The Three Wise Men.
No, too secular. How about The Triplets?
Kinda corny. El and the Gang starring Santana?
Admit it — you’ve been working on a new nickname for Washington Redskins receivers Santana Moss, Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El.
The Posse has been used. Ditto for Three Amigos. The first person to get this one right earns T-shirt sales profits so you know Dan Snyder has somebody on it.
“We don’t have a nickname yet,” Moss said, “but once we get out there, you can call us what you want to call us.”
With running back Clinton Portis already dinged with a shoulder injury that might pester him for much of the season, the passing game becomes the offensive mainstay even with the arrival of T.J. Duckett. Then again, you don’t spend draft picks and a pile of money for two receivers and hire offensive guru Al Saunders for $2 million annually to hand off the ball.
The Redskins are a passing team for one of the few times in coach Joe Gibbs’ career. The championship teams in the past were always centered around runners like John Riggins. Sure Art Monk, Gary Clark and Ricky Sanders made the late ’80s memorable, but the NFC East was a blue-collar division with cold-weather games grounding passers.
Not anymore. When Portis went down in the preseason opener, the debate over who was the more valuable Redskin — quarterback Mark Brunell or Portis — started immediately. Portis is undoubtedly the better current player, but Brunell is more important because of the three receivers and tight end Chris Cooley.
The Redskins can survive a mediocre season by Portis, Duckett or Ladell Betts. However, the team won’t be able to offset a bad campaign from Brunell no matter how few points the defense permits. The Redskins are readying for shootouts after ending last season with Moss and no healthy sidekicks that cost them a possible Super Bowl berth.
Moss is still boss. He was practically the only deep threat last season and still beat Dallas while posting breakout numbers against Kansas City, New York and Seattle. Moss finished with 84 catches for a team-record 1,483 yards. And yet, Moss entered training camp needing to defend his leadership role.
“You can’t be out here and let one guy outdo you,” he said. “You have to step your game up, with those guys here it’s been nothing but boosting me up out there. We are similar in that we all want to be playmakers. The difference is that Brandon Lloyd is a taller guy. He’s smooth and silky, while I am the quick, fast guy, and Randle El is all-purpose. They are cool guys. I look forward to working with guys that don’t have egos. They work as one with the team and know that we run the team together.”
There’s something about Lloyd that makes you wonder if he could become the highlight-reel receiver, though. Monk ended as the NFL’s career leader in receptions, but Clark was the one who caught those breathtaking touchdowns.
“I’m ecstatic about having Brandon Lloyd, who I thought, besides [Indianapolis’] Reggie Wayne, was one of the most underrated receivers in the NFL,” Portis said.
“Your classic outside receiver,” Gibbs said.
Lloyd is salivating over the offense. Film study is like watching a documentary.
“I’ve been watching this offense from the outside in for three years,” he said. “There has been a lot of times I’ve been on the sidelines wondering, ‘How is this guy is doing this?’ Now I’m sitting in the meeting going — ‘Oh, that’s how he did it.’
“If we can get single coverage across the board, the chips are on our side. We’re in control of the game. That’s all we can ask for — play us honest.”
Honest? Maybe Three Wise Men will work after all.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at [email protected].
