The National Hockey League announced earlier today that Washington Capitals defenseman John Erskine has been suspended three games for an elbow to the head of Philadelphia Flyers' forward Wayne Simmonds during last night's 3-2 Caps win.

Erskine had raised his elbow during a 50-50 battle for the puck, striking Simmonds in the side of the head. Flyers General Manager Mike Holmgren confirmed on Saturday that Simmonds had suffered a concussion on the play.

Erskine was in the midst of a very good start to the season, having recorded two points and looking like one of the better Caps defenseman through his five games. The Caps will likely call one of Roman Hamrlik or Tom Poti during Erskine's absence.

A fantastic rookie year for Washington Redskins quarterback and second overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft culminated tonight in the only way it could -- Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year awward for Robert Griffin III. Griffin had already won the Sporting News Rookie of the Year award.

"Well, it’s a truly a blessing to be up here and be able to stand, first and foremost,” said Griffin accepting the award. “I had a tough injury there at the end of the season. I thank our coaches, thank our players. I want to give a hand clap for Alfred Morris, who’s also up for this award. All the competition for this award was extremely good. … It seems like the league’s in good hands with the young quarterbacks," he added, referencing other star rookie passers like Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts, the first overall pick in the Draft, and Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks, a third round selection. 

Griffin walked with a slight limp, having relied on crutches for the past two weeks since having recontructive surgery on his right knee to repair the torn ACL. 

Griffin completed 65.6 percent of his passes this year, averaging 8.1 yards per attempt, both numbers among the best in the entire league. Griffin threw for 20 touchdowns and ran for another seven against only five interceptions and two fumbles lost. Griffin's 815 rushing yards [6.8 yards per attempt] is the most in NFL history by a rookie quarterback. His passer rating of 102.4 is the highest in NFL history for a rookie and he became the first rookie quarterback since Dan Marino in 1983 to be originally selected to the Pro Bowl.

More than any other sporting event, the Super Bowl is loaded with prop bets. Prop bets are wagers on anything but the traditional point spread or over/under.

You don't have to be stats guy either to enjoy these wagers. The number listed is the amount of winnings (+) or losses (-) based on a $100 bet.

How long will Alicia Keys's national anthem go on for?
Over 2:15: -110
Under 2:15: -110

Will Beyoncé's hair be straight or curly/crimped at the beginning of the halftime show?
Straight: -140
Curly/crimped: Even

Will Beyoncé be joined onstage by Jay-Z during the Halftime Show at any point?
Yes: +110
No: -150

How will the opening coin toss land?
Heads: -102
Tails: -102

These are just a few of MANY available at Bovada sport book.

Replacing a legend is never easy, especially when the court you play on has his name on it. Gary Williams was one of the most popular coaches in Maryland history and one of the most familiar faces in the DC Metro area. Gary retired following the 2010-'11 season and a nationwide search ended in College Station with then Texas A&M coach Mark Turgeon.

Turgeon is in his second season in College Park and ten students have created a new tradition, "Turgeonites". The group wears suits and cheer on the Terps from behind the Maryland bench. The group actually began last season and considered hanging it up, but say due to overwhelming support from family and on message boards, brought it back this season.

I was the guest today on NewsTalk with Bruce DePuyt on News Channel 8 today and we had the full hour to ourselves to talk about the upcoming Super Bowl between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens. We discussed which team Redskins fans will be rooting for on Sunday and we took a fun and nostalgic look back 25 years ago, when the Redskins won the Super Bowl in historic fashion, 42-10 over the Denver Broncos, with Super Bowl MVP Doug Williams leading the way. Included is an interview with Doug Williams, who discussed that great game and his relationship to the Redskins and the fans. 

Enjoy.

If you are going to raise ticket prices, what better time than following a Divisional title, right?

General Admission ticket prices are going up as much as ten percent, the first increase in seven seasons according to the team. Parking is also going up, a pass will cost you $40 this season.

Fans may begin renewing their season packages beginning on Monday.

There was a time when Redskins Nation stretched far into the Southeast. Facebook has released a county by county map detailing NFL fandom and it seems the 'Skins domination now lies mainly in the District and Virginia. This may contribute to the team's plans for Training Camp in Richmond for at least the next ten seasons.

Time for an updated DC Pro Sports Report stock report.  Let's take a look at who's stock is UP and who's stock is DOWN. 

STOCK UP:

F Matt Hendricks:  The gutsy and gritty forward for the Washington Capitals has been one of the most consistent players in this awful start to a season.  One thing you can't do is question the effort of Hendricks.  He has stood up for fights to fire his team up, plays and skates hard each shift, and tries to stir up the Caps.  Hendricks also isn't afraid to take a beating and hang out in front of the opposing net.  It's called net presence.  Wish others would do it.  Unfortunately for Hendricks, there is just too much going wrong for the Washington Capitals right now. 

F Mike Ribeiro:  Ribeiro has 6 points in 6 games.  He lead the Washington Capitals in assists and overall points.  He has been consistent on offense and has provided what the Caps expected of him. 

F Joel Ward:  Again, you can see the descriptions of Hendricks and Ribeiro above and apply them to Ward.  Ward certainly looks like the player the Caps expected when they signed him two years ago, rather than last year.  This year Ward is healthy, having fully recovered from a sports hernia he suffered form last season.  In five games, Ward has recorded 3 goals and 2 assists.  Ward, like Hendricks, will hang out and provide some net presence.  Anyone expect Ward to lead the Caps in goals scored at the sixgame mark? 

C Emeka Okafor:  The Wizards center has been sensational the last three games.  Over that course, Okafor has average 17.6 points per game while grabbing an average of 16 rebounds per game, including a 17 rebound effort against Philadelphia last night.  Despite losing to Sacramento, Okafor dropped 23 points while grabbing 15 rebounds. 

STOCK DOWN:

F Alex Ovechkin:  The team Captain has been nearly non-existent this season.  He is continuing to use moves in the offensive zone that are old and predcitable.  In the first 6 games of the season, Ovi has tallied just 1 goal and 1 assist with a -2.  Quite frankly, from what we have watched develop over the last two season in Ovi's game, I suspect it won't get much better until Alex decides that a change in the way he plays might be fruitful.  Ovi provided one bad entarnce into the offensive zone in overtime against New Jersey that led tot he Devils decisive goal in overtime.  I've said it before and say it again, the "C" needs placed elsehwere while Ovi works on his game.  Perhaps, the first step, could be consisteny in lines from bench boss Adam Oates.  How can we expect line chemistry to develop when lines are constantly shifted?  For Ovi, this decline has been happening for nearly two seasons. 

C Nicklas Backstrom:  The fact that Backstrom is not producing at the same time Ovi is not producing has compounded the problems for the Caps.  You want to look at why the Capitals are 1-4-1, one of the main reason is the lack of production from Line 1.  In six games, Backstrom has just 3 assists and is a -2.  The Washington stars are absent.  Stop blaming the system and adaptation thereto.  That doesn't work whyen you see guys like Ribeiro, Ward, and Hendricks playing well. 

Bradley Beal:  The Wizards rookie is hurt again.

Jan Vesely:  Washington's 2011 first rounder has played just 6 minutes in the last 3 games for a mere 2 points.  The 2011 draft has been a nightmare and Ernie Grunfield needs to be accountable.  Part of the problem the Wiz have with Vesely is there is no real role for him on this team. Another words --- he is nothing more than a draft bust and waste for a team that can't afford to waste draft picks.

Chris Singleton:  Another 2011 first rounder that appears to have absolutely no role to play on this team.  In the last three games, Singleton has contributed 0 minutes.

P Gio Gonzalez:  Gonzalez had a bad past few days.  Being named in a Miami news article as having ties to PEDs with Biogenesis is not good for one's reputation.  By placing Gonzalez here, we do not offer judgment.  If true, what was pruchased in Gio's name appears to not have any ingredients on the MLB ban list.  Gio headed for suspension?  Doubtful.  He is listed here because, regardless of the turnout, being linked with a story like this, harms a reputation, something Gio will have to deal with.  Not a good week for Gio.  

With the Washington Capitals struggling to get traction for the start of this season, Caps owner Ted Leonsis was on WTOP today to take caller questions.  When asked about the Caps and Alex Ovechkin's season start, Leonsis held nothing back. 

“Well, we’re concerned too,” Leonsis said. “I’m not so sure that [team] scoring’s gonna be an issue, but it has been to date. And Alex is off to a slow start….He’s having to get integrated into this new system….He needs to play better. I don’t have the answers. Obviously I’m not running the hockey operations. If I knew what to do, I would go see George and Adam, but I don’t, so they’re gonna have to work it out.”

Not a surprise.  Ovechkin has just 1 point in six games.  His struggled last season have carried over into this season.  It is pretty clear that what Brcue Boudreau and Dale Hunter thought was wrong with Ovechkin, so does Adam Oates.  His style of play has just become to predictable.  His moves, the drag moves, are all too common and defenders have easily adapted.  While Cap fans would like to think of Ovi as one of the elite of the NHL, the numbers and his level of play show a different picture.  I suspect, until Ovi himself is ready to try and adjust and change his game, the continues spiral he has been in the last season and now this one will simply continue.  Only Alex Ovechkin can change Alex Ovechkin.  Just ask Boudreau and Hunter.    

Washington Nationals manager Davey Johnson turns 70 years old today.  After winning the franchise's first division title last year and first playoff appearance, Johnson was given a one year extension to manage the Nationals for the 2013 season.  On behalf our readers, we wish Davey a very happy birthday!!!

Other news --- Gio Gonzalez

As you learned yesterday, Nationals' star pitcher Gio Gonzalez has been engulfed in a new performance enhancing drug story.  The story originated from a Miami news article yesterday that named Alex Rodriguez, Melky Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, and Gio as customers of a Miami based Biogensis, which has been under investigation by the DEA and Major League Baseball. 

Since that story broke, Gio Gonzalez has emphatically denied involvement via his Twitter account. 

“I’ve never used performance enhancing drugs of any kind and I never will,” Gonzalez wrote. “I’ve never met or spoken with tony Bosch or used any substance ... Provided by him.anything said to the contrary is a lie.”

And finally, here is the statement from Major League Baseball.

“We are always extremely disappointed to learn of potential links between players and the use of performance-enhancing substances,” the statement read, in part. “These developments, however, provide evidence of the comprehensive nature of our anti-drug efforts.  Through our Department of Investigations, we have been actively involved in the issues in South Florida.  It is also important to note that three of the players allegedly involved have already been disciplined under the Joint Drug Program. ….

The notation by Biogenesis indicated a $1000 sale of zinc, MIC and Aminorip.  When reviewing the MLB Banned Drug list, none of these ingredients appear on the list.  Even at that, Gonzalez denied purchasing anything.  His father, Max Gonzalez, did indicate that he purchased products from Biogenesis in an attempt to lose weight, but his son purchased nothing.