Even RNC spends money better than the Redskins

Please note the headline is only a trick to get a Redskins lamentation past the editor of this political blog … (It worked. — Ed.)

The Washington Redskins won four games last year. By the end of the season, it was painfully obvious that they were many years away from contending for a Super Bowl. Some writers, players and fans quickly forgot all about that and instantly proclaimed the Skins contenders again when they acquired Donovan McNabb earlier this week. Do not let yourself be talked into believing Donovan McNabb can turn the Redskins into a playoff contender. The trade is not a sign of progress the Redskins are making, but a sign of their continued dysfunction.

“When I think of Arsène Wenger … I think of Warren Buffett. Wenger runs his football club like he is going to own the club for 100 years.” That quote is from Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland A’s in last week’s Financial Times. Billy Beane and Arsène Wenger represent the epitome of how an executive ought to run a sports franchise. If Wegner runs Arsenal like he will own the club for next 100 years, Dan Snyder runs the Redskins like he sold it yesterday. In fact, according to The Wall Street Journal, the Redskins actually are built for 2006. The Redskins have six players who would have qualified as legitimate fantasy football stars four years ago. However, in 2010, the players are now over the hill and have been discarded by their own franchises. 
 
The Washington Post’s Dan Steinberg pointed out the Redskins since 2001 have had almost half as many draft picks as perennial Super Bowl contenders the New England Patriots. Draft picks are important because they provide a supply of cheap, young talent to an organization (a bit like unpaid Capitol Hill interns). The Redskins, meanwhile, continue to buy and trade older and more expensive players who don’t produce on the field.

Even if Donovan McNabb regains his old Pro Bowl form, it is unlikely to push the Redskins close to the Lombardi trophy. Even if Donovan McNabb is four games better than Jason Campbell and doubles the Redskins’ win total — a highly dubious assertion — it means the Redskins will still be a long way from Super Bowl contenders. Most fans were willing to give new coach Mike Shanahan and general manager Bruce Allen leeway and patience to build a younger, more promising team. Instead, the new brain trust has continued the same old failed ways from when owner Dan Snyder was making personnel decisions.

The views expressed in this blog do not represent the views or opinions of Generations United.