Graham Gano Fantasy News

Monday, August 22, 2011, 1:30pm

Immediately after the Washington Redskins’ preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Friday, coach Mike Shanahan said quarterback John Beck “did a good job.” But for the most part, the coach remained tight-lipped on what he thought of Beck’s first live audition for the Redskins’ starting quarterback job.

Two days later, after reviewing film of Beck’s 14-for-17, 140-yard performance, Shanahan praised the quarterback for his execution and decision making.

“I was pleased with John’s play after looking at the film,” Shanahan said of Beck, who spread the ball around to 10 different pass-catchers while pacing the Redskins on drives of 80, 45, 74 and 84 yards.

Beck didn’t throw a touchdown pass, and only one of the drives led to a touchdown (a 1-yard run by Tim Hightower). The others resulted in Graham Gano field goals. Beck was sacked three times. But Shanahan said he didn’t find fault in Beck’s decision to hold onto the ball those three plays.

Sunday, August 14, 2011, 4:48pm

The Washington Redskins have cut auditioning veteran kicker Shayne Graham two days after he missed a pair of field goals in Friday night’s preseason opener.

Graham was trying to unseat Graham Gano, who struggled last season but made all three field goal attempts on Friday.

Graham, the third most accurate kicker in league history, had struggled in practice last week and couldn’t redeem himself Friday. It wasn’t immediately clear if the Redskins would bring in another kicker to compete with Gano.

Saturday, August 28, 2010, 11:28am

Mark Sanchez and the New York Jets' offense started slow and sputtered often.

Again.

Washington's Albert Haynesworth hasn't been happy with his situation, either. But it appeared the big defensive lineman was calling a bit of a truce with coach Mike Shanahan after the Redskins' 16-11 victory over Jets in a snoozer Friday night.

"I'm going over for dinner to his house, probably tonight," Haynesworth said. "We'll sit, have a cigar and talk. What I said last week is behind me. I don't even remember what I said."

Haynesworth, who missed numerous practices because of a failed conditioning test, a sore knee and then an illness, said Shanahan underplayed his medical condition.

Reports said Haynesworth was suffering from a muscle condition called rhabdomyolysis, but Shanahan told AOL Fanhouse last Sunday he was "not aware of that." Shanahan had given various reasons for Haynesworth's inability to practice, eventually attributing it to a headache.

Haynesworth complained about being out with the backups in the third quarter of Washington's 23-3 loss to Baltimore last week. He was on the field with the starters late in the opening quarter of this one.

"That's what they wanted to do this week, so I practiced a lot at end to get a feel for it," said Haynesworth, who entered the game with about 2 minutes left in the first quarter and finished with one tackle. "I still got a lot of work to do."

So do the Jets, whose late touchdown was only their second in three preseason games.

Far from the explosive offense many of the Jets predict they'll be, New York struggled until Sanchez connected with Dustin Keller for a 10-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter.

Larry Johnson, competing with Clinton Portis and Willie Parker for a spot in the backfield for the Redskins (2-1), caught a screen pass from Richard Bartel and rumbled 15 yards for the winning score with 2:13 left.

Looking to rebound from a poor performance against Carolina last weekend, the Jets (1-2) were hurt by four turnovers and missed opportunities.

Sanchez finished 13 of 21 for 139 yards and an interception in just over three quarters for the Jets.

Rex Grossman started for the injured Donovan McNabb for Washington, and went 8 of 16 for 111 yards. Without McNabb, who missed the game with a sprained left ankle, the Redskins' first-team offense couldn't do much against the Jets' starters on defense, but Washington still led in the fourth quarter.

After Graham Gano's third field goal of the game gave Washington a 9-5 lead with 6:46 left in the third quarter, Sanchez and the offense were given one more chance to get something going.

This time, they delivered. Finally.

Sanchez completed three third-down passes - a situation the Jets were only 1 of 7 until that point. On third-and-9 from the 20, running back LaDanian Tomlinson caught a 9-yard pass for a first down to end the third quarter.

After Shonn Greene's 1-yard run, Sanchez found tight end Dustin Keller over the middle, and Keller stretched the ball over the goal line to give New York the 11-9 lead with 14:18 left - but Nick Folk clunked the extra point attempt off the left upright.

Sanchez got the Jets down to the Redskins 13 midway through the second quarter, but made a bad throw intended for Keller that was intercepted by DeAngelo Hall.

Washington took advantage, converting the turnover into points with Gano's 42-yard field goal with 5:10 left that made it 6-3.

Right after the 2-minute warning, Grossman couldn't handle a shotgun snap that tipped off his hands and bounced into the end zone. The Redskins quarterback kicked the ball out of the back of the end zone for a safety - making it a 6-5.

Jets LB Calvin Pace suffered a foot injury and Ryan said he will likely miss a few weeks. Larry Johnson had 42 yards on nine carries, while Willie Parker got the start and had eight rushes for 16 yards.

Avoid WAS K Gano - he's now questionable
Saturday, December 19, 2009, 8:03pm

The Redskins didn't practice today because of the weather, but there was still some movement on the injury report.

The good news: defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who's missed the team's past two games, is listed as probable for Monday night's game against the Giants.

The bad news: several other players are questionable, including Graham Gano, the only kicker on the roster, who has been bothered all week by a foot injury.

With practice canceled, players are unavailable for interviews today. And Gano's Twitter account did little to clarify his status. He tweeted this afternoon: "U take me outta Florida but u can't take Florida outta me...I'm wearin sandals in the snow."

More on kicker Graham Gano
Tuesday, December 8, 2009, 10:06pm

Updating a previous news story, Graham Gano was signed by the Washington Redskins today.

He was signed by the Ravens in 2009 but did not make the cut as Steve Hauschka got the job.

Before entering the NFL, Gano kicked for Florida State.

Gano has said his work ethic is something he takes pride in, "I plan on making that a mainstay in my career. My conditioning and preparation...".

We believe Gano is more than capable of making long field goals and he can place the ball well on shorter kickoffs.

In college, Gano handled pressure well, making his share of pressure filled field goals. In addition, he's actually not a bad punter as well.

On the down side, his kickoff distance could become an issue in the NFL.

Redskins cut kicker Shaun Suisham
Tuesday, December 8, 2009, 6:08pm

Redskins cut kicker Shaun Suisham and signed kicker Graham Gano.

Hauschka wins Ravens kicking job
Saturday, September 5, 2009, 9:31pm

The Ravens have cut rookie Graham Gano, meaning second-year pro Steve Hauschka has won the kicker job.

Saturday, September 5, 2009, 9:30pm

The Baltimore Ravens have cut defensive tackle Nadir Abdallah; fullback Jason Cook; wideouts Justin Harper, Yamon Figurs, Jayson Foster, Ernie Wheelwirght and Eron Riley; safety K.J. Gerard; kicker Graham Gano; center Robby Felix; linebacker Tony Fein; tight end Isaac Smolko; cornerback Evan Oglesby; offensive tackles Stefan Rodgers and Tre' Stallings; and linebacker William Van DeSteeg.

The Ravens also placed linebacker Jason Phillips on Injured Reserve with a knee injury and reached an injury settlement with defensive tackle Will Johnson because of a shoulder injury.

Saturday, September 5, 2009, 6:27pm

Graham Gano has been cut and Steve Hauschka has been named the Ravens' new starting kicker.

Hauschka keeps leg up in kicking competition
Friday, September 4, 2009, 3:49pm

Ravens coach John Harbaugh wouldn't declare Steve Hauschka the winner of the kicking battle Thursday night, but the second-year player did his best to make the decision easier.

Hauschka converted both of his field goals in the Ravens' preseason finale, including an impressive 46-yarder late in the fourth quarter.

"I knew my job was probably riding on it," Hauschka said of the 46-yard field goal. "So I felt some pressure on that one."

After coming under scrutiny for missing a 27-yard field goal Saturday, Hauschka bounced back to finish six of seven on field goals for the preseason (85.7 percent). Hauschka's competitor, rookie Graham Gano, didn't attempt a field goal Thursday.

Harbaugh declined to name Hauschka his kicker after the game but said, "Coming out there and making that last kick was good."

Saturday, August 29, 2009, 3:58pm

Ravens Kicker Steve Hauschka might seal up the job with another solid performance. He has outplayed rookie Graham Gano, making three field goals this preseason. Gano has missed his past two attempts (from 28 yards and 46 yards).