Yahoo! Preseason POWER Rankings

[MTK]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

its amazing how when a survey or article goes against the skins it has no relavance, the person has no clue what they are talking about, but when its in the Skins favor all of the sudden it carries weight.

Don't be so quick to make such a broad generalization. Personally I don't dismiss all negative commentary regarding the team and praise everything that's positive.

If criticism is warranted that's fine with me, and I'm not beyond criticizing the team when I feel it's justified. I think what most people don't appreciate around here is ignorant or uneducated commentary on the team, which we seem to see more often than not from those in the national media.

I think the most educated and informed commentary regarding the team comes from those closest to it, local media, the fans, etc.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

You are missing the point - would you rather have a team like the Saints for example that make the playoffs once every 10-15 years - or a team that in that same 10-15 year span is competative and has winning seasons - may or maynot make the playoffs - but are expected to make the playoffs every year?

Personally - I'll take the team that is a consistant winner - expected to make playoffs every year than the team that blow everyone out of the water 1 year out of every 10

Actually you're missing my point. What's happened in the last 10-15 years doesn't have any effect on this season. That's my simple point, I don't see why we have to keep referring to the past when talking about what could happen this year. I doubt Saints fans are still crying about what happened in the distant past when talking about this upcoming season.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Don't be so quick to make such a broad generalization. Personally I don't dismiss all negative commentary regarding the team and praise everything that's positive.

If criticism is warranted that's fine with me, and I'm not beyond criticizing the team when I feel it's justified. I think what most people don't appreciate around here is ignorant or uneducated commentary on the team, which we seem to see more often than not from those in the national media.

I think the most educated and informed commentary regarding the team comes from those closest to it, local media, the fans, etc.

I am wondering how fans can be some of the most educated and informed about a team when they can only get their information from the media? Fans are knowledgeable about what they read and see but they really have no inside access (as all media do) to what the players and coaches are doing. Even the media only knows what they are being told by the teams and that may not always be what is really going on.

Fans have lots of good commentary but its all conjecture based on what they read or see on tv.

[hesscl34]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

aren't we all just a bit tired of saying this year in and year out. Every since 1999 its been, boy wait until next year. Next year its ours. I think I am just a bit tired of saying that. I want to be able to say we consistantly make the playoffs, make a superbowl run, and can pretty much count on playing in jan. Right now, not so much!

Then be a Colts fan.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by irish

I am wondering how fans can be some of the most educated and informed about a team when they can only get their information from the media? Fans are knowledgeable about what they read and see but they really have no inside access (as all media do) to what the players and coaches are doing. Even the media only knows what they are being told by the teams and that may not always be what is really going on.

Fans have lots of good commentary but its all conjecture based on what they read or see on tv.

It's because we take in every nugget about the team possible... where as people who write about all 32 teams just don't have the time to digest every little fact about every team.

You said it yourself earlier in this thread that you pay more attention to the Skins vs. a team like the Cardinals, so your view on the Skins is going to be more critical since you are better informed about the Skins vs. other teams.

Regarding inside access, we probably have more inside access than you realize.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

It's because we take in every nugget about the team possible... where as people who write about all 32 teams just don't have the time to digest every little fact about every team.

You said it yourself earlier in this thread that you pay more attention to the Skins vs. a team like the Cardinals, so your view on the Skins is going to be more critical since you are better informed about the Skins vs. other teams.

Regarding inside access, we probably have more inside access than you realize.

What I am saying is those nuggests are fed to the fan by the media. Its second hand info that may or may not be accurate. Fans can be very knowledgeable but that knowledge has a high potential to be inaccurate. Unless that fan or media person is actually sitting in the team meetings (which they are not) they dont know for certain what the team is really doing.

Warpath fans have a level of inside access that non-warpath fans dont. That said, I think the average sam sixpack fan has no inside access and never had more conversation with a player or coach than "can I have your autograph".

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Actually you're missing my point. What's happened in the last 10-15 years doesn't have any effect on this season. That's my simple point, I don't see why we have to keep referring to the past when talking about what could happen this year. I doubt Saints fans are still crying about what happened in the distant past when talking about this upcoming season.

the past has nothing to do with what COULD happen this season, your right. Nor does the past (3 super bowls rings) keep us from the continous media ripping we get for overpaying players and continually losing every season. My point is this : everyone, well most everyone, wants to put us on a platform same with the top teams in the NFL. We do not deserve that, I hope you understand that. You cant go into a season without looking over the past few years. We use to get more positive hype than anyone in the NFL over the 1st 2 or 3 seasons of Danny (meaning picked to win) after the media see's that Danny has no clue what he doing, and we over pay, over pay for people and continue to lose, this is why we are constantly made to look like fools. I am just tired of hearing people say we deserve better, when in fact we dont.

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by hesscl34

Then be a Colts fan.

why is it when some one with a different view of things, maybe not so positive toward the Skins, you tell them they aren't a fan, or root for someone else??

I have been a skins fan 33 years. that wont change. I reserve the right to critisize them if I want, as you do. just because I say something negative doesn't mean I love my team any less. Its not like i am making up the losing seasons, they seem to happen every year.

[Monksdown]

And for the most part you can get a broader look at the team when you take into account every perspective. And given a little intelligent speculation, you get a real feel for what our team is all about. Now, what you pick up and believe based on other people's opinions is up to you. We prefer statistics here.

The reason forums like this survive, is we cant accurately predict an upcoming season's outcome. No one can, so we all try to work together to figure it out. With one goal in mind, being a more informed fan.

[hesscl34]

I think it could be so much worse than it has been. Since Gibbs came back we've made the playoffs once in 3 years, and had two mediocre seasons, but with quite a few spectacular games mixed in there!!! I just see more positive than negative, but I don't expect a miracle. At least we aren’t the poor Dolphins. I think it takes time to rebuild after a new owner, a million coaching changes and quite a few front office mistakes…. I’m not going anywhere (as a fan), and I can’t wait to see what the season has in store for us.

[hesscl34]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

why is it when some one with a different view of things, maybe not so positive toward the Skins, you tell them they aren't a fan, or root for someone else??

I have been a skins fan 33 years. that wont change. I reserve the right to critisize them if I want, as you do. just because I say something negative doesn't mean I love my team any less. Its not like i am making up the losing seasons, they seem to happen every year.

It was just a comment... chill.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by irish

What I am saying is those nuggests are fed to the fan by the media. Its second hand info that may or may not be accurate. Fans can be very knowledgeable but that knowledge has a high potential to be inaccurate. Unless that fan or media person is actually sitting in the team meetings (which they are not) they dont know for certain what the team is really doing.

Warpath fans have a level of inside access that non-warpath fans dont. That said, I think the average sam sixpack fan has no inside access and never had more conversation with a player or coach than "can I have your autograph".

Regardless of what comes from the media, we also watch every game, and a lot of us watch every game 2-3 times and pick apart every play. I'll take a well informed fan's opinion over Joe Schmoe Yahoo.com sports writer any day.

The fact is most fans have a better idea of what's going on with their team than most journalists in the media, unless we're talking about local journalists that are focused on the Skins like the Wash. Post, Wash. Times, etc.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

the past has nothing to do with what COULD happen this season, your right. Nor does the past (3 super bowls rings) keep us from the continous media ripping we get for overpaying players and continually losing every season. My point is this : everyone, well most everyone, wants to put us on a platform same with the top teams in the NFL. We do not deserve that, I hope you understand that. You cant go into a season without looking over the past few years. We use to get more positive hype than anyone in the NFL over the 1st 2 or 3 seasons of Danny (meaning picked to win) after the media see's that Danny has no clue what he doing, and we over pay, over pay for people and continue to lose, this is why we are constantly made to look like fools. I am just tired of hearing people say we deserve better, when in fact we dont.

I don't think any rational person thinks the Skins should be mentioned in the same breath with the Colts and Patriots of the NFL world, but there does seem to be a hint of media bias towards the Skins at times.

Some people out there like Lenny P. seems to go out of his way at times to take a swipe at the Redskins. I do believe that Snyder brings that upon the team and it's something we'll probably have to live with as long as he owns the team.

[#56fanatic]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I don't think any rational person thinks the Skins should be mentioned in the same breath with the Colts and Patriots of the NFL world, but there does seem to be a hint of media bias towards the Skins at times.

Some people out there like Lenny P. seems to go out of his way at times to take a swipe at the Redskins. I do believe that Snyder brings that upon the team and it's something we'll probably have to live with as long as he owns the team.

the only thing that will cure all that is winning, and winning year in and year out.

[irish]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Regardless of what comes from the media, we also watch every game, and a lot of us watch every game 2-3 times and pick apart every play. I'll take a well informed fan's opinion over Joe Schmoe Yahoo.com sports writer any day.

The fact is most fans have a better idea of what's going on with their team than most journalists in the media, unless we're talking about local journalists that are focused on the Skins like the Wash. Post, Wash. Times, etc.

Watching a game over and over only allows a fan to talk about specific plays and who blocked good or missed a tackle. I guess thats a type of being informed but speaking for me, thats not really the stuff I care about too much. The non-player game watcher does not know details of the game plan going into the game, how/if it was revised during the game, etc. They can hypothesize but thats about it.

I do agree that national reporters have a superficial knowledge of teams and could never talk play by play with a film watching fan but IMO they are both providing guesses.

Nobody knows the team better than the local media as they are as close as one can get without putting on pads. I trusted George Michael & Sonny's opinion most.