Washington Redskins: Someday Never Comes

First thing I remember was askin’ papa, “Why?”
For there were many things I didn’t know.
And Daddy always smiled; took me by the hand
Sayin’, “Someday you’ll understand.”

After another second-rate season of Washington Redskins football, I have been feeling less and less emotionally attached to the football team I love so much. 

I feel like the season is already over, and we are further from being a championship contender than we have been in many years. It seems like the day will never come when the franchise is back to being respected in the NFL. I find myself trying to understand.

Passing up tickets to a Dallas–Washington game in December seemed like blasphemy in September.

I am glad I didn’t go; there was not much to see. Unless, of course, you enjoy seeing your team get crushed by its archrivals.

When all the preseason experts picked Washington to finish in last place in the NFC East, I thought they were crazy. I just did not understand.  

“Someday you will see,” I said to an older fellow across the bar. “Someday when we do win again, all this misery and losing will make it that much sweeter.” His answer? “Someday never comes.”  

It was funny, because I had recently found out about a song with that title by Creedence Clearwater Revival. After listening several times, I found the lyrics fit my recent mood about the team perfectly. 

Fans over the age of 30 remember the good times, the parades through downtown, RFK bouncing like a Slinky, 70 chip, the Hogs, Riggo, and the original version of Joe Gibbs.  They all understand what those days meant.

The youth of Redskins Nation doesn’t have so much, nary a Hall of Famer, despite the end of Darrell Green’s career. The best moment I can remember was probably watching Art Monk’s enshrinement into Canton.  

Hanging onto the Redskins’ past is all we have. It has sunk that low for our generation.

Our greatest player from this decade was murdered in his own home. Every other great player we thought we were getting turned out to be a fraud (except London Fletcher).  

Next August will bring the same excitement into D.C. that every training camp brings. Surely a few new sexy free agents will come along for the ride.

Maybe the long snapper will walk upstairs to the owner, right past the head coach, and executive vice president demanding a raise, much like our fullback did this past preseason. Odds are, he will probably convince the owner he deserves it, and will reward us with his worst season in years.

I will still be there, despite a dysfunctional front office, subpar game planning, atrocious draft history, and scoring less than 30 points almost every week.  

I’m always thinking: When will the team stabilize a roster of good character guys who play together as a team?

“This day may never come,” is the answer many of us have come to grips with.  When will we develop our own perennial Pro Bowlers, instead of taking aging former Pro Bowlers and giving them one last big contract?

Someday never comes, it seems.  

But I believe, someday, it will come.

I understand that some fans have had enough and are jumping ship. I, for one, do not think that is the answer.

One year, when all the strangely assembled pieces come together and the Skins recapture the heart of the city—that is the day I will finally understand.

Someday Never Comes

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Obvious Reasons the Washington Redskins Are Bad This Year

I foolishly predicted at the beginning of the season that the Redskins were going to end up around 10-6, and in the playoffs.  This was after an awful draft, more foolish free agent signings, and, well, more of the same, to be kind.

Watching training camp from up close, I was given a false sense of hope; seeing these athletes closer than ever before, I was in awe of their abilities.  Sure, the Redskins are talented, but talent does not mean anything if you can’t make plays on Sunday.

After suffering through a pitiful 2-3 start, I now have come to realize all the things the Redskins don’t do, like…

 

Return Kicks or Punts for Touchdowns

I believe you have to go back to 2006 for a Rock Cartwright kickoff return for a touchdown.  Ouch.  While Santana Moss had one punt return for a touchdown last season, and Randle El had one in 2007, that’s it—three in the last four years.

 

Score a Touchdown on Defense

DeAngelo Hall was one yard away last week, and I simply laughed.  This team is unable to figure this out.  The ‘Skins went all last season without a single defensive touchdown.  Good luck winning close games like that.

 

Score 30 Points in a Game

Well, we’re going to have to go all the way back to 2007, Week 16 in Minnesota, where they scored a whopping 32 points.  Before that was Week Five at Detroit.  So, twice in 38 games (including a playoff game), the Redskins have scored more than 30 points. WOW!

 

Have a Surefire Starting Quarterback

One reason 30 points is so rare?  Jason Campbell has thrown 41 touchdowns in 41 games as a professional quarterback.

This is not starting material.  Look at all the good teams in the league today; they have excellent quarterback play.  I could not watch an entire Redskins game, and I bet his stats would look something like this: 17-of-24, 180 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 5 sacks.

He is who he is, and after 40 starts, it’s time to move on.  Sorry, JC, you’re a sweet guy and all, but you’re a career backup.

 

Make a Fourth-Quarter Comeback

I am done venting about Campbell, but yeah, those are usually needed to be a great team.

 

Draft Linemen

Look at the Redskins draft class from 2007.  Seriously, it’s hilarious.  Draft a safety when you still had Sean Taylor.  In 2006, they drafted mostly defense and SI.com even reported the team lacked depth at OG and OT.  Three years later, we still have not addressed those issues.  God help us.

 

Have a Real GM

Just because you’re rich, and you watch football like the rest of us, does not mean you know how to build a team.  This isn’t Madden, where you run play-action a few times, then hit Moss on a fly pattern and score six.

You know why?  Because it is real football, against real coaches and GMs.  Half these guys come here and don’t care about working hard or earning a roster spot.

Adam Archuleta, Brandon Lloyd, Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders, Jason Taylor, Dana Stubblefield, Dan Wilkinson, Mark Carrier, Albert Haynesworth, Jeff George, Steve Spurrier, Marvin Lewis, Shaun Alexander…these are all failures of the front office.

You pay old, aging veterans one last big contract and it will lead to a Super Bowl, right?  Wrong.

Let’s look at the players the ‘Skins have let go when they shouldn’t have and see how a few of them ended up:

Antonio Pierce (ring), Ryan Clark (ring), Stephen Davis (SB appearance).

Players like these—good character men who work hard day in and day out—were replaced by older and more expensive pieces when they could have been retained.

It makes me sick when a player like Rock Cartwright is not given a chance to succeed as a third-string running back, but Shaun Alexander is signed and brought on the roster for five carries.  Is it really just to make SportsCenter and have the Redskins logo on the screen?

The Ravens in 2008 spent a second-round pick on Ray Rice, who is turning into a fabulous player.  Guess what the Redskins did with their 2008 second-round picks?  Drafted three players who have yet to help at all. (Imagine no Thomas, Kelly, or Davis and instead having three extra O-linemen.)

They traded their 2009 second rounder for Jason Taylor, paid him $8 million, and made the ESPN ticker for a day or two.  He did virtually nothing, outside of forcing a fumble against Philadelphia in Week 16.

The ‘Skins then go on to release Taylor, who re-signs with Miami for next to nothing.  We gave away $8 million—and a second-round draft pick—for one forced fumble the whole season. Well done, Vinny and Danny!

 

Promote a Quarterbacks Coach to Be a Head Coach

We all know how this went down, and it was laughable at the time.  Where is Gregg Williams?  Oh yeah, he is undefeated, leading an awesome New Orleans defense.

Some speculate he thought Todd Collins should be the starting quarterback, and he was probably right.  Jim Zorn had a chance, and now he is nothing more than a puppet for Snyder and Co.

That is it for now.  Please feel free to add more reasons why the Redskins are not very good this year.  I am becoming too upset to list more of my thoughts.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Washington Redskins 2009: 10 Realistic Predictions

1. The team will finish 10-6.

After a 6-2 start last season, the offensive line faltered, hindering the rest of the offense.  

The ‘Skins are getting very little national respect as usual. Despite having a top five defense last season and barely missing the playoffs, most writers think  the ‘Skins will continue to be an 8-8 team.

Let’s remember the Redskins were a fluke fumble by an offensive lineman and a fumble on the half yard line from being 10-6 last year. Also, the Redskins defeated the Eagles twice and Cardinals once.

Going 3-0 against the two teams in the NFC Championship is not a fluke.

 

2. Santana Moss will have his best year since 2005.

This should be the year that a legitimate No. 2 receiver steps up and takes double teams away from Moss. 

Jim Zorn should be able to use his entire playbook, and Moss seems like he is 100 percent healthy. In 2005, Moss had 84 receptions for 1483 yards and nine touchdowns under Joe Gibbs run-first offense.

Now, in a west coast offense, with real targets elsewhere, the coverage should be less focused on Moss. He should have two more seasons of prime play left in his career.

Look for Malcolm Kelly to draw more attention from defenses.

 

3. Carlos Rogers will have five interceptions! And one touchdown.

Yup, that’s right, five!

Rogers is in a contract year and has shown glimpses of all-pro potential.  This is the season when he and college teammate Jason Campbell play for their second contracts.

Cornerbacks garner big money in free agency, and a single career year can get you paid (see Nate Clements).  While five INTs is not amazing, it certainly is a step forward for a team that struggles to create turnovers. 

Also, some men up front named Haynesworth and Orapko should help Rogers out in making plays.

 

4. Rock Cartwright will have zero rushing attempts.

This has been an issue that has bothered me for a few years. Rock is explosive, tough, reliable, and hardworking, yet he never gets any touches.

I’m sure ‘Skins fans remember his 100-yard game against St. Louis in 2005 during their run toward the playoffs. He can run, he returns kickoffs pretty well, and hits tacklers sometimes before they hit him. 

For some reason, whenever the first or second-string running back goes down, someone else is brought in. In cities like Pittsburgh, New England, and Baltimore, Rock would surely be more appreciated and utilized on the offense.

The Washington Post recently wrote a story on this, and Cartwright seems frustrated by not getting opportunities.  With Marcus Mason making the squad, Rock takes another step back.

 

5. London Fletcher will lead the team in tackles and finish top-five in the NFL.  

He still won’t make the Pro Bowl.  

Why?

Because this happens every year: Fletcher is an exceptional, reliable football player who never gets respect.

He will lead the ‘Skins’ defense again and get little respect again. Patrick Willis, Jon Beason, and/or Brian Urlacher will make the Pro Bowl over Fletcher.  

Washington loves you, London!

 

6. Antwaan Randle El will still be the primary punt returner.

This is one of those sad realizations I came to about a month ago. Redskins fans better hope fewer reps on offense mean better returns from El.

He danced east and west way too much last year and averaged only 6.5 yards a return. Washington brought in some speedsters to challenge El, but none made the final 53.

So we’re back with Antwaan, special insert Santana Moss, and hopefully Devin Thomas can get some reps as well. Mark my words after the Giants go three and out to open the season, Randle El will run back to return the punt.

 

7. Sean Suisham will let the team and fans down. 

Once the announcer says, “Looks like Washington will have to punt. Fifty-three yards is out of Suishams range.” This is when I pull my hair and curse loud expletives at Vinny Cerrato and the television. He will most likely kick under 80 percent, finishing in the bottom third of the league.

Unfortunately, the Redskins love to play each game down to the wire, just when kickers are needed most.

 

8. Albert Haynesworth will make the pro bowl. 

Since Daniel Snyder began his free-agent spending sprees back in 2000, not a single one has made a pro bowl with the team…besides Marcus Washington, one time.

I believe that to be true from personal memory. If I am wrong, please correct me. Haynesworth will become No. 2 after another stellar season. This guy really is a beast, and we all can’t wait to watch him dominate the NFC Beast.

 

9. Washington will sweep the AFC West Division.   

With the exception of the Chargers, the division is a joke with no real playoff contenders.

The ‘Skins host Kansas City and Denver, if they were playing in either Mile-High or Arrowhead I would not predict a win, considering how tough those places are to play.

Playing at San Diego in week 17, I fully expect the Chargers to be resting their stars, while it will probably be a must-win for Washington to make the playoffs.

 

10. Jim Zorn will not be fired, Campbell will leave for free agency, and the team will make the playoffs.  

Zorn, by making the playoffs, earns himself another year or two as head coach.

Campbell will leave for free agency. Despite improving for another straight season, the ‘Skins will low-ball him, and once again disrespect him. 

After going 10-6, and finishing second in the division behind the Giants, Washington will lose in the NFC Divisional round.

 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

5 Preseason Storylines For the Redskins

Finally, the summertime blues are over and football is back! Camps are opening up this week and big personel questions loom over all NFL teams.

The Washington Redskins are no exception, after finishing in last place in the NFC East last season they have several holes to fill. Along with some juicy melodrama carrying over from the offseason.

This story is going to attempt to analyze preseason plots, that will affect the 2009 regular season. There will not be a slide on Jason Campbells feelings, or Dan Snyders inability to save draft picks. We will not discuss Jim Zorn’s butt roasting on the hotseat.

These slides are dedicated to things that will play out on the football field in the preseason. You know when the games don’t count for anything. The wins and losses may not mean much but completion percentage, injuries, field goal percentage, pass blocking and special teams sure as hell mean a lot.

Here we go; 5 preseason storylines for the Washington Redskins

The Tough Life of a 22-Year-Old Redskins Fan

I still remember my first memory of watching the National Football League. It was January 1992 and the Washington Redskins were about to win Super Bowl XXVI.

I was five years old, and man was football fun to watch.

My parents had plenty of friends and family over my house to watch and celebrate Joe Gibbs’ third championship in nine seasons. We played Hail to the Redskins after every score, and I had learned every word by the end.

I fell in love with football that night and with the Washington Redskins. My father groomed me into a fanatic.  If I only knew what I was about to get myself into.

Stress, agony, heartbreak, death, frustration, excitement, impatience, anticipation, annoyance, and high expectations. These are just the feelings I can think of off the top of my head.

I honestly can’t remember much about Gibbs’ last season the following year. They made the playoffs, advanced a round, and then he retired.

Between his retirement and eventual return to the sideline, the Redskins’ record was 74-101. This 11-year period was forgettable to say the least. There was one division title and playoff win in 2000.

Norv Turner and new owner Daniel Snyder (names synonymous with winning) led the team to within a botched field goal snap of a possible NFC Championship game in 2000.  It was about as bad as Tony Romo’s botched hold for those who do not remember.

The Skins lost 14-13, and that is when Mr. Snyder became famous in NFL circles and a laughingstock of football fans everywhere.

Months after the loss, Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders, Mark Carrier, and Jeff George all signed with the team as free agents. Chris Samuels and LaVar Arrington were drafted second and third overall.

Giggity!! We are going to win it all!!!

Or so Redskins nation thought.

Nope, we finished 8-8 a huge disappointment. To add insult to injury, the Baltimore Ravens won the Super Bowl that year.

I live 30 miles north of Washington DC, which means 20 miles south of Baltimore. You get the picture; all of a sudden I am the only kid still rocking a Darrell Green jersey. All I see is purple, EVERYWHERE.

All the kids in class apparently have “always been Ravens fans.”

Did they know the difference between Peter Boulware and Jermaine Lewis? No. All they knew was Ray Lewis and Marvin Lewis. Hell, that’s all they needed to know.

The Redskins were no longer the favorite team in town.

This was when things began going from bad to worse. Now every man is rocking purple in town. Nobody likes the Redskins nationally anymore either because of Snyder’s annual spending sprees every offseason.

This still rings true at this very moment. It just doesn’t seem right.

Finally a moment of happiness arrives when Norv Turner is fired, only to be replaced by Marty Schottenheimer. They started the year 0-5, yet somehow rebounded to finish 8-8.

Great, we’re making progress now. Stephen Davis was running like a beast, Arrington was becoming a defensive force, and the team was playing smart football.  

About two weeks later reports surface that Snyder was having dinner with the one and only Steve Spurrier fresh off of an Orange Bowl victory over my Maryland Terrapins. 

Marty Ball out, Fun n’ Gun in.

The ole’ ball coach goes 12-20 in two seasons. Patrick Ramsey’s confidence is shot after Dallas beats him like a rag doll. Stephen Davis is let go in favor of Trung Candidate. Taylor Jacobs is our first draft selection in 2003.

More hype, even less results. And this memorable video. Oh Steve!

This was the breaking point for my father, a lifelong fan. He admitted to me recently he was losing faith, although I don’t believe it to be true. Once a Redskins fan, always a Redskins fan.

It was at the lowest point of his faith in the Burgundy and Gold when it all got exciting again. Joe freakin’ Gibbs was coming back!!!  

I was woken up around 5am to hear the awesome news. “Were back!” my father announced.

The entire fan base needed to be rejuvenated, and it happened.

Unfortunately the game apparently passed Gibbs by. His offense only scored more than 30 points once and a 6-10 season ensued.

In 2005, Gibbs second year back the Redskins reeled off five-straight wins to reach the playoffs and beat Tampa Bay in the Wild Card round.

I got to experience an incredible playoff run with my family, friends and new classmates in college. Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, Mark Brunell, and Sean Taylor were simply awesome.

I know it’s sad, but a six-game winning streak is still the best month and a half of football I have ever witnessed from the Redskins over an extended period.

My little bro kissed the TV after Marcus Washington’s game-sealing INT against Tampa in the playoffs. Sean Taylor sealed the playoff berth by leaping into the Eagles’ end zone in Philadelphia. 

Maybe Gibbs hasn’t lost his touch for play calling after all.

After a great ride in 2005 Daniel Snyder once again ruined the chemistry of the team, bringing in Brandon (I have one great highlight) Lloyd and Adam (punt protector) Archuleta.

While paying Archuleta the largest contract for a safety in football history, Snyder also released Sean Taylor’s good friend and excellent role player Ryan Clark.

Clark went on to Pittsburgh and has continued his stellar play. I’m not really sure about Archuleta last I checked he was a tackling dummy for the Bears.  

Another forgettable year followed with a 5-11 record.

The 2007 season was the toughest and most fulfilling of them all. The team was 5-3 hosting the Eagles at FedEx Field. Up late in the game, Sean Taylor left due to a knee injury and the Eagles came back to win.

Two more losses followed to Dallas and Tampa Bay. It was ok because Taylor was getting healthy and would be back soon.

I woke up around 9 a.m. in the middle of the week to eight text messages. “Sean got shot.” 

Later that night at work I heard he was showing signs of life in the hospital. I never thought the beast would have died that night.

I skipped all my classes, called a few close friends, and was brought to tears.

It was a strange pain. I mean I didn’t know him; he was just a football player. Should I be this upset?

Well once I talked to a few friends who loved the team as much as me I knew it was ok to feel like I lost a close friend.  I will never forget that day either, much like Super Bowl XXVI but for entirely different reasons.

First, a young baby girl just lost her father, and the Redskins and Miami Hurricanes lost a legend. Second was the passion all Redskins fans showed, the love they all showed. Even Dallas and Philly fans came up to me and said they were sorry, he was the best they had seen.  My Sean Taylor jersey was worn once more the following weekend.

The Redskins went on to play football that week and lose on a game-ending field goal after a unmemorable gaff by Joe Gibbs calling two consecutive timeouts, putting the Bills 15 yards closer.

I sat in silence after the clock hit zero. The entire fan base was in shock. Some friends left the room to let off steam, some made excuses for Gibbs.

The team had every excuse in the world, but nobody made any. They just celebrated Sean.

Coach Gibbs stressed character and resiliency through the entire ordeal, two cornerstones of his model for team building.

What followed were four-straight victories, including a playoff-clinching win over Dallas at home by 21 points.  It was an accomplishment I’m not sure any coach but Gibbs could have pulled off. Rallying men together for a single lost teammate, with a backup QB nonetheless was amazing.

From the Super Bowl in 1992 to present day, I have lived, breathed, and sweat Redskins pride. All I have since that championship are two playoff victories, a few memorable wins over Dallas, and the memory of Sean Taylor’s abilities as a football player.

And well a lot of games I wish I could forget that took years off of my life.

I would not trade it in for anything because being a Redskins fan prepares you for life. I hope the next 22 years are as tough on me as the previous 22. Through the good and the bad, “Fight for Old DC!”

Mike Vick: When You Were Good, You Were the Best We Had

I am not particularly an Atlanta Falcons fan, a Virginia Tech fan or a dogfighting fan. But I am a fan of the NFL. I am also a fan of college football. This allows for every weekend I spend to be filled with countless hours watching football on television.
   
And for the record, I loved watching Michael Vick play ball.

We all remember the 2000 Sugar Bowl against Florida State where he almost defeated Peter Warrick and co. by himself. Or his third place finish as a freshman in the Heisman voting that year. The man was electric, better than Reggie Bush arguably.

He put Virginia Tech back on the map.

Once he got to the NFL it was more of the same. He brought the Falcons within a game of the Super Bowl in the 2005 playoffs. However the best part of that year might have been those “Michael Vick Experience” ads that came to our television sets each and every weekend.

Now Vick is facing obstacles much more intimidating than opposing defenders. He is facing his own personal demons, as he tries to revitalize his career and life after prison.

All human beings make mistakes, we make wrong decisions, and regret things we have done.

What defines a real mans character and story is how he fights back and picks himself up during the toughest times.

When the world is against you how do you respond to adversity?

The verdict is still out there on how Michael Vick’s career will pan out.

I heard an analyst say today that he’s definitely one of the best 64 quarterbacks in the league. I agree, and in fact, I think we all do.

Vick will get his chance of redemption; I just hope he takes full advantage of it. This is probably his only chance—he is not getting any younger and his ability to play quarterback has been questioned since day one.

On behalf of all football fans, please Michael Vick, put the past behind you and remind everyone why it is you got picked no. one overall in the NFL draft.

You have an opportunity for a precedent to be set, Josh Hamilton overcame drug problems to become an All-Star in baseball. Jamal Lewis had a Pro Bowl season with the Cleveland Browns after being incarcerated.

A few more Pro Bowls and 65 yard rushing touchdowns are a reasonable request, so redeem yourself for all that has happened.

NFL Sport Channel Latest

• Just How Far Would You Go?
• Sorry Rex, But It Isn’t Happening
• Super Bowl Predictions: Five Stat-Free Reasons Why the Eagles Will Reach The Super Bowl
• Seahawks Attempt to Turn Corner With Heavy Pursuit of Pete Carroll
• Bill Cowher Unlikely to Coach in 2010