Some Notes From Bram's Blog

[Mc2guy]

Originally Posted by Rajmahal33

After reading that, it leaves me with the uneasy feeling that the pendulum might actually start swinging the other way. Are we gonna be one of those penny-pinching franchises now that screws up good deals? I hope not but it seems like we would have still been underpaying for Hackett.

I know i know, we are still the washington redskins and just cuz we have had back-to-back frugal Free agencies, doesn't mean that we have completely changed our ways. I guess i'm just being paranoid and if you are dan snyder and the skins FO, u are damned if u do and damned if u don't...

It might seem that the pendulum is on the other side this year, and frankly, there could be some serious truth to the idea that Synder is having cash flow issues.

If you follow the credit markets, and who couldn't right now with the amount of media play they're getting, you would know that the era of cheap cash borrowing is over. Synder, and others like him, made their fortune through HIGHLY leveraged buy-outs. In other words, they borrow heavily to purchase assets, and then recapitalize (by selling) after they have restructured the asset to be more profitable and more valuable. The only way this business model works is when you have access to lots of cash on the cheap. NO ONE on Wallstreet is offering cheap cash right now, so the cost of borrowing money is very high, and your leverage ratio (the amount you owe, vs. the amount of assets you have) must be much lower than in the past.

Synder has historically carried a very high leverage ratio, and if you recall, the league actually made him pay down his debt on the team to a ratio that was more solvent. I would not be surprised at all to find that Snyder is having problems getting access to cash for all of his businesses. That doesn't mean he is insolvent, just that he has to limit his spending to the cash his businesses are bringing in as opposed to spending the banks money and paying it back.

This is all pure speculation, but it seems very reasonable given Snyders previous business dealings and modus operandi.

[redwagonskins]

Originally Posted by Dirtyskin21

Yeah I have to agree with that.

1) Everyone hates the Cowboys.
2)The Eagles are the bridesmaids of the NFC-East
3)The Giants only have two superbowl(championships) And were never known as a could be/possible dynasty dominant team.

We are the Washington Redskins and we have a storied Franchise, we have great fans,great players, and a great owner.(not everyone agrees)

Someone correct me if i'm wrong, but I believe we are/have been the number 1 franchise in the NFL for a longgggg time. We have 5 total championships[3 superbowls] and 5 superbowl appearances. We have 14 playoff appearances since 1971.

I know the history of the redskins because I am a fan of the redskins. However, my point is that regardless of our hallowed history, we may not be as appealing to FAs as we think. I don't think some kid who grew up watching whatever local NFL team knows about our history. There is a big "what have you done lately" mentality. Remember that a 26 year old FA was born in or around 1982. They were 8 or 9 when we were last in the Super Bowl! For these players, if we are not going to overpay as in the past, I think it is going to take a few consecutive winning seasons to regain that aura.
Hey, I could be wrong. However, SF has 5 SBs and they have to throw dump-trucks full of cash at FAs to get them to sign as of late, and look at the Raiders and their 3 SB wins. The 49ers, Steelers, Packers, Pats, Raiders, and Cowboys all have 3 or more SB wins with the Giants, Dolphins, and Broncos each at 2. The point is that we do not occupy the rarefied air that we as fans believe we do. A kid who was 9 when we last were in a SB and grew up NOT a fan of the skins, isn't in awe of this organization.
In terms of being the "number 1 franchise", I guess you are referring to revenue. But if you are an employee and you don't get a cut of this revenue, do you really care? Maybe, but if they aren't using the revenue to give enormous signing bonuses as in the past, you probably don't.
BTW, the third highest selling jersey last year was Romo so unless people are buying his jersey to light it on fire, not everyone hate the Cowboys

[schndr_tdd]

What gets me are the redskins fans that are ripping Snyder for his catious approach this year.Last year they ripped him for throwing money around...lol

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

It's refreshing to hear that Snyder may be finally learning the value of locker room chemistry. Just look at what this team battled through last year, from all the injuries to Sean Taylor's tragic death. Despite all that the team rallied down the stretch and made the playoffs after they were left for dead at 5-7. That's a team that you don't want to disrupt by bringing in big names with pricey contracts. Snyder said that he learned patience from his time working with Gibbs, and so far it appears that he was telling the truth.

*I* agree...And I also have the feeling the players have taken notice as well.

Over the past several years many players have been willing to re-work their contracts on more than one ocasion, to help clear cap space in an effort to bring in new players with the hopes of improving the team. When players look at the results of their efforts, and see players like B. Lloyd, and A. Archuletta being brought in to make limited contributions, and in Lloyd's case actually be a locker-room disruption, it's easy to see why the team took the approach they did with DJ Hackett.

The show me first attitude would have been best served in the case of both those players, and as a result of those decisions I believe the foundation has been established for the approach the team seems now inclined to take.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by schndr_tdd

What gets me are the redskins fans that are ripping Snyder for his catious approach this year.Last year they ripped him for throwing money around...lol

Yeah I find that to be quite comical myself.

We've begged them be more patient and cautious for years now. Yet anytime a big name comes up there's plenty of people crying for the Skins to make moves. I don't get it.

[redwagonskins]

Unfortunately for DS, he is going to get it from all sides until he wins consistently. However, I think they are on the right track with this FA approach.

[Longtimefan]

Originally Posted by schndr_tdd

What gets me are the redskins fans that are ripping Snyder for his catious approach this year.Last year they ripped him for throwing money around...lol

It has become apearent that the only way Mr. Snyder can win is to bet he looses. It's unfortunate that distinction will continue to follow him until he adopts a plan, and remains committed to it for a prolonged period of time.

People are going to continue to be skeptical, even now with the restraint the team has shown, and it will be that way until they're convinced it's a permanent approach.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

It's refreshing to hear that Snyder may be finally learning the value of locker room chemistry. Just look at what this team battled through last year, from all the injuries to Sean Taylor's tragic death. Despite all that the team rallied down the stretch and made the playoffs after they were left for dead at 5-7. That's a team that you don't want to disrupt by bringing in big names with pricey contracts. Snyder said that he learned patience from his time working with Gibbs, and so far it appears that he was telling the truth.

I do agree 100%. But let's remember that GW was a BIG PART of that team chemistry. If this Zorn hiring blows up in his face it's going to get real ugly.

[Dirtyskin21]

Originally Posted by 81+83+84=Posse

I'm pretty sure the Giants have won three Super Bowl's also.

THey have won 3. They had 2, but this year they won the superbowl so that makes three.