Rock Bottom
December 13, 2018
by Richard Rogers
This is “rock bottom”. The Washington Redskins franchise has hit an all-time low. I know, we seem to say that every few years, but I truly believe we are there. I am an eternal optimist, as many that have interacted with me know. I have rationalized, defended, pontificated, and have had foolish pride. But I have a different feeling nowadays. Where did this epiphany come from? When players begin to attack fans, and it’s allowed, it’s over. I’m not talking about comments made after a contested battle on the field, or some one-off incident when an idiot fan attacks a player on the field or in the stands. This is unprecedented. I’ve been a fan of this team since the 1970’s and this is a new low. This team has unraveled both on and off the field. The head coach will most likely be fired as the previous seven have been under Dan Snyder. The team president, we think, will be fired, reassigned and move on. The Vice President of Player Personnel has even become tarnished over the past few weeks, something that is most unfortunate. But what remains, and will remain constant, is Dan Snyder.
Dan Snyder doesn’t know how to own a professional football team. Forget knowing how to win. Dan Snyder does not know how to manage his organization and the people in it. How is it that you hire a respected NFL suit in Brian LaFemina to improve the fan experience, then turn around and allow your “star” players to rip your fanbase? One of your defensive captains just said, “f*^& this team” and “f$&^ these fans”. How is he still on the team! If I’m the owner of this team, he doesn’t even make it to the coach’s office. He’s coming straight to my office and sits in the seat with the trap door under it. And after Mason Foster is gone, I’d have DJ Swearinger, Josh Norman, and Chris Thompson meet the same fate. This is a business. You have a brand. You cannot allow those that work for you tarnish it.
And Jay Gruden? Poor Jay Gruden. Yes, I said it. I feel for Jay. No, he’s not a great coach, and based on his record, he may not even be a good coach. But Jay Gruden is a likeable guy, placed in an impossible situation. Just looking at recent events – he was forced to take most of the brunt of the wrath of the media and fan base with the Ruben Foster signing. Evidently, Bruce Allen has yet to return from Oz with any courage to face the media to explain himself or take some of the pressure off Jay Gruden and Doug Williams. Instead, it’s been one thing after another that only Jay Gruden has had to navigate. If it’s not this, then he’s had to answer questions for three seasons about Kirk Cousins, Alex Smith, Robert Griffin III, Scot McCloughan, and a host of other small fires that have burned this team. Don’t get me wrong, Jay is culpable in this as well. He’s had his share of bungles. But looking at this organization, did Jay really have a real shot to succeed? I say no. Could he have won more games? Absolutely! But someone above him must have his back. DJ Swearinger, Mason Foster, and Josh Norman are still on this team and saying and doing whatever the hell they want.
One more thing that sticks out to me. Joe Gibbs. I used to roll my eyes when Gibbs, especially in his second go-round would overly pander to the fans. “We need every fan” to come out and “scream their head off”. Joe would apologize FIRST to the fans if his team ever had 40 points hung on them at home. Not this owner. Not this team president. Not this coach. Perhaps Jay has had enough of the criticism too. He hears the cries for his job. He knows his days are numbered. He looked like a defeated man after the Giants loss. But this is rinse and repeat. Mike Shanahan, a two-time Super Bowl winning coach, left in a heap of ash as he “burned the house down” on his way out. Jim Zorn gave a middle finger to the organization as he called back to back “swinging gate” plays on his way out. Joe Gibbs couldn’t take it anymore and quit. Steve Spurrier resigned from the golf course. Marty Schottenheimer only lasted one year, and Norv Turner forever seeks to stick it to the Redskins as an Offensive Coordinator. Some fans are even calling for Gregg Williams to replace Jay Gruden. Why on earth would Gregg Williams come here?
How do you fix it? First, you must establish some non-negotiables. What are the 1-3 things that you absolutely will not tolerate? These non-negotiables come from core values and beliefs, and since the owner doesn’t talk, we don’t know what those are. We do know he loves money, but that’s about it. You need a vision and a philosophy. Sounding like a broken record, but you need someone to run this franchise with integrity and knowledge of winning. My frustration with Snyder is not only the lack of winning, but his lack of leadership. You cannot continue to allow players and coaches to burn your organization to the ground every four to five years. If I’m Dan, Mason Foster would not play another down for me. DJ Swearinger would not play another down for me. Josh Norman would not play another down for me. I would insert Kyle Smith immediately as the acting team president while I send Bruce Allen west on a Lewis and Clark expedition. I would allow Smith to fire or retain Jay Gruden and go from there. I would continue to allow LaFemina to head the marketing campaign to win back fans.
My outrage goes deeper than Gruden, Foster, Swearinger, etc. It’s rooted in the lack of organization leadership that brings us to this point every few years. Snyder’s not selling the team, but perhaps he needs to sell everything in that front not named Schaffer and Smith.