[sportscurmudgeon]

Matty:

You said that many Skins fans self-perception skew toward the negative. True.

However, for lots of other Skins' fans, self-perception skews so far toward the positive that they appear delusional. Just a few examples:


1. Patrick Ramsey will become a great NFL QB because he had a better record as a starter after 15 games than Brett Favre or Peyton Manning did. Optimistic or delusional? You make the call.


2. Joe Bugel is a magical genius who can take any five guys who used to be piano movers and make them into a great offensive line. Optimistic or delusional? You make the call.


3. Training camp fodder - - such as Sultan McCullough and Anthony Mix and whomever will fill that role this summer - - would be Pro Bowl players if only the Skins would allow them to get on the field. Optimistic or delusional? You make the call.


Skins' fans also love to think that their team is "hated" by the media and by the rest of the NFL. That is simply not the case. Networks love the Skins because they are one of the teams that reliably draw good ratings on TV. Columnists love the Skins because there is always some kind of "drama" going on there to write about. Other owners love the Skins because the Skins' financial success increases the value of all league franchises.

But for many Skins' fans, they need this conspiracy of hate to exist out there or else they may have to admit that the team isn't always excellent and the FO decision making is not always excellent. So, it is much easier to go with the "Everybody hates us..." line of thought.

Oh, I guess that would fall in the "delusional" bucket - - wouldn't it?