Skins' Blache: Enough is enough
By: John Keim
Examiner Staff Writer
November 6, 2009
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| Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache fired back at former Skins star John Riggins for controversial comments Riggins made about owner Dan Snyder. (AP) |
Defensive coordinator fires back at Riggins
ASHBURN - John Riggins took aim at his favorite subject these days: Redskins owner Dan Snyder. This time, someone from the Redskins shot back.
Defensive coordinator Greg Blache, speaking to the media for the first time in nearly a month, defended Snyder after more harsh comments from the Redskins Hall of Fame running back.
On Showtime's "Inside the NFL," Riggins blasted Snyder -- again.
Redskins notes
» Punter Hunter Smith will miss Sunday's game after hurting his groin again. Smith's groin sidelined him for two games already this season, but he punted against Philadelphia on Oct. 26.
However, when he tried to punt Wednesday, his groin started hurting again in the same area as before.
When asked if he was concerned about the injury possibly costing him the rest of the season, Smith said, "People more important than I am make those decisions. I'll keep working and try to get on the field."
Said Redskins coach Jim Zorn, "I don't want to put him down [for the season] right now because he is healing up."
Smith is averaging 43.4 yards on 20 punts, with nine landing inside the 20-yard line. He'll be replaced by Sam Paulescu, who has a career 41.7-yard average on 58 punts. He kicked 53 times for Dallas in 2008 and averaged 41.8 yards. He worked out at Redskins Park Thursday along with Reggie Hodges. Paulescu is expected to sign a contract Friday.
Paulescu worked out for Washington earlier this season when the Redskins opted for Glen Pakulak instead.
» Also, linebacker H.B. Blades, who had arthroscopic knee surgery during the bye week, might be able to practice Friday. Safety Chris Horton tweaked his knee in practice and had to leave early. Zorn said he also might be able to practice Friday.
"This is a bad guy that owns this team," Riggins said. "I'll just tell you that up front. Bad guy. And if the commissioner is worried about potential new owners and saying some of these guys shouldn't apply, he might want to police his own inside guys."
Later, he told analyst Cris Collinsworth, "Let me put it to you this way Cris, this person's heart is dark."
Blache took issue with that remark. Before Thursday, Blache had not spoken with the media since Oct. 8. And he has not answered questions from the press since Oct. 4.
However, he said he needed to defend Snyder after reading Riggins' comments in the morning.
"That's totally, totally untrue," Blache said of the dark heart comment. "And the problem is the fans don't get to know Mr. Snyder like we do, and so they get an impression of things that are written and things people say."
Riggins has been a constant critic of the current regime, directing his barbs at Snyder, executive vice president Vinny Cerrato and coach Jim Zorn. Earlier this year, Riggins zinged running back Clinton Portis.
"There's been a lot of criticisms over the last few weeks and [Snyder] is a man I've known for six years," Blache said. "And in the six years, I've never seen John Riggins here."
Riggins is hardly the only ex-Redskin, or media figure, to have criticized the team this season. At 2-5, with Zorn on the hot seat and with a number of curious moves, they've been fodder. Snyder, whose teams have produced only three winning seasons in his 10 seasons as owner, has taken a major share of the hits.
"We've had criticism from other people outside the building saying what Dan Snyder is and what he isn't ... they don't know Dan Snyder," Blache said. "And that's the problem. Do I agree with everything Dan Snyder does? No. Just trust me, because he and I, we work together, and I'm not gonna tell you that this is a utopia. But there's no utopias in football. There's no utopias in life. But at the same time, enough's enough."
Blache did not answer questions.
Zorn has had his reputation tarnished by some of Snyder's moves -- according to several ex-coaches turned analysts, as well as current and former general managers. But he agreed with Blache.
"Some of the words that are said are just so harsh," Zorn said. "All the time. It just seems like everybody's down and part of that is on me. We're losing, and that creates issues. And I think that's more of the problem than anything, is losing, and I want to help change that."
