With Gibbs out of the picture who is now the face of the Redskins' franchise?

I guess we need to define what an average fan is. If we're talking about the casual fan type who might watch a game here and there, then yeah he/she might not know Taylor by name. If we're talking about a passionate NFL fan regardless of team I find it hard to believe they wouldn't know him by name.

This is an interesting debate.

I think you have to remember you have lived in passionate areas. The DC area is full of passionate fans, as well as the NY area etc.
When you get further out (I have lived in Mass. who has passionate knowledgable fans, Arkansas who has a passionate fan base for Dallas, and of course their razorbacks, but nothing else, New Mexico, who also has a passionate Dallas fan base, but knows nothing else, and Fort Myers, Florida who has a casual affair with the NFL. Most are Tampa fans, but not thorough NFL fans.) I've travelled all across this land (all but 8 states), and I would wager that the majority of fans are casual, not passionate. But it really comes down to opinion.
I have had several conversations with people over the years about teams around the league, and if you talk to them about their team, it's a passionate two sided conversation, but if you speak with them about teams that aren't even in their division, and in particular players outside the division, you get a lot of blank stares.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, the SKins have the best fan base in the NFL bar none. We are the most knowledgable fans out there. As such, we are spoiled on this site with constant knowledge. To us, football is a way of life, it's a part of our DNA, to other teams fans, it's something to do on a sunday afternoon.
I like your enthusiasm matty, but I respectfully agree to disagree.

IF you are going to talk about the face of the franchise you have to think longevity. It is quite realistic in the modern NFL era that any or all of the players in the voting pool won't be Skins in say 4-5 seasons. CP won't last forever, JC will either shine brightly or possibly crash and burn, Cooley will be OK, but a TE is never the face of a team. Zorn hasn't coached his first game yet, so he is out. This leaves Snyder who is going to be around no matter how well or how badly the Skins do in the next several seasons. ANd with such the winfall of $$$$$$$$$ he is getting from the franchise, don't expect him to sell the team anytime soon. In 2015 Snyder will still be around while the rest of the guys will be retired, fired, or on another team.

What are we asking when we say "face of the franchise" Is it the person who we want to represent the team, is it who the most well known person is? There is a difference. On the one hand, a fan (average or not) might associate Chad Johnson with the Bengals, but the Bengals themselves and their fans might say "No, Carson Palmer is the face of this franchise. He represents who we truly are"Since Face of the Franchise is about perception, I think it has to be about the perception of the majority.

I may think Chris Cooley is the coolest cat in the NFL, but I think Portis is more identifiable with the Redskins than anyone else in the organization. I tend to get the feel that when you mention "Redskins" in the midwest, he's the first guy that comes to mind for the majority of fans.

Snyder's name is probably even more recognizable than Portis', but if we're literally talking about faces here (which is debatable), it's got to be Portis.

I had to go w/ Dan Snyder.

These days the Redskins are seen as a team that has some of the best talent in the NFL that can never put it to any use. Whenever I talk to fans from around the league they always have something to say about Dan Snyder (usually not something good). As much as I hate to say this, Dan Snyder is the face of this franchise now that Gibbs is gone.

but a TE is never the face of a team.

Thats funny I always looked at Tony Gonzalez as the face of the Chiefs.

Unless you live in the DC-Metro area, you hear Portis mentioned *much* more than Snyder.

Clinton Portis, Zorn has said hes the face of the franchise.

CP, but I bought a Campbell Jersey instead!

Joe Gibbs will always be the face of the Redskins franchise. Someone would have to come here and be largely responsible for multiple Super Bowl victories before that even becomes a question...

i say Vinny, he makes all the decision does all the interview, and this team has his fingerprint through and through.