For Midget Fans: Why John Mara cheated

[Busch1724]

He should be fired. He was taken to school by the NFL on the new CBA.

He certainly was in over his head. I remember when he was hired there quite a few people questioning the hire because he had no football background, only a law background.

[SkinsHokieFan]

Bump in light of the Mike Wise article

[Trippster]

Here's my question: since the Redskins have to be 18 million under their supposed salary cap this year, does that mean they'll have 18 million extra to play with next year?

[MartinC]

Here's my question: since the Redskins have to be 18 million under their supposed salary cap this year, does that mean they'll have 18 million extra to play with next year?

No it means they will not start $18M behind the rest of the NFL like we are this year. But we don't get any extra cap next year.

[Green_machine_28]

Good timely bump. Since 4:00 Tuesday this hamstring job from Mara has been chapping my ass. The NFL and NFLPA have effectively ostracized one of the greatest fan bases in the league. I can't offer much to the argument that hasn't already been said, I guess I'm at the final stage of denial- acceptance. But I'd like one more opportunity at the end of a long week to say **** you to Mara and his cronies. Your hack job has made you and your team my public enemy #1. I hope for continued mediocrity from your franchise, and continued divisional championships and NYG sweeps from ours.

[Skinzfever2010]

Blessing in disguise: "wisdom & understanding"

For so many years March has been our December/Jan. I'm glad we're not throwing money around and other teams used goods. We re-signed the players we wanted to keep and restructured others to add more cap space. We finally have a competent front office that gets it.

Moving forward, April (draft) will be here before you know it and we'll address our secondary (most glaring need) for THIRD time in the last 9 years. Sean Taylor could be argued as the exception to the rule out of circumstance due to his early departure (RIP) however, the Carlos Rogers, LaRon Landry fiascos can't happen again. We can no longer waste valuable picks on players we're only going to let walk because we didn't put them in the best position to be successful.

Carlos Rogers is a solid CB who wore his welcome out here. At times, we fans grew impatient over-emphasizing how he made the same mistakes (drops) which in turn blinded us from how solid his coverage skills were. Of course he had bad games and got burned from time to time but overall Los was consistently solid in coverage. Did we draft him to high? Probably, but he was still first round, early 2nd round talent that if used correctly was more than serviceable.

LaRon Landry is a really good SS. He can't cover anything to save his life but he tackles anything around him. He had a very strong rookie season in 2007. During our first round exit against the Seahawks he grabbed two game-changing picks our inept offense couldn't capitalize off. Instead of moving him back to SS in 2008 we decided to keep him 30 yards off the ball like he was Sean Taylor. Like many of you reiterate all the time here, LaRon was/is no Sean. By 2009 the M.O on how to exploit LaRon was out. Like Rogers, we the fans came down hard on LaRon for missed tackles and “after the play flexing” but what we failed to realize is how valuable he was when used correctly. Mike Shanahan and Jim Haslett (like Joe Gibbs & Greg W) knew how to put him in the best position to succeed. Was he drafted to early? Probably but he was still first, early second round talent that if used correctly was more than serviceable.

Whoever we draft moving forward won't be perfect. Hopefully we're a patient fan base and will understand their progression and growth as players will take time. All players have strengths and weaknesses. Los dropped way to many interceptions, but could neutralize the opposing teams best WR. LaRon couldn’t cover DeSean Jackson but would force a game changing fumble. LaRon & Los wore their welcome out here for other reasons but it didn't start that way.

It’s a new day in Washington. Our organization is run by individuals who get it. Mara, what you did will turn out to be a blessing in disguise. We'll add what we can in April and pay players based on potential and not what was done in the past. We just need to be patient and let them evolve into good players

Thanks John

[Trippster]

No it means they will not start $18M behind the rest of the NFL like we are this year. But we don't get any extra cap next year.

But if the cap this year is 123 million, we only have 105 million to spend. Next year, when the cap is 130 million or so, we should be sitting pretty because we underspent so much this year.

[Green_machine_28]

Blessing in disguise: "wisdom & understanding"

I like this optimism. I agree that this "penalty" has caused the team to be something it has not been for a long time, fiscally responsible. From that perspective perhaps it is a blessing in disguise that we have no choice but to build a team of players who believe in their ability to be successful, and are willing to sacrifice personal prosperity to reach that goal. I guess there's a silver lining in everything.

But still, **** Mara.

[Skinzfever2010]

I like this optimism. I agree that this "penalty" has caused the team to be something it has not been for a long time, fiscally responsible. From that perspective perhaps it is a blessing in disguise that we have no choice but to build a team of players who believe in their ability to be successful, and are willing to sacrifice personal prosperity to reach that goal. I guess there's a silver lining in everything.

But still, **** Mara.

We have no choice but to be optimistic. Last year we proved we could do more with less. For the first time in 30 years we have the most important piece in place with solid coaching/FO to enahnce it. We don't need to add eight and nine “has been” names to sell seats. The NFC East is ours. We just need to draft wisely and give the team time to gel. One thing I've noticed about our fan base is how quick we become frustrated.

Midway last year half the forum wanted to fire Shanny and Jim. Lets relax and watch everything unfold baby. We're in the driver seat now.

[Green_machine_28]

One thing I've noticed about our fan base is how quick we become frustrated.

I'm from a military family so I didn't grow up in this area. When I moved to the DMV, this was one of my first observations, how quick the fan base and especially the media would revert to doom and gloom any time things didn't go favorably. I understood the frustration, but I swore never to be that fan. 9 years on, I think I've started down that path, but an optimistic perspective like yours reminds me to step back and take a wider angle on the situation.

[SJValleySkinz]

Blessing in disguise: "wisdom & understanding"

For so many years March has been our December/Jan. I'm glad we're not throwing money around and other teams used goods. We re-signed the players we wanted to keep and restructured others to add more cap space. We finally have a competent front office that gets it.

Moving forward, April (draft) will be here before you know it and we'll address our secondary (most glaring need) for THIRD time in the last 9 years. Sean Taylor could be argued as the exception to the rule out of circumstance due to his early departure (RIP) however, the Carlos Rogers, LaRon Landry fiascos can't happen again. We can no longer waste valuable picks on players we're only going to let walk because we didn't put them in the best position to be successful.

Carlos Rogers is a solid CB who wore his welcome out here. At times, we fans grew impatient over-emphasizing how he made the same mistakes (drops) which in turn blinded us from how solid his coverage skills were. Of course he had bad games and got burned from time to time but overall Los was consistently solid in coverage. Did we draft him to high? Probably, but he was still first round, early 2nd round talent that if used correctly was more than serviceable.

LaRon Landry is a really good SS. He can't cover anything to save his life but he tackles anything around him. He had a very strong rookie season in 2007. During our first round exit against the Seahawks he grabbed two game-changing picks our inept offense couldn't capitalize off. Instead of moving him back to SS in 2008 we decided to keep him 30 yards off the ball like he was Sean Taylor. Like many of you reiterate all the time here, LaRon was/is no Sean. By 2009 the M.O on how to exploit LaRon was out. Like Rogers, we the fans came down hard on LaRon for missed tackles and “after the play flexing” but what we failed to realize is how valuable he was when used correctly. Mike Shanahan and Jim Haslett (like Joe Gibbs & Greg W) knew how to put him in the best position to succeed. Was he drafted to early? Probably but he was still first, early second round talent that if used correctly was more than serviceable.

Whoever we draft moving forward won't be perfect. Hopefully we're a patient fan base and will understand their progression and growth as players will take time. All players have strengths and weaknesses. Los dropped way to many passes, but could neutralize the opposing teams best WR. LaRon couldn’t cover DeSean Jackson but would force a game changing fumble. LaRon & Los wore their welcome out here for other reasons but it didn't start that way.

It’s a new day in Washington. Our organization is run by individuals who get it. Mara, what you did will turn out to be a blessing in disguise. We'll add what we can in April and pay players based on potential and not was done in the past. We just need to be patient and let them evolve into good players

Thanks John

Post of the year. You took the words out of my mouth and said them more eloquently than I ever could. The cores of championship teams are built in April, not March. If this is indeed a new era guys like Keenan Robinson, Leonard Hankerson, Aldrick Robinson, Josh LeRibeus and Jarvis Jenkins will step to the forefront, not someone new. The players we draft THIS YEAR will be starters in the future and we will continue to find guys like Alfred Morris and Perry Riley in the later rounds of the draft. That's the only proven way to build a consistent championship contender and nobody knows the implications of building through free agency better than Redskins fans.

[Skinzfever2010]

Post of the year. You took the words out of my mouth and said them more eloquently than I ever could. The cores of championship teams are built in April, not March. If this is indeed a new era guys like Keenan Robinson, Leonard Hankerson, Aldrick Robinson, Josh LeRibeus and Jarvis Jenkins will step to the forefront, not someone new. The players we draft THIS YEAR will be starters in the future and we will continue to find guys like Alfred Morris and Perry Riley in the later rounds of the draft. That's the only proven way to build a consistent championship contender and nobody knows the implications of building through free agency better than Redskins fans.

Exactly, Mara can't destroy our nucleus and our new mindset. The new core is in place and we'll continue to add pieces here and there to enhance it. Gone are the days of "big spending" in March. You better believe every time we play NYG we'll have a chip on our shoulders.

Remember how NYG abused us between 06-10? Its finally over. All we have to do is relax. We're an overly critical, impatient fan base due to what we endured early on with Dan/Vinny.

Even the NYG players know what time it is!

[SJValleySkinz]

Exactly, Mara can't destroy our nucleus and our new mindset. The new core is in place and we'll continue to add pieces here and there to enhance it. Gone are the days of "big spending" in March. You better believe every time we play NYG we'll have a chip on our shoulders.

Remember how NYG abused us between 06-10? Its finally over. All we have to do is relax. We're an overly critical, impatient fan base due to what we endured early on with Dan/Vinny.

Even the NYG players know what time it is!

I get the eagerness for success, but what's baffling is people here are all tied up in knots because we can't do the very thing that brought us misery in the first place.

[poidog22]

But if the cap this year is 123 million, we only have 105 million to spend. Next year, when the cap is 130 million or so, we should be sitting pretty because we underspent so much this year.

I get what you're saying, but in the end it all comes down to how contracts are structured. Some contracts that have a $2 mil cap hit this season, may have a $7 mil next season. I've also seen various football reporters say that we're about to enter the "flat-cap period" so what I'm taking from that is we shouldn't expect the cap to increase exponentially in the next few years.

[PapaLazarou]

Is my cat getting run over a blessing in disguise because I appreciate him more? No. This isn't either.