A few thoughts on a few different things.
I'm flabbergasted that the Redskins didn't have organized practice during the bye week. Some think that time away to clear your head is just what the dr. ordered. I disagree. Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect. And this team is far from perfect. The O Line could use more prep time, Campbell could use more time to work with the receivers, Fred Davis to his credit stayed in town and worked with the coaching staff and rightly so. He's going to be the new starting TE. Wouldn't it have been great if he'd had some time to work with Campbell since the TE is Campbell favorite target?
Or maybe this team is so dysfunctional and such an emotional drain that faced with another week of staying in town or getting away for a week, the bye must have felt like a furlough from a mental institution.
I've heard talk of Alex Rodriguez being a choke. I understand his playoff stats have been at times abysmal. But this season he's found his stroke and come through (the first two games of the World Series not withstanding.) Arod has been of the most enigmatic figures in baseball for most of his career. If Rodriguez isn't the best player in the game right now, he's in the conversation. And he's certainly in the photo of best players of all time. But how can someone with such great vision be so myopic sometimes. His social faux pas are well chronicled, and fans in and out of NY can't help but cast a jaundiced eye toward Rodriguez. The contract in NY, Scott Boras, the steroids, upstaging the World Series two years ago...it goes on. I don't know when I stopped mythologizing athletes but holding them to a higher standard isn't fair just because they make more money. Elite is elite regardless of the paycheck. And I'm not going to say "he without sin..." I think I have a different perspective that most people but I'm flabbergasted at times at things I don't see and dots I don't connect. I don't even pretend to be as good at anything as Alex is at baseball. I wonder if Alex might find any peace of mind if he finally gets the ring. Will he ever be forgiven by fans for being human? Will it ever stop bothering him that he isn't loved by everyone? I don't think a ring will do that for him.
Roger Goodell testified about the long term physical and mental effects of a football career. More and more is coming out about players having brain injuries from collision after collision like sumo wrestlers. I think about how much I wanted to play football when I was a kid. It seemed like the greatest job ever. But when I read these stories about what's happened to players, and the price they've had to pay...my heart goes out to these guys and I think it's criminal that they aren't better taken care of by the NFL and NCAA. I hope that the Redskins and Seahawk reepectively take care of Chris Samuels and Walter Jones. Offensive lineman are the most underpaid and underappreciated guys in football and may pay the biggest price of anyone in football. I know no players read this but I can't help plead that athletes who suffer concussions in any sport don't fold to the pressure of coming back too soon or even at all.
Category: General
An Open Letter to Dan Snyder
Dan,
We’ve not met but over the last few months I’ve followed the Redskins closer than I ever thought possible. I interact daily with your customers (also known as your fan base.) I’ve listened closely to Jim Zorn, Vinny Cerrato and the players talk about the team and the 2009 season and carefully poured over what the media pundits and experts are saying about your franchise and I have a question:
What are YOU thinking?
I’m being serious. I’d really like to know what you think of the Redskins season so far. Is it what you’d expected? Is it going as well as you’d hoped? I know you just hired Sherman Lewis to be a fresh set of eyes for your offense -how fresh his eyes are given that they’ve been out of football for 5 years remains to be seen-but since you’re looking for eyes on your offense maybe another set of eyes can offer some perspective.
Based on the record thus far, the fan reaction at games, the fan reaction in the media, and the statistics I can’t imagine this is going the direction you’d planned although I will admit that I couldn’t figure out what that direction was when training camp opened. I’m even more confused now.
I will say that I think you’re impulse to go get Jay Cutler and Mark Sanchez was a good one. And getting Albert Haynesworth for $40 million guaranteed may have seemed like a good idea at the time and a demonstration of your commitment to winning. Drafting Brian Orakpo to shore up the defensive line, also would have been a strong football move if the defense was your problem. A for effort.
That being said, you didn’t get Cutler or Sanchez and alienated your starting QB in a contract year along with a huge chunk of your fan base. The Haynesworth signing in hindsight seems more like overkill given what you paid and the results (albeit only 5 games into the season.) And Orakpo isn’t playing defensive line, his natural position. He’s playing linebacker, a new position and that isn’t working out quite as well. While I’m not in football, nor do I have a column-I’m just a producer/update anchor and part time blogger-I don’t think your defense needed a $100 million facelift.
I know offensive lineman aren’t sexy and they don’t sell many jerseys but they make your QB and RB look good and even a WR or TE look better and then they maybe their jerseys become hot tickets. As a successful business man you must understand that a strong foundation is everything and again, while I’m no expert, the foundation for a football team starts in what’s called the trenches or the line of scrimmage.
To be fair, I don’t think you’re making these decisions alone. I think you’ve been given some bad advice, started down a path and now feel like you can’t get off. Everything that’s being tried at the moment feels like is just making things worse. I think an intervention is in order.
This town LOVES the Redskins-we should also talk about the name change thing but one issue at a time. DC is a passionate football town. This isn’t Jacksonville or even Los Angeles that won’t support a team unless they’re winning. The DMV wants and needs their football and they will worship you if you put a team on the field that they can be proud of.
Right now-a little tough love and harsh honesty coming-the Redskins are the league slumpbuster. Two of the three teams you’ve played are horrible and you’re facing another winless team Sunday. Don’t know if you saw it in the game against Detroit but in the 3<sup>rd</sup> quarter Matt Stafford was strutting. A team that hadn’t won in 19 games had swagger and the Redskins-winners of 3 Super Bowls to the Lions 0-were playing not to lose.
I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know and I apologize for rehashing the remains of the proverbial dead horse, but all this is a plea-not as one of your fan base-but as someone that hates to see someone struggle.
Please stop hurting the people that love you(or in place of you the Redskins) Please talk to us. We want to help. Stop using corporate speak like “fresh set of eyes.” It comes off like “fresh set of I’s” as in all you’re thinking of is yourself. It’s admirable to ask for help. But you have to ask the right people. And you have to follow directions-good directions from good football people. In rehab they say you have to change your playgrounds and your playmates. In other words clean house. And you MUST MUST MUST admit there’s a problem. It's not the easiest thing to do but nothing changes until you do.
Category: NFL
Tags: Dan Snyder, Redskins
When a win feels like a loss
I give credit to Peter King for the title of this post.
This morning, after a Redskins win, fans are wringing their hands, shaking their heads in complete amazement at how ineffective the offense looked and the play calling in Sunday's victory over the hapless Rams.
To put it in perspective, the Rams won 2 games last year and were shut out in week 1. But it gets better. They only won 3 games in 2007. 5 wins in 2 years and 2 weeks. That is worse than the Lions who happen to be this week's opponent for the Redskins.
The Redskins have managed to suck the fun out of being a football fan. I didn't think that was possible. Even in Cleveland they still love their team. Even a 19 game losing streak in Detroit hasn't dampened their enthusiasm for football. Which begs the question-how did they do it?
By being boring and unimaginative.
A friend said to me before the season starts that it's hard to watch the Redskins and stay into the game. We know the offense is boring. But I caught myself feeling perplexed all day yesterday watching the offens. Jason Campbell looks like he doesn't know what he's doing. He kept dumping it off in the flat, leading to a great QB rating, and sustained drives, but the way this offense runs, the red zone has become the dread zone.
Worse than that, a 2nd 4th and 1 at the end of the game and the best the offense could do was sweep Clinton Portis right? Everyone in the stadium knew that play was coming. Even when they did try to be creative, they ran a half-back option to Chris Cooley. Why would you play jump ball with your tight end when you have two other receivers over 6'3. The reason why it works in San Diego is you have LaDainian Tomlinson throwing to Antonio Gates a college basketball player who knows how to post up and go get the ball. No offense CC or CP.
I saw more poise in Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez than I did in JC. A number of the successful QBs yesterday who had better days than Campbell are younger and arguably doing it with fewer weapons.
I don't envy Jim Zorn this week having to deal with the fans and media as if this were a loss. The fact is the skins did win. And you don't get a capital W for winning with style. You win anyway you can in the NFL. But when fans are booing the team as they walk off the field, Jim Zorn, Jason Campbell and the rest of the team can only play themselves. They have achieved true mediocrity.
Cheap shot observation: If the Bullets can change their name because of the violent implications of being the bullets-a team with history and a ring-why is it so hard to imagine the Redskins doing the same thing. Changing the name isn't PC...it's respectful, it's socially conscious and it's about damn time.
This morning, after a Redskins win, fans are wringing their hands, shaking their heads in complete amazement at how ineffective the offense looked and the play calling in Sunday's victory over the hapless Rams.
To put it in perspective, the Rams won 2 games last year and were shut out in week 1. But it gets better. They only won 3 games in 2007. 5 wins in 2 years and 2 weeks. That is worse than the Lions who happen to be this week's opponent for the Redskins.
The Redskins have managed to suck the fun out of being a football fan. I didn't think that was possible. Even in Cleveland they still love their team. Even a 19 game losing streak in Detroit hasn't dampened their enthusiasm for football. Which begs the question-how did they do it?
By being boring and unimaginative.
A friend said to me before the season starts that it's hard to watch the Redskins and stay into the game. We know the offense is boring. But I caught myself feeling perplexed all day yesterday watching the offens. Jason Campbell looks like he doesn't know what he's doing. He kept dumping it off in the flat, leading to a great QB rating, and sustained drives, but the way this offense runs, the red zone has become the dread zone.
Worse than that, a 2nd 4th and 1 at the end of the game and the best the offense could do was sweep Clinton Portis right? Everyone in the stadium knew that play was coming. Even when they did try to be creative, they ran a half-back option to Chris Cooley. Why would you play jump ball with your tight end when you have two other receivers over 6'3. The reason why it works in San Diego is you have LaDainian Tomlinson throwing to Antonio Gates a college basketball player who knows how to post up and go get the ball. No offense CC or CP.
I saw more poise in Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez than I did in JC. A number of the successful QBs yesterday who had better days than Campbell are younger and arguably doing it with fewer weapons.
I don't envy Jim Zorn this week having to deal with the fans and media as if this were a loss. The fact is the skins did win. And you don't get a capital W for winning with style. You win anyway you can in the NFL. But when fans are booing the team as they walk off the field, Jim Zorn, Jason Campbell and the rest of the team can only play themselves. They have achieved true mediocrity.
Cheap shot observation: If the Bullets can change their name because of the violent implications of being the bullets-a team with history and a ring-why is it so hard to imagine the Redskins doing the same thing. Changing the name isn't PC...it's respectful, it's socially conscious and it's about damn time.
Redskins post season
Sunday's loss to the Giants might end up being more crucial than expected. I can't believe I'm saying this but after looking at the rest of the Redskins schedule, this week's game against the Rams could be a must win. Every win early in the season is going to prove vital at the end of the season.
The December stretch of the schedule will not be kind to the Redskins. Home against the Saints, then across the country to Oakland, the home again vs. the Giants and Cowboys and then Jan 3 at San Diego. If Zorn and company don't have any momentum behind them, meaning at least 7 wins at the end of November, they will run out of gas. The first part of the schedule is so cakewalk they better do eveything they can to get a solid rhythm going and be on the same page. There's a lot of cliches and metaphors going on there but look at that stretch compared to the next 5 games.
September - October opponents:
Rams, @Lions, Bucs, @Panthers, Chiefs, Eagles.
December -January 3 opponents
Saints, @Raiders, Giants, Cowboys, @Chargers
The only gimme in that last stretch might be the Raiders but nothing is guaranteed after the way they took the fight to San Diego on Monday night-a team that has owned them over the last few years. I thought they might be the NFL slumpbuster this year but I'm rethinking that prediction. The good news at that point is the Raiders will be coming back from a road trip @ the Steelers.
We all saw the hot start the team got off to last year and the 2-6 finish to the season so even if they have 7 wins the Skins still have to finish the season strong. But if they play well and get 3 or 4 wins out of those 5 weeks, they will be even stronger going into the playoffs having just played 4 potential playoff teams.
Predcitions before the season starts
I want to go on record before the season starts. Normally I can't even predict what day it will be tomorrow (or yesterday for that matter.) Many of these are just hunches with a little research and experience thrown in. There's no money involved and some are based on personal bias
10. The Redskins will fire Jim Zorn even if they make the playoffs. Even a first round win won't be enough to save him. There are at least 4 coaches with better winning reputations on the market right now. (Caveat-if they get to the NFC Championship, Zorn is safe.) This doesn't mean I think he should be fired. In fact if the Redskins make the playoffs I think he should be given another chance.
9. The Redskins will just miss the playoffs and Jason Campbell will be gone next season. Unfortunately for both of them, Campbell and Zorn, their fates are tied together. (bonus predicition-Campbell won't be a starter in the NFL next season)
8. The Eagles/Falcons game in December will be moved from a 1pm start to a Sunday night start regardless of the playoff picture. (I know, I know, real bold)
7. Brandon Marshall will be traded by the Broncos. I think he will probably end up with the Cowboys. Given Jerry Jones propensity to sign troubled and turbulent talent (Pac-Man Jones, Terrell Owens) this one is almost a foregone conclusion. This will be a huge move for the Cowboys and give them success but Marshall will eventually implode again and the Cowboys still won't win a playoff game.
6. The Raiders will be this year's Lions. They may not lose all 16 games but they'll try. (There's some personal vitriol in this-I make this prediction every year.) Regardless though, they will be this year's worst team in the NFL.
5. A close 2nd will be the Browns but they are so bad they'll screw up having the worst record in the NFL and the chance to draft Tim Tebow.
4. The Colts will still make the playoffs this year but have another disappointing first round exit. Peyton Manning won't be enough to get them over the hump without Marvin Harrison or a suitable replacement. I think the Colts will still come out of the AFC South.
3. I like the Falcons in the NFC South...I think Tony Gonzalez could pay big dividends and they will have another strong season including a deeper playoff run.
2. Jay Cutler's numbers will be signifcantly worse than last year.
1. The Chargers will run away with the AFC West and win the Super Bowl. Shawn Merriman back was the piece they were missing last season. Rivers and LT are locked up long term, the corners won't get exposed for being as weak as they are and the D Line will swarm making it impossible for any pass protection and clog up the gaps on the line.The Patriots will be super strong but get eliminated in the division playoffs.*
Note: I make this prediction every year but this time I mean it.
10. The Redskins will fire Jim Zorn even if they make the playoffs. Even a first round win won't be enough to save him. There are at least 4 coaches with better winning reputations on the market right now. (Caveat-if they get to the NFC Championship, Zorn is safe.) This doesn't mean I think he should be fired. In fact if the Redskins make the playoffs I think he should be given another chance.
9. The Redskins will just miss the playoffs and Jason Campbell will be gone next season. Unfortunately for both of them, Campbell and Zorn, their fates are tied together. (bonus predicition-Campbell won't be a starter in the NFL next season)
8. The Eagles/Falcons game in December will be moved from a 1pm start to a Sunday night start regardless of the playoff picture. (I know, I know, real bold)
7. Brandon Marshall will be traded by the Broncos. I think he will probably end up with the Cowboys. Given Jerry Jones propensity to sign troubled and turbulent talent (Pac-Man Jones, Terrell Owens) this one is almost a foregone conclusion. This will be a huge move for the Cowboys and give them success but Marshall will eventually implode again and the Cowboys still won't win a playoff game.
6. The Raiders will be this year's Lions. They may not lose all 16 games but they'll try. (There's some personal vitriol in this-I make this prediction every year.) Regardless though, they will be this year's worst team in the NFL.
5. A close 2nd will be the Browns but they are so bad they'll screw up having the worst record in the NFL and the chance to draft Tim Tebow.
4. The Colts will still make the playoffs this year but have another disappointing first round exit. Peyton Manning won't be enough to get them over the hump without Marvin Harrison or a suitable replacement. I think the Colts will still come out of the AFC South.
3. I like the Falcons in the NFC South...I think Tony Gonzalez could pay big dividends and they will have another strong season including a deeper playoff run.
2. Jay Cutler's numbers will be signifcantly worse than last year.
1. The Chargers will run away with the AFC West and win the Super Bowl. Shawn Merriman back was the piece they were missing last season. Rivers and LT are locked up long term, the corners won't get exposed for being as weak as they are and the D Line will swarm making it impossible for any pass protection and clog up the gaps on the line.The Patriots will be super strong but get eliminated in the division playoffs.*
Note: I make this prediction every year but this time I mean it.
3rd String QBs
There's few things in life I enjoy more than being right. It's a character flaw but I don't know what to do about it. And remember the title of this little "journalistic" venture.
For 3 weeks on The Fan there's been a tidal wave of talk about Colt Brennan and Chase Daniel. After one show I remember thinking "this is why non-sports fans think sports is boring." Dissecting the depth chart to the point that the 3rd string QB can fill an hour of programming is like listening to paint dry. And all along (although anybody that reads this wasn't privy to my comments) I've said that if you're third stringer ever sees the field, you're season is over anyway. It's the minutiae of sports.
I've heard callers give Daniel sole credit for reenergizing Missouri's football program. One caller said Daniel is a ninja-the single funniest thing I've heard on sports radio in a LONG time. Some have turned on Jason Campbell to the point of suggesting either Daniel or Brennan should be the #1.
WAKE UP CALL: YOUR 3RD STRING QB MATTERS LESS THAN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL GPA.
Saturday, someone in the Redskins front office must have had the same thought. Vinny Cerrato and the Skins brass had more confidence in Antwaan Randle-El as the emergency QB than in undrafted rookie Chase Daniel. To be fair, they're gambling hoping he clears waivers and can be signed to the practice squad. Also, Brennan being on the IR allowed them to keep another preseason favorite, Marcus Mason-a 5th RB. But ultimately, if Daniel ever gets bumped up to the 53 man roster, Skins fans better start counting the days to the 2010 draft.
I love sports and football as much as anyone, but I wish people would remember:the 3rd string QB is the emergency backup. I defy anyone to name 3rd stringer QBs that have made any lasting impact on a team.
For 3 weeks on The Fan there's been a tidal wave of talk about Colt Brennan and Chase Daniel. After one show I remember thinking "this is why non-sports fans think sports is boring." Dissecting the depth chart to the point that the 3rd string QB can fill an hour of programming is like listening to paint dry. And all along (although anybody that reads this wasn't privy to my comments) I've said that if you're third stringer ever sees the field, you're season is over anyway. It's the minutiae of sports.
I've heard callers give Daniel sole credit for reenergizing Missouri's football program. One caller said Daniel is a ninja-the single funniest thing I've heard on sports radio in a LONG time. Some have turned on Jason Campbell to the point of suggesting either Daniel or Brennan should be the #1.
WAKE UP CALL: YOUR 3RD STRING QB MATTERS LESS THAN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL GPA.
Saturday, someone in the Redskins front office must have had the same thought. Vinny Cerrato and the Skins brass had more confidence in Antwaan Randle-El as the emergency QB than in undrafted rookie Chase Daniel. To be fair, they're gambling hoping he clears waivers and can be signed to the practice squad. Also, Brennan being on the IR allowed them to keep another preseason favorite, Marcus Mason-a 5th RB. But ultimately, if Daniel ever gets bumped up to the 53 man roster, Skins fans better start counting the days to the 2010 draft.
I love sports and football as much as anyone, but I wish people would remember:the 3rd string QB is the emergency backup. I defy anyone to name 3rd stringer QBs that have made any lasting impact on a team.
Category: NFL
The Evolution of Vick
The Michael Vick story continues to evolve. Like most stories of this nature it will continue through the season and probably pop up again from time to time for years to come. On Thursday the commissioner advanced the story again reinstating Vick after just 2 regular season games. The Eagles will be home that week against the Chiefs and on Monday night Oct 26, just before the Redskins bye, Vick will be on the sidelines at Fed Ex Field. Circle Dec 6<sup>th</sup> on your calendar because the Eagles play the Falcons at the Georgia Dome. Any one wonder if that game will be moved from a 1 pm Fox game to an 8:30 NBC game?
I think I might be a rare breed (pun intended) on this subject. Most people seem to have a strong opinion one way or another. Either he should be banned for life or at least suffer a harsher punishment like be forced to get in the ring with one of his pit bulls and let the best man(beast) win. I personally know a life-long Eagles fan that is now a Ravens fan because she is so disgusted with the decision to sign Vick. She went to her first Ravens game last week to familiarize herself with the team.
I’ve heard others wonder what the big deal is, “they’re just dogs.”
For the record, I abhor what Vick did. I don’t have much of an ick factor but the story and pictures and video gives me the willies. That being said I don’t condone or condemn Vick today.
Vick was punished, served his time(and not at Club Fed) and is trying to get his life back. I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t know that life in the NFL is something he should or shouldn’t be entitled to. I think that if this were a less exciting player (or say an offensive lineman) he wouldn’t have gotten a 2<sup>nd</sup> shot so quickly(but then again this story may not have had the media shelf life of 3+ years.)
There’s something to be said for 2<sup>nd</sup> chances and human compassion. It’s what makes us civilized. I won’t say it separates us from the animals because one of things we appreciate the most about dogs is their ability to love us regardless of how much we screw up. I realize I’m anthropomorphizing her but no matter how bad our day or how deep our wounds, our dogs display affection, look at us with and forgiveness in their eyes. And for this loyalty we reward them with family status. I think it’s a tad ironic that dog lovers are less forgiving, but I understand it. I won’t tell anyone how they should feel.
I’ve made some colossal mistakes in my life and still feel bad about them. I can personally attest to the power of compassion. I would like to think I’ve displayed some of that compassion in my own life toward others who’ve offended and I can say that it’s given me some emotional room to move. Only time will tell if Vick has changed his ways. He’s living under a microscope to be sure so we’ll have plenty of evidence of change or lack thereof. I would hope that as the story continues to evolve, Vick-and the rest of us for that matter-evolve and grow at the same rate. One thing I know for certain-this is not the end of the Michael Vick story.
