RG3 Participates in Washington Redskins OTA

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(ASHBURN, Va.) -- Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III participated in OTA’s on Thursday, as he continues to work his way back from right knee surgery.

“Still trying to make sure I stay focused on not just the rehab part but also paying attention, getting the mental reps and just knowing it like the back of my hand,” Griffin said.

Washington took Griffin with the second overall pick out of Baylor in last year’s NFL draft. In his first season with the Redskins, he tossed for 3,200 yards and 20 touchdowns while rushing for 815 yards and seven TD’s. He won the offensive rookie of the year award after leading Washington to a 10-6 record and their first NFC East title since 1999.

If Griffin is not 100 percent healthy when the 2013 season kicks off, the Redskins are expected to turn to backup quarterback Kirk Cousins to start.

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Robert Griffin III: My 'Knee Feels Great'

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Washington Redskins franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III returned to the field to work out with some of his teammates on Thursday.

Griffin returned just four and a half months after surgery that reconstructed torn ligaments in his right knee. He appeared in a heavy black-brace.

"The knee feels great," Griffin said.  "I'm able to do all the stuff out there without any hesitation, that's the best part about it.  I'm excited about that."

"It's all about having that confidence and if you put the work in, you'll have that confidence when you get back out there on the field.  It's about playing like you were never injured," he added.

Griffin said he still plans on being ready for the Sept. 9 season opener -- a Monday night game at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.

"I stand behind that," Griffin said.  "That's always been the goal, but once again, I'm not going to risk my career to play in one game."

Griffin also said he wants to limit hits from opposing teams and that he has learned a lot after playing one season in the NFL.

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Redskins Won't Change Team Name

Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- The Washington Redskins will stay the Redskins, according to team owner Daniel Snyder, who spoke with USA Today this week.

The team's name has faced criticism for being offensive to Native Americans by many, but Snyder doesn't see a change coming as long as he is the owner.

"We will never change the name of the team," Snyder told the newspaper. "As a lifelong Redskins fan, and I think that the Redskins fans understand the great tradition and what it's all about and what it means, so we feel pretty fortunate to be just working on next season."

"We'll never change the name," Snyder enforced. "It's that simple. NEVER -- you can use caps."

The Redskins open up their 2013 season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 9.

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ESPN: Cornerback Deangelo Hall Staying With the Redskins

NFL Photos via Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Even after testing the free agent market, cornerback DeAngelo Hall has decided to remain with the Washington Redskins, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.

Hall and the Redskins have agreed on a one year deal to keep him in Washington. The team had originally cut him to save much needed cap space.

"He's given everything I've asked him to give. He's gotten better each year," Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan said at the time of Hall's release. "He's done the little things the right way and when you have to tell somebody that they're not going to be on your football team, it's a little hard, especially when your plan was to take care of the guys that took care of you."

Luckily for Shanahan and Hall, the separation didn't last very long.

The 29-year-old Hall has spent the past 4 1/2 years in Washington. Over that time, he has racked up 19 interceptions over that time.

Despite Hall's success, the Redskins still ranked 30th in the NFL in passing yards allowed per game.

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Redskins' Robert Griffin III Hopeful to Start at Season Opener

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III is hopeful that he will be back and ready for the season opener come September.

"My knee is getting better every day. The doctors say I'm ahead of schedule. My goal is to return healthy in Week 1, but if I'm not ready then I will wait until I am, however long that is," Griggin said in a statement to ESPN on Wednesday. "My first NFL season and my injury that ended, it showed me a lot about the league, my team and myself."

Griffin III tore his ACL and LCL in the playoffs in the first round against the Seattle Seahawks.

RG3 threw for 3,200 yards, 20 touchdowns, rushed for seven touchdowns, and ran for 815 yards in his rookie season. 

The Redskins kick off the season on September 8.

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Dr. James Andrews Gives Update on Robert Griffin III

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Washington Redskins fans have their fingers crossed that quarterback Robert Griffin III will be ready by the start of the regular season. The man who performed the surgery on his torn ACL, Dr. James Andrews, expects that to happen.

RG3 tore his ACL and LCL in a first-round playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Typically, the injury takes about a year to recover from, but Andrews says Griffin is ahead of schedule.

"RG III is one of those superhumans. First patient I ever had like that was Bo Jackson. And recently I, of course, Adrian Peterson, who is also superhuman," Andrews told ESPN. "They has an unbelievable ability to recover, where as a normal human being may not be able to recover."

Andrews later went on to also say that Griffin is healing ahead of schedule and his recovery has been "unbelievealbe so far."

Griffin was the Associated Press' 2012 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award after throwing for 3,200 yards with 20 touchdowns while running for 815 yards with seven touchdowns on the ground.

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Redskins Release DeAngelo Hall

NFL Photos via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- The Washington Redskins released cornerback DeAngelo Hall on Monday as a result of the NFL's salary cap penalty.

The team was penalized $18 million by the league because of the way its contracts were structured during the uncapped 2010 season. 

"I talked to a player that has played extremely hard for us the last couple of years and I had to tell him he was released today," coach Mike Shanahan said. 

Hall had four interceptions last year.

The cap penalty is also affecting the Redskin's other offseason plans. "We're not able to go out in free agency," Shanahan said. "We might be able to do it for one guy or two guys, depending on what the money is. That is just the hand we were dealt and are dealing with."

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Redskins' Robert Griffin III 'Ahead Of Schedule'

Patrick McDermott/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Washington Redskins franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III is "way ahead of schedule", according to Dr. James Andrews who performed the surgery on Griffin's torn ACL and LCL this offseason.

Griffin suffered a sprained LCL in Washington's Week 14 win against the Ravens and then tore two knee ligaments in their first-round loss to the Seahawks.

"We have him well on his way," Andrews told the NFL Network. "His recovery is way ahead of schedule so far. We don't have to do much but try to hold him back, if you want to know the truth. Our whole mode for him though is to do what is best for his career, not necessarily what is best for the first game next season. So all of that has to be put on hold and let him get well."

Team officials told ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter on Feb. 14 that they are encouraged by the progress of Griffin III and believe he could be the starter come the season opener.

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RG3 Has Surgery On His Right Knee

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III underwent surgery, performed by Dr. James Andrews, Wednesday to repair his torn lateral collateral ligament and reconstruct his anterior cruciate ligament. Griffin previously had his ACL repaired in 2009 while playing at Baylor.

"Robert Griffin III had successful knee surgery early this morning,” Andrews said in a statement. “He had a direct repair of his LCL and a re-do of his previous ACL reconstruction. We expect a full recovery and it is everybody's hope and belief that due to Robert's high motivation, he will be ready for the 2013 season.”

Griffin sprained his LCL in a game against the Baltimore Ravens late in the season and then re-injured his knee in last Sunday’s playoff loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

"The goal of his treatment is to give him the best opportunity for a long professional career,” Andrews said.

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Scoreboard Roundup - 1/6/13

Hemera/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- NFL Playoffs: NFC: The Seattle Seahawks (1-0) downed the Washington Redskins (0-1), 24-14.

AFC: The Baltimore Ravens (1-0) cruised past the Indianapolis Colts (0-1), 24-9.

NBA: The Oklahoma City Thunder (26-7) zapped the Toronto Raptors (12-22), 104-92.

The Miami Heat (23-9) rocked the Washington Wizards (4-28), 99-71.

The Memphis Grizzlies (21-10) nipped the Phoenix Suns (12-23), 92-81.

The Charlotte Bobcats (9-24) outlasted the Detroit Pistons (13-23) in overtime, 108-101.

The Denver Nuggets (20-16) shut down the Los Angeles Lakers (15-18), 112-105.

Top 25 Men's Basketball: (2) Michigan (15-0) waxed Iowa (11-4), 95-67.

(6) Kansas (12-1) edged Temple (10-3), 69-62.

(7) Syracuse (14-1) topped South Florida (9-4), 55-44.

(9) Minnesota (14-1) popped Northwestern (9-6), 69-51.

(13) Florida (10-2) rattled Yale (5-11), 79-58.

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