NFL To Ease Television 'Blackout' Rules, According To Report

Redskins Minicamp: Mike Shanahan Cancels Thursday Afternoon's Scheduled Practice

Day 3 of the Washington Redskins' mandatory veteran minicamp will not involve any actual practice, according to head coach Mike Shanahan.

Tomorrow, what we're going to do is when the players get in, they'll get in around 7:30-8 a.m., we'll work out until about 9 a.m. and we'll run and we'll lift. Then, we'll have a couple hours of film, but we're not going to practice tomorrow afternoon. We're a little banged up. We've done a heck of a job throughout the offseason, all these OTA's. Tomorrow will be more of a workout, running and lifting, more of a meeting, but we won't go through what we did today.

So, that wraps up all Redskins offseason activities until training camp begins in late July. Here's what else came out on Wednesday afternoon.

• Chris Cooley (hamstring) and Leonard Hankerson (hip surgery) should be ready to go full speed on Day 1 of training camp. Shanahan does not believe anyone will need to be held out of the first day of training camp.
• Santana Moss has lost between 10 and 15 pounds this offseason. "To me, he looks like what he looked like three years ago," Shanahan said.
• Kyle Shanahan on the free agent pursuit of Pierre Garcon: "I just through without a doubt that he was the best wide-out available."
• Kory Lichtensteiger ( rocovering from torn ACL) hasn't participated in offseason activities. Josh Morgan (recovering from broken leg) hasn't been "full-go" in OTAs, according to Kyle Shanahan.
• Kyle Shanahan also called Trent Williams "one of the most talented players I've ever been around."
• Defensive backs coach Raheem Morris: "Everybody can compete for a starting job." Also, DeAngelo Hall has moved to the inside corner spot and will be tried at nickel corner, according to Jim Haslett.
• For more on this story and all things Washington Redskins football, please stay tuned to SB Nation DC and be sure to head over to Hogs Haven, SB Nation's Redskins blog. For all the latest news and notes from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Redskins Roster: Brandon Banks Must Contribute At Receiver In Order To Make Team, According To Mike Shanahan

Washington Redskins return specialist Brandon Banks may be left off the roster if he's unable to improve and contribute at wide receiver, according to head coach Mike Shanahan. Rich Campbell of the Washington Times tweeted from the Skins minicamp on Wednesday that Shanahan said Banks has to contribute at wideout in order to make the final roster:

Shanahan: Brandon Banks will have to contribute as a receiver, in addition to return man, if he is to make the team. #Redskins

— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) June 13, 2012

Banks emerged as one of the best return men in the NFL two seasons ago but has rarely been used on the outside on offense. He had just one catch for 10 yards last season. Shanahan indicated that the competition at the receiver position has heated up this offseason, and Banks could be the odd man out.

For more on this story and all things Washington Redskins football, please stay tuned to SB Nation DC and be sure to head over to Hogs Haven, SB Nation's Redskins blog. For all the latest news and notes from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Redskins Offseason: Morgan Trent Tweets That Washington Has Claimed Him

It appears the Washington Redskins have added another defensive back, addressing a position in desperate need of some depth for the upcoming season. Morgan Trent, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars, broke the news himself, via, what else, twitter:

Landed in AZ to find out that I've been claimed by the Washington Redskins! Excited to wear the burgundy and Gold!

— Morgan Trent (@morgantrent37) June 1, 2012

The former University of Michigan standout was drafted in the sixth round in 2009 by the Bengals, and played two seasons in Cincinnati before being released in November of 2011. He was signed by the Colts a week later, but released by Indianapolis less than a month after signing, and was most recently a member of the Jaguars.

For more on this story and all things Washington Redskins football, please stay tuned to SB Nation DC and be sure to head over to Hogs Haven, SB Nation's Redskins blog. For all the latest news and notes from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Redskins OTAs: Robert Griffin III Knows '60 To 70 Percent' Of Playbook

Another session of organized team activities was open to the media at Redskins Park Thursday afternoon, and Washington head coach Mike Shanahan was on hand to discuss a variety of topics with the media. Among the tidbits that were disclosed:

• Robert Griffin III says he's learned "between 60 and 70%" of the Redskins' playbook.
• Linebacker Brian Orakpo was watched workouts from the sidelines as a precaution after undergoing an MRI on his surgically repaired left pectoral muscle
• Barry Cofield and Tanard Jackson were excused absences. According to Shanahan, there have been no unexcused absences.
• Chris Cooley's troublesome left knee has not given him any issues in workouts.
• Leonard Hankerson's hip is healed and the receiver should be ready for the opening day of the season.
• Likewise, Tim Hightower is expected to be ready for training camp coming off surgery to repair a torn ACL. Joshua Morgan (ankle) and Jonathan Goff (knee) should also be ready for the start of camp.
• Graham Gano has only kicked one day this offseason, as he struggles with a back injury suffered in the Week 17 loss to Philadelphia.
• Brian Banks will be in for a workout at some point next week.
• Santana Moss is in the best shape of Shanahan's D.C. tenure.
• Finally, Shanahan admitted that he was really shaken up by last week's collision with Pierre Garcon and Brandyn Thompson.

Shanahan says he addressed the team 10 minutes after being hit last week, and he doesn't remember what he said. #Redskins

— Rich Campbell (@Rich_Campbell) May 31, 2012

For more on this story and all things Washington Redskins football, please head over to Hogs Haven. For all the latest news and notes from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Redskins OTAs: Could Washington Go From Worst To First In The NFC East?

The Washington Redskins have not finished out of last place in the NFC East since making the playoffs in 2007. Now with a new quarterback in Robert Griffin III, SB Nation's Joel Thorman acknowledges the Redskins as one of eight teams that could make the jump from last place to first place in 2012. Thorman says that even though the division produced the Super Bowl Champion, it's a lot closer than the records would have you believe.

Finishing 5-11 last year and playing in a division with the defending Super Bowl champs, the Redskins are an odd choice here, but the offseason additions put them in a place where it's not so crazy to think about potentially winning the NFC East. The Giants, Cowboys and Eagles all finished within a game of each other -- the Giants won the division and the Super Bowl -- but it's the Redskins who made perhaps the biggest jump in the offseason.

Griffin continues to be the X-factor for this team, but other additions to the Redskins should not be ignored. Things have to go just right for the Redskins to win their first division title since 1999.

For more on this story and all things Washington Redskins football, please head over to Hogs Haven. For all the latest news and notes from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Redskins OTAs: Robert Griffin III Impressive In Monday Practice

Washington Redskins rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III was the star of the show at the team's Monday OTA session. Griffin drew praise from his receivers as well as members of the media on hand to get a glimpse of the second-overall pick in this year's draft.

Don Banks from SI.com elaborated on the scene in Ashburn, Va.

Veteran receiver Santana Moss said:

"But just off what he's shown thus far, you can be excited knowing that if he's not going to be that guy that first year, he's going to be that guy soon. Right now he's been doing everything that we expect. He's looking sharp."

Newly acquired Pierre Garcon said the rookie quarterback looked like anything but a first-time NFL player.

"He doesn't look like a rookie. He's throwing and he's putting the ball where it needs to be. He's doing a great job. He's accurate on his deep ball and everywhere else.''

Banks noted that Griffin, who did most of his work out of the shotgun at Baylor, was almost exclusively under center at Monday's practice. Over and over again, the coaches had him running roll-outs and throwing deep on the run. Consistent with his college tape, Griffin threw very well on the run, even on roll-outs to the left side that had him throwing across his body.

If the receivers and offensive line play as envisioned, Griffin could be on pace for a very good rookie season.

SB Nation's NFL hub featured an offseason report on the Redskins last Friday.

For more on this story and all things Washington Redskins football, please head over to Hogs Haven. For all the latest news and notes from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Redskins OTAs: DeAngelo Hall Not Seen During Monday's Practice Session

ASHBURN,Va - While all injured players were in attendance for Monday's OTA session, there was one conspicuous absence.

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall was not seen during Monday's practice. Because of Mike Shanahan's collision, he was unable to speak to the media following practice.

Despite Hall's absence Monday, defensive captain London Fletcher simply said, "he's been here." It's unclear whether or not Hall was excused from missing practice.

As for the other non-participants, here's the list of notable Redskins who sat out Monday's practice:

Tim Hightower (knee)

Stephen Bowen (knee)

Leonard Hankerson (hip)

Kory Lichtensteiger (knee)

Redskins OTAs: Stephen Bowen Recovering From Knee Surgery, Sits Out First Practice

ASHBURN, Va -While the list Washington Redskins rehabbing from offseason surgery was largely known prior to Monday's OTA practice, there were still a few surprise non-participants.

Defensive end Stephen Bowen was seen Monday morning with an ice wrap around his left knee for the majority of practice, watching team drills from the sideline. Bowen revealed after practice that his absence was a result of a mid-April surgery, one he's still recovering from.

“I’m just taking my time with it," he said . "[I got to] make sure I’m 100 percent”

Bowen suffered a PCL injury late last season, and says he wanted to make sure any after effects were taken care of.

“It was a little annoying pain , and I didn’t want to deal with it when [the season starts].”

The minor surgery, Bowen says, won't keep him out for much longer.

“I’ll probably be 100 percent in the next two to three weeks.”

For more on this story and all things Washington Redskins football, please head over to Hogs Haven. For all the latest news and notes from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Mike Shanahan Shaken Up In Collision At Redskins OTAs

Dates Announced For Redskins Minicamps And OTAs

The NFL has released the dates of minicamps and organized team activities for all 32 NFL teams.