Good blog article. I find it interesting - despite all the expertise - that professional coaches and scouts can miss big time on selecting veterans. And certain teams do so much more frequently and consistently than others. This latter group, which I include the Redskins, should be sending red flags up a pole quickly. Maybe, this year, they finally saw the flag.

Another point to this are the outrageous salaries and guarantees given to free agents and rookies. If I were to do any contract as an owner (maybe all owners should do this) to get your money you, as a player, must achieve the following: 1) make the roster, 2) if suppose to be a starter you make first string and remain first string (injuries not included), 3) you perform up to expectations, and 4) pay for performance - your pay is directly linked to how you grade out each game. The coaches grade the players, it is about as accurate a system currently in use now by which to determine how well a player executes his assignments.

To get a huge salary while you absolutely fail in your job is absurd. Oh well, many CEO's in this country do the same - so do the national politicians.

There you go..talking about the Danny and Vinnie player selection again.

It seems curious to me that, despite a seemingly sophisticated year-round, coast to coast scouting staff, the Redskins seem to sign up an awful ( no pun intended ) lot of Terps. When I think of Maryland I pretty much picture just lacrosse and basketball. I've got to believe certain conferences, such as the SEC, have loads of talent to try out. Where does Vinny do all his brain storming ------------- Happy Hour at the Green Turtle ?

If u pay for performance they will go to another league were money is guaranteed. The NFLPA will never allow it, performance can easily be minipulated, u can say what u want but this is the best system. If u don't believe me, have u ever said this? Our heard this? yeah right, what game were u watching? Performance is a matter of opinion too, it varies, stats don't tell the whole story. If a rb rushes for a lot yds. but it was mainly the blocking who should be getting most of the money, the line is going to argue its case, and the rb is going to argue no I just followed the right blocks, I broke the tackels, U can't pay for performance. What about the Rams Kurt Warner in his day through for a lot of yds. but some people said it was the reciever, some say Kurt didn't perform that well it was his recievers. THIS IS THE BEST SYSTEM. Paying for performance is stupid because that will turn into politics and who they like more, and not on its original purpose, who is the best.

About Maryland its about money not talent. He brings in former Maryland players so fans will come and see games and that generates more money. Sports is a buisness remember it winning is just part of it their are other important things to take care of.

As for the terps, it's probably more mercy than anything else. Most of the UFAs have no chance of making the team. Why make them pick up and move from Bama or Tenn just to get cut a few weeks later? Saves the Danny their airfare, too.

saratogan; your system would not work. The coaches get paid by the same person that is paying the players. You can't trust coaches to give score that determine the pay checks. Coaches get players to win, they shouldn't be involved in what the players get paid and bonuses.

While it's true, lil' Dano and Vinny (his pet fetch-a-lot-boy and partner GM), cannot pick talent at any price, either by way of free-agency or the draft, they do have other talents.

Dano, after all, can smoke a giant cigar while Vinny dresses him!

Vinny can speak to someone directly in front of him, while both of his mad-eyes look in different directions, simultaneously!

Adam Archuletta knew and appreciated this. So did Bruce Smith, Deion Sanders, et al!

Why would Snyder care about bringing in more local fans to watch Terp players? All of the games have been sold out for years...this isnt the Falcons where they bring in a lot of UGA (DJ Shockley et al) and GA Tech players (Keith Brooking) to attract fans to the Georgia Dome

I'd leave off the last line of this posting, Mr. Elfin. Let's not forget that one of those safeties was murdered....

Shout outs to Claude, I'm trying to be Dano- talented and smoke a cigar while my lapdog dresses me, only then will I know that I made it. As far as Vin-rock ,I never thought too highly of any of his talents, I got a pet chameleon that can do the same trick with his eyes that Vin can. Maybe we should have it working in the draft room come next April. Go Foreskins 2008 !!

It kills me that fans continue to bring up a handful of free agent signing failures. Every team has them. Do you guys ever consider the guys that performed well? Deion Sanders (gave up only 1 TD entire yr), Cornelius Griffin, Marcus Washington, Shawn Springs, Philip Daniels, Randy Thomas, Laveranues Coles, Casey Rabach, Todd Collins, Fred Smoot. What is wrong with you people? You cannot bat 100%. No team does. In the draft, when they had picks, they have done fairly well with Sean Taylor, Chris Cooley, Fred Smoot, Patrick Ramsey, Lavar Arrington, Chris Samuels, Rocky McIntosh, LaRon Landry, Carlos Rogers, Reed Doughty, Anthony Montgomery, Kedric Golston, Ladell Betts and Jason Campbell. The team is pretty good, and I wish that fans could see that. The 2008 draft class only adds to the list of draftees that succeed: Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, Fred Davis and Chris Horton are going to be fantastic.

Are you serious?

Skin Manic, I agree with you for the most but you have to admit ... Our failures have been *spectacular*.

Well, let's look a bit closer at the names you threw out to document that the F.O. knows what it's doing.

Taylor was a very high pick and though very talented physically, he had a serious (lethal) misjudgment of priorities as to his lifestyle. The hoods he invited to his home ended up killing him. In fact, had he been with the team (where he was supposed to be), he wouldn't have been killed. So, while physical talent is a no-brainer for high picks (see Lavar Arrington too), it takes more to be a long-term success in the NFL.

Ramsey was a bust in the first round! 'Nice kid that had a nice personality and didn't hang out with thugs either. But, no success in the NFL. I think the 'Skins got a 6th rounder for him.

LaRon and Carlos? High picks that have shown nothing-to-little (yet). Carlos does have a propensity to get injured however. And, he can't cover anybody, but who's counting?

Fred Smoot? Come on. He's heck with 15-year old girls and has a motor-mouth, but a top CB? No.

Samuels is the only top player on the list you mentioned, and he like Lavar, where picked at spots that a donkey shouldn't miss (1 thru3).

Betts? Again, a secound rounder that isn't even a capable starting RB.

Reed? A very likeable kid. Wouldn't be starting yet for circumstances (see Taylor).

The two DTs are serviceable but hardly strike fear into any offensive lineman.

And, finally, this year's group? Davis has already shown a character issue, even before he has a contract. Hopefully, he can invest in a better alarm clock with his first NFL check.

Chris Cooley is the only high pick that has been a win. He's talented AND has a good head on his shoulders. I think Dano must have been out of the room adjusting his elevator lifts in his shoes or getting dressed by Mad-Eyes-Vinny when selected (by Gibbs).

I am not very confident in either Dan or Vinny. With that said Betts is capable of being a starter. That is not debateable. Did you guys watch the Seattle Game? Landry was a stud and will be for years. Thank god they took the two WR's so our core is not the smurfs anymore. Watch how much better Roy Williams is than Kelly though. I really like Zorn but, I think they really screwed Greg Williams. That guy could have been a HC 2 years ago and stayed for the $ and the idea that he would suceed Gibbs. It just seems to me that since JKC died we never have had a balanced team Off & Def. We either have a good to Great D (w/ Williams only)and an anemic Off or we can't stop the run but can score some points. This group Vinnie and Dan will never be able to build a team like the '91 squad. Until we get a top notch football guy like the guy in GB or a Parcells type of GM we will continue to be mediocre.