1. Whether you believe in the magic that has been commercially injected into this day or not, one thing will always be true: some people need the opportunity, excuse and occasion to express their true feelings. Since I consider myself to be a true servant of the community, I have prepared some special Redskins Valentines. For the people they are intended to benefit, all you have to do is sign them!

2. From: Dan Snyder/To: Peyton Manning
"Dear Peyton,
I have chased after big name free agents before, but you would be my Mona Lisa...my Sistine Chapel. I might own the Redskins, but you own my heart. Please...and I mean this in whatever way gets this deal done: Be mine!"
xxoo
D

3. From: Rodskins/To: Jim Haslett
"Dear Jim,
There is nothing I love more than a breakfast buffet. But when you caught my eye while I was waiting in line at the omelet station, I knew that it was going to be the greatest meal for some time. We shared crispy bacon, Belgian waffles, and most of the blueprint for the Redskins offseason. Please don't be mad at me...we still have to talk about what we are going to do at safety and inside linebacker."
Love, Rodskins

4. From: Bruce Allen/To: Donovan McNabb
"Dear Don Burgundy,
From the bottom of my heart...thanks for sucking out loud in Minnesota. I am not sure I could have handled you taking the Vikings to the playoffs or beyond."
Your friend, Bruce

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1. "Boy, that escalated quickly...I mean, that really got out of hand fast."

2.If you're just tuning in, there was a FanPost yesterday on Hogs Haven posted by a fan who had experienced a chance run-in with Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett. What followed was a spirited retelling of Jim Haslett apparently laying out the Redskins' offseason plans.

3. In the process of the story blowing up around here, it became unclear to many that this was not a story that was written by any of our writers. It circulated around the internet and the local media with the Hogs Haven handle and caused some rather...unpleasant reactions.

4. "Look, I'm not a cop. I'm no hero." We think extremely highly of the beat guys--guys like John Keim, Rich Campbell, Grant Paulsen, Mike Jones, etc. We hold them in the highest esteem. We don't do what they do. You don't have to be a professional member of the media though to know the difference between going up to a guy and saying, "My name is Ken Meringolo and I write for Hogs Haven...can I ask you a few questions?" and approaching someone as a fan and having a fun conversation. I can write about one and not the other. The same standard does not apply in our FanPost section, and it is probably wise to see about making it so that those posts are more clearly marked.

5. Not too long ago, this story would have been told by the water cooler at work or over a beer at the bar. There would have been a "Wow!" or two and that would have been mostly it. Now, that story is told via FanPost on a site like Hogs Haven--again, to share with buddies--and it blows up into something people at Redskins Park can't be happy about.

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It looks like this year's Puppy Bowl is going to be the wettest on record. In what is sure to be plastered across Sportscenter's headlines, we have learned that Wizzer (pictured above) has really backtracked lately in his house-training.

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1. You have to hand it to Mike Shanahan and his staff. Not only did the Redskins coaches work closely with many of the top players coming into the draft down in Mobile, gathering precious intel about potential first and second round prospects, they also managed to squeeze in a loss! I understand that winning and losing means nothing in that game (the Senior Bowl), but I would have actually very much appreciated a win for the sideline featuring the Redskins logos. I have found a few more opportunities for our coaches to continue their current run--here are some other games the Redskins staff has put themselves in position to coach:

• They'll be coaching the Washington Generals against the Harlem Globetrotters this spring.
• They'll be coaching the Canadian Men's Soccer team in the upcoming Olympics.
• They've been asked to "coach up" the Honduras national hockey team for its Olympic qualifier against Norway.
• Their names were mentioned as the top candidates to take over the Wizards coaching duties, but Ted Leonsis was afraid that the NBA would think they were tanking.

2. All kidding aside...we lose a lot. Wait...it was funnier when the kidding was not cast aside.

3. Overheard on the sidelines after Brandon Weeden threw his second interception: "Oh yeah...he could play for us. Kyle...are we teaching quarterbacks how to throw interceptions? Let's make that an action item when we get home."

4. I am really not in a negative mood...those were just kind of easy pickings. I couldn't be more upbeat about how our offseason is progressing. At the bare minimum, this spring is going to be very exciting. Contrary to my smartass ramblings above, I feel pretty confident that Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan are going to pick up players who will be able to step in right away and contribute. We have a huge "Help Wanted" sign in the window and we will be in a good spot to pick up guys who can fill the openings that currently exist on our roster.

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1. I appeared on Danny Rouhier's show this past Saturday on 106.7 The Fan and we spoke about the various quarterback plans the Redskins could pursue this offseason. As you would expect, I pressed my trade-down plan, which was not the most popular idea I have offered on their air (that honor goes to my 2009 promise that Kevin would spend all of his free time covering every Devin Thomas photo shoot) . I went all in with my "trade down, take a flier on a quarterback this year and if he doesn't work out, use the added ammo in the 2013 draft to trade up."

2. Danny's biggest question at the end was simply, "Does this fanbase possess the patience for that?" He wanted to know if I thought this fanbase could withstand another year (or years) of uncertainty at the quarterback spot. That is a very fair question, as we can, should and do think about ourselves with regard to the evolution of the Redskins. Put simply, I believe the fanbase will support the continued development of the roster as long as Bruce Allen continues to find serviceable players into the fourth round and beyond.

3. The trail of tears that is the last decade or so for Redskins fans might dictate for some that we do whatever it takes to break the cycle of misery NOW. I know I could use some wins and some positive momentum, but I am most interested in seeing the Redskins become a good team for the next 10-15 years or longer. My concern is that we could miss an opportunity to cement the foundation for a team built to win for the long haul by either trading up in this draft or reaching for a passer in this draft.

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They say you are either rebuilding or reloading.

To masterfully accomplish either one is a feat, as time and time again, teams fail to correctly identify which of these paths is the appropriate one to take. Redskins fans know all too well the fool's gold that comes when your team reloads when it should be rebuilding. The current "Rebuild That Isn't Called a Rebuild" in Washington is going well. As we beat each other up in the coming months over trade up vs. trade down strategy, we shouldn't forget that even if we stayed put in the first and second rounds, we would be getting two players inside the top 40 of this draft class. That is huge.

Granted, we have generally been mediocre enough over the years to be in a decent drafting position, but there is a new sheriff in town for this go around. A lot of people are saying, "We Trust In Bruce." Based on what we see on the field and on the sidelines, I see no reason not to embrace that this offseason. I am 100% confident that if we just made our picks in the first and second rounds, we would draft two guys who would start for us immediately. We could use two starters.

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Every week between now and the draft, I have committed to putting together an argument for why the Redskins should trade down. You get a break from that this week.

Why, you ask? Quick story...

I am sitting at the bar in an Italian restaurant in Phoenix, Arizona (Tomaso's--I recommend the gnocchi). I get into the inevitable sports conversation with the bartender and my blind D.C. homerism shines through. As it turns out the maitre d' is also a diehard Redskins fan. As we are talking draft strategy, offseason moves and the glory days, the bartender points out that Mike Holmgren is having dinner a few tables away.

I felt a little stupid to be honest with you. It was late and the restaurant was maybe 20% full. Mike Holmgren is not a small man. As I look over, sure enough, there is the larger than life GM of the Cleveland Browns, having dinner with his wife.

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This week's theme--brevity--remains in place. Here are ten Redskins-based "Would You Rather" questions to ponder and debate. Remember the rules of the game--you have to pick one or the other. Every question is potentially awful with no favorable choice. That is why we play the game.

Would You Rather:

1. Norv Turner or Kyle Shanahan as offensive coordinator

2. Danny Smith or Someone New as special teams coordinator

3. FedEx Field or stadium in DC

4. Rex Grossman or 2012 rookie as backup quarterback in 2012 (key word--backup)

5. Matt Flynn or Carson Palmer as veteran acquisition in offseason

6. Giants or Patriots as Super Bowl champions

7. Sonny, Sam and Larry or Kevin and I as radio game announcers

8. Tim Tebow or Rex Grossman as your starting quarterback in 2012 (key word--starter)

9. Mike Martz or Hue Jackson as offensive coordinator

10. Trade up for Matt Kalil or Justin Blackmon (assuming you would have to trade up to get both)