Whats several million dollars to gamble on Jackson for 2 years. If he becomes a cancer in the locker room, whats a few million dollars to lose. With RG3, Garcon, Morris, Reed and now Jackson, thats alot of firepower and puts them back in the game for the NFC East title. With the Jackson signing, and the signing of a few other guys, like Hatcher, Clark and Roberts, I think they have done a decent job in this off season signing guys that will help the team. They still have the draft coming up and although they dont have a #1 pick, they have been pretty good with the #4 pick the past 2 years with Morris and Reed.
This is the Redskins. The cost of things matters to us no more than it does to that other big team in DC; The US Gummint. There IS no gamble when it comes to money. We'll just find more.
As for actually winning, like good governance, that's not the goal. The goal, as in governance, is the appearance of trying to win while the real goal is putting on a show.
The Redskins certainly have been weak at receiver. No doubt. However, we're not a winning team, like, for example, the Patriots, set at quarterback, good on defense, solid coaching and stability, adding a Randy Moss as a finishing tough.
Look at the Seahawks. They obliterated a decent team that thought it was only a piece or two away when they got Manning. Obliterated. Look at the Ravens. 49'ers. Saint's. Any of the teams that have been good for awhile. The Pat's. Steelers. Giants.
Now, look at the teams that are knocking on the door; Falcons, Panthers, Bengals, Chargers, Packers. Throw in the Eagles who just flat out cut Jackson. The Chiefs.
What do we have in common with any of them? We do not have a proven quarterback. We're not a noted defensive power. We have zero stability and consistency in coaching with yet more turnover. We haven't been sending much of anyone to the pro bowl year after year.
Now, look at the downside. Besides a brand new head coach, we've kept a D coordinator for reasons that escape me. Our best player, period, Fletcher, is retiring and, before that, our best player the last few years, Fletcher, was in his mid 30's. No one thinks of our defense as a team capable of dealing with a Bronco's or Pat's or any other superior offense. That's not going to change because we added a fast guy at WR. Adding a past prime Ryan Clark sure isn't going to change it either. On offense, a mediocre O line that allowed a mobile QB to go down over 40 times is not in ANY conversation with the elite teams. And our special teams looks more like the special Olympics.
The really good teams have stable ownership that is willing to take time to build and make the tough choices to keep the thing going. They have good systems in place for fining good draft picks and solid FA's that fit needs. They have stability at coaching. They have premier QB's, solid O and D lines and depth on both sides at skill positions as well as solid special teams.
We are a sizzle team. Not a steak team. Can we get better? Of course. Anyone can. Especially bottom of the barrel teams that have much easier schedules after bad years. However, if we go, say, 8-8 next year or even make the playoffs somehow, then, we're facing teams that are used to the playoffs and used to playing tougher schedules because they built teams to get there. Over time. And stay there. As much as the NFL has done a good job of making sure every team has a chance the first third or even half of the season, there are still the top teams who, consistently, are there at the end, the middle teams that are knocking on the door and the cellar teams that might make the playoffs once in awhile but, lack the prerequisites to stay there.
The Pats had the structure to deal with enormous personalities. They can add a difficult guy with baggage, a Blount or whomever. Can we? Should be entertaining finding out and, after all, that's the point around here.
