Matador36
March-10th-2005, 08:32 AM
and they wonder why they find bodies in rivers...
His email: mshapiro@nyunews.com
http://www.nyunews.com/sports/news/9135.html
Ha ha ha. Hang on one sec, I'm almost done. Oh man, I really needed a good laugh. Thanks a lot, Washington Redskins.
Your recent off-season debacle has once again helped me to remember that it isn't just those who open up their wallets that end up on top. Your embarrassing inability to either keep your players happy or win games is a true delight. Two thumbs way up.
So maybe there's a reason I'm taking so much pleasure in one seemingly innocuous franchise's failures. Maybe it's not that I simply hate maroon and yellow or find their name to be offensive to Native Americans. Hmmm, what could have led me to hate the Redskins and revel in their ineptitude?
Let me refresh your memory. Following the 2002 season, the Redskins "raided" the Jets roster and snatched up four of New York's biggest impact players.
Redskin's owner Daniel Snyder was trying to make an impact and flex his financial muscle. That he did, and within the blink of an eye, wide receiver Laveranues Coles, guard Randy Thomas, kicker John Hall and return specialist Chad Morton were all gone.
The losses were crushing for the Jets. Each of those players had contributed to the team's magical 2002 run in which the Jets were crowned AFC East champions.
For this reason, it has been my great pleasure to root against the 'Skins - not against any of the players in particular, just the franchise as a whole. I wanted everyone to see how bad they were and how not even taking good players off good teams could help them. I wanted it proven that Washington was where good players went to die.
My wish came true, and the Redskins have been an embarrassment. In the past two years, they have been a combined record of 11-21. However, through all of the taunting and dislike, there was one player who I secretly wished we still had. I rooted against him, but it was just out of jealousy. I wanted him back. I needed him back.
Now, two years later, that off-season's most important former Jet is landing back in New York. Laveranues Coles is returning to the Meadowlands in a trade that will send underachieving and often injured wide receiver Santana Moss to the nation's capital.
The move is genius for the Jets and wickedly embarrassing for the 'Skins on a number of levels. First, the Redskins are simply not getting equal value. I'm tired of hearing about Moss' "explosiveness." He absolutely has the ability to explode and beat defenders, but how often? We only see flashes of what he can do and flashes aren't enough in the NFL.
On the other hand, Coles is a tough, strong and sure-handed wide out. He is never scared to go over the middle or get hit by a defender (something that we can't really say about Moss). Watch him duck out of bounds on nine out of 10 punt returns.
The next reason this move is embarrassing for the 'Skins is the financial aspect. Coles dictated what was going to happen and the 'Skins were handcuffed. Coles didn't want to play there and he was going to get out. Washington had no choice but to let him go.
Now, not only will the 'Skins have to give him $5 million of his original signing bonus, he will also count $9.3 million against the team's salary cap next year and he won't even be wearing their uniform.
So let's quickly review the trade. The Jets get a play-making receiver who will not only play his heart out for the team that gave him his first chance, but will also be catching the ball from the man with whom he shared about as perfect a connection as any quarterback and wide receiver could possible have, his close friend Chad Pennington.
The Redskins get: Coles' salary, a smaller, more fragile receiver who has only had one good season and the need to now come up with a new, lucrative contract for said receiver.
Winner: The Jets - music to my ears.•
My next column will be mailbag- style. Send questions or comments regarding the NFL or the column in general to mshapiro@nyunews.com. The most interesting/amusing letter will be featured in the column.
His email: mshapiro@nyunews.com
http://www.nyunews.com/sports/news/9135.html
Ha ha ha. Hang on one sec, I'm almost done. Oh man, I really needed a good laugh. Thanks a lot, Washington Redskins.
Your recent off-season debacle has once again helped me to remember that it isn't just those who open up their wallets that end up on top. Your embarrassing inability to either keep your players happy or win games is a true delight. Two thumbs way up.
So maybe there's a reason I'm taking so much pleasure in one seemingly innocuous franchise's failures. Maybe it's not that I simply hate maroon and yellow or find their name to be offensive to Native Americans. Hmmm, what could have led me to hate the Redskins and revel in their ineptitude?
Let me refresh your memory. Following the 2002 season, the Redskins "raided" the Jets roster and snatched up four of New York's biggest impact players.
Redskin's owner Daniel Snyder was trying to make an impact and flex his financial muscle. That he did, and within the blink of an eye, wide receiver Laveranues Coles, guard Randy Thomas, kicker John Hall and return specialist Chad Morton were all gone.
The losses were crushing for the Jets. Each of those players had contributed to the team's magical 2002 run in which the Jets were crowned AFC East champions.
For this reason, it has been my great pleasure to root against the 'Skins - not against any of the players in particular, just the franchise as a whole. I wanted everyone to see how bad they were and how not even taking good players off good teams could help them. I wanted it proven that Washington was where good players went to die.
My wish came true, and the Redskins have been an embarrassment. In the past two years, they have been a combined record of 11-21. However, through all of the taunting and dislike, there was one player who I secretly wished we still had. I rooted against him, but it was just out of jealousy. I wanted him back. I needed him back.
Now, two years later, that off-season's most important former Jet is landing back in New York. Laveranues Coles is returning to the Meadowlands in a trade that will send underachieving and often injured wide receiver Santana Moss to the nation's capital.
The move is genius for the Jets and wickedly embarrassing for the 'Skins on a number of levels. First, the Redskins are simply not getting equal value. I'm tired of hearing about Moss' "explosiveness." He absolutely has the ability to explode and beat defenders, but how often? We only see flashes of what he can do and flashes aren't enough in the NFL.
On the other hand, Coles is a tough, strong and sure-handed wide out. He is never scared to go over the middle or get hit by a defender (something that we can't really say about Moss). Watch him duck out of bounds on nine out of 10 punt returns.
The next reason this move is embarrassing for the 'Skins is the financial aspect. Coles dictated what was going to happen and the 'Skins were handcuffed. Coles didn't want to play there and he was going to get out. Washington had no choice but to let him go.
Now, not only will the 'Skins have to give him $5 million of his original signing bonus, he will also count $9.3 million against the team's salary cap next year and he won't even be wearing their uniform.
So let's quickly review the trade. The Jets get a play-making receiver who will not only play his heart out for the team that gave him his first chance, but will also be catching the ball from the man with whom he shared about as perfect a connection as any quarterback and wide receiver could possible have, his close friend Chad Pennington.
The Redskins get: Coles' salary, a smaller, more fragile receiver who has only had one good season and the need to now come up with a new, lucrative contract for said receiver.
Winner: The Jets - music to my ears.•
My next column will be mailbag- style. Send questions or comments regarding the NFL or the column in general to mshapiro@nyunews.com. The most interesting/amusing letter will be featured in the column.