Insider info on Smoot from ESPN

[12thMan]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

Yet people flock here and not to France. But politics aside, losing in the playoffs every year is not winning. The Broncos were no more winners last year than we were. The point is we are making a move away from the marketing approach to a more sound football approach, I think. The draft will tell us more. At any rate, no matter what we do ESPN and the fans of other teams will see us how they see us. I don't care. We know from the Art Monk thing that their opinions can be quite absurd. I think the caricature of the Redskins is overdone and it grieves me that some fans have bought into it. It's masochistic self-loathing. But there seems to be a good deal of that abroad in the land.

I think I hear what you're saying 70. I tend to lean toward agreeing with you. But show me a Redskin fan that wouldn't trade a few of those losing seasons for a couple of heart breaking playoff appearances, and I'll show you someone who is being less than honest.

The fact is, getting close 'feels' better than flat out losing year in and year out. No one wants to be associated with being a chronic loser.

[irish]

Originally Posted by 70Chip

Yet people flock here and not to France. But politics aside, losing in the playoffs every year is not winning. The Broncos were no more winners last year than we were. The point is we are making a move away from the marketing approach to a more sound football approach, I think. The draft will tell us more. At any rate, no matter what we do ESPN and the fans of other teams will see us how they see us. I don't care. We know from the Art Monk thing that their opinions can be quite absurd. I think the caricature of the Redskins is overdone and it grieves me that some fans have bought into it. It's masochistic self-loathing. But there seems to be a good deal of that abroad in the land.

If you think Denver and Washington were the same last year you know less about football thank I think you do. Losing in the playoffs is not winning a championship but its not losing and over the past 14 years or so Denver has been winning and the Skins havent.

I see no evidence that this team is doing anything much different. They are just doing less of the usual (well maybe that is something different). When they start winning (or not winning as you say) then I'll believe something has changed.

[SmootSmack]

What is it going to take for you to be mildly satisfied irish?

[irish]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

What is it going to take for you to be mildly satisfied irish?

2 or 3 straight years of being in the playoffs.

[ArtMonkDrillz]

psssssst - the broncos didn't make the playoffs last year, and I think they've only won 1 playoff game since 2000.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by irish

2 or 3 straight years of being in the playoffs.

So let's say we make the playoffs next year, we can expect more of the same from you for another year or two after that?

[irish]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

So let's say we make the playoffs next year, we can expect more of the same from you for another year or two after that?

Maybe (and making the playoffs will be a stretch next year).

What am I saying that is untrue?

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by irish

Maybe. What am I saying that is so bad or untrue?

I'm just saying, I think we're making some smart moves dating back to re-signing Betts during the season. I think others would agree, others would disagree as well. But I guess I'm just asking would success this season mean anything to you and it seems like I wouldn't. Am I right?

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

psssssst - the broncos didn't make the playoffs last year, and I think they've only won 1 playoff game since 2000.

DAMN THAT JOE2!!! He hosed up Denver Toooo!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I'm just saying, I think we're making some smart moves dating back to re-signing Betts during the season. I think others would agree, others would disagree as well. But I guess I'm just asking would success this season mean anything to you and it seems like I wouldn't. Am I right?

Nicely done Taf.........err, Fred

[irish]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

I'm just saying, I think we're making some smart moves dating back to re-signing Betts during the season. I think others would agree, others would disagree as well. But I guess I'm just asking would success this season mean anything to you and it seems like I wouldn't. Am I right?

It would be a step in the right direction thats for sure. I thought 2005 was a step in the right direction but then last season came along and made 2005 appear to be anomaly. It the Skins make the playoffs in 2007 and 2008 then I'll believe 2006 was the anomaly but until they start really moving in the right direction its hard for me to buy into what they are doing because it hasnt worked yet.

BTW. Every year everybody on here thinks the moves made were smart and just what the team needed, this year is no exception. We'll find out how smart these moves were in Dec 07.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Does anyone else think that simply it was because of key injuries on both sides of the ball to people who are arguably their best offensive and defensive players?

[Hog1]

Originally Posted by irish

It would be a step in the right direction thats for sure. I thought 2005 was a step in the right direction but then last season came along and made 2005 appear to be anomaly. It the Skins make the playoffs in 2007 and 2008 then I'll believe 2006 was the anomaly but until they start really moving in the right direction its hard for me to buy into what they are doing because it hasnt worked yet.

BTW. Every year everybody on here thinks the moves made were smart and just what the team needed, this year is no exception. We'll find out how smart these moves were in Dec 07.

FYI Irish,
I, and many like me don't think each move the Skin's make, and will make are in the right direction, or decision. Their recent history has proven that. I choose to paint things in a generally positive light, rather than a generally negative one.

Does anyone else think that simply it was because of key injuries on both sides of the ball to people who are arguably their best offensive and defensive players?

It certainly killed an already reeling D

[mike340]

One injury to our best defensive player at a very inappropriate time was the key. Springs rarely plays the whole season, but he almost always plays at least 13 games. It was the timing of the surgery that changed that. (If the surgery had been done after the prior season, he probably would have had a season like the ones before it.) After pushing to get back in the lineup, naturally he was injured since the rest of his body didn't have time to strengthen.

I might note that it was not one but two important injuries on the offense. (Don't forget Brunell.)

Let's hope there's no more "friendly fire" injuries (Taylor) or we won't have a secondary. (Springs and Smoot)

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Does anyone else think that simply it was because of key injuries on both sides of the ball to people who are arguably their best offensive and defensive players?

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by irish

If you think Denver and Washington were the same last year you know less about football thank I think you do. Losing in the playoffs is not winning a championship but its not losing and over the past 14 years or so Denver has been winning and the Skins havent.

I see no evidence that this team is doing anything much different. They are just doing less of the usual (well maybe that is something different). When they start winning (or not winning as you say) then I'll believe something has changed.

My thing is that with all the trouble in the world, football is the one area where I am satified to be happy and not right. If you can't be optimistic about the Redskins, even if it takes some doing, then you may as well be doing your taxes. This is not to say that we can't criticize, but at times certain posters here seem never to approve of anything the team does. At the same time they are all too eager to talk about what a great job this or that team does. I don't think being a fan means being relentlessly optimistic, but I also think that sometimes it helps to silence the inner critic and enjoy the thing. If they were paying me to be a fan, I might take a different attitude, but there not and never will, so I choose to find other areas of life in which to be miserable. Football should be fun.