Redskin Insider -- Don't Believe the Hype

The Numbers Don't Lie, Version 2.0: Don't Believe The Hype - Redskins Insider (http://blog.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/2008/04/the_numbers_dont_lie_version_2.html)
"Sure, they didn't spend anything on outside players - it was a poor market and they had very limited cap space - but let's not pretend things have truly changed. Guess which NFL team is currently second in the league in signing bonuses money paid in 2008, according to NFL Management Council numbers (which I obtain through league sources)?
Yep, you got it:


1 - Oakland Raiders - $53.8 million
2 - Snyder/Cerrato - $43.5 million (that doesn't even include another $5 million in option bonuses)"

JLC is really on point in this article, even if the numbers are a hair off from what CC has here.

He's really pessimistic here though, and one of the thing he's ignoring is that to remain competitive, you have to draft the players first and get rid of the bad contracts second.

But the Redskins are really, really, really out on a thin limb on the Portis deal. By the book, it looks like they will get out unscathed, as long as Zorn doesn't run Portis into the ground. But a lot of things can happen between now and 2010. What if CP has a very injury prone year in 2008, and never really gets his feet under him again? Though that would be very unfortunate, it's a realistic fear that could seal Cerrato's fate, and it's probably a risk that could have been avoided.

I think the majority of Vinny's moves by date by and large have been intelligent, and JLC should probably give them more credit and stop trying to write off the current administration before they have a chance to do anything to right the ship. But it's a bit discomforting to be tied to a 26 year old RB for three years, especially with the turnover at the RB position.

JLC's relevance in the Redskins Locker Room is less and less now since certain people moved on this off-season. And it shows in the tone of his columns. In fact, I thought I had heard somewhere that the Post was looking to replace him as the Redskins Insider sometime in the coming months.

And GTripp, you sure are pretty gung-ho on this whole "Portis is past his prime, due to get a debilitating injury any day now because we use him too much" idea aren't you?

And GTripp, you sure are pretty gung-ho on this whole "Portis is past his prime, due to get a debilitating injury any day now because we use him too much" idea aren't you?
He is undersized and has a tremendous amount of carries for a back his age. Plus he has had the shoulder.

I think we will need to see how Zorn uses him, in the WCO he shouldn't take the straight on pounding he did in Gibbs' offense. If that's the case barring something devastating he should be fine for 3yrs.

JLC's relevance in the Redskins Locker Room is less and less now since certain people moved on this off-season. And it shows in the tone of his columns. In fact, I thought I had heard somewhere that the Post was looking to replace him as the Redskins Insider sometime in the coming months.



*cough* Earnest Byner *cough*

But yeah, it's starting to get ridiculous over at RI. As I stated before the only reason I really go there anymore is because people post articles from Warpath Insiders as well as a few other sources I don't have access to.

In fact I just looked at his enteries from this time last year, and he wasn't nearly as negative as he has been this offseason, for me the change has been quite off putting and ironically has made me feel sorry for Snyder of all people.

I say it's best if Reid gets a chance to take over the Redskins and the Post makes JLC a beat writer for the Caps, because something big must have happened between JLC and the organization where his reporting is just extremly bias, which to me is bad both ways, but for a local paper it's a little better for a guy to be a bit of homer.

I really wish he took a similar stance to guy like Wilbon or Tony.

I also hate when people say shit like "it's a blog he can write whatever he wants." Maybe it started out as a blog, but it has since become a very popular desitnation for Redskin fans, and I doubt the Post would let JLC shut it down if he wanted to. In fact it's probably become a cash cow for the Post in terms of advertising. In other words JLC needs to be more professional.

But personally all these high and mighty articles are getting a little old. I kind of wish we would stop giving his articles new threads for the time being and just post them in already existing threads until the quality of his articles returns to a level close to where it was during the coaching search.

What's wrong with being tied to Portis for 3 more years? At 29 he will likely be hitting the back end of his career and we can part with him then. I don't see what's so wrong with that. He's had one season out of 6 where he missed significant time and some people can't see to let that go. For some reason he's now fragile. I don't get it.

he is the best blocking & hitting back in the league period

I'm sorry, but I've pretty much tuned JLC out altogether. I don't mind hard-hitting journalism and critical op-eds. Unfortunately, however, some people conflate whining with good analysis and objectivity. JLC is constantly taking Snyder and Gibbs to task for trivial issues and/or personality differences. I don't like reading articles that sound like they're written by: (1) Redskins Park employees; OR (2) disgruntled journalists with some sort of ax to grind.

What's wrong with being tied to Portis for 3 more years? At 29 he will likely be hitting the back end of his career and we can part with him then. I don't see what's so wrong with that. He's had one season out of 6 where he missed significant time and some people can't see to let that go. For some reason he's now fragile. I don't get it.


I dont understand it either but people just seem to think that he is fragile and withered away.

And GTripp, you sure are pretty gung-ho on this whole "Portis is past his prime, due to get a debilitating injury any day now because we use him too much" idea aren't you?Speaking statistically, we all should be.

In the case of Portis, he's 26 going on 27, and he consistently does a good job protecting his legs. Both of those things are reasons that justify the financial implications of his new deal.

All Running Backs need to get pretty lucky to avoid injury every season. When they are in the lineup, a great running back can make a pretty big difference in terms of just how good an offense is. Portis is a runner who has had three great seasons: 2002, 2003, and 2005.

I think he is primed for a big 2008 season. But what if he gets banged up? I mean, look what happened to Shaun Alexander after he got his new deal in 2006. Alexander was a better back than Portis in his prime, and now he's pretty much garbage at the age of 30.

The point is that Portis is a good bet to have a career year this season, but if he happens to get banged up, then Cerrato looks like an absolute fool for investing so much in him ahead of time.

But I thought you liked Rock? If I remember right, you don't like Betts right? Either way, I'm not too concerned about CP right now