The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

In another thread, someone mentioned the "questionables" from this past draft. They included N. Paul and A. Robinson... and it got me thinking...

When was the last time the Redskins drafted an actual productive receiver... for the Redskins (important to note)?

I was thinking Rod Gardner?? Then I realized who it was... then I went... ... read on...

Check out the WRs picked by the Skins over the last 20 seasons... YIKES.

'11 - Hankerson = Hopefully!!??
'11 - Paul = No
'11 - Robinson = No
'10 - Austin = No
'09 - M. Mitchell = No
'08 - D. Thomas = No
'08 - M. Kelly = No
'03 - T. Jacobs = No
'02 - C. Russell = No
'01 - D. McCants = No
'01 - R. Gardner = 2nd best... I Guess??
'00 - E. Howell - You guys remember Ethan Howell, right?
'99 - T. Alexander = Ummmm...
'98 - P. Palmer - This is getting ridiculous
'97 - A. Connell - Wow.... one I recognize!
'96 - D. Maxwell - ... nevermind
'95 - M. Westbrook - The BEST receiver drafted in the last 20 years???
'94 - T. Winans - Yes, that Tydus Winans
'92 - T. Smith - Terry Smith... not to be confused with Torrey Smith
'92 - D. Howard - Great Pick! Super Bowl hero! ... for someone else. Oops.

So that gives us a top 5 over the past 20 years of selecting WRs as...
1. Michael Westbrook - 4,200 yds & 24 TDs over his 7 year Redskins career... He'd be #1 on the list if this were MMA rankings as well, BTW
2. Rod Gardner - 3,000 yds & 22 TDs in his 4 year Redskins career
3. Albert Connell - One good season in '99 - 1,100+yds and he's #3
4. Leonard Hankerson - Yes, I'd say he's already #4.... that has more to do with our picks than his "career" thus far
5. Desmond Howard - 700yd/5 TD season with rookie H. Shuler, J. Friesz, & rookie G. Ferrotte at the helm automatically puts him at #5

Again... YIKES. But you know what I realized... it was the Keenan McCardell curse!! We drafted him in 12th round (yes 12th round) in the 1991 draft... then dumped him before he could play one game. He went on to a productive career elsewhere, then came back and stuck it to us again as a WR coach (to make sure our draft picks Austin, Paul, & Robinson got no targets!!)

I know there's talk about Justin Blackmon or Michael Floyd in the 1st Round in April...

If we do grab one of those guys... Someone find the magic to break the McCardell curse! I assume firing him MAY be bad mojo?? Or maybe that breaks it!! Stay tuned!!

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

I think the answer lies in the question below and has a huge part of why that list exists.








When was the last time the Redskins drafted an actual productive quarter back?

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

Hey now... in the past 20 years we've had Mark Rypien, Brad Johnson, Rich Gannon, Jeff Hostetler, Trent Green, Jeff George, Mark Brunell...

None of them are Hall of Famers... but some of those guys were good enough to not make our drafted WRs terrible (i.e. they made other teams' WRs look good when they played there)... if you know what I mean.

I still blame McCardell.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

I think that it is a lil premature to call Hankerson, Paul, Robinson, and Austin failures. They need to be developed.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=diehardskin2982;877165]I think that it is a lil premature to call Hankerson, Paul, Robinson, and Austin failures. They need to be developed.[/quote]

I guess I should have been more clear...

Hankerson (with the one 100yd game + potential) I ranked as the 4th best WR we've drafted in the past 20 years...

The other three... in 2011:

T. Austin - 12 rec / 137 yds
N. Paul - 2 rec / 25 yds
A. Robinson - 0 rec / 0 yds

They may turn out to be something... but they didn't do anything this year (a season where D. Stallworth was released, came back and played over them)... heck, depending on what we do at WR this offseason, one or two of the three may be done in the NFL... that was the point.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=Hail to the Redskins;877164]Hey now... in the past 20 years we've had Mark Rypien, Brad Johnson, Rich Gannon, Jeff Hostetler, Trent Green, Jeff George, Mark Brunell...

None of them are Hall of Famers... but some of those guys were good enough to not make our drafted WRs terrible (i.e. they made other teams' WRs look good when they played there)... if you know what I mean.

I still blame McCardell.[/quote]

But the question was regarding the drafting of a productive QB, so everyone on your list is excluded except for Mark Rypien. And of course everybody knows that Mark was the last QB to lead us to the Super Bowl! And where was he taken in the draft? Sixth round if memory serves me correctly. No need to mortgage the future to pick a QB in the first round!

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=redskin29633;877170]But the question was regarding the drafting of a productive QB, so everyone on your list is excluded except for Mark Rypien. And of course everybody knows that Mark was the last QB to lead us to the Super Bowl! And where was he taken in the draft? Sixth round if memory serves me correctly. No need to mortgage the future to pick a QB in the first round![/quote]

He wasn't a franchise QB though

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=tryfuhl;877172]He wasn't a franchise QB though[/quote]

Nope, just a winner.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=redskin29633;877170]But the question was regarding the drafting of a productive QB, so everyone on your list is excluded except for Mark Rypien. And of course everybody knows that Mark was the last QB to lead us to the Super Bowl! And where was he taken in the draft? Sixth round if memory serves me correctly. No need to mortgage the future to pick a QB in the first round![/quote]

I understood the question... I was just saying that the WRs we drafted didn't suck because of our QBs... they were just... no good. That's what the thread is about... us drafting poor NFL WRs.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=Hail to the Redskins;877176]I understood the question... I was just saying that the WRs we drafted didn't suck because of our QBs... they were just... no good. That's what the thread is about... us drafting poor NFL WRs.[/quote]

And I get that point, but as NC Skins pointed out the answer to the question of why our drafted WR's have been mostly busts can be attributed to our failure to acquire a productive QB in the draft.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

Didn't Albert Cornell get caught stealing out of somebodys lockr? I always liked James Thrash

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

Yeah, we haven't had a good WR, but nor had we had a good QB.

I know we're not gonna get him, but I would trade 4 firsts for Luck, because I really feel like If you hit on the right QB, he makes the whole team better...I think Luck is that QB.

As for WR's, I would love to have Blackmon, but that is about as likely of us getting Luck. I could see us getting Alshon if all our QB's are gone. I like Alshon more than Floyd. Floyd I feel will be another 'has potential' guy that is going to be a f#ck up in the league.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=CrustyRedskin;877179]Didn't Albert Cornell get caught stealing out of somebodys lockr? I always liked James Thrash[/quote]

Supposedly, when Albert went to New Orleans, he stole $4,000 from Deuce McAllister. Not sure if it was proven or not, but the Saints released him.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=Hail to the Redskins;877167]I guess I should have been more clear...

Hankerson (with the one 100yd game + potential) I ranked as the 4th best WR we've drafted in the past 20 years...

The other three... in 2011:

T. Austin - 12 rec / 137 yds
N. Paul - 2 rec / 25 yds
A. Robinson - 0 rec / 0 yds

They may turn out to be something... but they didn't do anything this year (a season where D. Stallworth was released, came back and played over them)... heck, depending on what we do at WR this offseason, one or two of the three may be done in the NFL... that was the point.[/quote]

Agree, you can't say this guys are busts till given a proper chance next year and with a better QB than Grossman.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

Albert Connell is perhaps the worst Redskin I ever had the misfortune of meeting. He's the kind of guy that makes media people covering their favorite team growing up no longer like that team

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=redskin29633;877177]And I get that point, but as NC Skins pointed out the answer to the question of why our drafted WR's have been mostly busts can be attributed to our failure to acquire a productive QB in the draft.[/quote]

I understand completely... If we had drafted Tom Brady, our receivers over the past 10 years may have had better careers. But I mentioned who has been here slinging it around, and some weren't terrible.

Santana Moss has had a good career here with some weak QBs, but he wasn't our draft... the opportunity to have his success has been there for our drafted bunch.

I guess I should have said better that Rod Gardner, Michael Westbrook, Albert Connell, Desmond Howard (I'm talking about 4 of our "top 5" over the past 20 years here) went on to do [U]NOTHING[/U] for other teams after leaving.

Gardner and Connell were here only 3-4 years, left, and did nothing elsewhere.

Westbrook was here 6, left, and nothing.

Howard... great returner for the Packers... terrible/no stats at WR.

If they went on to stellar careers elsewhere, yes, blame our QBs... but their receiving careers evaporated after leaving.

The skins have pretty much had no big time players in the past 15 years, the only true star IMO was champ. Lavar was good for a few years I guess and chris samuels that's it.. I'd say Sean if he could have played longer

#HTTR

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=Hail to the Redskins;877192]I understand completely... If we had drafted Tom Brady, our receivers over the past 10 years may have had better careers. But I mentioned who has been here slinging it around, and some weren't terrible.

[B]Gardner and Connell were here only 3-4 years, left, and did nothing elsewhere.

Westbrook was here 6, left, and nothing.

Howard... great returner for the Packers... terrible/no stats at WR.

If they went on to stellar careers elsewhere, yes, blame our QBs... but their receiving careers evaporated after leaving.[/quote][/B]

Absolutely right, many of them were lousy. I remember a game late in his Redskin career when Gardner was actually hit square in the head with a pass. How in the world does that happen? I knew he was finished as a Redskin when that play happened. I think he must have gotten soft or comfortable or something, but he did not finish his career well. Same for Connell and Westbrook. Plus Westbrook beats the crap out of Stephen Davis in training camp one year. Hurt him badly as I recall. Just a bad group of misfits that were never really disciplined. Having said that, I tend to be a "players" guy. I like them and tend to side with them, and maybe because of that, I tend to think there was no leadership on those teams, either on the sideline or under center. To me the QB has to be the coach on the field; he is largely responsible for insitilling some professionalism in his group. You know, like working with receivers in the offseason. I have to beleive there was not much of that going on during that era, so I cast some of the blame in the direction of the QB's, coaches, and management.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=SmootSmack;877187]Albert Connell is perhaps the worst Redskin I ever had the misfortune of meeting. He's the kind of guy that makes media people covering their favorite team growing up no longer like that team[/quote]

Do tell Smack, give us a good Albert Connell story for a Friday!!!

BTW: Im a huge Kid fan wore number 8 all through HS, sad, prayers be with him.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=SmootSmack;877187]Albert Connell is perhaps the worst Redskin I ever had the misfortune of meeting. He's the kind of guy that makes media people covering their favorite team growing up no longer like that team[/quote]

While I'm not really shocked by this; it still did make me think "Good Lord!!"

Also, I think it shall be my signature going forward

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=CrustyRedskin;877260]Do tell Smack, give us a good Albert Connell story for a Friday!!!

BTW: Im a huge Kid fan wore number 8 all through HS, sad, prayers be with him.[/quote]

Kid? Who are you talking about?

Anyway, it's been more than 10 years since I had to deal with him and I don't really have any single story. He was just a total dick to everyone. I mean I've said my piece about Darrell Green. But at least with him it was just like I'm going to be rude to you for a minute and then leave you alone so long as you leave me alone. With Connell it was like berating and belittling. Like you ask him a question and he wanted to let you know that you're a sorry sack of sh** too pathetic to breathe the same air he does. So you say fine, whatever, and move on to talk to someone else. But then he follows you around to let you know how pathetic he thinks you are. And it's not like these were "questions from the media" sometimes it was just "hey what's up" And he would get into shouting matches with everyone-media, players, coaches.

Back then I worked with quite a few people who really decided they would no longer be Redskins fans after having to deal with people like him. I kind of made the decision at the onset that if I was going to get involved in the everyday business of the Redskins I had to accept that they were all human and some reality would sink in about some of the players (and some pleasant surprises as well) and I wasn't going to let that impact how I reacted to the team as a whole on the field (took a similar approach when I went to work for ESPN). Sure sometimes I'll see a player score and think "Yay Redskins!...but boo that jerk wearing a Redskins jersey"

He was what people assume Michael Westbrook to have been. When in reality, I actually really enjoyed talking to Westbrook...until the camera started rolling. Then it was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde with him

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

Here you go. Here's an article where Connell basicall admits his jerkitude

[url=http://articles.dailypress.com/1999-08-06/news/9908060221_1_redskins-training-receivers-coach-terry-robiskie-bad-attitude]Improved Attitude Leaves Connell Mentally, Physically Ready For Redskins - Daily Press[/url]

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=SmootSmack;877293]Kid? Who are you talking about?[/quote]

You had Gary Carter as your user title

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=Mattyk;877296]You had Gary Carter as your user title[/quote]

Oh right. I thought he was talking about some Redskin...or Kid Rock

Yeah it's tragic what's happening to Carter. Such a shame.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

Aside from the QB position, this has been my biggest area of frustration with the Redskins for a number of years. It's been awful watching seemingly every other team in the league, have a frontline receiver who is capable of taking over games. Even outside of the stud, early round picks it was maddening this season to see Victor Cruz and Laurent Robinson balling while we had Anthony Armstrong have passes bounce off his helmet. Some of it is QB related for sure, but we've done a terrible job of identifying and evaluating the WR position for decades.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=SmootSmack;877294]Here you go. Here's an article where Connell basicall admits his jerkitude

[url=http://articles.dailypress.com/1999-08-06/news/9908060221_1_redskins-training-receivers-coach-terry-robiskie-bad-attitude]Improved Attitude Leaves Connell Mentally, Physically Ready For Redskins - Daily Press[/url][/quote]

Really nice story on Connell, but I suppose it was all part of his personal PR scam to get the big contract as a free agent. New Orleans gave him $12 million and lured him away from Washington for the 2001 season, as I recall. Supposedly, Connell then steals $4K from Deuce McAllister. Whatever the details were, the Saints ended up releasing Albert after just the one season in New Orleans, and Albert never plays in the NFL again. What an absolute waste of talent! Here's hoping Connell has somehow managed to straighten out his life.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

On the flip side we've hit on some WRs through free agency or trade.

Moss, Ellard, Gaffney, Coles, etc.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=redskin29633;877317]Really nice story on Connell, but I suppose it was all part of his personal PR scam to get the big contract as a free agent. New Orleans gave him $12 million and lured him away from Washington for the 2001 season, as I recall. Supposedly, Connell then steals $4K from Deuce McAllister. Whatever the details were, the Saints ended up releasing Albert after just the one season in New Orleans, and Albert never plays in the NFL again. What an absolute waste of talent! Here's hoping Connell has somehow managed to straighten out his life.[/quote]

Yeah I dealt with him after all this article...and he was no better

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=Mattyk;877318]On the flip side we've hit on some WRs through free agency or trade.

Moss, Ellard, Gaffney, Coles, etc.[/quote]

I really enjoyed Coles during his time in Washington. He was strong and could make catches in traffic. You almost never saw him put the ball on the ground after a catch. Ultimately, I guess he was more of a possession receiver and lacked the speed and big play capability that Washington wanted. I have enjoyed Moss as well, but I hated giving up Coles at the time. I think the two of them would have made a terrific pass catching combination.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

M. Westbrook was a good WR, just not as much as you would expect for a struggling franchise that drafted him 3rd overall. If he'd been drafted in the 3rd round or so, we'd say the dude was a good pick. He was ideally a #2 wr, and when R. Gardner played well that was a decent, but not scary, pair of wr's.

but I totally get what Hail to Skins is saying, it's a boom/bust position in the draft & we've been more bust than boom. Most disappointing to me was D. Howard, I so wanted him to be the next great member of the posse & keep that tradition alive. After that the 08 class really let us down, especially now that we look back to who else was available.

So far give Shanny some credit; he got Hankerson in 3rd & he appears to be good value. Paul in the 5th has contributed as well, I have high hopes for him as a decent #3 or 4 that can make 30-40 catches next year & get YAC. Already know he's a solid spec. teams guy & great blocker.

I really don't think a FA wr is needed, get Hank healthy & add a draft pick or two, that unit is on its way to being servicable.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

Westbrook had that breakout season in '99 and seemed to be on his way, but he just wasn't the same after his knee injury in '00. I don't think he had a ton of passion for the game either. I recall reading that he wasn't even a fan of football.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

yea i knew immediately last pre-season, not this, when cruz was still wearing #9 that he was gonna be a beast... he just looked faster then everybody else and his agility gives him the freedom to get open ALOT...

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=Mattyk;877329]Westbrook had that breakout season in '99 and seemed to be on his way, but he just wasn't the same after his knee injury in '00. I don't think he had a ton of passion for the game either. I recall reading that he wasn't even a fan of football.[/quote]

Hey Matty, if its not too far off topic, what was the deal between Westbrook and Davis. I remember the nasty fight, and Westbrook beating the crap out of Davis, but I dont recall what it was all about.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

i think he called him a homo, or questioned his sexual orientation

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=redskin29633;877333]Hey Matty, if its not too far off topic, what was the deal between Westbrook and Davis. I remember the nasty fight, and Westbrook beating the crap out of Davis, but I dont recall what it was all about.[/quote]

I'm not sure, but I think it was because Stephen Davis was taunting Michael Westbrook, calling him homo or something to that effect. Westbrook didn't just sucker punch Davis, he beat the crap out of him!

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

Here's a link to the story of Michael Westbrook:

[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/columns/story?columnist=yasinskas_pat&id=3335714]There's no room for football in Westbrook's heart - NFL - ESPN[/url]

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

that fight was the sames season ('99) Davis and the rest of the offense for that matter were beasting it...

everyone was mostly honkey dory after that brawl if I remember correctly.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=skinsguy;877343]Here's a link to the story of Michael Westbrook:

[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/columns/story?columnist=yasinskas_pat&id=3335714]There's no room for football in Westbrook's heart - NFL - ESPN[/url][/quote]

That's a good story about a football career gone bad. The helmet slam was part of a major Redskin meltdown, and it really does reflect the opinion that many have of Michael's career with the Redskins. That game was a nightmare. Westbrook slams his helmet, Redskins penalized 15 yards, can't score, and miss the playoffs. That was also the game that Guss Frerotte head-butted the wall after scoring Washington's only TD of the day. Knocked himself silly and had to leave the game. What a disaster. As I recall, Gus and Norv quarrelled all day about the offense. They were never on the same page.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=redskin29633;877351]That's a good story about a football career gone bad. The helmet slam was part of a major Redskin meltdown, and it really does reflect the opinion that many have of Michael's career with the Redskins. That game was a nightmare. Westbrook slams his helmet, Redskins penalized 15 yards, can't score, and miss the playoffs. That was also the game that Guss Frerotte head-butted the wall after scoring Washington's only TD of the day. Knocked himself silly and had to leave the game. What a disaster. As I recall, Gus and Norv quarrelled all day about the offense. They were never on the same page.[/quote]

I think that might have been the year the Redskins had an 8-1 record and well on their way to making the playoffs. Heck, I remember talking about how great it would be for them to secure home field advantage. All of a sudden, bam, a major collapse and the 'skins pretty much lost the rest of their games. I mean, one or two more games is all it would have taken to have secured a spot in the playoffs, and the Redskins couldn't muster another win. In all honesty, that season should have not come down to that one play.

Re: The Keenan McCardell Curse
 

[quote=skinsguy;877343]Here's a link to the story of Michael Westbrook:

[url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/draft08/columns/story?columnist=yasinskas_pat&id=3335714]There's no room for football in Westbrook's heart - NFL - ESPN[/url][/quote]

Really good read. I think Westbrook is probably a rare case of a top pick not reaching great success in the NFL but going on to be very happy.