There is a growing sense of dread in Redskins Nation.<\/p>\n
No\u2026 it has nothing to do with the growing realization that this season needs to be spoken of in the past tense.<\/p>\n
While painful, it is not about the likely loss of one of the best LT\u2019s to the potential of a spinal injury.<\/p>\n
Chris Cooley will be fine\u2026 so, no, not that either.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the growing realization that Snyder REALLY doesn\u2019t get it. That his minions have him so isolated that, not only is he not functioning as a competent owner, but he doesn\u2019t even know that he has completely lost the fan base. Snyder is obviously willing to spend the money. He obviously wants to win so badly he can taste it. Yet, he remains prisoner to the simple fact that he is not a football man. He must depend upon “football men” for their insights and judgements. Sooo… what about his “football man”?<\/p>\n
Snyder built his millions through his marketing skill. Who the hell thought that it would be a good idea to play petty games with the faithful\u2019s ability to express themselves at FedEx? Is that the mark of a marketing mind, Mr Snyder? Do marketing geniuses truly make their millions by infuriating their customer base? Who knew???<\/p>\n
Who is advising you that further insulting the fans with clearly suspect lines about concern for fan safety is an effective means of explaning your operation’s cynical effort to suppress fan expressions of anger? Ummm… did it work, Mr Snyder?<\/p>\n
So, now you have the flames of fan dissent stoked up. People are angry, Mr Snyder, and it isn’t getting any better.<\/p>\n
But it\u2019s nothing compared to what will happen if there are no major changes in the front office at Redskins Park. There is a palpable sense that Dan Snyder doesn’t view Vinnie as part of the problem. We can see it in the way Cerrato continues to peddle his ludicrous \u201cwe gave Zorn a team that had playoff portential\u201d pap. He remains confident\u2026 sure of himself\u2026 unconcerned. There are two possiblities, here… either he completely delusional, or he is feeling very secure, because you have given him reason.<\/p>\n
Not good. Look, even if it were true that Cerrato is blameless (funny, huh?), he is still \u201cfruit of the poisoned tree\u201d\u2026 damaged goods.<\/p>\n
If he doesn\u2019t go, if there aren’t substantial changes, if Snyder doesn’t give us reason for real hope… not the superficial promises and flash in the pan expenditures of the past… REAL hope… there will be a fan revolt. Here’s the thing, Mr. Snyder… you may own the team…<\/p>\n
But it belongs to us… are you worthy of being the caretaker of our team? Not looking good. We are officially a source of jokes. The sad fans of our NFC East rivals smile at our good fortune, and weep at the damage done to the rivalrys of old. The rich history of the Redskins cannot possibly absorb the insults being visited as a result of the buffoonery of this season’s collapse. No longer does the football world look at the Redskins, and feel respect. More often than not, they feel pity. They feel sadness. Some even feel contempt. They see a hole in the great legacy. You don’t have to look or listen hard to find it. It’s there. It’s all over.<\/p>\n
We are fast approaching the point where the management is painting the team into a corner. This WILL have an effect on the team’s ability to recruit potential coaches… While Gruden sounded like he was auditioning for the job during the Monday night broadcast of the debacle against the Eagles, does anyone really believe that he would be happy working for another hands on owner? He is quite candid, and very emotional… Snyder would know exactly what he thinks… all the time. I don’t see Mr Snyder being happy with that, either. Mike Holmgren was astonishingly candid regarding his opinion of how Zorn has been treated by the team… and it does not bode well for his candidacy… Cower seemed to find suggestions that his name should be in the running to be laughable. I don’t see this situation getting any better anytime soon. Honestly… does the owner? What is he going to do about it? I haven’t seen a hint of damage control. It may not be possible to convince a solid GM or Coach to come here. Respect, once lost, is very difficult to regain.<\/p>\n
There is a hole in my heart, Mr Snyder. Thousands of us, Redskins fans, share that pain. You broke it. You fix it. You, and your friends, have just really screwed this up. Stop sending out your messengers, seeking to blame the Post, reporters with an agenda, fans with an agenda… bloggers with an agenda… Dude… the Post’s agenda has been there for most of a decade. We saw that. You got the benefit of the doubt… for years. You didn’t loose most of the rest of us until this year. No one to blame but you.<\/p>\n
Clean it up, and make it work again. Your ownership legacy is not beyond salvaging… yet. You must clean house on the football side. Find a competent General Manager (COUGH! Chris Polian COUGH!), with a solid NFL pedigree. Give that person the reins. Let them rebuild the football operation. Bring back the respect. It will hurt. There will be changes that some of us don’t want to see. There will be changes that some of us will celebrate. It must be that way. It’s just how it is.<\/p>\n
I just don’t have any confidence that Mr Snyder will figure this out. None. He is, whether he knows it or not, poisoning the well.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"