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The Post is running an in-depth, investigative series of articles about the redskins. By using confidential sources they have uncovered layers of problems in Redskinland. Danny Snyder and Vinny Cerrato are tops on the list with Gibbs being a close third. None of the players believe in Gibbs or Saunders and the ship seems to be sinking...

first of 3 articles:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/31/AR2006123101079.html

second of 3 articles:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/01/AR2007010101001.html

1st three articles

&

2nd three articles

fagelpojke...thanks for linking.

Jesus...long reads but very interesting.

First thing that struck me is EVERYONE appears to be talking. It just seemed like there are far, far too many people willing to share their opinions about the team.

Second thing is there are way, way, way too many cooks in the kitchen. They have a head coach, assistant head coach- offense, assistance head coach- defense, offensive coordinator, defensive coordinator....but no general manager. That's the weirdest structure I've ever heard of.

Third, I would be most alarmed by Gibbs failing to recognize what's wrong. He's actually sitting there and defending some moves that were very obviously bad ones.

I do have to commend the Skins for figuring out ways to beat the cap, but their talent evaluation and front office is an absolute mess along with their coaching staff.

Props to Bugel for actually lettin his name be attached to quotes.

Third, I would be most alarmed by Gibbs failing to recognize what's wrong.

At his age, he's just as likely to leave the house failing to recognize that he didn't put any pants on that morning.

FD, my thoughts exactly (about so many cooks in the kitchen). I'm not sure how many coaches are on an average NFL team but 24 sure seems like a lot.

The most interesting quote for me was the one that an anonymous player made saying how the players wondered what exactly Joe Gibbs did. One thing for sure that he does is cash a $5 million check each year.

Kind of makes it funny when you think about how many people were bitching that the Skins had such a great offseason and the Birds weren't doing enough...

it's absolutely brutal down here. Every year during the off-season I hear nothing but how great the skins will be now that they picked up (fill in the blank). I have only one realistic redskin fan friend who cringes everytime they sign the latest greatest whoever. Other than that it's Superbowl or bust! It was exceptionally out of control down here when Gibbs signed on. The most common phrase you heard was, "now it's not a matter of WHEN the skins will win the Superbowl, it's just a matter of how many times." ugh.

Kind of makes it funny when you think about how many people were bitching that the Skins had such a great offseason and the Birds weren't doing enough...

I didn't think they were having a great off-season, but I always marvel at how much money they are able to spend without ever ending up in cap trouble.

They really overpaid for Carter, Lloyd, Randel El, and Archuleta, but it always strikes me that the Birds front office will defend themselves for missing out on a player like Randel El (who they wanted) because "team x overpaid".

While that's true, what is "overpaying" if you never have to pay the cap piper?

That's what I struggle with when the Birds let FA's pass right through even when they really like one.

"The NFC East is about brutality, about kicking someone's ass," said a high-ranking Redskins coach, who asked not to be identified."

Kind of make you feel warm and fuzzy, don't it?

Gregg Williams turn today...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/02/AR2007010201192.html

Thnx for postin these- good reads....

long reads but interesting. I've never seen an investigative report like this (on a football team) before, it gave me a lot of insight into what really happens on a team. It's like a soap opera.

Gregg Williams

The other thing that kinda made me chuckle is how out of touch the entire organization seemed with reality. There was talk in the first couple articles about "Tough NFC East football" and comments made along the lines of "This isn't any fancy AFC-style offense".

What planet have they been living on?

They make it sound like the AFC is some Canadian/Arena league that doesn't play "real football".

Newsflash to 100 year old coaches on laughingstock organization: It's 2007 and the AFC beats the tar out of the NFC every time they matchup in the regular season.

The Washington Post finally got a backbone... Great articles! I am really impresssed with the reads. Says a lot about what many of us who live/lived in the area have said about the team for many years now. I just wished I still lived up there for a couple of "in your faces boyz" "now your own paper prints the truth"

I just read that Snyder is trying to buy 2 more radio stations (would give him 4 spots on the dial) for Redskins talk radio.

I can't imagine what kind of insight Redskins fans will get once he owns every station in town. It's no wonder so many of their fans are wildly clueless.

"What planet are they living on"

Not to mention that the winners of 5 of the last 6 NFCE titles play a decidedly finesse system.

Snyder tries to buy radio stations like he tries to buy free agents – full steam ahead. He offered such a high price for one station that a staffer at that station marveled at what Snyder was offering to the Washington Post. Snyder then seemed to get mad and reduced his price.

Link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/03/AR2007010301847.html?sub=AR

When Gibbs was hired I got this sick feeling in my stomach that he would turn the franchise around, and if not win a Super Bowl, at least challenge for the division and consistently be in the playoffs. If Vermeil could do it, why not Gibbs – especially since in his first go-around, adaptability was one of his strengths. Now I’m starting to think that the threat is off. First, just because Vermeil did it doesn’t mean that Gibbs necessarily will. Second, with all the associate and assistant head coaches on that team, it could be argued that Gibbs’ ability to influence the team is reduced – and that even assumes that the Gibbs touch still exists. Third, I think the constant focus on free agency is hurting them, and yet they keep doing it and probably will try to do it this off-season as well. Fourth, three years into the Gibbs II experiment, the team roster is unsettled. Question mark at QB. One good WR. I think the entire defense for them is in pretty precarious shape.

Gibbs had a great second half of a season last year; the other 5/6ths of his stint have been pedestrian or worse. And the worst part for the Redskins has gotta be that their model of focusing on free agents doesn’t work, which actually surprised me. If Gibbs were to suddenly start emphasizing the draft, it would take a few years for the results to show – assuming they picked well. Anyway, not my problem; their incompetence makes my day at work all the more enjoyable.

Also, great point about their antipathy for that zany ‘forward pass’ idea. Most of the teams in the AFC North, AFC East, NFC East, and NFC North play in conditions supposedly conducive to ‘smash-mouth’ football. And most of those teams tend to throw the ball.

They have two main problems:

NO QB.

No formal, consistent direction.

They had an excellent defense that was partly dimantled. They gave up an excellent CB for the oft-injured Portis. Gibbs called that a good move.

Stoopid.

Well, the Birds are complete antithesis of the Skins when it comes to draft picks. Reid still loves his 12th round (non-existent) pick as much as the 1st rounder.

They have two main problems:

Daniel.
Snyder.