bubba9497 Posted February 29, 2004 Share Posted February 29, 2004 PRO FOOTBALL: Redskins scored pro coach, amateur GM Jeff Schultz - Staff http://www.ajc.com/sunday/content/epaper/editions/sunday/sports_0414b8d25111527110b0.html If Joe Gibbs' return to the NFL in general and Washington in specific should turn out as glorious as the first time around, it will be because of what happened these past couple of weeks. If Joe Gibbs' return to the NFL in general and the Redskins in specific should flop as miserably as, say, the team's attempt to resuscitate the careers of Bruce Smith and Deion Sanders --- well, remember this same time period. Because while Gibbs is a Hall of Fame coach with three Super Bowl rings who may still have the ability, drive and desire to maneuver another group of players to a championship, nobody ever said he was a general manager. And in the era of the salary cap, this isn't a good time to fake it. NFL free agency begins later this week. The Redskins, mostly a comical disaster in Daniel Snyder's five seasons as owner, are expected to punctuate the week by finalizing a trade with the Denver Broncos. Former Georgia cornerback Champ Bailey, arguably the league's best player at the league's second-most important position (behind only the guy who takes the snaps), will go to Denver. Running back Clinton Portis, who has gone over 1,500 yards in each of his two NFL seasons, becomes a Redskin. The Broncos also get a second-round pick, presumably because the deal just wasn't lopsided enough straight up. This follows Gibbs' first move, which was to acquire quarterback Mark Brunell from Jacksonville and give him a contract sure to keep generations of Brunells financially secure (seven years, $43 million). This either works or Snyder ends up longing for the days of stability with Steve Spurrier. Getting Gibbs to return as coach was a coup for Snyder. Gibbs would've been great with the Falcons. But in acquiring and overpaying Brunell, a 34-year-old quarterback well past his prime and no longer mobile, Gibbs has alienated the team's younger quarterback, incumbent starter Patrick Ramsey. An "open competition" has been declared, but players who are guaranteed more than $15 million in the first three years of their contract aren't in competition --- they're in a tax bind. It's Brunell's job to lose, and there's a reasonable chance these are scars that won't heal with Ramsey. In his earlier NFL coaching days, Gibbs didn't pull the strings on the roster --- Bobby Beathard did. Gibbs certainly didn't have to deal with a salary cap. It follows that when Brunell eventually is released --- it could be as early as two seasons, and it probably won't be longer than three --- the coach will learn what it's like to take a salary cap hit from the signing bonus. With the Falcons, Gibbs was safely tucked away on the team's board of directors. In owning a NASCAR team, he had budgets to deal with but didn't have a salary cap. Now he's about to deal one of the NFL's elite players for a running back who may or may not rank in the NFL's top 10. Portis has had two terrific seasons with the Broncos. (Speaking of cap problems, he wants a fat new deal.) He finished fourth in the NFL in rushing last season. But it's reasonable to assume some of his success was the result of working in Mike Shanahan's offense. You could make a case there are at least nine running backs better or equal to him --- Jamal Lewis, LaDainian Tomlinson, Ahman Green, Deuce McAllister, Stephen Davis, Priest Holmes, Ricky Williams, Edgerrin James and Marshall Faulk (when healthy). Portis will help Washington. But he doesn't carry the value of Bailey (who, by the way, would look wonderful in a Falcons uniform). There's a reason cornerbacks make more in the NFL than running backs. Good running backs are more readily available. Bailey is worth a lot more than what Washington is getting in return. One of the league's worst defenses is about to get worse. Gibbs is trying to recapture the magic. He has built the world's most ancient coaching staff, bringing back the old Skins --- Joe Bugel (64), Rennie Simmons (62), Don Breaux (64) and Jack Burns (only 55 --- he just looks and coaches older). It wasn't that long ago when Gibbs told Falcons owner Arthur Blank, "I'm thinking of coaching again." Had he stuck with that job description, the future might seem a little brighter. jschultz@ajc.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernie5 Posted February 29, 2004 Share Posted February 29, 2004 This is an uninformed piece of junk. Then again, I don't imagine the Journal Constipation does a whole lot of writing or thinking about football anyway. Tucked safely away is the truth: (1) Champ wasn't coming back and wanted WAY too much money; (2) Champ, although an excellent CB, is only sporatically a shutdown corner (most recently against ... yeah, the Falcons); and (3) Brunell is the best available veteran QB and, with Ramsey both inexperienced and coming off a serious injury, teams with hall of fame coaches who prefer veteran QBs sometimes have to make tough calls. Sorry Jeff (and Sally Jenkins while we're at it): leave football talk to people who know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aREDSKIN Posted February 29, 2004 Share Posted February 29, 2004 This writer (sic) is just mad that Gibbs didn't take ol Authur Blank's offer. I mean really could anyone realistically see Joe Gibbs coach the FALCONS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H@iL2Gibb$ Posted February 29, 2004 Share Posted February 29, 2004 I'm looking forward to what these Skins bashers would say if we make the playoff this coming season. "bailey would look wonderful in a falcon uniform". sure, just give us Crumpler, Duckett & your 1st rd pick then we'll talk.:moon: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frunobulax Posted February 29, 2004 Share Posted February 29, 2004 Originally posted by H@iL2Gibb$ I'm looking forward to what these Skins bashers would say if we make the playoff this coming season. Why stop with just one playoff? Let's make 'em all! :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savesmootsprings Posted February 29, 2004 Share Posted February 29, 2004 Is there any truth in the rumour that Jeff Schultz is just the Ghost writer name representing a team of 1000 monkey's typing furiously 24 hours a day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
savesmootsprings Posted February 29, 2004 Share Posted February 29, 2004 This kind of crap makes me sick, this guy gets paid to write about football and yet he says that edgerrin james is better than porits. Portis is the edge of two years ago as apposed to that washed up runner Indianapolis have now. If they had a draft of existing running backs in the NFL LT, Green and MAYBE Macallister and Williams would be taken before Portis. The rest are either at the peak of their career, on the downslope or in the case of James just simply not good anymore. And to say that corners are the second most important position in the NFL is another joke. It all depends on your defensive sytem, if you're going to play alot of zone suddenly there not so important and try telling Tampa Bay that their corners are their most important defensive players. You dont need shut-down corners to play a cover 2 so if John Schultz new anything about football he'd have realised that different positions undertake more or less importance depending on how you play the game. you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.