This week’s email report, which will be sent out Friday morning, includes a question and answer session with former Redskins tackle Jon Jansen.He was always an enjoyable interview when I covered him because he was honest and respectful. There aren’t many players I can legitimately say it meant something to them to play for the Redskins, but Jansen was one of them.
He owns a gym in northern Michigan that will open soon. And he’s enjoying being a dad, too.
“It’s been great. I get to spend all the time I want to with them and shuffle them back and forth to school and be there to pick them up,” he said. “Up here, we do a lot of ice fishing and skiing this time of year and they’re into all of that. Ellie will be up on ski’s this weekend.”
Among the highlights:
… He offers his opinion on several Big Ten players, having seen them up close as an analyst for the Big Ten Network this season. Talked to him about QBs Kirk Cousins and Russell Wilson. He likes one of them a lot.
“I won’t compare [Cousins] to Tom [Brady] but I will say that Tom has obviously been a much better pro quarterback than he was in college and the same will hold true with Kirk.”
…He talked about two tackles: Iowa’s Riley Reiff and Ohio State’s Mike Adams. He has questions about both.Should one of them switch sides?
…He loved playing in Washington, but “other than talking to [BJ Blanchard] I have not heard a word from the organization since they released me. I’m a little disappointed….I would very much like to get re-acquainted with the Redskins and be a part of the family.”
…Jansen discussed how his daily routine had changed by the end of his career because of injuries. He was unable to always climb the stairs to go to bed at night.
…And perhaps the best one: the prank pulled by Brett Conway on Jansen (after Jansen and a few cohorts painted a moustache and beard on Conway’s face following the 1999 NFC East clinching win at San Francisco). It’s always been one of my favorite anecdotes.
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