Who is deep throat?

John Riggins named him "Deep Throat" after the inside tipster who pointed The Washington Post's Woodward and Bernstein in the right direction in the Watergate scandal. The mystery is who is the Redskin team member who was the source for Tom Friend's scathing ESPN article Reeling Redskins awash in troubles? It will probably take Woody and Bernie to figure out who's doing the talking.

The article points a damning finger at the Redskins coaches, especially deputy for defense Gregg Williams, as the cause of the the team's collapse on defense. Washington enjoyed a top ten defense in Williams first two years, but now inhabit the lower rungs of the NFL.

The article labels the Redskins a "fractured team" and Williams in particular as arrogant. According to Friend, "The problem, according to a notable Redskins player, is a scheme, a staff and a play-calling regimen that is flawed and predictable, and a sense that Williams is on too much of a power trip to adjust."

The unnamed Redskin is quoted as saying "They thought they figured it all out. They thought, 'We can win with scheme, we don't need players.' Don't be mistaken, this is a player-driven game, and so you need players. Any time in life when somebody thinks they've got it all figured out, it's going to come and get you. It's going to come and get you . . . . The sentiment is a lot of guys are mad because the coaches think it's all about them. They think they're f------ geniuses, thinking they can just let guys go and get away with handling people badly."

While most of the focus is on the personalities involved, Friend also takes a swipe at the Skins' approach to building a roster. "They are money-driven, but not always money-wise, and the decisions to throw cash at every problem, or free agent, or coach, has created ego and narcissism. It's not necessarily Gibbs' fault, because he didn't draw it up this way or imagine it happening, but the almighty dollar has created too many power trips at Redskin Park, or as one Redskins player said, 'Too many chiefs and not enough indians."' (no pun intended)

According to the story, the front office is already targeting Nate Clemens (CB, Bills) and Dwight Freeney (DE, Colts) on the first day of 2007 free agency.

Friend's article got a lot of buzz, but these accusations about Williams have been around for awhile. There are even jokes about him.

Q: Why are there three "Gs" in Gregg?

A: The second G is for "genius." The third G is for "god."

We've also observed here that the defense regards players as interchangeable parts. When everyone is a starter, no player is a star. There are no stars but the coaches.

The really new news is the laser light focused on safeties coach Steve Jackson, whom I've suspected of exerting a negative effect on the secondary. That may be unfair, but Jackson's arrival coincides with deteriorated performance by the secondary. I was hoping someone would look into that.

So, who is the mysterious blabber mouth? Wrong question. Are these revelations valid? That's what inquiring minds want to know as we ponder why a team that should be 7-4 now is only 4-7 largely due to defensive failings.

How does that happen?

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Washington Redskins

Pointing fingers

Bits and pieces of news reports provide clues to what's gone wrong with the Redskins' season. The answers come down to poor play by the offensive line and by the defense.

On Wednesday, The Washington Post's Howard Bryant quoted Skins defensive lineman Philip Daniels after he watched film of the Tampa Bay game. "Missed tackles, assignments, just being where you're supposed to be. Not attacking blocks, the lead blocks, that kind of stuff," Daniels said. "That's the stuff I see. That's the stuff we're not doing well. Everyone has to be accountable."

The article Redskins Proving Easy to Run On pointed out that opponents are running consistently to the weak side to exploit the Redskins defensive right. "On film, the Redskins saw that defensive end Andre Carter was being pushed outside enough to create a large space, and weak-side linebacker Warrick Holdman could not fortify the line. The result was a gaping hole on the left side of the defense for the running backs to run through."

ESPN analyst and former Pro-Bowl quarterback Ron Jaworski watched tape of Jason Campbell's performance in the Buccaneer game. Jaworski and NFL Films producer Greg Cosell focused on Campbell's play in five key plays. While the pair found Campbell to be an NFL-level quarterback, they pointed out instances where offensive line play deprived the team of scoring opportunities. Both tackles Jon Jansen and Chris Samuels were pushed back in the pocket to disrupt the pass. Howard Bryant wrote about their finding in the article To Analyze Campbell, 'Jaws' Goes Straight to Video.

Rick Snider's article in last Monday's Washington Examiner, is the first to acknowledge that the Redskins collapse is not due entirely to Mark Brunell. He wrote in Campbell good, teammates not so much "The defense allowed 181 yards rushing and the team lost for the second time this season to a rookie quarterback. The offensive line couldn't block a baby from his bottle. The Redskins didn't crack 10 points until the final minute. No, changing quarterbackwasn't the answer in the Redskins 20-17 loss at Tampa Bay on Sunday."

In A coach at a loss, Washington Times Ryan O'Halloran gives his reason why the Redskins are 3-7.

"The Redskins reached this point for several reasons. They approached the offseason falsely thinking they were closer to the top of the NFL than they were. Wrong move. Second, Gibbs stayed with Mark Brunell too long. Campbell wasn't ready to start Week 1, but he should have played in Week 3. Third, the offseason approach -- overpaying free agents, trading for a young player -- worked better in 2004 and 2005 than it did this year. Player evaluation and acquisition is a hit-and-miss game, and the Redskins have far more misses than hits. As a result, the Redskins still need some of the same things they did last year: a pass-rushing defensive end, a safety, a complementary receiver."

O'Halloran then posits his list of offseason moves the Skins should take; the first of many such posts, I'm sure.

After pointedly saying that the team was not living up to its abiding principles, Coach Gibbs held a team meeting Wednesday. Jason LaCanfora's Post article Thursday reported that the coach said the team had to improve on its fundamentals. On Friday, Michael Wilbon reported that the coach actually ripped the team a new one, an appropriate move that comes a month too late.

A post on Hog Heaven says the Redskins issues start with Joe Gibbs. It concludes that Gibbs is also the answer.

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Washington Redskins

Thanksgiving and the wisdom of Erma Bombeck

Thanksgiving is the time to reflect with gratitude on our blessings, be they sparse or plentiful. In many homes, Thanksgiving merges the holiday with the cultural phenomena that is American football. It's phenomenal that sports fans, mostly guys, gather around the cozy warmth of the the TV, while everyone else, mostly gals, gather in the next room. That did not escape the observation of humorist Erma Bombeck!

Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence. ~Erma Bombeck

If a man watches three football games in a row, he should be declared legally dead. ~Erma Bombeck

Thanksgiving is like preseason training camp for football junkies. It's the first of three seasonal football orgies, New Years and the Super Bowl in February being the next two.

Here are the turkeys, er, games served up this weekend for us, the legally dead.

THANKSGIVING DAY
Joey Harrington gets to poke his finger in the Detroit Lions eye when his Miami Dolphins visit Ford Field.

Two Cinderella fellas, Tony Romo and Bruce Gradkowski, clash when the Buccaneers play the Cowboys.

The Chiefs host the Broncos to kick-off the NFL's foray into broadcasting its own product for the first time. The game will be carried on cable on the NFL Network. There are reports that this is Snake Plummer's last start as the Denver quarterback.

Tired of pro ball, or don't get the NFL Network? Boston College visit Miami of Florida in its quest to make the ACC championship game.

FRIDAY
Friday afternoon kicks-off rivalry weekend, although most of these games will be anti-climatic after last weekend's Ohio State-Michigan thriller. Still, Texas A&M at Texas, LSU at Arkansas and Colorado at resurgent Nebraska all look promising. If you can only see one game, catch LSU and Arkansas.

SATURDAY
The weekend wraps up with a number of games of regional interest. But, Notre Dame (10-1) at Southern Cal (9-1) has national import. USC has to win out for any chance to be ranked ahead of Michigan in the rigged BCS poll. The Wolverines are done until January. This will be the only occasion in their lives when they root for the Irish.

Happy Thanksgiving!
(Happy Thanksgiving!)

Football
Thanksgiving

Bo

The measure of men and teams is the stature of their rivals and the conflict in which they engage. Bo Schembechler was a coaching titan whom few could equal man-to-man, or team-to-team. Without him, Michigan - Ohio State would be just another game. With him, and Woody Hayes, it was a periennial clash of titans.

Glen "Bo" Schembechler died today. It is a loss to Michigan. It is also a loss to the Big Ten. Schembechler brought stature to the league even as he was dominating it.

Sitting in Spartan Stadium in 1969, I witnessed Schembechler's first season as the Michigan Wolverines football coach. Those were the waining days of Duffy Daugherty's career. Michigan lost that day, to MSU fan derision of "welcome to the Big Ten, Bo." In our ignorance, we were unaware of Schembechler's association with the league as an assistant at Northwestern -- and Ohio State. We were also unaware of how damned few times the Spartans would win since. MSU slipped in a long slow twilight while Schembechler restored Michigan to the glory of the Fielding Yost era.

Michigan faces Ohio State this weekend, a match-up of number one and number two teams that is this year's game of the century. It's the greatest #1 vs. #2 contest since, oh, last year's USC-Texas game. But this game features ancient, intra-league rivals. Great programs; great rivalries; great fight songs, and now, remembered legends. Somewhere up there, Bo and Woody will be watching. Hail to the victors valiant!

p.s.: The Big Ten has the best collection of team fight songs than any other league.

My condolences to the Schembechler family, the Michigan Wolverine community and Big Ten fans everywhere.

Master4caster
Michigan State University
Class of 19noneyabusiness

See Bo Schembechler's Wikipedia bio here.
See Michigan - Ohio State game recap here.
Order CDs of great college fight songs here. (Not compensated for this plug)

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Bo Schembechler
Michigan Wolverines

Carry me back to old RFK, Virginia

In a continuing pathetic effort to find laughter to keep from crying, Running Redskins came across a post on The Warpath forum pointing to a nbc4.com story about DC's hope to lure The Redskins back to its ancestral home at RFK, or rather the New RFK. Got to laugh out loud at that one.

This story's been floating around since last June. Running Redskins commented back then in a post DC to Daniel Snyder: We Want You Back.

The gall of it all.

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Washington Redskins

Laughter is the best medicine

Until our guys turn things around, it's just no fun to write about the Redskins. So, Running Redskins is going for parody.

Read this spoof of the Redskins announcement to fix the roster.

Then, check out The Joy Of the 2006 Redskins over at Deadspin.

Joke Book
Two boys were playing football (in Wash DC area) in a park ,when one boy is savagely attacked by a rottweiler.Thinking quickly, the other boy rips off a plank from a nearby fence, wedges it down the dog's collar and twists, breaking the dogs neck.

A reporter,who was strolling by , sees the incident and rushes over to interview the boy.
"Washington Redskin fan saves friend from vicious animal", he starts writing in his notebook.
"But I'm not a Redskins fan", the boy says.
"Baltimore Ravens fan rescues friend from attack," the reporter starts again.
"I'm not a Ravens fan either." the boy replied.
"Then what are you?" the reporter asks.
"I'm a Cowboy fan!"

The reporter starts a new sheet in his notebook and writes "Redneck bastard kills family pet."
______________________________

Four football fans were climbing a mountain one day. Each was a fan of a different team in the NFC East and each proclaimed to be the most loyal of all fans of their football team. As they climbed higher, they argued as to which one of them was the most loyal of all. They continued to argue all the way up the mountain, and finally as they reached the top, the New York fan hurled himself off the mountain, shouting "This is for the Giants!" as he fell to his doom.

Not wanting to be out done, the Eagles fan threw himself off the mountain, proclaiming "This is for Da Eagles!"

Seeing this, the Redskin fan walked over and shouted "This is for everyone!" and pushed the Cowboy fan off the side of the mountain.
______________________________

Dallas Cowboy IQ Test
Barry Switzer, clearly upset about the Dallas Cowboy's losing record, decides to find out from Steve Mariucci what his secret is. So, Switzer travels up to a 49'ers practice and asks Mariucci, "Coach, how is it that your team is so good? What's your secret?"

Mariucci responds by calling Steve Young over. "Steve, who's your father's brother's nephew?" Young answers, "Why coach, that's easy. It's me."

Mariucci turns to Switzer and says, "That's the secret, Barry. A smart quarterback. You've got to have a smart quarterback."

Thinking he's finally got all the tools he needs, Switzer returns to Texas and the Cowboys work-out. He promptly calls over Troy Aikman. "Aikman! Who's your father's brother's nephew?" Troy looks perplexed, thinks a minute and says, "Coach, can I get back to you after practice on that one?" Switzer (disgusted) says, "OK."

During practice, Aikman calls over Deion Sanders. "Deion, coach just asked me the weirdest question. Who's your father's brother's nephew?" Sanders: "Duh! That's easy. It's me!"

After practice, Aikman catches up with Switzer: "Coach, I think I've got it. My father's brother's nephew is Deion Sanders."

Switzer (angry): "no, No, NO! You idiot!! It's Steve Young!!!"
_______________________________

There's a guy from Washington, DC (Redskins fan) driving from DC to Dallas, and a guy from Dallas (Cowboys fan) driving from Dallas to DC. In the middle of the night with no other cars on the road they hit each other head on and both cars go flying off in different directions.

The Redskins fan manages to climb out of his car and survey the damage. He looks at his twisted car and says, "Man, I am really lucky to be alive!"

Likewise the Cowboys fan scrambles out of his car and looks at the wreckage. He too says to himself, "I can't believe I survived this wreck!" The Cowboy fan walks over to the Redskin and says, "Hey man, I think this is a sign from God that we should put away our differences and live as friends instead of arch rivals. The Redskin fan thinks for a moment and says, " You know, you're absolutely right! We should be friends. Now I'm going to see what else survived this wreck."

So the Redskins fan pops open his trunk and finds a full unopened bottle of Jack Daniels. He says to the Cowboys fan, "I think this is another sign from God that we should toast to our newfound understanding and friendship."

The Cowboys fan says, "You're damn right!" and grabs the bottle and starts sucking down Jack Daniels. After putting away nearly half of the bottle the Cowboys fan hands it back to the Redskins fan and says, "Your turn!"

The Redskins fan twists the cap back on the bottle and says, "Nahh, I think I'll wait for the cops to show up."
_______________________________
More like this at http://www.webskins.org/joke.html

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Washington Redskins

Jim Mora comments on Redskins playoff chances. Campbell to start

Jason Campbell to Start
Coach-in-chief Joe Gibbs announced this evening that Jason Campbell would start at quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers game this Sunday. For the story, go to Hog Heaven, or CBSSportline, or WTOP, or The Washington Post.

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Washington Redskins

Not again, Fred

There goes Fred Smoot, exposing another wide receiver.

Mammas, don't let your babies go out without underpants.

Photo found on deadspin.com here.

The Skins just got 'pants' by the Eagles. Did you think that was funny?

Beer commercials just go with football

Don't know about you, but I enjoy the return of the clever, male-oriented Miller Lite beer commercials, now reincarnated as a series of "man law" debates by famous and not so famous faces.


In the seventies and eighties, Miller ran the very popular "Tastes Great Less Filling" series featuring super macho-men to convey the thought that lo-cal (lite) beer was manly. Mickey Spillane, Dick Butkus, Bubba Smith, Rodney Dangerfield (very funny) added their talents. The ads did go a little over the top, with one notable ad the featuring female mud wrestlers.

Great taste, less filling

But what really killed the series was a general backlash against drinking, and concern about the Joe Camel effect, the thought that sports personalities influence young minds. Perhaps with the Democrats coming back, the man law series can stay for awhile.

I'm a social drinker. I don't indulge much, but I enjoy the commercials for their "art." Rather like reading Playboy for the articles and not the pictures, wouldn't you agree?

Remember, if you drink, don't drive.

Want to know more about the unwritten laws of manhood? Go to Men Of The Square Table. Must be over 18 to enter.

Post "borrowing" my stuff?

Last month, Running Redskins ran a story that Pierson Prioleau was the key missing element in the Redskins defense. His injury started a domino effect that still impacts the defense. Howard Bryant wrote a story appearing in today's Washington Post making the very point.

So, Do WP reporters read Running Redskins? Are sports and news blogs now considered authoritative news sources?

Howard, are you there?

Photo: Prioleau celebrates from redskins.com (Don Wright)

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Washington Redskins

Different Circumstances Make for Different Choices

A Cowboys fan wrote an interesting piece on why Bill Parcells is starting Tony Romo while Joe Gibbs is sitting on Jason Campbell. Despite the source, I recommend reading Romo vs. Campbell – Different Circumstances Make for Different Choices.

Thanks to Hooskins at The Warpath Forum for pointing this out.

Whether the Skins make the Super Bowl or remain in the cellar, this is Mark Brunell's swan song. He has underperformed expectations, so far, but so has the entire team (coaches included). I hope Brunell goes out a winner.

For a really choice quarterback controversy, check out the situation in Jacksonville, where homeboy Byron Leftwich is benched in favor David Garrard. I've been reading that a sizeable portion of the Jaguars fan base reject Leftwich. Seems it was his misfortune to replace Mark Brunell! Check out the story on Hog Heaven.

Photo: thehogs.net


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Washington Redskins
Jacksonville Jaguars

The Duckett Conspiracy - Exposed!

Back in August, Running Redskins posted a tongue-in-cheek story on the Redskins' trade for TJ Duckett. The move was so unexpected, and this being Washington, it was easy to write this up as a vast conspiracy. With the puzzling non-use of Duckett by a struggling team, the question arises "why is TJ here?" Running Redskins takes a second look at each of the conspiracy theories.

1. The Portis is more hurt than they are letting on conspiracy - No doubt, losing CP in the first series of the first preseason game was a shock. But Portis proved a fast healer, appearing and scoring in the Minnesota game and returning full time in week three for Houston. He was less hurt than the coaches feared. Ladell Betts was nursing a leg injury at the time.
   
   Pierson Prioleau went down in the opening kick-off of the first preseason game. The loss of Prioleau had a more immediate and longer lasting impact than Portis. Because of it, Mike Rumph and Kenny Watson are on the roster, each with a big neon sign saying "throw here." Investing a third round draft choice on a starting nickel-back or safety would have been a wiser choice, if panic hadn't blindly driven a move to back-up Portis.
   
   Both Portis and Betts recovered a lot faster when Duckett arrived. There's value in that.
   
2. The "Ladell is really good" talk was just hype conspiracy - This theory was that the Redskins hyped up Betts to draw trade offers and maybe recover the draft choice they gave up to get Duckett. It presumed Duckett would be the real number two back and Betts was a goner. Subsequent events suck all the air out of this thought.
   
3. The They planned this all along conspiracy - This theory recalled that Duckett ran roughshod over the defense when the Skins played the Atlanta Falcons in September 2003. Duckett's two TD runs helped the Falcons build a 17-0 lead (the Skins won 33-31). The game made an impression on the Redskins and they coveted the big back ever since. The conspiracy was that they would use Duckett in the John Riggins role and Clinton Portis in the Joe Washington role. Like the "Ladell is really good" conspiracy, events prove this wrong.
   
4. The Confound the Opponents conspiracy - In a nutshell, this theory said that Duckett gave the Redskins options on the ground in the same way that Brandon Lloyd and Twaan Randel El gave options through the air. Shock and awe on the ground and in the air would overwhelm defenses. Them were heady, delusional days back in August. My Kool-Ade was grape. What flavor was yours?
   
5. The Die Eagles Die conspiracy - This idea was that the Redskins grabbed Duckett to keep him off Philadelphia's roster. True confession, I was just trying to deride "Fly Eagles Fly." A day or so later, I heard Doc Walker express the same thought (great minds) on SportsTalk 980. The fact pattern supports this conspiracy.
   
   The Eagles are in contention without Duckett. Andy Reid continues to show a stunning disregard for power running, so their interest may not have been genuine. In any event, better to invest draft choices to build your own roster rather than to degrade someone else's.
   
6. The Aren't We Being Clever conspiracy - Ladell Betts is in his contract year. Duckett, also in his contract year, is here as negotiation leverage against Betts. By playing both, their stats would be depressed, thus lowering their market value to the point where one or the other would be affordable.
   
   For this to be true, they would both have to be playing. Betts is running up numbers. Duckett's market value is eroding, potentially, because he has no stats to polish off his resume. Instead, GMs will approach him as the man behind Rock Cartwright on the depth chart. They won't actually believe that, but hey, it's business.
   
   This conspiracy could be too clever by half. The New York Giants have a huge void to fill at running back. Ever notice the resemblence between Betts and Joe Morris? Meanwhile, Duckett could be the big back the Giants thought Ron Dayne would be. He'll be fresh and cheap, thanks to the Redskins.
   
7. Last, there is the Denver is Really Stupid and So Is Atlanta conspiracy - This one appeared in the post "Good-bye Ladell" at The Curly R on August 23, 2006. It castigated the Redskins' trading partners, Denver and Atlanta, for exchanging players of questionable value to each other. The curly boys surmised that the Skins would immediately trade Betts to recover the draft choice that went to Atlanta that went to Denver.
   
   This theory is busted. Washington did not trade Betts. Javon Walker is Denver's number one receiver (39, 669, 5 TDs) and Denver knows how to use Washington draft choices. They used the Portis for Bailey draft pick to select Tatum Bell, their leading rusher. Ashley Lelie has only 17 catches for 298 yards for Atlanta. Duckett? Five touches for 24 yards.

Bottom line - Duckett was brought here in a panic, without any real intent to make use of his talent. Even if the "Die Eagles Die" conspiracy has merit, and the facts do fit the theory, there were far better ways to use the draft pick, as Mike Shanahan will show us.

Over at Redskins Park, the coach-in-chief defends the front office structure and use of trades. I believe what he says, because he's, you know, the coach-in-chief.

Photo: TJ Duckett and coach Ernest Byner from redskins.com

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Washington Redskins

Novak

If God didn't write the script to that game, George Lucas surely did. Endings like that only happen in movies, and Redskins - Cowboys games.

Redskins observers, including all of the burgandy bloggers I follow, are not deluded. There are a lot of concerns in the Redskins' performance. But, that's for another post. Tonight is just for basking in the glow of a miracle.

You done good, Nick Novak!

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Washington Redskins

The Cowboys are Coming

Those madcap kids at The Curly R continue their interview series with bloggers from the other side. This week they solicit answers from Dave at Blogging the Boys. Clever as they are, they avoid asking any question about Sunday's game. Go take a look.

No questions about the game? Perhaps the curly boys feel what Lee at The Redskin Report put so bluntly, "Admit it. You are expecting the worse." That captures the area's sentiment. Dallas Week II is noticeably subdued from the first go around. Lee takes the contrarian view and calls the game Redskins 24-21.

The working theory going into the season was that the Skins' high pressure defense would hold most teams to 17 points most games. If the offense could put up 18 points or more, Washington could take 11 or 12 games. It hasn't turned out that way for reasons well documented here and elsewhere. It's the O that has to help the D. That requires 24 points per game on average. The issue tomorrow is can the offense cope with the Cowboys active linebackers? The Cowboys already handled that short passing stuff. Something new has to happen. Surprise us.

There is positive news. The defense is largely healthy and will play all the starters for the first time this season. "Largely" healthy because Pierson Prioleau is lost for the season. The Redskins did unnatural acts when he went down in the preseason. Prioleau is the critical defensive loss.

Rich Tandler suggests that the Redskins problems are all in their heads. He call the game Redskins 24-21. Hog Haven posts a Cowboys scouting report written by a Dallas fan. Zack at Hog Heaven posits that it could be a good thing that Moss is out Sunday, since that will force Mark Brunell to look elsewhere for receivers. Never-the-less, even he calls for a Cowboy win 24-13.

Me? I'm sticking with the Redskins by 4, but admit that's a hope, not an expectation. The tone of the season will change with the outcome of this game. We will either be in the playoff hunt, or be in a rebuilding year.

How did it come to this?

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Washington Redskins

Switch & Bye

Winning the division means competing on and off the field. The Redskins must equal or best two developments by east rivals to take the division.

Bill Parcells made the move Joe Gibbs declined to do -- bench the starter in favor of the mobile young gun on the bench. Tony Romo's mobility offsets Dallas porous offensive line, supposedly. Initial returns are good. Dallas' surprising win over the Carolina Panthers is evidence fans hope Joe Gibbs notices. Parcells, it was whispered, always wanted Romo as the starter and only waited for the right moment. Joe Gibbs is sticking with veteran Mark Brunell to the consternation of Brunell-bashers who remain convinced that he [Brunell] is the source of all offensive weaknesses. Gibbs decision must work, or there will be heck to pay. Romo was his team's number two QB. Jason Campbell is number 2.5 of the Skins depth chart.

The Giants went into their bye 1-2. They were angry and pointing fingers. Defensive coordinator Tim Lewis acknowledged he could be doing a better job. Jeremy Shockey and head coach Tom Coughlin had a private meeting, followed by a team meeting to clear the air. Something worked. The Giants have since won four straight, scoring 99 points while holding the opposition to 42.

The Redskins went into the bye worse off at 2-5. The coaching staff picked apart every play and every decision and reviewed something with the team Monday. I hope it was a two-way discussion. Whatever Joe Gibbs' approach, the results have to match the Giants. The Skins have no margin for error left.

Is it me, or is Dallas week unusually subdued this time around?

With the exception of Santana Moss, all of the Redskins are listed as probable. Moss is day-to-day.

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Washington Redskins