The Snyder Intent on Giving Up as Much as Possible for Ocho Cinco

The Redskins offered their 2008 first round pick and a conditional third round pick in 2009 which would become a first round pick if certain performance levels were met to the Bengals for Chad Johnson. Although the Bengals rejected the offer, my gut reaction to it was, "Hell yeah, let's get Ocho Cinco!" I've loved Chad Johnson for a number of seasons for a number of reasons. First of all, he's fucking good, no need to really elaborate on this one. Secondly, unlike all of our receivers the last two seasons, Chad Johnson doesn't pull his hamstring or groin every other Sunday despite dancing 93.9% than our entire receiving corps combined. Finally, #85 fits the mold of the beloved DC athlete: he's quirky and, at the same time, kind of an asshole. Chad can be thought of as the Gilbert Arenas of the NFL, if in no other way than the number, quality of self-applied nicknames.

However, when I actually take a minute to sit back and inspect the offer, I start to think trading for Ocho Cinco is a bad idea. Is Chad Johnson really worth the two first round picks he would garner should he meet the performance levels specified in the offer? The only reason I would say "maybe" is because the Redskins draft so poorly that our first round picks are bound to suck for at least the next two seasons. We did too good a job picking Laron Landry in 2007 to do a competent job any time in the next couple drafts. I'm predicting the Redskins manage to draft both another Michael Westbrook and a Heath Shuler during the next five years.

Then theres the all out deal breaker. Frankly, every Redskins fan should have realized this by now, but in case you haven't (and you actually happen to read this), I'll let you know why I know trading for Chad Johnson is an awful idea: Dan Snyder wants to make the trade.

Redskins Fact #3: Anything Dan Snyder wants is probably great for some teams, but the Washington Redskins are not among those teams.

I think I'll let this tidbit from Jason La Canfora's Redskins Insider make my argument for me: Dan Snyder wanted Ted Ginn in the 2007 draft.

I guess I can't help but also point out the gross incompetence with which the 2007 coach search was undertaken: "We hired this guy to be our offensive coordinator. Oh, wait, did I say offensive coordinator? What I really meant to say was head coach. Yeah...head coach." You should feel free to insert wink(s) into that quote wherever you feel they are appropriate.

I'm worried that The Snyder is inevitably going to make an offer for Chad Johnson that's even worse than the one it already made. When The Snyder gets its mind made up on something, it generally does everything in it's deep-pocketed power to make sure it gets what it wants. By the time this is done with, The Snyder will have probably managed to trade the Redskins first, second, third, and sixth round picks, and through some sort of trickery, two of the Falcons 2008 draft picks, for Chad Johnson and the Bengals seventh round pick.

Brett Favre Gone, Perhaps With the Wind

Brett Favre is nothing short of an American icon and he leaves the game of football with records for most career TDs, completions, career passing yards, consecutive starts for a starting QB, career wins by a starting QB, addictions to vicodin by a starting QB, interceptions, and number of comparasions to Tony Romo by Tony Kornheiser. He decided make his decision to retire early in the offseason, denying Packer fans the opportunity to fret for months about the future of a Packers team with Aaron Rodgers at the helm. Some say part of the reason he retired was to let the feeling of inevitable Rodgers led defeat sink in long before the season begins. Of course Rodgers will just get hurt right away like he always does so the Packers will inevitably end up being led by last seasons third stringer Craig Nall.

Despite the fact Favre never played for my hometown team the Washington Redskins, he leaves behind a long legacy of throwing interceptions to the Redskins. The first pass of Favre's career was intercepted by Washington Redskins linebacker Andre Collins, who proceeded to return the interception for a touchdown. In the most touching moment of Favre's career for Redskins fans, Favre launched an errant pass directly to the late, great Redskins saftey Sean Taylor. In doing so Favre eclipsed George Blanda's mark of 277 career interceptions.

Favre is also notable for beginning and ending his career much in the style of baseball legend Ted Williams. Williams hit homeruns in his first and last career at bats, while Favre threw interceptions on the opening and final passes of his career. Favre's final pass was intercepted in overtime of the NFC Finals game at home against the New York Giants. The turnover sealed the Packers defeat after a field goal won the game for the Giants.

In spite of all this Favre is still better than John Elway due to Elway's now scandalized use of the Vortex football in the first Superbowl he won, and then the Vortex Howler in his second Superbowl victory. After investigating reports that Elway could throw such footballs clean out of the stadium, the NFL committee of fair play rescinded Elway's Superbowl rings, leaving Favre with 1 career Superbowl win, and Elway with 0.