Here comes one sports writer's apology letter to Gibbs

hurrykaine · 01-19-2006, 03:07 PM

Four coaches who fall short on credit
Clark Judge

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9173075

Joe Gibbs, Washington
It was at the NFL owners' meetings last March that Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins' vice president of football operations, asked me what I thought of his club and its playoff chances. I thought he was joking.

"Playoffs?" I said. "You won't win more than six games."

And I was right ... if the season ended Nov. 27. But there were another five games to play, and Washington -- 5-6 at that juncture -- won all of them. I still don't know how the 'Skins did it, but Gibbs can take a bow. This was a team that had no business making the playoffs, yet somehow, some way, it did.

Then it won there, too, beating Tampa.

I thought Washington would have problems at quarterback, and it didn't. Mark Brunell, who seemed washed up a year ago, breathed life into an offense that was listless for most of 2004. I thought the trade for Santana Moss was wrong, and it wasn't. All he did was score nine times and set a franchise record for yards receiving.

I thought Washington couldn't replace Antonio Pierce, and it did. I thought it couldn't replace Fred Smoot, and it did. I thought the team's offseason moves were reflections of a club that was lost, and it wasn't. It knew exactly what it was doing.

In short, Gibbs proved me -- and other detractors -- wrong with a late-season rally characteristic of the Hall of Fame coach. He did it the hard way, too, with his offense short-circuiting down the stretch, but that's why Gregg Williams makes the big bucks. Williams' defense carried Washington in its last two wins.

Did I say wins? Imagine that. For the first time in six years Washington had a winning season. Now you know why he's no ordinary Joe.

MTK · 01-19-2006, 03:09 PM

Well, well, well, go figure, a Hall of Fame coach that knows more than a sports writer?!

Redskins_P · 01-19-2006, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hurrykaine

Did I say wins? Imagine that. For the first time in six years Washington had a winning season. Now you know why he's no ordinary Joe.

Is that a shot at our boy Lenny P?

FRPLG · 01-19-2006, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redskins_P

Is that a shot at our boy Lenny P?

Without a doubt. It HAS to be.

dmek25 · 01-19-2006, 04:07 PM

why put any thing into something written,unless its by an authority.positive or negative,forget about the writers

firstdown · 01-19-2006, 04:31 PM

Good letter, I realy don't have a problem with what writers think, but I do get agitated when they aren't man enough after all is said and done to say they were wrong.

ParkerGibbs · 01-19-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by firstdown

Good letter, I realy don't have a problem with what writers think, but I do get agitated when they aren't man enough after all is said and done to say they were wrong.

I totally agree. Theyre human, like us. It only pisses me off when they seem to forget theyre human and present predictions and speculation as "factual". If you talk smack and end up being wrong, step up and be a man about it, dont make excuses as to why things went differently than you expected...

skinsguy · 01-19-2006, 04:32 PM

I love it! The Redskins are going to be everybody's love this year! I guarantee it!

Big C · 01-19-2006, 08:11 PM

glad to see one sports reporter giving us some due respect

GoSkins! · 01-19-2006, 10:56 PM

Yep, that pretty much sums up what they all thought.

They were all wrong.

Great job Gibbs and Co.

djnemo65 · 01-20-2006, 01:31 AM

I fail to see how a team that won 11 games can be decried as one with no business being in the playoffs. We played the second hardest schedule in the league and still managed to make the tournament. San Diego was unable to do this playing a comparably difficult schedule, and they are a legitimately excellent team. Moreover, we were three meltdowns away from actually having homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. We were statistically one of the most balanced teams in football. So what's the problem?

Get used to it media. We're back.

Luxorreb · 01-20-2006, 07:26 AM

I'm betting that more than a few 'analysts' pick Washington to win the NFC East and win the Superbowl. With the addition of Saunders and yet to be determined offseason moves... Shhhhhhhhhh. Think tank is working. Will we see any KC players come over?

Paintrain · 01-20-2006, 09:56 AM

Classy move by the writer to admit he was wrong.. I'd like to see Pastabelly do that for once.. I guess he'll have his chance next year at XLI

01-19-2006, 03:07 PM	#1
hurrykaine Impact Rookie Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Washington, D.C. Age: 51 Posts: 762	Here comes one sports writer's apology letter to Gibbs Four coaches who fall short on credit Clark Judge http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9173075 Joe Gibbs, Washington It was at the NFL owners' meetings last March that Vinny Cerrato, the Redskins' vice president of football operations, asked me what I thought of his club and its playoff chances. I thought he was joking. "Playoffs?" I said. "You won't win more than six games." And I was right ... if the season ended Nov. 27. But there were another five games to play, and Washington -- 5-6 at that juncture -- won all of them. I still don't know how the 'Skins did it, but Gibbs can take a bow. This was a team that had no business making the playoffs, yet somehow, some way, it did. Then it won there, too, beating Tampa. I thought Washington would have problems at quarterback, and it didn't. Mark Brunell, who seemed washed up a year ago, breathed life into an offense that was listless for most of 2004. I thought the trade for Santana Moss was wrong, and it wasn't. All he did was score nine times and set a franchise record for yards receiving. I thought Washington couldn't replace Antonio Pierce, and it did. I thought it couldn't replace Fred Smoot, and it did. I thought the team's offseason moves were reflections of a club that was lost, and it wasn't. It knew exactly what it was doing. In short, Gibbs proved me -- and other detractors -- wrong with a late-season rally characteristic of the Hall of Fame coach. He did it the hard way, too, with his offense short-circuiting down the stretch, but that's why Gregg Williams makes the big bucks. Williams' defense carried Washington in its last two wins. Did I say wins? Imagine that. For the first time in six years Washington had a winning season. Now you know why he's no ordinary Joe.

01-19-2006, 03:09 PM	#2
MTK \m/ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: NY Age: 52 Posts: 99,518	Re: Here comes one sports writer's apology letter to Gibbs Well, well, well, go figure, a Hall of Fame coach that knows more than a sports writer?!

01-19-2006, 04:07 PM	#5
dmek25 MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: lancaster,pa Age: 63 Posts: 10,672	Re: Here comes one sports writer's apology letter to Gibbs why put any thing into something written,unless its by an authority.positive or negative,forget about the writers

01-19-2006, 04:31 PM	#6
firstdown Living Legend Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: chesapeake, va Age: 60 Posts: 15,817	Re: Here comes one sports writer's apology letter to Gibbs Good letter, I realy don't have a problem with what writers think, but I do get agitated when they aren't man enough after all is said and done to say they were wrong.

01-19-2006, 04:32 PM	#8
skinsguy Pro Bowl Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Greensboro, North Carolina Posts: 6,766	Re: Here comes one sports writer's apology letter to Gibbs I love it! The Redskins are going to be everybody's love this year! I guarantee it! __________________ "Fire Up That Diesel!"

01-19-2006, 08:11 PM	#9
Big C Mr. Brightside Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Leesburg, VA Age: 38 Posts: 4,453	Re: Here comes one sports writer's apology letter to Gibbs glad to see one sports reporter giving us some due respect __________________ "I don't care what nobody say I'm a be me, stay hood stay real, cause I'm out here grindin'" -Joe Gibbs

01-19-2006, 10:56 PM	#10
GoSkins! The Starter Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Yorktown, Va Age: 55 Posts: 1,587	Re: Here comes one sports writer's apology letter to Gibbs Yep, that pretty much sums up what they all thought. They were all wrong. Great job Gibbs and Co. __________________ Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts. A. Einstien

01-20-2006, 01:31 AM	#11
djnemo65 Playmaker Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,836	Re: Here comes one sports writer's apology letter to Gibbs I fail to see how a team that won 11 games can be decried as one with no business being in the playoffs. We played the second hardest schedule in the league and still managed to make the tournament. San Diego was unable to do this playing a comparably difficult schedule, and they are a legitimately excellent team. Moreover, we were three meltdowns away from actually having homefield advantage throughout the playoffs. We were statistically one of the most balanced teams in football. So what's the problem? Get used to it media. We're back.

01-20-2006, 07:26 AM	#12
Luxorreb ^21^ Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Richmond, Virginia Age: 52 Posts: 1,630	Re: Here comes one sports writer's apology letter to Gibbs I'm betting that more than a few 'analysts' pick Washington to win the NFC East and win the Superbowl. With the addition of Saunders and yet to be determined offseason moves... Shhhhhhhhhh. Think tank is working. Will we see any KC players come over? __________________ ^21^

01-20-2006, 09:56 AM	#13
Paintrain Pro Bowl Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Ft. Lauderdale, FL Age: 54 Posts: 5,006	Re: Here comes one sports writer's apology letter to Gibbs Classy move by the writer to admit he was wrong.. I'd like to see Pastabelly do that for once.. I guess he'll have his chance next year at XLI __________________ Paintrain's Redskins Fandom 1981-2014 I'm not dead but this team is dead to me...but now that McCloughan is here they may have new life! Jay Gruden = Zorny McSpurrier Kirk Cousins = Next Grossman

Here comes one sports writer's apology letter to Gibbs

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