Essentially the press conference let us know there will be a draft held this weekend and the Skins will be participating. Thanks for the news flash. It was pointless.

I’m not saying, like some people I’ve heard, that Snyder should sign the checks and become a ghost. I believe he has a role to play in the organization and the strategies they employ, to quote Dirty Harry though “A man’s go to know his limitations.”

Knowing your limitations is not a concept wildly successful men are familiar with. When I see Jerry Jones scouting players and making player moves I laugh. When I hear Snyder is “smitten” with Sanchez I want to laugh, but I can’t. All owners are involved in the day to day operations of their teams to some extent. Again, to think that Snyder wouldn’t be deeply involved would be silly; I would be too in his position.

Dan also must have learned quite a bit about football since he bought the team. Still, I wouldn’t think he’d have enough time in his day to be an expert business man, head scout, GM, final say on all team matters and whatever else it is he does? I would think he’d realize that those jobs would be best delegated to people who have spent their lives trying to be good at those things, much like he devoted himself to making money and growing a business. I’ll grant you that even listening to the right folks doesn’t automatically guarantee success, but it would seem that that would give you the best chance for sustained success regardless of coaches or players (to a point).

Cowher was not the sole reason Pittsburgh was good. People should realize that now if they didn’t already. I give the guy his due but the organization was able to give him the players that worked well in their system. They would not commit too much money to any one player; they drafted well. They do a lot of things right. They are not perfect but they are remarkably consistent and rarely have a horrible season, and Ben Roethlisberger is nothing special in my opinion. A solid organization makes a good coach look great or a great coach look average.

Hey, what do I know? I’m just a fan, and a forgiving fan at that. I have always loved the team warts and all and will continue to do so. I don’t insist on them winning every year. I don’t call for the coaches’ job every year. I buy my jerseys and stuff for the kids. I try to get up to see at least one game a season. I’m just like a lot of you. I am starting to get some apathy towards the team though and that's something new for me. Maybe I’m just getting older? Maybe I’m tired of seeing them screw up the same way year after year? I don’t know. I see other organizations doing things the right way and think to myself “Why not us?”


-- Edited by Hog Fever on Thursday 23rd of April 2009 10:22:04 AM

My biggest problem with Daniel Snyder is that he seems to operate every year under the premise that we are close to being a very good team. So close that we are only a piece or two away from mattering in this league.

But, we aren't.

The following projected starters have either reached their career performance peak or have started down that hill:

Jon Jansen
Randy Thomas
Casey Rabach
Chris Samuels
Clinton Portis
Mike Sellers
Santana Moss
Antwaan Randle El

Andre Carter
Cornelius Griffen
Phillip Daniels/ Renaldo Wynn
London Fletcher
Fred Smoot (nickel)

This year the Cowboys, Eagles, and Giants all have more than nine selections in the draft.

We have what? 3?

Who is going to fill the holes this team has?

You Lt. Weinberg?

Our future is now.

Are you feeling lucky?

Cardas wrote:

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Larry... I understand where you are coming from; I really do.  I just wonder sometimes if we (and I mean the collective fanbase) aren't just picking on Snyder just a bit too much. 

I think picking on Snyder has become the trendy thing to do, and just like when we were all kids... if a kid gets picked on by some... he gets picked on by all, and EVERYTHING he does is laughed at.  However, if one of the "cool kids" did the exact same thing... well that's just the coolest thing ever!

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I agree with this...so when I am critical of Snyder I try to make sure I'm basing my criticism on something more than just, "Dan did it so it must suck!" I agree that there's a lot of that knee-jerk anti-Snyder sentiment out there, where people criticize something simply because Snyder touched it. But at the same time, there are some very legit concerns about his handling of the team.

I do give him credit where it's due. I don't think I uttered a negative word about the man the entire time Gibbs II was in effect because I was so supportive and appreciative of the move to bring Gibbs back. But now that Gibbs is gone, I guess I'm back to being objective again.  ;)