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          NFL Nation

          Silent treatment: Su'a Cravens ignores calls from Cowboys-loving mom

          Redskins rookie Su'a Cravens on his mom, Yolanda, being a Dallas fan: "My grandma texted me [Monday] saying, 'Don't beat up on my Cowboys'. My grandpa, before he passed, was a Cowboys fan as well. I guess my mom was born into it and stuck with it." AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta
          • John Keim, ESPN Staff WriterNov 22, 2016, 03:55 PM ET
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              John Keim covers the Washington Commanders for ESPN. He joined ESPN in 2013 after a stint with the Washington Post. He started covering the team in 1994 for the Journal Newspapers and later for the Washington Examiner. He has authored/co-authored four books. You can also listen to him on 'The John Keim Report', which airs on ESPN Richmond radio, and follow him on Twitter @john_keim
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          ASHBURN, Va. -- The last time Washington played Dallas, Redskins rookie linebacker Su'a Cravens answered a call from his mom after the game. She had an unusual message considering her son’s employer.

          "How 'bout them Cowboys!" she said.

          He hung up. His mom called back.

          "I’m just playing with you, I love you," she told him.

          To which he said, "I love you, too."

          And then he hung up on her again.

          Such is the nature of their relationship: A mom who has remained devoted to the Cowboys and a son who plays for the Washington Redskins. That’s why Cravens said he wouldn’t talk to his mom this week, ignoring two calls from her after Sunday night’s win against Green Bay.

          Cravens' mom, Yolanda, grew up in Ft. Worth, Texas, with parents who were big Cowboys fans. Cravens' grandmother remains a diehard Dallas fan, in fact.

          "My grandma texted me [Monday] saying, 'Don’t beat up on my Cowboys,'" Cravens said. "My grandpa before he passed was a Cowboys fan as well. I guess my mom was born into it and stuck with it."

          Cravens' mom and other family members will attend Thursday’s game against Dallas. He said she has a half-Redskins, half-Cowboys jersey but "that doesn’t count."

          Cravens has become a pivotal player for the Redskins' defense, a key member of their sub-packages -- he’s playing in most of their nickel and dime packages. He’s also become a fan favorite; he just hasn’t done enough to persuade his mom to switch allegiances.

          "If we lose, Oh I’m not talking to her for sure," he said. "I won’t even want the food. But if we win, I’ll be all up, 'Mom, mom.'"

          When a reporter pointed out that perhaps he should answer her calls because, after all, she had given birth to him, Cravens said, "Does she know she gave birth to me? She should be cheering for me."