Stephen Strasburg Makes His Season Debut; Redskins Name Rex Grossman Starter

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Photos: Wendy Thompson/DC Spotlight Newspaper



September 5, 2011
Ceci Ferrara
Sports Writer
Sports Insider

As the first kick-off of the 2011-12 NFL season is only days away, the Redskins have finally trimmed their roster to 53 and named their starting QB: Rex Grossman. Ever since McNabb officially left for the Vikings (and even a little before that), there’s been speculation about who the Skins’ starter would be. For teams like the Packers, who have Aaron Rodgers or the Patriots, who have Brady, naming their starting QB wasn’t a decision that had to be made. But the Redskins essentially have two nobodies. Not to take away from the accomplishments of Grossman or John Beck, who should both be applauded for playing in the NFL — the highest level of professional football there is — but their names don’t conjure up images of great throws and past glory. Instead, Beck is virtually unknown, while Grossman is probably best known for one thing: taking the Bears to Super Bowl XLI in early ’07 and losing to Peyton Manning.

Despite this, Skins fans are hopeful that new blood and a new approach – no big name, big contracts this off-season – will help them carry their winning ways over from pre-season. While John Beck may not have won the starting position, that doesn’t mean that he won’t take it over from Grossman if Rex doesn’t perform up to par. Coach Mike Shanahan has said several times over the past few months that he has great confidence in Beck and his abilities, with the media at one time declaring Beck the clear cut favorite. It’s very probable for both men to get a decent amount of playing time this season, as the Redskins work their way through 16 regular season games in an attempt at a winning season and perhaps their first playoff game since 2007.

The Skins will finally get to play in a game that counts, with their season opener falling on Sunday, September 11th through the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on our nation. In a tradition that this year seems bittersweet, they’ll be opening the season against the division rival New York Giants. While both teams have a lot to prove – the Giants have had back to back disappointing seasons after their Super Bowl win – the significance of the game transcends beyond the NFC East standings.

Nationals

At 25 games behind first place, and more than a couple under .500, the Nationals shouldn’t be so excited about a rainy, early September game that doesn’t mean much for them in the grand scheme of things. Still, Nationals Park is no doubt buzzing about tonight’s game – much like the rest of the city. It’s Stephen Strasburg’s 2011 season debut with the Nationals, something long awaited not only by fans, but by his teammates and no doubt Strasburg himself. After all, he wasn’t drafted No. 1 to play in the minors. In his first big-league game since his elbow reconstruction, he’ll face the Los Angeles Dodgers – another struggling National League team that the Nats overpowered on Labor Day, 7-2.

Before his elbow surgery sidelined him last season, Strasburg was 5-4 with a 2.91 ERA. Tonight’s game marks the first time he’ll take the mound at Nationals Park since August 21, 2010. Rain or not, I’d bet big money that tickets to tonight’s game are few and far between. If you can’t make it tonight, don’t fret: the powerful righty is expected to make four more home starts before the end of the season. Strasburg is expected to pitch five or six innings – a rain delay notwithstanding.

Mystics

Their last home game of the season was just another loss in a disappointing season for the Mystics, who have been unable to win even 10 games this season (6-26). Late in the first half, Crystal Langhorne received her first technical foul of the season for snapping at a referee, and the game did not improve from there. They shot a season low collectively for points, and even Langhorne, the team’s number one star, couldn’t save her team from a devastating 79-48 loss against the Connecticut Suns. It was the team’s 11th loss in 12 games, a sad number any way you look at it. With just two games left to go in the season, the Mystics will have all winter to figure out how to do things right next year.

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