What is going on with the Washington Redskins? The team that is usually on a spending spree at this time of year has only signed one big name player—running back Larry Johnson—and he does not seem to be a big part of the team’s future.
Since Dan Snyder bought the Redskins, the team has won the offseason battle almost every year. In 2000, the Redskins signed future Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders to a seven-year $56 million contract after he was released by the Dallas Cowboys. It would have been a great signing, if Sanders hadn’t been 33 years old at the time and in the declining stages of his career. It would have been even better had he not retired after a year with the team.
In that same offseason, the team signed Hall of Fame defensive end Bruce Smith. Much like the Sanders signing, Bruce was old and his carrier was in decline. That said, somehow the Redskins rewarded him with a five year, $25 million contract shortly after he was released by the Buffalo Bills.
Where are signings like these this year? Are we sure these are the Washington Redskins?
So far this offseason, a few players who are past their primes have signed with other teams. In the old days, LaDainian Tomlinson would have had a 10-year $100 million contract from the Skins waiting for him immediately after he was released by the San Diego Chargers. Of course, by old days this means last offseason. This year, however, they passed over the aging running back and signed Johnson.
It’s not only the old guys the Redskins have signed over the years. They have also given some money to younger players who are highly overrated. A solid example is when they signed wide receiver Antwaan Randle El to a seven-year $31 million contract the year after he caught 35 passes for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Yes, you are reading correctly, the Redskins gave him nearly a million dollars per catch. Of course, the fact he threw a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl may have had something to do with it.
Randle El was a solid player for the Steelers. He never put up amazing numbers, but he helped the team on special teams and on trick plays because he played quarterback for Indiana in college. However, there is no way the Redskins can possibly justify giving that kind of money to a receiver who had never had a year with 1,000 yards receiving. Randle El was mediocre in his four years in D.C. and was released by the team last month.
Last year, the Skins signed 28-year-old defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to a seven-year $100 million contract. There is no doubt that when he plays — and plays with any kind of motivation — he may be the best defensive player in the NFL. However, he is not healthy enough to justify that kind of money. In his first year with the Redskins, Haynesworth played 12 games for the Redskins. When he did play, he was constantly on the ground after the whistle had blown. Not necessarily because he was injured, but because he was often tired. Which is why Redskin Hall of Fame quarterback and Redskins color commentator Sonny Jurgensen would not stop talking about how out of shape Haynesworth looked. In reality, why should he stay in shape? What is his motivation? It isn’t winning, because if that were his motivation, he would not have signed with the Washington Redskins. He does not have to play inspired football, because even if he gets cut, he has $41 million guaranteed.
This year, there is none of that. Go to the rumors section of ESPN.com or Profootballtalk.com and you will see that the name Redskins is essentially nonexistent. In the last 10 years, if you looked at rumors in the NFL offseason you would have seen a towel boy being potentially signed to a multi-million dollar contract by the Redskins.
Amazingly, it seems that after a decade of mistake after mistake in every aspect of the organization, Dan Snyder is doing what he should have done a long time ago: sitting back, shutting up and allowing football people to make football decisions. After all, this is the actual NFL, not a fantasy football league. You cannot just sign a bunch of big name players and expect to win.
In the middle of last season, the Redskins’ team president and “yes man” Vinny Cerrato resigned after the team was out of playoff contention early. The team then hired Bruce Allen, the team’s first general manager of the Snyder era. Shortly after his hiring, Allen brought in two-time Super Bowl winning coach Mike Shanahan.
These two bring a changing of the guard in D.C. It marks the era of no more multimillion dollar contracts for declining or mediocre football players and no more trading draft picks for nobodies. In a few years this could resemble a well-run football team, if they continue to make smart moves that is.
You can reach this writer at sports@theeagleonline.com.
