I don't know if they should be taking Monday off after a win. They need some work.

Jason, do you ever actually have time to sit down, one on one with a player, and ask him questions? Or are there always other 'media types' hovering around and it's a struggle just to get yours in?

When I covered some Carolina Panthers games a couple of years ago, I also lamented the fact that I could never sit down one-on-one with a player and just talk. Too many media members buzzing through the locker room looking for sound bites and telling quotes.

By the way, Mike Minter may be the nicest, most sincere athlete who I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.

Why would more players hang around on a Tuesday after a loss than after a win? Is it that they seek out other players so as not to get mopey?

Jason,

Love the blogs and articles...it really is an amazingly comprehensive and transparent (in a good way) manner in which to cover a story.

Here is the $64,000 question after hearing Wilbon rant on this subject quite a bit recently. Do you consider yourself a Redskins fan? Wilbon has gone on and on understandably explaining that he is a Bears fan and his job is to cover the skins, the part that was interesting was when he went on to say that being a Bears fan he could not cover them. What do you think about this whole thing?

Thanks and keep up the great work!

Is the amount of press access to Redskins players different from other teams in the NFL or about the same? How about compared to other sports leagues (such as hockey which you (Jason C.) use to cover)?

Jason,

Given the sorry state of the secondary, any update on Ade Jimoh? Supposedly he had a good camp, but he has not been seen through 3 games. What about bringing back Garnell Wilds?

The level of access is pretty standard around the league. Each day is pretty much the same in every city.
You can get players alone, but it takes a lot of work and usually it's done in the parking lot somewhere or over the phone.
The sheer number of media covering the team, and the limited windows to chat kind of dictate that.
I'd say that's one of the biggest differences between this and hockey, where most days with the Caps it was just me and Dave Fay, from The Times, in the locker room and we could spend a lot of time shooting the bull with players and going over things.
JR - I'd say that it is impossible to be a fan of the team you cover and do this job anything close to way it needs to be done.

So many times the things you need and covet to do the job well run directly counter to what the team would want. That's the nature of the beast.
Like I've said before, I root for me: Early game times, good deadlines, on-time flights, getting phone calls returned, etc.

We root for you too....especially on the slower news days cause the blogs keep us addicts distracted from work!

Kleebs - it seems like Ade is around for special teams stuff only these days. I thought he actually had a few surprisingly strong games last season - the Denver game when Springs went down stands out - but they clearly wanted to stockpile more bodies at CB, and with Rumph, Wright, Springs and Carlos ahead of him, and Vernon Fox seemingly gaining more PT in dime packages, I don't know Ade is going to play much right now.

Regarding Ade Jimoh, when you listen to Sonny and Sam on the radio you will hear/have heard the following after a long gain by the other team or TD pass:

Sonny: "Guess who Sam."
Sam: "Looked like Jimoh again. He can't cover anybody"
Sonny: "They're finding where he lines up and throwin' it to that guy."
Sam: "They oughta' line him up on a tackle!"

wasn't his nickname, "Uh Oh Jimoh"?

we kid, because we love.

Hey Jason,
Have you ever met Sonny Jerguenson? I see him with George Michael all of the time on their weekly programs and he seems like a genuinly very good dude. He has been a huge fan favorite, maybe even more so since he started his broadcasting days, and I was wondering if you had any personal stories about him.

Thanks for the Blog. 5 TCCPz or whatever it is.

I am trying to get my boyfriend to pursue his interest in sports writing. What can he do other than keeping a blog and hoping someone else reads it?

All he talks about from August to January is football. Then he talks about how much he misses football. His earliest childhood memory is watching John Riggins and the Redskins at the age of 3 with his dad. He called me at work on Sunday to give me a play-by-play analysis of Mark Brunell's record 22 completions.

His email address includes the phrase "gibbsisgod"

He is not just a "big" Redskins fan. He is THE Redskins fan. You know what I mean.

I just wish he could share his insights with other fans who can really appreciate them, instead of just with a girlfriend who listens because she loves him.

Who is the best quote on the team? And your most favorite CP character? Keep up the great work guy. By the way, did you catch the tale end of Monday Night Football's broadcast? Mike Tirico gave Syracuse some love noting his friend who remembered the Keith Smart jump shot and 16 years later Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara helping the Orange win the National Championship at the Superdome in 2003.

I met Sonny years ago at a trade show. He was there to sign autographs. However, as I was working the show, I was able to speak to him during some 'down time'.
He was very personable and made me feel like I was his best friend. I mentioned to him that I had a framed 11X14 photo of him in my den with the old arrow helmet. He gave me his address to mail it to him for an autograph, which I did.

It may have helped that I had stopped by a booth that was hand-rolling cigars before I approached. I think I found his weakness!

On a slow Redskins news day, I wanted to see if you could find out about a few former Redskins. In particular, what is RAY BROWN doing these days? I would have figured the team would have kept him close to the organization, perhaps in a scouting or coaching/mentoring-type role.

Additionally, have you kept tabs on BUCK ORTEGA? What are the chances we'll see him again.

You did such a good job keeping an eye on Nick Novak and Jimmy Farris, so I figured you could find the quick report on these other two. Thanks.

By AS: I am trying to get my boyfriend to pursue his interest in sports writing. What can he do other than keeping a blog and hoping someone else reads it?

A blog is always a good start; you can't go wrong there. He could also try writing articles for a small town paper or magazine. Pitch them a query and see if they're interested.

My little brush with old school Redskins lore... NE Patriot Great Mike Haynes' brother Reggie Haynes (TE in '78, caught 2 passes on the season) went to church with me a bit when I lived in Vienna. He came out to a few of my James Madison high school games to support me and even held the sticks one game against Park View. That guy was huge. Would have been cool to meet his brother, but to a highschool kid, any NFL player is cool. I also saw a few Skins in the late 90's shopping at Hechts in Tysons. Good news though, going to my 1st Skins game Dec. 10 Skins v. Eagles. Just thought someone might care about my feel good story. Nerd out.

CT - good to hear from you. How the heck are you doing?
I missed that part of the game with Tirico but watched almost all of it. What a scene and what a night. I thought TK had a very strong night.
Let me know what you are up to. Heard from Coplan lately?

Ray Brown is doing the Redskins Postgame show for Comcast. I saw somewhere he's supposed to do Redskins.com TV stuff as well.

Ortega's on Cleveland's practice squad. Don't know anything beyond that.

TK did indeed have a good night. I was in a bar and forced to listen to the broadcast (just like "Desperate Housewives" and Jessica Simpson videos, I always watch football on mute). Very impressive on TK's part. I may turn up the volume next week. If only there was a way to mute Joe T. I kid, because I love...

One more off-topic thing on last night's game. Did anyone find it odd and offensive that President George H.W. Bush did the coin toss? He whose wife famously said:

"Almost everyone I've talked to said we're going to move to Houston. What I'm hearing, which is sort of scary, is they all want to stay in Texas. Everybody is so overwhelmed by all the hospitality. And so many of the peoples in the arena here, you know, they're underprivileged anyway, so this--this is working very well for them."

Kleebs,

I read somewhere (maybe it was on ExtremeSkins) during the preseason that Garnell Wilds is hurt - think it is an ankle injury.

Hey guy, I posted a comment on this last night but looks like it never went thru.
Sonny J is a great dude. A lot of fun to be around and someone who really loves this game.
Ray Brown still lives in the area - and he was my favorite quote on the team until he left. A lot of guys are good. CP is very honest, as is Moss. Daniels and Renaldo can be very good.
AS - have you man email me - lacanforaj@washpost.com. More than anything else, he just needs to write as much as possible about whatever interests him.
I'll try to help out any way I can.
Cheers.