ESPN: Nate Clements in Redskins' plans?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Bill B

Why is Synder involved in the contract negotiations of our players anyways? Why can't he take the approach JKC took and let Gibbs do the talking since Gibbs is the team Prez?

Gibbs used to lobby to Bobby Beathard and JKC to sign any player he liked to whatever it took to sign him. This was no problem because the salary cap wasn't an issue back then. Besides, it's Snyder's money, and salesmanship is what he does best.

Gibbs likes to try to distance himself from the actual back and forth contract negotiations. When you tell someone I'll give you x, but I won't pay as much as y, you're basically telling them they're not worth y. That's not a message you want to come across from your head coach, the player may not be willing to go the extra mile for that coach. Gibbs leaves that to Snyder, and sticks to the podium saying "I'm so proud of this group" and "these guys fight their guts out."

He's doing that on purpose, he needs them to want to play hard for him. If he's negotiating, it makes that hard.