The Other Shoe

So I guess it is my turn to talk about how I feel about what I perceive to be impending doom regarding Roger Goodell’s crack down and the Redskins.  The comments both on the site and just with talking with other Skins fans all are “naw, we aren’t worried.”

Why not?  In his short career before Goodell took over, Taylor was arrested twice, fined for skipping part of the rookie symposium, dirty hits, spitting on players, and the worst offense of all…wearing the wrong socks.  You can point to how quiet he’s been lately as a sign of maturity, and I hope that’s true.  But the way Goodell is going, Taylor doesn’t have to do much to have that all fall back on him.  One stop for “driving while black”and its a year out.

A lot of people talk about how Gibbs keeps people in line.  And I do think as coaches go, he’s pretty good.  But you younger folk may not remember that Coach once kept a guy on the roster for years who was a known cocaine user who was literally illiterate.  A man who on many occasions threatened people with physical harm before and after games including a famous quote where he threatened to squash someone’s head like a grape fruit.  This was a man who was arrested and jailed and suspended for dirty hits.  This man made Pac Man Jones look like…well not a choir boy…but maybe like Keyshawn Johnson or somebody.

Most of you older folks know that I’m talking about Dexter Manley.  Dexter was one of a group of guys (Lawrence Taylor is the biggest example) who got caught up in the cocaine explosion of the 80′s, and in some ways I think we were all a little more naive back then.  I’m sure Coach would say he learned a lot in the mean time.  But the fact remains that players blind side even the best of coaches. 

So yes I’m worried.  Yes, I think the commish makes me feel like the NFL is a big Orwell novel.  I’m not worried about what my boys will actually do so much as what someone will THINK they did and that the accusation is suddenly enough. 

Do me a favor, Sean.  Get a driver.  CP, throw me a bone.  Don’t go within 20 miles of a country road.  Smoot, help a guy out.  Don’t even go near the reflecting pool in the Mall.

Stay home.  Play Madden ’08.  And maybe I’ll worry a bit less.

-DW