Obsidian Potency 3.0
Football Reputations
posted Thursday, 30 August 2007
Hopefully I'm only going to have to say this once.
I am sick and tired of the mainstream sports media's treatment of the Washington Redskins. I know why they do it: they know the Redskins have a large fan base (6th-largest media market in the country), and it is a rabid base as well. The media loves nothing more than to irritate or scare fans of a particular team with negative news. They also like nothing better than a consistent storyline that grabs attention -- even if that storyline is exaggerated or fabricated.
I'm talking about Redskins owner Dan Snyder's reputation for signing any and all big-name free agents, especially those that other teams aren't interested in. This reputation has been fed and stoked by the media so much that whenever a player is disgruntled, their agents leak rumors that the Redskins are interested in trading for them. If a big-name free agent is cut, it's the same story: the Redskins must be interested.
How did we get here? Well, seven years ago, Dan Snyder signed big-name players Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders and Mark Carrier to big-bucks deals. It was big news at the time. People accused Snyder of playing 'fantasy football' in real life. The moves didn't work out; all three players were too old, and only Bruce Smith made any sort of impact. Ever since then, every single personnel move the Redskins have made has been viewed with the same lens as that move.
If you think I'm going to sit here and defend the Redskins' front office, you've got another thing coming. I'm not. They've made some boneheaded moves over the years. They added a second-round pick in addition to Champ Bailey for Clinton Portis, when Bailey was a more valuable commodity by himself than Portis was. They let Antonio Pierce go for only 5% more money than their final offer. They let Steve Spurrier, a hack of a pro coach, destroy any future Patrick Ramsey might have had. They signed Adam Archuleta. They traded a 2nd- and 4th-round picks for Brandon Lloyd. They traded a 3rd-round pick for T.J. Duckett, then never played him. They traded a pick for Mark Brunell, even though he was probably going to be cut anyway. They signed Laveranues Coles, costing them a 1st-round pick. They signed Chad Morton, costing them a 5th-round pick. They let Ryan Clark go, destroying their secondary chemistry. They overpaid for Andre Carter.
Those are the dumb moves I can think of during Snyder's era as team owner. But he's also made some good moves, too.
The team traded Champ Bailey for Portis when it became obvious Baily did not want to re-sign with the team at the end of the year when his contract expired. Using that money, they signed Shawn Springs (to replace Bailey) and Marcus Washington, two former Pro-Bowl players still performing at a high level. They traded the disgruntled Laveranues Coles for Santana Moss, and he developed into one of the league's most electrifying playmakers (and became better than the guy they traded). They drafted Chris Cooley, one of the league's best receiving tight ends. They signed Cornelius Griffin, one of the league's best interior defensive linemen. They drafted Chris Samuels and Lavar Arrington, two Pro Bowlers. They signed Randy Thomas and John Hall, who each provided years of quality play.
They drafted Jon Jansen, a rock at right tackle. They drafted Fred Smoot, then brought him back this year. They developed Rock Cartwright and Mike Sellers, two nobodies, who now could start for many NFL teams at fullback. They drafted Ladell Betts and developed him into a 1000-yard rusher as a backup. They drafted Sean Taylor, an All-Pro safety. They signed London Fletcher(-Baker) this year.
Contrary to popular belief, the Redskins don't sign everybody. They didn't sign Jevon Kearse, allowing the Eagles to win a bidding war that became too expensive for an already-good defense. They didn't re-sign Derrick Dockery, a classic contract-year performer and the former weakest link of their offensive line, and allowed Buffalo to sign him for 49 million. They never even showed interest in T.O. They never signed Ty Law, or Nate Clements, or Donte Stallworth, or trade for Randy Moss, or Leonard Davis, or Asante Samuel, or Lance Briggs, or many other high-priced big-name players that have gone south with their teams.
Just like Gibbs his first time around, the Redskins have preferred to trade picks for veterans. This strategy won Gibbs 3 Super Bowls with 3 different QBs and RBs; whether it will work in today's era remains to be seen. Yet in spite of all this evidence, we still get article after article ripping on the Redskins for overpaying for mediocre busts-to-be, and claiming it's the "same old Redskins" - even though their drafting and free agent record isn't much different from most teams over the past 5-6 years.
Ed even compared them to the Raiders, and said the Redskins would probably sign Pacman Jones. Huh? When was the last time the Redskins signed that big a head case? When did the Redskins go out and sign every MVP and standout Super Bowl player from the year before? Granted, Deion and Brandon Lloyd are pretty nuts. At the same time, neither of them have been arrested, while Pacman has been arrested anywhere from 3 to 12 times depending on who you talk to.
This is coming from a guy whose favorite team's normally-sane front office signed T.O. after he imploded the 49ers, then watched as the same guy wore out his welcome in Philly by destroying the team. This is also the team that tried for 4 years to make James Thrash and Todd Pinkston their #1 and #2 WRs, drafted Jerome McDougle and Mike Patterson, started Dhani Jones even after his shelf life expired, and let Derrick Burgess go too soon. The Patriots, Ravens, Eagles, Colts, Seahawks and Steelers probably have the best personnel departments in the league, but even they have made their share of glaring mistakes.
That makes the Redskins just another mediocre front office. I wish it was better than that, but no team and owner faces the same level of ridicule and derision for being average. The Raiders, Cardinals, Lions, Texans, Bills and Bucs all have less to look forward to than the Redskins do most years, so I resent people equating those teams with the 'Skins -- especially since each of those front offices have made even more questionable moves than the Redskins have over the same timespan.
It's been SEVEN YEARS since Sanders, Carrier and Bruce. Enough is enough already.
I am sick and tired of the mainstream sports media's treatment of the Washington Redskins. I know why they do it: they know the Redskins have a large fan base (6th-largest media market in the country), and it is a rabid base as well. The media loves nothing more than to irritate or scare fans of a particular team with negative news. They also like nothing better than a consistent storyline that grabs attention -- even if that storyline is exaggerated or fabricated.
I'm talking about Redskins owner Dan Snyder's reputation for signing any and all big-name free agents, especially those that other teams aren't interested in. This reputation has been fed and stoked by the media so much that whenever a player is disgruntled, their agents leak rumors that the Redskins are interested in trading for them. If a big-name free agent is cut, it's the same story: the Redskins must be interested.
How did we get here? Well, seven years ago, Dan Snyder signed big-name players Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders and Mark Carrier to big-bucks deals. It was big news at the time. People accused Snyder of playing 'fantasy football' in real life. The moves didn't work out; all three players were too old, and only Bruce Smith made any sort of impact. Ever since then, every single personnel move the Redskins have made has been viewed with the same lens as that move.
If you think I'm going to sit here and defend the Redskins' front office, you've got another thing coming. I'm not. They've made some boneheaded moves over the years. They added a second-round pick in addition to Champ Bailey for Clinton Portis, when Bailey was a more valuable commodity by himself than Portis was. They let Antonio Pierce go for only 5% more money than their final offer. They let Steve Spurrier, a hack of a pro coach, destroy any future Patrick Ramsey might have had. They signed Adam Archuleta. They traded a 2nd- and 4th-round picks for Brandon Lloyd. They traded a 3rd-round pick for T.J. Duckett, then never played him. They traded a pick for Mark Brunell, even though he was probably going to be cut anyway. They signed Laveranues Coles, costing them a 1st-round pick. They signed Chad Morton, costing them a 5th-round pick. They let Ryan Clark go, destroying their secondary chemistry. They overpaid for Andre Carter.
Those are the dumb moves I can think of during Snyder's era as team owner. But he's also made some good moves, too.
The team traded Champ Bailey for Portis when it became obvious Baily did not want to re-sign with the team at the end of the year when his contract expired. Using that money, they signed Shawn Springs (to replace Bailey) and Marcus Washington, two former Pro-Bowl players still performing at a high level. They traded the disgruntled Laveranues Coles for Santana Moss, and he developed into one of the league's most electrifying playmakers (and became better than the guy they traded). They drafted Chris Cooley, one of the league's best receiving tight ends. They signed Cornelius Griffin, one of the league's best interior defensive linemen. They drafted Chris Samuels and Lavar Arrington, two Pro Bowlers. They signed Randy Thomas and John Hall, who each provided years of quality play.
They drafted Jon Jansen, a rock at right tackle. They drafted Fred Smoot, then brought him back this year. They developed Rock Cartwright and Mike Sellers, two nobodies, who now could start for many NFL teams at fullback. They drafted Ladell Betts and developed him into a 1000-yard rusher as a backup. They drafted Sean Taylor, an All-Pro safety. They signed London Fletcher(-Baker) this year.
Contrary to popular belief, the Redskins don't sign everybody. They didn't sign Jevon Kearse, allowing the Eagles to win a bidding war that became too expensive for an already-good defense. They didn't re-sign Derrick Dockery, a classic contract-year performer and the former weakest link of their offensive line, and allowed Buffalo to sign him for 49 million. They never even showed interest in T.O. They never signed Ty Law, or Nate Clements, or Donte Stallworth, or trade for Randy Moss, or Leonard Davis, or Asante Samuel, or Lance Briggs, or many other high-priced big-name players that have gone south with their teams.
Just like Gibbs his first time around, the Redskins have preferred to trade picks for veterans. This strategy won Gibbs 3 Super Bowls with 3 different QBs and RBs; whether it will work in today's era remains to be seen. Yet in spite of all this evidence, we still get article after article ripping on the Redskins for overpaying for mediocre busts-to-be, and claiming it's the "same old Redskins" - even though their drafting and free agent record isn't much different from most teams over the past 5-6 years.
Ed even compared them to the Raiders, and said the Redskins would probably sign Pacman Jones. Huh? When was the last time the Redskins signed that big a head case? When did the Redskins go out and sign every MVP and standout Super Bowl player from the year before? Granted, Deion and Brandon Lloyd are pretty nuts. At the same time, neither of them have been arrested, while Pacman has been arrested anywhere from 3 to 12 times depending on who you talk to.
This is coming from a guy whose favorite team's normally-sane front office signed T.O. after he imploded the 49ers, then watched as the same guy wore out his welcome in Philly by destroying the team. This is also the team that tried for 4 years to make James Thrash and Todd Pinkston their #1 and #2 WRs, drafted Jerome McDougle and Mike Patterson, started Dhani Jones even after his shelf life expired, and let Derrick Burgess go too soon. The Patriots, Ravens, Eagles, Colts, Seahawks and Steelers probably have the best personnel departments in the league, but even they have made their share of glaring mistakes.
That makes the Redskins just another mediocre front office. I wish it was better than that, but no team and owner faces the same level of ridicule and derision for being average. The Raiders, Cardinals, Lions, Texans, Bills and Bucs all have less to look forward to than the Redskins do most years, so I resent people equating those teams with the 'Skins -- especially since each of those front offices have made even more questionable moves than the Redskins have over the same timespan.
It's been SEVEN YEARS since Sanders, Carrier and Bruce. Enough is enough already.
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