For those of us who have covered the Redskins for a while, it's like we're living in a parallel universe this weekend akin to when Kirk and Spock ran into their evil twins on an episode of "Star Trek."
Half of the NFL's teams have already signed or traded for talent, but not Washington. Redskins One isn't flying around the country picking up prospective signees. Dan Snyder isn't wooing them with talk of millions during limousine rides to Morton's and Verizon Center.
Re-signing 36-year-old backup quarterback Todd Collins, whose stupendous 4-game December stint fills almost all of his resume for the past decade, isn't exactly the stuff of nationwide headlines. But that's all the Redskins have done so far. And according to front office boss Vinny Cerrato, that's all they're going to do for maybe a week unless they re-sign more of their own backups and special-teamers.
Is this the same franchise that spent lavishly right off the bat in: 2002 (Jessie Armstead); 2003 (Randy Thomas, John Hall, Brandon Noble, Dave Fiore); 2004 (Clinton Portis, Mark Brunell, Shawn Springs, Marcus Washington, Phillip Daniels, Cornelius Griffin); 2005 (Casey Rabach and David Patten); 2006 (Adam Archuleta, Brandon Lloyd, Andre Carter, Antwaan Randle El) and 2007 (London Fletcher and Fred Smoot)?
Has Snyder become an old-school owner like Pittsburgh's Dan Rooney, Cincinnati's Mike Brown and the Giants' John Mara?
When Cerrato criticizes "throwing money around," you know things are weird.
Comments (11)
Lets hope it means they maybe have finally wised up!
Posted by Todd | March 2, 2008 12:11 AM
an old school owner like mike brown?
I though old school owners were good?
the Bengals suck
Posted by Ron Burgandy | March 2, 2008 10:15 AM
Solid move, please do not sign any free agents. Also, don't wait too long to trade Potis for draft picks.
Posted by Carl Hester | March 2, 2008 8:33 PM
As Crazy Eddy said, these prices are INSAAAANE!
I mean really. Teams are just throwing money at guys who are barely better than journeymen.
I really don't understand the DT moves either. Kris Jenkins, Shaun rogers and Marcus Stroud all traded for picks. I understand that the writers here think Jenkins is done and the Panthers got a deal unloading him. Rod Marinelli is a former D line coach and should understand what Rogers was worth or not. Stroud? I thought he was solid, but del Rio and Gregg W should know. Still, the trade value for these guys versus the FA deals doesn't seem to make snese to me.
Posted by AAA | March 3, 2008 9:43 AM
Good move,but only by accident.The reason Martin@lewis,oops,I mean Dan&Vinnie haven't spent anything,is their all out of gidda's.You know it and I know it.They now have to play the hand they dealt themselves.As I see it ,all these $ spent is out of hand.SF,MINN,no QB's,and poor Miami had a team worst than Oak,Atlanta.Good luck Skins in the draft.Sooner or later we had to "get your mind right".Hey Vinnie,show the kids "Cool Hand Luke"followed by remember the "Titans."Heck,throw in Tombstone&and Blue Velvet,with Dan supplying the Beer.
Posted by charlesdog | March 3, 2008 12:16 PM
"Star Trek" episode ? I think it's more akin to an episode of "The Office", except with no hijinx. Dan Snyder, as usual, is the Michael Scott character- doing virtually a million things that would get a normal owner thrown out on his ear. And the Dwight Schrute character could be played by Vinny Cerrato, the eternal talentless lapdog.
EXPECT that Washington will make some boneheaded move that will continue to curse the franchise. Myself, I'm guessing a draft day deal that sends all of Washington's picks for 2008, 2009 and half of the next decade to New England for Randy Moss. And of course, once Moss is a Redskin, Dan Snyder will sign him for 11 years, $300 million, with more than half the money guaranteed. Let's see how far off I am.
Posted by Elijah Cain | March 3, 2008 12:32 PM
Randy Moss is a free agent so there will be no need to trade for him. Surprising that they haven't tried a move for him.
Former Redskins pass rusher Cris Clemons, who recorded 8 sacks for Oakland last year, signed with the Iggles. Too bad the Skins dumped him to make room for Archelueta and Lloyd.
Posted by AAA | March 3, 2008 2:32 PM
Since the dawn of the Dan Snyder era, the Redskins have gone from yearly contenders to consistent pretenders. The Redskins' cap situation is all screwed up; past player moves have been mostly busts, with few good returns; players have never had a chance to find their groove since coaches/staff and their systems were changed like a tuner dial on a radio; and they've done a great job of cutting off the youth pipeline (the draft). And this is done all without a real GM. All for what, a couple of early-exit playoff appearances? I think, or rather desparately hope, that Snyder has learned his lesson.....keep out of football operations and just sign the checks. His desire to win and return the Redskins to a serious championship contender is commendable, but he, and his bobble-headed yes man Vinny Cerrato, has botched every effort to attain that goal. I think this year is the one where the Redskins rebuild from the foundation up, and maintain it wisely through smart player moves and draft picks. Either that or Snyder is buying time with Zorn, saving money and cap space also, for when his next perceived savior, Bill Cowher, becomes available. I hope it is not the latter. HAIL TO THE REDSKINS!!
Posted by Eric | March 4, 2008 12:11 PM
Please forget Hall and take your #1 pick.He is not the piece for this puzzle.Jim Zorn,please remember to rent,not buy.Take a look at the age of the recent FA we have gotten and the out and out robbery of this years stick up men.We know who will not have a chance of a playoff berth before the season begins.I believe the NFL should reconsider some rules and give some hope to teams that will take more than a decade to get in the race.I wouldn't know where to begin.
Posted by charlesdog | March 5, 2008 9:25 AM
do you realize that of the 19 names listed in the article 13 could be labeled as solid to spectacular additions? That's a 68% hit rate on free agents. Tell me again how bad these guys in the front office are? I realize we have had some spectacular failures (archulata, lloyd) but you can't let the size of the fireball distract you from the fact there are only a few.
For information purposes i rate as solid or better:
2003 (Randy Thomas, John Hall); 2004 (Clinton Portis, Mark Brunell, Shawn Springs, Marcus Washington, Phillip Daniels, Cornelius Griffin); 2005 (Casey Rabach); 2006 (Andre Carter, Antwaan Randle El) and 2007 (London Fletcher and Fred Smoot)?
Posted by agrawog | March 5, 2008 2:00 PM
YEA,THAT'S A LOAD OF PRO BOWLERS.COUNT THE % OF GAMES THEY MISSED.PORTIS IS OVERATED,BRUNELL LEFT HIS GAME YEARS AGO,RANDEL EL WOULD HAVE TO DOUBLE HIS OUTPUT BY SIGNING PICS BEHIND THE BENCH,AND SMOOT JUST BACK BECAUSE WE COULDN'T REPLACE HIM.THATS A SHOCKER THERE.FLETCHER ON THE FLIP SIDE HAD A GOOD SEASON FOR WHAT THE SKINS SHELLED OUT.HAVE YOU NOTICED THE TEAMS AND THEIR CAPS WHO STILL MAKE IT IN THE PLAYOFFS.WHO'S YOUR GUESS FOR COACH IN 09,AND WHO WILL BE PLAYING QB.THIS IS THE SAME TEAM WE GOT JOY OUT OF PLAYIHG AGAINST THE ODDS TO ENDING UP IN A GOOD STORY.DON'T EXPECT THE SAME OR BETTER.OLD IS OLD,AND INJURIES IS A HUGE PART OF FOOTBALL."I DIDN'T KNOW BUDDY DIAL,I DIDN'T WORK WITH BUDDY DIAL'",BUT I DID SEE OLE BUDDY PLAY FOR YEARS.NOT SAYING I AM SOUND OF MIND,BUT IHAVE BEEN WATCHING THE BOYS AND OWNERS FOR 5 DECADES.YOU EITHER SEE IT OR YOU DON'T.KEEP WORKING ON IT.NO HARM.
Posted by CHARLESDOG | March 5, 2008 9:04 PM