rooting for Goliath

[Huddle]

Some recent threads reacting angrily to news articles blasting the Redskins on their free agency spending inspired these thoughts.

The New York Yankees have been buying the best players in the league for 75 years. Rooting for the Yankees is like rooting for Goliath.

If our free agency spending strategy leads to a dynasty, we can't expect the Redskins organization to be admired in the way that the Patriots organization has been admired in recent years. Outsmarting your opponents is thought of as being competitive within the spirit of the rules. Using your ability to outspend your opponents is considered by most to be taking an unfair advantage.

Redskins' fans are going to need to become thick-skinned about criticism of our team in the media and on the message boards of fansites across the country. Dan Snyder is their target now but, if this year's team can't cut it, we can expect some of them to develop the bravado to take some shots at the stewardship of Joe Gibbs despite his Hall of Fame reputation.

If we win, don't expect most Americans to be standing in line to congratulate us. If we lose, expect them to rejoice. It's just human nature to root against Goliath.

[BigSKINBauer]

everyone follows the same cap .(period)

[Huddle]

Originally Posted by BigSKINBauer

everyone follows the same cap .(period)

On a Redskins' fansite your argument is sufficient to close the discussion. But I was talking about other fans around the league.

[Huddle]

Originally Posted by Huddle

On a Redskins' fansite your argument is sufficient to close the discussion. But I was talking about other fans around the league and the media.

Edited...Huddle

[That Guy]

its different. you can't outspend consistantly with a cap and its nearly impossible to field a team that's in the superbowl even 2 years in a row. People jab synder anyways, worst case, nothing changes... but i don't you'll see anything like the anti-yankee anti-duke stuff. Its not like we're playing by different rules or we're going to go to 10 super bowls in a row.

[Huddle]

Originally Posted by That Guy

its different. you can't outspend consistantly with a cap and its nearly impossible to field a team that's in the superbowl even 2 years in a row. People jab synder anyways, worst case, nothing changes... but i don't you'll see anything like the anti-yankee anti-duke stuff. Its not like we're playing by different rules or we're going to go to 10 super bowls in a row.

We have had the highest actual payroll for several seasons though...haven't we?

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by Huddle

We have had the highest actual payroll for several seasons though...haven't we?

maybe, i know we lead in 2004, but not before then. usa today hasn't posted info on 2005 or 2006, though we didn't sign many people in 2005 (patten, moss, and rabach - pretty cheap) and without huge signing bonuses, its hard to lead in payroll. I'm sure we'll lead this year, but 2005 i'd be a bit surprised.

the other side is we lead in deadcap every year, and that's definately not a good thing. next year we won't have space to hand out another 40$mill in bonuses though, so it's pretty hard to lead multiple years in a row when offseason spending is so peaked in one season.

[Huddle]

Originally Posted by That Guy

maybe, i know we lead in 2004, but not before then. usa today hasn't posted info on 2005 or 2006, though we didn't sign many people in 2005 (patten, moss, and rabach - pretty cheap) and without huge signing bonuses, its hard to lead in payroll. I'm sure we'll lead this year, but 2005 i'd be a bit surprised.

the other side is we lead in deadcap every year, and that's definately not a good thing. next year we won't have space to hand out another 40$mill in bonuses though, so it's pretty hard to lead multiple years in a row when offseason spending is so peaked in one season.

Well, our reputation for being big spenders goes back to 2000.

I was using the Yankees purely as analogy. With the cap, we cannot achieve their dominance, nevertheless we are creating a similar reputation. I'm not upset by the flack we get but others here seem to be.

[dmek25]

a win is a win is a win.to me,winning cures everything.i really dont care what other fans think

[Huddle]

Originally Posted by dmek25

a win is a win is a win.to me,winning cures everything.i really dont care what other fans think

Yours is the thick-skinned attitude Redskins fans will need.

My remarks are meant for those more sensitive to criticism. We aren't going to be admired if we win; we will be laughed at if we lose. Let's get used to it.

[fja711]

All teams have the same amount of money to spend. Some teams chose to spend it all and some don't. The joke is that you get critisized for being agressive and trying to put together a great group of players. Fact is that all those players are independant contractors and are trying to work for the most money possible. I don't think there is one team that has a player playing for nothing. Based on playoff wins and championships I'd have to say the Mannings are overpaid yet nobody seems to be critical of the Colts or the Giants.

[Schneed10]

They key thing to remember is there is no franchise in the NFL that is incapable of turning a profit by spending up to the salary cap. The salary cap is set at such a level that even Arizona can turn a profit by spending that money. Therefore, money doesn't enter the equation with football like it does in baseball.

There are plenty of teams that whine and cry about big market teams, but the truth is they have the funds to pay for players too. Many just choose not to. So let the uninformed say what they want.

[Redskins8588]

I said it before on here, I will gladly take an owner that is not afraid to spend the $$ money on the team like Snyder does. Atleast he is trying to put a winning team on the field. Back in 2000 he didnt fair well with his spending but so what you make mistakes and learn, thats the only way to truely learn.

I would rather sit here and bitch about the media haters than bitch about an owner that wont try...

[Kope]

Goliath - shmoliath. Like NYG/NYJ, DaBears, Pats and Fish have no poplulation to draw from; paaalease. Snyder is pulling his weight...what about the other owners?

[Huddle]

Originally Posted by Kope

Goliath - shmoliath. Like NYG/NYJ, DaBears, Pats and Fish have no poplulation to draw from; paaalease. Snyder is pulling his weight...what about the other owners?

It isn't good for the league if the small market teams run losses as they did in the NHL.

Bear in mind, it's not the cap limit that counts but the actual payroll limit. Are all the owners with lower payrolls than the Redskins simply tight-fisted? Probably not.

But the real issue for Redskins' fans is not whether the criticism our team gets is fair or unfair. The point is that we are not going to be admired if we win and we'll be trashed if we have the league's highest payroll and still lose. That being the case, a thick-skinned attitude for Skins' fans works best.