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Matthew Paras

mparas@washingtontimes.com

Matthew Paras was a digital sports writer for the Washington Times.

Articles by Matthew Paras

Fedex Field scoreboard displays the Washington Football Team name during warmups before the start of a NFL football game between Washington Football Team and Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, in Landover, Md. Washington has dumped its 86-year-old team name, handed over an investigation into workplace misconduct to the NFL, seen minority owners and Dan Snyder battle it out in court, coach Ron Rivera battle a form of skin cancer and reached the playoffs on the arm of a quarterback who hadn't played in two years because of an injury that looked career-threatening. All in a few months' work for arguably the biggest soap opera in professional sports with a playoff game against Tom Brady up next. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) **FILE**

Washington implements indoor mask policy at FedEx Field

Fans will be required to wear a mask indoors for Friday's preseason game at FedEx Field -- regardless of vaccination status ---- as part of Prince George's County's mask mandate, the Washington Football Team announced Tuesday.

August 17, 2021
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts to a call during Game 6 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Phoenix Suns Thursday, Jun 3, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) **FILE**

Wizards, as usual, left off NBA’s Christmas showcase

The NBA released its annual five-game Christmas slate Tuesday for the upcoming season -- headlined by a marquee matchup between the Brooklyn Nets and the Los Angeles Lakers. The day, unsurprisingly, leaves out the Washington Wizards -- who haven't played on Christmas since they took on the Celtics in 2017.

August 17, 2021
Washington Football Team quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick directs players at the line of scrimmage during an NFL preseason football game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)

Fitzpatrick, receivers develop ‘second-nature’ chemistry

There were so many factors that went into Washington's first passing play in last week's game against the New England Patriots. There was Ryan Fitzpatrick's patience. There was receiver Terry McLaurin's release. Most importantly, there was the growing chemistry between the two.

August 17, 2021
Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Tavon Austin (34) catches a pass in front of tight end Tim Tebow (85) and Cleveland Browns safety Jovante Moffatt (35) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Jaguars cut Tim Tebow, end comeback bid as tight end

The Jacksonville Jaguars released Tim Tebow on Tuesday, pulling the plug on the former Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback's latest quest to extend his playing career, this time as a tight end.

August 17, 2021
Washington Football Team coach Ron Rivera watches play during the second half of the team's preseason NFL football game against the New England Patriots, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Ron Rivera unloads on ‘a———s’ spreading vaccine misinformation

Ron Rivera pushed back against vaccine misinformation in a recent article and doubled down on his comments when speaking to reporters Monday. The Washington coach said he was concerned the country was "sliding backwards" as COVID-19 cases have surged in recent weeks due to the Delta variant.

August 16, 2021
Washington Football Team kicker Dustin Hopkins (3) kicks a 45-yard field goal during the second half of an NFL football game in Pittsburgh, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. Washington won 23-17. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger) **FILE**

Washington needs to fix kicking game struggles in a snap

When Washington opted not to re-sign long-snapper Nick Sundberg this offseason and instead traded up for sixth-rounder Camaron Cheeseman, punter Tress Way found himself in a new position. Suddenly, he was the one going over small details with the rookie. He said he realized the difference in Thursday's preseason game.

August 16, 2021
Washington Football Team defensive end Chase Young (99) during the second half of a preseason NFL football game, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Chase Young clocks in at 61 among NFL’s Top 100

Chase Young has respect among his peers. The Washington defensive end ranked No. 61 in the NFL's annual Top 100 players survey -- voted on by players around the league. Former Washington left tackle Trent Williams, who now plays for San Francisco, called Young a "transcendent talent" in the video package that aired on NFL Network about Young's season.

August 16, 2021
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Curtis Samuel (10) runs past Kansas City Chiefs free safety Daniel Sorensen (49) to score during the first half of an NFL football game in Kansas City, Mo., Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner) **FILE**

Washington plans to slowly ‘ramp up’ Samuel

Washington activated Samuel, the team's prized offseason signing, off the Physically Unable to Perform list Sunday -- but the team plans to slowly work the wide receiver back into the fold. Coach Ron Rivera made no guarantees the 25-year-old would play in the preseason, telling reporters Samuel will work with head trainer Ryan Vermillion to rehabilitate a groin injury.

August 15, 2021
Washington Football Team tight end Sammis Reyes (80) works against a sled during practice at the team's NFL football training facility, Monday, Aug. 9, 2021, in Ashburn, Va. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) **FILE**

Reyes has to fight to make Washington’s roster; he’s bringing it

Sammis Reyes, a former college basketball turned tight end, played a position-high 33 snaps Thursday in what amounted to his first organized game of football in his life. Reyes, after all, began training for football just last year after spending most of his life focused on playing basketball. And in his debut, Reyes was better than expected.

August 15, 2021
FILE - In this Dec. 19, 2020, file photo, Carolina Panthers' Curtis Samuel reaches for a pass that fell incomplete during the first half of the team's NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers in Green Bay, Wis. Washington has filled an important void at wide receiver after coming to terms with a quarterback and cornerback. Samuel has agreed to sign with Washington, according to a person with knowledge of the move. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday, March 17, 2021, because the team had not announced the deal. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer, File)

Samuel activated off PUP list, Kelvin Harmon released

Washington activated the wide receiver off the Physically Unable to Perform list Sunday, easing Samuel back into practice. Samuel, the team's prized free-agent signing in the offseason, had yet to practice in training camp and had been sidelined since June. He also missed a stretch in camp when on the COVID-19 reserve list.

August 15, 2021
New England Patriots quarterback Cam Newton, right, is sacked by Washington Football Team defensive end Chase Young (99) during the first quarter of a preseason NFL football game, Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Ryan Fitzpatrick flashes, Chase Young dominates in Washington’s preseason loss to Patriots

Washington came up short in Thursday's 22-13 loss, but it did manage to put solid drives together, even if the team failed to capitalize fully on some opportunities. Ryan Fitzpatrick, making his debut in a Washington uniform, led the offense down the field for two drives. Chase Young, the reigning Defensive Rookie of the Year, looks like he could be a candidate to bring home more hardware this year.

August 12, 2021
FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 2, 2020, file photo, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder listens to head coach Ron Rivera during a news conference at the team's NFL football training facility, in Ashburn, Va. The NFL has fined the Washington Football Team $10 million and owner Dan Snyder is stepping away from day-to-day operations after an independent investigation into the organization’s workplace misconduct. The team was not stripped of any draft picks as part of the league’s discipline that was announced Thursday, July 1, 2021. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Dan Snyder attends first Washington preseason game

Despite ceding day-to-day operations of his football team to his wife, Tanya, owner Dan Snyder was at Washington's preseason opener Thursday against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

August 12, 2021
Washington Football Team offensive tackle Sam Cosmi (76) at the team's NFL football training camp practice in Ashburn, Va., Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Humble beginnings: Sam Cosmi’s Texas upbringing prepares him for NFL life

Cosmi's camp has seen the young player tested daily by star pass-rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Young, for example, said the best thing he could do for Cosmi is to focus on "destroying" him every day. That type of daily grind can overwhelm some rookies. Cosmi, though, has grown from the experience.

August 12, 2021
In this May 18, 2019 file photo, Baltimore Orioles' Chris Davis swings for the final out in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Indians in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File) **FILE**

Chris Davis announces retirement from Orioles

Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis announced his retirement Thursday, citing back and hip injuries that have caused him to miss the entire 2021 season. The 35-year-old steps away after 13 seasons in the majors.

August 12, 2021
Oklahoma City Thunder forward Darius Bazley, left, shoots as Los Angeles Lakers center Montrezl Harrell defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Feb. 8, 2021, in Los Angeles. The Lakers won 119-112 in overtime. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Harrell arrives to Wizards unsure of role, but with perspective

After the Wizards acquired him in the Russell Westbrook deal, Harrell again lands on a roster that has two other legitimate centers: Daniel Gafford and Thomas Bryant. New coach Wes Unseld Jr. will have to balance minutes for a roster that's deeper than last year when Washington's three big man rotation surprisingly worked under Scott Brooks.

August 11, 2021
FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2020, file photo, Los Angeles Lakers' Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, left, and Kyle Kuzma celebrate in the closing minutes of the team's win over the Houston Rockets in an NBA conference semifinal playoff basketball game in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The Lakers are acquiring All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook from the Washington Wizards for three players and this year's first-round draft pick.According to two people with knowledge of the deal, the Lakers are trading Kuzma, Caldwell-Pope and Montrezl Harrell to Washington for Westbrook. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)

Kuzma, Caldwell-Pope bring defensive presence to Wizards

Before he gave any inclination that he wanted to trade Russell Westbrook, general manager Tommy Sheppard's wish list for the Washington Wizards centered around one idea. He wanted to get the team better at defense.

August 10, 2021
In this March 4, 2020, file photo, Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie looks to pass the ball during the team's NBA basketball game against the Memphis Grizzlies in New York. The Washington Wizards have agreed to a $62 million, three-year deal with Dinwiddie, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement. The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday, Aug. 4, because the deal had not been announced, said Dinwiddie is heading to the Wizards in a sign-and-trade. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File) **FILE**

Dinwiddie feels ‘love’ from Beal and Wizards

For Dinwiddie, Beal's endorsement went a long way. Recovering from a partially torn anterior cruciate ligament, Dinwiddie said Monday he was excited to team up with Beal and the Wizards as he embraces a bigger role than he had in Brooklyn.

August 9, 2021