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sportscurmudgeon · 02-24-2007, 07:15 PM

GoSkins

How does a DL with Griffith, Daniels, Salavea, and Wynn look bad today when they looked so good three years ago? Let me try to explain...

First of all, they had a much more talented linebacking crew right behind them three years ago than they had last year. That made them look a bit better then than they really were. But that's not the main point.

Secondly, there is the "Father Time Factor". And no one dodges Father Time.

Third of all, there is the problem that lots of people - including unfortunately the Skins' FO -do not seem to comprehend the "Father Time Factor".

When a team is put together with guys who have made a solid name for themselves in the league, that means they tend to be in their late 20s or early 30s when the team (Skins) signs them. Sure, some players are still really, really good through the age of 35 or even 37. BUT most players are on the downside of their careers right after 30. If they are not on the downside, they aren't getting any better...

So the Skins tend to sign a lot of guys who have only about one - or at most three - years left in them where they even resemble the stud that the Skins signed as a free agent. Time and injuries take their toll. That's what happened to the four guys you mentioned on the DL. They aren't nearly the players they were 2 or 3 years ago, and it's not their fault. Oh and they dont' have nearly the level of talent behind them to cover for the increased number of times they get beaten these days so that makes them look all the more "deteriorated".

One of these years, the "football people" at Redskins' Park will catch lightning in a bottle and put together a spectacular team that will dodge the injury bullets and go really deep into the playoffs - - maybe even win a Super Bowl. But if the "football people" there continue with that philosophy, they are unlikely to repeat that performance more than one time because catching lightning in a bottle is neither safe nor highly probable.

So long as there is a salary cap in the NFL, that's a key part of the dynamic that has teams moving up and down in the standings.

02-24-2007, 07:15 PM	#9
sportscurmudgeon Playmaker Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 3,159	Re: The Forgotten Buffalo Free Agent GoSkins How does a DL with Griffith, Daniels, Salavea, and Wynn look bad today when they looked so good three years ago? Let me try to explain... First of all, they had a much more talented linebacking crew right behind them three years ago than they had last year. That made them look a bit better then than they really were. But that's not the main point. Secondly, there is the "Father Time Factor". And no one dodges Father Time. Third of all, there is the problem that lots of people - including unfortunately the Skins' FO -do not seem to comprehend the "Father Time Factor". When a team is put together with guys who have made a solid name for themselves in the league, that means they tend to be in their late 20s or early 30s when the team (Skins) signs them. Sure, some players are still really, really good through the age of 35 or even 37. BUT most players are on the downside of their careers right after 30. If they are not on the downside, they aren't getting any better... So the Skins tend to sign a lot of guys who have only about one - or at most three - years left in them where they even resemble the stud that the Skins signed as a free agent. Time and injuries take their toll. That's what happened to the four guys you mentioned on the DL. They aren't nearly the players they were 2 or 3 years ago, and it's not their fault. Oh and they dont' have nearly the level of talent behind them to cover for the increased number of times they get beaten these days so that makes them look all the more "deteriorated". One of these years, the "football people" at Redskins' Park will catch lightning in a bottle and put together a spectacular team that will dodge the injury bullets and go really deep into the playoffs - - maybe even win a Super Bowl. But if the "football people" there continue with that philosophy, they are unlikely to repeat that performance more than one time because catching lightning in a bottle is neither safe nor highly probable. So long as there is a salary cap in the NFL, that's a key part of the dynamic that has teams moving up and down in the standings. __________________ The Sports Curmudgeon www.sportscurmudgeon.com But don't get me wrong, I love sports...