But, from a strictly business pov (which is all the NFL is and cares about) the Skins were out-maneuvered. Personally, I was hoping the Riverboat Pilot could communicate in a way that TW's attitude would change. Didn't happen. TW/his team were intransigent...can't change that...and Rivera doesn't have whatever it is that makes humans follow a leader to the ends of the Earth. In the end, all I care about is success. I don't care about rationalizations and/or excuses.
And in an interview just tonight D-Hall said he talked to Trent about the first meeting with Rivera. Hall paraphrased, but essentially Trent felt slighted because Rivera actually wanted Trent to assure him he's a team player who wants to move forward.
Let that sink in for a minute...
Trent was mad at Rivera for suggesting Trent wasn't a team player after the drama that played out the previous season...for simply asking him if he was on board with the move forward.
You want Rivera to be able to lead a malcontent? Trent Williams wasn't lying when he said he would never play another game for Washington and through his agent, did all he could to get out.
YOU can call it out maneuvering, but what we just did was cut bait from dead weight. And it's becoming clearer to me, a guy who actually wanted Trent back for one more season because he was the best option from a pure talent POV.
As for the Donald Penn or Jason Peters, they are only a stop gap. We need to field a capable starting LT. Penn was serviceable last year. Peters was pretty good in Philly. Their age is a concern...which is why we don't sign them long term.
This little drama has reached the end of its useful life. Let's press to seeing how JDR/Rivera scheme the talent on defense (the offenses in our division did get better this off-season) and how Norval II plans to re-energize our bottom dwelling offense.
Don't expect miracles in year one. If you think it's going to take one off-season to right this ship, which has been steering off course for so long, then you're more cynical than I thought you were, Al.
Tell me, at what point to we give up completely on Ron Rivera and this new regime?
Before we even play a down with them? Come on Al, I consider you a friend so I say this with no malice in mind...that's just bat shit crazy.
Give it at least 2 years, likely 3 until we see tangible change. If we don't...then good riddance, and we'll all argue over the good and the bad the future holds from there.