The Germans have a lot of long words that encompass very difficult concepts. Words like “schadenfreude,” “Hubschrauberlandeplatz,” and “Verantwortungszuständigkeiten.” I don’t know if they have word for the frustration you feel when you’ve thought that your team had already managed to overcome the mistake you thought was going to cost them the game — like a fourth-quarter Ladell Betts fumble — only to discover that the relief-shattering error that was going to lead to a…

Southeast Jerome. Sheriff Gonna Getcha. Coach Janky Spanky. The Ghost of Southeast Jerome. Most of the 2005 season, and a few times last year, Clinton Portis showed that he wasn’t only electric on the field by holding press conferences dressed up as ridiculous characters, who he named and gave purposes. The get ups were such a hit that they even made a t-shirt about them (hey, we all knew that Snyder wouldn’t let a chance…

Redskins Stumble out of Preseaon The Redskins dropped their fourth and final preseason game last night, losing to the Baltimore Ravens 17-10. The loss sealed the first winless preseason in Joe Gibbs’ 24 years as a coach. Though common wisdom dictates the insignificance of the preseason, there should be cause for concern among Redskins fans. The team scored a meager 27 points over the 4 preseason games, their lowest total since 1961. Their first-team…

It’s so nice to get to talk about someone else’s TO problem for a change. If you’ve only recently been rescued from a near-fatal spelunking accident, here’s the story: two years ago, the Philadelphia Eagles were weary of playing bridesmaid to the NFC Champion. To get over that hump, they solicited the services of a preening, narcissistic headline generator named Terrell Owens. With Owens on board, the Eagles went to a Superbowl, and ever…

For three and a half quarters last night, the first meeting between the Redskins and the despised Dallas Cowboys played out according to the worst fears of hometown fans. The offense was cover-your-eyes awful. The Skins committed turnovers and penalties in the face of a swarming rush. Dallas’ defense stacked the line, keeping Clinton Portis in check and forcing the ball into the hands of Mark Brunell. And Mark Brunell obliged the home crowd…

>> They can have all the closed door clubhouse meetings they want, but after being swept by the Padres over the weekend, our beloved Nationals have lost 22 of their last 30 games. Ouch. Nats manager Frank Robinson tried to shuffle the line up yesterday to no avail, and if this keeps up, he’s running out of time to try any other tricks he has up his sleeve. The Nats are off today as…

It’s a been an offseason of change and occasional tumult for the Washington Redskins, but the tangible future is finally snapping into view. We’re talking 2005 schedule: time for Skins fans to start marking their calendars and arguing over how the field of opponents is totally going to yield the 10-6 record to make the playoffs. In addition to the division home-and-homes, the Redskins are matched against teams from the NFC and AFC West,…

What a pity. DCist encouraged you to have faith this weekend, believing that the Redskins would beat the Philadelphia Eagles at FedEx Field. Yet a bold, late-fourth-quarter throw to Chris Cooley came down in the hands of opposing safety Brian Dawkins—all but icing the game for the Eagles. Whether the ball just got a little too much air under it in the swirling winds of Landover, or had too much juice on it from…

The NFL football season begins tonight with a rematch of last year’s AFC title game. This means the 2004–05 kickoff for the Redskins is only a few days away. The Skins open their season Sunday at FedEx Field with a 1 p.m. kickoff against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Expectations are running high in the nation’s capital with the return of former head coach Joe Gibbs and the trade that brought in Clinton Portis for…