Len Pastabelly on Gibbs' Retirement: "Just An Ordinary Joe"

[MTK]

I really don't agree with this quote:

He was, simply, too old to handle his players, to understand their perspectives, to push their buttons in this era of salary-cap football

Everything coming out of the players mouths lately speaks to the exact opposite.

[VTSkins897]

i agree, i think the choice of words said it more. what was parcells record both playoffs and otherwise in dallas in his 12th stint?

[Daseal]

We were a joke for 11 years before he came back. Save for that playoff appearance in '99, we had done nothing but look like a joke for over a decade. We've gone to the playoffs 2 out of the last 3 years. Plus Gibbs pulled us out of the ashes this year. At 5-7 in the wake of the murder of our best player, he kept the entire organization together. Even Pasquerelli agrees that he did a great job in that regard.

Plus he leaves behind an extremely experienced staff which he assembled, and a very talented team of players he brought in. We are in much, much better shape than we were prior to his return in '04. So he may not have won another Super Bowl. But he righted the ship. We were a sinking franchise. We're not anymore. Do you disagree?

On paper his win-loss record looks ordinary. But his body of work with the organization over the last four years is far from ordinary.

Nice post, GmScud -- as you say LP admitted he was the guy for the Taylor tragedy. The staff assembled is a great point, he has brought in many talented coaches that will help our team. I feel Gibbs did very well off the field. He brought in great coaches and some players through FA and the draft, Joe Gibbs as team president was a win for the Redskins, it was the actual coaching aspect I have had issues with.

We were a sinking franchise. We're not anymore. Do you disagree?

I'm not quite sure about this. I believe that Joe Gibbs also assembled the oldest team in the NFL (not sure where I can check this fact, believe I heard it on ESPN a month or so ago -- but can't provide a link), our O line is in big trouble with age, and I'm worried about the work load Portis has seen. I don't think we're sinking, but I also don't think we're ready to float right to the top.

On paper his win-loss record looks ordinary. But his body of work with the organization over the last four years is far from ordinary.

This is what I somewhat disagree with. While playoffs are playoffs, we made both runs by the skin of our teeth on a combination of luck and clicking at the right time. It was also the inconsistency that killed me.

I'll agree 100% that the President part of Gibbs was a success. On the field, I was disappointed. But it's not about that -- I just didn't find this article horribly insulting, I don't think much by the quote by SGG was read by most.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Daseal

This is what I somewhat disagree with. While playoffs are playoffs, we made both runs by the skin of our teeth on a combination of luck and clicking at the right time.

I'll never understand that take. Luck? What luck is involved with 4 and 5 game winning streaks?? In this streak and in '05, the Skins won those games pretty convincingly. I'm really at a loss to figure out where luck was involved.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

I'll never understand that take. Luck? What luck is involved with 4 and 5 game winning streaks?? In this streak and in '05, the Skins won those games pretty convincingly. I'm really at a loss to figure out where luck was involved.

The exact same luck that causes us to lose three and four games leading up to those win streaks in those seasons respectively.

Daseal forgot to mention that though.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by GTripp0012

The exact same luck that causes us to lose three and four games leading up to those win streaks in those seasons respectively.

Daseal forgot to mention that though.

Game. Set. Match.

[redskinsfanatic]

who gives a flying monkey f**k what that overweight walking ass clown thinks?what do you expect from a guy who's highlight of everyday is jerking off in the GD shower????

[JWsleep]

The headline alone is enough to show Pasta's disrespect. And, no, Daseal, I did not, and will not read the article. I don't like the guy and the way he writes about the skins.

GMscud adequately addressed why people on this board do not like the article or the writer.

Also, IMHO, today isn't the day to go back and evaluate how well JG II went. Today is a day to honor coach Gibbs. You want to get a rise out of folks by defending Lenny P, fine, that's your prerogative. But don't expect much beyond rancor, because the guy is loved by many of us, and he retired today. They'll be plenty of days to delve into the ups and downs of Gibbs' second stint.

[MTK]

The article is not horrible, I will say that and he goes give some credit to Gibbs for dealing with the Taylor tragedy. But when you start off with title like that, it's not going to win many fans with a guy who's already pretty despised amongst Redskins fans.

Overall though I just can't help but think he was chomping at the bit to toss this article out there with that title, just to poke at Skins fans and say "HAH, I was right"!

[SmootSmack]

The fact is we are in better position now than we were four years ago. By and large we're making smart free agent and draft decisions (with the picks we have had), we retain the key players we have, players give their all for Gibbs. As does everyone else in the organization because he gives their all for him.

Doesn't understand the player's perspectives? What a load of BS! Who made the call to let players have their own workout program this past offseason. Who made the call to go light on practices down the stretch this year because the team was so emotionally spent.

I said yesterday in another thread and I'll say it again today. I dealt internally with the Redskins for nearly five years in the late 90s/early 00s. What I saw for most of the team was a wretched, horribly run franchise with no structure, pride or accountability. Even from an outsider's perspective now I can see that culture has changed. We've been to the playoffs twice in the past two years, which to some is nothing. But if you remember where we've been that's a big accomplishment. We have a core group of young players with a lot of promise that have dipped their toes in playoff competition and are now ready to dive in.

Sometimes you have to look beyond 31-36 and ask yourself did Joe Gibbs leave the franchise (from top to bottom) a better place than when he found it. And when you do, you'll understand there is nothing ordinary about Joe.

(As for LP, well I have a few things to say about him. But I shouldn't speak ill of a colleague).

[Redskins_P]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

(As for LP, well I have a few things to say about him. But I shouldn't speak ill of a colleague).

Just say it. He's fat stinky bastard. We won't tell anyone.

[Big C]

yeah look at the organization before and after gibbs. we were a mess, now we have stabilized and actually have a direction, made the playoffs twice in 4 years, when was the last time we did that?

john clayton mentioned the same thing, stabilized the franchise

[VTSkins897]

also, he freaking ran to his typewriter and wrote that crap day 1? i mean let it settle or something before that.

like i said, he's had this ready for a while. i guess that's just the media. at any rate, who cares about this guy. i try to disregard his articles.

[djnemo65]

Well it has been documented that Len's enmity towards Redskins fans is not imaginary. Personally, I don't know why we get so riled up after all this time when we know he's going to slam us any chance that he gets.

[NYCSkin]

Move on or move out!

While I think the article was not that bad--there was a tenor in it that displayed a lack of tact. He did have a bit of "look at me I proved my point--remember my article from 4 years ago" approach and that he is somehow now vindicated for his previous opinions. He has that right. We have the right to not read his stuff.

I don't think the media has it "in" for this team. Sports columnists are allowed to opine and we are allowed to agree/disagree. If you think he has a personal gripe with the Skins--read his columns with a grain of salt (like I do). So take a deep breath guys and if you think Lenny P's article is heretical--take a cue from our own revered coach and demonstrate some class by letting this predictable column roll off your back.