[Oakland Red]

This race card business is a joke. Sean Taylor has gone through a lot in his young career and I can't think of another team in professional sports who would have been so supportive as the Washington Redskins have been.

The jury is out on Archuleta since he is learning a new defense in a context where everything is out of whack due to all the injuries. The Redskins thought they were signing a great player, an experienced veteran with truly exceptional ability who would fit perfectly with what the Redskins wanted to do. Taylor can expect a hefty raise when his contract is up if he keeps making progress like he has. Gregg Williams has made it clear Taylor is the player with the most talent he has ever coached. Archuleta was supposed to be the guy who really sent our secondary over the top, to help get us to the Super Bowl. The Redskins didn't feel that Ryan Clark was that kind of player.

The Redskins wanted to sign Pierce, but Pierce wanted the big stage of New York. A judgment was made about Smoot that we could do better with a draft choice, supported by a veteran at that position to give him time to mature, than to give him a huge contract. Who knows all the reasons went into the decision about Smoot. The basic point is correct - not to pay him a lot more than Springs. Archuleta may not be the player they hoped for, and it may have been a mistake to sign him, but they thought they were getting a special player who would be a major difference maker. Taylor's talent at this stage in his career, especially with how things have gone with him overall, is not a suffcient reason to say we cannot pay anyone more than him at safety in my view.

We have been setting ourselves up for a Super Bowl run, and now has not been the time to just go on draft choices. If you are a core Redskin, and you don't want to leave like Pierce did, you will be rewarded on this team.