Do Redskin Fans Have a Breaking Point?
by Ken Meringolo on Feb 9, 2011 10:16 AM EST
in Boldly Hoping
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Welcome once again to the offseason, the time of year when Redskin fans around the globe recharge their spiritual batteries. The time of year when supporters of the burgundy and gold defibrillate their loins following yet another season of mind-blowing mediocrity. The time of year when...well, you get it.
I have raised my glass to you all on numerous occasions over the last decade. A resilient bunch to be sure, we fans of the Washington Redskins have made a habit of picking ourselves up off of the pavement every winter. And then by spring, wouldn't you know it...we are in full-fledged guzzle mode at the Kool-Aid jug. I suppose we aren't all that different from fans of other teams. Assuming of course that those other teams haven't won a meaningful game in January in years, haven't prioritized stability over shiny new toys and have injected ridiculous drama into situations that otherwise could have transpired without notice or commentary.
Far be it for me to separate myself from this mentality. I know full well that the Redskins are nowhere near where the Green Bay Packers are as a franchise. I know that...today. But come April...May...June...I will have a Kool-Aid moustache that would make Burt Reynolds jealous. And I make no apologies.
This has been the cycle for as long as I care to remember. Does it look foolish? Yep. Does it sound silly? Probably. But as one Homer S. said, "Everything looks bad when you remember it." Chances are the average Redskin fan has a shorter memory than a 10 year old dog with Alzheimer's. And we're just as lovable and fun to hang out with, too.
My question to you today is: Is this track we have been on sustainable? Do we believe that Daniel Snyder is capable of making a signature offseason move every year that will cause us to throw our collective panties onto the stage? After he played the Gibbs card some 5-6 years ago, I was sure he was out of those kinds of moves. I mean, that really seemed like the last trump card in the deck. But between firing Vinny, hiring Allen and Shanahan, and of course the trade for Donovan, we got at least a little lathered up, right? I mean, sure, that was a half a roll of dimes in my pocket, but I was also pretty happy to see those guys.
In Washington, cynicism and optimism are seasonal. Now is the time of year when we swear off ever believing that Snyder and the Redskins can do anything to make us believe again. We blast Pearl Jam's "Better Man" from our iPods and participate in massive group therapy.
But just you wait...
We'll be back talking up our trainwreck like they are on the verge of something historic. Ten straight different NFC representatives in the Super Bowl you say? Make it eleven! One lucky break...one favorable bounce...a little bit of help...we can do it. Oops...I better save some for July.
In Washington, our capacity to sink to the lowest depths of misery in February is exceeded only by our ability to raise our expectations to ludicrous levels in September. Bring on the offseason!
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Danny Boy
isn’t capable of turning around this organization, his legacy is/will be a joke as long as he continues to ‘toy’ around with the hearts of the redskins fans
Good read
Ken, you hit the nail on the head. This is our up and down cycle to a T! But as true fans, its almost a certainty. We are here with the Skins through the good and the bad…ups and downs…wins and losses. I just hope that the team sees how great its loyal fan base is and rewards us with more regular season wins…some playoff wins and eventually a SB Title.
And I may be wrong, but I very strongly feel that the right moves this season could make us a sleeper team!
The Redskins have one of the most passionate and loyal fanbases in the league
Danny has milked 10 years of mediocrity (or shittiness) and is still able to fill the stadium and sell tons of gear.
I do not, however, think he can continue to make so much money after another decade of shittiness.
So no, I don’t think Redskins fans loyalty (in the form of money spent) is a bottomless well.
People will always love the Redskins, and it might take 20 years, but eventually people will stop going to the games (more than they already have) and stop buying jerseys.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
Even after we were offered LL tix to Skins this year...
I was able to talk Ken out of it and go the scalping route. It was a big moment…Ken no longer officially owned season tix. I know it was hard for him, but his streak of home games is still respectfully intact. (we saved by my estimate $1000 each).
Hogs Haven. On Twitter. And Facebook.
Thumbs up Ken
I already took my kool-aid jar out and dusted it off a week ago. OFFSEASON CHAMPS BABY!!!
LOL
Dusted off…you actually put yours away! LOL
I had mine out all season…and every week I was saying, “This is the week that the team finally rights the ship!” LOL…yeah, not so much.
Heck, if things keep going at this rate, we will need to ditch the Kool-aid and pass a stiffer beverage!
As of 2009 I vowed that besides watching on tv, Dan Snyder gets no more of my money.
No tickets.
No new merch
No nothing.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
I'm with you, brother.
I will not buy anything Redskins related, or pay one penny that somehow gets into Danny Snyder’s pocket, until we win the NFC East.
Hell, I don’t care if we win the SB as a wildcard, until we win the NFC East, I’m having an economic boycott of Daniel Snyder Enterprises (I’ll cheer like crazy if we win the SB as a wildcard, though… say, in 10 years at our current rate).
I’ll watch the games, I’ll root for the team, but no money.
And I’ve been boycotting officially since November, 2009.
Of course my family didn’t get the message, so my new Wallet, new TShirt (tres comfy), new hat, new cap (two different things; one’s a ball cap and one’s a knit cap), new coat (though that was gotten by my wife for FREE off Freecycle, and so would have been acceptable regardless…) with Redskins logos on them will still be used and accepted… but my wife knows not to spend money, and I’m certainly not, regardless of how much I’m lusting after a Darrell Green jersey laterly……
No Danny, Nooooooo - Tom Landry, 1982., and Washington Redskins fans, 1999-
ebay is your best friend
regardless of how much I’m lusting after a Darrell Green jersey laterly……
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
You do know that there is revenue sharing in the NFL.
Licensed jersey’s profits are shared by all 32 teams.
I consider myself a one man wolfpack..
Doesn't matter, I'm not putting a dime in Snyder's pocket one way or the other.
No Danny, Nooooooo - Tom Landry, 1982., and Washington Redskins fans, 1999-
I thought revenue sharing was from TV deals
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
everything.
Hogs Haven. On Twitter. And Facebook.
by Kevin Ewoldt on Feb 10, 2011 12:19 PM EST up reply actions
Yes I do.
’s where I got the Art Monk Jersey for the wife, and my own Jason Campbell jersey.
And it’s most likely where I’ll buy my next jersey….. in some far future science fiction time when all jerseys are high quality, all posters are sober, and the Redskins are a good team again with a good owner.
Last time that happened, it was after a nearly 25 year wilderness. Well, my oldest daughter was born in 1991. When she was a baby, we were a good team.
Since she’s 19, maybe we only have another 6 years “in the wilderness”. Or maybe we have another 10.
No Danny, Nooooooo - Tom Landry, 1982., and Washington Redskins fans, 1999-
More power to you.
I own a Riggo (naturally), Gary Clark, Monk, & ST21 jersey. I like your boycott.
I consider myself a one man wolfpack..
What ever happened to " the revolution"?
I thought there was some real momentum to let Danny boy have it and to let them know we were not going to take it anymore.
Then he hires a GM who is not a GM really, and a coach who was fired from his last job-and this was enough to subdue the revolution? Really? True Redskins fans will do anything to wrest our once proud franchise from this clown. Watching on TV and rooting for our guys but not buying Dan’s parking spaces or beer is the way to show our displeasure. I hate to see our stadium filled with opposing fans and lobbyists who really could give a shit; but if that’s what it takes, then that’s what it takes.
I guess what I’m saying is I’ve reached my breaking point…
The world looks mighty different when you're peeking out your belly button
by Skins Fan '77 on Feb 9, 2011 4:17 PM EST up reply actions
I hear that...
I suppose we stopped short of creating an Us vs. Them scenario when it came to the Revolution here. Our efforts were more geared to trying to influence the decisions of those in charge instead of straight-up regime change. I would stop short of suggesting we were pacified, but I sense from readers like you that there is still enough angst to stay fired up over.
Perhaps we need to re-Viva the Revolution after all.
by Ken Meringolo on Feb 9, 2011 5:15 PM EST up reply actions
I just spent the better part of 2 1/2 hours trying to find a positive article on Dan Snyder…
It was truly a depressing experience-the Redskins and Dan Snyder are the laughingstock of the entire country. You can find articles from Tampa to San Diego taking shots at the Redskins organization. The Motley fool use the Redskins as the model of what not to do in business… seriously.
So here’s the closest thing I could find to a positive spin written right after Snyder bought the Redskins
http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/1999/11/21/1999-11-21_tough_skin_demanding_redskin.html
and this article is a tough read knowing what we know 10 years later. This is why most of us in the 40+ club have become so disenchanted. We know it starts and ends with the owner. BillWard mentions the wilderness above, that ended when Cook became majority owner. The new wilderness has begun with Snyder and he’s only 45 years old (face palm)
The world looks mighty different when you're peeking out your belly button
by Skins Fan '77 on Feb 9, 2011 6:45 PM EST up reply actions
My family has had 2 tix in the club level, first row
for 11 years, since FedEx. This year, were not renewing. I am still confidant I will go to every game, but damn is it sad.
We as redskins fans should be ashamed of ourselves.
Many of us have been to games only to be embarrassed, not only by the score but also by the amount of opposing fans that grace our seats.
How many times have we been at a home game only to hear a loud cheer when the opposing team scores?
Sure times have been tough over the last decade, but man can we please get some season ticker holders that actually verify who they sell their tickets to? Its bad enough the other team scored, but to hear such a loud roar when it happens is salt in the wound.
A lot of the ticket sales are through stub hub which we cant control. But please can you so called “die hards” show up to divisional games or at least sell your tickets to some fellow redskin fans?
Victory
Great point
That has been a rallying cry of many Hogs Haven readers and something Kevin and I have spent countless articles talking about over the last 2 years. It is a tough one to kind of corral…
We have tried—with varying success—to provide an informal marketplace for our readers to swap tickets here but it really comes down to a commitment on the part of each true fan to ensure that his/her ticket does not end up in the hands of an opposing fan.
by Ken Meringolo on Feb 9, 2011 12:02 PM EST up reply actions
Project 2013
After watching these bottom feeding, paycheck cashing, pigskin punchers for so long, I am convinced that Free Agency should be used strictly to pick up blue collar, hardworking players that may not be spectactular but get the job done. Say no to Vincent Jackson and other big money FA’s that came up in someone else’s system and get stuck in their ways. Draft your own stars who are eager to prove to their coaches and teammates that they can play!! They have the hunger!!
Therefore, we should look to 2013 as a year we can truly compete with a fresh, young core of baby skins that are hungry. 2011 we only have 2 picks in the top 100, 2012 we have a good amount of picks but they will need some seasoning. 2013 WE BALL TILL WE FALL!!
Lastly, I think the curse of our offensive name is catching up to us. Perhaps the most offensive thing about the Redskins name to Native Americans is that we suck. If we were winning than maybe it would be less offensive (I kid, I kid). Really though, the name needs to go.
Ken,
You and Kevin are pretty young, right? it is sad that you have not gone through a superbowl winning season. It is magical! I hope one day all of your misery ends and you can rejoice with a trophy! The wait is worth it!
That would be correct...we're in our early-mid 30s.
I remember going to the 1991 Super Bowl parade, but I don’t really recall any of the regular season games except the one that my Uncle took me to at RFK.
Ken’s Dad took him to a ton of games as a kid, and well my parents being divorced living with my Mom…I didn’t really know how to follow the game or have anyone to teach me the history. I’m going to go cry myself to sleep now. Thanks, Brett. (I HATE YOU DAD!!)
Hogs Haven. On Twitter. And Facebook.
It was pretty awkward when I had to sit Kevin down and give him "the talk"
You know the one I mean…
“Kevin…there comes a time in every young man’s life when he starts to notice things he never noticed before…like, why is it that the Redskins seem to change schemes every single season but achieve identical results? It is a confusing time in a young man’s life and you need to know that you are not alone.”
by Ken Meringolo on Feb 9, 2011 2:02 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
That's part of the reason I hate Steelers fans.
I’ve never had the pleasure of seeing my team make a deep run in the playoffs, much less win the big game. Those bastards have gotten used to it.
I’d rather lose the way we do and not have to live in that dump. Despite being in the middle of nowhere and Cleveland…the food is awful and the girls are even worse.
It really is odd everyone in that town is actually courteous.
Hogs Haven. On Twitter. And Facebook.
Pittsburgh is the arm pit of the US and Philly is the ass#0*e...
I consider myself a one man wolfpack..
sounds about right
Philly does have hot girls…always a good time going out there. I highly recommend day Phils games when Mr. Greengenes is there…McFaddens turns into a bonafide strip club.
Hogs Haven. On Twitter. And Facebook.
by Kevin Ewoldt on Feb 10, 2011 12:21 PM EST up reply actions
a good goal for this franchise is third place in the division. we have finished in LAST place four of the past five years. it would be nice to see us get off our ass and maybe even on tv outside DMV.
love the optimism ken…i hope you are right =)
by les boulez bomber on Feb 9, 2011 6:49 PM EST reply actions
The answer to the subject question is
NO! As long as the fans put money into Snyder’s pocket, the franchise will be doomed into mediocrity. If you continue to buy tickets, jerseys, and memorabilia, then you are an enabler of Snyder. If you want this franchise to return to glory, the only option is to force Danny into a sale of the team.
Fans are still buying the garbage, so there is absolutley no breaking point that exists here.
When you're born into the human race you're given a ticket to the freak show. When you're born in America, you're given a front row seat. And some of us have notepads.-George Carlin
by Afghanistan Steve on Feb 9, 2011 11:35 PM EST reply actions
Lower Expectations
Skins fans need to stop having high expectations on this team every offseason. Not every FA mover, Trade, or Draft may not necessarily lead to success. Especially after a below 500 record and no postseason appearance. Once the Skins start winning and get pretty deep in the playoffs we can start jumping back on the wagon. It bothers me after one Season fans are throwing Shanahan under the bus and McNabb. As fans were no better than Snyder if we can’t even give a new coach or QB a chance to establish themselves here. This team lack stability and continuity and all the changes lead to this drug of optimism we see every offseason.
My expectations of any success at all
Left the building after Schottenheimer was fired and Joe Gibbs retired the second time; those were real coaches. I have no interest in giving this regime one year or three-this regime is " all hat and no cattle"
I hate to sound like a broken record and to effectively "pull rank" because of my age, but I was 18 when the Redskins won their first Super Bowl. Every team in the NFC East were contenders (even the Cardinals). The conference also had San Francisco and Chicago. In other words, the NFC was like the AFC is today, totally dominant. And the Redskins went to four super Bowls in that Time.
I know how those teams played, I know how those teams were built. I also know how much confidence we had in our front office. Even in those days, we gave up a few draft picks but we always got good players.
I have absolutely no confidence whatsoever in Dan Snyder as an owner in the NFL, and therefore no confidence in who he hires. It’s very simple, this team is so bad and the owner is such a clown that no coach worth a damn will come here… Same problem Oakland has had. At least Al Davis realizes this and tries to grow his coaching staff from the ground up. The equivalent here would have been to give Russ Grimm a shot.
One of two things needs to happen for me-either Dan hires a real general manager with the backbone to tell Dan he doesn’t know crap.
Or number two-Dan is no longer the owner of the team.
The world looks mighty different when you're peeking out your belly button
by Skins Fan '77 on Feb 10, 2011 9:17 AM EST up reply actions
poor generalization
many people aren’t mad that every move doesn’t find success.
We’re mad b/c so many seasons we’re sub .500
We don’t want a SB right now. We want tangible progress, proven on the field.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
I finally found a positive article on Dan Snyder
http://www.washingtonian.com/articles/sports/1679.html
It’s a very interesting read, and it has me reconsidering my attitude as to Dan Snyder as a person. But there still isn’t much basis in that article for him to be an effective NFL owner. I just cut and paste a little bit of the article below-does it look like Snyder has the ability to recognize a mistake and not repeat it?
"Snyder hired Schottenheimer to lead the 2001 season. Schottenheimer, a square-jawed veteran with a tough demeanor, insisted he become both coach and personnel director. Snyder agreed.
"I let him have too much oversight over personnel decisions," Snyder says. "That was new to him. He was a good coach."
The Redskins went 8–8 under Schottenheimer. Snyder called him in and said he wanted him to stick to coaching and give up hiring and firing players. Schottenheimer said no. Snyder fired him.
"He was not Dan’s guy," Rodgers says.
Says Snyder: "My mistake." To give Schottenheimer control beyond coaching, that is.
Snyder says he and the coach are good friends now."
How is the Shanahan era any different than the Schottenheimer era?
The world looks mighty different when you're peeking out your belly button
oh hypocrisy, you cruel mistress
“I let him have too much oversight over personnel decisions,” Snyder says. “That was new to him.”
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
How is the Shanahan era any different than the Schottenheimer era?
Bruce Allen
by Parks Smith on Feb 10, 2011 10:39 AM EST up reply actions
so there's a guy who manages the cap and does contract negotiations?
it’s still a HC directing personnel & philosophy
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
for the first year I can remember the Skins are not in salary cap hell...
That’s important.
Hogs Haven. On Twitter. And Facebook.
by Kevin Ewoldt on Feb 10, 2011 12:22 PM EST up reply actions
not saying Bruce isn't useful but SF77's point is true:
Under Schotty, as now, we had a head coach leading the direction of the front office & personnel decisions.
"By far the worst performers on the team are in the front office." – Sally Jenkins
40 mil below a projected cap.
Unheard of from a Snyder owned team.
I consider myself a one man wolfpack..
I remember reading that article a while back
I left feeling WORSE about Snyder than I did going in, because of the way he seemed to control the interview process. His whole “let’s go to Monaco, Shapiro” thing was total elitism.
by killianskid34 on Feb 11, 2011 5:46 AM EST up reply actions
Well like I said, it is very hard to find a positive article dealing with Snyder anywhere-
This was the closest I found, but I admit there are some very disturbing management issues even here
The world looks mighty different when you're peeking out your belly button
by Skins Fan '77 on Feb 11, 2011 11:37 AM EST up reply actions
At the end of the rope
I won’t last another “promising” offseason. Right now the team looks worse than last year and last half-decades “core Redskins” are this year’s cuts. I love the Redskins which is why I may decide NOT to watch this incarnation.
It isn’t the rabid fan that has the power, it’s the casual fan who does. I want Danny Boy to know he has to produce, not promise, a winner. Taunts of “you’re not a REAL Redskins fan” is exactly what Danny Boy loves to hear; look at the pretty colors, drink more beer, we don’t need or require a winner. But anything less than a winner, is truly not a REAL Redskin. Time to actually produce a winner or I’m walking out on this show.
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