Skinny

The

Redskins Season Ticket Holder Newsletter

Table of
Contents
Page 1
Homegrown
Redskins
Page 2
Ryan Kerrigan
named
community MVP
Designated
Driver Program
leads the way
Page 3
Follow your
favorite
Redskins
Finals and
football: a
balancing act
Page 4
2015 NFL
Draft preview

Homegrown Redskins

Morgan Moses, Chase Minnifeld and Akeem Jordan keep their talent local

It is well known that players

from the Southern region of the
United States have long dominated
the football landscape; hundreds of
professional athletes emerge from its
college ranks each year. Despite the
mid-Atlantics lesser presence, the
Redskins roster boasts three players
who attend college in the DMV area,
including two Virginia natives.
Twenty-nine-year-old linebacker
Akeem Jordan, who was born and
raised in Virginia, played college
football at James Madison University
located in Harrisonburg. Jordan was
a member of JMUs FCS National
Championship team in 2004.
Twenty-five-year-old cornerback
Chase Minnifield who attended the
University of Virginia, a mere two and
a half hours away from FedEx Field,
joins him on the list of local players.
The 2014 third-round draft pick
Morgan Moses leads the trio. The
offensive tackle was born and raised
in Richmond. After an impressive high
school career, highlighted by a twotime all-state selection, Moses joined
the University of Virginia football
team where he earned third-team AllACC honors as a senior.

Upon graduation in 2014, Moses

was drafted 66th overall by the
Skins. He has since signed a four-year
contract and played five games with
the team.
I always wanted to be one of
those guys that set a precedent of
keeping that talent in Virginia, Moses
told Matt Conner of SB Nation in an
interview last February.
To be able to get a degree from
the University of Virginia and be able
to work out and achieve my dream to
play in the NFL is almost like a double
whammy. Its the best of both worlds.

Moses made himself stand out at graduation

by donning the Redskins logo on his cap |
Source: Instagram.com/morganmoses_76

Ryan Kerrigan named community MVP

T
h
e
S
k
i
n
n
y

NFLPA honors Kerrigan after successful Celebrity Waiter Night

FedEx Field
Photo by Lindsey Brown

Did You Know?

Over the past three years,
the Redskins have had
more designated drivers
register than any other
NFC East team.

In 2009, the NFL initiated the

Designated Driver Program to encourage
its fans to never drink and drive. All 32
teams, 31 stadiums, six concessionaries
and multiple beer distributors collaborated
to promote this message.
Printing the words Fans Dont
Let Fans Drive Drunk on all beer cups
distributed at NFL games kick-started
the campaign. The initiative has since
expanded to reward those fans who pledge
to stay sober by providing each registered
designated driver a coupon for a free soda.
Additionally, each year every designated
driver has the opportunity to win a trip to
the Super Bowl. Last year more than 14,000
Skins fans signed up. The NFL hopes to
reach a total of 200,000 registered fans
nationwide in its upcoming seasons.

This past September, the NFL Players Association

named offensive linebacker Ryan Kerrigan their
community MVP after a successful Celebrity Waiter
Night benefiting his Blitz for the Better Foundation.
On Sept. 18, Kerrigan and his teammates
exchanged their uniforms for aprons and served
more than 200 guests a three-course dinner at Ruths
Chris Steakhouse in Arlington, Va. Ryan Clark and
Alfred Morris highlighted the celebrity wait staff.
The event raised more than $100,000 for the
Blitz for the Better Foundation. The Pro Bowler
established his foundation in 2013 with a goal of
providing support and encouragement to seriously
ill, physically challenged, and special need children
and their families.
According to Allie Pisching, community relations
manager at the Redskins, Kerrigans foundation is,
very important to him and close to his heart.
In addition to recognizing Kerrigans charitable
work, the NFLPA also donated an undisclosed amount
to his foundation.
Kerrigans other community initiatives include
Ryans Reindeer Rush, Kerrigans Korner and Positive
IMPACT, all of which benefit DC and the surrounding
community.
Pisching said that getting involved with the
community is, the most important thing a player can
do in his role off of the field, and Kerrigans efforts
will set a precedent for younger players on the team.
Not only does the community benefit, but the
players benefit too.

Kerrigan shared this photo on Twitter after visiting Fox

News DC to discuss the Blitz for the Better Foundation and
his Celebrity Waiter Night event. | Source: Twitter.com/

Finals and football: a balancing act

Meet Ebonie Gibbons, Georgetown graduate student and full-time Redskins intern

Gibbs says her favorite part of the job is

working with the guest relations staff, which
she supervises as part of her responsibilities
as an intern | Photo courtesy of Ebonie Gibbs

In 2012, Ebonie Gibbs was a

junior in college cramming for the
LSAT. Her life-long goal of attending
law school and becoming a lawyer
seemed to be just an arms reach
away. Two and a half years later,
Gibbs has abandoned her desire to
practice law for a shot at making it
big in the sports industry.
While working toward a
bachelors degree in government
and international politics at George
Mason University, Gibbs worked for
the universitys recreation center,
a job that required her to travel to
different states to discuss recreation.
This first sparked her interest in the
sports industry, eventually leading
to a drastic change in her career.

Gibbs decided to put her dreams

of becoming a lawyer on hold to
pursue a career in sports. She
enrolled in the Sports Industry
Management masters program at
Georgetown University; a program
she said has immensely prepared her
for her position with the Redskins.
Georgetown has some of the
most qualified professors that
you could have, Gibbs said. This
program puts you right in front of
the professionals.
Just before starting classes
this fall, Gibbs got the call that she
would be joining the Redskins for
the season. Her reaction? I was
overly elated, Gibbs said, and even
confesses to jumping around in the
middle of her office.
Now Gibbs balances a full-time
internship and a full class schedule,
12 credits to be exact.
When it comes to working on
game days, Gibbs admits to it being
pretty hectic. However, she says the
chaos keeps thing interesting and
motivates her to work hard.
Gibbs sees herself staying in
the sports industry. She is focused
on pursuing a career in global
development, specifically, developing
youth through sports policy.
Gibbs remains focused on
completing her masters degree and
contributing as much as she can to
the Redskins organization.

Fast Fact:
The Redskins were originally known as the Braves
when they were located in Boston. Their name was
changed to the Boston Redskins in 1933 and the team
finally became known as the Washington Redskins
when they moved from Boston to D.C. in 1937.

Follow your
favorite Redskins
Photos via Twitter.com

Robert Griffin III

@RGIII

Pierre Garon
@PeirreGarcon

Brain Orakpo
@Rak98

Alfred Morris
@Trey_Deuces

Ryan Kerrigan
@RaynKerrigan91

Kirk Cousins
@KirkCousins8

2015 NFL Draft preview

Fan Poll: Which 2015 NFL Draft

Prospect Will Have the Biggest Splash
As a Rookie?

Quarterbacks Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota highlight

this years draft class.

This college football season has been a

whirlwind; trick plays, upsets, suspensions and
constant turnover in the rankings, not to mention
the new College Football Playoffs, which will feature
the four highest-ranked teams. This years round of
College Game Day, tailgates and school spirit will
come to a temporary end on January 12 when a new
national champion is crowned. The chaos of the
season may die down, but the lead up to the draft
will just be heating up.
This years draft class is led by Florida State
quarterback Jameis Winston. In 2013, Winston
led the Seminoles to a perfect 14-0 season before
defeating Auburn to claim the national title. Winston
didnt stop there; he went on to win the Heisman
Trophy, making him the youngest winner in the
history of the award. Winston is back this season in
Tallahassee leading the Seminoles to another superb
season. However, Wintons draft stock hasnt seen
as much success. A series of off-the-field incidents
caused general managers to shy away from drafting
Winston, especially due to the turbulence that some
NFL teams experienced this season.
You cant ignore [the off-field incidents], former
Cleveland Browns general manager Phil Savage told
Mark Maske of the Washington Post. But in terms of
just watching him on film and watching his skill set,
you can see it translating into the NFL very easily.
Leonard Williams, from the USC, and Shawn
Oakman, from Baylor University, both defensive
ends, join Winston on the list of top prospects.
Williams, a Florida native, has been a defensive
monster ever since he joined the Trojans. He has

Save the Date

2015 NFL Draft

April 30 - May 2
Chicago, Illinois

Other 12.4%
Leonard
Williams 24.2%

Shawn
Oakman 4.8%
Marcus
Mariota 48.6%

1,884 fans were polled and nearly half of them think

Marcus Mariota will be the rookie to watch next year.
This year at the University of Oregon, Mariota has a
completion percentage of nearly 70 percent and a QB
rating of 184.6. | Survey conducted by bleacherreport.
com, inforgraphic created by Lindsey Brown

nearly 140 tackles, including 14 sacks, in 22 career

starts. Oakman boasts similar accomplishments; the
All-Big 12 player has six sacks this season and 12.5
tackles for a loss. Both defensive ends are expected
to be selected in the first round.
University of Oregon quarterback Marcus
Mariota rounds out the top prospects. The Heisman
hopeful, and potential first-overall pick, has already
completed 186 passes this season for the highly
ranked Ducks. NFL media analyst Charles Davis
suggests that Mariota even resembles a college-age
Robert Griffin III.
Theres no doubt in my mind that Mariota could
be the drafts number one pick, writes Davis. There
arent many people who dont believe hes going to
adapt and thrive.
Local prospects include running back Kevin Parks
from the University of Virginia and wide receiver
Stefon Diggs from the University of Maryland.

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