The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

It sure didn't take long for Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen to begin remaking the Washington Redskins.

The changes have been swift and widespread in the 2 1/2 months since Shanahan was hired as the team's coach and executive vice president. He's been working alongside Allen, the new general manager, in the aftermath of a 4-12 season under the now-departed Jim Zorn and Vinny Cerrato.

``There's a new sheriff in town,'' former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann said in a telephone interview Thursday. ``Make no bones about it, Mike is going to run that ship in a very tight, disciplined way, and everyone will be held accountable.''

There's the overhaul of the staff of assistants, a planned switch to a 3-4 defense, 100 percent attendance at voluntary offseason workouts this week - the sorts of things that might be expected.

Less anticipated? The suddenly measured approach to free agency under free-spending owner Dan Snyder, especially considering there is no salary cap.

``Everybody said, 'It's a non-capped year. Boy, those Washington Redskins, they're going to go out and spend, spend, spend, spend, spend,''' Theismann said. ``But it's one thing to have the ability to go and do it. It's another to be able to have the patience to figure out what you need and do it the right way.''

As someone who came to the Redskins as a free agent himself, starting linebacker London Fletcher is familiar with how the team tends to operate in the offseason.

Not this time around, though.

`They always knew how to create excitement or anticipation during free agency in years past,'' Fletcher said at Redskins Park. ``But it's a new regime here now.''

Instead of getting a LaDainian Tomlinson or Julius Peppers, say, the Redskins began the free-agent signing period with these pickups: offensive lineman Artis Hicks, who started only 13 games over the last three seasons with the Vikings; nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu, who spent last season on injured reserve with the Panthers; and tight end Sean Ryan, who has two touchdown catches in six NFL seasons.

``I guess it was a breath of fresh air, so to speak. Not thinking, 'Oh, here we go again, same old situation, going out, trying to buy a championship,''' Fletcher said. ``So by them not doing that, being very deliberate in their approach to free agency, targeting the guys that they wanted to target, I was definitely excited about the way they approached it.''

Washington recently added running back Larry Johnson and quarterback Rex Grossman, two players who could push incumbent starters Clinton Portis and Jason Campbell, respectively.

Still, Johnson only was given a base pay of $3.5 million over three seasons, while Grossman got a one-year deal. Hardly the big-bucks payouts given to guys such as Deion Sanders and Adam Archuleta in the past, not to mention the $100 million, seven-year contract with $41 million guaranteed that defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth received a year ago.

``They're being very judicious ...

1niksder wrote:Quick changes for Redskins under Shanahan, Allen

It sure didn't take long for Mike Shanahan and Bruce Allen to begin remaking the Washington Redskins.

The changes have been swift and widespread in the 2 1/2 months since Shanahan was hired as the team's coach and executive vice president. He's been working alongside Allen, the new general manager, in the aftermath of a 4-12 season under the now-departed Jim Zorn and Vinny Cerrato.

``There's a new sheriff in town,'' former Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann said in a telephone interview Thursday. ``Make no bones about it, Mike is going to run that ship in a very tight, disciplined way, and everyone will be held accountable.''

There's the overhaul of the staff of assistants, a planned switch to a 3-4 defense, 100 percent attendance at voluntary offseason workouts this week - the sorts of things that might be expected.

Less anticipated? The suddenly measured approach to free agency under free-spending owner Dan Snyder, especially considering there is no salary cap.

``Everybody said, 'It's a non-capped year. Boy, those Washington Redskins, they're going to go out and spend, spend, spend, spend, spend,''' Theismann said. ``But it's one thing to have the ability to go and do it. It's another to be able to have the patience to figure out what you need and do it the right way.''

As someone who came to the Redskins as a free agent himself, starting linebacker London Fletcher is familiar with how the team tends to operate in the offseason.

Not this time around, though.

`They always knew how to create excitement or anticipation during free agency in years past,'' Fletcher said at Redskins Park. ``But it's a new regime here now.''

Instead of getting a LaDainian Tomlinson or Julius Peppers, say, the Redskins began the free-agent signing period with these pickups: offensive lineman Artis Hicks, who started only 13 games over the last three seasons with the Vikings; nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu, who spent last season on injured reserve with the Panthers; and tight end Sean Ryan, who has two touchdown catches in six NFL seasons.

``I guess it was a breath of fresh air, so to speak. Not thinking, 'Oh, here we go again, same old situation, going out, trying to buy a championship,''' Fletcher said. ``So by them not doing that, being very deliberate in their approach to free agency, targeting the guys that they wanted to target, I was definitely excited about the way they approached it.''

Washington recently added running back Larry Johnson and quarterback Rex Grossman, two players who could push incumbent starters Clinton Portis and Jason Campbell, respectively.

Still, Johnson only was given a base pay of $3.5 million over three seasons, while Grossman got a one-year deal. Hardly the big-bucks payouts given to guys such as Deion Sanders and Adam Archuleta in the past, not to mention the $100 million, seven-year contract with $41 million guaranteed that defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth received a year ago.

``They're being very judicious ...

So Cal Skin Dude wrote:ahhh...

Another non-beleiver. Yep, willl have to wait and see, but tell you what in 2.5 months I have already seen plenty.

No worries, we'll see how drafting goes, training camp, etc.

One thing that I cannot figure out with most of the THN posters; we have been clamoring for legit GM for over 10 years now, and we finally have one and it seems as though the posters are still having a wait and see attitude.

Let's get excited, the recent pick-ups would have NEVER have teane place with SnyderRatto. Never.

But, I digress.

Hail!!

crazyhorse1 wrote:Allen is not a legit GM. He was fired from the only GM position he ever had and has developed a reputation as a good executive but a poor judge of football talent. In a word, he's a "suit." Shany was also fired from the last job and been out of a job for awhile. The reason: poor personnel evaluation and failure to build the team. These are not two proven guys in regard to building a team. They are trying to redeam themselves.

TincoSkin wrote:the proof is in the pudding. lets wait till the season starts

crazyhorse1 wrote:
Allen is not a legit GM. He was fired from the only GM position he ever had and has developed a reputation as a good executive but a poor judge of football talent. In a word, he's a "suit."

crazyhorse1 wrote: Shany was also fired from the last job and been out of a job for awhile.

crazyhorse1 wrote:The reason: poor personnel evaluation and failure to build the team.

crazyhorse1 wrote:These are not two proven guys in regard to building a team. They are trying to redeam themselves.