The Redskins aren’t going anywhere this season. Apparently, Joe Gibbs isn’t going anywhere after the season.
The Redskins coach/president put to end any doubts about his status— after initially leaving his situation cloudy.
“There is no equivocation,” Gibbs said. “I plan on going forward and being the coach here. I made a commitment and I have a passion for trying to do this. I want to fix it.
“As long as I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be, I’m going to be here.”
Gibbs is in the third year of a five-year contract and has said all along that he plans to fulfill his deal. When asked about his status during his Monday press conference, Gibbs initially made it sound as if he would decide at season’s end, saying at one point, “I am not answering that question. … My concern is to do what’s best for the Redskins. I know the fans count on me to make good decisions; I know [owner Dan Snyder] does. Right now, I want to finish strong, win the next four and have the Skins pointed in the right direction.”
Gibbs also said he does not anticipate wholesale changes in the offseason, whether with the players or on his coaching staff.
“I don’t see a [reason] for shaking things up,” Gibbs said. “You make good decisions based on who you’ve got. We’ve got good players you can build around.”
At 4-8 and with a young quarterback, the Redskins are clearly already casting an eye towards 2007. They’re not eliminated from playoff contention yet, but they’re also now realistic.
And they’re using the final four games to generate momentum.
“We’ll see how the year finishes out,” Gibbs said. “That will say something about us. In other seasons we got hot and how we finished the year off led us to how we started the following year.”
The players say that’s what they want.
“We have to make this season more than what it is at this point,” receiver Santana Moss said. “The playoffs mean a lot, but if that doesn’t happen, don’t go out letting two things happen, not going to the playoffs and then not finishing the season the way you want to finish it.”
Said defensive end Phillip Daniels, “I’ve been on teams in situations like we’re in and guys fail to do what they need to win games. That shows up on film. If you want to be part of next year and years to come, you have to go out and try to win.”
Week 14 notes
» Redskins coach Joe Gibbs said receiver Brandon Lloyd might not play against Philadelphia on Sunday after throwing his helmet late in Washington’s loss to Atlanta. Gibbs met with the unproductive receiver Monday and will do so again today.
“We’ll go from there and decide what will happen,” Gibbs said. “It’s the helmet issue. That hurts the team.”
Lloyd has just 20 catches for 295 yards and no touchdowns, despite playing more than any receiver.
Gibbs said there were no other issues with Lloyd. Lloyd did not have a good reputation in San Francisco, which traded him to Washington this past offseason for third- and fourth-round picks. The Skins gave Lloyd a seven-year contract and $10-million signing bonus. One Redskins source said the stuff he heard about Lloyd after the trade has proven true.
» The Redskins cut kicker Nick Novak Monday and will stick with Shaun Suisham.
Gibbs said they liked the length on Suisham’s kickoffs — they went to the 1, 3 and 5-yard lines, respectively. However, Gibbs would like them to have more hangtime. Suisham missed his only field goal attempt, a 50-yarder he nudged left. Novak has missed five of his 10 field goal attempts this season.
» Running back Ladell Betts said it’s “important” for him to be a starting running back in the NFL, which could help him decide where he signs this offseason. “Being a Redskin is important to me, too,” he said.
Gibbs said, “It’s important to us to get him signed.”
