Top 5 motivational reasons to win today

[Dlyne8r]

These are what I perceive to be the top 5 reasons the Redskins will want to win today's matchup against the Seahawks:

1. Sean Taylor's loss and memory
2. Redemption from the 2005 playoff loss to the 'Hawks
3. Strong desire to keep advancing through the playoffs
4. Prove the "experts" wrong and gain much deserved respect
5. Key Redskin players being snubbed from the Pro Bowl

Chime in with what you think their top 5 motivational reasons are today.

[dgack]

They should be doing it for Joe, for Sean, and for themselves, in that order.

[Dlyne8r]

Originally Posted by dgack

They should be doing it for Joe, for Sean, and for themselves, in that order.

Yeah, I was torn as to whether or not Joe Gibbs would have been a "Top 5" motivational factor. But, I felt that Gibbs will say all the right things in the locker room today as he probably has leading up to the game as well. I guess him being a "factor" was a given and decided not to list him as a top 5. As far as being motivated for "themselves," that too was considered a given. Every athlete has a personal agenda, so I left that off as well. One thing I did seriously consider was the lack of media attention, and to some degree, respect. But, after Sean Taylor's death the media has been a little more attentive to the 'Skins and has actually shown more respect to Sean and Coach Gibbs.

[saden1]

Aren't we taking the Sean Taylor thing too far?

[MTK]

Originally Posted by saden1

Aren't we taking the Sean Taylor thing too far?

He died 6 weeks ago. The players are constantly talking about him. Do you think they're taking it too far?

[Dlyne8r]

Originally Posted by saden1

Aren't we taking the Sean Taylor thing too far?

Are you kidding? Absolutely not. Emotion is a huge part of any competition and Sean Taylor's loss is still (and will be for some time) ingrained in the Redskins' psyche. That is why I listed it as Numero Uno in terms of what will motivate them today (and beyond).

[SFREDSKIN]

Originally Posted by saden1

Aren't we taking the Sean Taylor thing too far?

They are dedicating the rest of the season in his memory, just the way it's supposed to be done.

[Lady Brave]

Originally Posted by saden1

Aren't we taking the Sean Taylor thing too far?

I guess it depends on what you mean by "we". We as a board, as a fanbase or as an organization?

The only I area I might agree with you is in the number of fans who claim to keep seeing "signs of 21" everywhere they look. Some of them have been quite a stretch.

As far as us honoring Sean and the players being motivated to play with a greater purpose on behalf of his memory, then no, we aren't taking it too far.

[saden1]

I can see players wanting him to be there playing with them and feeding off of that energy but it shouldn't be a motivating factor to win a football game. Plus, what if they don't win? Were they not motivated enough by his death?

Don't use the dead!

[MTK]

Originally Posted by saden1

I can see players wanting him to be there playing with them and feeding off of that energy but it shouldn't be a motivating factor to win a football game. Plus, what if they don't win? Were they not motivated enough by his death?

Don't use the dead!

I just don't understand why his memory shouldn't be a motivating factor. They've dedicated the rest of the season to him. And why does anyone care what motivates them exactly??

[Gibbsmeatitle#1]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I just don't understand why his memory shouldn't be a motivating factor. They've dedicated the rest of the season to him. And why does anyone care what motivates them exactly??

Matty,

You've hit it on the head. It doesn't really matter what motivates them so long as they are motivated. I for one think you can bundle almost everything into one motivating concept, "the Team". The players aren't thinking they're playing for themselves first and then so on and so on...They are playing for "the Team" and "the Team" includes the players, coaches, Sean Taylor and whomever else you want to throw in. They also know they can beat anyone in the league with the way they're playing now.

GMAT

__________________
Winning is the only option so why worry about anything else?

[dgack]

I get what Saden is saying and I don't think we should be exploiting and "using" the dead as "fuel" but at the same time, if this team had fallen apart and lost out, we probably wouldn't have held them to the same standard and said "these guys are taking Taylor's death too far and using it as an excuse for their disappointing play".

Speaking as someone who has just suffered the loss of a family member in the past week, all I can say is that it's not for anyone else to tell someone grieiving how, when, or how much to grieve.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by dgack

I get what Saden is saying and I don't think we should be exploiting and "using" the dead as "fuel" but at the same time, if this team had fallen apart and lost out, we probably wouldn't have held them to the same standard and said "these guys are taking Taylor's death too far and using it as an excuse for their disappointing play".

Speaking as someone who has just suffered the loss of a family member in the past week, all I can say is that it's not for anyone else to tell someone grieiving how, when, or how much to grieve.

My condolences dgack