Lloyd area officially ends

Well, another costly mistake is finally out the door as the Redskins released WR Brandon Lloyd today.

I hate to say that this move seemed obvious but when you spend an entire season in Joe Gibbs' doghouse and catch only 2 passes for 14 yards (which "bumped" his total number of passes caught with the Skins to 25, with no TD's), you know your time has to be short. It just seems to be a shame that during a season in which both starters battled injuries and veterans were signed midseason to try and help the passing game that Lloyd couldn't stay out of the doughouse long enough to get another shot.

It's mistakes like this which cost us two draft picks and $10 million in guaranteed money in a new contract that I hope truly are things of the past as was reported over the weekend. And I'm not just complaining about the steep price of getting overpaid talent here, but the fact that they will continue to eat at our salary cap long after they hit the retirement home it seems.

But I guess if we are moving in a new direction, we've got to start cutting the dead weight somewhere and Lloyd seems like the logical choice.

So here's to clearing out our locker room and salary cap by 2012.

What about Russ?

As we enlarge our coaching search, I have been wondering why Russ Grimm is not a serious candidate to return to his team and take over for his coach.

When Joe Gibbs returned 4 years ago, wasn't it he who wanted to pry Grimm away from the Pittsburgh Steelers to run the offense? And wasn't it those same Steelers who held onto him with their kung fu grip, saying the only way Grimm would leave was if he was to become a head coach somewhere. So what happened?

When Bill Cowher retired after the 2006 season, Grimm and Steelers OC Ken Wisenhunt were the players' favorites to take over the job. However, the Steelers went with Vikings DC Mike Timlin and said goodbye to their offensive masterminds. Wisenhunt still picked up a head coaching job, taking over in Arizona, but Grimm was not so lucky.

Wisenhunt took care of Grimm, bringing him to Arizona, but again it only seemed like a matter of time before Grimm would take over somewhere. But much like his induction to the Hall of Fame, Grimm is still waiting for the phone to ring on a head coaching offer.

It was speculated early on that Grimm could be a candidate to take over in Washington, but in the hordes of candidates Dan Snyder has brought in, Grimm was not one of them. Given Snyder's penchant to relive the glory days it would seem Grimm would have been a good fit for his former team.

Instead, we spent our time hiring coordinators and waiting for other coaching candidates to become available for interviews. We may do okay if we actually hire Giants DC Steve Spagnuolo, especially after what he did to the mighty Patriots, but it still would've been cool to see Grimm head up the latest version of the Skins.

Hopefully the way this process has been drawn out, we will find our perfect fit and Grimm will finally get a well deserved shot with someone.

More coaching drama

So who are we to believe?

According to this tidbit from ESPN's John Clayton, the Skins are set to name Jim Fassel as head coach ... after the team conducts 1-2 more interviews after the Super Bowl. Meanwhile, Colts assistant Ron Meeks has been scheduled for another interview with Dan Snyder and there are now rumors circulating that Snyder's "mystery" candidate could be Steve Mariucci?

My only thought at this point is that this thing is now messier than a soap opera, Skins fans are getting on each other about how much Snyder has screwed up the team since he took over and there seems to be no end in site.

At this point the only thing I can say for sure is that things will definitely be different next year and that continuity Joe Gibbs was trying to bring back in his second run may have just been thrown out the window. I think I'm to the point now where I would just like someone to wake me up when this nightmare is over.

Zorn hired, Williams out

According to ESPN, the Skins finally hired Jim Zorn as offensive coordinator, despite the fact the team doesn't have a coach.

My only comment on this hire at this point is isn't it weird to hire an OC before a head coach? Just a thought.

Also, ESPNEWS has been reporting that Gregg Williams is no longer a candidate for the head coach position and that he actually fell out of favor during his 4 interviews. That must have been some falling out considering he was given a huge raise not too many seasons ago to not pursue other head coaching jobs so he could take over for Joe Gibbs when he left right? Or did I only dream that since no one seems to be mentioning that now.

Well, at least we don't have the problems the Raiders do. People complain about him but at least he hasn't lost it like "Tracksuit" Al Davis. Some things never change.

Are we being deceived in the coaching search?

Bram Weinstein brought up an interesting point in the Redskins Radio e-mail today, saying that the apparent "lack" of information being divulged about the Skins coaching search is very similar to the last time, when Joe Gibbs ended his retirement to resurrect the franchise.

I'm not a huge Weinstein fan, but I do like his comment about waiting for owner Dan Snyder to "pull a rabbit out of his hat." He still thinks the job goes to D coordinator Gregg Williams or recent interview Jim Mora Jr., but I think Snyder is still trying to see if he can convince Bill Cowher or someone with successful, previous head coaching experience to take the helm. I'm for this idea, especially since the Big Tuna already has a new gig.

I've let my thoughts on this matter be known in previous posts and hopefully this matter will be settled soon. There is only so much you can say about a covert coaching search.

Who will be the next coach?

Now that the media carousel is spitting out tons of names for the vacant head coaching gig, let's take a look at who may actually be on the radar:

1. Jim Schwartz (Tennessee defensive coordinator): The first official interview, I find it hard to believe that while he is one of the hot candidates this offseason he will actually get the job. If Dan Snyder decides to hire a defensive minded HC, I think another former Titan DC will get the job. Which brings us to ...

2. Gregg Williams (Washington assistant head coach-defense): This in house candidate and former head coach seemed to be named the successor to Joe Gibbs the moment Gibbs hired him to run the defense. However, the longer this process drags out and the more big name candidates interview for the job, the less likely it seems Williams has the job locked up.

3. Al Saunders (Washington assistant head coach-offense): Another former head coach in the league, Saunders was brought in two years ago to punch up the offense. Unfortunately, I don't know if the offense was really that much better under his guidance and I don't really see him as a likely choice to succeed Gibbs.

4. Bill Cowher (former Pittsburgh head coach): This is the exact type of big splash Snyder has made in the past and he could do a lot worse than hiring the former Steelers head guy. However, Cowher has repeatedly said he wanted to take two years off before coaching again which would put his return in 2009. But we know from experience that if Snyder wants something bad enough, he will usually throw enough money at it to make sure he gets it. So if Cowher feels the need to get rich again, he will probably have the opportunity.

5. Russ Grimm (Arizona assistant head coach-offensive line): Gibbs wanted to bring his former lineman in to run the offense when he returned but Pittsburgh wouldn't let go of him. One of the fans choices to replace Cowher, Grimm was passed up and followed Ken Wisenhunt to Arizona. It's probably not likely Grimm will be hired but it would be fun to see the old "Hog" take control of a team he helped get to 3 Super Bowls as a player.

I personally still think Williams has to be the favorite to get the job but if Cowher can be swayed out of the booth, the job is his. Either one would be a good choice to run the Skins and have the type of mentality needed to keep this team headed in the right direction.

Gibbs to retire

Well, I feel like an idiot. After my late post last night getting on the media for the slew of stories we were about to get about whether Joe Gibbs would return, he goes and decides to announce his retirement today.

Gibbs took on a lot this year and to say his second run wasn't as good as his first is unfair. He was out of football almost completely (he spent a couple of seasons as an in-studio announcer right after his first retirement) and had about 15 years of progress to catch up on. And while he still made some big blunders and had troubles at times adjusting to the "New NFL," he still took us to the playoffs.

At the very least the AP put it best in their story when they said Gibbs twice rescued the franchise from mediocrity because before his return, we were on our way to becoming the 1990s Bengals.

The obvious replacement has to be Gregg Williams, who it has been rumored was to be the heir apparent when Gibbs finally left, but it could still be a somewhat open position. Al Saunders is also being rumored as a replacement but you have to feel that after he has struggled to get this offense going in two years, he is more of a long shot.

Who do you think will replace Gibbs? Drop a comment saying who you'd like to see as the next head guy for our team.

Let the media circus begin

The Skins have been out of the playoffs for two days and the local media is already harping on whether Joe Gibbs will be back as coach next season. Nevermind the fact that he is probably still processing the loss to the Seahawks and enjoying his first day off in months, but in an effort to be the first one to break a potential story the media now has to harass a coach the day after his team's season finishes as to whether he is retiring.

I don't know about you but when I finish a huge project that has taken up all of my time, I tend to enjoy a day or two to relax before I start thinking about the next job. And it's my feeling that if I feel that way many others may to, including Joe so why not give the guy a break. He should have at least earned that much considering the type of year he had.

Playoffs: Redskins at Seattle

For the second time in the second Joe Gibbs era the Skins have made the playoffs by winning a bunch of games in a row to sneak in as the No. 6 seed.

Previews with an abundance of breakdowns showing why each team will win can be found all over the net so I will end this post with one thought: How cool would it be for the Redskins to open the playoffs and 2008 with a win at Seattle, especially since they try to boast having the loudest fans in the league?

Hail to the Redskins.

Does Joe Gibbs match up to his Hall of Fame self?

For only the third time since he retired the first time, the Washington Redskins are heading back to the playoffs under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs. Now there is no doubt in my mind that what Gibbs did in his first tenure with the team qualifies him as a Hall of Famer however anyone who feels the second time around has been as good as the first is just kidding themselves.

But before you go accusing me of saying Gibbs is not a good coach, I want to take an in depth, impartial look at how "The Return of the King," as the Washington Post dubbed his coming out of retirement, has really gone.

First and foremost, Gibbs is the best coach we have had since his retirement. He is the only coach to take us to the playoffs twice, and other than Norv Turner's one playoff year, he is the only coach to post a winning season since then too.

But the one question I have is if Gibbs wasn't who he is, would he have lasted this long at the helm?

His overall record in 4 years (not including the playoffs) is 30-34 and he has losing seasons of 6-10 and 5-11. I think it would be fair to assume that he would have been a coach on the hot seat heading into the season and that he may have even been out of a job in the AFC by midseason. So it sure was nice for him to have the reputation he did.

However, looking past measureables such as records and statistics, it is apparent that Gibbs was the right guy to have in charge this year. It seems that his personality and experience have been invaluable in dealing with the scores of injuries and tragedies the team faced this year and his positive outlook made it possible to rally the Skins and earn the final playoff spot.

And as Washington gets ready for Saturday's game, you have to feel confident knowing that with Gibbs at the helm the Skins should be able to beat Seattle, especially after the year in which the Seahawks have had.

So while media pundits and reporters outside of DC continue to argue whether the game has passed Gibbs by, I feel confident in knowing that he is the one in charge on Saturday. After all, we could be stuck with Norv or Steve Spurrier.

Preseason Game 4: Redskins vs. Jaguars

Washington (2-1) vs. Jacksonville (2-1)

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET at ALLTEL Stadium

ESPN game preview (once again not a whole lot of info because it is preseason)

The final preseason game is upon us, meaning the real stuff is right around the corner. But before we get to that the Skins will tune up for their season opener against Miami with another Florida-based team, the Jaguars. Jason Campbell has talked Joe Gibbs into letting him start this meaningless contest so let's hope Gibbs has the sense not to leave him in there too long.

Mark Brunell looks to get a long look at QB and considering his shot last week to impress the coaches was canceled because of lightning, he better do something pretty impressive this week if he wants to be the backup. Todd Collins has been awesome this preseason and should have the No. 2 job wrapped up.

The only other thing I personally am interested in is seeing how recent acquisitions Randall Godfrey and Pete Kendall look in Skins uniforms. Hopefully this game will give them enough of a chance to adjust to their teammates so they are ready to go next week.

Also, check out the Helmet Project, purveyors of the great helmets you see at the top of this post.

Think McFly, think

Did Joe Gibbs pay attention to his team last year or to who he was bringing back this season? The one GLARING, OBVIOUS (insert choice of adjective here) need on this team was to bolster the pass rush. And after not addressing the situation in free agency, it was obvious the Redskins would draft some defensive linemen here, wasn't it?

Apparently not. Already working with a depleted talent pool to select from in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, Washington added two linebackers, a quarterback and a tight end to go with yesterday's only choice - LaRon Landry.

Nothing against Bennie Blades linebacker son H.B. Blades or Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer's brother Jordan Palmer - but WE NEED LINEMEN. Blades may actually be of some benefit as he can provide depth for a potential problem spot at inside linebacker, but did we really need to take a QB we will never use over a lineman who may have had a shot at the team?

I said yesterday that I don't want to question Gibbs, especially since he three Super Bowl titles should give him a free pass at judgment with moves this time of the year, but I sure hope he knows something we don't otherwise our LBs and DBs will be in for a REALLY long season.

I think the only team who was more confused than the Skins this weekend was the Miami Dolphins - who passes on Brady Quinn in Round 1 for Ted Ginn in Round 1 and John Beck in Round 2? In fact I think Mel Kiper summed up Miami's first day perfectly:
"The Miami Dolphins taking Ted Ginn Jr. was ridiculous. Not only did they have QB Quinn staring them in the face, but they weren't going to have to trade up to get him. I understand Miami took QB John Beck in the second round, but Beck is not better than Quinn. Those two QBs will be measured against one another as time goes on."

Since I am too frustrated to talk about this mockery of a draft, here is Sports Illustrated's breakdown on the Skins thought process. And here are Kiper's grades for each team, and what he specifically said about the Skins:
"GRADE: C-
Washington had only one pick in the first four rounds and made the most of it, getting Laron Landry. (You could argue Landry was the best defensive player in the draft). Drafting Landry will allow Sean Taylor to play center field and roam the middle of the field. Landry will be in the box, and that will negate his weakness, which is playing judging the deep ball. In the fifth round, the Redskins took an average linebacker in Dallas Sartz; linebacker HB Blades was decent sixth-round pick although a bit undersized; and QB Jordan Palmer never really emerged as potential starter."

Slow Day One

With all of the talk about moving up or down, the Redskins decided to stay put and take what many consider to be the "best defensive player in the draft." The problem is, Washington had more pressing needs than at safety. With only 19 sacks last year and only one pick where you will be able to get someone who can contribute right away (the team failed to trade down and get more first day picks), why wouldn't you use the No. 6 pick on an impact defensive lineman?

I hate to disagree with Joe Gibbs, winning three Super Bowls should earn unquestioned loyalty, but the team did have a hole or two that could have been plugged through the draft. The one bright side, no one will want to get caught going over the middle, especially with Sean Taylor roaming in the secondary with Landry. Brian Moorman should be very afraid.

But enough rambling, here's what you need to know about LaRon Landry, the team's only pick on day one.

LaRon Landry - S from LSU
6'0", 215, 4.35 40-yard dash time according to espn.com
74 tackles, 3.5 for loss, 1 sack, 3 interceptions, 4 break-ups, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked kick

For a full breakdown about what happened when the Redskins finally went on the clock, check out this article in the Washington Post by Jason La Canfora.

Here's to hoping we actually draft someone we need when the Redskins finally return to action in the fifth round.

Media run amok

Can we believe anything we read or hear at this point? Today I again heard the Redskins have three possibilities with their only Day One selection and while the options were nothing new - draft a player, trade down or trade up - today's hot rumor was the Redskins will probably have a good opportunity to trade down if certain players start to fall such as Brady Quinn or Joe Thomas, but what can we really believe?

Joe Gibbs went on record today saying that no matter who is available, the team is so stacked that a rookie probably won't crack the starting lineup. I don't know if Joe watched the team last year but there are plenty of players that could probably play better than some of the guys we had bumming around last year.

Here's to hoping that something good comes from all of this smoke and mirrors and that come the seventh pick Saturday, the Redskins will have done something smart with their first round selection for a change.