Redskins select offensive lineman Brandon Scherff with fifth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft

ASHBURN, Va- The Washington Redskins used their 2015 first round draft pick, and fifth overall pick in the draft picking 6'5 319 pound Offensive Tackle Brandon Scherff from Iowa.

Scherff, a unanimous All American selection was last years Outland Trophy Winner. The Outland Trophy is awarded to the best college football interior lineman by the Football Writers Association of America.

Notes from the Washington Redskins on tonights first round of the NFL Draft held in Chicago.

NOTES ON THE SELECTION OF BRANDON SCHERFF

• Scherff is the first selection in the tenure of General Manager Scot McCloughan and the ninth selection of the Jay Gruden era.
• Scherff is the 440^th selection made by the Redskins in the Common Draft era (since 1967) and the 26^th first-round selection in that time frame. He is the 57^th first-round selection by the Redskins all-time since the institution of the draft in 1936.
• Scherff is the third offensive lineman selected by the Redskins in the first round since 2000. The Redskins’ last two first-round offensive linemen – Chris Samuels (No. 3 in 2000) and Trent Williams (No. 4 in 2010) – have combined for nine Pro Bowl selections.
• Scherff’s selection at No. 5 represents the highest the Redskins have selected an offensive lineman since drafting Williams with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.
• Scherff is the fourth offensive lineman drafted by the Redskins in the first round in the Common Draft era, joining Williams, Samuels, Andre Johnson (1996) and Mark May (1981).
• Scherff is the 15^th University of Iowa product selected by the Redskins all-time, joining B Al Couppee (1942), B Jim Smith (1947), E Herb Shoener (1947), T Don Winslow (1950), T Hubert Johnston (1952), B Don Dobrino (1957), G Frank Bloomquist (1958), QB Mitch Ogiego (1959), E Bill Whisler (1962), B Paul Krause (1964), T Paul Laaveg (1970), RB Ladell Betts (2002), G Adam Gettis (2012) and CB Jordan Bernstine (2012).
• The Redskins’ 15 all-time selections from Iowa are tied for 14^th-most from any school in team history.  Scherff is the fifth Iowa Hawkeye selected by the Redskins in the Common Draft era (since 1967).
• Scherff’s selection at No. 5 marks the highest the Redskins have taken an Iowa Hawkeye, surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Paul Krause’s selection at No. 18 in the 1964 NFL Draft.
• Scherff is the second player selected by the Redskins at No. 5 all-time, joining Redskins Ring of Fame S Sean Taylor (2004).
• Scherff is the first Big Ten Conference product selected by the Redskins in the first round since LB Ryan Kerrigan in 2011. He is the sixth Big Ten product selected by the Redskins in the first round in the Common Draft era, joining DT Bobby Wilson (1991), WR Desmond Howard (1992), T Andre Johnson (1996), LB LaVar Arrington (2000) and LB Ryan Kerrigan (2011). 

Quotes: Scot McCloughan Pre-Draft Press Conference

General Manager Scot McCloughan

ASHBURN, Va.- Opening statement:
“I want to welcome you all here. But first and foremost, I want to put this out there because I know questions are going to be asked – we are going to exercise the option on RGIII [Robert Griffin III], the ‘016 option. That took place this morning. We talked to Robert, we talked to the agent. They’re very positive, very positive feeling in the building right now. So with that said, we’ll rock-and-roll.”

On arriving at the decision to pick up the fifth-year option for quarterback Robert Griffin III:
“We arrived awhile back. You know, we have until Monday to make the official announcement with the league office. So, we just decided with all you guys being here and the platform today, go ahead and put it out there.”

On what went into the decision to pick up the option:
“Well, he’s a good football player. He’s got good tape out there. Everybody knows what he did in ‘012, when he was rookie of the year, offensive rookie of the year. This full offseason, second year in the system but being healthy and being able to go through the offseason, I’m really excited looking forward with all three quarterbacks, watching them as Phase 2 gets going on the field and I can start watching them move around and watch them make plays.”
 
On balancing quality and quantity of players in the draft:
“Yeah, a lot of times if they’re calling us to move up to our spot and we’re moving back, we have the leverage. So what I can do is, say we’re going five spots, say we’re going eight spots, say we’re going 15 spots, I can look at the board and get an idea who might be there. We’d love to get more picks in this draft. We have our seven originals right now. I’d love to get 10-plus out of this thing. But, if not we’ll be okay. If we stay put at [pick No.] 5, we’ll get a good football player at 5. You go off the board and get a pretty good idea on what team needs are, what teams are coming for and that stuff. But, the last thing you do is take yourself out of a really good football player. Get too cute with yourself, go back too far, and all the sudden, I have say 10-15 guys I want to pinpoint that I think can come in Day 1 and start, you go too far back and you’re going to lose out on some of those guys. You’ve got to be careful.”

On if draft decisions including trades are based on a gut feeling:
“It’s gut. They have got a value chart for points. Say if they want to come to No. 5, they owe this, this and this. A lot of its gut, but also we’ve done a lot of preparation for this. Our board is almost completely set – after the next few afternoons with the coaches then it will be set. But yeah, a lot goes into it. You’re just not going to do it to do it. We’ll talk scenarios prior to Thursday, Friday and Saturday. People might be calling, sniffing around about the pick.”
 
On how he evaluates the team’s needs along the offensive line:
“Again, we’re not going to draft for needs. Even with free agency, we didn’t go in thinking, ‘Okay, we’re going to stick it all on defense.’ We went in special teams, offense, defense and it just worked out to be defense. We feel we got some good football players not just on the field but off the field, high-character guys that come from winning organizations and know what it looks like. We’re going to approach free agency and the draft every year the same, just getting good football players. You always have injuries, trade opportunities and stuff like that, so if you can just keep stockpiling good players, the organization is going in the right direction… It’s pretty much with any position, especially offensive line – big guys, intelligent guys, competitive guys. You know, it’s about the five guys up front. It’s not about the one guy. It’s all five guys working together. I think it’s a big man’s game, and I think size and strength and like I said passion, toughness is very important up front. If you can control the line of scrimmage on either side, it’s a pretty good start.”

College And Pro Football Legend, Marcus Allen, To Serve As Festival’s 2015 Sports Marshal

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival® has never been satisfied with mere sports “figures” to serve as its Sports Marshal. The Festival has always selected “legends,” invariably with Hall of Fame credentials, to serve in that capacity.

And, to add a bit of local flavor [or, angst] to this year’s choice, according to his Wikipedia biography, the Festival’s legendary 2015 Sports Marshal “may be best remembered for his heroics in Super Bowl XVIII, where, on January 22^nd, 1984, he ran for 191 yards, caught two passes for 18 yards, and scored two touchdowns in the Oakland Raiders 38-9 victory over the Washington Redskins.” It is with great pride that Festival President, Jim Douglas, announces that football great, Marcus Allen, Heisman Trophy Winner, NFL MVP, and NFL Hall of Famer, will serve as the 2015 Festival Sports Marshal; and, will be the Featured Speaker at the 50^th Anniversary of the Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast presented by Grange Insurance.

CBS and NFL Network Partner for Second Season Broadcasting Thursday Night Football

The CBS Television Network and NFL Network announce the Thursday Night Football prime time broadcast schedule for the 2015 NFL season. 

 

This season marks the second year CBS Sports and NFL Network are partnering to broadcast Thursday Night Football, a slate of 16 regular-season games kicking off September 17 with Denver at Kansas City.

 

This year’s schedule again showcases marquee match-ups with 13 of the 16 games featuring Division rivalries.

 

 

September 17  Denver at Kansas City   CBS/NFL Network

September 24  Washington at New York Giants   CBS/NFL Network

October 1        Baltimore at Pittsburgh   CBS/NFL Network

October 8        Indianapolis at Houston   CBS/NFL Network

October 15      Atlanta at New Orleans   CBS/NFL Network

October 22      Seattle at San Francisco   CBS/NFL Network

October 29      Miami at New England   CBS/NFL Network

November 5    Cleveland at Cincinnati   NFL Network

November 12  Buffalo at New York Jets   NFL Network

November 19  Tennessee at Jacksonville   NFL Network

December 3    Green Bay at Detroit   CBS/NFL Network

December 10  Minnesota at Arizona   NFL Network

December 17  Tampa Bay at St. Louis   NFL Network

December 19  New York Jets at Dallas   NFL Network  (Special Saturday edition of TNF)

December 24  San Diego at Oakland   NFL Network

December 26  Washington at Philadelphia   NFL Network   (Special Saturday edition of TNF)

  

CBS Sports will produce the full slate of 16 Thursday Night Football games. The announce team
of Jim Nantz, Phil Simms and reporter Tracy Wolfson return to call the Thursday Night Football
action.
This season marks both the 56th year of NFL broadcasts on the CBS Television Network and
the tenthyear of Thursday Night Football games on NFL Network.
In addition, CBS will conclude its year broadcasting the NFL with the
exclusive presentation of SUPER BOWL 50 from Levi's Stadium in Santa
Clara, Calif., on Feb. 7, 2016, marking the Network’s 19th Super Bowl telecast, the most by any
broadcaster.

Redskin Legend, Ron Saul, And Other Surprises Are Announced For The 2015 Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast

The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival’s® iconic Partlow Insurance Sports Breakfast, presented by Grange Insurance, is celebrating its 50^th Anniversary in 2015; and, Festival Organizers felt that the event had to project an aura of “something special” for this year. Any special attributes for the 50^th Anniversary Sports Marshal were instantly filled by the elegant, excellent, and eminently likeable, Marcus Allen. But, then, the question was asked: how can we have a 50^th Anniversary Sports Breakfast without a Washington Redskin hero? That question is now answered by Festival President, Jim Douglas, who happily announces that “Original Hog,” Ron Saul, has accepted the Festival’s invitation to appear at this special anniversary Sports Breakfast.

 

Ron Saul and his identical twin brother, Rich, were born February 5, 1948, in Butler, Pennsylvania. Ron and Rich both grew up playing football and baseball. Both brothers went on to play for Michigan State; and, after their 1969 season at MSU, were named All-Big Ten, Academic All-American, and Football All-American, with Ron being voted the Spartan’s Most Valuable Player. It was during the 1970 draft when the brothers parted ways. Ron was drafted by the Houston Oilers in the fifth round, and Rich was picked by the Los Angeles Rams in round eight. Ron became a first-year regular with Houston at offensive guard. Besides being the only twins to simultaneously play in the NFL, the Saul family had a third brother, Bill, who was a linebacker for the Baltimore Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers. Together, the Saul family played in the NFL for a total of 35 years.
Ron likes to characterize the NFL of the Seventies as being “Ironman Football:” you played healthy or hurt. “Shoot it up and play,” that’s what they used to say. “Back in the “iron-man” days, no one took themselves out of a game. There was no such thing as “turf-toe.” Injuries were shot up with Novocain, drained and taped, with players going back into the game. The only way out of a game was if a player was carried off the field.” Ron played for the Oilers from 1970 through 1975. After that season, Redskin Coach, George Allen, arranged a trade: Allen gave up Washington’s third, fifth, and sixth round draft picks; and, Ron played the next seven years with the Redskins as a guard. He was credited with opening many of the holes for the “Diesel” himself, John Riggins. He retired after the Redskins’ 1982 Super Bowl Season [the year before Marcus Allen’s heroics in the 1983 Super Bowl]. Ron has been quoted as saying he went out in a blaze of glory: “John Riggins was still tough, Joe Theismann was our quarterback, and Jeff Bostic and I were two of the original “Hogs.”
Ron was All-Pro in 1979, which he feels was his best football honor. However, from Ron’s perspective, his greatest honor has always been earning Academic All-American. Off the field Ron has made significant contributions in community service since his retirement. He has participated in the Washington Redskins’ Charitable Foundation events for over 15 years. In addition, he and his wife Robin are committed to giving back to the community within the Washington Metropolitan area by participating in other charitable foundations: John Hopkins Children’s Center, St. Jude Hospital, The Shelterhouse and more.
In honor of the 50^th Anniversary of this very special Festival Event, Event Chair, Jim Gowdy, has announced plans to have Senator Russ Potts, and local auto dealer and civic activist, Dick Kern, in attendance at the event to be recognized as the founders of the event back in 1965. A special presentation will be made at the event entitled: “Memories of the First Fifty Years.” Local State Championship Coaches will be recognized; and, local outstanding high school athletes and Shenandoah University athletes will be honored.

Clarke County Sports will again be on hand at the breakfast to cover the event and speak with the guest athletes.  Reprinted from the Official Apple Blossom Website. www.thebloom.com

Virginia Chargers vs. Virginia Storm Video Highlights

PURCELLVILLE, VA- Game Highlights set to music of the Virginia Chargers 27 to 25 victory over the Virginia Storm in a Atlantic Football Association Semi Pro Football Matchup at Wolverine Stadium on the campus of Woodgrove High School in Purcellville on 4-11-15. Game story and photo's from James Murphy and Janette Cox will be posted soon.

The Virginia Chargers Website

Major changes announced at Clarke County Sports

Bluemont, VA - After several months of consideration, the Board of Directors for Clarke County Sports, has decided effective, May 1, 2015 Clarke County Sports will exclusively cover Football.


"This was a very tough decision, that has been on the table for a few years now." Clarke County Sports founder and CEO Michael "Moe" Murphy said.


Clarke County Sports actually started their major coverage with Wrestling and Soccer but over the years tried to included as many sports, as possible. Football is the only sport that has received continuous coverage over the 13 year history of Clarke County Sports.


"Due to our small staff, and the fact that our site has always been a community site that has never been commercial or had advertising, the task of giving fair and equal coverage to all sports and the funding to do it effectively just wasn't there." Murphy said.


Plans for the site include, continued coverage of the Washington Redskins and the Shenandoah University Hornets football programs, local high school football with an emphasis on Clarke County High School.


We are also pleased to announce that Clarke County Sports is once again covering the Virginia Chargers, of the Atlantic Football Association, the Bluemont, VA based Semi Pro team, formerly the Winchester Tigers.


Other coverage will include a weekly column on the Shenandoah Valley High School football scene, during season and light coverage of James Madison University and Shepherd University football.


Murphy, a member of the College Football Writers Association, has been associated with the sport of football, as a player, coach, writer, photographer, announcer and videographer for over 45 years.


"My passion is clearly football, although we are proud of all the sports coverage we have provided over the years," Murphy said, "I can't see myself anywhere else but on a football field during Friday nights in the fall."


All of the prior articles, photo's and videos of will remain on the site in our archive section, and it can't be ruled out that certain events not football related could still be covered from time to time.