Are we the Detroit Lions?

What the Redskins are great at is forecasting long term market trends, and knowing exactly when the right time to buy is. Think about it:

We had a big free agency splurge in 2004 that built the defense of the Gibbs era. Those contracts were set to bite us in the balls in 2006, but we timed it up perfectly with the new CBA contract and the cap hell never came.

In 2006, we foresaw that the market was going to spike a year from then and decided to free agent splurge at the relatively reduced price as opposed to buying in the insane market that now exists in free agency.

Of course, the big issue in 2006 is not that we spent the money--those deals look excellent now by comparison, it's that we spent the money in part on a pair of god-awful football players. Can you imagine what this team would be if Archuleta and Lloyd, we bought say: Chris Hope and Joe Jurevicius?

The Pro Personnel scout we have has done a pretty crappy job, but that's why Scott Campbell got the promotion and he did not.Amen GTripp - it's about time we recognized that our pro scouting has been spotty. I'm hopeful that Scott Campbell will yield dividends in both the draft AND with bargain FA signings this offseason.

First of all, I can speak for myself, thank you very much. Secondly, to imply that I, nor any other Redskins fan on this board, doesn't want to admit that this team has had some hard times is a foolish statement to make. We just don't like to wallow in the self pity that seems to plague a few so called fans on this board. We don't like to waste time whining and complaining about every move this franchise has made, while completely ignoring what good things have come from this franchise. And oh yes, there are those and you know who you are who only come here to crap on the team, and when things are going right, you are nowhere to be found.

That is what makes me so ashamed at fans in Redskins Nation. When we actually start arguing over why we should be compared to the Lions, something is very wrong. I've seen posts where people want Snyder dead, they hate Fassel, they hate Gibbs, the Redskins are a laughing stock of the NFL.....this all coming from REDSKINS fans. I just don't get it.

To answer your initial question, no we are not the Detroit Lions. We have 3 SB victories and have made the playoffs twice in the past 3 seasons. we are slightly above average as far as organizations are concerned at the moment. All time, we are one of the best.

Is it really that they're good at "forecasting market trends," or is it more simply that some seasons we're in position to make a few purchases, and some seasons we're not?

Otherwise, it all seems to secure the theory that our front office is indeed good at keeping us from absolute Cap Hell, but that we haven't joined the elite group at the top that knows how to really work it.Well, I can't rule out that it's been blind luck, but I'm giving the benefit of the doubt, the timing of our deals have been tremendous.

We do it differently than everyone else. We take advantage of that cash over cap concept, and we find ways to invest more into our football team than the cap is designed to allow.

Again, the separate issue here is that we spend potentially "value" contracts on very overrated players. What I'm saying is as soon as this stops, you'll see the Redskins join the elite teams in terms of year to year sustainability.

And here's my point in how ridiculous it is to compare the Lions to the Redskins. The Redskins have had 15 playoff wins since 1980, 5 Conference Championship appearances, 4 Conference Championships, 4 Super Bowl appearances, 3 Super Bowl victories.

The Lions have had only one playoff win since 1980, 1 conference Championship appearance, 8 losses all in the wild card round, no Super Bowl appearances. Comparing just the last 10 years, the Lions had two playoff appearances, the Redskins had three. The Lions didn't win in either one of those playoff appearances, the Redskins have two victories.

There still cannot rightfully be any comparison between the two franchises.

I'd have to agree with you I don't think we can compare the Lions to the Redskins... wow this has been a fun thread to read though lots of good arguments (might need some of the thread police before things get out of hand :postcop:...lol)

Hmm. I must have missed those references. Weren't you the one who recently had a tagline that said, "I happen to like Kool Aid, and will drink it whenever I choose" ??

Sorry if I have trouble linking you with the objective crowd.

I do like kool aid, what's your point? I also like Ocean Spray and V8 Splash. Your difficulties in linking me to the "objective" crowd comes from you not paying attention.

I won't join the debate about how we have fallen to the Lions level or not, but since Detroit was brought up & this week Mooch is the latest rumor as our head coach, don't be surprised to see him hired & see him go after a few Lions that he coached there.

Roy Williams has been mentioned on here before, can't think of any others that might work.

I think we're closer to the Lions than we are to the Patriots, but one thing the Redskins have nearly every year is hope. That's something many teams who have a history of losing typically have.

This comparison to the Lions is ridiculously overblown.

Since 2000 the Lions are 40-88, the Redskins are 58-70. While the Skins are still 12 games under .500, they are still 18 games better than the Lions. The Lions have had 6 seasons of double digit losing seasons this decade. The Redskins have had 3. The Redskins have 2 playoff appearances this decade, the Lions have 0.

Can we please stop with this now??

This comparison to the Lions is ridiculously overblown.

Since 2000 the Lions are 40-88, the Redskins are 58-70. While the Skins are still 12 games under .500, they are still 18 games better than the Lions. The Lions have had 6 seasons of double digit losing seasons this decade. The Redskins have had 3. The Redskins have 2 playoff appearances this decade, the Lions have 0.

Can we please stop with this now??

Be careful Matty. The "objective" crowd will have a few words to say to you.

Ok, I had to do it. I nearly threw up making this, but this is for you ridiculous people:

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/567/skinlionszz5.png