4:1 Finally!

On June 19th, the Redskins signed Jammal Brown, a right tackle from the New Orleans Saints. This is not only a good move for the Redskins, it could be one of their best moves of the offseason. The Redskins last year, as I have said before, had a horrible offensive line. An offensive line which conceded 43 sacks last year. Some could say that the Redskins greatest need was at the quarterback position, which was a significant necessity coming into 2010, but probably not their biggest cause for concern. The Redskins needed to improve their offensive line, and badly. The team's offensive line used to be the best in the league years ago, and they were dubbed "The Hogs." However, in recent years, the Redskins' pass protection has been lacking, and it showed in 2009. The Redskins recognized this, and they used their high draft pick to draft who they thought was the best offensive tackle in the upcoming draft class in Trent Williams. One new factor in the old offensive line wasn't going to be enough though. The left side of the offensive line still needed improvement. This is where Jammal Brown comes into play.

Jammal Brown entered college as a defensive tackle, but was moved to offensive tackle in his sophomore year. He played four years with the Oklahoma Sooners and was awarded the Outland Trophy for being the nation's most outstanding lineman. Brown was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in 2005. He was part of the 2006 New Orleans Saints that lost to the Bears in the 2006 NFC Championship, and was a key part last year in helping the team win the Super Bowl. He has participated in two Pro-Bowls including 2006 and 2008.

Brown's impact on the Washington Redskins could prove vital to the team's success. Trent Williams will play at right tackle while Jammal Brown will play tackle on the left side of the line. These two are the keys on the outside in the protection of Donovan McNabb, and they will be responsible for giving him enough time to put the ball downfield. Finally the Redskins are making improvements in areas that desperately need improvement.

3:3 A New Skin

With all the talk of Donovan McNabb and how different it is to see him in a Redskins jersey and not an Eagles one, I thought I'd give the man his own space on the page. The biggest move of the offseason is Donovan McNabb leaving Philadelphia. The second biggest move is where he went. Washington of all places? A division rival? That's a head-scratcher for both Philly and Washington fans. After eleven years in Philadelphia, the eagle has found a new nest in the welcoming arms of a division rival. In Washington, he has found the fans give him he respect he never had.





Donovan McNabb was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1999 NFL Draft as a first round pick out of Syracuse University. When the Eagle's pick was announced, Eagles fans were furious and a choir of boo's filled the room. Unfortunately, the boo's would get louder and have never stopped for 11 straight years. Many in Philadelphia questioned his heart. In Week 11 of the 2002 season, McNabb suffered a broken ankle yet played through the pain until the game's end. If that's not heart, what is? Many in Philadelphia questioned his talent, but McNabb has set every major passing record in the Eagle's franchise history. The biggest Achilles Heel for McNabb is his performance in clutch situations. Few have brought their teams to five conference championship games, however many have won a Super Bowl. McNabb is only 1 for 5 in NFC Conference Champions, and that one was squandered by a Super Bowl loss. With that said, Donovan is still without question one of the greatest to play the game today.

McNabb grew up in Chicago, where he played football at Mt. Carmel High School and won a state championship in 1991. From high school, he moved on to Syracuse University to play quarterback under a football scholarship. He had much success in college and was named Offensive Player of the Year in the 1990's. In the 1999 NFL Draft, McNabb was the second overall draft pick by the Philadelphia Eagles. He was booed because the fans in Philly wanted running back Ricky Williams, a player who went on to have a career tainted by drugs. McNabb led the Eagles to the NFC Championship game four years in a row between 2001-2004, but didn't reach the Super Bowl until 2004. His performance in the Super Bowl was one of the best in history, but many accused McNabb of being tired in the big game. The Eagles went on to lose to the Patriots 21-24. He didn't return to the NFC Championship again until 2008, where the Eagles fell to the Arizona Cardinals 25-32. It has been a bitter career for McNabb in Philadelphia filled with close calls and missed opportunities only to lead to heartbreak and criticism. His trade to Washington in the 2010 offseason might be the best thing that ever happened to the weary veteran.

One thing that will be interesting to watch out for this year will be the development of the wide receivers in Washington. Much of McNabb's success will hinge on their production. If the receivers make strides towards improvement, McNabb will be fine, but if the passing game is shutdown due to poor receivers, it will be a long year for Donovan and Co.

3:2 Feelin' Hate (Part 3)

It's the offseason! Well it's really not that exciting, but it is vital to the teams in the NFL's success for the upcoming 2010 season. The NFC East has been a large topic of discussion over the past few months. Some of the biggest changes in the NFL have stemmed right from this division. Since 2009 served disappointing in many aspects for the division, many changes were necessary for the new year. We'll start by looking at the teams in the division that made the most drastic changes early in the offseason.

1. The Washington Redskins


Well if i haven't said it enough, 2009 sucked. As a Redskins fan since 1998, it was the most pathetic season I've ever witnessed. However, with that said, I am proud of the changes made this offseason. The Redskins finally picked up a veteran quarterback in Donovan McNabb. This has been a need for many years. They made improvements to both ends of their offensive line in the forms of Trent Williams and Jammal Brown. They signed more depth to their backfield with the additions of Larry Johnson and Willie Parker. Both veterans and rookies have come to Washington to compete for the receiver position. Graham Gano is a great improvement to the instability of Shaun Suisham at kicker. And finally, change at the Head Coach and General Manager will hopefully make vast improvements on the field. Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen should make for a better team then Zorn and Cerrato. Expect more wins out of Washington in 2010.






2. The Philadelphia Eagles


The shockwave was hard to believe when McNabb left. Some loved him, many hated him. The fact is, like it or not, he's gone. Kevin Kolb?.....starter? Again seeing a new face line up under center wearing #4 and not #5 will be a huge transition for Philly, but perhaps it was for the best. Eleven years of coming so close to that coveted first Super Bowl was just too much for Philadelphia. Instead, it will hand the future of the franchise to a man who has played only 2 games as starter and is 1-1 as such. Four touchdowns was nice, but three interceptions was not so nice and could be a concern for Kolb. The fans in Philly are the most fickle in the sport so don't be too surprised if there are chants for Michael Vick if things don't turn out so well for Kolb at season's beginning. Also the 2010 season will also hinge on production from LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson for the Eagles.







3. The New York Giants


Fans in New York have plenty to be mad about. The late season slump last year was awful for the Giants. The Giants have not made too many changes to their program as far as the team is concerned. This offseason has been much more focused on hosting Super Bowl XLVIII and improving the brand new stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. The Giants drafted Jason Pierre-Paul at defensive end, but besides that no significant changes have been made. The 2010 season will simply be a second chance for the same 2009 squad.







4. The Dallas Cowboys


Like the Giants, not many changes were made to America's Team. This however, is the third biggest story coming out of this division. In a year that the Dallas Cowboys are not facing a salary cap, they are doing absolutely nothing! The only offseason move for Dallas has been the addition of rookie wide-receiver Dez Bryant. Bryant's impact next year though will not be franchise-changing. Same team. New year. Oh, one more thing....the Super Bowl is in Dallas this year. Might want to keep that in the back of your mind as an incentive for Dallas to succeed in 2010.

3:1 Feelin' Hate (Part 2)

2009 was a rough year for the NFC East. The Dallas Cowboys caught a late fire at season's end and got a 13-year monkey of consecutive playoff losses off their back, but were unable to surpass their expectations and were crushed by the Minnesota Vikings in the Divisional Round. The Eagles were unable to win the division liked predicted and in their last two games, both against Dallas and including their Wild Card game, they were outscored 14-58. The New York Giants didn't make the playoffs for the first time since 2004, finishing with an 8-8 record, and were embarrassed in their last two games by being outscored 85-16. The Redskins finished with their worst finish in over a decade at 4-12.

1. 2009 Dallas Cowboys (11-5)

The Cowboys were not favored to win the NFC East coming into the year, but were considered a lock for the playoffs. Things looked bleak at the season's beginning starting off at 3-2 as the team dodged an embarrassing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5. However, the team caught spark in the next 3 games and won them all against teams with winning records, including Philadelphia. Although the team had some points where they looked weak, such as a 7-6 last minute win against a struggling Washington in Week 11, they always held their heads high. The last 3 games of the year were incredible for Dallas. In Week 15, they beat the undefeated Saints. And in the last two weeks they shutout two division rivals with a 17-0 win over Washington and a 24-0 win over Philadelphia. They man-handled Philadelphia in the Wild Card round 34-14 and looked like the most dangerous team in the NFC, but they were crushed by Minnesota in the next playoff game 34-3. Overall it was a decent year with a disappointing finish for the Cowboys.

2. 2009 Philadelphia Eagles (11-5)

The Eagles were the favorites coming into the year for the NFC East. Coming off a dramatic run in 2008 that led them to the NFC Championship Game, they looked strong, but like the Cowboys, they would start slow with a 3-2 start. Philly fell a game behind Dallas in Week 9, but the Eagles sparked a 6-game winning streak that took them to a Week 17 matchup against Dallas with the NFC East crown at stake. After 6 straight wins, things looked good for Philly, but they were embarrassed and shutout 0-24. However, they got a rare opportunity to redeem themselves and play Dallas again a week later in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs on the very same field. Even with the opportunity of a grudge match, the Eagles were again shutdown and embarrassed 34-14. For a season with so much potential, the Philadelphia Eagles 2009 campaign ended with only disappointment.



3. 2009 New York Giants (8-8)

The Giants '09 performance was perhaps the most shocking of all. They were everything from the best team in the NFC to the biggest joke of the NFC. The Giants began the year with 5 consecutive wins and a 5-0 record. They looked like they would march to a division title easily. Unfortunately, the season has 16 games, not 5. Those five impressive wins were immediately followed by 4 consecutive losses and a 5-4 record. In Week 15, the Giants came into FedEx Field in Washington needing a win to stay alive with a 7-6 record. Not only did they get the win, they dominated the Redskins 45-12 and improved to 8-6. A turnaround right? The Giants were humiliated in their next two games. Their final game ever at Giants Stadium was a 9-41 thrashing by the the Carolina Panthers. In their final season game against Minnesota, their attempt at a rebound turned into a 44-7 nightmare. It was an even worse performance than the week before. They finished with their tails between their legs after conceding 85 points in the last two weeks and an 8-8 record. 2009 was definitely one to forget for New York.



4. 2009 Washington Redskins (4-12)

Enough has been said about the absolute failure the Redskins were last year. They weren't only the doormat of the NFC East. They were the doormat of the NFL. Everyone that came to play against Washington got a win. However, the season was not as bad as the record may show. Eight of the Redskins' 12 losses were lost by a touchdown or less. If the Redskins had scored just one touchdown more in all 8 of those games, the final record would be 12-4. Big difference huh?! That would have been good enough for NFC East Champions. Unfortunately they never did score those points which is why they finished as bad as they did. The Redskins were drained emotionally between Weeks 11-13. They fell to their bitter rivals in Dallas by a mere 1 point in a 6-7 heartbreaker, only to give up a last minute lead to the hated Eagles the next week in another 24-27 heartbreak. They then gave up their most painful loss of the year the following week in a 30-33 loss to the undefeated New Orleans Saints in overtime. The year was awful, but might have been a blessing in disguise as the necessary changes for improvements became a reality following the disappointing 2009 campaign.

2:3 Feelin' Hate (Part 1)

The NFC East. It's the roughest division in all of football. Every year, every decade you can bet your bottom dollar an NFC East team will win the Super Bowl. In the 1970's it was the Dallas Cowboys. In the 1980's it was the Washington Redskins and the Cowboys, in the 1990's the New York Giants, Washington Redskins, and Dallas Cowboys won four consecutive Super Bowls from 1991 to 1994. In the 2000's the Philadelphia Eagles appeared in Super Bowl XXXIX, and the New York Giants won Super Bowl XLII in dramatic fashion. Where am I going with all this? The NFC East flat out dominates the NFL. They have won 11 Super Bowls and made an appearance in the big game 19 times. Two of the biggest rivalries in all of sports are sewn right through the heart of this division. Philadelphia/New York and Washington/Dallas are some of the fiercest rivalries in the game today. The players hate each other, the cities hate each other, and the fans hate each other. When these teams meet on the gridiron, it's more than just a game. In part one of this series, the history of these franchises will be analyzed.

1. The Dallas Cowboys


The team has appeared in more Super Bowls than any other team in history. With 8 Super Bowl Appearances and 5 Super Bowl wins, there's a reason why the claim to be "America's team." The team became members of the NFL in 1960, and won their first championship 12 years later in 1972. It became almost routine for the Cowboys and Steelers to meet in the Championship during the '70's under ledgendary coach Tom Landry. The team won 3 Super Bowls in the 1990's, but the light has dimmed for "America's team in recent years. Although always favored to win it all, the team always seems to come up short. The Cowboys have just 1 playoff win in the last 13 years.

2. The New York Giants

Although their trophy case might not be as colorful as the Cowboys, the Giants are the most recent champion from the NFC East. However, if Pre-Super Bowl Championships were included, the Giants would rank 2nd overall with 7 total NFL Championships. The Giants have been up and down throughout their franchise history. Their Super Bowl victories were in 1986 over Denver, 1990 over Buffalo, and in 2007 over the heavily-favored New England Patriots. In the 2007 season, the New England Patriots won 18 straight games and entered Super Bowl XLII undefeated. The New York Giants entered that same game as a Cinderella Wild Card team trying to pull off a miracle, and that they did, beating the Patriots 17-14 in the final seconds and dropping New England's perfect record to 18-1.

3. The Washington Redskins

One of the League's most historic teams got their first Super Bowl victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl XVII, and two more against Denver in 1988, and Buffalo in 1992. The team was led to all three victories under Hall of Fame Coach Joe Gibbs. Although the team has had much success in the past, it has struggled more than any of it's division rivals in recent years. The 2000's were not kind to the Redskins. They had only 3 playoff appearances in the past decade, and the closest they came to a Super Bowl was in 2005, losing to Seattle as one of the final 8 teams.

4. The Philadelphia Eagles

Not much can be said for the Eagles. Although they have had so much success over the years especially in the recent decade, they have never been able to muster a Super Bowl win. They are one of the most snake-bitten franchises in the history of the game. They have only appeared on the biggest stage twice, falling to Oakland in 1981, and a heartbreaking loss to New England in the 2004 season. They have the some of the most passionate fans in sports and have been long overdue in rewarding their fans a championship.

2:2 Options Anyone?

In the NFL today, there is a lot of talk about quarterbacks and how vital they are to a team, but what does a quarterback even do? Answer: He throws the ball to his receivers. So a team can have the best quarterback, but what good is he if that same team has terrible receivers who don't catch the ball? The Redskins signed Donovan McNabb earlier this offseason to be the cornerstone in a new offensive scheme for the 2010 season. McNabb is one of the best quarterbacks in the game today, but like I said earlier, what good is he if the Skins have bad receivers? Don't Worry. The Redskins are well aware of this. That is probably why they have 12 wide receivers trying out for only 6 spots on the team. They are from near and far, young and old, and both rookies and veterans alike are looking for a job in Washington. Santana Moss, Joey Galloway, Bobby Wade, and Mike Furrey stand in as the veterans at their position, but that doesn't exactly guarantee a spot on the team. Moss has been the Redskins' number one receiver for years, and it would be a big surprise for him not to make the squad. The two trying to keep their head above water are Galloway and Wade.


This picture brings back memories of better days for Redskins fans. In a nail-biting overtime game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Santana Moss caught his third touchdown of the game, and it was by far the biggest of the day. Possibly the best reception of his career. A 68-yard touchdown catch by Moss led the Redskins to a 36-30 overtime win of Jacksonville in October of 2007. A year stained by the loss of Sean Taylor, but also a year with a miracle season finish, and a trip to the playoffs for the Skins. Santana Moss, though small in stature, is big in heart. He has been embraced by the fans in Washington, and has been the Redskins deep threat since 2005. Whatever system is implemented this year on offense, Moss will most likely be at the head of the receiving corps. The two players that have been a member of the burgundy and gold that have their backs against the wall are Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly.


Thomas and Kelly were both draft picks for the Redskins in 2008, and both showed promise. However the two have been disappointing in their two years with Washington due to inexperience and injuries. Thomas had a breakout game last year against New Orleans (who would go on to win Super Bowl XLIV), but then slumped for the season's remaining games. Malcolm Kelly has so much potential at 6'4, but hasn't even been able to come up with one touchdown catch in his two year career. If the Redskins have any chance at advancing to the postseason this year, much will be reliant on the performances of these two players. Options for Donovan McNabb? Options for Washington? Only time will tell.

2:1 Get Lost

The moment of truth came for the Redskins' most highly paid player, Albert Haynesworth, who they picked up from the Tennessee Titans. When the Skins signed Haynesworth last year to a 7-year $100 million dollar contract, they expected results. They didn't see as much production from him as they had hoped for last year, but he did have a decent season last year. The biggest complaint from the Skins was his conditioning. They guy just wasn't in shape. It wasn't a surprise to see Haynesworth sitting on the bench gasping for breath and reaching for the oxygen. At the end of the 2009 season, it wouldn't be an understatement to say the team's performance was pretty pathetic. A lot of players were worried about their contracts and their jobs. Not Haynesworth. He was still sitting on his $100 million dollar deal. He should be a happy camper right? Not exactly. With the change in the Redskins' coaching staff, change in the Skins' defensive scheme came with it. Instead of a 4-3 defense which Haynesworth was accustomed to, the team is switching to a 3-4 defense. It's not too complicated to understand these systems. A 4-3 defense has 4 defensive linemen with their hands on the turf ready to rush the quarterback and 3 linebackers to protect anything that gets past the linemen. A 3-4 defense is different in that there are only 3 linemen with 4 linebackers behind them. With this switch, Albert Haynesworth's job would change from a pass rusher charging the quarterback and hoping for a sack to a nosetackle which isn't as exciting. A nosetackle doesn't get any stats or sacks, and this causes some problems for Fat Albert.



Big deal! What ever happened to the concept of TEAM! It isn't always about you Albert. If the Redskins are moving in a new direction and need you to adjust, then adjust! Especially when they're paying you $100 MILLION DOLLARS! I get it. Albert won't get as many stats playing nosetackle, and he's not happy about it. Despite the fact that he isn't being a team player, the Redskins offered Haynesworth a way out. He had until April 1st to fish for teams who would be interested in trading for him. He had the chance to put himself out on the market for a trade. He didn't. Instead, he waited until April 1st, led the Redskins to believe he was staying on the team, and then took a $21 million dollar check from the team. Well, mandatory camp came and went, but still no Haynesworth. If that's not stealing, what is? Now the Redskins are left with some decisions to make. According to this video released today, a trade is still an option,.....but only if he gives the $21 million back. Unfortunately, you have to watch the video on YouTube.



Like the video said, Albert Haynesworth is treading some dangerous waters by not showing up to the mandatory camp today. If the Redskins want to burn him, they have a very legitimate case against him. He could end up without a job, and without the money. However, maybe this is a blessing in disguise for Washington. For a team desperately trying to bond together around a new system, they need all hands on deck and all players focused on the common goal. Throwing a guy who is only concerned about himself into the mix might do more harm than good, despite his talent. In my opinion, get lost Albert Haynesworth.

1:3 Breeding Dinosaurs

Last year the Redskins ran into some problems when it came to running backs. In Week 9, Clinton Portis, the starting running back for Washington, suffered a season ending concussion that crippled the Redskins offense. This made the burgundy and gold reliant on their reserve back, Ladell Betts. On November 23, 2009, Betts too tore his ACL and MCL, putting the Skins in a rough spot with their 3rd and 4th-string backs, Rock Cartwright and Quinton Ganther. Although the two ball-carriers rose to the occasion and had good games as starters, the Redskins' running game suffered from injuries to both their backs and offensive line, which crippled their running game.



This offseason, the Redskins released Quinton Ganther, Rock Cartwright, and Ladell Betts. They signed Willie Parker from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Larry Johnson from the Kansas City Chiefs, and retained their starter Clinton Portis. Parker and Johnson were both starters last year for their franchises, however many assume that all three of these backs are past their prime and over the hill. Clinton Portis is an aging back, and in a position where you get the wind knocked out of you every time the ball is snapped, it takes it's tole over the years. However, I believe all three have life still left in them, especially Larry Johnson. Larry Johnson had some explosive plays in his years in Kansas City and has a lot of talent carrying the ball. Check out some highlights from just a few years ago.



Willie Parker is the youngest of all three backs for Washington, yet he is still considered by many to be past his prime. Parker has electric speed, and proved so on the biggest stage by running for a game-changing 75-yard touchdown in Super Bowl XL. He might not be among the best, but Parker's speed and talent might be enough to make a difference for Washington. Dinosaurs? Maybe they are, but they all have the opportunity for a rebirth. We'll have to see in August.

1:2 'Dey Signed Who?

Jimmy Clausen was the logical choice. I mean he seemed ready for the big leagues. Heck they were practically makin' Clausen jerseys in D.C. One thing was for certain, the Redskins were going after a new quarterback. With the fourth pick in the draft, they had a pretty good shot at getting a good QB from this year's draft class. Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, and Colt McCoy were all options, but the Skins had their eyes on the graduating quarterback from Notre Dame, Jimmy Clausen. All that seems like a distant memory now. On April 4th, the Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles agreed on the unthinkable trade of the Eagles' franchise quarterback for the past 11 seasons, Donovan McNabb, to Washington for just a second round draft pick.




The news was not only a shock to Philadelphia and Washington, but caught the entire league by surprise. The trade put to rest the question of Jason Campbell's future in Washington. Bringing in McNabb sealed the deal on Campbell, and within the month Campbell was under center taking snaps for the Oakland Raiders.



Now Jason Campbell didn't exactly get the credit he was due. In 2009, Campbell was accused of being indecisive and was criticized for lack of production in his 3 years as the Redskins' starting QB. I strongly disagree. In 2009, Campbell threw for 3,618 yards and 20 touchdowns. Yeah, it might be the best numbers, and compared to Super Bowl XLIV MVP Drew Brees, who threw for 4,388 yards and 34 touchdowns, his numbers seem low. However Drew Brees was surrounded by far superior talent, most importantly in his protection. Brees was sacked 20 times in 2009. Campbell was sacked 43 times. I would imagine if Drew Brees was protected by the same young and crippled offensive line as Campbell, his numbers would be the same if not lower than the former QB of the Washington Redskins. Jason Campbell leaves Washington with only best wishes from his former home.

Donovan McNabb. Enough said. Although he never brought home the Lombardi Trophy for Philadelphia, he did put them in contention to win it. He is the leader in every major passing category in the Eagles' franchise history. His credentials speak for themselves. Many in Washington only hope that the addition of McNabb at QB, Mike Shanahan's coaching abilities, and improvements to the offensive line will prove the antidote for the plague of losing that has infected Washington for over 10 years.





Speaking of the offensive line, the Redskins drafted and signed Trent "Silverback" Williams with the 4th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. Following the McNabb addition, any question of the Redskins signing a quarterback with their high draft pick was gone. They shifted their focus to offensive linemen Trent Williams and Russell Okung. Williams was chosen due to his athleticism and quickness which the Redskins felt was superior to Okung, who was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks. Like mentioned in the above video, Williams is charged with the responsibility of protecting Donovan McNabb in 2010. That's a tall order for a rookie, but these are the just some of the changes Washington is making in improving a broken team and restoring a winning tradition to the city of Washington D.C.

1:1 New Skins. More Wins?

Two years ago Joey Gibbs left the Washington Redskins a vacancy in the Head Coach office. Two years ago the Skins felt Jim Zorn was the way of the future bringing with him his West Coast Offense. Two years later, after Zorn’s 12-20 career in Washington and the Redskins’ faithful grieving the worst season in over a decade, the time has come for change. Did it really take this long for Redskins’ owner Dan Snyder to realize change was necessary? Change has been long overdue. Don’t believe me? Check out the Redskins’ season finishes over the past decade. It’s not been pretty, but last year was an embarrassment.


So it seemed the light finally came on for Dan Snyder on December 17, 2009. At that point the team was nearing the end of a disastrous season with a record of 4-9. On December 17, Bruce Allen, the son of former great Redskins coach George Allen, was introduced by Snyder as the new General Manager. This move was made following the resignation of Vinny Cerrato, the former executive vice president of the Skins. Cerrato was blamed by many fans as one of the main members responsible for the team’s disappointing season. Cerrato was the one who fought to bring Jim Zorn in as head coach. Now don’t get me wrong, Zorn was a great guy who was full of class, but he didn’t know how to coach a football team. Bruce Allen was brought in mid-season to evaluate the team and in many ways represented a new era in Washington. I thought it was a good move as Allen has made some pretty good changes to bring back a winning tradition to the franchise.


Jim Zorn. Lot’s of us loved him. Many of us hated him. Whatever the case, all of us knew it was time for him to move on from head coach. Unfortunately, a record of 12-20 isn’t the way to end a two year career. We all remember this play in one of the final games of the 2009 season, a 45-12 thrashing of the Redskins by the New York Giants.



Wow. When your losing 24-0 and you have a chance to put up 3 points with 0:02 seconds left in the half, you gotta put up some points! Do it for the fans! By far, it was voted one of the worst plays run by a team in League History. As pathetic as it was, that play was a summation of the 2009 season for Washington. Poor coaching, poor decisions, poor defense, and poor blocking were the story of the 2009 Washington Redskins.Although it was somewhat bittersweet to see Zorn go, everyone in Washington knew it was the start of a new era, and the beginning of change. Change not only in coaching, but also with players on the field. Mike Shanahan was introduced as Jim Zorn's replacement at Head Coach in early January of 2010. It was the first big addition to the franchise the Redskins would make in the 2010 offseason. It would not be the last.