Washington Redskins 2007 Preview
Background: The Redskins are the most valuable franchise in sports. They have a long history of winning. They have a great home market in Washington DC, and they have long enjoyed an extended regional based throughout Virginia, North Carolina, and elsewhere in the South.
Owner Daniel Snyder has a background in marketing and a background as a Redskin fan. He took from the Jerry Jones playbook and ramped it up. The Redskins have their own radio network. They charge fans to watch practice. They own their own stadium. Despite the public's view of him, most NFL owners wish they had Snyder's moxie and vision.
Team Identity: The Skins are up there with the Cowboys and Dolphins. Since DC has no real college football to follow, the Redskins are treated like a high school team for the biggest high school in the country - the nation's capitol.
Former Redskins are treated better than the politicians who run the town. Daniel Snyder understood this passion when he bought the team, and he has leveraged every bit of it.
However, the feeling continues to build that Snyder is taking without giving back. Re-hiring Joe Gibbs has been a double-edged sword. Gibbs' legend as a three time Super Bowl winner for the Redskins in the 1980's is being diminished by his failures this second time around. Snyder might have purchased himself some immediate cover by bringing Gibbs back, but the long term damage could be significant.
Since owning the team, Snyder has only been to the playoffs twice despite spending like a drunken sailor. He brought in Gibbs to replace himself as the face of the franchise, but until Gibbs starts to win again, Snyder will still overshadow Gibbs. This is not a good thing.
2007 Storyline: The NFC East is a nightmare division. Each team has a chance to win. There are four huge media market teams with lots of cash on hand. Each team expects to win.
Gibbs made the playoffs in his second year, but he then made a lot of changes to his staff adding Al Saunders as his OC. Now, that Jason Campbell is the starting QB, there is hope that the Redskins can get back on track after last year's disappointment.
I suppose everyone is wondering whether this is the year for Snyder and company to put it all together.
Expectation Meter: They are in the NFC East - 'nuff said! However, I think the fans in DC are all a bit weary. One word that never comes up when discussing Snyder's Redskins is stability.
In a perfect world, Snyder would like to see the Redskins make it to at least the NFC championship game so that Gibbs can re-retire with pride and the team can be handed to heir-apparent, Gregg Williams. However, another losing season is a real possibility. If that happens, I'm sure Snyder will be trying to outbid the other big market disappointments for Bill Cowher's services.
related tags
Sports,North Carolina,
Virginia,
West Virginia,
Bristol,
Coastal,
Urban,
Southern Pro Football,
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