Game Girl

Yesterday's game was definitely the start of something big.  Our NFC East rivals better be paying attention, because with Griffin on our team, the Skins are clearly ready to compete on a completely different level.  Justin Tuck, DE for the Giants, said in his post-game news conference last night he's not looking forward to playing against Griffin twice a year, and that Griffin is "the real deal".

But we already knew that.

Now, however, with the latest injury to TE Fred Davis -- who has really stepped up his game this season and has obvious chemistry with Griffin -- and with receiver Pierre Garcon sidelined with some bizarre toe injury that seems destined to linger, Griffin is going to have to go it alone.

Sort of.

Next man up?  Chris Cooley.  Dust off your cleats, put down your paint brushes, loosen your already sloppy tie, and give up your seat next to Dan Hellie on Channel 4's "Locker Room Report", dude.  Looks like you're going to be pressed into service after all.

Kyle Shanahan can only do so much to mask the lack of playmakers we currently have on offense.  Griffin is magic - yes - but he needs SOMEONE to throw to, at least some of the time.  Now that Davis is out for the season, I guess that someone is going to be Cooley.

Remember back in training camp when they cut him?  Remember the outrage, the indignation, that absolute outcry from Cooley loyalists who were horrified at his treatment by the Redskins?  And yet, as good of a player as many of us (me included) thought he was, Cooley didn't get that big paycheck from another team we expected.  Instead, he stayed in town and took a seat in the locker room, reporting on the Redskins for Channel 4 News and waiting.

Waiting for his chance to play for the Redskins, the team who drafted him.  Waiting for his chance, perhaps, to be a part of what he must have known all along was going to be a unique opportunity to play with a superstar quarterback.  Cooley probably saw Griffin's ability, his skill, his smarts, and his leadership back in July and thought to himself, "Why go play for another team for a league-minimum salary when I might have the chance to return and hook back up with a playmaker like Griffin?"

He rolled the dice and it might have paid off.  He's going to get his chance to play with the team he loves, with a quarterback he clearly respects, in a season that still might turn out to be more than just a practice season for the future.

Let's hope Cooley's gamble pays off for ALL of us.

Quit.  Yes, I realize I'm quoting MC Hammer...the poet laureate of the '80's (not!)  I'm sure I can find a more relevant and updated reference to express my level of joy.  But honestly, in my humble opinion, our man RG3 truly IS too legit to quit.

Literally.

The guy just doesn't quit.  He never gives up.  He never stops looking downfield for an open receiver.  Never stops fighting to make a play.  Never stops, period.

He seems like he's always reading the opposing team's defense, like he's always in control.  And when in doubt, we KNOW he's always ready to take off and run.  He even learned how to slide this week in practice, thankfully (so we can breath a sigh of relief that he might actually live to fight another down...)

His style of play is controlled, but still unpredictable for opposing defenses.  When he's on the field, you just KNOW something good is going to happen. 

When he's got the football in his hand, I personally never hold my breath anymore waiting for the traditional sack, strip, fumble plays that used to befall our former quarterbacks of old.  Instead, I'm left gaping at his abilities.  He can run, of course, but he can also throw.  His passes are sharp and accurate.  His receivers seem like they are running the right routes, and he seems like he knows where every offensive weapon is on the field at all times.

For years, our offense has let us down.  Our quarterback play has been erratic, at best.  Players like Santana Moss -- old reliable -- have been subject to tipped passes, overthrown balls, and UN-thrown balls from unprepared or incapable quarterbacks that were often stripped and taken the other way for touchdowns.

Not anymore.

RG3 has given this team hope.  He'll keep fighting until he wins the game or they cart him off the field (God-forbid).  For the first time in two decades, we've got a team we can believe in, because we have a player who is athetically gifted, incredibly poised, and a truly capable and effective leader both on and off the field.

To that I say...Can't Touch This.

Have I mentioned recently that being a Redskin fan can sometimes be hard work?  It really can.  (No, this post isn't about RG3's concussion.  I just can't face that drama right now, so I'm going to pretend the issue isn't looming over all of us like a ton of bricks just waiting to wreck our season.  I prefer to stick my head in the sand and pray that the recently-tightened NFL concussion rules will bring Griffin back ASAP.  Emphasis on the S - SOON!)

In any event, back to things being hard for us Skins fans.  Especially when you live in an area that is sort of muddled, fan-wise, like I do.  Yesterday, I faced one of those situations that had me thanking my lucky stars my DVR had been pre-set.

I took my kids to a party in Baltimore, fully expecting the Raven's game to be on the main TV and the majority of the guests watching the game.  Fine, no sweat.  I can manage, right?  I'll just slip down to the basement, where the "other" TV is, and join the group of dudes gathering down there to watch what I assume will be the Redskins game. 

Guess what?  It wasn't the Skins game they were watching.  It was the Eagles/Steelers game.

Crap. 

So, I had a couple of choices.  Stay in the basement and pretend to care about the Pennsylvania bowl.  Head back upstairs to the main level where the Ravens are involved in a very boring defensive game against the hapless but feisty Chiefs.  Race to my car and try to grab the occasional update from Sonny and Sam's broadcast.  Or just give up and wait until I got home to watch the game on DVR.

I was so distracted and annoyed by those dudes in the basement I wanted to scream.  I mean, the Ravens thing I understood.  But who put the Eagles' fans in charge of the other TV?  Why did THEY get to decide to hog the downstairs TV like they owned the damn thing, when there were clearly at least one or two Redskins fans who wanted to see the game? 

I am happy to report I managed to control myself and stay calm.  I didn't get obnoxious with the downstairs guys.  Nope, I even tried to cheer them up (sort-of) when Vick kept fumbling the ball, time and time again.  I was polite.  Affable.  Not even a HINT of rudeness.

I suppose I could have asked to change the channel, but I'm not sure I would have been very effective or convincing.  Trying to get a bunch of dudes watching football to take a woman like me seriously can be diffcult indeed.  And with Eagles fans, well, it could have been downright dangerous.

So, I suffered in semi-silence, made my excuses, and headed home in time to catch Redskins Postgame Live.

Next time, I'll know to stake my claim a little earlier!

One of the best parts about having a blog is being able to share what's on my mind.  And what's on my mind today is friendship.  Specifically, the very important matter of girlfriends.  Besties.  Gal pals.  Guys, you can probably skip this post...it's really just for chicks.

Anyway, I got to thinking about my own girl friendships, and how much I value them.  How much I dearly love my girlfriends.  Old and new.  The old ones I've had since the fourth grade, and the more recent moms I've become friends with from my DAUGHTER'S fourth grade.  The friends who make me laugh.  The friends who support me.  The friends I go shopping with.  The friends who love my kids.  The ones who listen, and laugh, and love.

Girlfriends.

What do they have to do with football, you may ask? 

Well, I started thinking about how much my "team" of girlfriends are somewhat similar to my favorite (Redskin) football team.  How critical each part of the team can be to the whole.  And how you really need all the different parts of the team to make it function as a unit.

My girlfriends are just like that. 

I've got my offensive line friends -- the ones who will go to the mat for me, for my kids, for my family.  Through thick and thin.  No matter what.  These girls call me, check in on me, make plans to hang out, and are always there.  And vice versa...I do the same for them.

I've got the defensive line girls.  These chicks are in my corner all the time.  Mess with me and you'll have to deal with them.  'Nuff said.  I've got your back, girls, and I'm thankful you have mine.

My special teamers are the fab specialty friends.  We do cool stuff together, these girls and I.  They're my concert-going friends, the movie night and book club chicks, my awesome new bible study friends.  They are all special in different ways, just like the kick returners and long snappers for the Skins, and can always be counted on for fun, for sharing, and lots of good times.

I've got my quarterback "best friends".  My wide receiver divas who can be flashy, but in a GOOD way.  My halfback dependables.  My running back go-to girls.  My reliable tight ends.

If you are fortunate to have a team of girls like I am, consider yourself lucky.  Remember to be grateful for your team.  Celebrate your team.  Be a team player back.  And don't ever, ever take your team for granted.

Hail to my girlfriends!