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Training camp is over(at least the 20 practices that were open to reporters) and Washington’s 3rd and final preseason game is tomorrow night against the Baltimore Ravens. We’ve had another great year of hype coming from UDFAs, late round picks, and players who’ve never played football.
Everyone has their favorite Mason/Brennan candidates for various reasons. Some love the idea of the underdog making it. Some think it’s funny to root for a player that gets completely hyped before playing a single down as a professional or after a highlight reel player against some future Uber Drivers of America. We’re here for all of it.
History Lesson:
Former Washington Redskins 6th round draft pick Colt Brennan passed away at the way-too-young age of 37. Brennan was a star in college at the University of Hawaii and brought that hype with him to Washington in 2008. Brennan was a cult sensation during his brief time here, and was the inspiration for the annual Mason/Brennan Preseason Hype! Awards here at Hogs Haven.
This was started as a tongue-in-cheek tribute to players that fans push to the moon before they play a snap, or after one great performance in the preseason. But it also puts the focus on some of the unheralded players who fans hype up and have a fighter’s chance at making Washington’s roster. Colt Brennan was a great college player that lit up the preseason, but injuries and other issues saw him flame out in the NFL early. RIP Colt and thanks for the inspiration.
(*Editor’s note: The text from the below description is word-for-word for the original fanpost that started this award in 2013)
Every season, a new class of draft picks and undrafted free agents are signed during the preseason. The majority of these players will never be on the roster for a regular season game, but the few diamond in the rough late round/UDFA players who do bring hope to players and fans. That racetrack betting slip that you find on the floor that someone didn’t scout properly.
Redskins fans are very familiar with the hype that comes with the offseason, especially over the last two decades of dreary seasons. Between the overpriced free agent signings, and the overhyped preseason performances by rookies, we were the perennial offseason champions. Names like Marko Mitchell, Marcus Mason, Brandon Banks, and everyone’s favorite Colt Brennan became legendary in training camp and preseason, only to be relegated to the practice squad or the bowels of the depth chart, never to be heard from again. Last year’s preseason hero was Alfred Morris who rose up due to injury and necessity after being deemed a practice squad candidate by many, and we all know how that turned out.
Hype is a very real, and very exciting part of football in the preseason. We all read the daily training camp reports and get excited at the prospect of a late round pass rusher getting sack after sack on 3rd string offensive lineman, or a wide receiver catching everything thrown his way, or a running back who’s not injured.
The Mason/Brennan award has been given out unofficially by the fans for years to each preseason’s most hyped players, but now we’re going to make it official, and bring it to a vote. This week’s vote will cover the draft and training camp. Place your vote for who you feel has been the most hyped player up to this point, whether the hype is deserved or not. After each preseason game a new vote will be taken to see how the hype changes.
The Rules:
1. Player must have been drafted late or signed by the Redskins as an undrafted free agent. Players that have only been on other teams practice squads that are signed by the team are also eligible.
2. A player that has been on the team for several years is still eligible if most of that time has been spent on the practice squad, inactive, or with very limited productivity/time
The Nominees:
Torry McTyer, CB - Reserve/Futures signing(2021) - McTyer is the classic where the hell did he come from story that people love. He has been in the league for a few years, but hasn’t had a lot of playing time since getting signed by the Dolphins as an UDFA 4 years ago. McTyer has been making a LOT of plays in camp, and has been getting hyped pretty heavily as a guy that can claw his way onto the roster.
Jack Del Rio described Torry McTyer as a "pleasant surprise" in camp. Cited him as one of the players they've added this year to bolster the secondary.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 25, 2021
Del Rio said they've moved him around a bit and were eager to see how he played with pads on. Discovered he's legit.
Camaron Cheeseman, LS - 6th round(2021) - The Cheese hype is back and the FG unit was perfect on Friday night. Getting some sweet Tress Way hype never hurts your chances.
William Bradley-King, DE - 7th round (2021) - WBK had the only sack of the game against the Bengals, and it was a strip sack that sealed the game.
Rookie 7th-rounder William Bradley-King just got his first sack of the preseason. Give him credit for a strip-sack and a takeaway. Big moment for him. #WashingtonNFL
— Grant Paulsen (@granthpaulsen) August 21, 2021
He also won the 2021 Helmet shot put competition:
Fight between OT David Steinmetz and rookie DE William Bradley-King. Steinmetz threw a punch and Bradley-King got ahold of Steinmetz’s helmet and lobbed it high in the air. Broke up quickly. Steinmetz went back in for the next rep.
— Sam Fortier (@Sam4TR) August 18, 2021
And staying after practice to learn from Chase Young!
Rookie @Willgotthesack putting in the post-practice work with @youngchase907 pic.twitter.com/1TJ5fHjFVw
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) August 26, 2021
Dax Milne, WR - 7th round (2021) - The late round WR is mandatory here. Dax continues to make a case for the 7th(?) WR spot.
Milne just caught a fade pass for a TD. The hype grows. https://t.co/uozjvecUE8
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) August 23, 2021
Dax Milne gets the Terry McLaurin seal of approval on an end zone fade. He shook Troy Apke for the score with Terry screaming “good release! Good f***** release!
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) August 23, 2021
Jaret Patterson - UDFA (2021) - I heard that Jaret Patterson was going to be the bellcow RB for the Washington Football Team!
The hometown kid punches it in!!
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) August 21, 2021
: #CINvsWAS on NBC4/NFLN pic.twitter.com/1zkfDsG9jD
Now Jaret Patterson is returning kick offs for big gains. If he can do this, just put him on the final roster now to be quite honest. pic.twitter.com/nVqYN6ieKd
— Mark Bullock (@MarkBullockNFL) August 21, 2021
James Smith-Williams, DE 7th round (2020) - Kerrigan-lite has been solid and seems to be locked into a spot in the rotation. Will he have a breakout performance in the final preseason game?
WJ3 has been exposed to a couple new concepts, Del Rio said, but he’s had a solid camp and will allow the defense to do some different things.
— Zach Selby (@ZachSelbyWFT) August 25, 2021
Sammis Reyes, TE FA (2021) - The hype train took a hit when Sammis Reyes suffered a concussion, but the Chilean Superman won’t go down without a fight!
Rivera on Sammis Reyes: pic.twitter.com/UjXkG2E82t
— John Keim (@john_keim) August 25, 2021
Daniel Wise, DE/DT - Reserve/Futures signing(2021) - Ron Rivera loves versatility, and Daniel Wise offers that on the defensive line. He has also flashed during the 2nd half of meaningless playoff games!
One guy who flashed in the second half: DL Daniel Wise. Can play both end and tackle; had pressures from both spots. Has progressed... Not sure if he'll make it or not, but it should be close. If nothing else, worth having on PS.
— John Keim (@john_keim) August 22, 2021
Coach Rivera loves his Mason/Brennan candidates:
Asked about guys who’ve caught his attention in camp and in games, Ron lists off Troy Apke, Jaret Patterson, Torry McTyer, Isaiah Wright and Dax Milne. Also mentioned Sammis Reyes, but has a desire to see Reyes back on the field ASAP. As for Apke, he’s coming along better at CB
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) August 23, 2021
Poll
Who has the most hype heading into the final preseason game?
This poll is closed
-
8%
Torry McTyer
-
0%
Camaron Cheeseman
-
0%
William Bradley-King
-
2%
Dax Milne
-
81%
Jaret Patterson
-
0%
James Smith-Williams
-
5%
Sammis Reyes
-
0%
Daniel Wise
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