BGO Blind Pig: Week 9 at New England Patriots

[Boone]

The guys talk big trades, failed VP candidates, Sam shining in an Eagles loss, desperation Ron, and palace intrigue to come. Oh - and there's a game Sunday against some old guy named Belichick?

 

[Chris]

Nice job, guys. 👊🏼

Couple of things-

The return for Chase Young, though technically a 3rd round compensatory draft pick, is effectively only a 4th rounder which turns out to be the best offer given by any team in the league for a former ‘generational talent’ prospect. His greatest value to Washington may well have been as a sideline cheerleader.

Kudos to Craig Hoffman for characterizing Rivera’s presser yesterday as ‘using Sam Howell as a human shield’. 🤣

 

[Om]

On further review …

When talking about Joey Slye’s 61-yard FG against Philly on Sunday (a Washington record), I mentioned I thought I recalled former Skins kicker Steve Cox kicking a 60+ yard FG back in the day. Incorrect.

Cox was the punter in Washington from 1985-1988 under Joe Gibbs. He was also a kick-off specialist—a straight-on kicker with serious range (at least by mid-80s standards). He would also occasionally get a field goal attempt on particularly long attempts (up until Chip Lohmiller was drafted in 1988).

His longest FG as a Redskin was 57 yards in 1986.

He did kick a 60-yarder in 1983 as a member of the Cleveland Browns.

He was also the last straight-on kicker to attempt a FG in the NFL.

In Cox's second-to-last season in the NFL with the Washington Redskins in 1987, he was needed as the backup place- kicker in the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles after Jess Atkinson injured an ankle. Cox, a regular punter and kickoff man throughout his NFL career, made three extra points in that game, then came on to kick a 40-yard field goal to provide the final points in the Redskins' 34-24 victory at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. Cox's 40-yard boot nearly 33 years ago on Sept. 13, 1987, stands as the last field goal attempted by a straight-on kicker in the NFL. All NFL kicks have been soccer style since that day.

https://www.wholehogsports.com/news/2020/may/08/straight-on-star-20200508/

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/coxxxste01.htm

 

[Boone]

Good pull. I honestly didn’t remember him …

 

[Neophyte]

Me either. Mark mentioned him last night and I was clueless as to who he was.

 

[Om]

On to more important deeper dive stuff ...

Last night's libation was a single-malt Scotch I was able to spirit home (see what I did there) in August from Tomatin Distillery, a short drive from Inverness, Scotland.

Cask strength (115 proof), aged in sherry and bourbon casks.

It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking some up.

 

[Boone]

Because life is short. If you’re not careful, you could miss it.

 

[DieselPwr44]

I remember Steve Cox and I remember that field goal.

He always held both arms out (like an airplane)when he was running up to the ball to kickoff, which always stuck out to me because it looked funny..
I remember that fg because there was a football shaped emblem painted onto the field that year and that's where the ball was placed when he kicked it..right before the half(?). Anyway, the announcers went crazy when he hit it.....and I did too...lol

EDIT:

It was before the half

But it was vs Seattle...57 yds! Look at the leg on this!

 

[Om]

Fuckin awesome. Thanks brother.

 

[Kel Varnsen]

I remember Steve Cox and I remember that field goal.

He always held both arms out (like an airplane)when he was running up to the ball to kickoff, which always stuck out to me because it looked funny..
I remember that fg because there was a football shaped emblem painted onto the field that year and that's where the ball was placed when he kicked it..right before the half(?). Anyway, the announcers went crazy when he hit it.....and I did too...lol

EDIT:

It was before the half

But it was vs Seattle...57 yds! Look at the leg on this!

His run up on the kick off is what I remember. It was so unique and it was still a straight on kickoff. And that video is awesome. I didn't remember that (I was only 9), but that kick is impressive.

 

[Boone]

Kind of cool to hear this

 

[Primus Porcus]

Heard that, awesome....

 

[Primus Porcus]

I've been seeing a lot of the player reactions to the trades of Sweat and Young, and nobody seems broken up about it. Maybe they've all seen it coming? Maybe they're all truly just focused on business.. who knows... but it has been a lot of vanilla answers with no real emotion behind it.

 

[Neophyte]

My soccer club sold its all-time best player in August and from the outside-looking-in the players appeared to pay it less mind than you might have to swat a fly.

When the manager was asked about it in a press conference he said two things. First, its part of the business and clubs have players coming/going twice a year so its a regular thing. Second, players and teams have short memories and are conditioned by their jobs to maintain that short memory if they want to be successful. Moving on quickly is necessary.

 

[Boone]

I've been seeing a lot of the player reactions to the trades of Sweat and Young, and nobody seems broken up about it. Maybe they've all seen it coming? Maybe they're all truly just focused on business.. who knows... but it has been a lot of vanilla answers with no real emotion behind it.

I don't know. Allen looked irritated and pissed to me and again reference '7 years' as if he's tired of being there. The media is obviously trying to get these guys to say something controversial or negative.

My whole thing is, if you don't like it, let us know and we can arrange for you not to be here since it's so triggering for you.

 

[Primus Porcus]

Maybe


I've heard Allen on the Sports Junkies and the vibe is 100% different than that, so maybe he just doesnt like the locker room interviews or something, or maybe he just has an issue with one of the reporters, and being the professional he is, he goes through the motions but it's hard to hide.

 

[Boone]

Yeah, hard to know. I may be reading into it, partially because I don't want any of our core guys going off the reservation when fixes are coming in the offseason.

 

[DieselPwr44]

I don't know fellas. I think the environment that's been around this team over the last 7-8 years would wear any good player out eventually.

When you get interviewed in Washington, you get asked about anything but football,it seems like.
But Jon Allen has always seemed like a surly personality to me since he's been here.

I think we all at times read too much into body language but that's just me. But just imagine coming from Alabama,where all you know is winning and come here where it's drama,coaching changes,owner problems etc. Gotta be exhausting...

 

[Boone]

You're probably 100% right DP, great post. As I said, I'm probably projecting my desire to 'move forward' and stop reacting to future decisions as if nothing has changed. Bottom line, this is an awkward painful year and all of us, players included, need to keep in mind very likely big changes coming and (hopefully) better days ahead.

 

[Bulldog]

Players are preparing and working towards winning NOW, anything that goes against that is for them a short-term negative. That's just human nature.

Unlike coaches and players, the owner and GM's job is to look out for the future of the team and its welfare, and that sometimes means punting on a season when it becomes clear the club is not going to be a serious contender.

That's not popular with competitors like Allen or McLaurin.

But in the long run it's the correct decision. If the team goes out and reforms this team under a new coach and front office and brings the city success then all will be forgiven.

What will be difficult is if Harris hires a GM and Head Coach that have this team at 7-9 or 8-8 two or three years from now, looking a lot like Ron's crew.

THAT will be a hard sell to players and fans alike.

Would I go back and lose that extra game in 2019 to ensure we finished with the #1 pick and took Joe Burrow ahead of Cincinnati instead of Chase Young?

You betcha.

But Doc Walker has an opposite view and wants to win as many games each season as possible regardless of considerations of future draft picks or other concerns.

He was positive about the one point victory over the Dolphins that year and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Just different points of view. Since I didn't play in the NFL, my perspective is no doubt one more akin to the owner and GM rather than that of a day to day professional athlete/competitor.