1,000-yard back.
But Morris didn’t see it that way. At least not at the time. The pieces fit together perfectly in that moment even if they wouldn’t have just a few weeks earlier.
[vertical-gallery id=672142]
“The place I was at it was perfect timing for that. A little earlier than that I probably would have been like, no, definitely not,” Morris said on Monday, via Big Blue View. “It wasn’t ideal, but it was an opportunity.
“I didn’t think it was a hard place to be in. I’m pretty humble, I’m always looking for an opportunity to make the most of it. I just need a foot in the door.”
Morris entered this offseason as a free agent and fully intended to seek another NFL opportunity. And now, in his 10th season, he’s found one and it means a whole lot to him.
“It means a lot. I spent last year here and got to know a bunch of the guys, got to know the system, coaches, things like that,” Morris said. “It’s always good when you get a call back. I think that speaks volumes about the person — from a character standpoint, from a talent standpoint. I feel like this is a family.”
Even though he now has a spot on the Giants’ 90-man roster, there’s no guarantee he’ll eventually make the 53-man roster. And that’s fine, Morris said. He’ll cross that bridge when he gets there. For the time being, he’s simply focused on making the most of his opportunity.
“I’ve always appreciated the opportunity, just having a foot in the door. Every chance I get, every carry I get, every snap I get, every chance I get to come to a camp I’m appreciative. That’s always been my approach. It’s not promised,” the 32-year-old Morris added. “I could have never did a day in the NFL. I’ve been fortunate enough, this is going into my 10th year. That’s a blessing. I don’t take that for granted.”
Meanwhile, head coach Joe Judge said it was “refreshing” to see Morris back in the building.
“I can’t tell you how much I feel on a personal level about Alfred and what he did for our team last year, about how he carries himself, about how he is as a teammate, how he is in the team meeting,” Judge told reporters. “Look, I walked by him when I was coming in the building and he was waiting outside for his clearance from his test, and we got to have a conversation sitting outside and it’s just refreshing seeing his face. He’s always smiling and good, great energy out there. Again, like anyone else, he has an opportunity to come in here and compete for a spot on this team. We had an opportunity to bring him back and he helps our competition within that spot.”
Judge made it clear that the addition of Morris in no way reflects on fellow running back Saquon Barkley. Rather, it’s just about adding experienced depth and creating more competition at the position.
[vertical-gallery id=672034]
The New York Giants have officially signed veteran running back Alfred Morris, who appeared in nine games for the team last season.
As anticipated, the New York Giants announced the signing of veteran running back Alfred Morris on Monday.
Morris, 32, was a sixth-round selection of the Washington Football Team in the 2012 NFL draft. He remained with the team for four seasons before spending two years with the Dallas Cowboys, one year with the San Francisco 49ers and splitting time between the Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals in 2019.
In September of 2020, the Giants signed Morris to their practice squad before promoting him to the active roster in November.
In 114 career games, Morris has gained 6,173 yards rushing and scored 35 touchdowns. His best season came as a rookie when he rushed for 1,613 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.
In 2020 with the Giants, Morris appeared in nine games, rushing for 238 yards and one touchdown while adding 19 yards and one touchdown on three receptions.
[vertical-gallery id=672034]
The New York Giants are reportedly signing veteran RB Alfred Morris and hosting QB Sean Mannion for a visit.
One day after visiting with their former wide receiver/special teamer, Cody Core, the New York Giants called in another familiar face for a look.
ESPN’s Field Yates reports that veteran running back Alfred Morris will be in East Rutherford for a visit next week. At that point, he is expected to sign, reports NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The Giants are hosting veteran RB Alfred Morris on a visit.
Cc: @MatthewBerryTMR
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 29, 2021
Veteran RB Alfred Morris will get into the #Giants facility early next week and is expected to sign then, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) July 29, 2021
Morris, 32, was a sixth-round selection of the Washington Football Team in the 2012 NFL draft. He remained with the team for four seasons before spending two years with the Dallas Cowboys, one year with the San Francisco 49ers and splitting time between the Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals in 2019.
In September of 2020, the Giants signed Morris to their practice squad before promoting him to the active roster in November.
In 114 career games, Morris has gained 6,173 yards rushing and scored 35 touchdowns. His best season came as a rookie when he rushed for 1,613 yards and scored 13 touchdowns.
In addition to signing Morris, the Giants are also hosting quarterback Sean Mannion for a workout.
The Sean Mannion workout tour continued late this week with the #Jets and #NYG.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) July 29, 2021
Mannion, 29, was a third-round pick of the Rams in 2015. He remained with Los Angeles through the 2018 season and then signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2019.
In 17 career games (two starts), Mannion has completed 60.8% of his passes for 383 yards and three interceptions. He has a QB Rating of 57.5 and a starting record of 0-2.
[listicle id=671645]
The New York Giants lost their Week 15 game against the Cleveland Browns. Here are the snap counts on offense, defense and special teams.
The New York Giants entered Sunday night’s game with an opportunity to regain their lead in the NFC East and significantly boost their playoff changes. Instead, they took an ugly loss against the Cleveland Browns and fell to third in the division.
The loss guaranteed the Giants their fourth straight losing season and their eighth losing season over the last nine. It’s an ugly time.
Here’s a look at the snap counts that attributed to the Giants’ ninth loss of the season:
Offensive snaps: 54
Defensive snaps: 63
Special teams snaps: 18
Something that immediately leaps out when looking at the snap counts is that the offensive line rotation seems to have subsided. In fact, Matt Peart did not receive a single snap, while only Will Hernandez and Shane Lemieux were rotated.
Also worth noting is that Alfred Morris had the team’s most offensive success despite being on the field for just 13 snaps. Fullback Eli Penny also made an impact on his lowly eight snaps.
Meanwhile, linebacker Devante Downs made his presence felt — and not in a good way — despite being on the field for just 11 plays.
Quarterback Joe Webb took just four snaps on special teams. That fell well below expectations for his use.
[vertical-gallery id=661929]
New York Giants QB Daniel Jones is expected to return in Week 14 but if he can’t, Colt McCoy is ready for a second start.
[jwplayer AAM8ZmY0-ThvAeFxT]
Veteran quarterback Colt McCoy picked up the eighth win of his career and his first win in over five years in Week 13 against the Seattle Seahawks.
McCoy had to make his first start with Big Blue due to a hamstring injury suffered by Daniel Jones against the Cincinnati Bengals. McCoy came into difficult role, playing almost 3,000 miles away against a top team in the NFC. However, through the adversity seasoned quarterback persevered and picked up a crucial win for the Giants.
It was McCoy’s first start in a year and he really enjoyed getting back on the field and picking up the victory.
“Yeah, that was fun. It had been a long road to get back out on the field. You never know when you’re going to get an opportunity to go play. I would like to tell you that I went home and enjoyed it and was happy,” McCoy told reporters on Wednesday. “Unfortunately, I was just thinking about some of the plays that I wish I could have back. But I think that’s always how it’s been. That’s how it’s always been for me.”
One play that the quarterback would definitely not want to have back was his touchdown pass to Alfred Morris. McCoy and Morris had played two years together in Washington and they had the luxury of reconnecting on Sunday. During this rekindling, the former Texas Longhorns quarterback had the privilege of tossing Morris with his first-ever touchdown reception.
“Yeah, how about that? I had no idea that was the case,” McCoy said. “He kind of double-caught it, too, I don’t know if he told you that. Alfred is a true pro. I had the pleasure of playing with him in Washington for a couple of years, and he looks just the exact same to me right now as he did in Washington.”
McCoy ended up finishing the game with a modest stat line of 105 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He did his job as a true game manager well and he may be called upon to fill this role once again in Week 14 if Jones is unable to play. Should Colt McCoy be called upon, he will be prepared.
“Again, I’m treating this just like I would any other week, and preparing and just getting ready to go. These guys are really good. They’re playing for a lot just like we are, so we have to be ready to go,” McCoy.
The Giants and McCoy both want their starting quarterback, Jones, healthy but if this is not the case McCoy will be ready.
[lawrence-related id=661170,661162,661139]
