Full Blown Mutiny

it's funny how easy it is to take the "hometown discount" when you haven't done anything to get otherwise.

Can anyone honestly blame Coles for feeling frustrated? He's played his ass off for a team that has won 11 of 32 games since he's been here, he was totally misused last season as a possession reciever, and the wide receiving corps was a patsy for our troubles in 2004. I don't blame him for wanting to move on.

I don't blame Coles for being frustrated, but wanting to jet after two seasons with the team he signed a long-term deal with? That's what I have a problem with.

What happens when he ends up with his next team and he becomes dissatisfied again, will he pull this crap again and leave his new team in a scramble to unload him?

I most certainly am disappointed and frustrated by his decision. Why should I support his decision? Explain that.

Pierce gave us a hometown discount?

If he had a better offer elsewhere (it was the Vikings that reportedly were interested) he would have taken it in a second.

Obviously the offer wasn't any better than what the Redskins were offering otherwise he would be wearing purple right now.

I thought Pierce was a RESTRCITED free agent last year. So we had some leverage. But whatever. Look, these guys want to get paid, Snyder is famous for the big payout, so why not try the market? Either you get a better offer elsewhere, or you force Danny-boy to open the check book, which he's done in the past. Gibbs wants to "change the culture" so the skins are holding back (sounds like a reasonable move to me). Everyone plays the media to there advantage, and round and round it goes.

As for Coles and the leaked story, I'm not sure who benefits from the crime. Coles looks LESS likely to be traded now, and has publicly claimed he won't do a giveback. His stock on the open market is low as it is with the toe. He was not helped by the story. The skins can't trade the guy to get any value, and can't cut him. They're likely stuck with a pissed off player, and they look bad in public. Maybe someone at redskin park was a little pissed by something Danny-boy said or did? Hmmmm....

So we knew that Coles was a hard worker, we knew he was talented, and now we can add "quitter" to the list as well. What an asshole! And not only is he quitting, but he's trying to hold us over the "coals" for it. Screw you Lav.

Damn, maybe we really are cursed!!

What I have beef with is the double standard that is applied to players and NFL teams. If a team signed a contract and committed to a guy and the team cuts him, so be it. But if a player wants to back out of a deal, he's a prick.

Perhaps I'm too "pro-labor." I love the team, but the team is made up of players. So, while I want what is best for the team, I'm not going to say F-U to a guy who wants out of a deal....teams back out of deals all the time.

I disagree with you on the status of players in the league. And I think that a contract doesnt mean that the players deserve equality with the owner. The contract just provides some protection for the players, which they are entitled to. Sports are most definitely a business, and why dont you tell me who the employees are?

Dan Snyder paid how much for the Redskins?

Good poitns Ramseyfan - When Coles signed that major deal he expected to be THE man on offense. He came into a Spurrier throw first, throw second, throw third, fake punt throw 4th offense. This is what Coles was looking forward to! He wanted to the be corner stone of the offense. A guy that can take the game and be exciting - and when healthy he is that guy. Now he's stuck in one of THE WORST passing offenses in the NFL, and get's very few looks per game let alone receptions.

I always hear "Gibbs is master at adaptation" Gibbs will turn it around. The problem I've seen - is in 16 games we saw very little evolution as far as our offense was concerned. It took 8 weeks to change from an absolutely miserable quarterback who not a single other person could defend by week 3, a handcuffed offense who preached turnovers to the point of implosion, a gameplan that was so easily foliled by defensive juggernauts as the Browns that they told Wilbon things in the locker rooms that made skins-fans cringe. The offense rarely put any more than two receivers out - teams DIDN'T respect our passing game, and we did NOTHING all year to change that. We lost some games simply because Gibbs was too afraid to not only hold on to the lead - but extend it. You can't sit on a 3, 6, or 7 point lead in todays NFL with a quarter to go. Just doesn't work.

I'm sorry - I've seen no sign of improvement from the skins offense thus far, and Coles being mad about his role in the upcoming offense scares me even more. If both of our receivers want out of dodge - that doesn't bring good things for our passing game.

I'm not sure how anyone could argue that Snyder is the employee and the players are management. The management is rarely, if ever, attacked for backing out of a deal and cutting a player but the players get grilled for backing out of a deal (Coles has NEVER said he wouldn't play out his contract, just that he would prefer to leave).

I don't contend that the contracts should never be broken. What I am saying is that we should apply a single standard and criticize/praise a front office or a player for backing out of a deal.

Again, Coles never said he would hold out unless he is traded. He has simply said that he would prefer to be elsewhere, something Gibbs asked his players to tell him.