The Keenan McCardell Curse

[Hail to the Redskins]

Originally Posted by redskin29633

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.

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 NOTHING 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.

[skinsfaninok]

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

[redskin29633]

Originally Posted by Hail to the Redskins

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.

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.

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.

[CrustyRedskin]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

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

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.

[jdlea]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

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

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

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by CrustyRedskin

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.

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

[SmootSmack]

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

Improved Attitude Leaves Connell Mentally, Physically Ready For Redskins - Daily Press

[MTK]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Kid? Who are you talking about?

You had Gary Carter as your user title

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

You had Gary Carter as your user title

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.

[Paintrain]

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.

[redskin29633]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

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

Improved Attitude Leaves Connell Mentally, Physically Ready For Redskins - Daily Press

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.

[MTK]

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

Moss, Ellard, Gaffney, Coles, etc.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by redskin29633

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.

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

[redskin29633]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

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

Moss, Ellard, Gaffney, Coles, etc.

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.

[freddyg12]

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.