Another Post Card from Witness Protection

The anger, outrage and general pissed off nature of Redskins fans is making national news after our embarassing loss to the Lions. PFT is carrying a story right now entitled "Signs of the Ugly Times in D.C."

Nice to see the Skins can still make national headlines. Of course, this once mighty franchise, home to three Super Bowl victories, is now making headlines for being the laughing stock of the league.

At this rate, I may never leave witness protection. Of coure, the Wizards training camp did start today...

Riggo's Radio Comments

They are priceless.

A Note from Witness Protection - Zorn is Certifiable

Just a quick note from Witness Protection... Apparently Jim Zorn isn't just a terrible coach, he is also a certified idiot. According to Mike Florio of ProFootball Talk, Zorn told John Taylor of the Washington Times that, "we're getting better."

Holy hell. Talk about bizarro world. We lose to one of the worst teams EVER in the HISTORY of the NFL and Zorn thinks "we're getting better." No Jim, the Skins aren't getting better, you are just getting less and less lucid and less and less connected to reality.

Honestly, at this point just fire Zorn and company. What's left to lose? Not much, we have already lost whatever shred of dignity and respect that we had left as a franchise.

The Washington Post Floods the Zone on Yesterday's Debacle

Perhaps they saw it coming. Perhaps it was a coincidence of stellar game reporting and insightful commentary. Either way, today's Washington Post coverage of the Redskins' loss to Detroit parallels that loss in that it is one for the record books.

First, let's start with the headlines. The Washington Post copy editors channeled the New York Post's with these two zingers: On A1 "Washington Bails Out Detroit" and on D1 "Fail to the Redskins."

Boswell's opinion column on the game was spot-on in indicting the Redskins' culture of thinking that they have talent that is better than their record.

...they may have to fight through an incredible amount of self-delusion about the talent level on their team. This week, Clinton Portis said he thought the Redskins had the most talent in the NFL. Comments like that have been common in the Redskins' locker room for the past 10 years -- regardless of all available evidence. Not only is the view tolerated at Redskins Park, it is encouraged and marketed. Where does this fallacy arise? In the owner's suite, where the price of players is equated with their performance?

They refuse to define themselves by the final scoreboard but, instead, cling to their own private view of themselves and their far higher value -- sometimes based on their performances in other years or even on other teams.

After a wonderful 10-catch, 178-yard game, wide receiver Santana Moss fell into the deepest and worst snare -- and one that constantly catches the Redskins. Moss said many reasonable things after this defeat. But he also said the magic words that always make my skin crawl in a locker room. "We are the better team," he said.

No, Santana, the better team wins, and Detroit won. Coach Jim Zorn's press conference today did nothing to refute Boswell's observation and in fact confirmed it.

Mike Wise also had a great column that opened with this:

If you lose to the worst team in pro football, does that make you the worst team in pro football?

When you lose to the team that has the worst owner in football, does that make your owner the worst owner in football, your general manager the worst assembler of talent in football?

Just asking.

Because if Jim Zorn has to answer one more question about his job security, it's time to also hold the coach's players and his superiors accountable for this dumpster fire -- this abomination of a loss.

I could not say it better. This is not just about Jim Zorn, but is also about ten years of Danny Snyder, who appears to hold the throne of the worst owner in the NFL.

But the best gem in the Post was Riggo's tweet on the game.

There are team specific issues for sure and some individual issues for sure but the owner ultimately is a loser and you can't fix that...as the owner alot on the line in Detroit u invite Tom Cruise to the game and he is chatting up your Coach! what does this tell us about YOU!....u r Zorn..Head Coach..in Detroit...alot on the line....and u r chatting up TomKat before the game...what does that tell us about YOU!!!

I would love to hear the answers to Riggo's questions.

Witness Protection Program

After yesterday's game I will be entering the witness protection program.

Who is to Blame?

There is a lot of blame to go around today for the Redskins loss to the Lions. There was inevitability about this loss as the franchise keeps sliding downward but this is a new low.

The Redskins' main problem is their ownership: Dan Snyder has been a horrible owner. He has had many previously winning coaches, such as Joe Gibbs, but under Snyder no coach can succeed. That is because Snyder insists, despite all logic against it, on having Vinny Cerrato run the draft and all football operations.

Vinny had three second round draft picks last year and none of them have produced. They could have picked Desean Jackson in 2008, who is catching passes and scoring for division rival Eagles. In the 2009 draft they could have picked Michael Oher, who is proving to be a stud offensive lineman for the Ravens while the Redskins offensive line is porous.

They then took a risk on Zorn, who had little experience. I think that Zorn has potential but he makes some bad decisions. When the Lions were on third down and drew a penalty at their 51 yard line, a very tough field goal, I could not believe that Zorn did not decline the penalty and gave them the ball again. Detroit then scored. I have never in my football watching career seen a coach not decline a penalty like that.

But the ultimate blame lies with Campbell. I watched him on the sidelines and he seems so removed and in no way is running up and down the sidelines rallying his teammates. He is not a leader in any way. And that is the biggest problem that the Redskins have.

A Telling Quote

Just heard the voice of the Lions on the Mike Wise show on 106.7. His take on all the folks picking the Lions to beat the Skins this weekend, "chances are most of those people know very little about the Lions and how they have played this year."

Lions are the Trendy - Yet Moronic - Pick to Beat the Skins this Weekend

I love all things NFL... I love the NFL Network, I love the NFL radio network on Sirius, I love listening to 106.7 the Fan and ESPN 980, and I love reading/hearing/seeing the talking heads picks for the weekend. This weekend, however, I have to wonder if the self-professed professionals have lost their minds.

Whether its Peter King or Mike Florio or Mike Golic, there is a flurry of talking heads who are picking the hapless Lions to beat the Redskins this weekend. I understand the disappointment in the Skins play against the Rams last weekend. I understand the frustration at the team's lack of ability to score. But get real folks, we are talking about the 0-19 Detroit Lions. The Detroit Lions who have no more talent than they did last year. If anything, compliments of a rookie QB and the mid-season trade of Roy Williams to the Cowboys, the Lions have even LESS talent than the squad that couldn't win a single game last year.

Yes, the Lions will win at some point - but its not going to be this weekend.

Profootballtalk.com Picks Detroit Over the Redskins on Sunday

Profootballtalk.com, a very credible site, has picked Detroit to beat the Redskins this Sunday by 17 to 12. Here is the text:

Last week, the Lions had a chance to end an 18-game losing streak against the Vikings.

After taking a 10-point lead, the Lions blew it.

This week, a sluggish and sputtering Redskins team comes to town, with a respectable Week 1 loss to the Giants followed by a near-miss win over the Rams that felt like a loss.

If anyone knows how to neutralize Redskins defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, it’s the man who knows him as well as anyone at the NFL level — long-time Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, now the Lions' coach.

If the Lions can build another double-digit lead, the ‘Skins might not be able to come back and win. And if that happens, Redskins coach Jim Zorn might not be able to come back to D.C. with his team.
Pick: Lions, 17-12

It is scary that NFL Network's talking heads all agree with that assessment, as Detroit scores more than the Redskins do. Everyone who knows something says that Detroit's first win after 19 losses will be against the Redskins on Sunday. Considering how close we came to a loss to the same team which was 0-16 last year I am also worried.

The Overestimation of Clinton Portis

The Washington Post has an article about how the Redskins only win when Portis rushes for 100 yards or more.

And since Portis joined the team in 2004, the Redskins are 21-4 when he rushes for at least 100 yards. Last year, they were 5-1. That lone loss a season ago was against the Rams.

Attributing wins to rushing yards is foolish as teams rush when they are winning, and throw the ball when they are losing and need to score quickly. So a team that is winning always rushes more to eat up the clock.

A better look at Portis (and Jason La Canfora, the former Skins Post guy who is now at NFL Network would dive into stuff like this, and we miss him) is how Portis performs versus his peers. Football Outsiders, which is a great outfit of stats, ranked Portis last week at 33 of 45 running backs that they rank. I don't need to remind you that there are only 32 NFL teams so Portis ranked below any starting running back on any NFL team. And I am sure he is the only one making $6MM per year.

So the Redkins have an underperforming running back who is overpaid and a DT whose pay is a record and is so out of shape that he has to sit out plays. Perhaps the Skins ought to buy four or five players instead of The One and try to develop a team.

Note to Zorn - Unleash Jason Campbell

Look, I will admit right off the bat that I am not a Jason Campbell fan. I don't think we will ever be a Super Bowl contender with Jason Campbell under center. That having been said, I am asking, no begging Jim Zorn to unleash Jason Campbell this weekend.

The one thing we do know about Jason Campbell is that the kid has a cannon for an arm. For the love of God, Coach Zorn, let Campbell do what he can do best - throw the damn deep ball. We have speedsters like Santana Moss and big targets like Malcolm Kelly and Marko Mitchell. Take the cuffs off Campbell and let him sling it.

I know that Washington football has always been about the running game, but the fact is that Clinton Portis isn't the type of back who can carry a team on his own.

Put Campbell in the shotgun, go with an empty backfield, throw on first down, and pin the Rams early.

The only thing Coach Zorn has to lose is his job - and if he doesn't turn it around fast he will.

Skins Don't Just Need to Win, They Need to Demolish the Rams

It's rare that you can call the second game of the year a must win - but for the Skins, this Sunday's game versus the St Louis Rams this IS a must win. Not only is it a must win, for Jim Zorn and Jason Campbells collective futures in Washington, the Skins don't only have to win - they have to win convincingly.

The Rams are one of the worst teams in the NFL - possibly THE worst team (of course, until the Lions put a W up, the Rams probably get to claim to be the second worst team). Against a rebuilding Seattle team last weekend the Rams were unable to score and got scorched 28 to zip.

There are plenty of us Skins fans who remember last year's embarrassing last second loss to the Rams at home (I watched the game from a dingy BW3s in Akron OH). A game that foreshadowed the total and complete collapse of last years team.

I think the Skins will win and I think that they will win convincingly, but if for some reason they didnt - we would not only be in store for a long season here in DC we could witness a midseason dismantling of the Skins.

The PC Police Strike Again

Jessica posted earlier this a.m. about the possibility of the fight over the Redskins name making its way to the Supreme Court and the Sports Junkies are talking about it this morning as well.

I wanted to take a minute to weigh in on this. What a complete and total waste of time. What a heaping pile of PC BS. If this were 1909, not 2009, then maybe I could understand the argument made by those who seek to have the Skins name denied trademark protections (namely that it is so offensive that it doesn't deserve it). It's NOT 1909 tho.

How many folks in the country use "Redskins" as a slur? No one. Does 99% of the country even know that it was a slur at some point? Probably not. My God folks, give it a break.

There are so many real problems facing our country today and there are real problems facing the Native American population: things like unbelievably high unemployment rates and rampant alcoholism.

Sports is an escape for tens of millions of Americans. Pro football gives families across the country an opportunity for a couple hours a week to come together and forget about the challenges facing them in their every day lives.

The bottom line is that the PC police need to leave the Redskins name alone.

The Controversy Over the Redkins Brand

It is possibly getting escalated to the Supreme Court. From the Wa Post today:

Native American activists are trying to get the Supreme Court involved in its long-running dispute with the Washington Redskins about whether the team's name is so offensive it does not deserve trademark protection.

The group is asking the court to review a decision this year by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that the group waited too long to bring its claim.

The dispute started in 1992, when seven activists challenged the Redskins trademark. They won seven years later in a decision by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. The team appealed to the federal court.

Judges at the district and circuit levels said the activists' trademark cancellation claim was barred by the doctrine of laches, which serves as a statute of limitation against claims that should have been made long ago. Attorney Philip J. Mause's petition says such claims can be brought at any time, and cites a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit, which was written by then-judge, now-Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.

The Supreme Court takes only a fraction of the petitions it receives, and probably will not decide on this one for months.

Yesterday's Loss - What Does it Mean?

What does yesterday's loss to the Giants mean? From the calls to 106.7 the Fan this morning, it sounds like the city is pretty evenly split between the suicidal, who believe that this game is proof that we stink, and those who think that this game means very little.

I am somewhere in between. I saw a lot yesterday that I didn't like. Campbell made rookie mistakes and he ain't a rookie. Plus our secondary got totally scorched. A so-so QB throwing to a whole bunch of nobody WRs totally blew us up. Not to mention that watching Clinton Portis run yesterday was akin to watching paint dry. With the exception of one run, his first from scrimmage, Portis flat out stunk.

On the upside, our O-line gave Campbell the protection he needs. Randle El and Cooley each had 7 grabs, and the passing game looked sharp at times. Our D-line looked good too. That 4th and inches stop by the D-line was sweet. The Giants RBs didnt push us around. Finally, I am pretty stoked about some of the crazy gadget calls Zorn made. The fake FG was flat out crazy and it worked. Lets be honest, this team doesn't have the talent to win without a little trickery.

At the end of the day I dont think we should be suicidal, nor do I think we can simply ignore this loss. We lost to the Giants in the Meadowlands. The Giants are a better team, playing at home, they should have won. Then again, these are the games you have to win if you are going to compete for the division title.

The Aftermath

The game wasn't nearly as close as the 23 - 17 final score. I have to admit, I saw a lot that took the wind out of my optimistic sails. Eli Manning might not be Peyton, but damn our secondary was hell bent on making him look as good.

It's going to be a tough week to listen to sports radio - the Redskins faithful are going to be suicidal, especially given the inexplicable mental mistakes by Jason Campbell.

Call Me Crazy

Maybe I am a little nuts, maybe I am overly optimistic, maybe I am caught up in the glow of opening day - whatever it is, I feel good about how the Skins match up today against the Giants.

I know that a lot of Skins fans are down-trodden and a lot of folks don't give us a shot against the G-Men in the Meadowlands today. I think we can pull it off. Here's why:

1. Eli Manning is no Peyton Manning. Heck he isn't even Tony Romo. Eli Manning can look good, he can also look AWFUL. Couple this with the fact that the Giants have no #1 receiver right now and I feel pretty good that the Giants wont be able to exploit our only defensive weakness (the secondary).

2. Our D Line. We are strong on defense exactly where we need to be to shut down the Giants - on the defensive line. Lets see Brandon Jacobs run over Albert Haynsworth - it aint happening.

3. Our WR corps. I know I have been a cheerleader for our WR corps all pre-season and today I am confident that they are going to shine. Malcolm Kelly will line up as the #2 receiver. I predict Kelly will have a huge day. Kelly at the #2 spot takes pressure off Santana Moss and allows Zorn to use Randle El in the slot. If the Giants D has to worry about the Skins receivers they wont be able to stack 8 men in the box, which should give Clinton Portis an opportunity to run wild.

I am not guaranteeing that the Skins will win today. The Giants are a good team, playing at home and are rightfully a 6.5 point favorite. I am hopeful, however, that the Skins can pull off an upset and start the season on a very high note.

The Line on Today's Game

It is always interesting to check out the line on the day's games. It is especially interesting to check out the line called by the opposing team's newspaper. Building on this observation, it is a treat that the Redskins play the Giants twice a year as the opposing team's newspaper is the New York Times, which staffs its sports section well and outsources its line to Football Outsiders, which is a fountain of statistics, creative thinking and irreverence.

Today's best offbeat creative NYT line blurb is re: the Colts:

...without the Dungy touch, the Colts' elegant game plans may look less like Piet Mondrian masterpieces and more like a bunch of rectangles.

As an art fan, I love that.

Also from the same line piece is this gem on the 4pm Redskins/Giants matchup:

The Giants clamped a 60-minute headlock on the Redskins in last year’s opener, allowing just 209 net yards and 11 first downs in a 16-7 victory. The win touched off an 11-1 start for the Giants while introducing fans to the grinding tedium of the Redskins offense. If the preseason is any indication, Jim Zorn’s offense still dares to be dull. Washington’s scheme is an oil-and-water mix of West Coast offense short passing (as implemented by Zorn) and 1970s-era power running tactics (as preferred by the offensive assistant Joe Bugel). The results combine the worst of both worlds: 3-yard Clinton Portis runs off tackle; 4-yard dump-offs by Jason Campbell on third-and-8.

The Redskins’ hopes lie with their defense, bolstered by the free-agent tackle Albert Haynesworth (Dan Snyder’s annual belated Christmas present to himself) and the rookie linebacker Brian Orakpo. The newcomers join Andre Carter, London Fletcher and others to give the Redskins a front seven to rival the Giants’. The Redskins may lose this game the same way they lost last year’s, but they will also win a few 16-7 games this season.

That is the best summary of the current Redskins that I have read in the press. Let's hope that the Redskins pull a rabbit out of the hat. But the line is -6.5 Giants and that matches the outlook of everyone whom I have bumped into today in my neighborhood and at Rodman's.

The Preseason Is Officially Over - Bring on the G Men!

Last night, the preseason came to an end with the Skins 24 - 17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars... the 4th game of the preseason is hard to get excited for. It's basically meaningless. Campbell played one offensive series and half our first string didnt play on either side of the ball at all.

The 4th game of the preseason is all about the battle for the last few roster spots. Here is what I think after last night. WR Marko Mitchell is still a lock to make this team... He didn't look great last night, but WR DJ Hackett barely looked like he was even trying.

RB Anthony Alridge likely played himself out of a roster spot. His fumble that resulted in 6 for the Jags on a kick off is totally unforgiveable.

RBs Marcus Mason and Dominique Dorsey: neither of these guys is likely to make the team. I know there are a lot of folks who want Mason to make the team, and at times he has looked good. Unfortunately for Mason I think the Skins have too much invested in Ladell Betts and Cartwright plays special teams.

Shaun Suisham has unfortunately done enough to make the team again. He played well enough in preseason to ensure he will break our hearts during the regular season.

QB Colt Brennan has played well enough to make the team as the 3rd string QB. Chase Daniel has looked good at time during the preseason, but Colt has played just well enough to hold on. Now the question is does Chase make the practice squad? I think so.

OL Mike Williams is likely to make the team. Basically for no reason at all. Except we are desperate for OL depth. Williams, who has shown very little this preseason, shouldn't probably make the team - but alas, we are desperate.

When It Comes to Fans Defaulting on Season Ticket Contracts, the Redskins Take No Prisoners

A Washington Post article today provides in-depth coverage of how the Redskins sue fans who default on season ticket contracts. By way of background, season tickets are typically granted in the form of a 6 - 10 year contract, in which the ticket holder agrees that he is she is liable to pay the full amount of the money due over the course of the contract period. According to the Post article, the Redskins enforce these contracts without mercy and sue defaulters for the full amount of money owed, even if the contract holder is defaulting because of financial hardship.

The money at stake is quite high, since Redskins tickets are so expensive. The Redskins won a $66,364 judgement against one fan, forcing her into bankruptcy, and $71,000 against another fan. To make matters even worse, the fans do not get their tickets after paying the judgement but the Redskins resell them, in effect double-dipping.

The obvious question that arises is: if the Redskins do indeed have a wait list of 160,000 fans, as they like to crow, why don't they just cancel the contract and move onto the next person on the wait list?

And how do other NFL teams deal with defaulting contract holders? According to the Post, the Redskins stand out for their harsh tactics. Some examples:

... spokesmen for the following National Football League teams said they do not sue their fans over season ticket contracts: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Green Bay Packers, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants and Jets, Seattle Seahawks and Tennessee Titans...

In terms of the policies of other Washington area teams,

Officials of most Washington area sports franchises that have multiyear contracts said they generally avoid such lawsuits. Nate Ewell, spokesman for the National Hockey League's Washington Capitals, said he could not think of a reason to sue a ticket holder. When a season ticket holder fails to make payments, the team cancels the tickets and resells them.

"Lawsuits are generally a last resort sort of thing," said Peter Biché, president of business operations for Washington Sports and Entertainment, which runs Verizon Center, where the Capitals and the National Basketball Association's Wizards play. "We're not in the lawsuit business. That's not how we run our business."

It is, apparently, how The Danny runs his.

The Straw That May Break the Camel's Back

Will this be the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back when it comes to Skins fans:

Front page of the Washington Post today - "REDSKINS FANS WAITED WHILE BROKERS GOT TICKETS".

160,000 people supposedly on the waiting list (a list I have been on since 2002) and the team sells tickets to scalpers who then mark them up and sell them (often to fans of opposing teams).

Danny Snyder refused to talk to The Post about this scandal.

Hey Danny - sell the damn team. I beg you. Cash it in. Make a mint and give us back our Skins. Please.

Portis vs Riggins: A Fight Clinton Can't Win

Sometimes I wonder if Portis secretly has blackmail on Skins owner Danny Snyder. Whatever it is, no Skins player has been given more leeway to cause problems and enrage fans the way Clinton Portis has over the last few years.

By now, most die hard Skins fans will probably have heard of the Clinton Portis-John Riggins feud. After Riggo called Portis a "headache" (which he is) who has the Skins "over a barrel" (which he does), Portis fired back:

"Think of who else was around him. That was really not hard to be a great running back when you've got that talent all around you."

Riggins is a Hall of Famer, with a Super Bowl ring. Riggo is also beloved by Skins fans, a throw back to the days when the Redskins were the premiere franchise in the league. Portis is a loud-mouthed malcontent and a prima donna, who epitomizes the sorry state of the current Skins franchise.

Note to Portis: this isn't a fight you can win, and the fact you would even engage in it simply further calls your judgment into question. And here is a note for Skins brass: RBs are a dime a dozen. Portis and his big fat contract should be jettisoned. RBs are replaceable in a way that QBs or big time WRs aren't.

Carlos Rogers and the Skins' Secondary

For the past few seasons the Skins' secondary has been under undue pressure as the D Line could not create any pressure so opposing QB's were free to take time and throw the ball downfield. Now that we have Haynesworth and Orakpo, the secondary will get some relief.

But how good is the secondary?

Clearly, the loss of Sean Taylor, who before he died was set to break the record of interceptions by a safety, has stung. The mere presence of the Grim Reaper on the field sent opposing WR's into fear of catching a pass. I was at the 2005 game against Dallas in which Terry Glenn, seeing Taylor launching toward him, folded his arms in and let the ball drop so as not to be hit. After the game, Parcells referred to Glenn as "she." That is exactly what we want in Redskins football.

Rogers was a first round pick. He does a good cover job but has famously butter fingers; he dropped an easy interception in the 2006 playoffs that would have sealed the game. He basically drops everything that comes his way, so his athletic cover skills come nothing near what Ed Reed does for the Ravens.

The Skins' secondary is strengthened by the long-term signing of DeAngelo Hall, though even he admits that the money the Skins threw at him made him complacent last season. The Danny money tends to do that. Rather than make players prove their worth first and then get paid, Danny likes to toss megabucks at players and then hope and pray that they perform. At least DeAngelo has some pride and is looking to perform this year, according to the interview in the article I highlighted above.

But back to Carlos. He is injured now with a "lingering calf probem" and perhaps cannot play the season opener. I hope that he can but even with him in the line-up the secondary looked weak in the preseason. If the D Line can create real pressure the secondary will get needed relief. If not, they will be picked apart.

You Know You are a Degenerate Gambler When...

You bet on the 4th game of the preseason. I was scanning through this morning's Redskins news, when I came across this week's point spread on the Skins final preseason game against the Jags (Jags -5).

My initial reaction: who in God's name is betting on the 4th game of the preseason?

I love football and I even love to wager on football from time to time (legally and low dollar). But man, betting on the 4th game of the preseason? A game where no starters are likely to see the field? Where the most important action could be between 3rd string QBs? Wow. Someone call the producers of Intervention, I think I have an idea for an episode...