Are you ready for the Redskins to suck? I am too!

Hey everybody. Yeah, I know it has been a LONG time since I posted anything. I refused to write anything about the NFL Lockout, primarily because most of that went over my head, other than the fact that both the owners and the players wanted more money. I couldn't write anything about the Washington Nationals because Rob Dibble is no longer their color commentator. Dibble is actually worth having his own blog due to his neverending antics. But now the lockout is over, and NFL teams are back in training camp in preparation for the upcoming season. Every team is hoping this will be the year they make it to the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. Every team and player has high aspirations, at least higher than last season. In the free agent signing frenzy that has occurred since the end of the lockout, it has been interesting to watch SportsCenter to see what big name players different teams have signed. I keep waiting for my team, the Washington Redskins, to make a big splash in free agency, like they do every year. Those splashes often end up in overpaying overhyped players with a 7-year/$100 million contract, but they always make a splash. Except for this year.

As I look at the names of the players the Skins have picked up in free agency, I am completely underwhelmed to say the least. Tim Hightower, who couldn't run the ball in Arizona. Jabar Gaffney? A wide receiver who never did much in his early years and is now past his prime? The only good thing it looks like the Redskins have done so far is get rid of Albert Haynesworth. None of their other moves this offseason inspire any confidence that they will be competitive this year. I was listening to Colin Cowherd this morning on the way to work. He was going through each division and predicting what each team's final record would be. He predicts the Redskins will go 2-14 this season. You know what? I hope they do!




I know I am running the risk of being labled as one of those fans who hopes their favorite team tanks the season so said team can get the first pick in the following year's draft. Normally, I would not wish for the Redskins to have another losing season. I always hope that they will win more than they lose, and maybe even make the playoffs. But if the Redskins start out slow out of the gate, like go 0-8 the first half of the season, I am not going to hope they go 8-0 the second half. The reason? Andrew Luck. If you don't know who Andrew Luck is, he is the starting quarterback at Stanford University. He is also the most talked about prospect for the 2012 NFL Draft. Barring total disaster at Stanford, Luck will be picked No. 1 overall in the draft because he is probably the most pro-ready quarterback since the likes of Peyton Manning or Dan Marino. Stanford runs a pro-style offense, and their playbook rivals some of the ones in the NFL. Luck can make all the throws, is fairly mobile, and is tough as nails. He also has the intangibles, like leadership skills, book smarts, and a calm demeanor. He will most likely be successful in the NFL, when he gets there. He could have been a Carolina Panther this year. However, he decided to stay in school. That leaves the door open for the worst team in the NFL this season to pick him in next year's draft.

Based on their lack of quality signings of free agents in this offseason, the Redskins seem poised to be one of the worst, if not the worst, teams in the NFL this season. As my friend Keith would say, they are a dumpster fire from top to bottom. They are going to rely on John Beck, or Rex Grossman, to quarterback the offense this season. THAT is sad. They have no running backs that inspire any confidence in the ability to run the ball. PATHETIC. Their defensive backfield is porous. The offensive line is still a work in progress. The wide receiver corp is aging. Their best offensive player is Chris Cooley. In summary, they will be a bad team.

No, getting Andrew Luck will not solve all of their problems. Like any rookie quarterback, the Skins will have to make some great moves next year in the offseason. They will need to get a running back that can actually help, or hope that Roy Helu or one of the other rookie RBs pans out. They will need a couple of goo wide receivers. And the offensive line will need to continue to improve to give Luck any chance of helping to rebuild the team. But I may be talking out of turn. Leave it to the Redskins to screw up tanking the season. Watch them win 5 or six games and wind up having the 5th pick in the draft. But a man can hope, right?