Many Washington Redskins fans are openly hoping the team loses its remaining six games to gain a higher draft pick. That’s nuts.
They may get their wish after six straight losses, but the “Suck for Luck” campaign — in hopes to draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck — is more nearsighted than Mr. Magoo.
The Redskins won’t get Luck, who would fill the franchise’s desperate need. Indianapolis has nearly clinched the top pick with an 0-10 start. Washington’s only chance is with a trade. But the Redskins’ overall pick won’t impact the total compensation for that potential move.
Even finishing 3-13 might only merit fourth overall behind St. Louis (2-8) and Carolina (2-8). So what? There are several good quarterbacks in the coming draft and Washington can get one with a top-10 pick so winning a game or two late won’t make a major difference.
If Washington replicates its effort from the 27-24 overtime loss to Dallas on Sunday, it has a chance to beat Seattle, the New York Giants, Minnesota and even Philadelphia in remaining weeks. The latter trio are the season’s final three games while Seattle is Sunday. Forget beating the New York Jets and New England.
Most likely, the Redskins win one or two more games, and there’s nothing wrong with that. Moving a few spots won’t ripple through each round if the front office is competent. The two drafts have been bright spots of the Mike Shanahan-Bruce Allen era.
The NFL is year to year. Carryover isn’t as much as one might expect. Win now and enjoy the moment. Worry about next season in 2012. If Redskins fans are now cursing wins, how will the team ever satisfy its backers?
Nobody was thinking, “Oh no, the Redskins are going to beat the Cowboys — there goes draft positioning,” on Sunday. That stadium was rocking. “Hail to the Redskins” hadn’t been sung with such gusto in years. A victory would have soothed a lot of disappointment from another crummy year.
Conversely, if the Redskins lose 30-0 every week, nobody will cheer improved draft positioning. That’s just nonsense.
Quarterbacks are the hardest position to gauge. Heath Shuler was the first quarterback and third overall player drafted in 1994 while Gus Frerotte was a seventh rounder. Shuler was a bust and Frerotte lasted 15 years. If Aaron Rodgers wasn’t taken the pick before Washington chose Jason Campbell in 2005, he probably wouldn’t have blossomed with this franchise while Green Bay developed him into a Super Bowl champion.
It’s knowing what to do with the pick that counts more than its position. That’s where winning starts, not by ending the season with losses.
Examiner columnist Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Read more on Twitter @Snide_Remarks or email [email protected].
