Redskins Insider - Your daily source for news and commentary on the Washington Redskins, by Jason Reid - May 16, 2010

Donovan McNabb makes heroic return to Chicago in ESPN episode

Here's a fun ESPN story that's worth passing along. The Redskins concluded their first set of organized team activities Wednesday, and players mostly scattered their separate ways, knowing they don't have to return to Redskins Park until next Monday. Quarterback Donovan McNabb's day-after-OTA plan was a bit different than his teammates: He went back...

By Rick Maese | May 22, 2010; 8:01 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (94)
Categories: Donovan McNabb
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Under Shanahan, offensive linemen get into the zone

We've written previously about the successful zone blocking scheme Coach Mike Shanahan would bring from Denver to the Redskins. With two minicamps and one organized team activity completed, we were curious about how the offensive line has taken to Shanhan's concepts. Apparently, they're all in. "It's been great," right guard...

By Jason Reid | May 21, 2010; 1:02 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (128)
Categories: Mike Shanahan , Offensive line
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Could Moss situation cause Redskins to re-consider Terrell Owens?

Shortly after word emerged Thursday that Santana Moss, the Redskins' top wide receiver, had been linked to Canadian doctor Anthony Galea, who has been charged with smuggling and distributing human growth hormone, many Insider readers emailed me about the Redskins' wide receiver situation. The main question Thursday and so far...

By Jason Reid | May 21, 2010; 10:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (123)
Categories: Donovan McNabb , Mike Shanahan , Santana Moss , wide receivers
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Andre Carter says he's "really comfortable" with 3-4 defense

Because we spent so much time discussing Andre Carter's place with the team after the conversion to a 3-4 defense, it's worth following up and sharing his feelings now that the Redskins have gone through a pair of minicamps and three offseason practices. Carter's still recovering from surgery he had...

By Rick Maese | May 21, 2010; 6:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (65)
Categories: 3-4 defense , offseason workouts
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Romanowski praises Galea's healing techniques

Former NFL player Bill Romanowski called Anthony Galea, the Canadian doctor charged this week with smuggling and distributing human growth hormone, a "pioneer" for his techniques to help athletes heal from injuries. He says Galea and his treatment techniques are very different from other headline-grabbing and widely-publicized cases involving performance-enhancing...

By Rick Maese | May 20, 2010; 6:51 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (74)
Categories: drug probe | Tags: Anthony Galea, BALCO, Bill Romanowski, HGH, PED, PRP, Redskins, Santana Moss, Victor Conte
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Mike Shanahan has little to say on topic of Albert Haynesworth

Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan spoke before 400 people today at a leadership luncheon hosted by the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce at the National Conference Center in Leesburg. Shanahan took questions from the audience and was asked this question about his plans for defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth: "With all the...

By Timothy J. Wilson | May 20, 2010; 4:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (65)
Categories: Albert Haynesworth , Mike Shanahan
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Shanahan takes measured, 'wait-and-see' approach on Moss

Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan is taking a wait-and-see approach with regard to wide receiver Santana Moss, whose name has been linked to a Canadian doctor facing federal charges for smuggling and distributing human growth hormone. "Let's just kind of wait and see before we throw him underneath the bus," Shanahan...

By Rick Maese | May 20, 2010; 3:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (68)
Categories: Mike Shanahan , Santana Moss , wide receivers
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Moss situation may complicate an already-uncertain receiver corps

Santana Moss, the Redskins' top wide receiver, could face disciplinary action for being linked with Canadian doctor Anthony Galea, who is charged with smuggling and distributing human growth hormone, stirring more doubt about the Redskins' receiving corps as Coach Mike Shanahan prepares for his first season in Washington. The Redskins...

By Jason Reid and Rick Maese | May 20, 2010; 1:59 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (73)
Categories: Santana Moss , wide receivers
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Galea's lawyer: Injury treatment, not performance enhancement, was goal

It's worth noting that there are two sides to every story, and we've reached out to Santana Moss, his family, teammates, agent and Redskins officials to hear more about Moss's alleged involvement with Anthony Galea, the Canadian doctor charged this week with smuggling and distributing human growth hormone. While we...

By Rick Maese | May 20, 2010; 1:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (41)
Categories: Santana Moss
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Reasons for using HGH are myriad for players in a grueling game

In the Redskins' 2009 media guide, wide receiver Santana Moss is listed at 5 feet 10, 200 pounds. Moss actually appears a little shorter than that and he's definitely not among the Redskins' hulking players. The fact that sources have linked Moss's name to Canadian doctor Anthony Galea, who is...

By Jason Reid | May 20, 2010; 11:51 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (49)
Categories: Santana Moss
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NFL doesn't need positive test to suspend Santana Moss

So what happens next to receiver Santana Moss? The answer to that question will largely hinge on whether the league can comfortably determine that Moss, in fact, used human growth hormone. Because the NFL doesn't test for HGH, it can't simply point to a positive test. But the league has...

By Rick Maese | May 20, 2010; 11:18 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (54)

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Santana Moss evasive in Wednesday interview

When the Redskins broke up their workout (another of the organized team activities) Wednesday, I went to talk to Santana Moss, who was doing his work on the side as he recovers from offseason, arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The conversation was interesting - not so much for what...

By Barry Svrluga | May 20, 2010; 10:14 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (63)
Categories: Santana Moss
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Santana Moss received treatment from doctor accused of HGH smuggling, according to source

Updated at 1:30 p.m. Washington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss was among the professional athletes who received treatment from Canadian doctor Anthony Galea, according to two sources familiar with the investigation. On Tuesday, Galea was charged with smuggling and distributing human growth hormone. One source said that Moss was the...

By Rick Maese | May 20, 2010; 8:50 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (120)
Categories: Santana Moss
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Vonnie Holliday, linemen take on different role in Shanahan's defense

The Redskins have to be thrilled with their participation during offseason activities thus far. Their first series of organized team activities brought another strong turnout. Sure, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth wasn't around, but just about everyone else was present. A couple of rookies were still precluded from participating because their...

By Rick Maese | May 20, 2010; 6:56 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (63)
Categories: 3-4 defense , Mike Shanahan
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McNabb, Redskins stay focused despite report about unnamed teammate

Redskins players reacted in different ways to news that one of their teammates has been implicated in the drug case involving a Canadian doctor. Some, like Phillip Daniels, took offense to the alleged actions of an unnamed teammate. Others, such as Santana Moss, did not want to discuss the subject...

By Rick Maese | May 19, 2010; 3:56 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (90)

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Redskins gaining speed in learning Mike Shanahan's system

With the Redskins still having a lot to learn under Coach Mike Shanahan, they completed their first session of organized team activities Wednesday afternoon at Redskins Park. Shanahan and his staff continued to guide players in Washington's new offensive and defensive schemes while also preparing for the team's only mandatory...

By Jason Reid | May 19, 2010; 3:29 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (19)
Categories: Jason Reid , Mike Shanahan
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Shanahan says Redskins 'will let due process take care of itself' in drug case

Washington Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan said Wednesday the team has not been contacted about a federal investigation into the activities of a Canadian doctor who was arrested last September en route to the Washington area to treat a Redskins player. "We'll let the due process take care of itself," Shanahan...

By Barry Svrluga, Rick Maese and Jason Reid | May 19, 2010; 2:26 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (58)

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Signing Brian Westbrook is still a possibility for Redskins, Shanahan says

Although more than a week has passed since they met with Brian Westbook, the Redskins have not ruled out signing the free agent running back, Coach Mike Shanahan said today. "We're still talking to Brian. He's under consideration," Shanahan told reporters after the Redskins' organized team activity at Redskins Park....

By Rick Maese | May 19, 2010; 1:54 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (37)
Categories: Donovan McNabb , Free agency , Mike Shanahan
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Redskins, Doug Williams reportedly discuss front-office position

Thomas George of AOL Fanhouse wrote yesterday that the Redskins are in talks to possibly create a front-office position for Doug Williams, who played a major role in helping Joe Gibbs win the second of his three Super Bowl titles. Williams, the longtime NFL quarterback and Super Bowl XXII MVP...

By Jason Reid | May 19, 2010; 8:57 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (92)
Categories: Daniel M. Snyder
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Redskins players react to story linking teammate to doctor's drug bust

By now you've no doubt heard that a Redskins player is implicated in the drug bust of a Canadian doctor who's charged with treating NFL players with illegal drugs. The league says it doesn't know the names of the players involved, and the Redskins aren't commenting. Yet, we know a...

By Rick Maese | May 19, 2010; 8:54 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (82)

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Chris Cooley turns spotlight over to his mom and fight against breast cancer

Last weekend marked the second-year anniversary of Nancy Cooley's breast cancer diagnosis and Tuesday night Nancy and her sons Chris and Tanner Cooley staged a benefit to help raise money to battle the disease. His mom is now cancer-free, but Chris Cooley, along with Redskins teammates Mike Sellers, Reed Doughty,...

By Rick Maese | May 19, 2010; 8:38 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (31)

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Canadian doctor charged with supplying HGH was traveling to treat player in Washington

U.S. authorities filed charges today against a Canadian doctor who is accused of supplying illegal drugs to professional football players. The paperwork mentions 23 athletes who received some form of treatment from Dr. Anthony Galea, and while no names were given, the doctor was allegedly on his way to Washington...

By Rick Maese | May 18, 2010; 3:54 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (209)

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Phillip Daniels clarifies his remarks about Albert Haynesworth

We're a bit late with this, but it's worth passing along. You'll recall last week, Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels made some interesting comments about Albert Haynesworth, who's skipping the team's voluntary offseason activities. He made those comments to Jason Reid and also Mike Wise, who wrote a column that...

By Rick Maese | May 18, 2010; 12:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (127)
Categories: Albert Haynesworth
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Orakpo, Wilson already have a head start on the season

Orakpo, Wilson already have a head start on the switch to a 3-4, since they moved to linebacker from defensive end last year.

By Rick Maese | May 18, 2010; 6:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (196)
Categories: 3-4 defense , Brian Orakpo | Tags: Brian Orakpo, Chris Wilson
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Redskins sign two rookie wide receivers and a cornerback

The Redskins have added three undrafted rookies to their roster: wide receivers Brandon Banks and Shay Hodge and cornerback Melvin Stephenson. The trio apparently was the best of the group of more than 20 undrafted rookies who attended the team's last minicamp on a tryout basis. They were rewarded for...

By Rick Maese | May 17, 2010; 11:04 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (267)
Categories: offseason workouts
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Redskins sign Vonnie Holliday, veteran defensive end

Updated, 10:32 a.m. The Redskins have added yet another veteran defensive lineman, signing defensive end Vonnie Holliday before the first of the team's organized team activities begins today. Holliday, 34, has played with five organizations in 12 seasons and spent last year with the Denver Broncos, where he played a...

By Rick Maese | May 17, 2010; 8:53 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (135)
Categories: 3-4 defense , Albert Haynesworth , offseason workouts
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Redskins hold first OTA session on Monday

After a couple of intense and tiring minicamps, what do the Redskins expect out of their first series of organized team activities? "I hope it's way scaled back," tight end Chris Cooley said with a laugh. Following a week off, players reconvene at Redskins Park Monday morning for their first...

By Rick Maese | May 17, 2010; 6:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (40)
Categories: Albert Haynesworth , Mike Shanahan , offseason workouts
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Redskins Insider: May 16, 2010 - May 22, 2010