The Official Blog of Chris Cooley

Mike Green Geico Shoot

2009-11-24T13:38:00.001-05:00

Dallas At Home

2009-11-22T12:16:00.004-05:00

I have an amazing feeling of humility this morning as I'm crashed on my couch, plastic boot strapped tightly to my foot, crutches at my side. I feel almost ashamed to be four footing my ritualistic goalpost game to Yoder, but at the same time I'll have to control my anxiety, trading in my helmet for a barbecue sandwich and a beer.

What I can say, even from my couch is this is a game we can definitely win. While Dallas may like to downplay the gravity of this rivalry, there will be no denying that we will show up to play. Plus, with a refreshed mo hawk, Yoder is primed to continue his red zone prominence.

Although it's been surreal being separated from the guys this week, my heart is with the Skins in Dallas this week and I will be ready to celebrate when we get home.

Picks of the Week

2009-11-20T11:48:00.000-05:00

Art Show CANCELED

2009-11-18T16:29:00.004-05:00

I'm sorry to have to say that we will not be able to continue with the art show. I was thrilled with the idea of donating all my pieces of art to charity, as well as having a fun night for all who wanted to join me. Unfortunatly, there was not much interest in the event. With less than two weeks to go, our guest list has barely surpassed 20 people. Without two or three hundred people attending I will not be able to cover the cost of everything as well as generate any money to donate. Again, I'm sorry I didn't do a better job of getting the word out and selling tickets, but I tried and it just isn't going to happen right now.

I would really like to thank all the different media sources supporting me for the event. Everyone I've worked with has been extremely helpful and I really appreciate it. Special thanks to the Ritz in Tysons Corner for putting up with all my shannagans, you guys have been great to work with and it means a ton. I would also like to say thanks again to Jordana and BJ with the Redskins for working so well with me. You guys are amazing!

Finally, I would love to have this event be a success in the future. I'm not sure if it was bad timing or what, so I will try again for this event some time next year. :(

Post Game vs Broncos

2009-11-16T20:20:00.001-05:00

Chatting with U.S. Troops in Iraq

2009-11-14T11:02:00.007-05:00

By Jilane Rodgers
Video By Chad Kurz
NFLPLAYERS.COMIn recognition of Veterans Day, the NFL Players Association opened its doors Tuesday to guests from Walter Reed Army Medical Center, members of the Tuskegee Airmen and senior military officials. Hosting the event to honor those in the Armed Services were Executive Director DeMaurice Smith, Washington Redskins Rock Cartwright, Chris Cooley, Phillip Daniels, Fred Smoot and Renaldo Wynn, and former players John Booty and Carl Kammerer.

The day’s activities kicked off with an Internet videoconference between the players and members of Team Shadow, a Military Transition Team (MiTT) outside Kirkuk, Iraq. The 20-minute conversation covered everyday topics from food and family to specifics of the troops’ experiences overseas, including climate conditions and interactions with locals.

“I feel like we could have all gone out as a group,” Cooley said. “They’re great guys that would be easy to talk to, easy to hang out with. They’re in such a different world, and we can all still relate.”

Members of a MiTT are usually senior members of their respective branch who bring a variety of experiences and skills to the table, and the teams advise Iraqi and Afghan security forces on the skills which will aid them in protecting their respective country after U.S. forces leave. Participating from Team Shadow were Cpt. Randolph Bueno (Infantry Officer), Sgt. Jamal Cunningham (Communications Sergeant), Cpt. Matthew Nelson (Engineer Officer), Cpt. Heath Mullins (Logistics Officer) Cpt. Michael Pachucki (Logistics Officer) and Ssg. Craig Showman (Maintenance Sergeant).

“We’re talking about guys, about fellas, relating and having fun,” Smoot said. “We all understand the importance of teamwork. We both go to battles even though they’re totally different battles. We understand what they go through, being away from their families. Just to get to talk to them live when they’re out there was a blessing for us.”

After some banter as to which side would win in a head-to-head matchup of Madden NFL 10, the players pledged to ship consoles and copies of the game to the base in hopes of eventually staging a real showdown. Team Shadow’s Pachucki, a lifelong Redskins fan, was given another treat, as his fiancé surprised him on the NFLPA’s side of the video conference call. A few hours later, Pachucki sent an e-mail to friends and family detailing the experience as “one of the greatest of my life.”

After the call concluded, the players joined up with Smith, Booty, Kammerer and other NFLPA executives for a luncheon in the Garvey Center to honor the Armed Services attendees. Smith, whose father served in the Marines and was present for the activities, welcomed the groups and thanked them for their service.

Smith said, “On behalf of the NFLPA and all of our players, we are grateful for your service and your sacrifices. We are honored to welcome the Tuskegee Airmen as well as these men and women from Walter Reed, and we thank you for being here with us today. We hope that you know this praise is deserved year-round, but it is special for us to have the opportunity to express our gratitude to you this Veterans Day.”

The veterans in attendance ranged from those recently serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom to those who first took to the air nearly seven decades ago. The Tuskegee Airmen flew the 332nd Fighter Group of the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II, becoming the United States’ first African-American military pilots. Three of the original fighter pilots were present at Tuesday’s function.

“We come for the wounded warriors,” said James Pryde, a former radio operator with the Tuskegee Airmen. He eventually joined the National Security Agency in 1950 and worked in the signals analysis section, becoming the chief of a Soviet analysis office in 1965. In 1978, Pryde was named the Director of the Defense Special Missile and Astronautic Center. “I’ve seen lots of Veterans Days and I hope to see a lot more,” he added. “I’m from the old school; I still have my leather helmet.”The day’s surprises didn’t end with the video conference call, however, as Cooley sat down to face off against Army veterans in Madden NFL 10 – often passing to himself – much to the delight of those who were watching the game. Then, Sfc. Timothy Wysong, an Indianapolis Colts fan currently recovering at Walter Reed, received an unexpected call.

“I got to talk to Jeff Saturday,” Wysong said. “I’m a big fan. He asked how I got hurt and told me how he had a lot of family in the military. He wanted to wish me a Happy Veterans Day.”

At the NFLPA and across the country, NFL players videotaped personal messages to overseas troops, which will go live on NFLPLAYERS.COM on Nov. 11.

“Any time you can respect the brotherhood of other people doing positive things, it’s a good day,” Daniels said. “We have fans all over the world. They’re our fans, but we’re their fans, as well. I’m probably more of a fan of them than they are of me. I know without them, this country couldn’t survive.”

Additionally, the NFLPA facilitated participation in the Support a Solider program. Nearly 100 players sent personalized e-mails to members of the Airmen representing the 844th Communications Group (Air Force), the United States Marine Corps and the U.S. Army.

“We come together and celebrate with them in a luncheon so they can see some of their heroes, but they are the real true heroes,” Booty said. “Veterans Day means respect. The single word is respect. Respect the veterans who have done it, who are doing it and just salute them.”

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTO GALLERY

Picks of the Week

2009-11-13T13:34:00.007-05:00

Picks of the week are finally back. As always, we try and make this interesting by having a few guests pick with us. Last week, I told Larry Michael that if I beat him in picks of the week that I would host the show. Since we tied, we are re-doing the competition this week. If I win, Colt and I will host the show next Friday. So for the picks this week, it is Colt and I vs Larry. Send us your picks to cooleyfans@gmail.com If there are any perfect guesses, we will send out autographed mini helmets.

And don't forget that tonight I am going to be guest bar tending at Skye Lounge in DC. I am going to donate all the money we make from this to my education fund that is set up with the Redskins charitable foundation so know that it is going to a good cause. The cost is $75 dollars per person, but once you are in the door it covers all your drinks. It should be a good time so please come out and join us.

You can get your tickets HERE.

The Mullet is a Lifestyle

2009-11-12T06:00:00.000-05:00

Found this little gem on the NFL page and it reminded me of a funny moment in my life. Jared Allen has been a fantastic teammate of mine the last two years in Hawaii and it has been a pleasure spending a couple weeks around such a lifestyle. It’s also probably best for me that he lives 1000 miles away from me, as his mullet bravado is addictive.

Last February I sat with beer in hand around a second rate Hawaii hotel table celebrating a personal feat of nothingness in a NFC victory in the Pro Bowl. (I was the only player without a stat, well, I had 1 drop if that counts.) I couldn’t have been happier as I sat with the motley connection of Jared and my friends and family. We ate, drank and laughed, and while the night continued on, it seemed no one existed around us.

What we began to notice through the debauchery was that there was other people were around us and our party may have been somewhat of a show. Maybe not so much myself, but Jared seemed concerned with the onlookers. Before anyone could say anything a ketchup bottle had left Jared’s hand and was on a direct course to the adjacent table. This wasn’t your average paper plane like lob, the bottle, although a little wobbly, was on a line drive trajectory. Sooner than Jared’s movements caught the eye of anyone at the other table the red bottle drove into the back of the biggest guys head, shocking him forward and then to his feet.

Now in my opinion the struck man’s analysis of the situation was telling him it was best to sit back down as he quickly noticed Jared’s willingness to throw down worn directly on the back of his head. From that moment on I have never questioned the power of the mullet. Now as I watch the wild-man rope tying imaginary cows multiple times every Sunday I couldn’t have more respect for anyone else playing the game. Jared Allen is an awesome football player, one of the coolest guys I’ve hung out with and more importantly, he is a complete badass.

Veterans Day NFLPA Video

2009-11-11T13:49:00.002-05:00

Art Show Press Release

2009-11-11T08:26:00.000-05:00

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA – Washington Redskins All-Pro Tight End Chris Cooley will auction artwork to raise funds for education at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner on Monday, November 30, 2009 from 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm. Cooley, an art major at Utah State University, will auction his own original paintings, drawings, and pottery to raise funds for underserved students through the Chris Cooley Education Fund. A general admission ticket to the Chris Cooley Art Show is $100.00/individual. A VIP admission ticket to the show is $300.00/individual. To reserve your ticket to this inaugural event, visit www.Redskins.com/community or www.cooleycharity.blogspot.com to download a registration form.

Established in 2008, the Cooley Education Fund provides college scholarships to low-income, high-potential high school seniors throughout the greater Washington, DC region. In its inaugural year, the fund provided eight students each with college scholarship worth $25,000.00. These bright and dedicated students now have the opportunity to pursue a higher education and reach the goals they have set for themselves.

During his time in Washington, Cooley has created a gallery full of artwork including over 20 paintings and 25 pieces of pottery. The art show will feature pieces that are available for sale as well as auction to provide guests not only with a wide-variety of artwork, but also a broad-range of prices.

In addition to the artwork, Cooley’s teammates and coaches will support his cause by donating and auctioning a variety of Redskins memorabilia, including autographed jerseys, footballs, and helmets.

“Every single dollar raised from selling my art will be donated back to the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation; subsequently going into my education fund and scholarships to underprivileged kids,” says Cooley. “I thought doing something I love and am interested in would be so much more real for the public.”

The general admission ticket ($100.00/individual) includes entry into the event, heavy hors d'oeuvres, and an open beer and wine bar. The VIP admission ticket ($300.00/individual) includes all amenities included in the general admission price as well as entry into a private VIP reception with Chris Cooley and other Redskins players (5:30 pm – 6:30 pm) and a football autographed by Cooley and all Redskins players in attendance at the event. Visit www.Redskins.com/community or www.cooleycharity.blogspot.com to reserve your ticket today! Tickets are tax-deductible.

The Chris Cooley Education Fund is another initiative developed and funded by Cooley and implemented with the assistance of the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation and Community Relations Department. In July 2008, Cooley invited nearly two dozen little fans battling big diseases to a special Training Camp practice where he surprised them each with a duffel bag full of gifts, including a handheld game system, games, and Redskins memorabilia as well as the quality time with the entire Redskins team. In September of this year, Cooley, along with teammate Derrick Dockery, hosted the second annual All Star Survivors Luncheon for approximately 20 women currently battling breast cancer at Redskins Park to provide them a day of pampering that included lunch, a player-led tour, and a new wig, scarf, turban, bag of makeup, and pair of jeans along with tickets to the Redskins vs. Buccaneers game where the women stood beside the Redskins cheerleaders to welcome the players onto the field.

The college scholarships, administered by the DC College Success Foundation (www.dccollegesuccessfoundation.org), will provide one deserving student at each of the 8 schools Cooley visits with a college scholarship that will be disbursed in $5,000 increments annually. The DC College Success Foundation has established a strong working scholarship model that places scholarship recipients in a mentoring program that requires the student to work with a mentor during their freshman year to help ensure success.

Wired Up: Chris Cooley Part 2

2009-11-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Special thanks to Rebecca Mejia for the video.

More Pottery

2009-11-03T19:42:00.003-05:00

I thought I was spending a lot of time making pots before I broke my ankle. Now, it is consuming me. All for a good cause though. Remember that we are hosting the art show on November 30. Get your tickets if you haven't already HERE

View more news videos at: http://www.nbcwashington.com/video.

FP: How To Fill The Time Part 2

2009-10-29T21:22:00.006-04:00

I think the operation went quite well Mr. Cooley

I’d like to wish Chris a smooth and fast recovery over the next few weeks. Judging from the video, he's got a lot of free time on his hands so I compiled a list of things he can do to keep himself busy. I personally will be busy getting a massage, eating sushi at Nobu and playing 3 card poker at the Atlantis in the Bahamas. Oh well, that’s not as fun as some of the things on this list. We’d love to hear your ideas for how to keep Chris busy over the next 4 weeks…leave your suggestions in the comments section (and we are well aware that concentrating on football and getting healthy are a couple of things to do, but this is supposed to be fun…so have fun.)

10) Become the Redskins “extra, extra set of eyes.”

9) Dye the carpet to match the blinds.

8) Play “You're it, quitsies!” with Tanner for hours on end.

7) Catch up on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”

6) Develop a drinking problem.

5) Replay 87 Super Bowl (Skins 42 Broncos 10) over & over on Madden. Maybe the
Broncos will win one.

4) Re-create classic Beavis & Butthead scenes with fellow couch potato Colt Brennan.

3) Sing Air Supply and Supertramp songs karaoke style with Yodes (good luck getting Goodbye Stranger out of your heads for the rest of the day...haha.)

2) Remind Nurse Christy after daily sponge bath that the doctor said beer and whiskey are the best medicine for a broken ankle.

1) Blog!

Thanks to Porkboy for his input on the list.

Cheers and Hail

How to Fill the Time

2009-10-29T17:50:00.001-04:00

And I really want to say thanks to Z for coming. It was fun to have him there and great to know that he cares.

TC: Surgery Day

2009-10-28T17:48:00.006-04:00

Surgery day started today at 4:00 am. The long rainy drive to Mercy Medical center in Baltimore was a somber one. Prior to EITM, we were forced to surf the channels while listening to the sound of rain hitting the windshield. The trip seemed endless.

Once we finally arrived at the hospital, Chris was immediately whisked away in a wheelchair so he could strip out of his street clothes and into a hospital gown. While Christy and I waited, we ran into a familiar face in the lobby. Coach Zorn, dressed in a sports jacket and sneakers, kindly greeted us and asked how Chris was feeling going into all of this. We told him he was nervous for his first surgery and chatted for a few minutes until we got the okay to go into his room. As soon as we did, Dr. Myerson grabbed Z to get him into his scrubs and ready to watch.

As the two left the room, the nurse came to prep Chris for the trip under. Sans one snag in preparation, which was between the nurse's lab coat and Chris's broken foot, the prep was flawless. As the IV began dripping, Z and Dr. Myerson came back into the room and the doc explained to all of us what would happen while Chris was under.

The explanation was that Chris would need 5 tiny punctures in the ankle to place the three hollow screws through his fractured tibia. Two on the outside of the foot to anchor the clamp that would compress the fracture and the other three on the inside for the screws. Then he said the entire thing would last anywhere between 30-60 minutes and that was that. As we watched them wheel Chris through the mechanical double doors I had full confidence that he was in great hands.

Before heading to the cafeteria for some breakfast, Christy gave the nurse her cell phone number so they could call us when he was all done. Waiting for things like this is always the worst. You never know when you will hit the threshold between nervous worry, and complete boredom. Fortunately as soon as we were about to hit the point, the phone rang.

We hurried back downstairs and met up with the doctor, and Zorn. Chris was still trying to wake up. Dr. Myerson gave us the good news that the surgery went exactly as planned and that Chris would be just fine. He showed us the x-ray and again explained what he had done.After that the the nurse took us back to see him while they were trying to wake him up. And this is what we saw...The best part of being around someone waking up from surgery is that you get to hear the greatest unfiltered thoughts of said person. I can't say everything that was said, but I can say the best thing. Chris told the snag nurse that he would never forgive her for what she did, she asked what she could do to make up for it.

"I wanna hold you down and twist your ankle!"

I will never know if it is good or bad to have absolutely no barriers between what is thought and what is said but it did made for an amazing 20 minutes. After which, Chris became more alert and Christy helped him get dressed.

Two of us left the hospital exactly as we came with a slightly goofier Chris. As soon as we got to the car he couldn't wait to tell someone. So he did. And if you want, you can listen to that conversation HERE it is a classic.

TC: Injury Report

2009-10-27T18:41:00.005-04:00

After a very long night and day for Chris that was filled with pain, doctor visits, and x-rays, the medical staff has decided the best option for Chris to have a speedy recovery is to place a few pins in his fractured ankle. This was information that I learned after receiving a call from Chris as he was leaving the doctor. Figuring that there were few other people that were privy to this information, I told Chris he should tweet the news. Before we hung up the phone, I was already getting texts from the local media asking me about the news coming from twitter. I thought, "Wow, that was quick." Oddly enough however, it wasn't Chris that put out the news, it was Adam Schefter! Bringing me to my main question: How do you get scooped on your own injury report?

All kidding aside, Chris is ready to get this thing taken care of. In his six years in the NFL he has never missed a game and has only missed two practices due to injury. A pretty impressive resume if you ask me. Injuries are shitty in general and this one, though it is minor, is no exception.

I will try and update the blog tomorrow informing you all of Chris's progress. Thanks to those who have already sent warm wishes and those who will do so in the future. It means the world to Chris to know he has the fan's support.

E:60

2009-10-22T08:34:00.003-04:00

More after the jump

Interview courtesy Matt Terl

On Friday, I mentioned that the E:60 piece on Chris Cooley -- which he talked about on his blog when it was filmed in July -- would be airing tonight (7:00 eastern, sports fans!). And roughly since I posted that, I've been trying to get in touch with with ESPN's Rachel Nichols to ask her about working with Cooley. We tried to set something up for the weekend, but things got hectic during and after the game, and I had to reschedule because I couldn't clear the time.

When we finally caught up by phone yesterday, Nichols was completely understanding and said something about knowing how busy things must've been. And that's when I felt terrible, because I had used the hectic schedule of one football-drama-filled day as an excuse to reschedule a quick talk with someone who had been forced to follow the ENTIRE WEEKS-LONG BRETT FAVRE DRAMA in person from city to city.

This is roughly analogous to me complaining about a flat tire to someone whose entire home has caught fire, burned to the ground, had the ruins swallowed by an earthquake -- and then had their insurance claim denied. So I felt kind of bad about that.

But Nichols was perfectly forgiving, and more than happy to talk about a project she's obviously proud of.

Give me the background on the Chris Cooley piece. What can people expect to see?

RACHEL NICHOLS: "It's just a really fun story -- which is no surprise because Chris is a fun guy, and it was also cool to get to know some of the other people in his life. His wife Christy is totally funny and sweet, his brother Tanner is a trip ... you know, it's not a surprise that the people around Chris also are smart and funny, and certainly know how to have a good time.

"It's always interesting when we do these pieces: because they're more in-depth, you get to know some of these people around the athletes, and in this case it's not only Chris, but also his wife, his brother, his mother Nancy."

How well did you know Chris before you did this piece?

RN: "Not well. Not well at all. We had met a couple of times. I was at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii this past year and had approached him after a practice and said, 'Hey, we'd like to do this piece on you.' And he was pretty funny a few months later, remarking that he's in a room full of people that included all the other Pro Bowlers, and he says that he was laughing at the idea that someone would come over and want to do a big piece on him.

"But we did, because he's definitely a unique personality, and that's one of the things we're trying to capture on this show. Not necessarily, you know, the guy with the most records or yards or anything like that, but someone who's a unique personality and character, someone that fans want to watch both on the field and off the field. And Chris is definitely that."

I think people who live in the area get a lot of the sense of his personality, because of the blog and everything else that goes with it, so what was the biggest surprise for you talking to him.

RN: "Just how genuine he is. I mean, certainly there are a lot of things that he jokes around about, and there's no doubt that he likes to play practical jokes and things like that. But we've been saying internally about this piece that he's 'The Pro Bowler Next Door,' and in a lot of ways that's sort of what we found when we started reporting out the piece.

"And I think that is the thing that appeals to so many people on his blog. I mean, people in the crew kept saying how this this could be one of their buddies or neighbors or something, that he didn't feel like some big mega-star athlete, but like someone you could know. The guy next door, someone in your group of friends."

Do you think that he's legitimately like that, or is this some kind of elaborate meta thing?

RN: "I don't think that anybody is able to put on that much of a show for the amount of his life that he broadcasts over the internet. I think that you'd have to be exhausted if you had to act that much. So I think that it's pretty genuinely Chris.

"I think there's no doubt that he knows how to play to the camera, but I think that that's part of his personality as well, that that's genuinely who he is as well. I'm sure that whether he's playing to camera that 's gonna go to millions of people on ESPN or a camera that's gonna be home movies that won't even be on the internet for his future children to see, he knows how to do that. So I think that's just Chris. That's just who is."

Now, you wound up on Chris's blog because you were doing a piece about the blog.

RN: "I did."

Did you know that was gonna happen?

RN: "I didn't; I wasn't surprised, though."

How did you react?

RN: "I was fine with it. I mean, I had a lot of genuine respect for Chris -- and Tanner and Christy -- as I went through reporting this piece, and really enjoyed getting to know all three of them and felt like, 'Wow, this is genuinely interesting, what's happening here and how they're communicating with the fans.'

"And Tanner's the one who does Chris's blog, so he's pretty involved in that as well. And I found what they were doing legitimately interesting, so I felt like whatever happened as a result of that, I was okay with."

You're as big mainstream media as you can get -- ESPN, doing these features -- and they're athletes talking directly to the fans. Are you worried that they're going to cut you out of the whole thing? Are they gonna make you irrelevant?

RN: "No, I don't think so. I think anything that takes down the walls between athletes and the people who watch them is a good thing. Because that's what we try to do as well, to take down that wall that's naturally there by the fact that they're on the field and the rest of us are off it.

"But what we do in the media, and what I try to do every time I go do a report, is to try to get people watching as inside as possible, and to get them to know things as much as possible and to see what it actually feels to be there as much as possible. And if there's someone who's gonna help me do that, if athletes are gonna take it upon themselves to help in that effort, I'm thrilled."

Are you on Twitter?

RN: "I am. I use Twitter in my work. I mean, I don't really Twitter personal stuff, and -- I think with athletes, people are legitimately interested in some of the mundane details of their lives. With me, nobody is interested in the mundane details of my life, what I had for lunch that day or anything else. But I like to, when I'm on a shoot, talk about what we're doing.

"I posted several tweets during the Chris Cooley shoot: I had never been to Wyoming before, and we went out and shot some stuff at his ranch in Wyoming, so I put up a few pictures from there, just what it was like to be out there, some funny stories, that kind of thing.

"We did a story on E:60 a couple weeks ago that was a story on Adrian Peterson, and when we were setting up the shoot for the opening of the piece -- this very dramatic shoot -- I took a few pictures while we were in the middle of doing it and posted them on Twitter so people could get the behind-the-scenes.

"Again, for me, it's the same thing: just anything that takes that wall down is a good thing,. Because it's the thing I like the most about sports: getting that feeling of what it's like to actually be on the field. And if I can communicate that to someone else, then I feel like that's why I'm doing my job."

And is that your approach to your E:60 pieces?

RN: "I think so. I think that's what's so great about this show. It does a really, really nice job of telling you the story that, you know, you might already have heard about an athlete. Like with Chris Cooley: most people hwo follow him even remotely know that he has a blog, so we're not gonna be telling you something new there. But we may take you a little more in-depth about what that's all about -- why it started, how they do it, maybe highlight some of the funnier things that he's had on in case you hadn't personally had time to follow it all -- and then a little bit more about his life, too. Like, hey, here's his ranch in Wyoming where he spends part of his year. And I don't think everyone knows that Chris was an art major in college and he's a very avid painter, and showing you some of what his artwork is like.

"Just things a bit more in depth about people you might be interested in, and that's what I think is fun with this piece. With Chris, he did a lot of the work for us, because he's just so entertaining."

The Redskins season has ... well, not been ideal hasn't been ideal, from our perspective. Does that help the story? Hurt it? Not affect it?

RN: "With the piece, I don't think it affects it one way or the other. Our piece about Chris is not really about his play on the field or the team's play on the field. We've done other pieces that involve more how someone's doing on the field; this is one that's pretty strongly away from the field.

"So, sure, if the Redskins were the number one team in the league and they were undefeated and people were incredibly interested in everything that has to do with the Redskins, I imagine more people might tune in to this, but in general, it's not really gonna affect it one way or the other.

"I think that if you're interested in an entertaining, unique athlete, you're gonna want to watch the Chris Cooley piece, and how the Redskins are doing on the field isn't really gonna factor in one way or the other."

E:60 airs tonight at 7:00 eastern, and probably two dozen other times throughout the week. I recommend the ESPN TV programming guide for finding it. It's followed by a new 30 For 30 documentary, which should also be pretty entertaining.

Interviewing the Caps

2009-10-16T10:50:00.003-04:00

Credit Paul Hourigan for creative advice.

SportsBog: Green and Backstrom Interview Skins

2009-10-05T11:18:00.008-04:00

Following the video one of our favorite sports writers, Dan Steinberg, was kind enough to share his write up with us. Thanks Dan.

"Wins are wins, man," Shaun Suisham told Mike Green and Nicklas Backstrom after he had helped punt and kick the Redskins to that 16-13 home victory. "It's exciting. Different from you guys, we only play once a week, we only play 16 games. So every win is crucial. So it sure isn't pretty, but man, it's a win."

Green and Backstrom were in the Redskins' locker room as media members for Comcast SportsNet, so they continued to ask questions of Suisham, a Canadian and hockey fan.

"What was your technique tonight with the kicks?" Green asked. "I mean, you were on tonight."

"With the punting?" Suisham replied. "You know, Hunter [Smith] just couldn't go. When you get out there and play someone else's position--like if you had to play goalie or something--it gives you a lot more respect for what they do, when you have to go out on the field and do it."

(Could Green play goalie? "No," he said, "no no no. To play another position? Night and day.")

(As for Alex Ovechkin, I didn't see or talk to him, but apparently he was kicking field goals before the game. Read more on The Skins Blog.)

The hockey-playing duo eventually moved on to different players; I asked Green what the key question of the afternoon should be.
"if I could ask one question?" he repeated. "What are you guys doing tonight, and can I come? That's basically it."

They moved on to Clinton Portis, which was a pretty big get.

"I just wanted to ask you, how did it feel after this win?" Backstrom asked.

"It felt great, especially seeing the team overcome all the turnovers," Portis said. "You know, we continued to fight. I think we fought as a team."

"How about the future?" Backstrom continued. "How do you feel about the future?"

"I think we feel good man," Portis said. "We've got to take it one game at a time. You know, the biggest thing that happened today was for Jason to see that despite what he do, everybody got his back. We continued to fight with him and he can go out and lead this team. Instead of being down if something go wrong...I think he seen today, four turnovers, nobody gave up on him, everybody believe in him, and I think we came together as a team."

(And when will Portis Rock the Red in person? "Next home game," he said. "When's y'all next home game?"

"Thursday," Green said.

"I'll be there," Portis promised.)

Eventually, though, the mics turned back on Green and Backstrom, and they were forced to answer questions. Like, here was Backstrom, on his choice of a Sean Taylor jersey.

"Actually, I got Ovie's," Backstrom said. "I was sleeping over at Ovie's house [Saturday] night, so I just got his jersey. I usually wear Santana Moss. He's a catcher, right?"

And here was Green, when asked his feelings about American football.

"You know what, before I came here, we have the CFL, but I came to a game like this, it's night and day," he said. "So this is my team now."

"It's so small in Sweden," Backstrom said. "First time I went was last year. I just loved it. I was a Redskins fan, like, right away. It's unbelievable, to be here, 90,000 people. And to see the Redskins win, I mean, it's great. It's something you look forward to....I love Redskins, I'm a Redskins fan. So it's good for the team and good for the city, I think, that we cheer for each other."

At least six fans I met were wearing Caps gear and no Redskins stuff as a sign of protest, and tens of thousands booed the team at some point on Sunday. Not Green, though.

"I'm an athlete, so I know what it's like to be booed when things don't go well," he said. "You know, it's not one guy's fault, they're booing the team. But they pulled through, that's all that matters."

Chris on ESPN First Take

2009-10-01T13:05:00.004-04:00

This morning Chris joined Jay Crawford on ESPN's First Take. Props to them for promoting our fan photo contest. The poll, which has nearly 50,000 votes, ends Saturday. We said we would do the 2nd part of this contest last week, but wanted to wait for the first half to finish up. So those of you who sent photos in, look for the finalists this weekend. Thanks!

Putting on a Game Face to Tackle Cancer

2009-09-30T11:12:00.005-04:00

by Roxanne Roberts from The Reliable Source

Photos by Ned Dishman

Tanya Snyder always kept a low profile: The wife of Redskins owner Dan Snyder hasn't had much of a public persona, hardly ever got in front of a microphone.

But that was before she got breast cancer. Tanya Snyder, 47, just agreed to become an NFL national spokeswoman, talking up the cause to football fans. "I have to speak out about this through the NFL and reach as many people as possible," she said Tuesday at a luncheon for cancer patients at Redskins Park. "It's a great opportunity."

The elegant blonde received the diagnosis last year, five years after her mother battled the disease and two months after her own annual mammogram came back normal. Snyder said she found an undetected lump ("I just knew something was wrong") and persisted until doctors found Stage 1 cancer. After multiple surgeries, Snyder said she's "as healthy as I've ever been." Her message: "Pay attention to yourself. Put yourself on the calendar. This is something that's treatable."

Snyder spent the day with 20 local women fighting breast cancer who were invited for pampering -- lunch with players and wives, and gifts of wigs, makeup and jeans. "Today is about you," said guard Derrick Dockery, who hosted the event on the team's day off with wife Emma and tight end Chris Cooley and his wife, Christy.

Dockery's mom, Sheila, is a breast cancer survivor, his mother-in-law died from the disease, and Cooley's mom, Nancy, received her diagnosis last year. When her hair began falling out from chemo treatments, she asked Cooley to buzz the rest. "It was really emotional," he told us. "It made it more real than it already was." After a double mastectomy, she's in remission and doing well, he said.

To raise awareness, Tanya Snyder has asked players to wear something pink for Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. (Cooley will sport pink shoes and gloves.) The ladies at the luncheon were surprised with tickets and pink-and-burgundy jerseys. They'll appear on FedEx Field as the players emerge for introductions before the crowd.

"If you want to draw red-zone plays and leave them on the board..." Cooley joked to his guests. "Have a blast."

For more go HERE and HERE

TC: Post Game Press

2009-09-28T16:50:00.002-04:00

Zorn's press conference

Chris's press conference

Picks of the Week 3

2009-09-27T10:46:00.000-04:00

Sorry we missed out on the picks last week. We had a large crowd in town for the game and really we just slackers. Anyway, we are still looking for someone to pick 100 percent so we can send out some mini helmets. We will take any and all picks for this week as long as they are in by half time of the Redskins game. (cooleyfans@gmail.com)

Also, we have a very special guest in our pick em challenge. Ryan Zimmerman joins us for the fun. Hopefully we can get him on board as a regular.

Good luck and thanks for sending your picks!

And don't forget to tune into NFL RedZone on DISH Network this Sunday to see us play the Lions. You'll get all the action from the game in HD

The Redskins Rap

2009-09-25T11:16:00.001-04:00

Photo Contest Finalists Part 1

2009-09-23T23:39:00.008-04:00

Like we said in the initial blog about the photo contest. In order to win the game worn jersey, you had to have purchased items from our online stores. We are going to allow the fans to vote on the 15 finalists we have selected. This was a very tough process and want to thank everyone who submitted a photo. Please vote for your favorite at the bottom of this post. The contestants are numbered from top to bottom from 1 - 15. Good luck! Part 2 of the contest will be posted over the weekend.

#1
This guy actually bought a shirt and it wouldn't make it in time so he sent us his receipt and this photo. Since he's from Canada we cut him some slack.

#2
Anyone wearing the shirt on the job (and a dangerous job at that) was definitely considered. Thanks for fighting fires in your Cooley gear.

#3
In Afghanistan with a Life Coach shirt, a Riggens jersey, and Redskins logo painter on the helicopter. Deserved finalist for sure

#4
This one made it for multiple reasons. 1. She is adorable 2. She has both a hoodie and a hat. Double score.

#5
Location was one of the requirement along with creativity. These two are on the 103 floor of the Sears Tower.

#6
Gotta love the creativity here. Wearing the shirt is a must when placing the Dallas helmet where it belongs.

#7
Made the contest for multiple reasons as well. 1. Location. Which I believe was the Kenny Chesney concert. 2. She sent in photos in a different life coach hoodie which means she owns 3 Cooley originals.

#8
A couple holding a shoe...They are super creative or not at all. Either way, they look great in the gear.

#9
Another submission from someone serving this fine country. Not only is he wearing the Life Coach shirt, he is hundreds of feet above ground in a helicopter.

#10
Redskins fans in Dallas that Hate Dallas. I love this family and they deserve to be finalists.

#11
This guy is currently at the U.S. Naval Academy and "snuck" out one night to take this picture on the statue of his mascot, Bill "The Goat" while the M.P.'s weren't looking. Risky because he has now exposed his crime.

#12
Cooley fan in CC47 gear at a different stadium with a sign. Meets all the requirements of the contest. Location and creativity.

#13
If they win the prize will go to the girl in the middle considering she's the only one in Cooley gear. Either way, this is very creative and they are at the Jimmy Buffet concert.

#14
Direct quote from him "Throughout the day I must have been stopped atleast 500 times. I posed for pictures with random people, slapped high fives, and had people yell that they too hate Dallas. I had fans of other teams approach me to tell me they hated Dallas too. Best part was all the free beer that I got walking around from tailgate to tailgate in the lots!!" Finalist for sure.

#15
Last but not least, the family of Cooley fans. They have anything and everything Cooley. Shirts, jerseys, bobble heads, and playing cards. They have more stuff than they can wear so they have to hold it up. Get work.

After reading the stories and seeing the pics, please make your choice wisely. Here's what the winners will get.
1st Game Worn Cooley Jersey
2nd Game Worn Cooley Cleats
3rd Game Worn Cooley Gloves
4th Autographed 16x20 photo
5th Autographed 8x10 photo

poll by twiigs.com