The Washington Redskins said goodbye to their fans and it wasn’t quick enough.
It was another ugly, plodding game in an ugly 4-11 season with only a season-ending cross-country trip to San Diego remaining. Anyone who stayed awake for the end either drank too many Red Bulls or worked the graveyard shift.
The Dallas Cowboys ended the Redskins’ home season on Sunday with a methodical thumping. There were nearly as many Cowboys fans as Redskins backers, creating cheers for every big play from one side. FedEx Field’s upper deck once again resembled an August preseason game as the Burgundy Revolution now moves to offseason season ticket non-renewals to pester owner Dan Snyder into making serious changes.
Farewell to the Redskins’ worst decade since the 1960s. At least the ’60s had Sonny Jurgensen, Sam Huff and Charley Taylor. The ’00s saw Larry, Moe and Curley running the team.
Paging Bruce Allen — pick up the white courtesy phone. The past is calling and dad says: “Now stinks and the future isn’t looking much better.”
The Redskins nearly ran out of bodies with safety Reed Doughty taken off on a cart, guard Mike Williams hurt and linebacker Rocky McIntosh wrenching his back. How Jason Campbell recovered from a blindside third quarter hit was amazing. Still, he once again couldn’t make a difference.
Washington played with spit and Scotch Tape and didn’t cover the middle of the field against a Dallas offense that looked as bored as the fans. This was like clocking in during the holidays — you’re there in spirit but nothing’s getting done.
If a collective bargaining agreement is reached before March free agency, this may have been the final game for Jason Campbell, Carlos Rogers, Reed Doughty and others. If labor talks fail and it’s an uncapped year, there will also be a whole bunch of new faces; maybe half the roster and the entire coaching staff.
But it has to be better than this mess. Every day brings off-field drama and on-field malaise. The Redskins have bagged the season faster than a Wegman’s checker at quitting time. It’s now about avoiding offseason rehab and they can’t even do that right.
There’s one more week of this circus and then the real one begins. The Redskins were lucky Florida coach Urban Meyer reneged his retirement or Mike Shanahan might have escaped coming here.
Whatever happens, it’s better than this.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
