It appears as though Dan Snyder — finally — no longer owns the Washington Redskins. DeAngelo Hall says it’s his team.
The cornerback said defensive coordinator Jim Haslett’s game plan is irrelevant. Hall plans to cover the other team’s best receiver instead of his assigned zone to avoid a repeat of Sunday’s 30-27 overtime loss to Houston when the Texans picked on safety Reed Doughty for the late tying touchdown. And if Haslett doesn’t like it, Hall says it doesn’t matter — it’s the corner’s defense.
The Redskins are going to need a bigger doghouse given that Albert Haynesworth already lives there full time. Hall’s comments, ultimately, display the same selfishness that derailed Haynesworth under this regime. Then again, Clinton Portis seems to have a visitor’s pass to said doghouse, so Hall’s comments will probably be passed off as postgame frustration.
Aside from persistent cursing (DeAngelo, kids are listening, tone it down) Hall’s comments have some merit. It shows passion, which is how winning happens. Too many past Redskins teams quit after losses and gave up by midseason. Hall is ready to pick up the sword and go at it again.
Spartacus apparently plays for the Redskins. What NFL team doesn’t want a gladiator?
But there’s a place for such talk, like the locker room — with teammates who may not quite share his passion — or before kickoff and at halftime, or perhaps the sidelines late in the game.
Hall may have felt better after unloading his frustration with reporters, but coach Mike Shanahan might lighten the corner’s wallet for calling out the staff. You just can’t openly question Haslett’s control. This isn’t the Jim Zorn or Steve Spurrier era. Shanahan is a proven head coach with Super Bowl rings. Haslett could be the Redskins’ best defensive coordinator since Richie Petitbon left after 1993 — though I get a lot of crazed looks from Gregg Williams and Marvin Lewis backers when I say that.
If Hall has a problem with Doughty’s inability to stop Andre Johnson from tying the game on essentially a jump ball in the end zone, then seek out the safety and work with him. That’s what team leaders do, not say the heck with it and try to take over. Redskins Park is not a democracy, but it’s no backwater civil war, either.
This loss wasn’t from a lack of effort or ability, but a better opponent proving it. Houston is a serious Super Bowl contender who whipped Indianapolis the previous week — the same Indianapolis team that rebounded by smacking around the New York Giants.
One loss shouldn’t become a red alert in Ashburn. There will be plenty more of those moments in what figures to be an 8-8 season. If the Redskins divide now, it won’t even be that good.
So language, DeAngelo, language.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
