The end was sudden; sooner than they desired; much later than most anticipated. And the players weren’t sure how to react. Some players talked, dissecting a game that had gone wrong for the first time in a month. Others showered, sounds of occasional laughter flowing into the locker room.
And others took the season-ending 35-14 playoff loss to Seattle harder. Pierson Prioleau sat at his locker, shirt off; towel around his waist; forehead resting in his left hand. He didn’t move for several minutes. Returner Rock Cartwright, knowing free agency loomed, remained at hislocker longer than most. End Phillip Daniels and assistant head coach/defense Gregg Williams talked closely and quietly, the coach resting a reassuring hand on Daniels’ shoulder.
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“It’s sad to see it come to the end,” Daniels said.
The end of Washington’s season evolved into a combination of pride as to what they became and disappointment for what could have happened.
“Anytime you feel like you can win not just one playoff game,” safety Reed Doughty said, “but you look at the matchups and to know that you have a chance to go deep in the playoffs and then you lose, it’s tough because the season is over. There’s no game plan. There’s no next time.”
The Redskins overcame more than any team to reach the postseason, dealing not just with key injuries but the death of star safety Sean Taylor. He was never far from their thoughts. When they beat Dallas by 21 — his jersey number — players noted it afterward. That they lost by 21 in the playoffs wasn’t mentioned. But Taylor was, his memory serving as inspiration.
“You had a franchise grow together,” Redskins running back Clinton Portis said. “You had a bunch of guys grow to love one another and appreciate one another. That’s the best thing that can happen in sports.”
But, receiver Santana Moss said, there’s one harsh reality.
“We ain’t playing next week,” Moss said. “I wish I could talk to you about getting ready for next week’s game.”
