NFL: 7 Washington Redskins Experts to Follow on Twitter

According to Robert Griffin III, the world of Twitter is "a renowned phenomenon."  That's an interesting observation, because the Washington Redskins could use the same phrase to market Griffin, whose is expected to be the next great phenom to grace the gridiron.  

As the Redskins' newly labeled savior, Griffin has a lot to absorb as a rookie quarterback.  But recently, we learned that he has added Twitter to his first-season studies.

Our advice to RG3?  Focus on your playbook, but if you feel obligated to tweet, like many of your teammates do, tread carefully and follow the lead of the Redskins' most respected Twitter experts.    

For the sake of this slideshow, we will refer to them as 'The Super Seven', in honor of Griffin, who will be singularly responsible for guiding Washington on drives that lead to seven points.

'The Super Seven' consist of true insiders, who have credentialed access to the team, its players, coaches and decision-makers.  But they would likely be the first to warn Griffin about misinterpreted tweets, tweeted opinions that should stay in house, and the consequences that can arise when his emotions travel from the field to his fingertips.  

Former D.C. Mayor Marion Barry should heed that advice, but it's far too late for him.  

Cindy Boren: Washington Post

The following journalists who tweet about the Redskins are listed in no particular order, but out of respect for Cindy Boren, ladies go first.

During her tenure at the Washington Post, Boren has been commended for her work as the publication's Redskins Editor, but she has a distinct advantage over her peers, as the paper's Social Media Editor for Sports.

Tweeting comes easily to Boren, whose distinguished career and creative flare makes her stand out.  But she's never afraid to ruffle the feathers of the Redskins, who shocked the football world, when they chose Michigan Sate quarterback Kirk Cousins in the fourth round.  

"

6 MayCindy Boren ‏@CindyBoren

QB controversy kiboshed. So early ... sigh. RT @MikeJonesWaPo: Shanahan on @RGIII: "He's the starter. Period."

 

"

Kelli Johnson: Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic

Through sheer talent and her considerable depth of knowledge, Kelli Johnson has garnered a reputation as one of Washington's most influential female sports reporters.  And on the Redskins beat, there may not be a more thorough and relentless journalist, who earned the organization's respect from her earliest days covering the team.  

Comcast SportsNet Mid-Atlantic is cable television's "Home of the Redskins" and a place Johnson has grown comfortable working at, but it can't be long before the offers to go national are too hard to resist.  

Former colleagues Sage Steele (ESPN) and Scott Hanson (NFL Network) have already paved the path to the big-time from the regional network's Mid-Atlantic offices in Bethesda, Maryland.  But Johnson is as popular and versatile as Steele and Hanson were during their time in DC.  

She also represents the network at a number of charity events, including the upcoming CHADD Charity Golf Classic, which benefits people affected by Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

There may not be a Redskins story Kelli hasn't covered or tweeted about the past couple of years.  

One of the most memorable I recall was an afternoon she spent running routes with wide receiver Santana Moss.  He put her to the test, to see if she could play the part and Johnson gladly obliged.  She was a bit awkward out of her breaks, but appeared fearless over the middle and may have surprised herself with a few catches she snared out of the air.  Moss certainly was impressed, until he learned that Johnson was a former Division 1 basketball star at the University of Idaho.  

Mark Maske: Washington Post

When it comes to the Redskins, the Washington Post has its share of excellent columnists, such as Tom Boswell and Leonard Shapiro.  Jason Reid covered the beat for a while before being recently promoted.  They also have talented writers, who either cover the Redskins as beat reporters or blog about them online.  Mike Jones and Dan Steinberg are great sources for breaking news and humor, but the man to turn to on Twitter is Mark Maske.

I say that because Maske's responsibilities nowadays are league-wide.  According to his Post profile page, he previously held the gig of Redskins beat reporter, but in 2004, the Post asked him to analyze Washington's role as one of the NFL's most lucrative franchises.  

Maske's coverage and tweets are primarily focused on Washington's weekly opponents, especially those that reside in the NFC East.  From the Redskins bitter rivalries with Dallas and Philadelphia to their clashes with the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, Maske is the Post's go-to guy from media day on Wednesday to game day on Sunday.       

Chris Russell: ESPN980: Redskins Radio, YSportsRadio

In addition to tweeting, Chris Russell has a one of the more recognizable voices on radio in Washington, as host of ESPN980's Redskins coverage.

Russell is also the doting father of two children, who have the good fortune of accompanying their Dad to special events that feature the Skins and their coaching staff.  Russell enjoys the perks that come from working for a radio outfit that's owned by Redskins owner Daniel Snyder.  But his position also gives him access to information that other reporters are not always privy to.

To view tweets that have an organizational flavor to them, keep an eye on Russell's twitter feed.  

Chris Russell‏@Russellmania980

My awesome son Tyler & my beautiful daughter Natalie w/ Mike Shanahan at@GDSFoundation @87ed "Dare to Play"‪#Redskins‬ pic.twitter.com/Oj1K51Z

Photobucket12:38 PM - 2 Jun 12 via Twitter for Android 

"

Tweet2 JunSave the Skins ‏@savetheskins

@Russellmania980 beautiful kids!

2 JunGlobal Down Syndrome ‏@GDSFoundation

"

@Russellmania980 beautiful!

Rich Tandler: CSN Washington, RealRedskins.com

As a Redskins insider, Rich Tandler has become efficient at social media, but he's a traditional journalist at heart.  Tandler blogs about the team's daily activities and tweets about them too, but only after he double and triple checks his sources to verify that information is clear, correct and factual.  

Remember at the beginning of this slide show, when I wrote that Robert Griffin III described Twitter as a renowned phenomenon?  That came from Tandler's RealRedskins.com, a blog he started in 2004.  As his breaking news article suggests, he's meticulous with research and 'dotted his i's and crossed his t's', before releasing his information to the masses.   

As a contributor to CSN Washington, Tandler is a trusted source of Redskins news for the television sports network's online hub.  But perhaps his most telling characteristic is his humbleness for having the good life at home, without the riches of the world class athletes he covers. Check out the masthead of his twitter page to see for yourself.

John Keim: Washington Examiner

John Keim is a highly respected sportswriter for the Washington Examiner and chairman of the D.C. chapter of the Pro Football Writers of America.  So trust me when I tell you that he's a valuable source of wisdom and information of all things Redskins.  

He is also author of the Redskins Confidential Blog, which includes a smorgasbord of must-reads, such as Redskins Notes and Analysis and the RG3 Report.  And if you are on the run, be sure to check out his Redskins Email Report that can also be viewed on the Examiner’s mobile apps for smart phones and iPads.

The minute I read Keim's content online and on Twitter, I bookmarked his pages and you should too.  

I especially like the fact that Keim pulls no punches when describing the Redskins' paranoia with social media.  

According to Keim, things turned ugly in September of 2010, when Daniel Snyder abruptly changed the guidelines of the team's media policy.  Check out this column by TBD.com's Erik Wemple and the comments in it by Keim.

Rick Maese: Washington Post

Rick Maese is a proud native of the great state of New Mexico, but he loves residing in the nation's capital. 

According to his Washington Post profile page, Maese had previous gigs at the Baltimore Sun, the Orlando Sentinel and The Albuquerque Tribune.  But his new found joy comes from covering the Redskins for the town's most popular newspaper.  

Word of Maese's hiring spread fast in 2009 and he has felt at home ever since.

Maese may have one of the more eclectic photos representing his Twitter page, but he's all business when it comes to tweeting about the Skins.

You also have to respect his honesty in trying to describe what he has initially seen in RG3.

"

23 AprRick Maese ‏@RickMaese

His confidence is striking. Not sure he's cocky. Just lacks insecurities, it seems. Maybe it's fine line. Didnt seem to have bad impact @ BU

Here's our RGIII profile from Sunday's paper http://wapo.st/IKeudc.Really enjoyed meeting him & family. Interested to see how he fares in DC.

"