Boldly Hoping - Why the Redskins Loss to Kansas City in 2009 Saved Our Future
by Sugar on Jan 18, 2010 11:40 AM EST
in Boldly Hoping
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PrintFor those who joined the site during the season or pre-season, you missed out on a semi-regular offseason column I like to write. "Missed" is of course a subjective term (as is "column", "write", and "semi".) As Redskins fans, we have little more than hope to hold onto. We have little more than our faith to keep us from spinning right off of this planet into the great unknown. At Hogs Haven, we spend a great deal of time combining our love of italicizing contrived stories with letting unbridled optimism run free. Because of this, I like to warm up the italics button and deliver a panty dropping installment of the world-famous Boldly Hoping series.
Let me take you back to Sunday, October 26, 1997.
The 3-4 San Diego Chargers played the 0-7 Indianapolis Colts. Neither team was very good, though each side had some pretty awesome players. The Colts had Marshall Faulk, and the Chargers had Rodney Harrison...and the immortal Stan Humphries.
The Chiefs and the Broncos were the class of the AFC West. The Chargers had managed wins over just the lowly Saints, Ravens and Raiders--all of which finished the season with losing records. The Colts were winless and were fighting for respectability and pride. Neither spent too much time in Indy that season.
The Colts were winless entering the game and the Chargers were winless for the remainder of the season. Both teams would finish the year with 4 victories.
What happened that day though, had huge implications that rippled through time. Imagine you are a fan of either team, tuning in to watch your boys play a game that would most likely be unwatchable. It would never occur to you that the outcome of this affair would shape your team for years to come.
The early MVP of the game was a kicker named Greg Davis. Through two quarters of play the score was Greg Davis 12, Colts 0. Stan Humphries passed for 229 yards and a touchdown for the Super Chargers, while Paul Justin (yes, that Paul Justin) tallied 243 yards and two touchdowns. Suffice to say the game has not been featured on ESPN Classic.
So why did the Chargers 35-19 victory over the Colts that season matter? Based on a rudimentary understanding of how they break ties to determine the NFL draft order, it is likely that Indy's conference loss here vaulted them to the top draft spot in the 1998 draft...exactly one spot higher than the San Diego Chargers.
I know there were other moments and games that contributed to this and there were even other teams involved in the tie-breaking at the top of that draft. I am relatively certain about this though...if the Colts win that game, they don't draft #1 overall. I would even bet that I am not the first to underline the importance of this particular matchup given what went down in the 1998 draft.
The rest is history. The Colts took Peyton Manning and the Chargers took Ryan Leaf.
How does that apply to the Redskins? Well, I notice we are slated to pick one slot higher than the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2010 NFL Draft. Two craptastic teams at the top of the draft who played each other in a craptastic game in October the previous season. When the Chiefs won, it wasn't just a nunchuk to the nads. I was at that game and when the final whistle blew, I sat in my seat at FedEx Field and asked the BIG questions:
Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?
If Scottie Pippen wasn't an NBA player, would he ever get laid?
Are the Redskins really a worse franchise than the Chiefs right now?
Three months later, I look back at that game and wonder if God had a plan. Maybe we had to lose that game to get rid of Vinny Cerrato. Maybe we had to suck OUT LOUD against the Chiefs so that we could see ourselves for who we truly were. Maybe Scottie Pippen pays for sex. Maybe we had to lose that game so that we could pick one slot higher than the Kansas City Chiefs and stick them with the "Bust of the 2010 NFL draft."
There will be a bust in this draft. And in the rarified air of the top 5 picks, it doesn't get much bustier (insert your own boob joke here...I'll go with, "unless you're Charlie Sheen dropping mad pesos at a Mexican brothel.")
Could it be that the stars have aligned the way they did in 1997-98 for the Colts? Could it be that two franchises who faced off in a game that was less fun to watch than televised church set the table for one to be saved and the other to be screwed?
We shall see. I'll tell you one thing though...I am ready for a full offseason of Boldly Hoping.
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If we were to pick after the chiefs, we wouldn't get Russel Okung
We would probably choose Sam Bradford. Of course, if we choose to draft Bradford, then that loss means nothing.
Orakpo!!! Russel Okung next year!
We've seen what a left tackle can do for your team, this year more than any.
Not just a QB but a great left tackle can have a significant impact to. Will he fit what Shanahan is planning for the offense at the #4 slot. Trading down is tough to do and unlikely. Going to be interesting to see what happens with this pick.
I really lost a lot of material with Cerrato being fired
But it’s still a good thing. Vinny probably would have taken Leaf with the #1 pick.
"It was one of those things where everyone in the building was suddenly excited again," Cerrato said. "And all the women in the building were the most excited. They couldn't believe we were getting the guy from "Dancing With the Stars."
i say you hack Vinny's computer
so we can see all the ways he’s begging Snyder to take him back
SpottieOttieDopaliscious
I could superimpose Vinny on this...
http://www.theguardian.pe.ca/photos/TheGuardian/stories/0822%20a3%20oly.jpg
"It was one of those things where everyone in the building was suddenly excited again," Cerrato said. "And all the women in the building were the most excited. They couldn't believe we were getting the guy from "Dancing With the Stars."
by Kevin Ewoldt on Jan 18, 2010 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
You may not have to
Superimpose his face on that pic. I could have sworn I heard his infamous laugh somewhere in the back when I was at McDonald’s.
Jimmy Clausen, 2010 version of Leaf
Extremely immature and not great at anything.
Orakpo!!! Russel Okung next year!
by Horcasitas4 on Jan 18, 2010 12:45 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Yes! Glad to see someone sees through the Notre Dame BS hype.
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
Someone
who probably hasn’t seen him play.
Ryan Leaf is Kyle Boller, J. Russell. Guys who get hyped up as top picks because they have strong arms and not much else.
Claussen has a good arm, good accuracy, decent size, intelligence, started in a pro offense under NFL tutelage for 3 years. He is nothing like those other guys. He has the least number of question marks in this QB class. Will he be great? I’m not sure and I don’t know I’d want to spend $60mil to find out, but I don’t think he will be a bust.
Well, I respectfully disagree
I think his accuracy is overrated for simple facts that his receivers made his stats look a lot better than he actually is. And from all the immature actions he’s commited- getting in a fight out side of a strip club, mock other coaches to their faces, and bashing player’s reputations- he shows his lack of leadership and can be a distraction to his team.
I have nothing against Notre Dame, but I dont think highly of Clausen. Of course, I wouldn’t want a horrible team/franchise to draft him and be a bust. Unless it’s the cowgirls. If he comes to Washington, I will cheer for him, but i wont buy his jersey or have much faith in him.
Orakpo!!! Russel Okung next year!
by Horcasitas4 on Jan 19, 2010 12:08 AM EST up reply actions
Well
He might be immature, most college juniors are. I’m not familiar with any of these incidents though.
And while I will say that I believe the 2009 ND receivers were better than the 2009 Redskins receivers, I am basing my accuracy judgments on throws I saw him make and not his completion percentage. He was leaps and bounds better as a Junior than a Sophomore and I think a lot of people bashing him simply remember his stats as a true freshman on a terrible team.
At the same time
no matter how bad that defense was (and it was very, very bad) they should have won a lot more games with that offensive talent the last 2 years. Be it coaching, quarterbacking, or something else, I can legitimize any argument that questions his ability to win.
most college juniors might be immature but future franchise qbs are not- even in college. all of the top qbs in the league today avoided those type of distractions! i want the guy who has been preparing this his whole life (at least since HS!)
by les boulez bomber on Jan 19, 2010 12:15 PM EST up reply actions
Anyone want to party with Michael Vick and DeAngelo Hall in VA?
$30/$50(VIP)
I’m thinking Ken should bring his wife and kids.
"It was one of those things where everyone in the building was suddenly excited again," Cerrato said. "And all the women in the building were the most excited. They couldn't believe we were getting the guy from "Dancing With the Stars."
Haha...if not, wear this...
"It was one of those things where everyone in the building was suddenly excited again," Cerrato said. "And all the women in the building were the most excited. They couldn't believe we were getting the guy from "Dancing With the Stars."
by Kevin Ewoldt on Jan 18, 2010 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
Or you could just rock the famous wolf shirt
I’m sure Vick would be more pissed if you were pulling all the chicks by wearing this.
I do remember those days like it were yesterday. (Manley, Mann, and the boys) The skins have obviously been in a fog for many years now but I can’t help blaming it on Danny boy. Maybe he is finally starting to come around to the reality that he needs to listen and stop talking. The days of the old hogs and Riggo are gone but this organization will thrive again. Long live the Redskins!!
The #4 Pick will be Okung
I have faith that this year, one more thing will change. It’s called sensible and need-based drafting. Campbell is receiving some positive feedback from Shanny and I hope he realizes that all of our offensive issues are mostly o-line based and not QB based. No, Campbell isn’t the greatest, but neither is a guy who just tore up his shoulder twice in one year. If Okung isn’t taken with the #4 pick, I would love to see that pick traded to add more because we are running low on picks this year, that’s nothing new though.
I still dont think we know how good Campbell can be.
Once he is able to set his feet and is given the minimum time needed to read the defense, we will see what kind of QB he is. If we get a QB, he wont be successful without a O-line protecting him.
Orakpo!!! Russel Okung next year!
by Horcasitas4 on Jan 19, 2010 12:11 AM EST up reply actions
I suppose that Colts - Chargers game could have resulted in that...
Though if I remember correctly, many scouts and analysts had Leaf rated higher than Manning, and the Colts surprised some people by choosing Manning. Had the Chargers won, they still may have taken Leaf – most people thought he was going to be an amazing QB – somehow, the Colts’ scouts new better.
Ryan Succop will be the kicker for the AFC in the 2011 Pro Bowl
Trust me...
I get the million other things that went into the whole shaping of the universe on this issue. I just drew a very loose link to our two teams in the hopes it comes out similarly for us. Not that I wish ill will on the Chiefs by a long shot, because I don’t. I just want the Redskins to somehow escape their current location on the great Map of Destiny—which is currently somewhere between Anusville and Scrotumburg. (thank you U.D.)
The only thing I can hope for you Redskins fans is a Dan Snyder aneurysm...
.. he has to be THE worst owner in NFL history. I feel for you guys in skins nation. Who knows maybe we will see you in postseason play one year and we can look back on this season as a turning point for both frasnchises. Good luck in 2010.
yeah- but i am not too keen on what scouts, experts and others think. sometimes i wonder what it is they watch. and it is clear they dont clue into the basics in interviewing. some that come right to mind- andre johnson was always a beast in college but vinny said u cant project wr talent in the nfl. bs- vinny could not project dead ringers. bollinger is immature and not serious- ever heard him interviewed. zorn never has had a command presence. san diegos qb was a monster at NC State. always killed md and they had no talent but still was a .500 team. i am pretty sure ND has some talent on offense and they did not win. that is a HUGE red flag. and bradford had a major injury in college. skip them- not worth the # 4 pick. second round maybe. at #4, u have to know he will contribute. u should be getting a perennial all star at some position. no guessing. there are at least 4 relatively sure pro bowlers in this draft. and they all fit a need. grab the one that is left or better yet, trade down.
by les boulez bomber on Jan 19, 2010 12:24 PM EST up reply actions
What a great day yesterday
The Cowgirls did not just lose…the Vikes added the rub-it-in TD at the end….God that felt good.
What Brooking did at the end fired me up so much. If it was another player on a different team, maybe I don’t feel the same way but the fact it was a Cowgirls player enraged me. Didn’t that franchise win a Super Bowl 52-10? Come on…also, what were the Vikings “supposed” to do? If they called a kneel down, was Dallas going to come out and kneel down?
I am not thinking rationally of course since I was so happy watching it unfold.
I'm still smiling!
My hands were red and stinging yesterday from all the high-fives during the Vikings game. Didn’t matter, though. I shot my raw hands up yet again when the Vikings stuck it to the Cowpies with the last touchdown. I liked Favre before, but I have new respect, now.
Suisham is the reason why I sing
sweet justice!!!
SpottieOttieDopaliscious
I think it's freakin SWEET
but however you decide to say it, all that matters is the fucker shanked 2 kicks for the cowboys.
SpottieOttieDopaliscious
I was laughing my tail off at each one of those.
I work with several Cowgirl fans. You know “america’s Team this” and " America’s Team that"… Makes me physically sick when they do better than us. But when the picked up the “Master of Choke” for the second time in 3 years (Like that makes sense) I told them that if they need him in a clutch he will choke… Should have put money on it.
SWEET IRONY
"When the rich wage WAR its the POOR that die!!!"
Well if they were
Dumb enough to pick up a player that a 4-12 team cut, they deserved what they got. No, we weren’t 4-12 at the time, but the point still remains.
good story even though I am a Chiefs fan
Certainly I hope that we aren’t the ones with the major draft bust.
Like us, I hope you guys are finally going to dig yourselves out of your self (Danny) inflicted years of darkness. However, I’m not sure Shanny is really the way. You must ask yourselves what he has ever done – without Elway.
Air Cassel - approved for takeoff
Always in motion is the future.
-- Yoda
Hopefully in 5 years
You guys can still say, “What has Shanny ever done without Elway or Campbell?” while we attend our parade.
Good luck with that!
I’m not against you guys at all. I hate DallASS, so I have that going for me. I don’t know enough about Campbell to say either way but he’s probably not as bad as people seem to think, nor as good as people hope. I can definitely say, he’s no John Elway.
Air Cassel - approved for takeoff
Always in motion is the future.
-- Yoda
please get o linemen ..
if we dont draft a linemen at #4 whether it is okung or someone else if we take a qb it will be another heath shuler bust and it will doom this franchise for years to come now i know why snider had a man crush on sanchez the kid is one game away from the superbowl ..
I think Sanchez will be good
But, the Jets are where they are due to the running game and defense – not Sanchez. Right now, they are asking him to be like Dilfer was for the Ravens. Just manage the game and don’t lose it.
Air Cassel - approved for takeoff
Always in motion is the future.
-- Yoda
The first Rookie to throw 20 int's
and make the Playoffs. He is a manager for now. Just as Campbell is. a great manager.
Paul Justin (yes, that Paul Justin) tallied 243 yards and two touchdowns.
Can someone explain this reference to me please.
O-Line man
TRADE BAIT
LARON LANDRY
CARLOS ROGERS
CHRIS COOLEY
Draft order
I read somewhere that the Skins and Chiefs will flip a coin for #4, rather than the Skins getting it because they lost to the Chiefs.
They only flip a coin is their opponents winning percentage is the same.
But the Skins had an easier schedule, so the get #4. But #4 and #5 alternate in each round.
Orakpo!!! Russel Okung next year!
by Horcasitas4 on Jan 19, 2010 12:13 AM EST up reply actions
Draft order
It seems common sense to use the regular tie breaking routine to set the draft order, but someone on Hogs Haven (just after the season) said that was a misconception, that they use a coin flip. I figured that they might have misread the rule, that the coin flip would only happen if the regular routine still left a tie. And multiple teams tied must be a mess under any system. Has somebody read the rule book and found out for sure? About Clausen – I didn’t know about those little indiscretions, some could be just typical macho stuff. Football players are supposed to be tough and competitive, and all the good QBs are fiery. He looked good in the few games I saw, and ND scored a lot of points, but it’s only college. I trust Shanahan and his team to find the best QB prospect, and realize that it is not an exact science (note the discussion of Leaf and Manning above).
what do you do when there is no Peyton Manning?
There isn’t a super star QB every draft year and I certainly don’t see a Peyton manning QB in this draft. So what does a team do when there isn’t a super star? Trade down and pick up more good (but not great) players.
this is a great post. I wanted the Redskins to lose every game after Week 1. The win that killed us was the St. Louis game
I was one of the many people who thought Ryan Leaf was going to be better than Peyton Manning. I watched Leaf shred the Charles Woodson-led Michigan secondary in the Rose Bowl, while Manning sucked ass down the stretch of that season costing them a title, and himself the Heisman.
It just shows how little we really know about players coming out of college, so there is no point to pretend like there are definitive right and wrong answers.
by John Park Williams on Jan 19, 2010 3:18 PM EST reply actions
Which Charles Woodson interception did you miss?
Not to mention the final tally?
Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana.
excellent point
knowing who is the next Peyton Manning and who is the next Ryan Leaf is nigh unto impossible. I look at each pick as a gamble.
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