Some positive press for once..

[Paintrain]

Originally Posted by http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=wickersham_seth#20060321

Snyder smarter with his signings
posted: Tuesday, March 21, 2006 | Feedback

Reader Josh in the District writes, "You must be finding all of Dan Snyder's cap room for him. It's probably a busy job with all the money he's handing out. That must be why you haven't updated your blog during a fast and furious free agent season."

Well, I wish I could be that privy to the Redskins' signings, but the reason I've been AWOL during one of the busiest free agent weeks ever was because I spent it on the beaches of Huatulco, a town of 15,000 in Mexico that's currently under the radar, but trust me, your kids will want to visit for spring break some day.

In catching up, and fielding all the e-mails wondering what the Redskins are doing, I have reached this conclusion: The Redskins are getting smarter about spending their loot. One of the best beat writers around, The Washington Post's Jason La Canfora, noted in his story on Saturday exactly how the Skins have done it: By spending about the same amount on every guy. According to La Canfora, the contracts of Antwaan Randle El, Adam Archuleta and Andre Carter are basically the same, $30 million over six years, with near-minimum salaries and decent ($5 million) bonuses.

Despite signing those players, the Redskins were under the cap as of late last week after trading Patrick Ramsey.

Many of You The Readers have asked why in the world the Skins would want three receivers -- Santana Moss, Randle El and Brandon Lloyd -- who are small and fast. Two weeks ago, I sat in an office at Redskins Park with new offensive coordinator Al Saunders. He and coach Joe Gibbs approach offense from the same angle, the Don Coryell sets that Dan Fouts and Co. turned into high-wire acts in the 1980s.

In Kansas City, Saunders directed one of the league's most feared attacks without any outside receiving threats; the dominant players in KC's passing game were Tony Gonzalez and Priest Holmes. From doing various Chiefs stories over the years and talking to Saunders for all of them, I could tell he wished he had a wideout. He wanted a wideout, but well, he never got one. Even two years ago, when the Chiefs tried to line up Dante Hall in every conceivable position to turn him into an air threat, it failed.

As I sat with Saunders, he was excited. This was the most talent he'd had outside since he coached receivers for the Rams in the late '90s -- and that was just with Moss. I see where Washington is headed offensively: They're hoping to replicate the Rams with tiny, fast playmakers outside and a quarterback winging it.

Moss proved last year that he's as dependable as any big-play guy there is in the NFL, Steve Smith included. Randle El, who's never caught more than 47 passes in a season, isn't your classic receiver, but does add some elements that can be tricky to defend. Lloyd might have been a first rounder a few years ago had he not broken his leg at Illinois; as he is, he's a deep threat with a penchant for the highlight-reel catch.

The only question: Can Mark Brunell get the ball downfield? Will his arm and legs hold up for 20 games? His play slid badly last year toward the end of the season, and he's not getting any younger.

Wow, what a novel approach to journalism.. Actually talking to someone within the coaching staff rather than sitting back and making assumptions and judgments based on how you feel about the organization..

[HolyLandSkinsFan]

Interesting SKins copying Rams....

Norv Turner and Martz are very familiar with each other. Martz served under Turner in Washington as the Redskins’ QB coach from 1997 to ’98. Washington is the only other NFL franchise Martz has worked for. Turner’s first NFL job was with the Rams. He served as the club’s WR coach in 1985.

Martz once said, I took the skins good third down plays and used themon firtst down. The Rams plays are actually the skins plays.

Thing about turner is that he was lousy at play calling. He liked these close games that leave you open to loosing by 1 point.

Martz thought that was a stupid strategy and just used Turner's plays more effectively.

[FRPLG]

Quality reporting. It wasn't totally negative or positive. He pointed out the obvious positives of the moves the Skins made but also pointed out some real potential negatives. That is as balanced a piece as can be written. I think it would be great to see the top guys for the 4-letter and SI do as complete and fair a job.

[That Guy]

yeah well, maybe he just hasn't found out that the redskins are in cap hell and that danny humps elephants and eats children yet... after we tell him i bet he switches his tune...

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by That Guy

yeah well, maybe he just hasn't found out that the redskins are in cap hell and that danny humps elephants and eats children yet... after we tell him i bet he switches his tune...

No no no. We are never actually in cap hell but we are always on the verge apparently. Bunch of BS.

[hooskins]

link please

[That Guy]

its right at the top:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/..._seth#20060321

[dmek25]

as long as snyder is here,the skins will always "almost" be in cap hell.whomever the cap man (cerrato?)is for the skins,they do great work

[That Guy]

Originally Posted by dmek25

as long as snyder is here,the skins will always "almost" be in cap hell.whomever the cap man (cerrato?)is for the skins,they do great work

vinny is in charge of the scouting work... eric schaffer does the accounting.

[skins052bgr8]

Eric Schaffer will probably be a hot commodity when he leaves the skins with owners saying how did you guys do this year after year with the cap.

[backrow]

Originally Posted by skins052bgr8

Eric Schaffer will probably be a hot commodity when he leaves the skins with owners saying how did you guys do this year after year with the cap.

Quoteth cousin vinnie in ES a while back: Cash = Cap!

In the HOF Coach Gibbs house, every real Redskin gets saved. Or at least his contract gets "converted".

[MTK]

Originally Posted by skins052bgr8

Eric Schaffer will probably be a hot commodity when he leaves the skins with owners saying how did you guys do this year after year with the cap.

Something tells me Snyder will go all out to keep Schaffer, so unless he gets a nice promotion with another team I wouldn't count on him going anywhere.

[Daseal]

They're hoping to replicate the Rams with tiny, fast playmakers outside and a quarterback winging it.

I hope this is true, but Brunell isn't exactly what I'd call a "slinger." He's the girl that's good for marrying but not much fun for dating. (Manages a game, doesnt turn it over. Also misses a lot of opportunities.)

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by Daseal

I hope this is true, but Brunell isn't exactly what I'd call a "slinger." He's the girl that's good for marrying but not much fun for dating. (Manages a game, doesnt turn it over. Also misses a lot of opportunities.)

And this is the biggest issue the Redskins have. All of these signings mean nothing if Mark Brunell isn't up to the task.

I think the best we can hope for as Redskins fans, is for Jason Campbell to clearly beat out Brunell for the starting job.

[onebum]

about the original article...THATS WHAT SPORTS WRITERS SHOULD DO.

Seems all of them today just write what they think, nothing more. Its rare that an article will give facts, quotes, and explain the feelings of the people involved. Instead they take a situation and either rip it or praise it, nevermind the reasons the team/player/coach had in the situation.

Look at peter king, len paskerwellie, and the morons on cbs.sportsline, their articles look similar to what you find trolls writing on message boards, or mal contents posting in their blogs. Seriously, look at what they have said recently about the skins.

King has gone so far as to accuse the skins of cheating and called for an investigation into their cap/payroll. HE IS THE TOP NFL GUY for his company? Thats something a 22 year old in dallas writes in his blog. King says amost nothing of the team, the roster, the coaches, their plan, or anything like that. He doesn't quote anyone, and shows no sign of actually speaking with anyone from the skins...yet he writes about them constantly with never the slightest positive angle.

I want more sports writers like Lewis Grizzard...funny, and told the story from every reasonable side.