If it seems like the Redskins have disposed of a lot of quality talent over the years—it's because they have.
Has any team watched as much talent walk out the door as the Burgundy and Gold? Rob Woodfork presents his Redskins All-Discard Team.
WASHINGTON — After the Redskins fired general manager Scot McCloughan, I got to thinking, “Ya know, it seems like the Redskins have prematurely dumped a lot of talent over the years.”
Since my social options were limited this weekend, I pondered it further. What if I assembled a front office, coaching staff, and roster made solely of men cast off by Dan Snyder? How would that look?
Here, ladies and gentlemen, are the results. But I have to sleep sometime, so I kept it just to a GM, head coach, and 22-man starting lineup. The defense kind of lends itself to being a 4-3 alignment, though I wasn’t necessarily seeking to adhere to a specific scheme.
I present to you, the Redskins All-Discard Team.
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
GM: Scot McCloughan
I’m not being a prisoner of the moment here — McCloughan’s 2015 draft is easily the Redskins best in decades and he made some in-season signings that helped the Skins unexpectedly win the NFC East that year. McCloughan has the talent to be every bit as legendary in this town as Bobby Beathard. This firing is one that figures to haunt the Redskins for years to come (mainly because he would prevent half the names you’re about to read from ever being on the roster to begin with).
(Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images)
Photo by Matt Hazlett/Getty Images
Head Coach: Marty Schottenheimer
This is almost by default. Long after he got the gleam , Marty overcame an 0-5 start to the 2001 season and a crappy QB carousel (Jeff George, Tony Banks, Kent Graham) to finish 8-8 and provide momentum and hope for the Redskins’ future. What did he get for turning bathwater into wine (ok, maybe not wine … at least Kool-Aid)? Fired. I still maintain that had Marty stayed in D.C. his postseason ledger (5-13 career playoff record) and the ‘Skins’ fortunes would have been better off for it.
(Photo by Getty Images)
Photo by Getty Images
QB: Brad Johnson
While Robert Griffin III wouldn’t be a bad choice here, his one-and-done 2016 in Cleveland justifies the Redskins’ choice to let him walk. Johnson gets the nod because he game-managed Tampa to their one and only Super Bowl, while the ‘Skins have yet to make it out of the divisional round of the playoffs.
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
RB: Stephen Davis
Though one could make the case that this was one of the rare circumstances in which the Redskins actually got rid of a player a year early instead of a year late, Davis still had enough tread on the tires to rush for a career-high 1,444 yards for the 2003 NFC Champion Carolina Panthers and battled injuries to rush for 12 TDs two years later.
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
FB: Larry Centers
The greatest pass catching fullback of all-time had a very productive two years in Washington, catching 150 passes and 6 TDs before being released in 2001 for butting heads with new coach Marty Schottenheimer. Centers quickly caught on with Buffalo, catching 123 balls in two seasons before piggybacking his way to a Super Bowl ring with the 2003 Patriots.
(Photo by Ezra O. Shaw/Getty Images)
Photo by Ezra O. Shaw/Getty Images
WR: Pierre Garcon and DeSean Jackson
I’ve already outlined why I think the Redskins should have kept Garcon .
I list Jackson for two reasons: 1) they should have taken him over Devin Thomas in the 2008 NFL Draft, and 2) he should have been retained nine years later once it became obvious Garcon wasn’t staying. You can’t tell me one hit wonder Terrelle Pryor is better than the league-leader in 50+ yard receiving TDs this decade, regardless of DJax’s age.
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
TE: Stephen Alexander
This actually speaks to how stable this position has been; since 2004 the Redskins have had either Chris Cooley or Jordan Reed as their starter, both Pro Bowl performers when healthy. Alexander was a Pro Bowler in 2000, but injuries limited him after that (though he had a good 2002 season in San Diego).
(Photo by Getty Images)
Photo by Getty Images
Offensive Line:
This was a boom or bust unit for the most part; the Redskins either used up every drop of stalwarts like Chris Samuels, Jon Jansen, and Randy Thomas or had bums that didn’t really do anything after they left Washington. So here’s an offensive line just for the sake of completing a roster:
LT: Andy Heck
LG: Derrick Dockery
C: Cory Raymer
RG: Ross Tucker
RT: Tom Compton
(Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)
Photo by Larry French/Getty Images
DE: Chris Clemons
Clemons was a force for Seattle, registering three straight 11-sack seasons from 2010-12. However, many forget he played his first two seasons in Washington, where he registered just five of his 69 career sacks.
(Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images
DE: Andre Carter
Carter still had one more productive season after leaving Washington, getting 10 sacks as a situational pass rusher for the Patriots in 2011.
(Photo by Larry French/Getty Images)
Photo by Larry French/Getty Images
DT: Chris Baker
Trust me. The Redskins will miss the best, most versatile defensive lineman they’ve had since switching to a 3-4 scheme.
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
DT: Renaldo Wynn
Wynn was a defensive end in Washington, but I’m moving him here for the sake of argument. Wynn’s two years in New Orleans and New York (2007, 2008 respectively) yielded 5.5 sacks … the exact number of sacks he had in his last four seasons in Washington combined .
(Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
OLB: Lorenzo Alexander
The “One Man Gang” left town four years ago but remains a fan favorite. Alexander is coming off an improbable career year in Buffalo, registering 12.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and his first interception at age 33. I know Alexander left to chase a starting gig in Arizona, but the Redskins certainly could have done more to make staying in Washington worth his while.
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images
ILB: Antonio Pierce
Pierce left Washington to become the heart and soul of the New York Giants defense, while the ‘Skins were left to start Lemar Marshall for two years. ‘Nuff said.
(Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images
OLB: Shawn Barber
Barber’s 2003 season in Kansas City alone lands him here; his 92 tackles and 5 sacks that year is nearly twice as good as his best season in Washington.
(Photo by Getty Images)
Photo by Getty Images
CB: Champ Bailey
The best cover corner of his generation recognized how dysfunctional this team was and couldn’t get out fast enough. This should have been a warning to us all.
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
Photo by Harry How/Getty Images
CB: David Amerson
This is easy math.
Washington: 94 tackles, 2 INTs in 23 starts
Oakland: 110 tackles, 6 INTs in 27 starts
The Redskins gave up on this second-round pick way too early.
(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)
Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images
FS: Ryan Clark
No, not the analyst parading as a veteran safety in 2014. I mean the guy who was allowed to leave for Pittsburgh in 2006 because Adam Archuleta — the biggest free agent bust in Redskins history — was deemed an upgrade. Oy.
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images
SS: Bacarri Rambo
Aside from just wanting to say his name one more time, Rambo has an interception every season since leaving Washington.
(Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images
K: Shaun Suisham
Suisham made better than 90 percent of his kicks in four of his five seasons in Pittsburgh. Yeah, the Redskins didn’t really need that.
(Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
P: Matt Turk
Turk was a first team All-Pro in 1996, the first of his three consecutive Pro-Bowl appearances. However, Turk’s well-publicized spat with team management over an injury led to his trade to Miami. From there, Turk bounced around for a few years but found his footing in Houston, where he still has a home after spending five of his 17 NFL seasons with the Texans.
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images
KR/PR: Brian Mitchell
Perhaps the most egregious of Snyder’s early sins, Mitchell — the perennial Pro-Bowl return man and one of the last links to the 1991 Super Bowl team — was basically released in 2000 to make room for Cowboys free agent Deion Sanders. Not only did Neon Deion wash out after one season in D.C., but Mitchell made the Redskins pay by remaining productive for division-rival Philadelphia during the first two of the Eagles’ four straight NFC East titles.
(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images