So I just ruined your day with a shirtless Joe Theismann, but you'll thank me for it later. A careful examination of the cover reveals that gypsies apparently were gossiping in Washington D.C. in the late 70s and that Middle America either thought something about DC or else DC thought Middle America thought something about DC. Also, did you know Joe Theismann can talk better than Joe Namath? No bullshit, mang, see for yourself:
Seriously, Robert Redford? I don't think so Washingtonian, dude was just dreamy.
But he did win football games for the Redskins. No one in franchise history has passed for more yards (25,206) which is saying a lot given the quarterbacks that have rolled through town. Sonny Jurgensen was no slouch (Vince Lombardi thought he was the best quarterback he ever coached) and Sammy Baugh really was the best, ever, and I said it.
A reader emailed me this Washingtonian Article on Joe Theismann that was entertaining for a million reasons that may only interest just me. Did you know, for instance, that the Washingtonian had an entire piece on "How Not To Get Cancer"? And somehow this was less important than "Diary of a High School Senior"? Or Shari Theismann's awesome cover worthy quote: "Success ruined our marriage. Or perhaps Joe's inability to handle success. He lost his values." Well which was it? She added: "Ok, he was just an asshole. Look, you asked."
I like Joe Theismann. I can't thank him more for what he did for Your Washington Redskins and, frankly, absence and time off from him on Monday Night Football has made the heart grow fonder. Did I really dislike him that much? I love Ron Jaworski but even his shtick -- with his absolutely consistent yet utterly confusing intonations -- seems out of place on MNF. The last guy I felt just fit was Pat Summerall. Maybe I am a fuddy duddy.
Although the article is mostly about Joe, being fired from ESPN, his relationship with Kornheiser, Tony, etc. he does offer some insight (and he'd know something about this) on the coaching habits of Coach Gibbs and even hazards a guess on how Joe will exit stage right:
Back in the beginning, he never came to our locker room. I played for Joe Gibbs for 41⁄2 years. I can count on one hand the number of times he walked through our locker room. He wanted the football players to own their locker room. He didn't want to police us, he didn't want to babysit us, he didn't want to know what was going on in there. He really treated us like men, and that's what he tried to do with this team today. He's tried very, very hard to get the players to take over the locker room. But because of free agency and the turnover, you don't establish that. You don't have guys who've been there six or seven years.
Elsewhere:
It's starting to, but the big question that will loom is Joe. He's got one year left on his contract. Will there be a coaching change?
I think Joe will fulfill his contract, but I don't think he'll go past that. Dan Snyder might have to look at a five-year extension, and I don't know if Joe would want to go into his seventies. Taylor, his grandson, is not well, and there are lots of family issues. Joe is a very strong family man, a very strong Christian, and he has family issues that he feels like he should attend to more than a football team. Joe Gibbs has brought back professionalism; he's brought back pride, a work ethic, class. He's basically given Dan everything that Dan could want with regard to the way a professional organization should be run. The thing he hasn't been able to do is deliver a championship.
* Offer not binding unless it's a really, really awesome answer.