2022 Mason/Brennan Preseason Hype! Awards: Who has the most hype heading into the last preseason game?

Former Washington Redskins 6th round draft pick Colt Brennan passed away at the way-too-young age of 37 last year. 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 from 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 Keenan “the Barbarian” Robinson Amendment: only 6th round draft picks or later for their first two years in the league

The Nominees:

Armani Rogers, TE - UDFA (2022) - The “Last Man Standing” has some competition in the 3rd preseason game from two players added this week, but he’s a survivor.

The tight end room has already lost one player to retirement(AGG) and on to injury(M/B All-timer Sammis Reyes). They are also dealing with injuries to Logan Thomas, John Bates, and rookies Cole Turner and Curtis Hodges.

Jacub Panasiuk, DE - UDFA (2022) - Jacub “Half Sack” Panasiuk has split sacks with David Bada and Shaka Toney over the first two preseason games.

Daniel Wise, DE - FA (2021) - A lock to make the roster, shouldn’t be on this list but here we are after a quiet game last week.

David Bada, DE - IPP (2019 - I saw someone ask if this was the year that Bada actually makes the team with a chance to play in a real game this week. ¹⁄₂ sack Week 1.

Dax Milne, WR - 7th round (2021) - The late round WR is a preseason darling, and a roster lock, and the starting punt returner, and sleeper, and...

Chris Paul, OL 7th Round Pick (2022) - Chris Paul has had a quiet offseason, but I continue to hear hype about him being a future key piece to the OL. Washington fans love them some OL hype!

Adam Monteiro, OL, FA (2022) - Who the hell is Adam Monteiro? He was your starting right guard vs the Chiefs last week!

Steven Parker, S, FA (2022) - Parker didn’t record a stat vs the Chiefs last week, but was a wrecking ball in the first preseason game. Expect some more big hits vs the Ravens as Parker fights for a spot.

Reminder:

Milo Eifler, LB, FA (2021) - Massive omission after his hard-hitting preseason Week 1 performance against the Panthers. Similar to Parker, the M/BPHA executive committee is expecting some big hits in Baltimore.

Reminder: