Like yesterday, I'm absolutely destroyed this week in terms of things I must do prior to leaving town. Work constantly expands to fill the time available, and somewhere in there Hogs Haven gets neglected. Fortunately, this is your place as much as it is mine, and I strongly encourage all of you to hit up the diaries in my brief absence. I promise to make it up to you next week.
In the interim, Michael Richman, The Redskins Historian, sent me a letter he wanted to get out to Redskins fans, which includes you, and I'm posting it below. Extremely loyal and favored reader CptChaosSidekick is still due a free copy of the Encyclopedia that Mike sent to me, and I promise to get that shipped out to you no later than next week. I'm swamped but there is a calm subsequent the storm, so I'm told at least. You'll get your book. Cheers, and this per Mike, who is awesome, good people:
The Redskins' 2007 season seems so long ago but was certainly a year to remember. In fact, I can safely say it is the most dramatic season I've ever witnessed in Redskins history, and I've seen about four decades of them.
I saw a gutsy performance by a team that endured one type of adversity after another, but still found a way to claw and scratch its way into the postseason. Heartbreaking losses, multiple injuries to key players, embarrassing coaching blunders, and something so unimaginable and unprecedented in NFL history, the murder of Sean Taylor, the team's best player and the face of the franchise for years to come, all befell the Redskins in 2007.
While the death of Taylor was so tragic, the season was also one of triumph. Led by a reserve quarterback who hadn't started an NFL game in a decade, Todd Collins, the Redskins won their final four games to finish 9-7 and reach postseason play as an NFC Wild Card team. A loss to Seattle ended their magical run, but I'm still so proud of my team.
This letter is to thank everyone who supported me throughout the season by attending my book signings and offering words of encouragement. I hope you are enjoying The Redskins Encyclopedia. My current priority is updating the book in preparation for another printing hopefully in 2009.
I'm also setting up a new series of book signings. One is already scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 7, at Browseabout Books in Rehobeth Beach, Del., a store that sold more than 100 copies of The Redskins Encyclopedia at my signing in November. I'll also be signing books at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, during the weekend of Aug. 2-3, when Redskin legends Darrell Green and Art Monk are inducted into the hallowed institution and the Redskins play in the Hall of Fame game.
I hope to see all of you soon. If you have questions about Redskins history or the state of the current Redskins, feel free to e-mail me at mikerichman@redskinshistorian.com. Around the time training camp begins, I'll make a prediction on the Redskins for 2008.
Thank you and Hail to the Redskins!