Hey, alright lets go Numbers and being up at 6:30 Am

Damn, I was almost first!

You're pretty good with numbers, Jason. If you know anything about frozen OJ concentrate futures, Ben Bernanke might be able to use you.

Remember another axiom? First there are lies, then there are d*&mned lies, then there are statistics? Numbers actually lie all the time. That's why we have things like Enron.

It's people who lie. The numbers just do what we tell them to.

Fiddle fiddle. Watch Rome burn.

Great post, Janso. I'm still skeptical as well. It would be one thing if Snyderatto hadn't preached all of the same things before and we weren't in cap crisis, but we are. The real test to see if these clowns have changed will be when we enter an offseason under the cap, without having to restructure 10 guys and push their inevitable dead cap back.

Who wants some season tickets???

I'm hoping Snyder and Cerrato have learned their lessons and changed their ways..... but I'm wating to be convinced. The numbers are interesting but I don't think any of us will be surprised by them. I just can't get rid of the nagging feeling that Danny is itching to make another big splash this offseason.

THIS is why I won't get my hopes up on this team anytime soon. We've heard this same "I'm older/smarter/newer/better" routine from Snyder before just to placate the fans. So until I see some actions with these words, he's still the same old Snyder.

The thing that really chaps my ass about this is that even if Snyder now "gets it", it'll take at least 5 years to really fix this thing. And that's IF Vinny is the right guy to run the FO, IF Zorn is a good head coach, and IF this team does well with the draft/free agency during that time. All the while battling a tough division and the worst salary cap situation in the league. And God help us if any combination of the FO/Coaching staff/roster is NOT the right situation. Add on another 3-5 years of rebuilding.

I was REALLY hoping the Skins would ride the wave of emotion that got them into the playoffs right into the Super Bowl. I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but the Skins are the only team in the NFL to make at least one appearance in a Super Bowl in every full decade of the Super Bowl era. That streak is now in grave jeopardy. And it might be another decade before we see them in one again.

Guys,

Im hearing rumors that the players union will opt for no salary cap after the 09-01 season...could you imagine what Danny and the Vinny would do???...

Man, this post needs a "WHY DID WE LET ANTONIO PIERCE GO"

On the heels of the Redskins showing restraint in what could easily be described as a WEAK free agent market, people can't let go of their past.

Come on, lets get it all out on the table:

Bruce Smith
Mark Carrier
Dieon Sander
Jeff George

Sorry, you can't be skeptical about what they've done the past 2 seasons. They brought in Fletcher, Smoot and Kendall, which I would say were all winners. They drafted Landry. This-offseason, they resigned Rock/Todd, and didn't break the bank on average players.

I don't get it. Its like no one can move on from the past. They're trying to change their way's but people don't want to let them. I wont even get started on playing both sides of the fence with Brandon Lloyd. JLA had NOTHING good to say about the guy, but now that he's with Chicago, he sees him possibly having a decent year? Sorry, thats just bush league to me.

I don't know if anyone else has noticed, but the Skins are the only team in the NFL to make at least one appearance in a Super Bowl in every full decade of the Super Bowl era. That streak is now in grave jeopardy. And it might be another decade before we see them in one again.

Posted by: brownwood26 | April 4, 2008 08:06 AM
-------------------------------------------

Yep, let's face it, that record is gone as we ain't going to the Superbowl anytime soon. Come on Jim Zorn - prove me wrong!!!

Jason~
Why no reports on guys from the draft and their visits? Are the skins not having players come in for visits or are they not visiting certain places? Your back from Vacation can we get some draft news going seeing that its April.

Thanks
from NC

I don't get it. Its like no one can move on from the past. They're trying to change their way's but people don't want to let them. I wont even get started on playing both sides of the fence with Brandon Lloyd. JLA had NOTHING good to say about the guy, but now that he's with Chicago, he sees him possibly having a decent year? Sorry, thats just bush league to me.

HEY Vinny is that you lol

Can someone please dumb this down for me? I understand that we are on "lists" with people that we don't want to be (i.e. Raiders, etc.), but I don't understand how we can have so much committed cash, but at the same time have "dead cap space" - this is one part of football I don't understand.

naties, draft updates are no fun. Bashing the team for signing Jeff George back 8 years ago is more relevant, somehow???

I don't get it either. Instead of stuff like this, how about an update on injured players, Rogers, Thomas, Jansen, Rocky, how about an update on who the Redskins are looking to draft, how about an update on how Heyer is progressing this off-season, how Doughty's progressing this offseason?

Snyder and Cerrato could just be pushing off all these cap concerns until something like 09-10 happens when they will be able to push all the dead cap and guaranteed money or any other cap problems all into that one uncapped year and erase the last decade of cap mistakes. if it is true about the uncapped year, the redskins would start anew on level footing with the rest of the league in 2011

Cool off a little, Greg...

With regards to this team and its prior spending practices, the past is directly contributing to their present and their future. And as I said: Danny has said the same thing he's said before and he's slowed the spending before. He's got to do it for more than two years before he gets the benefit of the doubt on this. You can't just undo 8 years of f-ing up in just two seasons (not without winning a Super Bowl, of course). Just like an ex-con has to keep his nose clean for an extended period of time before he starts to get the benefit of the doubt, Snyder has to do the same.

"And as I said: Danny has said the same thing he's said before"

I don't recall this happening, Danny saying he's matured? When did this happen.

I just don't see the relevancy of how this matters today. There is 3 weeks to the draft. They have a new head coach, putting in a new offensive system. Surely, there were better things to write about, than how they spend money back in 2001, and how now that BLloyd is off the team, he's going to play better. Sorry, I'm not buying it.

BONG!

Who's not letting the Vinny and Snyder move on? Last time I checked, nobody is forcing their hand one way or another, so it's their choice whether or not they're going to permanently change their ways. JLC bringing this up has nothing to do with letting the skins move on. If anything, it reinforces the mistakes Snyder has made, which will could only help his decision-making in the future.

There's nothing irrelevant about talking about the personnel history of your personnel men. It's no different than talking about the past coaching record of your head coach. It gives you bearings on how they're improving/declining/learning, and what realistic expectations should be for these guys.

GREAT STUFFFFFF !!!!!!!!!!!!!! POOLMAN LIVE IS ALIVE AND WE'LL

Amen, gregmarino88 - I'm totally with you about this. Just let it go, JLC! It's a new dawn...it's a new day!

GREAT STUFFFFFF !!!!!!!!!!!!!! POOLMAN LIVE IS ALIVE AND WE'LL

GREAT STUFFFFFF !!!!!!!!!!!!!! POOLMAN LIVE IS ALIVE AND WE'LL

GREAT STUFFFFFF !!!!!!!!!!!!!! POOLMAN LIVE IS ALIVE AND WE'LL

gregmarino88 Lighten up man or keep it to yourself JLC is just doing is job and a fine one at that i must offer.Got a question if you are still reading Are you on Danny's payroll LOL

Since 2000, the first year Snyder really had control of the team (he took over in the summer of 1999, with the off season over and the roster largely ser), the Redskins have been the most inefficient team in the NFL, regardless of the coach, starting quarterback, or anything else

psp, please quantify this statement, as well as tell me how this is relevant today??

Greg,

Your zeal on the topic is wild but well placed. Keep fighting the good fight for those of us that are so frustrated they can't contribute.

Suzanne,

I believe "dead cap space" refers to deferred money owed to players no longer with the team. For example, a player retires in 2006 but contractually had deferred payments due in 2007 and 2008. Those payments count against the cap.

If I am wrong, I am sure some will correct me.

Suzanne,

I believe "dead cap space" refers to deferred money owed to players no longer with the team. For example, a player retires in 2006 but contractually had deferred payments due in 2007 and 2008. Those payments count against the cap.

If I am wrong, I am sure some will correct me.

Posted by: Markin21132 | April 4, 2008 09:06 AM

-------

Thanks. That makes SO much more sense now. I thought it was money that wasn't being used, which made no sense, given that we spent so much money. Got it now. Thanks.

Everybody is hopping on Greg but this is not groundbreaking reporting. The skins spend a lot of money. I think if you would have asked any NFL fan including us Redskin fans who spent the most money in the past Decade 99% would say the Redskins.
Now can we get some news on the Draft? Its April. Jason, Lawrence Jackson is visiting according to KFFL is there anybody else? Have they showed interest in any recievers like Limas Sweed, Devin Thomas James Hardy, Malcom Kelly? This was filler time to get back to work Jason :) you did a great job this past year so please give us somthing. You can take another break after the draft before camp.

The numbers argument in this article is very phony (and I'm finishing my PhD in statistics, so grant me some credibility here). The numbers don't lie, the writer does.

First, you come up with a list in which the Redskins are in "good company" -- aha, 3/5 of this list won the superbowl, we didn't, so we underachieved. Then you come up with a list in which the Redskins are in "bad company" -- aha, 4/5 of this list has had turnover at the GM position. The story smacks of being selective and picking numbers *after* the fact to try to explain success or failure. It's not a bad effort, but it doesn't prove anything.

One could turn the same figures on their head and tell the opposite story -- we're on a list of 3/5 superbowl winners, so we're doing something right and are bound to win the SB next season, and also we're on a list of 4/5 "turmoil" teams, though we still made the playoffs, so we have something special among our capabilities.

It's lovely to try to find explanations for success, or lack thereof, and blaming the front office is a convenient and recurring narrative, but that's all it is--a good "story". It doesn't make it true.

What do I think? There's a lot of luck involved, a lot more than people are willing to admit.

Markin,

Dead Cap Space is when prorated bonuses get accelerated to a single year when a player gets cut. A player signs a 7 year contract with a $28M signing bonus, the bonus gets prorated to $4M a year plus salary against the cap. If the player gets cut after 3 years, the remaining $16M in prorated bonus cap gets applied to the following year, which is Dead Cap Space against the $100M Salary Cap.

Tracey Porter, CB from Indiana is scheduled to visit the skins April9-10. Malcolm Kelly is scheduled for April 11th according to Scouts.com

in 2000 they beat the lions at home in the playoffs and then lost to the bucs when dan turk had the bad snap for the field goal.

The numbers argument in this article is very phony (and I'm finishing my PhD in statistics, so grant me some credibility here). The numbers don't lie, the writer does.

First, you come up with a list in which the Redskins are in "good company" -- aha, 3/5 of this list won the superbowl, we didn't, so we underachieved. Then you come up with a list in which the Redskins are in "bad company" -- aha, 4/5 of this list has had turnover at the GM position. The story smacks of being selective and picking numbers *after* the fact to try to explain success or failure. It's not a bad effort, but it doesn't prove anything.

One could turn the same figures on their head and tell the opposite story -- we're on a list of 3/5 superbowl winners, so we're doing something right and are bound to win the SB next season, and also we're on a list of 4/5 "turmoil" teams, though we still made the playoffs, so we have something special among our capabilities.

It's lovely to try to find explanations for success, or lack thereof, and blaming the front office is a convenient and recurring narrative, but that's all it is--a good "story". It doesn't make it true.

What do I think? There's a lot of luck involved, a lot more than people are willing to admit.

Posted by: IndependenceEveWonderlandBallroom | April 4, 2008 09:17 AM

Well done. I will remain hopeful yet unconvinced though. One year of restrained free agency does not a trend make. Wait and see attitude still applies.

Greg,

I agree with you on this, JLC is a Redskins hater, and the reason he post this crap is because he can no longer get any inside information on the team. The Redskins should have made more of an effort to reach B-Lloyd, whatever that is just crap what are they babysitters. JLC should go write for his Favorite team the Ravens. Lets get over the past whatever the effect it has now is over and done with, you can not fix the past lets move on. JLC try to use a source in the building, if you still have one to find out what the Skins are going to do with the first pick.

marl, thanks for the update.

Scamp, were they restrained in your mind last year, when they brought in Fletcher, Smoot, and Kendall?

THONGS and FLAPJACKS

If your going to post irrelevant numbers why don't you post the teams earnings in that same time span

psp, please quantify this statement, as well as tell me how this is relevant today??

Posted by: gregmarino88 | April 4, 2008 09:01 AM

Fair enough, JLC does have this one biased. It's his opinion, and it's a rough one. He should be more deliberate in stating that as opinion and not a quantifiable fact. As long as he doesn't prematurely bash Snyder's or Cerrato's future decisions, I have no problem with JLC giving his judgments. Doesn't mean I agree with him, but I won't look down upon him for stating his opinion. It helps keep people grounded, and at least gives something to argue about.

km, I just don't understand how this is relavant today? I mean, I like Jason, I like the fact that he does this blog, don't get me wrong, but to say that Lloyd might have a good year this year, is just a back-handed way of taking a dig at the Redskins.

Like I said before, many more subjects that could have been written about.

Scamp, were they restrained in your mind last year, when they brought in Fletcher, Smoot, and Kendall?

Posted by: gregmarino88 | April 4, 2008 09:32 AM

Good point, 2 years of good choices and restraint is the beginning of a trend. Ah, me thinks they may be onto something...hopefully.

Man, I thought Jasno was just back from his vacation. This is what he brings with him? Hate, venom, and irrelevant statistics?

Yesterday he was trying to gin up some Vinny hate (Let's get him a nasty nickname) and today it's a bunch of bogus numbers from the first chapter of "How to Lie with Statistics." (Tip of the cap to new blogger with name too long to type for pointing that out).

As for bad personnel decisions, Jasno hasn't given us any reason to believe that they were Vinnie's rather than Spurrier, Gibbs, or Schottenheimer's (Gardner, Rod). After all, Schottenheimer had complete control for one year and Gibbs for four, so how is this mess laid at Snyder/Cerrato's doorstep?

And he blissfully ignores the fact that the Redskins Snyder bought were an underachieving and badly managed team in need of an overhaul.

Isn't it time for the Post to assign Jasno to cover a different team? It's a shame to waste all this anger on the Redskins when he could be criticizing the Nationals who haven't been to a single Superbowl since before or after they left Montreal, or the Wizards who can't start five healthy players, or the Caps who, with the best player in the league still haven't wrapped up a playoff berth.

in 2000 they beat the lions at home in the playoffs and then lost to the bucs when dan turk had the bad snap for the field goal.

Posted by: grizlies98 | April 4, 2008 09:20 AM

Games may have been played in 2000 but that is considered the 1999 NFL season.

I'm coming around on the FO as long as we don't give up 1st round pick(s) for Chad Johnson or completely whiff on this draft.

TE,

Great breakdown I agree 100%.

Noone buys a team, and executes things perfectly right from the start. It took the Rooney's 40 years to get things going in the right direction. It took Tom Brady to get the Patriots going in the right direction. Sometimes it takes some time, sometimes it takes a little luck. All I'm saying is that Dan stated he was too impatient at first, but he's LEARNING, and he's TRYING TO CHANGE.

If he came out and said, "I've never done anything wrong", I'd be first in line to crucify the guy.

He's realized his approach was wrong. Thats a good thing.

Very interesting post. It's funny, I was just talking to a friend about how the Redskins have probably paid more per win during the Snyder era than any other team in the league, and these numbers seem to back that up. Hopefully they stop wasting money on the likes of Lloyd and Archuletta, but as JLaCa wrote, only time will tell since we've heard that they've changed their ways before.

Gene Upshaw has already said that if there is a non cap year in 2010, the players will never agree to a salary cap again. So the owners better realize what this league is about, I do not think 90,000 people will come to a stadium to see the owner crunching numbers at his desk.

Now this is what I call reporting...nice article!!

unfortunatly for us fans this malady will have a negative effect on any restucturing for years to come..

Snyder comes from an era where the belief is money can buy anything. I guess to some extent it can. People can spend years in the football business and still not have a good grasp of what makes a good football team. I think it takes a good grasp of player intangibles. Most of the players can run a 4.45..40 or bench press 400 lbs.

Does Vinny understand the intangibles?? Dosent seem so. Are there any real football people that can work with Snyder??

Us fans will hope for the best but mentally prepair for the worse as long as the current regime is in place. Hopefully the skins will get turned around soon and this will all be mute.

The numbers say this will not happen soon.

blah blah blah, Jasno hates the Redskins, blah blah blah. Next question...

I apologize for the length of this, but i'm pretty ticked off at this

Its true, the numbers don't lie, but you can manipulate, pick, and chose numbers to fit whatever point you want to make. As i read Jasno's blog, it was abundantly clear to me that Jasno had an opinion (i.e. he hates this franchise with a passion) and he used data that appears to support that opinion, while excluding everything else.

I noticed that over the past 7 years, we were #1 in dead cap space. Over the past 3 years, we were only #3. That shows improvement. What Jasno failed to mention is that this dead cap stuff isnt something that goes away over night. it takes YEARS, in many cases, for a team to be rid of its mistakes. So we have been in a situation where, because of past mistakes, we don't have much room to play with capwise, we have dead cap due to some of these past mistakes, and we still have to do something to stay competitive.

The way I see it, two years ago, Snyder and Cerrato had a choice to make:

Option A: take their lumps, cut dead weight, dont extend, garauntee older players, don't bring in any fresh blood, sign cheap crappy players and give up ANY HOPE of being competitive for 3-4 years... OR

OPTION B: gradually change your ways over the course over the next few years, knowing it might take 5-10 years for you to really have a "clean slate.

There was no Option C.

Like it or not, Snyder/Cerrato chose Option B. Before damning them for this decision, think about this: Would you completely screw Joe Gibbs over during the final 3 years of his contract? Would you give a Hall of Fame Coach, who took your franchise to 4 superbowls and won 3 of them, absolutely NOTHING to work with? NO. Snyder/Cerrato had every reason to EXPCECT Joe Gibbs would take them to a superbowl and they did everything in their power to help him, while still showing restraint, responsibility, and improvement in cap management over the last two years.

So Joe Gibbs fails. He quits before fulfilling his contract. What do Snyder and Cerrato do: They go to Option A... or a slightly less drastic version of Option A. We're resigning our own guys and only extending/garaunteeing guys who we can reasonably expect to be here for the long haul (because of past mismanagement, we really dont have much of a choice when it comes to garaunteeing some contracts). We've created cap room that will allow us to cut some of our dead weight this year.

Speaking of dead weight - I found it interesting how Jasno loved to talk about how much dead cap we carried over the past 7 and 3 years, but he didnt say anything about how much dead cap we're carrying this year: about $7 Million. Compare this to our average over the past 3 years, which was $18M/year and note that $2million of this years dead cap is devoted to Sean Taylor and over $3 Million is devoted to Mark Brunell. Looking to the future, we'll have about $5M in dead cap space for Lloyd next year. However, as of this time, we don't have anyone of consequence counting against our cap after that. I'm sure we'll take some lumps cutting old guys like Washington and Daniels, maybe even Janson.

However, aside from Lloyd and Archuletta, this team hasnt made any rediculously stupid signings (salarycapwise) since the first year of Joe Gibbs 2.0. Last year, we only signed a few FAs and to minimum contracts.

This year, we resigned our own free agents to modest contracts and didnt bring in ANYONE from the outside, even though we had the cap room to do so. Even though we had need at receiver, we wouldnt overpay for even a little. Why not: The redskins are sending a message to players that they arent overspending anymore. Period.

For the past two seasons, and most noteably this year, the skins front office is showing tremendous improvement.

I am not sure if the powers that be read the reader responses, but I feel strongly about this post by JLC.

By no means am I a Snyder apologist, and I know very well how they have squandered away draft picks, thrown money at free agents and gotten burnt.

But don't you think we readers would be better served by reporting on which draft prospects are skins looking at closely, visits to Redskins park by these prospects etc. By throwing these numbers at us, you have not really made a point better, but just informed us readers about what we already know.
Or worse, is JLC pretty much frozen out by people at Redskins Park and has no access to actual news/info? I have also noticed that the Redskins regime seems to granting more access to the "other" newspaper in town.
How about some actual draft buzz instead of this constant regurgitation.

And, Jasno, where do you come up with this:

I tend to fall back on that axiom Bush butchers - "Fool me one, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me."

Uh, shouldn't that be "Fool me ONCE?"

We're pretty tolerant up here of your "idiosyncratic" spelling. But it seems to me that when you want to make fun the President you shouldn't butcher the very same axiom that you're criticizing him for. Don't you think it's hypocritical to hold others to a higher standard than you, yourself, can achieve?

I say we officially rename the blog as Redskins Hater or a better name.

(Quote)I just don't understand how this is relavant today? I mean, I like Jason, I like the fact that he does this blog, don't get me wrong, but to say that Lloyd might have a good year this year, is just a back-handed way of taking a dig at the Redskins.

I tottally dssagree I for 1 was against the Lloyd signing but Danny has the rich person ego that thinks money can fix anything and sorry folks it cant. I personally quit extremeskins when danny decided to milk the loyal fans of more money by making extremeskins a pay site!! I will always be a fan of the Redskins but I must admit I threw away the kool aide and the burgondy glasses and jumped off the bandwagon 3 years after Danny bought the team.

but to say that Lloyd might have a good year this year, is just a back-handed way of taking a dig at the Redskins.

Like I said before, many more subjects that could have been written about.

Posted by: gregmarino88 | April 4, 2008 09:40 AM

Greg - I didn't take this as a dig against the skins. I took it as a dig against Receiver, The. Basically saying that BL is only in it for the money. He realizes his meal ticket is in jeopardy so puts forth the effort this year so sign another multi-year contract with a bonus next year. THen he goes back to cashing the checks.

If I were the owner and I knew for a FACT that the 09-10 season will be uncapped, I would have every contract renegotiated to be paid then to get guys and their large $ off the books.

Simple way to eliminate the problem.

Great report. Nothing new, but I think we do have to caution this new optimism spawned from a few months of fiscal responsibility this off-season. I honestly think we'd have already done a 1st & future draft pick plus contract-extension for Ocho-Cinco if the Bengals could have afforded the cap hit. I'm glad Vinny can supposedly learn from his past mistakes (geez, we've been making them long enough) but like you, I'm pretty skeptical this leopard has changed his spots. We're always going to over-reach for that one veteran we're supposedly missing to get us to the superbowl but I think we're too burdened by past overspending (and not just the guys we've cut) for that to be reality. That said, so far so good with the off-season and lets hope for a great draft.

For the past two seasons, and most noteably this year, the skins front office is showing tremendous improvement.

Posted by: SETH.LEMASTER | April 4, 2008 10:09 AM

It kills me to say this but...good post SETH. Now that wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

"they have been miss-managed"

I would like to meet this young lady.

Or worse, is JLC pretty much frozen out by people at Redskins Park and has no access to actual news/info? I have also noticed that the Redskins regime seems to granting more access to the "other" newspaper in town.
How about some actual draft buzz instead of this constant regurgitation.

Posted by: sunrup | April 4, 2008 10:11 AM

Excellent point sunrup. its very telling that Snyder chose to have his first interview in years with a guy from the times. the post is without a doubt the most prominent paper, and if jasno had been an unbiased journalist, instead of simply looking for ways to criticize the franchise and dwell on their mistakes, then i have no doubt he would have gotten the interview. Theres evidently some serious beef between jasno and the skins organization (both ways) and i doubt jasno gives us anything relevant until that beef is settled. hopefully that beef doesnt extend to the other jason.

YOU A REDSKINS GM

not for real ofcours but at 8 today and tomorrow at ... there is a live NFL draft at NFLFANS.COM only here in the North of the Netherlands the server is unavailible so someone else can take my place as a GM of the Redskins..Interested e-mail me @ wilco_nieuwehorne @ hotmail . com

About Lloyd...if I remember correctly, JLC trashed Lloyd last season....but now he thinks he has potential?

Nothing like a Jasno opinion piece to bring out the barnburners down to the Johnson farm, is it? Couldn't get a stronger reaction than posting something about losing Ryan Clark....

As for the "Numbers don't say everything", yes, those of you hollering this are right! This is why one must learn to take his numbers from varying sources. I see where Jasno's coming into this - he's coming in as a non-homer, and someone that's definitely not holding his punches. Is it over the top? Sometimes, yes. This is why you go to other sources to find other information, and place the truth of it somewhere in that middle. Railing at Jasno for offering his opinion on this blog, a place reserved for his opinions, is pointless.

But even greater yet, however, is the fact that some numbers provide an immutable truth, despite all the decrying about spin, opinions and bias. 58 wins. 58 ever since the Snydicate took over the reins of this team. That's 58 wins out of, what, 128 games? That's not even batting .500.

Spending all this money that we hear about, year after year, and we're not even batting .500? We're spending as much money as teams that have earned at least one Super Bowl in the last few years, yet we're getting bush-league (or is that Bush-league?) results? You can say all you want about things improving, or they're getting better, or they're learning. The common link these last few years have been one group - the Snydicate. Can one help but to wonder what's happening, when we continue to be lackluster?

Frankly, this team hasn't done much to earn its way out of that typical dread we've become accustomed to feeling at the beginning of each season - the lingering notion that despite the promising look of things each season, the glorious changes that are made, the new shiny baubles we've picked up, that we're standing in the Elevator to Heck, waiting for it to go straight down. Yes, we've had a few years of goodness in there - last year, despite the problems and the ultimate tragedy, or the gutty performance 2 seasons before that. But what else? Frightfully slim pickings.

Yes, I'm a fan of this team. Yes, I love it as much as most of you do. But forgive some of us when we decide to peer at things a little more skeptically when the Snydicate says that they've changed their tune. I'll be happy to admit I am wrong at the end of the season. I fear, most of all, being right.

Frankly, this team hasn't done much to earn its way out of that typical dread we've become accustomed to feeling at the beginning of each season - the lingering notion that despite the promising look of things each season, the glorious changes that are made, the new shiny baubles we've picked up, that we're standing in the Elevator to Heck, waiting for it to go straight down.

Posted by: FlimFlam | April 4, 2008 11:00 AM

FlimFlam,

I think they've done a lot, and much of it was precisely by doing nothing. I see the glass as half full and you seem to see it as 3/4 empty. What more do you think they should have done since Gibbs quit with no notice?

The post is interesting but hardly earth-shattering. Without looking at stats or what have you it's easy to see that the skins have spent a ton of money in the past with little to show for it. Except for the Marty year, Vinny's been a constant in the personnel dept. Does that mean this is all his fault? Who knows? Although I doubt he was calling many personnel shots while Gibbs was here. At least now if they succeed or screw up we have no doubt about who to praise or blame.

FlimFlam,

The last 4 years the Snydicate was run by Gibbs not Cerrato and for one year it was run by Marty. So you have no idea how Cerrato will do now that he has full control. This blog is not a place for Jasno's opinion he is a beat reporter, he is supposed to report inside information on the team.

For the past two seasons, and most noteably this year, the skins front office is showing tremendous improvement.

Posted by: SETH.LEMASTER | April 4, 2008 10:09 AM

I'm not quite willing to equate inaction with tremendous improvement ... just avoidance of tremendous failure. From what I can tell, the only affirmative actions taken were to re-sign The Todd, and lowball every other free agent on the roster (presumably in recognition that free agency this offseason is such a dud that no one is really going to sign anywhere). I have my own suspicions (i.e., nefarious collusion among the owners) about why free agency has turned out like it has (i.e., record setting franchise tagging to depress the market), but that also remains to be borne out by time.

Also, re-reading the Blloyd thread starter, I don't think Jasno gave him much love ... I think there is a sour grapes cyclone stirring that up on this thread. Jasno said its put-up-or-shut-up time for Blloyd and that, if he puts up, he might have a good season (esp. given that there is no one else in Chicago to throw balls to), but that he could just as easily take his Snyder money to set up a rap recording studio in his basement.

On the PhD statistician, I think someone subsequently pointed to the fact that Skins have paid more per win than anyone, so I'd like to hear the statistical flipside of that spin.

flimflam, theres a difference between being skeptical and being biased. Jason only focused on the negative. He picked and chose numbers to suit his personal vendetta without citing any of the abundant evidence that things ARE CHANGING. he's ignorning the fiscal reality this team is in because of past mistakes. If you asked Jasno or anyone else, what the skins should do to fix their past mistakes, they would be hardpressed to come up with a better gameplan than what we have seen this team do so far this offseason.

Yes, there is a pattern with the WORDS snyder has said over the years. That pattern does not look good. However, i don't care about words. its ACTIONS i care about. and i fully support the ACTIONS this team has taken the past two years to set this franchise on the right course.

After watching the video of Jasno & Jason yesterday, I thought and stated that Jasno hates this team. Today helps to confirm my take on this.

When you write an article like the one today on the RI, you cannot just leave it at the numbers and blame the FO. GG thought he could coach anyone and let Pierce go. Saunders wanted B Lloyd, and GG wanted Archuleta. There was no way that Snyder was going to say no to the great Joe Gibbs, so all of the blame for the past 4 years cannot be laid on this FO. If they were an established FO (Snyder has been a fan much longer than a Football person) it would have been easier to say no to Gibbs.

What Jasno has to do when writing an article as the one above is show how some of these decisions were made, who is actually at fault and not just lay the blame on these two FO guys. Yes, they make the decisions, but Snyder believed in Gibbs and tried to give him what he wanted (TE made this point better than I can). IMO (three letters/words that Jasno needs to learn), Gibbs is more to blame for the last four years than Snyder and Vinny.

Those of you who support the kind of reporting that Jasno does are negative people by nature and need to bash or point out all of the bad things that have happened. Time to look at things more positively and not support every word that Jasno says just because he writes them. The numbers do not support his opinion as much as he would like them to.

And he goes on to say he does this because it is his job? To me, a Redskins Insider would be the one interviewing Snyder and Vinny, not the guys over at the Times. What kind of Insider information (the numbers he is quoting above he got from league sources, not the Skins) has Jasno provided us lately? Most of the Insider information I have read lately has come from bloggers on this post that have been read at other sites. Jasno has no access to what is happening at Redskins Park, so is taking aim at the FO in a most negative fashion.

Either provide us with good info- who are we looking at in the draft, who is coming for a visit, what players did we look at during their pro days, how are our current players rehab coming along, their take on the new coaching staff, playbook, etc,. Not the constant bash of the Skins.

Can we get some positive RI info, PLEASE!!!

Frankly, this team hasn't done much to earn its way out of that typical dread we've become accustomed to feeling at the beginning of each season - the lingering notion that despite the promising look of things each season, the glorious changes that are made, the new shiny baubles we've picked up, that we're standing in the Elevator to Heck, waiting for it to go straight down

Can you describe the "shiny baubles" they've traded for or signed in the past 2 years?

While they deserve the scorn for the manner in which they conducted themselves, they also deserve to get credit for the past 2 seasons.

If your going to post irrelevant numbers why don't you post the teams earnings in that same time span

Posted by: cilp33 | April 4, 2008 09:37 AM

Yes, this is PRECISELY the point ... which group of hyper-optimists (ready to be "re-set" by shuffling around some deck chairs) has been paying for these most expensive wins in the league?

[I didn't say anything about it at the time, because it wasn't like it was going to make a difference, but when they canned Gregg, I kind of was hoping they'd bring in Mariucci. With the attention span of hamsters up here, however, even those who blogged incessantly during that hiring search seem to have forgotten about that ... instead choosing to burn barn on Jasno b/c the Skins' inaction and inactivity has somehow morphed into a a strategy for success. Jerseys for sale!]

"I'm not quite willing to equate inaction with tremendous improvement ... just avoidance of tremendous failure"

However you need to spin it to make your point seem valid.

Had they jumped into the Free Agency pool, you'd spin it as same old Snyder.

Enjoy the fence.

This blog is not a place for Jasno's opinion he is a beat reporter, he is supposed to report inside information on the team.

Posted by: kmdp4 | April 4, 2008 11:08 AM

Although we're usually on the same page, I think that this is the perfect place for opinion's, whomever's they may be. Articles are for the facts, blogs are for discussion. Although JLC's opinions are decidedly anti-Redskin, he does generate discussion.

I am curious....what exactly is Jasno's "agenda"? Sometrhing like this?
Today's Agenda:
1. Buy groceries
2. Tacke kids to day care
3. Destroy Redskins organization.
MUUUUWHUUUUHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

Let me also add onto Gregs point and say that it hasn't necessarily been "inaction". They did make some super smart FA signings last off season (see Smoot, Fred and Fletcher, London) as well as some good draft picks. That isn't inactivity, that is smart activity.

Similarly, you can't say that they were inactive this off season because this off season isn't over yet. Give it a few months, see how the season plays out, and then go back and grade this off season. But, please don't label it as inactivity before the activity has had every chance to take place.

On the PhD statistician, I think someone subsequently pointed to the fact that Skins have paid more per win than anyone, so I'd like to hear the statistical flipside of that spin.

Posted by: dcsween | April 4, 2008 11:10 AM

The statistical flipside is that they're doing the right thing -- spending money to build a team -- and they're doing more of it than anyone else.

The whole thing that's missing in this type of analysis is a counter-factual. What would have happened if.... If they hadn't spent so much money? If they didn't have so much dead cap? If Snyder hadn't turned control over to Marty and then to Gibbs? Etc.

This was a misguided and floundering franchise when Snyder took it over. If it had been owned by that Cook-son prig, it wouldn't have had any playoff appearances and would be the doormat of the NFC East.

I agree with Greg. Would love to hear about our current injury problems and I would love to get some updates on the draft and who we are looking at. As for the cap real surprise the redskins spend a lot and waste a lot is anyone really shocked.

By the way PSPS23 is a chugger!

If not injuries, then how about Heyer, give us an update on him?? Is he around the park, has he been working with Buges?
What about what Clinton, and Ladell have to say about Stump Mitchell?? I mean there just seems to be a LOT of things that could have been talked about.

And Jason is my boy, he and I are both huge Bosox fans, so I'm not a hater, just disagree with his posts the past 24 hours.

My other thought about anti-Jasno rants generally is that (1) Skins' fans STILL get more information about their team than most teams in the league (though I recognize that is due in part to having two major papers, the team site, and several solid team blogs like hogshaven and Tandler, etc.) and (2) regardless of Jasno's take on thing, this blog STILL delivers information ALMOST as soon as it becomes available b/c of the bloggers below the thread. Though his name and photo are at the top, to me he is one among many people from whom I get my Skins info and analysis (aka opinions). Plus, the RI blog is like few other in the depthy cross-chatter btwn and among posters.

Bottom line: Jasno does give us something to talk about (even when the something is his opinion itself). What else are you going to do? Work?

Bottom line: Jasno does give us something to talk about (even when the something is his opinion itself). What else are you going to do? Work?

Posted by: dcsween | April 4, 2008 11:44 AM

Well said.

I also agree about the interest in news from the locker room ... but I'm less interested in hearing about injuries, how much some dudes are able to bench, etc. ... I'd like to hear whether Rabach at least is practicing squatting higher, such as ...

[Really, the stuff I want to hear about this time of year is the kind of stuff that Steinberg blogs about]

These are classic JLaC posts, when he bags on Snyder on Vinny.

Half the blog is ok with it, and the other half is ready to cut off his head. I use to be the later category. But, that's what he does. He hasn't changed and won't change. Atleast he holds no cut cards.

Could've, woould've, but didn't. Now, lets move on to the draft.

http://was.scout.com/2/743434.html

Did Rabach go to Ball State?

Redskins set to Visit with a third CB.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

George Lafoon
WarpathInsiders.com Apr 4, 2008

I think it is safe to say, the Redskins are seriously interested in drafting a CB in this draft. This will be the third CB that has been reported as visiting with the Redskins over the past few weeks.

The latest CB on the schedule to visit with the Washington Redskins is CB Brandon Flowers from Virginia Tech.

Jon Scott from PatriotsInsider.com has confirmed for me, that according to his agent, he has a visit scheduled with the Redskins on Monday, April 7th.

After visiting with the Redskins, he will be headed to Tampa Bay and then San Diego. He has also worked out for the Patriots and has interest from over six teams.

Scout.com has Flowers ranked as the 16th best CB in this draft and could go as early as the second round. At 5'10" and 190 pounds, he is a tad on the small side. However, he plays bigger than his size and likes to be physical.

Brandon Flowers could be a nice option for the Redskins who need depth at CB desperately.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Story URL: http://was.scout.com/2/743469.html

This is the kind of interesting read I would like to see from Jasno:

http://mvn.com/nfl-redskins/2008/04/03/chris-henry-and-the-redskins/

Don't get your underpants in a bunch. This is not going to be a "Chris Henry is available so the Redskins should grab him" post.

The Cincinnati Bengals released Henry today after he turned himself in to face misdemeanor assault charges. Henry is still under NFL suspension. Unless this turns out to be a false accusation, as happened once before with Henry, he is unlikely to escape suspension in 2008.

The Washington Redskins tend to avoid players with issues. So don't look for him at Redskins Park anytime soon.

But, the development does impact Washington Redskins executive VP Vinny Cerrato's plans because it has a huge impact on the Bengals. For one thing, it makes it much less likely that Cincinnati will consider a trade for Chad Johnson. They are too thin at the position now that Henry is gone. Their need for wide-outs is more desperate than the Redskins, so they will compete harder for any warm body who can catch 30 balls or more this season. The cap hit to sign a wide-out will go up.

Cerrato has already said he doesn't think there is a top receiver prospect in the first 20 picks of the draft. I suspect the Skins are going to use their first two picks on linemen anyway [defense & offense]. But, if Washington has a receiver on the draft board targeted for the third round, they should be very concerned about what the Bengals might do.

Cincinnati has the ninth pick in the draft, twelve slots ahead of the Redskins in each round. Washington doesn't have a fourth round pick -- traded to the Jets for OG Pete Kendall. Cerrato might consider trading up for the Bengals' ninth pick/third round slot to assure snagging the guy he wants.

That's all speculative. That's also why you have a GM, to think through those scenarios.

It's the game between the seasons and it's fun!

Redskins set to Visit with Another CB.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ed Thompson
WarpathInsiders.com Apr 4, 2008

The Redskins have a visit scheduled with another rookie CB. Find out all the details here.

Indiana University cornerback Tracy Porter had two private workouts and two official visits during the month of March, but he has an even busier April on tap.

On March 17th and 18, Porter worked out at Indiana University for the Chiefs and the Patriots. Then on the 27th, he flew south to one of New England's division rivals and had his first official NFL visit with the Miami Dolphins on the 28th. He wrapped up the month by flying to Tampa Bay on the 30th to visit with Jon Gruden and his staff on the 31st.

On April 8 and 9, Porter will check out opportunities with the Pittsburgh Steelers before heading out to visit with the Washington Redskins the evening of the 9th and during the day on the 10th.

But it will be the week of the 14th that will really test Porter's fortitude. He'll spend the 14th and 15th in New Orleans with the Saints, the 16th and 17th in Dallas, and will finish up on the 17th and 18th with a visit to the New York Jets.

In addition to his physical style of coverage that helped him steal away six interceptions in 2007 and 16 during his college career, Porter can provide additional value to an NFL team as an accomplished punt returner. He averaged 13.6 yards per return while handling punts during his junior and senior year, aided by the 4.37-second 40-time speed that he showed off at the NFL Combine.

Despite the deep talent at the cornerback position this year, Porter is expected to be selected in the first two rounds -- and is drawing the level of attention from clubs reflective of that status. You can learn more about him in this exclusive Scout.com interview that was conducted during the Under Armour Senior Bowl week.

Story URL: http://was.scout.com/2/743435.html

If not injuries, then how about Heyer, give us an update on him?? Is he around the park, has he been working with Buges?
What about what Clinton, and Ladell have to say about Stump Mitchell?? I mean there just seems to be a LOT of things that could have been talked about.

And Jason is my boy, he and I are both huge Bosox fans, so I'm not a hater, just disagree with his posts the past 24 hours.

Posted by: gregmarino88 | April 4, 2008 11:39 AM

Rabach and Khary campbell mentioned him on Redskins radio the other day (Heyer). Said they thought he looked pretty good but downplayed that by saying it was hard to tell.

Did Rabach go to Ball State?--SMACK

No, but hopefully he can be our Winged Eunuchorn.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/don_banks/04/02/snap.judments/index.html

http://realredskins.com/2008/04/03/news--notes-skins-get-three-extra-picks.aspx

"News: Quarterback Chad Henne of Michigan came in for a pre-draft visit.

Notes: It's hard to read why teams bring in particular players for these visits. You have a limited number of them--32--and you don't want to waste them. Henne is pegged as about a third-round selection and that seems kind of high to take a project quarterback and make him your third-string guy. But maybe the Skins don't want to wait until the sixth or seventh round to take a QB. Whoever it is will have to be ready for the possibility of having to play on any given (disastrous) Sunday and, in any case, will have to be ready to be the backup in a year or two as Todd Collins isn't going to spend much longer than that as a backup. Maybe they're thinking of using that comp third on their backup quarterback of the future."

How does everyone feel about potentially drafting a QB in the 3rd round? Naturally, Zorn wants to bring in his own Quarterback, one who he feels would be good in his offense.

Im a bit confussed by this. The 3rd round is too low to take someone you think could be a starter (assuming Zorn had no confidence in JC). Its also to high to take someone you want to be your #3QB now and #2 in a couple years... atleast for a team with many more pressing needs.

So, what does everyone make of this? We have 9 picks in this months draft. We can only bring in 32 guys for a visit and we chose this guy to be one of them. Why?

I understand what you are saying Jason but it seems like no matter what they would have done this off-season there could be a way of looking at it negatively. If they spent like usual on free agents then we'd be overspending. It's not possible to cut some of the players we've renegotiated without adversely affecting the cap so at least we're keeping some continuity. Have you ever though about the possibility of them having a longer term plan where this year they cut back on free agent spending and rely on the draft then maybe next season they extend a few contracts of some younger, up and coming players?

They have to get back to reality somehow and it obviously can't be done in one season. I like the direction they are going in. With a new coach it's the perfect time to do it.

Seth - That's old news buddy......

'Redskins will visit a work out of Chad Henne, according to my sources.....

OWNED

Posted by: 4thFloor | April 3, 2008 02:06 PM
'

http://video1.washingtontimes.com/redskins/2008/04/the_redskins_are_nominated_dav.html

it might be 22hour old news, but i didnt see it posted here. Alteast not the text of the article. Maybe if you just posted links without actual text like the SI one above, it may have gone unnoticed.

OWNED.

We have 9 picks in this months draft. We can only bring in 32 guys for a visit and we chose this guy to be one of them. Why?

Posted by: SETH.LEMASTER | April 4, 2008 12:22 PM

This makes a lot of sense to me. I see the first and second rounds as delivering starters, the third and fourth as backups, and the last three as projects/crapshoots.

We only have two years of Collins as a backup, and that's about how long it will take to develop his replacement -- if we're lucky. If you pick someone later than the 4th round, you're really gambling and then you'll be desparate next year. Could be a good move if this guy fits well with Zorn.

Oh, here is the text from 4ths SI Article Note the comment in the first paragraph from someone who is undoubtably Zorns old boss:

• One longtime NFL head coach who happens to have a background in the West Coast Offense expressed some doubts recently about Washington quarterback Jason Campbell's transition to the version of that offense that Zorn brings to the Redskins. In the longtime coach's words, things could "be ugly'' with Campbell trying to play that style of offense.

Zorn, however, does not share in that trepidation. I asked him about Campbell's suitability to that offense, which prioritizes short- and intermediate-range passes, precision timing between a quarterback and his receivers, and getting rid of the ball quickly in three- and five-step drops.

"Let's say a guy can't move very well,'' Zorn said. "You can manage [in the West Coast], but it's not very dynamic. You'd rather have a guy who can actually move. He's got to be able to move in the pocket. He's got to have feet that can get him out of trouble.

"Jason's got excellent feet. I'm getting him to play -- what is he, like 6-5? -- from just a little bit lower position. So he's in a better position to make a sudden move, and not standing so straight up. It's such a process, but I'm absolutely very confident he can play it.''

• Zorn is 55 and still looks like he could play in this league. He's got a little bit of gee-whiz quality to him, but it's endearing and somewhat refreshing. I asked him about his rather unorthodox route to the Redskins job -- from never having been a coordinator in the NFL, to being named Washington's offensive coordinator, and unexpectedly getting promoted to head coach a few weeks later.

"I didn't look at it like it was [fellow candidate Jim Fassel's] job,'' Zorn said. "I didn't really know whose job it was. I didn't have time to think, 'Boy, I'd sure like that job.' I was off and running being the coordinator. I was having at it. It was news to me that all this was going to happen the way it did.''

Someone then noted that Zorn must have been a great offensive coordinator to get promoted before he had even coached a game. "I was great on my first few days,'' he said, laughing. "I was awesome.''

Now that is a great offseason post Jason. We've been saying this for years; I've just never seen the actual numbers like this. This new data analysis really makes me scratch my head about where we're going. I hope the new-look skins take us over the hump. I'm cautiously optimistic but in all honesty this is the first time in years that I have no real expectations for the Redskins. I'm just gonna sit back and watch and hope the Skins make me happy to wear my Skins gear around NY.

Seth - Read the post. My sources buddy. I don't have a website, so I posted here since I have blog cred.

RECLAIMED

Seth - I don't have a problem with them showing interest in Henne. 3rd Qb is a need, albeit not as pressing as other positions. That compensatory 3rd rounder is essentially a 4th round pick. I'd be more concerned if they did something like Philly last year, grabbing a QB in the 2nd round.

BONG!

Posted by: bigmurf08 | April 4, 2008 08:56 AM

WAIT FOR IT......WAIT FOR IT.........

HIT!!!!!!

4th - i am confused by your failure to use complete sentences. read what post? sources? who said you had a website?

TEABAGGED

It's fun watching many fall into the Jason trap......

He is the beat writer.....this is his blog....he wants to stir it up...so many will talk and debate......

So posting notes about the football issues won't stir anything up...but posting about the same OLD tired subject of Snyder and The redskins over spending etc etc....will get some of you going...as we see....it did....

the past is the past and frankly...COME UP WITH A NEW SUBJECT OR AT LEAST A NEW DEBATE...YAWN!~

greg,

Let's say that Merling, Harvey, Albert, Otah and the best two CB's are off of the board by pick 21 and we have no trade partners to trade down with. Who do you take at 21?

I am starting to think that Keith Rivers, OLB, USC would be a solid pick here. What's your take.

Actually, not a question just for greg. Any feedback, anyone?

Jason-Absolutely brilliant. Frodo and Gollum are complete cluster...

Cerrato has destroyed my beloved Skins, and Danny boy is an impish little child intent on playing fantasy football rather than winning championships. I am not sure we will ever have another championship whilst Danny is at the helm.

Talent_evaluator

Yes, I admit to being a dour pessimist - it's the engineer in me. Don't mistake me for the know-it-all curmudgeon, though. If I had the answers, I'd be a GM somewhere, and not what I'm doing these days. I was just reinforcing the point that I haven't found a reason why I shouldn't be skeptastic about the Skins under the Snydicate.

kmdp4

I guess I'm focusing more on the common thread than the incidentals. Yes, it might have been the coaching staff at play, rather than the Syndicate that fouled the works up. Sadly, I have no actual windows into the inner workings of the Redskins, so I can neither confirm nor deny what the truth is. And we probably never will. I just wonder how it is that the Skins have had so many difficulties the last few years, and the main point of commonality is the Snydicate.

And as to Jasno posting his opinion on here, rather than the news: the news, substantiated and reaffirmed, is what he's putting in the print section of the sports page. This blog is for his opinion, my opinion, your opinion, and everyone's opinion. If he's going to fly his flag, I'd prefer it'd be on here. This is the JibbaJabba Jungle - most anything flies.

Kerzon,

I go Balmer DT North Carolina.

COME UP WITH A NEW SUBJECT OR AT LEAST A NEW DEBATE...YAWN!~

Posted by: leevi98 | April 4, 2008 01:02 PM

leevi,

Good point! Who should be starter, Sonny or Billy? Should we trade Betts? Did the 'Skins make a mistake when Ryan Clark walked? Oh, and should we have cut Holdman? I thought that was the beginning of the end. Or the middle of the end. And don't you think we should have promoted Gregg Williams to head coach?

vinny has been defacto GM for less than 6 months and already JLC is busting out the ZOMG VINNY HATE PIECE.

vinny has 0 years experience as a GM,yet JLC is holding him accountable for all the teams FA and draft moves in the past.revolving door of coaches check,at the time meddlesome owner check...

now vinny is the GM and JLC actually sees fit to post all these numbers and hold the current FO accountable for them?LAWL

totally fair and non-biased jouralism...right...

the power structure of the FO has shifted and now vinny is the top dog,and now vinny will be rewarded or punished given the teams performance. in the old structure you had the HC at the top with snyder a little bit lower than him,but still getting some of his impulse buys, and vinny was literally a talent consultant. the HC might go to vinny and ask him to find a scat back in FA and vinny would say "here's a list of who's available and what I think."

now when a coach asks vinny for a list of scat backs vinny says "STFU, you'll get what I give you."

vinny is shopping for the groceries now.and he to will have to deal with the impulsive nature of snyder. Wilbon says Vinnny opposed the B-Lloyd and Arch Deluxe acquisitions but Gibbs saw fit to approve...

If you think Cerrato will lead this team anywhere; take a good, long, hard look...

www.paulgoespop.typepad.com

Kenny Wright - Can't cover a wideout. Can't evade the cops.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/football/nfl/04/03/bc.fbn.browns.arrest.ap/index.html

FYI the NFL Network's "state of the redskins" is up on the main page at NFL.com....currently #3 of 4 in the main window.
I must not watch enough NFL network....that blonde behind the desk with Rod Woodson is suh-MOKIN!

kerzon, i'd take rivers in a heartbeat mcintosh is injured and may never be healthy enough to be relied on, washington and fletcher only have a couple years left in them. Rivers is versitile enough to play at any LB position.

However, he will be LONG gone by 21. most mocks ive seem have Rivers as a top 10 pick. I have never seen him fall below 15 in a professional mock. Would be nice though.

Assuming He's gone, i'd go with Balmer as well over C. Campbell. Both would be a reach, but Balmer isn't much of one. And it says alot that i'd suggest Balmer. I live in Raleigh NC, am a die hard NC State fan and HATE unc almost as much as i hate dallas. but if he could help the B&G, i'd forget about his past... as long as he pulls an randel el and says his high school during the intros during the game :-)

Let's say that Merling, Harvey, Albert, Otah and the best two CB's are off of the board by pick 21 and we have no trade partners to trade down with. Who do you take at 21?

I am starting to think that Keith Rivers, OLB, USC would be a solid pick here. What's your take

kerz, couple things:

First, I'm quite sure that after his workout on Wednesday, Rivers wont last until 21. If he's there, then yup, he's the guy. But after creating the buzz that he did, I don't think he falls to 21.

I'd have to say that if this happens, then the Redskins might have to turn their attention to Kentwan Balmer, DT, from UNC. He's 6'4, and 308.

The scenario you described above is the WORST POSSIBLE thing that could happen.

One good thing about this blog by Jasno is that it's brought posters up here that I've never seen before.

Welcome, new posters. I assume half of you are Jasno's family and half are, like me, on Snyder's payroll. And the other half are here by mistake, looking for the Marc Fisher blog.

Kerzon,

I'd go with the OT that slides because Albert has been picked in the top 20. My thinking is that if Albert is drafted that high, it is because the team that draftts him is comfortable that he'll be a top notch OT.

but if he could help the B&G, i'd forget about his past..

Seth, whats the 411 on his past?

Paul,

What the hell kind of web page is that, do you know anything about football, or did you just cut and paste those articles from other places. All that crap is old news about the coaching search, no one knows what is going to happen. Cerrato is in control now so if he is good he will get credit, if he is bad he will get hammered.

On the PhD statistician, I think someone subsequently pointed to the fact that Skins have paid more per win than anyone, so I'd like to hear the statistical flipside of that spin.

Posted by: dcsween | April 4, 2008 11:10 AM

OK... So why does this factor matter? Should we be the team that spent the fewest per win (I'm guessing Arizona, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati might be on this list)? I would think that the relevant metric of success was superbowls or wins, not "cost efficiency".

Classically, by the way, the same argument goes on in baseball (which is far less restrictive on player spending) all the time. When the Yankees outspend and win, then spending = winning (and therefore their wins shouldn't count). When the Yankees outspend and don't win, then the teams are inefficient.

It's all agenda-driven spin, not moneyball. REAL moneyball is about finding out which statistics matter more than others, and which conventional metrics have little to do with eventual success.

See www.footballoutsiders.com for a nice view of things.

What, your hatred of the Redskins isn't enough, Jason? Now you have to broadcast your hatred of the President of the United States, too? Maybe you should go back to Russia!

Seriously, though, solid reporting, as usual. We'd love to see you over at the Nationals beat after we lose Barry. It might be tough for you, though, since the team hasn't, as talent evaluator pointed out, ever been to a Super Bowl.

(Really, how do you put up with this nonsense?)

km- thanks, just finished reading up on Balmer. Looks like he would also be a solid pick.

My thoughts were similar to SETH on this, and why I was thinking of LB at 21. Especially since I think we can still get some more playing time from Daniels at DT after this year.

greg,I would hate to think that we would be in the senario I mentioned but you never know.

marlonjohn, would you think that Otah would be the one that falls to 21? Could handle us going for him.

Name: Kentwan Balmer
College: North Carolina Number: 90
Height: 6-5 Weight: 308
Position: DT Pos2: DE
Class/Draft Year: Sr/2008
40 Time: 5.29 40 Low: 5.16 40 High: 5.34
Projected Round: 1-2 Stock:
Rated number 3 out of 149 DT's 29 / 2540 TOTAL

Combine Results Pro Day Results
Combine Invite: Yes
Height: 6044
Weight: 308
40 Yrd Dash: 5.29
20 Yrd Dash: 3.04
10 Yrd Dash: 1.71 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 33
Vertical Jump: 29
Broad Jump: 08'07"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.82
3-Cone Drill: 7.65

Dates: 03/04/08 04/01/08
Height: 6044
Weight: 308
40 Yrd Dash:
20 Yrd Dash:
10 Yrd Dash: 225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump:
Broad Jump:
20 Yrd Shuttle:
3-Cone Drill:

Before Combine: Hgt: 6044, Wgt: 308, 40YD: 4.96-5.12-5.24

Draft Scout Snapshot:
2007: Started all twelve games at right defensive tackle, ranking second on the team with 59 tackles (33 solos), including 3.5 sacks for minus 26 yards, 9.5 stops for losses of 44 yards and four quarterback pressures...Held the opposition to 1.69 yards on the 55 running plays he made...Registered eight third-down tackles and three more on fourth down...Took down opposing ball carriers for no gain at the line of scrimmage on seven snaps...Produced eight of his tackles inside the red zone, including two on goal-line action. 10 GP; 8 GS; 16 TT, 2.5 TFL, 2.5 SK, 2 PBU, 1 QBH, 2 BLK in '06. 11 GP; 3 GS; 17 TT, 5 TFL, 1 SK, 1 PBU, 5 QBH in '05. 9 GP; 0 GS; 1 TT in '04.

Draft Scout Kentwan Balmer News
04/02/08 - After almost a month of anticipation and with just a few weeks until April 26's NFL draft, former UNC standouts Durrell Mapp and Kentwan Balmer worked out for scouts Tuesday in the Eddie Smith Field House. Balmer and Mapp both chose to forego Pro Timing Day on March 4 to take time and rest hamstring injuries after participating in the NFL Scouting Combine toward the end of February. "They want to test flexibility and change of direction - things like that," Balmer said. "They want to see every aspect of your play." Carolina Panthers defensive line coach Sal Sunseri ran the players through an intense gamut of drills, rarely offering rest. He provided a glimpse of life in the NFL with a gruff demeanor, lacking sympathy for the players who couldn't keep the pace. "They try to test you to see how mentally tough you are and see if you'll give up," said Taylor, who - along with Guy - only participated in the position drills. Through these drills Balmer proved why most experts project him as a first-round pick. His preparation was evident from just a glance. "A lot of people said they've seen a change in my body," said a leaner Balmer. "I'm starting to change my diet because that plays a big role in the NFL." His extra effort was visible in agility drills, where he moved with good quickness and burst. Perhaps most importantly, Balmer showed superior hand speed - a must for defensive tackles in the NFL. The only negative in his performance came during his second attempt at the 40, when he pulled up short, citing the nagging hamstring.

haha greg,

when i mentioned his past, i was only referring to the fact that he played for UNC. For me, the only thing worse than a UNC player wearing the redskins uniform would be a beloved player from NC State getting drafted by the Cowgirls!

but if he could help the B&G, i'd forget about his past..

Seth, whats the 411 on his past?

Posted by: gregmarino88 | April 4, 2008 01:36 PM
------

greg, I think he was talking about Balmer being from NC - SETH being an NCState fan.

Im a bit confussed by this. The 3rd round is too low to take someone you think could be a starter ...

Posted by: SETH.LEMASTER | April 4, 2008 12:22 PM

This is a fairly deep draft for QBs and there are plenty of starters around the league who were drafted in the 3rd round or later.

What, your hatred of the Redskins isn't enough, Jason? Now you have to broadcast your hatred of the President of the United States, too? Maybe you should go back to Russia!

(Really, how do you put up with this nonsense?)

Posted by: JohninMpls | April 4, 2008 01:44 PM

He doesn't put up with the nonsense, dude, he writes it.

km, thanks for the info on Balmer, if everyone else is gone, I think you have to look in his direction. He's got good size, and seems to have good quicks, and strength. I'd have no problem with him. He seems like 21 would be a good spot for him to go...

For only positive Redskins info 24/7, please proceed to: www.redskins.com.

Golly, I sure would love for the Redskins to win a Super Bowl.

IndependenceEveWonderlandBallroom, the reason costs per win makes a difference is b/c the rabid fans of this team also are the consumers who pay so much money for these wins. [Though I guess I see your point ... the relevant statistic would be costs per game ... oops ... the Skins are right up there too.]

I want to hear more about us trading for Chad Johnson and Pac-Man.

We haven't broached the topic of extremely large LOOKING draft prospects since the discussion of this photo of LaRon Landry.

http://curlyr.blogspot.com/2007/07/welcome-laron.html

But there was a story about USC's Pro Day that has pictures. There top-rated guy is a defensive tackle named Sedrick Ellis. You have to go to picture #19, but to this scrawny blogger, this guy seems just massive:

http://usc.rivals.com/photofeature.asp?SID=995&fid=22319

Seth/Kerz, haha, thanks.

I'm really a simpleton.....

My bad. Picture #14.

IndependenceEveWonderlandBallroom, the reason costs per win makes a difference is b/c the rabid fans of this team also are the consumers who pay so much money for these wins.

Posted by: dcsween | April 4, 2008 02:00 PM

Well, sween, if this is what matters then you shouldn't look at the team's costs but at the price of tickets. How much have you, personally, spent per win?

I would think, regardless of that number, that you would be heartened that the 'Skins are paying the most, per win. This says that they're making less profits, passing on the money to the players. What would you really want, a team that payed the least per win?

I think, as blogger-whose-name-I-can't-write, pointed out is that you as a fan want more wins. The cost per win is really irrelevant, except to the owner of the team.

So, what does everyone make of this? We have 9 picks in this months draft. We can only bring in 32 guys for a visit and we chose this guy to be one of them. Why?

Posted by: SETH.LEMASTER | April 4, 2008 12:22 PM

Sometimes a team uses those picks to take a close look at a player they are really interested in. Sometimes a team uses those picks to take a close look at a player that they want another team to think they are interested in. And sometimes, the most interesting players don't get visits at all. A very big part of draft strategy is getting the players you really want by deceiving other teams about your intentions during pre-draft maneuverings.

dcsween,

even 1st round QBs rarely start their first year and many don't even start in their 2nd. To expect a 3rd round QB to come in and start (especially when are supposedly confident in ramsey) is unreasonable. If we wanted a starting QB, i think we would draft him sooner than the 3rd, don't you?

On the flip side, this team has alot of needs and using a 3rd rounder on a guy who you allegedly expect to sit behind Campbell and Collins for 2-3 years seems rather foolish. I find it hard to justify not taking an OL, DL, WR, and CB with our 1st 4 picks. Those are positions where we need to draft players who we can reasonably expect to see action, if not start, this year.

I didn't want to say it before (so as not to start another controversy), but the only rational i can see that would justify using our third rounder on Hanne (doubt he is there by the time we use our Comp Pick)would be if Zorn was not sold on Campbell and looking to draft a QB to replace Campbell in 2-3 years.

Another possibility would be that we felt confident in our ability to trade down out of the 1st round and pick up a high 2nd and 3rd. The extra picks would make me feel a little more comfortable drafting a 3rd-string QB so high.

If I see one more post about Ryan Clarke and whether we should have gotten rid of him, I'm gonna friggin' puke!!!!

oops - i realize i just said ramsey when referring to campbell in my previous post.

rickyroge,

I take it from your post that you're one of those who are glad he's gone? Can you please explain why?

Stop the presses! It's a negative article about Snyder/Cerrato from the Redskins' Washington Post mouthpiece! This is like Pravda denouncing Stalin in 1954.

Nice work pointing out the obvious, La Canfora. About time.

Stop the presses! It's a negative article about Snyder/Cerrato from the Redskins' Washington Post mouthpiece! This is like Pravda denouncing Stalin in 1954.

Posted by: Dellis2 | April 4, 2008 02:22 PM

No, it's more like an editorial in the New York Times endorsing a Democratic candidate in an election. Same-old, same-old.

Does anybody know why Chad "baby" Johnson wants out of Cincy. The only thing I read is that he feels not wanted.

Fhim

I'm glad cincy cut wr Cris Henry. No way is Johnson getting traded now.

JLC,

Once the skins draft a de in the draft. Daniels will be a back up. Daniels contract expires after the season. With the new DE, MOntgomery, Golston, Wilson, Carter, Griffin. The Dline overall is YOUNG.

Griffin is pretty old for a DT, jhess. He will be 32 later this year. His future status will probably be determined by his ability to stay healthy enough to be on the field.

For only positive Redskins info 24/7, please proceed to: www.redskins.com.

Posted by: tafka | April 4, 2008 01:58 PM

I don't think that we want positive Redskins info 24/7, but it would be nice if this Insider blog actually gave Insider info on the Skins. It just seems to me that Jasno does not have access to the Redskins park so he comes up with crap like todays thread.

I know he could do much better...

Mkay,

Jason, a reporter, is writing critical things. Check!

The numbers he presents are official numbers that essentially speak for themselves. Check!

Why so many whiny comments from fans? This confirms my worst fears about the FO. Should I beat up Jasno for reporting facts? Should I beg him to spin me because I love the Redskins?

How about the top 5 teams in dead cap space since 2000?

1 Redskins $83 million
2 San Fran $80 million

The common link? CERRATO.

But more important, why so much coverage of this mediocre team when we have the CAPS? A superb team with the best and most exciting player in the world is in a fight to clinch a playoff berth after a horrendous start, and the Washington Post spends most of its resources covering one of the worst teams in its league. God Bless.

tafka,

I said overall. Every player on the team can't be 24 yrs old. After the draft the Dline will have a good mix. Overall it will be a younger unit.

To expect a 3rd round QB to come in and start (especially when are supposedly confident in ramsey) is unreasonable. If we wanted a starting QB, i think we would draft him sooner than the 3rd, don't you?

Posted by: SETH.LEMASTER | April 4, 2008 02:13 PM

That wasn't my point. I don't think its ever reasonable to expect a rookie to start (exception for Vince Young). Your point was about a drafting a QB who could be a starter (as opposed to a career backup) ... or, at least, that's what I took your point to be.

Of the starters drafted in the 3rd round or later in the past decade, I count: Brodie Croyle, Gradkowski (for a few games anyway), Derek Anderson (6th round), Schaub, Simms (pre-spleenectomy), David Garrard, and Bulger & Brady & Matt Hasselbeck (all 6th round).

And I get the sense that there are going to be plenty of QBs drafted this year ... Ryan, Brohm, Henne, Flacco, Brennan, Booty, Woodsen (and some other guys). I read somewhere that the Skins also were interested in Erik Ainge.

In addition to bringing in guys who they might want to draft, as well as guys they want people to think they might draft, they also br