The 2013 Redskins in Review, Part 4: The Root of All Evil

Ok, evil might be a strong word, but if you want to know the real root cause of the Redskins' problems in 2013 and in years past, look no further than the top of the organization. Since 1999 when Dan Snyder became the owner of the Washington Redskins, the franchise has ranged anywhere from middling to inept to clown-like. Proud moments and seasons like 2012 have been rare, and they are usually quickly ended by other moments of ineptitude. Regardless, there's never a shortage of drama.

Ok, maybe evil sums it up pretty well.

There are some instances where I've agreed with Snyder's moves in the moment. Some of acquisitions and hirings detailed in Part 2 and Part 3 are chief among them. However, almost all of them turn out to be buffoonish one way or the other. Snyder's problem appears to be that of any good summer blockbuster super villian: hubris.

Judging by his other business ventures and the fortune he's accumulated, he is a brilliant businessman and marketer. To get where he is in life, Snyder has no doubt had to hire and put the right people in place with those business ventures in order to remain successful, but he just can't seem to do that with his boyhood obsession, the Redskins.

Instead, Snyder wants to be the Cowboys' Jerry Jones: owner/general manager/president of the do whatever the f*** I want club. Only Jones at least has a smidge of football background, whereas Snyder looks like the guy that during his school days was shoved into a locker when the football team passed him in the halls. That might not be altogether fair, as Jones' Cowboys haven't fared much better than Snyder's Skins in recent years, and playing or coaching football doesn't necessarily qualify you to hire the right coaching and player personnel.

But like Jones, Snyder can never seem to get out of his own way. Even with the hirings a few years ago of general manager Bruce Allen and Mike Shanahan as head coach, no one really thought that Snyder would actually stay out of it, did they? So, when rumors are floated about the owner being too chummy with the star quarterback for the head coach's liking, they don't seem too farfetched. What else would you expect from a meddlesome owner who seems to continually act in a way that suggests he views his NFL team as his plaything and its roster as that of a fantasy football league? Add to that Snyder's general lack of social and self awareness regarding the Washington football club's name insensitivity issue and the stories of general jerkiness from his personal life, and he's not the most likeable owner you can think of.

So, as I write this on the 1st official day of free agency as the Redskins still have about $20 million in salary cap room to play with, am I excited? No, no, I am not. Do I think that the Redskins will still somehow end up with a very high-priced aging roster with a lot of holes left to fill at the end of the day? Yes, yes, I do. Long past are the days when I used to get fooled by Snyder's ability to be the big winner every offseason. Instead, I will hope for Snyder to one day sign a real player personnel guy (sorry, Bruce Allen), get out of the way, and watch him make smart sensible decisions that bring the team sustained success. Otherwise, wake me up when the draft starts (when I get to watch the Rams use the Redskins' 1st round pick).