Something old and something new was traded for something borrowed — the future.
The Washington Redskins recently signed 38-year-old Joey Galloway and cut 25-year-old Marko Mitchell. If that doesn’t signal an old guard coming when the team begins minicamp on Friday, nothing will.
Coach Mike Shanahan denied the team was signing older veterans, but the Redskins have added 10 players this offseason who will be at least 30 years old this fall. A 38-year-old receiver is a relic, especially one who has done very little for three seasons. They’re usually late-season injury replacements, not offseason moves. Yet the Redskins cut a promising young tall receiver to make room for Galloway.
Mitchell was a favorite among fans who saw his end zone potential as a big target in a small area. But Shanahan didn’t see the same after one minicamp. New coaches rightfully get their guys so Mitchell now plays for Detroit.
The Skins are getting old. That’s OK if the team is making one final bid before rebuilding. However, the team is still rebuilding with short-term parts. In two years, the roster will be dismantled for yet another version.
Is this really necessary?
The Redskins have been rebuilt more often than a child’s beachside sandcastle. Five coaching changes over a decade constantly created too many players caught in the wrong scheme. They often found themselves chosen by an outgoing coach and unwanted by the new one. Jeremy Jarmon is the latest wasted pick, an unnecessary defensive end in the coming 3-4 scheme. So much for the 2009 third-round pick.
Washington has an older coach looking for a quick fix. Shanahan wants a third Super Bowl ring before he retires, seeking redemption at a second stop after steadily losing steam in Denver. No one lasts long under Redskins owner Dan Snyder, so Shanahan and general manager Bruce Allen are relying on past connections, hoping for quick success.
That’s fine given last year’s 4-12 team lacked widespread core talent. The roster’s sole untouchable player is 2009 first-rounder Brian Orakpo. Otherwise, everyone is expendable as quarterback Jason Campbell learned and running back Clinton Portis now realizes with two former 1,000-yard runners added to his backfield.
The Skins are marching in a new direction over the same tracks — ones crisscrossed too many times. George Patton said, “Never pay for the same ground twice,” but Washington does so regularly.
Shanahan appears to be shaping a veteran crew much like the 2000 squad in Snyder’s first season. The only difference is that staggering $94 million All-Star crew was a bargain compared to this discard bin of used personnel.
Aside trading for quarterback Donovan McNabb, where have the Redskins greatly improved compared to May 2009? It’s a patchwork roster that the Redskins hope works for now. It’s the gamble they’ll take.
It seems the future remains for other teams to ponder.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more at TheRickSniderReport.com and Twitter @Snide_Remarks or e-mail [email protected].
