WASHINGTON — We all know by now that the Redskins “win the offseason.” But this year, the never-ending soap opera in Ashburn took on a new dimension. People joked about ESPN making a 30-for-30 about it.
The stories came so fast and furious, from so many different walks of life, that we would be remiss to not go back and look at each one, one last time before the season begins. So join sports anchors Chris Cichon, Dave Preston and Rob Woodfork and digital sports editor Noah Frank as they recount the biggest stories from an offseason this team is happy to leave behind.
(AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
AP Photo/Mark Tenally
Redskins score well in NFL DraftDave Preston: Happy to see the Skins address one of their major 2014 deficiencies in getting an offensive lineman. I wish they had taken a defensive back in the top 3 rounds (they have just one selection since 2009). Conflicted on the Preston Smith pick — but it’s not as bad as the Broncos letting running back Dave Preston sign with the USFL in 1984.
Chris Cichon: I’m fine with giving them a B, but I’ll always have a problem with taking an offensive guard with the 5th pick overall. And I’m not personally a fan of wide receivers who weigh less than 180 pounds (Crowder).
Noah Frank: Taking an offensive lineman with a top five pick is never exciting, but clearly addressed a need. Although he hasn’t looked great since shifting positions.
Rob Woodfork: Though draft grades are the only thing more asinine than assigning won/loss records to quarterbacks, the Skins did address a number of areas of need with players who at least looked good in preseason.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Redskins remove thousands of seatsDP: Anything to keep the sellout streak intact. It would’ve been cool had they constructed a “maze” like they have at Chuck E Cheese though … anything for the fans who don’t want to watch a 20-point game in the second half.
NF: Doesn’t it seem like this happens every year? Couldn’t they at least try to fill the empty space with something useful like, I don’t know, a Will Call office?
RW: A very telling and almost predictable byproduct of the team’s run of 7 wins in two years.
CC: They’ll keep removing them until A) the name is changed B) They move back to D.C. C) They actually win.
(AP Photo/Mark E. Tenally)
AP Photo/Mark E. Tenally
Jamison Crowder situationCC: This was ultimately cleared for Jamison, but if there is something the young man can take from this situation, it’s that everything you do and everyone you associate with now that you are an NFL player can come back to haunt you.
NF: For a lot of teams, this would have been the major distraction of the offseason. I liked Crowder a lot in college, so I was happy to see him exonerated in this.
RW: How eventful has this Redskins offseason been? I forgot this was even a story.
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
Judge upholds cancellation of trademarkNF: The ongoing legal drama continues. I still think there’s a ton of money to be made in simply rebranding, but oh well.
CC: Just another reason why the Washington Warriors should be the next team name.
RW: Wake me up when there’s a name change.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Dan Snyder named most hated owner in footballNF: This couldn’t have come as a surprise to most. But it felt like standard offseason piling on, and I guess I figured it would be the low point. Whoops.
DP: How do they determine the true winner? Do they just go by the year-end rankings or is there a tournament?
CC: It’s not that hard to move from this spot. Change the name, stay out of the way of people who know football personnel. Don’t you want to actually be liked, Dan?
RW: Remember when George Clooney would win People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive every year? This is kinda like that. Snyder is the obvious choice until someone else is notoriously awful for an extended period of time.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Redskins extend KerriganDP: Good move to lock up the defense’s cornerstone. Impact guy on the field and a standup locker room presence.
CC: A great move. Kerrigan is the type of player you build your franchise around.
NF: Hey, good news! Kerrigan’s as close as this team has to a franchise player right now.
RW: Easily the best look they’ve had all offseason. Kerrigan is a homegrown talent who is productive on the field and a model citizen off it. Exactly the kind of move the Skins need to make to reverse negative perception.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
AP Photo/Nick Wass
Richmond Times-Dispatch disputes team’s claim of economic benefit to RichmondDP: I love covering a team that holds its training camp in one state, its regular season games in another, and uses a third locality as its identifying name.
NF: After speaking with business owners in Richmond last year, this was no surprise to me.
CC: If you’re not helping the city of Richmond, and you have trouble getting fans to show up to the camp anyway, why not just have a clean break up and come back to this area?
(WTOP/George Wallace)
WTOP/George Wallace
Redskins add embattled linebacker Junior GaletteDP: Let’s just say there won’t be a remake of “Beach Blanket Bingo” on the Redskins Network anytime soon.
CC: Regardless of his talent on the field, how could you watch this video and want a person like this in your locker room?
NF: This one raised eyebrows, after Galette’s unceremonious departure from New Orleans. Surely nothing a good season wouldn’t help make go away, though, right everyone?
(AP Photo/Jason Hirschfeld)
AP Photo/Jason Hirschfeld
Brashaud Breeland suspended, then injured in practiceRW: I know this is sooo Redskins but this really could’ve happened to anyone. Like the Jets.
DP: This is why the Skins needed to draft a defensive back early this year.
NF: Brutal double-whammy early in camp, especially as good as Breeland was last year. He basically single-handedly won them the Dallas game.
CC: With the Miami Dolphins and their plethora of wide receivers in town week one, Washington could certainly use him in the secondary, knee brace or not.
(AP Photo/Jason Hirschfeld)
AP Photo/Jason Hirschfeld
DeSean Jackson injures shoulderCC: I wonder if this injury will be chronicled in his reality series DeSean Jackson: Home Team.
DP: Not like he needed to work on his timing in game situations with Kirk Cousins or anything.
NF: This was initially reported as Jackson hitting a blocking sled, which would have been much worse than the actual injury. Still, the team needs him on the field, not in the training room.
RW: Only notable because he had the same injury last year.
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
Redskins, Texans brawl at Training CampNF: “Hard Knocks” may not have come to Washington, but it still came to Richmond. Which means this scuffle was preserved on camera for football fans everywhere.
CC: Good to see the Redskins showing some fire in practice! Hopefully they weren’t just doing it for the “Hard Knocks” cameras.
RW: There were multiple incidents like this at joint practices this year. If anything, this makes me think better of a Redskins team that appeared to roll over and die at the end of last season.
DP: Was hoping for somebody to jump off the turnbuckle or break out a folding chair …
(WTOP/Noah Frank)
WTOP/Noah Frank
Bruce Allen says team will not change name for new stadium dealDP: It’s fitting. The team that wouldn’t integrate until the Department of the Interior held their lease on the future RFK Stadium site over their head. Fifty years later, the District tries to use the stick again. If only Maryland and Virginia would join in solidarity … the Skins would look to Wilmington, Delaware.
NF: Given the increasing political aversion to spending public money to finance stadiums for billionaire owners, I have a hard time believing the team is coming back to the District any time soon anyway.
RW: Not a good stance for a guy whose current stadium is nearly two decades old and sitting in an inconvenient location like Landover …
CC: But what if taxpayers are willing to shell out a version of Jerry-World in Fairfax County? Will that get your attention, Bruce?
(AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)
AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File
RG3 says he believes he is “best QB in NFL” in interviewRW: Remember when we actually thought Griffin was media savvy? This highlighted just how far he’s fallen.
CC: I’m all about making confident statements, but when the media is all over you as is, why provide us more ammo? Try and let your play speak for itself. Oh wait …
NF: So, I defended RG3 at the time (and, by proxy, Bryce Harper) for being confident. I still do. But it’s awful tough to prove you’re the best from the bench.
DP: “He speaks when he should be listening.” – Vito Corleone
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
RG3 leaves with concussionDP: The 2/5 passing for 8 yards, 3 sacks and 2 fumbles was merely the setup to the fateful fourth possession. If that’s the last time he plays for this franchise, what a sad way to go.
NF: What a mess. I don’t actually believe Gruden was trying to sabotage Griffin, as some have claimed, but the fact that the offensive line was bad enough to prompt the thought isn’t a good sign.
CC: Still convinced this was all part of a plan to shield RG3 from the media after an absolutely brutal performance from Robert and the Offensive Line.
RW: I think you mean “concussion … ”
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Junior Galette tears AchillesDP: So much for the pass rush that was going to mask a shaky secondary …
NF: Lovely! Good thing the team took on that risk.
CC: Well that sure didn’t work out, now did it? Looks like it’s Trent Murphy’s time. He can stop the run, but needs to work on his pass rush that makes Galette so effective.
RW: This feels like Michael Barrow 2.0. Really productive player elsewhere, comes to D.C., and never plays a down for the Redskins.
(AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman, File)
AP Photo/Jonathan Bachman, File
Griffin cleared to face RavensDP: ALL READY FOR PRESEASON WEEK THREE! T-shirts begin production.
NF: That’s a quick turnaround from a concussion, but good to see the starter is going to be available for Week 1!
RW: Somewhere, Dr. James Andrews is laughing hysterically.
(AP Photo/Mark Tenally, File)
AP Photo/Mark Tenally, File
Redskins sign Trent Williams to 5-year extensionDP: He’s to the OL what Kerrigan is to the defense. He should be giving spot starter Willie Smith tip money for his matador start against Detroit in the preseason though.
NF: This is a good way to lock up your best offensive lineman for the rest of his prime. The fact that the team picked him as a captain shows he has the respect of the locker room as well.
RW: Good re-signing. I’m not sure he deserved to get the richest contract at his position but he’s talented enough to earn it going forward.
CC: They’re going to need the 2013 version of Trent to justify this deal.
(WTOP/George Wallace)
WTOP/George Wallace
Redskins name Cousins starterCC: Hopefully he learned that he doesn’t have to win the games with his arm or he’s going to throw a lot of interceptions once again. Unfortunately for this team they will be behind quite a bit so he’s going to have to be in position to bring his team back.
DP: Cousins played so much better in the preseason … and his bounce back from the INT against the Ravens gave the coaching staff confidence that he’s matured.
NF: There’s the apex of the offseason. Cousins in, Griffin out. The revolving door keeps on turning.
RW: The only man happier than Cousins is Mike Shanahan.
(AP Photo/Gail Burton)
AP Photo/Gail Burton
Griffin’s Instagram snafuRW: The only way this could be better is if Griffin started the statement with “See … what had happened was … ”
CC: Would it kill you, Robert, to maybe just delete your Instagram/Twitter accounts for a while? Has anything good come of it?
DP: Washington lesson: Never get the intern involved.
NF: Griffin has interns?
(AP Photo/Mark Tenally)
AP Photo/Mark Tenally
Scot McLoughan’s wife makes accusations on TwitterCC: If you learn anything from Jessica McCloughan, it’s that you probably shouldn’t have a few cocktails and go on Twitter. If you must, maybe try a direct message?
DP: Disturbing because he’s supposed to be rebuilding a franchise … and this is the #1 draft pick in his life. Disturbing because I thought we had moved beyond the “women in the media can only get stories by sleeping with sources” stage in society. Disturbing because of the ham-fisted cover up by the team.
NF: Honestly, does this stuff happen to other franchises? It doesn’t, right? Because it feels like the type of thing we would hear about. And we only ever hear about it here.
RW: This was the cherry on top of the crap sundae that was the Redskins offseason.
(AP Photo/Nick Wass, File)
AP Photo/Nick Wass, File
Doctor who handled RG3 concussion case resignsDP: He resigned yet still is in charge of Griffin’s case? In the aftermath of the he’s ready/not ready double-reverse leading up to the Ravens game, something smells in suburbia.
NF: So, they cut bait with the doctor who misdiagnosed RG3. Will they cut RG3 himself next?
RW: Dr. James Andrews is still laughing …
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
AP Photo/Alex Brandon
Griffin makes 53-man rosterCC: This one is still a bit of a head-scratcher for me. What good is it having him on the roster at this point? Do you really want to hear about RG3 each time Kirk makes a poor throw?
DP: When following the Redskins it is always good to have the Benny Hill theme in your ear.
NF: Right, of course. What could possibly go wrong?
RW: Either this was the owner’s call or this franchise really likes distractions.
(AP Photo/David Goldman)
