Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan will go with Kirk Cousins this week against Atlanta over RGIII, according to reports.
Is Mike Shanahan anti-Christmas?


Mike Shanahan walks off during press conference

Kevin C. Cox“Overall, I thought he did a good job during the game,” Shanahan said of Cousins.
Cousins led the team down for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to pull within one point. Shanahan, showing his nothing-to-lose position, elected to go for two instead of kicking the game-tying PAT. The attempt was no good.
Read Article >Kirk Cousins taking a beating against Falcons

Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY SportsHere’s Cousins taking a hard hit on a pass attempt.
The Redskins had allowed 24 sacks in their last five games coming into Sunday.
Read Article >RGIII is practicing his kicks

Patrick McDermottIt’s official. Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is inactive for Sunday’s game against the Falcons, caught in the middle of a bitter divorce between Mike Shanahan and Dan Snyder. But RGIII isn’t just going to sit around and think up new inspirational sayings to trademark. No way. He’s doing something productive ... like practicing his extra point kicks.
Is that good for his knee?
Read Article >Shanahan wants to return in 2014

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsShanahan reportedly has the stipulation of running the team “the way he wants,” which could cause problems with owner Dan Snyder. The team will not attempt to fire the coach for cause, Schefter is reporting, and a legal source told the reporter Shanahan’s $7 million contract is “ironclad.” Previously, it was reported that Snyder was unwilling to buy out the remainder of the coach’s contract, suggesting that there will be at least one more season of Shanahan in the nation’s capital.
• Spencer Hall rejects a special offer from the Redskins
Read Article >Kyle Shanahan to leave his father’s shadow?

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsThe decision by Shanahan that it is “no longer worth it” to coach under his father is one that should sit well with those within the Redskins organization, as reports continue to detail a rapidly deteriorating situation in Washington that will likely result in a complete coaching staff overhaul in the offseason.
La Canfora details a situation in which there is no accountability surrounding the coaching staff, especially in regards to Kyle Shanahan, and that the overall inexperience of the staff has led to the mess that has derailed what was supposed to be a promising season. Former and current members of the organization state that nepotism and favoritism in hiring only good friends as coaches has created an environment that is certainly not conducive to winning.
Read Article >Kirk Cousins could be worth a first round pick?

Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports“If he lights it up, hey, maybe we can bring a first-round draft choice back to this organization, and say hey, who are we gonna take in the first round,” Shanahan said. “And I think by him playing and Robert not playing, it gives us a chance to have a few options for our organization that we wouldn’t normally have, and the safety of our quarterback going into the offseason is preserved.”
In 2011, the Philadelphia Eagles traded backup quarterback Kevin Kolb to the Arizona Cardinals for Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie on a second-round draft pick. Kolb was a second-round pick in 2007 and had started seven games across four seasons.
Read Article >Dan Snyder not willing to buy out Mike Shanahan

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsRGIII angry about benching, according to report

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY SportsRobert Griffin III was benched for his protection, according to Washington Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan -- but the quarterback is “extremely angry” he was benched, according to a report from Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
Shanahan said the team was concerned by the number of hits Griffin III took in 13 games, with the coach saying he had the blessing of Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to keep their franchise quarterback healthy. Latest reports indicate this was not true. The benching was due to performance, not fear of injury, according to Michael Silver.
Read Article >Kirk Cousins set up for failure, says Moss

Patrick McDermottWashington Redskins wide receiver Santana Moss believes the organization is putting second-year quarterback Kirk Cousins in a difficult position, and “setting him up for failure” by turning to him with three games remaining in the season.
Moss spoke to the media on Thursday and Mark Maske of the Washington Post reported the veteran wide receiver thinks the timing is wrong.
Read Article >Snyder or Shanahan: Who’s to blame for Redskins?


RGIII reportedly done for year

Patrick McDermottGriffin confirmed in a Wednesday press conference that he was being shut down for the remainder of the 2013 NFL season.
“I’m sure everybody knows by now that coach decided to shut me down for the rest of the season,” Griffin told the media. “I expressed my desire to play.”
Read Article >Kirk Cousins named starting QB in Washington

Justin EdmondsThe campaign has been an unmitigated disaster for the Redskins, who are 3-10 after winning the NFC East in 2012. Griffin has struggled throughout the season, completing only 60.1 percent of his pass attempts while tossing only 16 touchdowns compared to 12 interceptions.
Cousins, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2012 Draft, will start the third game of his career this weekend. In two relief appearances this season, Cousins has two interceptions and a fumble on his stat line. His QBR is 0.9, on a scale of 1-100.
Read Article >Mike Shanahan preparing to sit RGIII

Brad Mills-USA TODAY SportsThe same sources said RGIII has not been made aware of the decision yet, but that they expect the star quarterback to have an opportunity to plead his case before an official decision is made.
Wednesday’s practice will likely be an indicator as to whether Cousins will indeed get the starting nod, according to Jay Glazer.
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