It's Time For The Skins' Super Bowl Starting With Free Agency

While I certainly dignify your right to any opinion you wish to have, do you consider yourself an optimist?

noun
def. a person disposed to take a favorable view of things

It does not appear that your post falls in this area?

pessimist

A tendency to stress the negative or unfavorable or to take the gloomiest possible view

It does seem to fall in this group?

Just an observation, but I cannot believe the things you detail will happen. And, the Skins don't "owe" me anything. I don't really expect them to worry about "showing" me anything, to garner my support. I choose to follow them for better, for worse. I can un-choose that at any time

I'm not claiming to be an optimist or a pessimist. I don't think those labels can be assigned to anyone based on an opinion held on a lone topic (a football team) at one single point in time.

Also, if you will re-read my post I'm not asking you to believe anything. I'm simply stating what I think about the Redskins short-term prospects here in February of 2007. I could feel much differently a year from now or even in July for that matter. Or not. And I'm not sure where I said the Redskins "owed" anybody anything. I said only that I could understand fans who had shifted into a "show me" mode in light of the team's history of what appeared to be key offseason aquisitions failing to alter the team's overall fortunes. Last year was just the most recent example; I'm sure you are familar enough with the team's recent history (last 10 years or so) to know that.

I'm also not sure what you are implying about choosing to support the team (or maybe I'm just looking at it from the vantage point of thirty-plus years of following old D.C.). Over the long haul, one's support the Redskins has nothing to do with how you feel about their playoff prospects for 2007.

Point well taken! HTTR

i think we shouldn't go after any talent at all, but field a team of coaches only... since they know the position better than the players and we have enough of them... AND they don't count against the salary cap...

who's with me??

i,m with ya..keep the team together.....let,s go after some coaches..

I don't see the issue w/ giving my opinion on the redskins, their coaches, players, plays, FO, etc. This is a skins website right?

Now, their are some who change their stance every week of the season. One week we are SB champions the next we are the worst team ever. You kinda get sick of seeing that.

We haven't exactly lit it up since Snyder became owner. So, I for one, will always be CAUTIOUSLY optimistic, until the skins prove otherwise.

I agree with you to a point, but I don't think it's unreasonable for some normally optimistic fans to sit back in "show me" mode at this point. It's fine to get excited about off-season acquisitions if you want to- God knows I've done it often enough -but with the franchise there really hasn't been any record of splashy spring signings leading to success on the field.
In fact, there hasn't been any record of any sustained success in a decade and half.

Also, while Joe Gibbs status as one of the most beloved figures in franchise history is in no way in jeopardy, I have no problem with open skepticism toward Gibbs II at this point. There's simply nothing impressive about a three year record of 21-27 with just one trip to the playoffs (1-1). Also, it's not at all hard to understand why a 5-11 record three years into a five year deal would bring harsh criticism. I suppose all sorts of analysis can be done to explain how W-L record doesn't accurately reflect the progress that's been made, blah, blah, blah, but at the end of the day it is what it is. If we're going to lavish Gibbs with praise when things go well, it's perfectly fair to hold him accountable when they don't. It's not a one-way street.

I am hopeful that every year will bring success for the Redskins, a hope that has taken root and grown every off season since the George Allen days. I will follow the team's moves in the upcoming months with great interest. But when I separate my hopes from what my best guess is based on the evidence, do I think they will actually field playoff team in 2007? No. Do I think Gibbs II will ultimately be successful? No. Does that make me less of a fan, or a "hater"? I don't think so. It's not a declaration of loyalty/disloyalty; it's just an opinion, no more or less valid than anyone else's. If I turn out to be wrong, great! I'm thrilled! We can toast a Super Bowl championship while I happily listen to others tell me just how wrong I was. On the other hand, if I'm right it doesn't mean I'll be happy about it.


Good points. And I agree. I'm off the group that says this team can win and here's why and this what they need to improve upon. And I think you're of the group that says this team can't win UNLESS they change this and that and here's how they need to accomplish that. And I think both sides are what make the site great. But it's the "there's no hope ever" group that I just don't understand.

Good points. And I agree. I'm off the group that says this team can win and here's why and this what they need to improve upon. And I think you're of the group that says this team can't win UNLESS they change this and that and here's how they need to accomplish that. And I think both sides are what make the site great. But it's the "there's no hope ever" group that I just don't understand.

I agree. There are some people who see everything as broken and the sky is falling. Football, for most of us, is sports entertainment for us. I think we as fans tend to get so caught up in the fine details that we lose track of just sitting back, rooting for the team we love, and just watching the game in general. For me, it isn't about how we win so much as us winning and doing the things that make us a good team. That is what is important to us. I don't care if our "stars" come from free agency or the draft. Heck, I don't care if our star players are 22, 32, 42, or even 52...as long as they get the job done...that is what matters the most to me.

I think they should forget Clements and Samuel and go for A. Thomas. He is a difference maker and is versatile. If they sign a big time corner and neglect the front seven they are setting themselves up for another bust.

Good points. And I agree. I'm off the group that says this team can win and here's why and this what they need to improve upon. And I think you're of the group that says this team can't win UNLESS they change this and that and here's how they need to accomplish that. And I think both sides are what make the site great. But it's the "there's no hope ever" group that I just don't understand.

Nice summation of the differences in how the two groups see things. And I agree with you that negativity for negativity's sake is pointless. For the most part I think there's a civil and spirited debate coming from both sides on this site, but there is a certain element that thinks simply saying "The Redskins suck" or "Snyder is a loser" is somehow advancing an arguement of some sort. I don't understand that either.

I believe I hope to have hope.

What category of fan does that get me into?

According to Jason LaCanfora's latest blog entry about the Redskins' free agency plans, Jason hasn't heard any indication that the Redskins are going to attempt to re-structure Wynn or Daniels' contracts. Jason speculates that this might not bode well for either Wynn or Daniels, whose cap figures exceed their levels of production.