WP: There Are Still Things Money Can't Buy

[bubba9497]

There Are Still Things Money Can't Buy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A426-2003Nov4?language=printer

By Thomas Boswell

Wednesday, November 5, 2003; Page D01

When a franchise has lost its way, one manifestation of its general confusion is that, within a few years, its former players seem to become stars everywhere else.

On Sunday, when Patrick Ramsey left the game briefly with an injury, the Redskins were left with a backup quarterback who had never thrown a pass in the NFL. If Ramsey really does get injured, as opposed to his regular weekly muggings and maulings, the Redskins could become a joke.

Yet look at all the ex-Redskins quarterbacks who litter the NFL at this very moment. Brad Johnson, Redskins quarterback in 2000, won the Super Bowl last year with Tampa Bay. Trent Green, Redskins quarterback in 1998, may win the Super Bowl this season with the undefeated Chiefs.

On Sunday, Tony Banks, Redskins quarterback of 2001, won a game as an emergency starter. His Texans beat Carolina despite 153 yards rushing by ex-Redskin Stephen Davis, who is on pace for slightly less than 2,000 yards. Last month, Gus Frerotte, Redskins quarterback of 1997, filled in admirably for the Vikings.

The list of useful ex-Redskins with names like Barber, Kalu, Thrash, Gardener, Mitchell and Wilkinson goes on. But the point is simple. When the master plan is flawed or, more likely, the plan is changed often amid a hailstorm of firings and departures, you're ultimately left with a mess.

Since Jack Kent Cooke died, owners who were too weak or too strong, too disengaged or too involved, have run the Redskins. Since Daniel Snyder arrived, it's been hard to know who's running the ship. Marty Schottenheimer thought he was -- for a year. The Redskins are now controlled by a braintrust with at least four heads: Snyder, Vinny Cerrato, Steve Spurrier and whoever the last guy was who said something that sounded smart to Snyder.

We've seen this comedy before. The Baltimore Orioles, after Davey Johnson and Pat Gillick were exiled, seemed to stock the whole league with stalwarts. Just as Orioles owner Peter Angelos had a period when he was under the spell of Syd Thrift, Snyder took advice from Pepper Rodgers, whose last coaching seasons were with the Memphis Hound Dogs of the Mid-American Football Association.

The justification for these miscast management marriages is that the owner loves the team, wants to spend his money, but is desperate to "learn the sport" so that he knows where his cash is going and, maybe, land some of the credit.

The result, unfortunately, is usually comic disarray. For example, Snyder recently had a six-hour meeting with Spurrier to discuss the team's problems. In 12 years at Florida, Spurrier probably never had six hours of meetings total with all his superiors combined. Much less to explain himself or his sport.

Around the same time, the Redskins released backup quarterback Rob Johnson, assuming Danny Wuerffel would have nothing better to do on Sundays than return to the Redskins. Instead, Wuerffel was so mad at the way Snyder and Cerrato had released him over Spurrier's objection that he spit on the job.

Also during the bye week, before their latest disorganized loss, the team brought in consultants -- in other words, old coaches from better days -- to look over the shoulders of the current crew. That's guaranteed to produce a winning spirit!

Finally, Snyder called Jimmy Johnson, former coach of the hated Cowboys, for a chat. Johnson said the call was to discuss making the transition from college coach to the NFL; no one's done it better than Johnson. Sources close to Snyder said the call was to complain about Johnson's comments on the Fox pregame show. In any case, even Johnson said he found the call "odd."

The ringleader of this circus is Snyder, 38, who wants to own the Redskins for many years. He wants to learn. He'll pick any brain. That's admirable. But he's learning on our time. Even more scary, there's plenty of precedent that, despite his brains, energy and good intentions, he'll never be a "football man."

To see the problem more clearly, use that old principle from high school algebra: invert. Imagine a great football executive who wakes up one day and inherits a controlling interest in Intel. So, he quits football and makes himself CEO of Intel. Why? "Because I've always loved computers. And I'm a quick learner." What would you do with your Intel shares?

The problem in sports isn't the intellectual difficulty of the concepts involved. In fact, their outward simplicity is the trap that sucks so many bright successful people like Snyder into a vortex of flawed choices. Being involved in the key decisions in a sport franchise is just as specific a gift as having the kind of mind that can grasp technology. It may not require a fraction of the education or even, perhaps, IQ. But the rarity is comparable.

For example, at the World Series, I asked Jack McKeon how long it took him to evaluate the Marlins personnel when he took over in May. "A week," he said. No, I said, I mean how long did it take you until you knew everything important about every player -- from hitting tendencies and flawed techniques to their personalities and how they interacted in the clubhouse.

"What did I just say?" said McKeon. "A week."

McKeon explained that knowing a sport well enough to build or lead a champion is something that you know down to your bones. He talked about how he'd caught batting practice for the minor league Newark Bears when he was barely in high school. Who was pitching to him at age 15? Don Newcombe, who, a few years later, won 27 games for the Dodgers. Who was the Bears right fielder standing a yard in front of him swinging the bat? Yogi Berra.

That's why McKeon can analyze or inspire the Marlins. And that's why Snyder, no matter how many hours he grills Spurrier or Johnson, can probably only do one thing when he gets involved in vital decision-making. And what is that one thing? Get In The Way.

It's not fair. It may even be sad. But almost every time that's just how it is.

An owner can have a proper role in a sport, even if he has never played it, grown up in it or proved himself by moving through an organization from the bottom up. For example, Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria, who made his money as an "international art dealer specializing in major paintings and sculptures by 20th Century Masters," may have a decent handle on it. Before Game 5 of the World Series, Loria lured McKeon outside Pro Player Stadium. "That's a beautiful car," said McKeon, looking at red luxury convertible parked out front. "It's yours," Loria said, and handed the keys to the dumbfounded McKeon.

After the Series, Loria ran around the bases, slid into home plate and said, "I felt like a little kid." That's sports ownership in a nutshell. If you want more, you do so at great risk -- to your team.

[RF4L]

Boswell is the $hit.:notworthy

By the way, is it any wonder why things are as they are?

Snyder, Cerrato..... :gus:

[PCS]

Well, I understand the technical aspect and all, but Johnson, Kalu, Thrash, (and Centers. Not mentioned in the article), were all lost while Marty the team's as coach and director of football operations, if memory serves. Ok. Let's talk about Banks. Ok. Nevermind. let's not talk about Banks. Admittedly, there have been some boneheaded moves, but this particular article, in light of recent comments by folks in Redskins park, has some definate holes.

[BCS:BraveCaringSoul]

the Redskins released backup quarterback Rob Johnson, assuming Danny Wuerffel would have nothing better to do on Sundays than return to the Redskins. Instead, Wuerffel was so mad at the way Snyder and Cerrato had released him over Spurrier's objection that he spit on the job.

Way to go DW! They can take your job, but they can't take your pride unless you sell it to them. :notworthy:

"Pellet Gun" while on tour in Louisiana takes time off to tutor itinerant preacher Danny Wuerfell on proper long distance spitting techniques.

After receiving a call from Vinny Cerrato Wuerfell sends an appropriate response to VC's offer of a backup qb job.

Cerrato reportedly attacheded this vintage sign to his office door last week...

Written in bold text below it was the following: "In the future the Redskins will fine and or suspend any players, former players, player's wives, players boyfriends and coaches who spit on the front office staff, management or owners."

[OaktonSkins/BushFan]

Sheesh - quite a fury from the Washington Post over the last 3 weeks. Don't get me wrong - I like it because most of it is true. Look for some press credentials to be revoked and leak holes to be plugged up in the coming days. I hate Dan Snyder.

[Sarge]

So we're the Baltimore Orioles?

[The Sisko]

HA!! I beat you to the Angelos comparison Boswell.

http://www.extremeskins.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=38940

Maybe he should just call me before sitting down to write his column. Hmmm, is there a pat yourself on the back smiley ?

[Om]

Here, let me apply my reknowned gift of brevity ( ) to summarize for Boswell:

Mr. Snyder,

This coming offseason, swallow your pride, grit your teeth, and hire a professional General Manager to begin wrestling your team back onto the tracks. Give him no less than 3 years to work, during which time your job will be to write checks, listen, and learn.

If you love your team like you say you do, and winning is more important to you than getting credit for it ... the time has come to prove it.

[SkinsThug]

Man -- Boswell hits a grand slam on that one.

[JMac]

That was a great article. I wonder if Snyder or anyone it Redskins Park read it since it is from the Wash Post.

Maybe I should mail a copy of it along with my jersey (ala Jets fan) to Snyder and tell him this ship needs to be righted ASAP.

[Sarge]

There Are Still Things Money Can't Buy

A clue, perhaps?

[BG]

How long did it take the National medai, local media and fans to realize what we had?

at least 3 wins and 3 losses

[NavyDave]

Boswell is an idiot

What dumb move?

B johnson is garbage and just fortunate to be on tampon bay, trent green left on his own before snyder had the team, gardener? yeah he is doing great things in denver isnt he? big fatty?

I need to be the voice of the fan to slam these fools

And the stupid phrase you cant buy a championship apparently only applies to the redskins when tampon gave up four high draft picks and I guess the other teams didnt use the draft or free agency to build their teams and newsflash no repeat super bowl champs.

[Ryman of the North]

Thanks Bulldog! finally someone says what ive been thinking!

[Om]

Um ... bulldog hasn't said anything here, bro.

I assume that's not what you've been thinking?

[bulldog]

although I might disagree on the status of Banks and Centers, who are now marginal NFLers, the main thrust of the article is right on.

the best move an owner can make is to hire an experienced GM that has been able to navigate the path to a championship before.

now the guy might have been an Asst GM somewhere else or a Director of Player Personnel, etc....it doesn't have to be 67 year old Ron Wolf

but it should be somebody with real credentials and a few good references in the game.

certainly Shula gave the Skins that kind of report on Bobby Beathard

the truth is that Cerrato was dumped in Frisco after leading 2 poor drafts and sinking a ton of money in a handful of free agents that were largely busts.

anyone remember the big money paid for guys like Antonio Langham and Winfred Tubbs? Irv Smith?

these were all Cerrato's babies and they brought SF to the brink of collapse under the cap.

notice that when he departed Washington he didn't find a job anywhere else in the NFL? :laugh:

and you wonder why?

let's see, Casserly set us up with all the picks from the Sean Gilbert fiasco with Carolina. those picks were Arrington and Samuels.

Bailey came in 1999 with Jansen under Casserly too.

Marty brought in Gardner and Smoot and McCants.

Mendes helped bring in the 2002 draft which included Ramsey, Betts and Cartwright.

That's most of the young talent on the club, outside of the ex-Jets we grabbed this past offseason.

But the field is littered with the salaries of Deion Sanders, Jeff George, Mark Carrier and this year's haul of Regan Upshaw, Dave Fiore, Lional Dalton, Martin Chase and Trung Canidate.

We have gotten bupkis out of Upshaw and Fiore. Canidate got hurt almost immediately and we haven't seen him in a number of weeks.

Dalton has not been able to surge past career backups like Chase and Holsey.

Just a lot of bad moves to go along with the one or two gems each offseason.

If football was a 5 starter sport like hockey or basketball the Skins would be fine :laugh:

It's trying to get 53 players that will play hard and together each week that seems to be the Mt. Everest around here.

[Jimbo]

Because the NFL is BIG BUSINESS, how can you expect an owner to fork over $800 million and NOT get involved. Unfortunately, BIG BUSINESS demands that you be involved until you make your original investment back. When you are used to being in control, it's a little difficult to turn over the reins to someone else.

Snyder's problem is that he has not learned HOW to listen properly. I doubt he has ever had to. He has also not learned how to trust. He micromanages this organization because it made him rich in the past. He want to build the Skins into a juggernaut, money-making empire from the business aspect while getting some credit for putting together a winning team.

Unfortunately, while he may know business, he doesn't know football OR the NFL. You simply CAN'T successfully do both without trusting and listening to the people who work for you.

At this point, there are too many Chiefs who think they have the right answer and all they do is disagree and argue about how things should be done.

This may be the long version of Om's post but the verdict still holds true. Hire a single GM and let he and the coach have the final say over all football matters.

It worked for Jack Kent Cooke and the Skins have three Super Bowl trophies as a result.

We now return to our regular programming.

[ljer]

James Thrash.....50 catches a year....big deal.

[The Sisko]

Jimbo, all I can say is "A man's gotta know his limitations." Jerrah figured it out. How long is it gonna take the Danny ?

[big z]

I'm all for it. Who is this wonderful GM we might be bringing in?

Wolf thought Spurrier was the best coach ever.

Beathard doesn't want any part of us.

Does McKay come from tampa?

Who???

I'm all for Snyder staying the hell out of it when it comes to anything but signing the players and their paychecks.

But hindsight being 20/20.....other than Fiore....who we we're taking a gamble on anyway.....where did the GM two headed monster of Snyder and Cerrato mess up?

Was bringing in Coles a mistake? Letting Gardener walk?

Obviously we all wish Davis was tearing it up in a skins uni, but if Spurrier wasn't going to use him anyway....

[jimster]

Originally posted by NavyDave

Boswell is an idiot

What dumb move?

B johnson is garbage and just fortunate to be on tampon bay, trent green left on his own before snyder had the team, gardener? yeah he is doing great things in denver isnt he? big fatty?

I need to be the voice of the fan to slam these fools

And the stupid phrase you cant buy a championship apparently only applies to the redskins when tampon gave up four high draft picks and I guess the other teams didnt use the draft or free agency to build their teams and newsflash no repeat super bowl champs.

Amen

...plus the Ravens were just under the 'Skins in $$ the year they won the SB.

I guess everybody's just on the bashing bandwagon