Giving Thanks

The following story is completely fictional. Only the names have been retained to protect the innocent. Reader discretion is advised.

Okay, everybody! Mmm, mmm -- boy that bird smells good! I think we're about ready to eat here, so if you all want to head to the dining room... Coach, thanks for the heads-up on the turkey. You were right; just keep the oven medium for 25 minutes a pound, and voila. Uh, could somebody wake up Fred? Looks like he sorta nodded off again in the recliner.

Alrighty. Ahh, lets see -- we keep it pretty informal at my place, guys, so just sort of sit wherever. Except for you, Clinton. You get the spot at the head of the table, my man. None of us would be here without you. Well! First let me say what an honor this is to have all of you over. I can't believe it even now. It goes without saying that this is going to go down as the most special, most memorable Thanksgiving I've ever had.

Before we say grace, a couple of things: a big thanks to young Mr. Horton for seemingly being everywhere at once helping set the table, and generally doing what needed to be done. And for the last time, Cooley -- I'm sorry you're not allowed to take the pics today, but let's face it man. You've already proven you can't be trusted with a camera. I don't want to see anything but your smiling faces when I get these developed later, got it? Oh, and 'Los, don't worry about dropping the dish of yams. Hey, it happens. Nobody really likes those things anyway.

Well then. Before I begin, let's bow our heads and remember our fallen brother with a silent prayer, shall we?

Okay.

Lord, thank you for this day. We thank you for sending us ST as well. Though he was only with us for but a short while, too short in fact, you saw fit to call him back to your bosom. The brief time he was here was one we will never forget. We love him, and miss him terribly, not just for what he did on the field but for what he was becoming off of it. We know he is looking down on us now with the same love we will always have for him, and he's truly in a better place right by your side. Rest in peace, Sean.

We thank you Lord, for this year, and our new head coach. Not since the first go-round of Joe Gibbs have things felt so fresh, so full of promise for the future of this team. Thank you for finally giving Vinny and the Dan a clue, namely that building through the draft is the only way to go. We understand that it may take them a couple of whacks at the ole pinata to really hit it, but it's a start.

Thank you for the health we've enjoyed. Honestly, it seems like we've got less reason for thanks in this area than many other teams, but who are we to know your mind? When we've been faced with injury challenges, you have worked in wondrous ways to bring us experienced vets who have filled the gaps. Jason, DeAngelo, even Ryan weren't with us at the start of the year, but they are now. We are glad to have them.

We thank you for the surprising success this team has had this year, Lord. None of us at this table really thought we would be where we are now, though we would never have admitted it. Here we are, the last week of November, right smack dab in the playoff hunt. We may or may not get there, but being where we are right now is pretty cool in it's own right.

We thank you for our offensive stars. JC, Clinton, 'Tana, Chris. Even though we'd hoped to score a few more points than we have this year, Lord, they've been awesome. Now if we could only get from the redzone to the endzone...

We thank you most especially, Lord, for our defense. When our coordinator guru left many of us thought we were gonna get run over like roadkill, but that hasn't happened. This unit has performed better in many ways than the ones Gregg ran. They've kept us in games all year long, not once at full-strength. If its not too much to ask, Father -- maybe London can get his trip to Honolulu at last this year?

Lastly, Lord, we thank you for this wonderful feast you've set before us. Good friends, good food, and good times. For all of this we are grateful.

Amen.

Ok, dig in everybody! Jason, would you pass me the -- anything, son. Pass me anything. Just wing it.

A Thin Line Between Love and Hate

Every once in a while, in the midst of some quiet reverie, my thoughts drift -- of course -- to my life's obsession. My alpha and omega, my reason for being. The Washington Redskins.

Almost invariably at times like these I will count back through the years to when I became a fan. I don't know precisely how old I was, but I do know I was very young. When you're in your forties and you fell in love with your team somewhere between seven and nine years old, you've got some tenure. You've put in some time. I'm now working on my fourth decade, and my passion is every bit as strong as it's always been, if not more so.

Like most fans, I suppose, I have had my good and bad years. There have been periods of time when I was at least as hardcore, as knowledgeable, as walk-through-fire fanatical as anybody out there. There have also been periods when I follow my team rather perfunctorily, with a detached interest, because right then and there I have far more pressing things in my life to deal with. Also, in the interests of full disclosure, I have to admit that while the day will never dawn that I no longer bleed Burgundy and sweat Gold, my fandom waned a little during the dark years of the mid 90's and early 2000's. It's insidiously easy to let your passion for anything lose a lot of it's importance when you pour your heart and soul into it year after year, and get virtually nothing but disappointment and heartache in return.

As I said, most of you can probably relate. It depends on the person, of course, but I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that nearly all of you who have been hardcore fans for at least 15 years have gone through something similar. What is my point, you ask? Simply this: all things considered, I am and have always been somewhere between a casual and the most diehard fan.

I have more shirts, jerseys, and memorabilia than those who call themselves fans mainly because their significant other has always been an ultimate fan...but not nearly as much as those who set aside an entire room of their home as a shrine to Burgundy and Gold.

I know more Redskins history and trivia than those fans who live in or near D.C. and root for the nearest team to them...but not as much as the person who owns every book ever written about the 'Skins, and is always among the first to buy special DVD collections of Greatest Games or Super Bowl Years in Review.

I know more about the nuances of the game, the battles within the battle, than your average armchair quarterback -- even one who played the game in his youth ..but not as much as those who coach and teach the game to kids at any amateur level.

In short, I'm somewhere in the middle of the pack as a Redskins fan. A little more intense than most... but not as into it as some. As a fan, I am, in the immortal words of the legendary Joe Walsh, just an ordinary, average guy.

Nowadays, any questions I have about my team can be answered in minutes via the miracle of the Internet. There is literally nothing about the team, from their storied history (including game results from every season they've played) all the way down to the most mundane information about transportation to and from their stadium, that I can't have at my fingertips with no effort at all. As a result I find myself, having followed my team for at least 33 or 34 years, more informed than I've ever been as a fan. Thanks to electronic communities like ExtremeSkins, theHogs.net and theWarpath.net, for example, I can discuss anything about my 'Skins with my fellow fans. I learn something new almost every day about the franchise I've followed nearly my whole life, and will follow until the day I die.

It's truly amazing. Short of attending every home game like so many I've met who live in or around the Washington area, I feel as connected to the team and it's daily operations as I've ever been. As connected as the beat writers who make a living writing about the team daily, and know their way around Redskins Park like the back of their hands. All while living 3,000 miles away, on the other side of the continent -- as far as one can be and still live on the mainland of the United States.

As recently as three or four years ago I never dreamed that I would one day be so "in the loop" where the 'Skins are concerned. I never envisioned being aware of everything the team is doing outside of the locker room and team meetings, down to the smallest detail. When a Redskins star sneezes I'm damn near right there to offer him a handkerchief. Not in my wildest, most feverish Indian-head flights of fancy did I see this day coming.

And that's a very good thing. Because believe you me, if I had, I would've run the other way so far and so fast that it never would have caught me.

I dislike adages, maxims, call them what you will: so-called "truisms" that have been twisted and re-arranged so far from their original state that they are usually anything but. Nevertheless, a few still hold true, and carry a weight of wisdom even today. One such is the short phrase "ignorance is bliss." I don't know that I've ever really paid any attention to that saying, but I do now. In fact, I find myself mentally reciting it more and more these days. You see, all those years when I worshipped the coaches and players, and cheered the team on from afar, I was happy not knowing.

Not knowing that with one shining exception, the entire incoming crop of 2008 rookies has made about as much impact on any single game this season as the parking valets outside FedEx Field.

Not knowing that the offensive and defensive lines are so old, banged-up and just plain un-talented, that the team's potential franchise player, a 6'5", 233 lb man with a guided missile platform for a right arm and quicks to boot, is in danger of suffering a career-ending injury just about every time he drops back to pass.

Not knowing that the shining monument to one man's ego that the 'Skins now call home, a stadium that isn't even in the District at all, is so outrageously priced that certain opponents, such as the Steelers three weeks ago, can almost turn it into their home game by virtue of the thousands of terrible towel-waving fans who too easily got tickets to what was clearly one of the biggest games of this year the day the schedule came out.

Not knowing that the front office, until very recently, behaved a lot like a spoiled child born into a wealthy family -- impulsive, domineering, short-sighted, and tempermental -- more and more so with each year and each failed big-name acquisition.

All things being equal, I think if I had my choice I'd go back to those yester years, when I was lucky to see the Redskins on T.V. 5-6 times a year if they were winning. The days when my eyes would constantly scan the bottom ticker or upper right-hand corner of the screen during whatever teams I happened to be watching for scoring updates of their games, and I would eagerly rip the rubber-band off Monday's newspaper in my haste to open the Sports section and read the single measly column, no more than 4 paragraphs long, about the Redskins game that Sunday.

At least that way I could just be a fan, a guy who loved his team and believed they would win each and every Sunday no matter what. A guy who wasn't somehow so informed yet at the same time so unfamiliar with his favorite NFL team. Just a normal guy who wanted the best for his team, but understood deep down that his best probably wasn't going to happen for them, and kept on hoping for it anyway.

Just some dumb fan...

Yes Virginia, There Is a Sanity Clause

By now it's nearly old news. The Redskins made another acquisition of a (relatively) big-name free agent by signing cornerback DeAngelo Hall for the remainder of the season. He bolsters an already deep secondary, albeit one that has struggled with injuries this season, namely the lingering ailments that Shawn Springs has had to deal with.

Hall is the second big pickup this season, joining Jason Taylor as the signature additions in Vinny Cerrato's inaugural season as The Man.

Despite some sentiments to the contrary, this is another shrewd move by a front office that seems to be doing everything it can to erase memories of past follies. Bruce Smith. Deion Sanders. Irving Fryar. Mark Carrier. Jeff George. Adam Archuleta.

Need I say more?

The aforementioned Mr. Cerrato has been much criticized in the past, and rightfully so, for signing over the hill players with little or nothing left in their tanks. So many, in fact, that for a while there the Gold in Burgundy and Gold almost surely referred to the watch given to so many retirees to commemorate their years of valuable service. It must have. The names on Vinny C.'s list hardly did more than sign on the dotted line, then stand up and thank those assembled for the party thrown in their honor.

They certainly didn't play any good football.

Of late that seems to have changed. It began with the 2008 draft, in which an almost unheard-of ten players were selected -- all of whom eventually made the team. It continued when our new Executive Vice President of Football Operations (read Snyderian for GM) lured the disgruntled Jason Taylor away from his longtime Miami home to replace the injured Philip Daniels. And the streak stays intact with the presence of Hall.

Just where the heck is Cerrato anyway, and who or what have they done with his body?

When the Dan's good friend came to work for the 49'ers from Notre Dame, he began to craft a reputation as a good but not great talent scout. He was never confused for a wunderkind, but he made the same good decisions for George Seifert's teams that he had for Lou Holtz's. Then he was hired by Snyder.

That was when the trouble started.

In retrospect he probably was neither more nor less culpable than his billionaire boss for the laundry list of busts who came to finish out the string here. His firing by then head coach Marty Schottenheimer in 2001 was as much about clashing personalities as poor decision-making. At the end of the day, however, he was and is the face of the Redskins' management. For good or ill, any players who don't produce are laid on his doorstep. The grumbles of the fervent fans swelled to a roar as one after another high-priced former star was contracted to lead the franchise back to glory, only to fall woefully short of anything but collecting hefty paychecks.

It was widely believed that he held his job more to keep the owner company and occasionally golf with him than for his football acumen.

For a long time, that appeared to be accurate.

Now, not so much.

A football executive is a job description. Whether it is general manager, director of scouting, director of player personnel, or his current title...it's a position. As such, like nearly all high level roles, there is a learning curve to deal with. In fairness to Vinny, he had to adjust on the fly much like anyone else in his shoes would have had to. Whether he did so with speed and alacrity or mind-numbing slowness is a subject of considerable debate. He has learned, however. This season's moves alone prove that much.

I am not alone in hoping that he continues to do so. The Redskins will no doubt reap wonderful rewards should the man come to one day be mentioned in the same breath as Bobby Beathard and Charlie Casserly as far as team building goes.

Carry on, Vinny C. Carry on.

Are You Ready For Some Football?

Monday Night Football. The biggest stage in the NFL, despite it's relatively new digs on ESPN. Two of the marquee teams in the league, both playing at a high level.

What more could one ask for?

In light of this matchup I thought I would provide some Redskins MNF history -- not all of it good -- but hopefully most of it entertaining. Ready, begin.

The Redskins have played on 56 Monday nights, with a record of 27-29, a .482 winning percentage. By contrast, their opponent, the Steelers, have played in 57 and are 35-22, a .614 clip. Ok, that's enough black and gold for one column. Save to say that I am reasonably confident their percentage will stand at .603 by game's end tomorrow night. You do the math.

The first time the Redskins appeared on MNF was October 19, 1970. They lost that game to the Oakland Raiders 34-20. Their last appearance was last year at Lincoln Financial Field, a game they won over the Eagles 20-12. In between they have played some memorable contests, a few of which I would like to highlight here (courtesy of the Redskins History Database).

October 8, 1973:

The Skins hosted their hated rivals the Cowboys at RFK stadium. Trailing 7-0 for most of the game, Sonny Jurgensen finally hit Charley Taylor for a one-yard TD pass (not the longest for either man to be sure) in the 4th quarter to tie the game. A little over a minute later Brig Owens returned an INT for a second touchdown to take the lead. With the clock ticking down, the Cowboys were forced to punt, but a bad bounce gave them the ball back with a chance to tie. The final play of the game will forever be remembered in Redskins lore, as Ken Houston stopped Walt Garrison with a textbook tackle on the 1 yard line on 4th down to preserve the win.

Redskins 14-7.

October 17, 1983:

The Redskins and the Pack squared off at Lambeau Field in what is still the highest scoring game in MNF history. The game featured 1,025 yards of total offense, 56 first downs, and 17 scores. It was a seesaw offensive war, with both teams taking turns reclaiming the lead at various points during the game. In the end, a missed Mark Moseley 39 yard FG attempt with 3 seconds left gave Green Bay the win. As entertaining a game as has ever been on a Monday, if you ask me.

Packers 48-47.

November 18, 1985:

Hosting the Giants at RFK in a matchup of NFC East powerhouses, things could not have seemed more bleak for Redskins faithful when Lawrence Taylor gruesomely broke Joe Theismann's leg on a sack in the 1st half. In went unknown Jay Schroeder, who promptly fired off a long completion to Art Monk; although a fumble cost them a chance to score on that drive, the kid had sent a message to the Giants defense: you don't know me, but I'm not afraid of you. Trailing by a touchdown in the final quarter, Schroeder led the Skins on a long FG drive to pull within 4 points. After a second successful onside kick was recovered -- yes, children, the great Joe Gibbs was once as free-wheeling as a riverboat gambler -- the Skins drove for the go-ahead TD, then held off the Giants to secure the victory. On that night the backup QB who hadn't wanted to play in the NFL until his pro baseball career stalled out was a calm, cool and collected 13 of 20 for 221 yards. In less than a full game. Against the best defense in the league.

Redskins 23-21.

November 20, 2000:

Playing at the Trans World Dome against the Greatest Show on Turf in their heyday, the Redskins seemed overmatched right out of the gate. Less than six minutes into the game the Rams were up 10-0 and it looked like it would be a long night. But a funny thing happened on the way to the blowout. Once again a backup QB (Jeff George this time) came to the rescue. Once again a head coach, guy by the name of Turner, went against the grain and called for an onside kick...which worked. And on a night they should have lost, the team -- led by a couple of stars and a couple of veteran journeymen -- found a way to win going away. It would prove to be one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing season.

Redskins 33-20.

September 19, 2005:

Symmetry in all things, my friends. As it began so shall it end, with a win over the Cowboys. And what a win it was. The Monday Night Miracle. Playing 3 1/2 plus quarters of uninspired football at Texas Stadium, down 13-0 late in the game...it was over. The Skins were done. Cooked. Kaput. Then lightning struck, not once but twice, in the form of two long bombs from Mark Brunell to Santana Moss. Victory was improbably, inconceivably snatched from the jaws of defeat. Hell, victory was pretty much over the lips, past the gums, look out stomach here she comes -- except it never did. Not for the Cowboys it didn't.

Redskins 14-13.

These are but a few memorable moments in our beloved team's Monday night archives. Here's hoping for a few more during the course of tomorrow's game against Pittsburgh. I don't know about you, but all my rowdy Redskin friends are coming over Monday Night.