The Washington Redskins

[SalvadorMontenegro]

The thing is, neither one of these guys (Grossman or Beck) are big play quarterbacks. It's not like Beck is gonna come in and go 20/27, 347 yards and 4 touchdowns. In neither case are we getting Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady. It comes down to which quarterback will make the least mistakes, really. Is Grossman too much of a liability? He threw the four interceptions last week and, what?, two? the week before when we were leading.

Beck has that one drive and the fact that it's hard to be worse than zero touchdowns and four interceptions going for him. Grossman has the 3-2 record and the player's support (at least their public support) going for him. I really think you have to stick with Grossman and not make the switch until we're below .500 and fading. As long as we have a winning record, I think it would be a mistake to switch.

We're in a lot of trouble, though. Left guard Lichensteiger (or something similar to that name) is out for the year, left tackle Trent Williams is out for several weeks and tight end Chris Cooley is out indefinitely. Whoever is in there at quarterback is going to have a hell of a time on his blind side.

[SalvadorMontenegro]

Yeah, so I don't want to sound like a pessimist or anything, but we just lost to a team that was previously 1-5. Our run and pass defense were obliterated by a rookie quarterback. We just lost our starting running back for the season. Our best wide receiver is out for five to seven weeks. Excluding the Giants, two out of the three teams we beat have a combined record of 1-11. I mean, I know we're only a game behind the Giants, but I could totally be talked into getting on board the Suck for Luck bandwagon, even though we've probably won too many games to really compete.

[jmorris]

I'm glad I missed most of that game. Still debating on whether I want to go out of my way to find a stream for next Sunday's game or not. Same shit, different year.

[SalvadorMontenegro]

Well, that was fun.

As of right now, the Eagles are trouncing the Cowboys. If they win, it will be a three way tie for second place in the NFC East. Of course, I think the Redskins are by far the worst in the division, as expected. The Eagles are looking like a good team, now.

[hotreds]

What a horrible result. At least the team I am now following (by osmosis) here in Cincinnati is doing well

[SalvadorMontenegro]

Yeah, they are living. Andy Dalton is pretty darn good.

Having lived in NYC for the past six years, I'm going to have to jump on the Giants' bandwagon. I know it's not right, since the Giants play in the same division, but I cannot stand the Jets.

Eli is playing like an elite quarterback.

[SalvadorMontenegro]

I can't even pretend to be excited about the game today. We're flat out awful.

[jmorris]

I really hope that the team takes Hall's words seriously.

[SalvadorMontenegro]

You can't really pin the entire blame on DeAngelo Hall. Yeah, he's been beaten by Dez Bryant on crucial plays in both games, but the Redskin's team as a whole stinks. Good teams put games out of reach.

We have a long, long ways to go before we're a good team. But you also have to remember that, right now, we're not even playing with our main, lousy team. Cooley, Hightower, Moss, Hankerson, Lichensteiger and Landry were all out. Trent Williams missed some games. With those guys, we're still not a contender, but without them, we're flat out awful. Right now, we're one of the worst teams in the league. Maybe the worst, to be honest.

That we're this bad is really no surprise to me. That we started out 3-1 was.

[jmorris]

I'm not pinning the entire blame on Hall but he is right, he needs to be cut, among many others.

[SalvadorMontenegro]

This Peyton Manning talk is really annoying. This would be a horrible move for both parties. Why, in God's name, journalists think that Peyton Manning would consider the Redskins is beyond me. Dude is 36 and wants to win another Super Bowl. WHY WOULD HE PLAY FOR THE REDSKINS?!?!

[GFlanagan3]

I agree Sal. but I am VERY curious about what we are really gonna do. Now is the time for Danny to step up ...open the checkbook and keep his mouth SHUT...we will see what REALLY happens though

[SalvadorMontenegro]

I lose the Internet for a couple of weeks and Snyder goes nuts. Three first round picks and a second round pick for Robert Griffin III. I... don't know. I really like pretty much everything about RGIII, but that's a hell of a price to pay for an unproven guy. I do like the Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan signings. If nothing else, it's going to be a much more exciting season than last year.

[Walter Sobchak]

I lose the Internet for a couple of weeks and Snyder goes nuts. Three first round picks and a second round pick for Robert Griffin III. I... don't know. I really like pretty much everything about RGIII, but that's a hell of a price to pay for an unproven guy. I do like the Pierre Garcon and Josh Morgan signings. If nothing else, it's going to be a much more exciting season than last year.

I was thinking that it was NUTS at first. But now I'm undecided since reading that Cleveland had upped the ante for that pick and the Skins had to go all in to get it.

I guess there's something to be said for identifying your biggest need and going out and handling it right away with a big splash. They haven't had a franchise QB in how long? Since Rypien, maybe? And they weren't getting one from free agency this year. Peyton was never really a candidate and Flynn won't go there. Then who's left? Kolb maybe? Orton, meh. Nobody that will get fans excited like RG3.

DS knew that there were going to be good FA receivers out there and it might have been hard to lure them to Washington without the guarantee of a high profile QB. Maybe it's a smart move. Now all they have to do is focus on getting pieces.

I believe they're backloading some contracts to save money now in anticipation of a higher salary cap when the new TV deal comes through in a couple of seasons.

[GFlanagan3]

I guess there's something to be said for identifying your biggest need and going out and handling it right away with a big splash. They haven't had a franchise QB in how long? Since Rypien, maybe?

I'd say Waaaayyyyy before Rypien...maybe back to Theismann

And they weren't getting one from free agency this year. Peyton was never really a candidate and Flynn won't go there. Then who's left? Kolb maybe? Orton, meh. Nobody that will get fans excited like RG3.
Now all they have to do is focus on getting pieces.

...and the cap penalty imposed by the NFL won't help!

[Walter Sobchak]

I'd say Waaaayyyyy before Rypien...maybe back to Theismann

...and the cap penalty imposed by the NFL won't help!

Yes, Theismann was a true franchise QB. Rypien wasn't great. I guess I should have said the Skins haven't been settled at QB since Rypien.

and the cap penalty is huge for them, but I know I read somewhere in the last few days that the Skins were getting creative with structuring contracts so that it won't hurt them as bad as it seems.

[SalvadorMontenegro]

The reason I'm okay with this extravagant move is that it's for a rookie quarterback and we have a competent coach. In the past, Snyder would spend profligately on washed up veterans who would be coached by someone like Norv Turner or Steve Spurrier. Examples: Deion Sanders, Mark Carrier, Bruce Smith, Jeff George, etc, etc, etc! Jason Campbell could've been a franchise quarterback, but we pretty much screwed him over by giving him a different coach and/or offensive coordinator in practically every season he played for us. I still feel bad for that guy. He got a raw deal.

The biggest reason that I like Robert Griffin III is, honestly, the fact that he graduated from college early and was working on his Master's degree while winning the Heisman trophy as Baylor's quarterback. This is hypocritical of me, because I'm always griping about how I think that a college degree is given too much prestige in today's society; but what it tells me is that Griffin is mature and a hard worker who is determined to succeed. Meaning, he won't pull a JaMarcus Russell or Ryan Leaf and come in with a bad attitude and slack off. He also seems like a cool, personable guy, as well as a great football player. I can't remember EVER being more excited about a Redskins' player.

The thing is, we weren't as horrible last year as our record. We beat the Super Bowl champs twice, put up a real fight against the Patriots and had some other close games. Our defense was good and our running game was solid, regardless of who was starting. The big weakness was quarterback and wide receiver and now we've addressed both. I do wonder what the signings of Garcon, Josh Morgan and maybe Eddie Royal mean for Santana Moss and Chris Cooley. I've always liked Moss, but he's older and small. We also have last year's draft pick, Leonard Hankerson at WR. I'm really hoping that we're able to retain London Fletcher.

I am not expecting us to be a Super Bowl contender next season, particularly given the division, but I am optimistic about the long term future; even if we did give up three years of first round picks.

[gegarrenton]

The biggest reason that I like Robert Griffin III is, honestly, the fact that he graduated from college early and was working on his Master's degree while winning the Heisman trophy as Baylor's quarterback. This is hypocritical of me, because I'm always griping about how I think that a college degree is given too much prestige in today's society; but what it tells me is that Griffin is mature and a hard worker who is determined to succeed. Meaning, he won't pull a JaMarcus Russell or Ryan Leaf and come in with a bad attitude and slack off. He also seems like a cool, personable guy, as well as a great football player. I can't remember EVER being more excited about a Redskins' player.

Bingo, hit it right on the head, and it's apparent in all the moves. We are bringing in youth with upside instead of fading, aging stars for too much. We still make a splash, but a good aggressive play and not just image based silliness.

[gegarrenton]

Went to training camp last Saturday for fan appreciation day. Was pretty fun, got to watch RG3 run and toss like a crazy person. Was also like 100 degrees out which totally sucked! The team handed out 110 game balls, and all 90 players stayed out for autographs.

Got several (highly amateur) photos. The whole set of cropped ones can be found here

[SalvadorMontenegro]

Looks good!

I don't expect us to make the playoffs, or even be that much better than last year, but I am happy with the direction the team is going!

I have always liked Santana Moss. I even liked him when he was a Jet.