Keyshawn

What's wrong with you people? Keyshawn Johnson was cut a day ago and there is not one good story or rumor that the Washington Redskins are going to sign him. Don't we have a reputation to live up to? Must I start all these rumors?

Profootballtalk.com carries stories that the Giants and Eagles are interested in Johnson. We have to keep up. Get on the stick people.

Even Johnson's agent, Jerome Stanley, failed to name drop "Daniel Snyder" to goose contract talks, although he did issue a statement that "several teams have expressed interest in Johnson and that he does have offers." He's blowing it for his client.

Personally, I hope 35 year old Johnson retires. His numbers are getting too close to Art Monk's career record. I would quit blogging if Me-Shawn gets voted into the Hall Of Fame as the epitome possession receiver before Art.

Daniel Snyder, lose the "win now" attitude.

It's ruining the team. "Win now" didn’t work for the 2000 "$100 million team," and it isn’t working now. Instead, it encourages your management team to take short cuts at high cost. They buy other team’s stars, expecting instant results. Stars emerge from systems. If you aren't running the same system as that other team, the star you bring in may not be as effective for you. (See Archuleta, Adam) Even if that trade or free agent is successful, it's going to take a season for them to jell. The team will be more successful growing its own talent. Merge them with your scheme and keep them on your roster.


This comment arises from the stories of how the Lance Briggs trade offer came about. Briggs is a fine player. He can improve any defense. By himself, he cannot help the Skins D enough to fill all the holes. The suddeness of the offer, the investment of precious cap dollars to an area of strength, the left field nature of the whole thing are the earmarks of the worst characterist of the Redskins under your ownership -- ill-considered personnel moves that add players who don't really fit. Scouting by name recognition is what I do in fantasy football. It's not what you should do in reality football. Unless you grew up in a football family like someone named Halas, or Rooney, you will always be taken advantage of by a football professional when you drive the personnel moves.

Take a page from former General Electric chairman Jack Welch. Sure, he wanted to make the most profit in American business in every quarter. That was his result, but never his goal. He wanted results. Welch famously demanded that GE divisions hold a top three market share position, or he sold them off. Your equivilent is to demand the Redskins make the playoffs every year. That leads to a more patient approach, one that has longer lasting impact than the quick hits (and short duration) the Skins have become famous for in your tenure.

Coaches requisition needs. Scouts find talent. General managers have the vision and expertise to build a roster that can win within budget and over the long term. Mr. Snyder, you have the vision, but lack the expertise to pull this off. Your role is to hold your people accountable.


Demand to know why your homegrown talent is now the middle linebacker for the Giants. Demand to know why a cornerback on the 2005 roster is had a pro-bowl season — for San Francisco. Demand to know if the people, including you, who managed your roster last year should have as much influence this year.


These things are not as much fun as hobnobbing with famous players or closing big deals, but demanding accountability is the second most important thing good owners do. (The most important is to hire a competent general manager. That's more important than hiring a competent coach.) You are the only one who can hold people accountable. We need you to be good at it. Do that, and you are on the first step toward building a winning organization that can sustain success over the long term. If it's you that's overlooking homegrown, rising stars in favor of famous names from somewhere else, then you should take a look at your results and step aside for the professionals.


Put your team on a strict financial budget, and by budget, I mean both cash dollars and salary cap dollars. We fans admire your willingness to open the checkbook to bring in talent for unlimited dollars, but it’s a double-edged sword. When there are limits, you get a lot smarter spending your money. You learn that it’s OK if free agents walk away when they price themselves out of the market. You get smarter about the next player alternative. And you take a good look at talent already on your roster. You find people who can move up and you groom them to start. They stay longer at a reasonable cost.


It may surprise you to know that we fans invest in players who grow before our eyes. We love it when a LaVar and Champ and Fred and Jon mature with the team. Believe me, we are as invested in Chris Cooley as in Santana Moss. We have high hopes for Jason and Rocky and Carlos and Derrick and Kedric and Khari. Ladell is a success. We want to win with them. We'll miss them more than the stars you bring in to replace them.


You and your management are failing to spend your money wisely. Because you have so much to spend, you buy everyone at any price. That doesn't work. We are not building fantasy teams here. Not saying you should be cheap, but the sky is not the limit, either.


Here's what to do when you get excited by that trade prospect, take his 2006 stats and discount by a third. Cut every free agent’s prior performance by a third. Then, compare that to the performance of the players now on the roster. If the current player's performance is the same as that outsider's discounted stats, let the new guy walk, or, at least offer less to sign him. Save your cap dollars.


Free agents need time to fit in. For a single season, the guy already in your system will give you more than that free agent in his first season here. I assure you, Andre Carter will be better this year just because he's been in your system for a year. A lot of those decisions are left to the coaches and general managers (if you had one). Only you can impose financial discipline.


Restore the draft as a source of talent. The Redskins overvalue free agency as a source of talent. Think about this. Stalwarts Jon Jansen, Chris Samuels, Champ Bailey, Fred Smoot, LaVar Arrington, Sean Taylor and Jason Campbell (maybe) came to the Skins by the draft. In your ownership, Santana Moss is the only traded player better than the man he replaced. Shawn Springs is good, but he’s no Champ Bailey. Clinton Portis was traded for Bailey. He's one of the top five at his position, but Bailey is simply the best.

All of these issues come from your desire to win now. Change the goal to winning over the long term. The team that is built patiently, can contend for the playoff consistently. Consistent playoff contenders are much better postioned to go all the way and are a lot more fun to watch.

Don’t be so quick to give up those multiple draft choices for trades. Maybe when you see what Mike Shanahan, a consistent contender, does with that third round draft he got from you through Atlanta, you will start to get it.




Daniel Snyder Photo: William E. Amatucci Jr./WireImage from here.

Redskins over a Barrow about Pierce

The Derrick Dockery case is a reminder of the loss of another high potential free agent, Antonio Pierce. Free agent decisions are not made in isolation. Dockery's situation couldn't be more different than Pierce's. A quick history lesson is in order.

The Redskins held Antonio Pierce in low regard throughout his tenure here. He was signed as an undrafted free agent in the dawn of the Spurrier era (2001) and worked in anonymity during that tumultuous time. In April, 2004, new head coach and president Joe Gibbs signed former NY Giants middle linebacker Mike Barrow to a multi-year contract. The signing was significant. Twelve year veteran Barrow was to lead the defense as Mark Brunell was to lead the offense.

Barrow, 34 when he signed with the team, was a cap casualty with the Giants. He was released in spite of a career year in 2003 when he made 177 tackles (122 solo). He was the league leading tackler that season and tallied 1219 tackles in his career. The gaudy numbers over-shadowed two issues: the big step up in his numbers in his "contract year" (73 solo tackles in '02; 122 solo tackles in '03); his age. The years had take its toll. The Giants liked him, but couldn't justify his cost.

Barrow joined the Redskins with an undisclosed knee tendinitis problem that would prevent him from playing in a burgundy uniform -- ever. He was placed on injured reserve and the Skins eventually tapped Pierce to fill in at middle linebacker after considering Lemar Marshall and Derrick Holdman for the role.

With the passage of time, Pierce is remembered as having an outstanding performance in 2004. It wasn't, but it was more than respectable with 112 tackles (85 solo), 1 sack, 2 INTs and 1 TD. A pleasantly surprised Gregg Williams said of Pierce "I think it speaks volumes for Antonio's versatility that he can fit in all of the linebacker positions. Linebackers need to be the heart and soul of your special teams and your defense anyway. He's the ideal guy because he can run and hit and play all three."

The Skins were comfortable enough with Pierce to make him the defensive signal caller. The Redskins defense ranked third in the league in yards allowed per game. But, they never gave up hope in Barrow's return. Pierce's contract expired after the 2004 season. He was vocal in his desire to stay with the team. The Skins, at that time were still playing fantasy football, still going for name value, and Barrow had the bigger name. Pierce was viewed as a valuable contributor, but no more than Barrow's back-up.

To be fair, Coach Gibbs was preoccupied with issues at quarterback and receiver. Mark Brunell wasn't working out and Gibbs was forced to go with Patrick Ramsey. It was Ramsey's play under Spurrier that drove Gibbs to sign Brunell. In addition, receivers Laveranues Coles and Rod Gardner were dissatisfied with their role in Gibbs' offense and wanted out. The Redskins lost Pierce to free agency, due in part to inattention, for which both Gibbs and VP of player personnel Vinnie Cerrato acknowledged fault.

Barrow never recovered. He was eventually released. (He's on the Cowboys' practice squad.) Outside linebacker Lemar Marshall filled the breach and did okay in 2005 (98 tackles, 2 sacks). He had better stats (104 tackles, 1.5 sacks) in a disastrous 2006 defensive campaign. Pierce blossomed at the playoff bound Giants. He made the Pro Bowl. The Giants describe him as the leader of their defense. He is an authentic NFL star.

Pierce is exhibit "A" for critics of the Redskins personnel management philosophy. The indictment is Snyder's/Cerrato's/Gibbs' tendency to sign outside "names" to rich contracts in preference to home grown talent, often to disappointing results. And worse, the coaching staff -- oldest in the NFL -- don't seem to develop, or even appreciate, their young talent.

Derrick Dockery does not fit that category. By all outward appearances, the Redskins made a determined effort to sign him before the free agency period. In contrast to Pierce, Doc never publicly said that he wanted to stay. Indeed, OT Chris Samuels was more vocal, offering to restructure his contract in order to re-sign Dockery. It was evident by mid-February that Dockery would test the free agent market and eventually be lost to it.

In London Fletcher-Baker, the Redskins might have replaced Mike Barrow, but not Pierce, whose best years are still ahead of him. Fletcher-Baker is a natural middle linebacker. Like Barrow, he is a "name" player with the Buffalo connection important to Gregg Williams. Both weigh in at about 245 lbs, but Fletcher-Baker is 5'10" while Barrow is 6'2". Fletcher-Baker makes up in consistency what he lacks in stature. He joins the Redskins at age 31. Barrow was 34. If age hasn't taken a toll, Fletcher-Baker might have two good years left in his tank.

And, he wants to be here.

Photo: Mike Barrow, www.giants.com

Photo: Antonio Pierce, www.draftdaddy.com