Defector.com: I Am Witness To The Rebirth Of Football In Washington

[iheartskins]

[...]They feel like an expansion team, which I assure you is more of a compliment than an insult. Washington HAD to kill its past to get here. Even with the Super Bowls, the franchise’s history had become sad at best and harmful at worst. No longer. Everything about this team feels new.

And I like them. That’s also new. I was like everyone else a week ago in hoping that the Detroit Lions would finally win some cool shit. But then Daniels started carving the Lions up on their home turf and I found myself, against my conscious judgment, wanting the Comms to win. I loved Daniels working through a muddy pocket like defenders weren’t even there. I loved Mike Sainristil conjuring up images of his old college self by picking off Jared Goff not once, but twice. I even loved Dan Quinn rocking the backward hat. I didn’t pray for the Comms to lose just so that I could hear everyone on 980 give them both barrels the next day (I stopped listening to that station ages ago; Pollin was laid off, Czaban now has a local show in Wisconsin that follows the Packers … et tu, Czabe?). The team with the racist name was some other team that I once hated. These Commanders were a different beast altogether.

I know this is true because late in the fourth quarter of last week’s game, when the Commanders’ victory was assured, the TV cameras cut to an aging Joe Gibbs yukking it up on the sideline with Commanders owner Josh Harris. Gibbs was the face of this franchise, and often its only means of cover, for decades. But when I saw him on the sideline in Detroit on Saturday night, I didn’t think about Mark Rypien, or Dan Snyder, or of picking my wife up from work in that stupid Accord. All I could think was That guy doesn’t belong here. Washington’s football past is dead. Its future is anything but.[...]

I don't know how many of you read Defector.com. It's where the crew from Deadspin went. Dave McKenna is there. Ray Ratto is there. As are many other really gifted writers, including Drew Magary who wrote the above.

I think you all may enjoy the article and his picks for the NFC Championship game too. But more some of the insights...

 

[Boone]

McKenna is an absolute hack but I won’t let that stop me from checking it out. Thanks!

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

I don't know how many of you read Defector.com. It's where the crew from Deadspin went. Dave McKenna is there. Ray Ratto is there. As are many other really gifted writers, including Drew Magary who wrote the above.

I think you all may enjoy the article and his picks for the NFC Championship game too. But more some of the insights...

I read your blurb which was well-written, but it looks like they want me to register my email. For me, that's a high bar, I just don't like spreading emails out all over the internet.

Reading your blurb, and how he says "Washington's football past is dead" -- ehhhhhhh.... I'll pass. This idea is way too asinine for me to concur with. There are these people out there, I have read, who say the Commanders are a team that are a few years old, as if the name change erased the history of this *franchise.* To me, that is a little insulting, as a life-long fan. These guys who have no idea how patient we as fans have been - I am not going to be dramatic and say phrases like "gone through" - but we HAVE been SO VERY PATIENT. That is undeniable. When they write things like this, it's easy for them, but they wipe away all signs of the time we spent, waiting, hoping for the scourge on Washington football to be gone and for us to be able to have a shred of hope, a modicum of light to shine on us again.

We have that now, and when they write that, they remove one of the biggest parts of this resurgence for us fans who have been waiting for oh so long.

 

[iheartskins]

John - I'd give McKenna another try - I've copied a bit from his recent post on the Lions victory. Many (very reasonably) didn't like him for his extremely negative stance on the team during the Snyder era but, and particularly in retrospect, there were elements of his perspective that I think were right on the money.

I appreciate that I'm writing this on a website that has "obsession" in the name and in that way, perhaps we as WFT fans share a standing sense of defensiveness (which I certainly have from time to time) from those who have long been exclusively (and perhaps unfairly) critical of the team and when those who are critical go even further - either for effect or out of spite or something else - they lose credibility in our eyes. I don't think the element of dismissiveness that's inherent to that (i.e., that if you write for effect/spite/for clicks/etc that you don't have a valuable/worthwhile perspective) is necessarily always wrong. But I do think that it's worth revisiting McKenna's writing.

Here's a snippet from the recent piece on the Lions game e.g.:

Expectations are ass. Hope is fun.

The Washington Commanders, on the road and on short rest against a heavily favored team coming off a bye, delivered nearly flawless football Saturday night and kept their wholly unforeseen dream season alive by dispatching the top-seeded Detroit Lions, 45-31. Washington’s win gives the team its first appearance in a conference championship since the 1991 season, and guarantees the Lions will go yet another year without the franchise's first Super Bowl appearance.

Commanders fans, still suffering from PTSD brought on by the Dan Snyder era, already were saying “Just happy to be here!” and “Playing with house money!”—and meaning every word—before the team qualified for the playoffs by closing out the regular season with an amazing four-game streak of wins on the final play from scrimmage. After so many years of organizational dysfunction and gameday suckery, getting to watch rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels week after week really was its own reward. The satisfied chorus only got louder and more sincere after Washington’s doink-off win over Tampa in Sunday night’s Wild Card matchup, the franchise’s first playoff triumph in 19 years.

More here. That said, reasonable people can differ in their views and I've always respected your perspective on things. If you don't like McKenna, no worries at all of course!

SkinsNumberOne - I hear you on the reluctance to register and share your email. That said, and maybe I just say this as a very long time reader of many of the writers at Gawker/Deadspin/Defector, but the quality is really quite high and far ranging. I'm sure Defector isn't for everyone; but it may be worth your while in that there's proper investigative journalism, quite a bit of wit, and some great pieces, including just by way of example, a great eulogy of Bob Uecker.

In addition, and if I've read you correctly (which I may not have), I fully appreciate the feeling of being picked-on and attacked on the basis that the team has for eons been attacked for its ownership, its (relatively) poor on field performance among other things...and after awhile, distinguishing between valid critiques and "hate noise" (my just-concocted term for non-substantive negativity which is posted not with a perspective but just with an agenda to pile on, be a jackass, etc.) can just get old and easy to just tune out. I think this is the former, not the latter but I understand your sense that it's the latter.

We have definitely been patient as fans and if you read Drew's blogs about his fandom for the Vikings, I think you'll have a sense that he "gets it" on being a long suffering fan.

In any case, not intending this to be a commercial for Defector, just that it's cool to see some coverage about the team from not-quite-MSM-not-quite-not-MSM high quality blogs/sports media.

 

[Boone]

The reason I called McKenna a hack is because, after the team acquired ES he flat out lied and made up unsupportable allegations that the team was controlling what members could post, as well as trashing staff members, posting it as factual news. He has zero integrity. It’s not about whether he can write or not - he simply can’t be trusted to be objective or truthful in my opinion. His hatred of Snyder certainly is understandable, but that doesn’t excuse the twisting of and outright manufacture of ‘facts’ to attack him and the team. That is unforgivable for a journalist, again in my opinion.

 

[Chris]

It was easy, and I would add enjoyable, for professional ‘voices’ to trash the organization for a very long time. And rightly so in a very many instances. Snyder made that easy but the level of satisfaction and joy exhibited in a lot of their work was both obvious and of questionable motivation.

It is just as easy for them to have now done a 180° turnaround. (Thom Leverro pops to mind.)

A significant portion of the fan base has made an identical transformation so our (mine) hands are not clean. But my bank account is not positively impacted by voicing mine.

 

[iheartskins]

The reason I called McKenna a hack is because, after the team acquired ES he flat out lied and made up unsupportable allegations that the team was controlling what members could post, as well as trashing staff members, posting it as factual news. He has zero integrity. It’s not about whether he can write or not - he simply can’t be trusted to be objective or truthful in my opinion. His hatred of Snyder certainly is understandable, but that doesn’t excuse the twisting of and outright manufacture of ‘facts’ to attack him and the team. That is unforgivable for a journalist, again in my opinion.

I either wasn't aware of that or had totally forgotten. And totally understandable that you'd feel that way given that experience.

 

[Boone]

I’ll still read the article

 

[iheartskins]

It was easy, and I would add enjoyable, for professional ‘voices’ to trash the organization for a very long time. And rightly so in a very many instances. Snyder made that easy but the level of satisfaction and joy exhibited in a lot of their work was both obvious and of questionable motivation.

It is just as easy for them to have now done a 180° turnaround. (Thom Leverro pops to mind.)

A significant portion of the fan base has made an identical transformation so our (mine) hands are not clean. But my bank account is not positively impacted by voicing mine.

Chis - you're not in any way saying this, but your post brought to mind that all fanbases that are the end of a negative article (or years of negative articles) share this feeling. And no one feels the brunt of a negative article (or cares about its content) more than the fans of that team.

Perhaps it's been compounded by the duration of being on the wrong end of the W/L column for too long and/or having ownership that was very successful in being a lightening rod for (often correct) criticism, and not a ton else.

That said, what may have drawn so many negative pieces over time and compounded our sense of being ridiculed unfairly was the former success.

Two things that IMHO are the most useful in driving clicks/interest/ad revenue is a build up story and on the other side, the take down story. And after the late 70s to early 90s when the team was a perennial contender and then turned into a bit of a mess and then a much, much worse mess, the story - if one were to be written about the team - was its descent and fall from its former place. I guess what I'm trying to say is that what made the take down stories interesting is that they were directed at something that used to be excellent and had been built up.

Similarly, what drives the 180 turn is the other side of that - i.e., the other side of the cycle in the build up story which itself will draw clicks/readership/ad revenue.

If the team had never had it's success, I wonder if we'd feel as traumatized by so many decades of poor performance and resoundingly (if perhaps sometimes fair) negative media coverage.

Not a trade I'd ever want to make, but I don't know, maybe there's something there.

 

[Chris]

For me it is simply complicated.

As someone that is only a fan, and that has actively ridden this e-ticket ride for it’s entire journey, I have yet to find the ability to extend a presumption of grace to the professionals that took such absolute joy in tearing down something near and dear to me and now want to jump on the train with both feet.

Leverro particularly (yes, I know he is not the focus of this conversation). He was not only negative throughout the Snyder era but was also negative during the start of the Harris etal transformation; the hiring process of Quinn, the ‘basketball guys’, etc. Now that the team is having unexpected success he is a head cheerleader, pom poms and all.

I just find that extremely convenient and more than a little suspect.

 

[burgold]

Part of this is the evolution of sportswriter from journalist to columnist and the necessity to be outrageously clickable. It's why I was better suited to NPR than cable news and while I'm enjoying my Bluesky posts (and hopefully some of you are, too, I acknowledge my modern deficiency in not being a trash talker or a click baiter.

 

[NickyJ]

I will never have the feeling that Joe Gibbs doesn't belong with the franchise that scored all it's Super Bowl wins with him as its coach. I get what the guy is trying to say, but washing away the entire history of the team both good and bad is a poor choice. We will truly know what the good times are because we know exactly what the bad times are.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

For me it is simply complicated.

As someone that is only a fan, and that has actively ridden this e-ticket ride for it’s entire journey, I have yet to find the ability to extend a presumption of grace to the professionals that took such absolute joy in tearing down something near and dear to me and now want to jump on the train with both feet.

Leverro particularly (yes, I know he is not the focus of this conversation). He was not only negative throughout the Snyder era but was also negative during the start of the Harris etal transformation; the hiring process of Quinn, the ‘basketball guys’, etc. Now that the team is having unexpected success he is a head cheerleader, pom poms and all.

I just find that extremely convenient and more than a little suspect.

I’ve always found squeaky to be a self promoting, go which ever way the wind is blowing ass hat.

The one thing I give him, however, is he is one of the last of the real “journalists.” He still gets sources and doubt checks his facts, at least most of the time. Until he desperately wants to make a snarky point and then he kindof knowing plays fast and loose with the truth. But at least he knows he’s doing it. Others in the media don’t know the differnce.

I don’t care for him. I don’t listen to or read him. But he does take journalism seriously, or at least did, and I appreciate that.

 

[scruffylookin]

I’ll take what someone who “hated” us and our “racist” name with a grain of salt. That kind of person doesn’t get to declare anything regarding this franchise and its link to the past.

This team, crappy name and all is still firmly connected to legacy and history of the Washington Redskins. I can do a direct trace, good and bad from Sammy Baugh to Jayden Daniels and how this team evolved or devolved over the years/decades.

A case can be made that the Cleveland Browns, with their clear break in the timeline after 1995 and then return as a true expansion team in 1999 has no connection to the history and legacy of that franchise.

But not us. Our “ghosts” are still very much a part of our dna.

Besides what season feels more like what the Redskins once were, 2019 when we actually still had the name and uniform or 2024?

This season feels like 1986 right now and if we win tomorrow this is so 1982 it’s scary.

Having said that, if we can get some stripes on the damn pajama pants and the three stripes on the helmet that would improve our look.

But blood and sweat of Sammy Baugh , Sonny, Joey T , Riggo, Dexter, Darrel, Ryp, Big Dave, the Hogs and all our past is still in the bloodstream of the fans and this franchise.

 

[CrimsonHide1970]

Stripes are indeed a uniform element that is missing. The lack of them is alienating to me as an older 'Skins fan. The gold and white stripe on the burgundy pants and the white stripes/gold stripe on the helmet are glaring omissions. Restoring those would bring back a little of that 80s/90s vibe.

Stripes are also a nod to football tradition.

If you won't change the name, at least modify the uniforms to be more traditional.

 

[Conn]

It’s complicated, agreed.

I make no excuses for poorly researched or falsely sourced writing, of course, I’ll start there. But those few dummies aside—an argument can be made that a lot of that (maybe overly) opinionated journalism over the years is what helped keep the pressure on Snyder in the public eye (until the scandals were just rolling in back-to-back-to-back the last few years), kept more casual “football only” fans informed, helped periodically focus a critical national media spotlight on an otherwise dying franchise that rarely made the news for on-field reasons, and helped consistently stir the pitchforks and torches that preceded the sale.

Now, whether you consider that a rather romantic idea of a natural extension of those journalists’ duty to speak truth to power as representatives of the Fourth Estate, or simply vigilante activism, is up to the individual.

But I think it’s hard to deny that the exhausting drumbeat year after year after year from local and national media eventually contributed heavily to the decision Snyder made to reluctantly sell the team. Even though some of that (especially earlier) local media ire may have been misplaced and gleefully targeted for profit. I’d say taking the bad with the good in this instance was worth the price, for me.

15 years ago, it was very difficult to make fans of other teams, casual or hardcore, understand that our biggest problem was our owner. Maybe some of this is a general societal attitude shift towards the ultra-wealthy but 5 years ago, that was no longer a problem. Every casual sports fan in AMERICA knew that we had the worst owner in sports, every national media program confronted it head-on without shame, and the cries for a sale rose louder and louder. It went from a pipedream to a reality, and part of that is the widespread, constant media attention over the years raising public awareness and making it an issue the league could no longer ignore. I won’t say it was a concerted effort exactly (especially in those early years) but it certainly acted as one in the end.

 

[RavensMania]

The Wasington Redskins have an amazing history, from Sammy Baugh to Sonny Jergenson to Billy Kilmer .... George Allen - Joe Gibbs - Dan Quinn. There is history and present and yes their is forgettable history under Dan Snyder, but then there were also some good moments, even during the bad times. You don't wipe that away. Dave McKenna is flat out wrong and almost always is flat out wrong.