Stoopidity: The Redskins

     As evidenced by the title, this is yet another addition to the unending Stoopidity series. This time, however, it is perpetrator is NOT a member of the Miami Dolphins organization. Can you believe it? I sure can't! The organization committing the unforgivable crime this time is from the the......Washington Redskins. The Redskins made waves by trading up in the NFL Draft with the St. Louis Rams in order to draft Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III with the second overall pick. That's all well and good, and I still think that RG3 may end up having the better career than the first overall pick and fellow quarterback Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts. Griffin, as of now, has the better supporting cast of the two, and Mike Shanahan has a history of developing legendary quarterbacks like Steve Young and Joe Montana. Again, that's not the problem.

     They did the unspeakable, the horrible, the most mindless and brainless thing any team can do besides trading for Tim Tebow. In short, they drafted a second quarterback...early. The unfortunate victims of this crime against the Church of Common Sense are the two quarterbacks drafted, the aforementioned Robert Griffin III, and the other guy, Michigan State's Kirk Cousins. Cousins was rated by many experts a second round pick, some even going as far as saying a team could pick him late in the first. He fell to the fourth round, as many of the teams needing a quarterback or at least wanting one, like the Dolphins, Browns, and Broncos (Peyton Manning is the ultimate tutor for his own successor) addressed the issue early. This is where the headscratching begins. Why would the Redskins even think of drafting another quarterback when they already locked up the position for the next five to ten years? To make matters worse, why would Mike Shanahan even think about drafting another signal caller, even if he was supposedly "too good to pass up," as Shanahan supposedly said. If Cousins was really that good, the Redskins could have traded the pick to an interested party and focus on getting some help for that God-forsaken defense! In the end, this only damages the careers of both players involved, for Griffin has to deal with the threat of a very talented backup, and if he so much as blows a few games we know the impatient home crowd will cry for Cousins, and Cousins, will waste away as a backup and occasional starter when he could be setting the league on fire. If this is some sick and twisted way to light a fire under the already driven and determined Griffin, it clearly has backfired.

     This move does absolutely nothing for the Washington Redskins. Nothing. The only thing they accomplished with their picking of Kirk Cousins was show that they lack the faith, and frankly the guts, to get behind the man charged with saving the franchise. There's clearly a problem with whoever is running the show in Washington. I mean, they threw $100,000,000 at Albert Haynseworth, so that in of itself tells you the front office brass isn't that smart to begin with. Now, we know they aren't even brave or faithful in their own decisions.

Image retrieved from: www.koehlerlaw.net

Forever A Colt

     March 7, 2012, a day that will live in infamy throughout the sports world. It signifies the death of a legend and the beginning of something foreign and incomprehensible. Peyton Manning was released on March 7, 2012, and parted ways with the Indianapolis Colts after over a decade of providing stability and prosperity. Colts owner Bill Polian and Manning staged a press conference, and each of them realized that this was an unfortunate necessity, and that they must move on. Manning gave a moving speech, in which he stated that, "I've been a Colt for almost all my adult life. But I guess in life and in sports, we all know that nothing lasts forever. Times change, circumstances change, and that's the reality of playing in the NFL....I haven't thought yet about where I'll play, but I have thought a lot about where I've been. And I've truly been blessed. I've been blessed to play here. I've been blessed to be in the NFL. "And as I go, I go with just a few words left to say, a few words I want to address to Colts fans everywhere. Thank you very much from the bottom of my heart. I truly have enjoyed being your quarterback. Thank you."

     His being cut leaves the Colts with one option-to draft Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, (At Left) who, ironically, has been compared to Manning for many years. He's the Colts only hope. They have gone into full-on rebuilding mode by cutting former All-Star tight end Dallas Clark, and the perennial disappointment we call Joseph Addai. Let's hope Irsay didn't screw this one up. His father is forever infamous as the guy who moved the Colts from Baltimore to Indianapolis overnight without so much as a goodbye. I can only imagine how bad the backlash would become if Manning wins a Super Bowl with the Broncos...or five.

     Manning has since moved on now. He signed a deal with the Denver Broncos worth $96,000,000. But why? Well, as I stated in the last post, the Miami Dolphins were to dumb to even concoct a vaguely intelligent plan, and I instantly ruled them out. The Redskins were out early by essentially trading for Robert Griffin III. The Arizona Cardinals commit to their quarterback, Kevin Kolb, by giving him a huge roster bonus. The slimming of the field left only the Tennessee Titans, whose head coach blocked for Manning's father Archie, The Denver Broncos, and the San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers are undoubtedly the best team out of the three, but Manning didn't chose them. Why? Manning has always stated that it would be his dream to play against his brother, Eli Manning, in the Super Bowl. The 49ers are in the same conference as the Giants, so signing with them would permanently eliminate any chance of that dream becoming reality. I was really pulling for the Titans to swoop in and grab Manning. What would be better than seeing him and dynamic running back Chris Johnson playing against the Colts in a divisional game? But the Titans had a weakness, and that may have been their strength-that they were in the same division as the Indianapolis Colts. Manning seems too nice and not bitter enough to torment his former employer.

     That leaves the Denver Broncos, whom I predicted to win this twisted March Madness competition at its conception. I don't know why. I just did. It seemed right.  They had the polarizing freakazoid athlete that we call Tim Tebow, who has just been traded for a 4th round pick to the New York Jets, but that didn't stop legend John Elway from getting his man. The Broncos have a suspect defense at best, and really lacked the offensive weapons to do anything. If Manning wanted offensive weapons he'd have signed with the Cardinals or 49ers. But he didn't. As mentioned above, he signed with them for $96,000,000. We saw what happened when a largely unchanged Colts team lost Manning. Now we can see what happens when a playoff team gets him. Manning will forever be an Indianapolis Colt, and we can see that even he realizes that. I mean, look at the picture at left. He doesn't look to happy. I can only wish him the best in the future. Just know, Peyton Manning, to me and all the sports world, you will always....ALWAYS...be an Indianapolis Colt.

Images from: http://nflspinzone.com/2011/10/24/miami-dolphins-indianapolis-colts-continue-to-suck-for-luck/ and www.thephinsider.com and www.content.usatoday.com