Redskins Hatters In The Media

I just don't think so.

For some reason I feel like, even when this thing turns around, every move the Redskins make is still going to be bashed/criticized/overanalyzed.

Because the fact of the matter is, we've had a much better offseason than years previous, and I feel like all it would've taken is signing some big name quarterback like VY or Hasselbeck or whatever and all the sudden everyone would be ready to hop on the bandwagon.

Right now, people are having fun tearing down John Beck and calling Rex Grossman fat. The reason I get pissed is because there are no legitimate criticisms of the Redskins going on right now. This "well we suck, so we deserve criticism" stuff ignores the fact that 3/4's of what people are saying has nothing to do with football.

If ESPN or NFL Network or 106.7 The Fan were talking about FOOTBALL, and what the problems on the football side of things, I'd have no problem. As it stands, when people mention the Redskins, I barely hear anything about football, and hear jerks like Warren Sapp and Jamie Dukes snickering over John Beck being turned away at camp, or JLC making blind generalizations about the team, or Yahoo posting pictures of Rex Grossman looking chubby.

I've heard nothing about the additions we've made to the team, except people booing the Stallworth signing. There are still people out there claiming we signed Stokley. Stokley hasn't even sniffed Redskins Park since he said there was too much competition for a starting job (which in and of itself says a lot, but that went ignored too). And I've heard more about Andrew Luck than I have about any of the guys not named Beck or Grossman than ANYONE currently on our roster.

It's complete bull.

I just don't think so.

For some reason I feel like, even when this thing turns around, every move the Redskins make is still going to be bashed/criticized/overanalyzed.

Because the fact of the matter is, we've had a much better offseason than years previous, and I feel like all it would've taken is signing some big name quarterback like VY or Hasselbeck or whatever and all the sudden everyone would be ready to hop on the bandwagon.

Right now, people are having fun tearing down John Beck and calling Rex Grossman fat. The reason I get pissed is because there are no legitimate criticisms of the Redskins going on right now. This "well we suck, so we deserve criticism" stuff ignores the fact that 3/4's of what people are saying has nothing to do with football.

If ESPN or NFL Network or 106.7 The Fan were talking about FOOTBALL, and what the problems on the football side of things, I'd have no problem. As it stands, when people mention the Redskins, I barely hear anything about football, and hear jerks like Warren Sapp and Jamie Dukes snickering over John Beck being turned away at camp, or JLC making blind generalizations about the team, or Yahoo posting pictures of Rex Grossman looking chubby.

I've heard nothing about the additions we've made to the team, except people booing the Stallworth signing. There are still people out there claiming we signed Stokley. Stokley hasn't even sniffed Redskins Park since he said there was too much competition for a starting job (which in and of itself says a lot, but that went ignored too). And I've heard more about Andrew Luck than I have about any of the guys not named Beck or Grossman than ANYONE currently on our roster.

It's complete bull.

As to your first point in bold, that remains to be seen. But at the end of the day, we just can't get out of our own way. Everyone was so psyched about the Shanahan/Allen thing, and his first big move was the McNabb debacle. It looked just like more of the same old Redskins. And then we put up another double-digit loss season. You have to earn credibility and respect. Once we do enough to earn it, I believe we'll get it. Until then...

As to the second point in bold, both local media (including a radio station owned by Danny) and national media are scratching their heads that we are content to go into the season with John Beck and Rex Grossman as our QB stable. It's pretty baffling if you ask me.

We've done everything we can over the past 10+ to be a national punching bag. We're an easy target, so the media likes to push us around. As a fan of the Redskins it annoys me, but it's not unwarranted IMO. Were the Lions of the Millen-era a national punching bag? And did they deserve it? We've been in that category over recent years, and are reaping what we sow.

I think you fall into the category of a fan (a well-spoken one at that) that is just frustrated at the annual flow of criticisms. And I feel ya. It sucks.

What's so hateful about these?

Redskins are finally on the right path, but journey will be long - The Washington Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/redskins-are-finally-on-the-right-path-but-journey-will-be-long/2011/08/03/gIQAJHd1rI_story.html)

Redskins rookie Jarvis Jenkins provides burst off the line - Washington Times (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/aug/4/redskins-jarvis-jenkins-provides-burst-off-the-lin/)

NFL.com news: Hope in Washington? Redskins change course (http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d82135a99/article/hope-in-washington-redskins-change-course)

The thing is, I really feel like there's teams out there with FAR worse quarterback situations than ours.

The Panthers anyone? The Panthers are looking to have to choose between starting Cam Newton, Jimmy Clausen, and friggin' Derek Anderson. Are people looking forward to the Dalton/Gradkowski/Jordan Palmer battle in Cinci? How is T-Jack vs. Whitehurst any better than Grossman vs. Beck? Career underacheiver vs. career back-up?

But you don't hear the same kind of reservations about those situations, and those situations are approached with class and from an analytical perspective. They're not any better off than we are, but still, people come at it from a football analysis.

When we get to the Redskins though? It's a completely different dynamic. Like I said, there's an almost gleeful dismantling of our status as a football team, despite the moves we've made to get better. There are a lot of teams in rebuild mode, but it's the complete inverse of what we typically get.

Right now we're getting raked over the coals for NOT spending, for deciding to go with our own (and Beck and Grossman are our own, for the most part) and spend wisely. Meanwhile, a division rival is doing the exact thing that doomed so many of our seasons and they're being treated like the friggin' champions of the world.

And my point of contention is that, even if this football team was in a much better place, and we were truly a few pieces away from being a contender...we'd be getting MURDERED right now if we signed that many free agents, and put our cap situation in danger when we have to pay so many guys, spending money on big names while one of our homegrown talents that's been a playmaker for us holds out for money that he deserves. We wouldn't hear the end of it.

I understand and know that going into a season where Rex Grossman and John Beck is less than ideal. Way less. But the level of disrespect towards the team just seems to go beyond "what are they thinking" into thinking we're some sort of comedy side show, when in reality we made real strides towards making the football team better.

You're generalizing and/or not paying close enough attention

The Skins are also higher profile and get more national attention than a team like Carolina. Bigger market, more history, etc.

The thing is, I really feel like there's teams out there with FAR worse quarterback situations than ours.


I know right? At least we have a former Super Bowl QB that was actually better then McNabb on a team that went 6-10 with many close contests. Maybe Harbraugh helps Smith, Jackson isn't to bad either, but Chad Henne hasn't done crap, Fitzpatrick for now is actually pretty solid. Still I don't get how we get that much of the vote. And this is coming from someone with tempered expectations.

http://i52.tinypic.com/110vw9j.png

More people should factor coaching into their votes. Dolphins and Seahawks have worse QB situations if you ask me. 49ers could easily be worse then us as well.

I know right? At least we have a former Super Bowl QB that was actually better then McNabb on a team that went 6-10 with many close contests. Maybe Harbraugh helps Smith, Jackson isn't to bad either, but Chad Henne hasn't done crap, Fitzpatrick for now is actually pretty solid. Still I don't get how we get that much of the vote. And this is coming from someone with tempered expectations.

http://i52.tinypic.com/110vw9j.png

More people should factor coaching into their votes. Dolphins and Seahawks have worse QB situations if you ask me. 49ers could easily be worse then us as well.How are the Bengals not a poll option?

How are the Bengals not a poll option?

Lol, good point.

SMOOOOOOOOOOOOOT! Get your butt over here and yell at your bosses for me.

The thing is, I really feel like there's teams out there with FAR worse quarterback situations than ours.

The Panthers anyone? The Panthers are looking to have to choose between starting Cam Newton, Jimmy Clausen, and friggin' Derek Anderson. Are people looking forward to the Dalton/Gradkowski/Jordan Palmer battle in Cinci? How is T-Jack vs. Whitehurst any better than Grossman vs. Beck? Career underacheiver vs. career back-up?

But you don't hear the same kind of reservations about those situations, and those situations are approached with class and from an analytical perspective. They're not any better off than we are, but still, people come at it from a football analysis.

When we get to the Redskins though? It's a completely different dynamic. Like I said, there's an almost gleeful dismantling of our status as a football team, despite the moves we've made to get better. There are a lot of teams in rebuild mode, but it's the complete inverse of what we typically get.

Right now we're getting raked over the coals for NOT spending, for deciding to go with our own (and Beck and Grossman are our own, for the most part) and spend wisely. Meanwhile, a division rival is doing the exact thing that doomed so many of our seasons and they're being treated like the friggin' champions of the world.

And my point of contention is that, even if this football team was in a much better place, and we were truly a few pieces away from being a contender...we'd be getting MURDERED right now if we signed that many free agents, and put our cap situation in danger when we have to pay so many guys, spending money on big names while one of our homegrown talents that's been a playmaker for us holds out for money that he deserves. We wouldn't hear the end of it.

I understand and know that going into a season where Rex Grossman and John Beck is less than ideal. Way less. But the level of disrespect towards the team just seems to go beyond "what are they thinking" into thinking we're some sort of comedy side show, when in reality we made real strides towards making the football team better.

I agree with what Matty is saying about national attention. Seattle's QB situation is tenuous at best, but they're in the corner of the pacifc northwest and play in the NFC West. We're in the nation's capital playing in the NFC East. Bigger stage, more attention paid.

Also, you reference our offseason as compared to the Eagles high profile spending spree. Yes, if we had made those moves we'd be getting raked over the coals. You know why? Because we've gone that route in the past and it's blown up in our face in grand fashion. The Eagles front office consistently does a solid job, so they're drawing praise. Hell, they turned an ex-con into an MVP candidate in one year.

As far as our offseason, yes it's been solid. On paper. We've been practicing for a week. I've seen a few people give us solid marks for our moves, but why would anyone fall over themselves to give us props when every other offseason we've had for a decade+ has been a joke?

As far as the disrespect/comedy sideshow thing... What do you call the whole Sherm Smith bingo caller/Jim Zorn emasculation? The swinging gate play? Gibbs calling two timeouts in a row to cost us a game? Trading for TJ Duckett? The way Shanahan handled the Haynesworth and McNabb situations last year? Vinny Cerrato? WE ARE a comedic sideshow unitl... well, until we're not.

Again, respect is earned.