Note to Self: A novel approach

Note to Self: A novel approach

By Brian Murphy

As everyone knows, the NFL’s free agency period kicked off with a bang last week. Teams like the Washington Redskins, New York Giants and New York Jets were active from the first minute and all made significant acquisitions almost immediately.

Because the Redskins are routinely one of the lead dogs in the free agency hunt, they always provide journalists and columnists an easy target, which is fine. The actions of Dan Snyder and Vinny Cerrato open them up to criticism, so feel free to fire away. But if you made the joke “looks like the stimulus package is working for the Redskins” during your free agency article, just know that you’re a s***ty writer.

If you wrote the story blasting the team’s free agent spending spree and brought up the 30 or so former employees who were laid off during the offseason, you’re a s***ty writer with an axe to grind. If you wrote the story, mentioned the layoffs and included the names “Jeff George,” “Bruce Smith” and/or “Deion Sanders,” you’re a s***ty writer with an axe to grind who is also lazy. It’s been more than a decade. Get over it.

I kick the Redskins front office as often as the next person, but there has to be a point where you come up with new material. Recycling the same column year after year and just updating the names isn’t going to win you a Pulitzer, so get off your oversized ass and come up with something new. But then again, Jay Leno has been telling the same tired jokes since he got a late-night show and morons still tune in, so what do I know?

As soon as the initial reports came through that former Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth had signed a seven-year, $100 million contract with the Redskins in the opening hours of free agency you knew how the talking heads and lazy columnists would respond. And even though Peter King of Sports Illustrated broke down the deal and reported that in all actuality it was actually a four-year, $48 million deal, some journalists continued to stick with the $100 million angle. Never mind that there’s zero chance Haynesworth actually gets past year four without re-working the contract. It’s easier to condemn the team when the number looks so ridiculously large. Never let the truth get in the way of a good story, right?

Here’s the thing, signing the most dominant defensive tackle in football to a four-year deal for $48 million is a bargain. To put the signing in the proper perspective, let’s compare it to another move from the same city. This past offseason, the Washington Wizards signed forward Antawn Jamison to a four-year, $50 million contract. Haynesworth is 27. Jamison is 32. Haynesworth is a bona-fide game changer. Jamison is a good role model for younger players, but should never be considered more than a second or third option. A team can build an entire defense around Haynesworth. Jamison hasn’t played defense since he came to Washington. Haynesworth requires double and triple coverage from opponents, which frees up teammates to also make plays. Other teams are content to let Jamison shoot 18-foot jump shots all game long because his team is still going to lose by 20.

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Awesome read.

Well done!

Here’s the thing, signing the most dominant defensive tackle in football to a four-year deal for $48 million is a bargain.

It is, and if he stays healthy he puts us in position to win 2-3 more games just by himself.

Now add to that equation: JC's time in the Zorn system, the 08 rookies development, DeAngelo Hall, Derrick Dockery, the draft, and us getting younger overall and there's something to look forward to.

When does training camp start??

I want to see is Aldridge or/and Dorsey could win a job over Cart right or Betts.