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Rick Snider: Coach Joe finally gives in
LATEST ON THIS STORYRelated Topics: WASHINGTON
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The white flag flew over Redskin Park waving towards 2007.
Quarterback Jason Campbell will start against Tampa Bay on Sunday. Mark Brunell is out. Frankly, I’m shocked coach Joe Gibbs finally recognized reality in a season of denial. It took him an extra few weeks, but Gibbs swapped passers a whole lot sooner than expected.
Gibbs looked like a POW forced to make a statement during his Monday press conference. His body language betrayed words that this move was anything but forced; not by owner Dan Snyder, but a 3-6 record and mounting public pressure.
In the Gibbs I era, there was no Internet, major cable news, or sports talk radio. He could isolate himself at the old Redskin Park where only a handful of writers and a smattering of TV and radio reporters watched. Now, it’s a small army and the buzzing never stops.
Gibbs finally understands the NFL is a whole lot different and his stubbornness over starting Brunell was coming off badly. He looks as befuddled as Donald Rumsfeld over recent months. People weren’t buying the answers. Fans knew Gibbs was pandering to them and massaging a message they didn’t believe. Maybe last week’s elections showed Gibbs the public’s disdain can sweep clean.
Fans were finally exhausted from this charade that things were not so bad at Redskin Park. Long-time supporters were talking boycott. Even more surprising, they were calling for Gibbs’ firing. That’s like the French forgetting the U.S. military saved them twice when denying airspace access during the Iraq war.
Gibbs made the move as reluctantly as one can short of chains and whips. Even the team — sans quarterbacks — weren’t told as they left for their day off. That’s akin to firing people on Friday afternoon so co-workers have the weekend to get over it. Imagine how players felt hearing the news from the media. That’s another misstep by Gibbs.
Now, the real question shifts to whether Campbell can play. The Redskins will be lucky to learn over seven weeks, but even some flashes of talent would be enough to make watching the final games worthwhile. Seriously, can Campbell be any worse than scoring three points offensively to three division rivals?
“This thing is so topsy-turvy I don’t know what’s going to happen,” Gibbs said.
True, but that’s the fun part. Having seen Campbell some in practice, he has good mobility and a strong arm. The vertical passing game will return. Look for Brandon Lloyd to suddenly get busy.
“We’ll learn a lot about ourselves,” Gibbs said.
At least you get credit for trying something different, Joe.
Rick Snider has covered local sports for 28 years. Contact him at rsnider@dcexaminer.com.
Comments from Examiner Readers
6:48 PM MST on Mon., Oct. 29, 2007 re: "Rick Snider: NFL’s fine of Taylor anything but"
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Examiner Reader said:
my brother anthony jo jo hunter is and always will be a good man as well as agood kind hearted man he never hurt anyone and that was his first time in any trouble in his life weather he rob any placed i cannot say from my heart but all the joy he brought to the streets of dc and the homes on tv playing maryland university basketball no one would stand up for him he would take poor kids on trips and help them when they where in trouble and feed people when they where hungry.and no one would help him when he was in trouble and he has been in jail for 10 years 5 to 45 years in jail when most people in jail do not get that kind of time for worst crimes not to say what people said he did was not wrong but my god he is a good person and from what i understand the store owner could not identify him as being the person that did the crime the witness a drug head that he knew off the street with a record and i guess she got what she wonted less time or shes free its wrong! sharons300@yahoo.com
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