Rich Tandler’s five thoughts (plus one) possibly related to the Washington Redskins, other things, and, today, the RG3 trade.
+1. This was written and set to post prior to the salary cap penalty that the NFL imposed on the Redskins. Or at least the one that has been reported in the media as the league apparently has yet to formally notify the team of any sanctions. But I think they make this deal regardless of when they find out about any subtracted salary cap money. With the new rookie salary structure they will be getting their franchise quarterback at a bargain price of about $5 million per year. True, they may have more issues in filling the holes around Robert Griffin III if they do end up with reduced cap space but since the cap penalties were coming regardless, they at least have the quarterback.
5. Contrary to what some are saying, the Redskins do not have to win the Super Bowl to make the blockbuster trade worthwhile. They may or may not have won the Super Bowl by using the four draft picks for four other players so that doesn’t add up. They needed to make this move to become interesting and relevant. They have been neither for most of the past couple of decades.
4. Most of you have seen the segment that Griffin did with Steve Mariucci on the NFL Network a couple of weeks ago where Mooch drew up a play on the whiteboard, erased it, and then Griffin drew it up again and talked about it, even adding a wrinkle of his own. But that was a general West Coast offense play. What was even more impressive was something related to us by Chris Sprow of ESPN.com. “RG3 described to us aspects of #Redskins offense in Indy,” he tweeted. “You never hear that. Had done his homework; had to have impressed Skins.”
3. It seems that many Redskins fans are wasting a lot of time getting tied up in rhetorical knots about others saying that the Redskins gave up three first round picks to get Griffin. I get what they are saying, it was a matter of moving up so they really only “gave up” two first plus the second. The bottom line, however, is that out of three first round picks and one second, the Redskins will get one player, probably Robert Griffin III. No matter what semantics you use to characterize the deal, that is how the cost of the trade needs to be assessed.
2. And no matter how you characterize the trade, the Redskins did not “mortgage their future” or “give away the farm” or anything like that in this deal. The Redskins still have 20 picks in the next three drafts. They last time I checked, quality players are drafted from the second round on every single year.
1. Although instant analysis is fun and a staple of sites like this one, we really won’t know if the Redskins made a great move here or if they made a big mistake for several years. The first key is, of course, the play of RG3. He does not necessarily need to be an elite quarterback but he needs to be much better than average. We also will have to see where in the draft order the future first-rounders the Redskins gave up will be and what players are available when those picks are on the clock. A lot of factors to consider and only time will tell.
You can reach Rich by email at RTandlerCSN@comcast.net and follow him on Twitter @Rich_Tandler.
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