Age a factor going into 2009

"Sounds like people are looking for an escape goat."

Not it.

we have to start drafting guys we think can play in the furture but dont need now. when drafting us the first rounder on a guy that can come in and play right away this year that would be a dt. use the 2nd and 3rd round on players that can play if called upon this year that would be a guard in the third round(everyone remember dockery). and 4th-7th those are players that have potential. we have been sending our draft picks to other teams for so long thats why we have this age probably now. look at NE they use all their draft picks and then some. they keep the guys that can play and get rid of the ones they dont need. look at theyre lines i'm sure 90% of there lines are people they drafted and if you have good lines then you can build around it.

Gee! I think that I've said that!

Gibbs left us in a tough spot. There's a thin line between veteran and old in the NFL. We currently sport the oldest average age among all the NFL teams. I see this team seeing some down years over the next few as we start changing players to the west coast system along with getting younger.

Gibbs left us in a tough spot. There's a thin line between veteran and old in the NFL. We currently sport the oldest average age among all the NFL teams. I see this team seeing some down years over the next few as we start changing players to the west coast system along with getting younger.

Gibbs was brought in to win now with a lot of holes and age on the roster (a monumental task). He did what he could with the limited amount of draft picks and mistakes made by Vinny and Danny.

Giving up a second and sixth round pick for a 34 year old DE is not helping matters.
I'll be curious to see how long Ceratto has to right the ship?
We took several steps back this year from last year. Things could get worse.

SFREDSKIN: It's easy to deflect blame from someone such as Gibbs, but lets call a spade a spade. First, let's look at draft picks. From all accounts, Gibbs was the one running most of the front office decisions, especially when it came to free agents and trades.

We gave up tons of draft picks during the Gibbs era, and this can go on his shoulders. Honestly, I'm fine giving up draft picks for proven players. That's just me. But some trades were just silly. Such as giving Denver Champ Bailey and a 2nd round pick. Etc. Vinny isn't completely free from blame -- he went after Jason Taylor this offseason and blew a few draft picks. I still think Jason Taylor will be much improved next year, but probably not worth the price. However, how can you blame Danny? He screwed up early in his career as owner, but he's not making moves anymore. The only real power he has now is as a tie breaker vote in the draft -- which means he picks between two players that Vinny/Zorn can't agree on. Also, I don't think for a second this years draft class couldn't be an excellent one. The fact that we got such a great young player in Horton already performing and some glimpses of promise from 2/3 receivers taken in the draft is a good sign. There are many more slow developing receivers in the NFL than there are rookie sensations.

I realize you, and everyone else, on this board has a man-crush on Gibbs. But he's a huge part of why this team is so old.

SFREDSKIN: It's easy to deflect blame from someone such as Gibbs, but lets call a spade a spade. First, let's look at draft picks. From all accounts, Gibbs was the one running most of the front office decisions, especially when it came to free agents and trades.

We gave up tons of draft picks during the Gibbs era, and this can go on his shoulders. Honestly, I'm fine giving up draft picks for proven players. That's just me. But some trades were just silly. Such as giving Denver Champ Bailey and a 2nd round pick. Etc. Vinny isn't completely free from blame -- he went after Jason Taylor this offseason and blew a few draft picks. I still think Jason Taylor will be much improved next year, but probably not worth the price. However, how can you blame Danny? He screwed up early in his career as owner, but he's not making moves anymore. The only real power he has now is as a tie breaker vote in the draft -- which means he picks between two players that Vinny/Zorn can't agree on. Also, I don't think for a second this years draft class couldn't be an excellent one. The fact that we got such a great young player in Horton already performing and some glimpses of promise from 2/3 receivers taken in the draft is a good sign. There are many more slow developing receivers in the NFL than there are rookie sensations.

I realize you, and everyone else, on this board has a man-crush on Gibbs. But he's a huge part of why this team is so old.

I believe the Portis for Bailey trade came in our favor. Bailey has missed a lot of games the last 2 years while Portis has played injured and has become and invaluable member of the team. Like I said Gibbs was brought in to win now and he inherited a mess, that's what you do when you are under the gun. The problem is that the days of being patient are gone, it's all about what have you done for me lately. Yeah, I have a man crush on Gibbs, if it wasn't for him and Beathard we would just be another shitty NFL team. He put us in the map and that's not to be forgotten, whether it was Gibbs I or II.

Redskins=Gibbs

I believe the Portis for Bailey trade came in our favor. Bailey has missed a lot of games the last 2 years while Portis has played injured and has become and invaluable member of the team. Like I said Gibbs was brought in to win now and he inherited a mess, that's what you do when you are under the gun. The problem is that the days of being patient are gone, it's all about what have you done for me lately. Yeah, I have a man crush on Gibbs, if it wasn't for him and Beathard we would just be another shitty NFL team. He put us in the map and that's not to be forgotten, whether it was Gibbs I or II.

Redskins=Gibbs

Thank you SF, you beat me to it.
GibbsII might have had some warts, but he brought the team back to respectabilty. We were the laughing stock of the NFL before Gibbs came back. Eventhough Gibbs did not take us back to the Superbowl, but he turned the team around and left a playoff team for Ceratto and Zorn.
Ceratto and Zorn have since taken us back out of the playoffs.

Giving up a second and sixth round pick for a 34 year old DE is not helping matters.
I'll be curious to see how long Ceratto has to right the ship?
We took several steps back this year from last year. Things could get worse.

Hell yeah!!!! Still can't believe most folks want him back at a lower price. I mean he was hurt a lot of the time and only had one really stellar game at the end when the season was effectively over for us. I mean how many times do we do this shit, by acquiring old Pro Bowlers during the twilight of their careers and give up the future by giving away draft picks. Only big FAs in recent memory that panned out for us bigtime were Johnson and now Moss. Brunell was a waste even though he did get us to the playoffs once. I like JT, but he is a few years if not less from retiring. We needed those 2 picks to rebuild an aged team.

When you draft well everything takes care of itself. As Matty said, you don't get younger for the sake of getting younger. You bring in young guys and give them a chance in camp and throughout the year to supplant your veterans. When you draft well - like the Ravens or Steelers or Patriots - this just happens naturally.