Rick Snider: Finally learning that less may be more

Sure, the Redskins are spending money. Washington will pay defensive lineman Barry Cofield $36 million over six years, including $12.5 million guaranteed, to replace Haynesworth. Receiver Donte Stallworth and reserve quarterback Kellen Clemens were solid second-tier acquisitions.

But the closest the Redskins came to a big move was keeping Santana Moss for $15 million over three years, including $6 million guaranteed. Normally, the Redskins discard their own players for attractive free agents without ever learning the lesson that good teams rarely let Pro Bowl players get away.

The Redskins didn’t make a headline-grabbing move for a guy such as Haynesworth as they have in the past. No more getting the biggest free agent available; receiver Santonio Holmes stayed with the New York Jets. A few years ago, Dan Snyder would have doubled New York’s offer.

The Redskins began chasing big name free agents before Snyder took over in 1999, but the past decade has been about Deion Sanders and Haynesworth rather than the second-tier players who are more essential to building a contender.

Thank goodness those days now seem past. General manager Bruce Allen is more conservative than his brother, former Virginia governor George Allen. Somebody has turned on the air brakes of Redskins One, and Washington will be far better for it.

Trading Jeremy Jarmon for Denver’s Jabar Gaffney was a steady move. Maybe the Broncos would have released Gaffney, but Jarmon was probably heading to the waiver wire, too. Jarmon was another victim of the Redskins’ persistent coaching changes. The Redskins selected the defensive end in the supplemental draft when they had a 4-3 scheme, but Mike Shanahan’s arrival brought a change to the 3-4. Ultimately, the Redskins traded a spare part for perhaps a No. 2 receiver.

Haynesworth likely will be one of the next to leave town, perhaps for some late-round picks. At least the Redskins are moving on from their past troubles.

Normally, signing a passer becomes a full-blown fan debate, especially one who’s a potential starter. Instead, Clemens was quickly forgotten after further Redskins moves.

The “Haynesworth Effect” clearly left the Redskins avoiding controversial signings at a time it could have slipped them in among the tsunami of free agent deals. Transactions are happening quicker than a 6-year-old opening Christmas presents.

Attention stays on the next player, not the last, so it would have been a perfect time to gamble on damaged former Pro Bowl selections Randy Moss, Plaxico Burress or Terrell Owens as a No. 2 receiver. Instead, Washington went conservative with Stallworth and Gaffney.

Yes, maybe the Redskins finally learned every signing doesn’t require a news conference.

Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].