Lets overpay for Jared Allen

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

Well, if you go from a 10-6 playoff team in 1999 to 8-8 the next year, cutting guys like Brian Mitchell and bringing in Jeff George and Deion Sanders, alienating Brad Johnson and firing a head coach in the middle of a season with the playoffs still in reach, YES -- I'd call that a decline.

If you go from a solid, proven guy like Marty Schottenheimer who had this team in the right direction and firing him for Steve Spurrier while dragging in bums like Trung Canidate and Jaquez Green, YES -- I'd call that a decline.

If you go from a 10-6 playoff team in 2005, and then revert right back to your old ways and bring in guys like Adam Archuleta, Brandon Lloyd and TJ Duckett, tossing away valuable draft picks in the process on your way to a 5-11 record, YES -- I'd call that a decline.

How 'bout that? That fit nicely in your little Team 'A' vs. Team 'B' scenario?

Finally! Why didn't you just state that from the start?

You're getting snippy with me I see. But this to me isn't about Snyder. And you probably think I'm arguing with you in order to defend Snyder. I'm not. That argument has played itself out.

I know you're very critical of the team and tend to believe we've lucked into whatever successed we've had in recent years and when we win we win in spite of ourselves. But this isn't even about that. This is just about the premise of your argument. What bothers me is that I know you're too smart to resort to something so simplistic as "well 50-62" when there are so many more factors involved. Namely, how did a team progress/regress over the course of that owner's tenure.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Finally! Why didn't you just state that from the start?

You're getting snippy with me I see. But this to me isn't about Snyder. And you probably think I'm arguing with you in order to defend Snyder. I'm not. That argument has played itself out.

I know you're very critical of the team and tend to believe we've lucked into whatever successed we've had in recent years and when we win we win in spite of ourselves. But this isn't even about that. This is just about the premise of your argument. What bothers me is that I know you're too smart to resort to something so simplistic as "well 50-62" when there are so many more factors involved. Namely, how did a team progress/regress over the course of that owner's tenure.

No, I'm not getting snippy. I wouldn't do this if it weren't so much fun.

Look, it may surprise you to learn that I do sometimes see that there may be glimpses -- short, scattering, faint glimpses -- of signs that Snyder might just be starting to get the hang of this thing. I do see progress in two playoff seasons out of the past three. On the other hand, I also believe that those two successful campaigns were built on pure emotion, and didn't come until their backs were against the wall; one under heart-wrenching circumstances which tore at their souls. 2008 will soon tell us if it was a flash in the pan, or if we're back on the path to dominance the way we saw it back in the '80s.

But then, I'm a skeptic at heart. We may never see the success of the '80s again. When we start seeing sustained success, I'll change my tune.

Until then, Lil' Danny will never escape my wrath.