MVN - Most Valuable Network

Bloggers debate the curse of Redskins boo-birds

Rich Tandler is the dean of Washington Redskins bloggers. I don’t know if he was the first to “blog” about the Skins, but his Tandler’s Redskins Blog was the first I noticed. 

So, when Tandler has something to say, you pay attention. He got fed up with Redskins boo-bird comments after the Dallas game. In his post Black and Blacker, Tandler wrote:

“After cruising a few message boards and listening to some on-air commentary, I think I’ve come up with my definition of a negative person. It’s a Redskins fan who can find all kinds of fault with a game that the Redskins win but refuses to acknowledge any positive aspects to a loss.”

And

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s fine to be critical. If all everyone had to say was “Skins rule!”, it would be pretty boring. But when the kneejerk reaction is to rip into Joe Gibbs, the rest of the coaches, the players, Dan Snyder, whoever else may be in the line of fire, no matter what the result of the game is, well, that’s just boring, too.”

Tandler’s point is that there were positives in Redskins’ last two losses that will stand the team in good stead over the long term; that being Jason Campbell’s development and the coaches’ growing confidence in using his skills.

Blogging is all about debate.  Ben Folsom at The Curly R responded to Tandler’s critique with Wrong and Wronger.

Folsom says the Redskins deserve the criticism.

“I am a Redskins fan and I want to see the team do well, get back to winning Super Bowls if for no other reason than to shut those [*******] Eagles fans up.

“But the team is not heading in that direction. When the passing game works the defense wilts. When the defense does its job the playcalling is too conservative. No one can predict injuries and injuries are a fact of NFL life, you have to have quality backups. How come the Redskins tried out 100 receivers in the preseason and none of them is on the roster yet two receivers on the roster were not with the team in preseason? Who is making these decisions?”

In his lengthy indictment, Folsom points out that the Redskins were constructed to win the Super Bowl this year. Looming salary cap issues could lead to a far different looking team in 2008. Yet the Skins are not close to being Super Bowl ready. Now. Today.

Every time I read The Curly R, I marvel at Folsom’s word construction, wit and incisive logic, I think to myself “I wish I wrote that,” usually followed by “How I hate that guy.”

In fairness, Tandler’s point was a reaction to a narrow point — fans who see no good in any win that is not a crush, nor positives in any loss that is close. Folsom uses that platform to point out that we are running out of time with this Redskin roster. Both, very good points, and very good reads over Thanksgiving.

Hat tip to Skin Patrol at Hogs Haven for pointing me there.

Tandlers Redskin Blog, The Curly R and Hogs Haven are three of several excellent blogs I follow for complete Redskins coverage, along with Hog Heaven, of course! To see our complete blogroll, follow the link for ”Friends” in the upper right hand of the home page.

This, reminds me to add Riggo’s Rag, Post Game Heroes and Cold Hard Football Facts to the Friends list. 

If you have a blog and want to be added to Hog Heaven Friends, write me at dyskokyd@verizon.net. 

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 21st, 2007 at 3:21 pm and is filed under Redskins, Washington Redskins, Blogroll. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.