Redskins: Stephen A. Smith's slight is painful, because it's true

Stephen A. Smith makes a living out of saying outrageous things in outrageous ways. But a recent comment of his about the Redskins isn’t hard to agree with.

It’s always hard for a team to rebuild following years and years of inadequacy. If you don’t do it right, then it’s back to square one. For the Redskins, it’s been a long climb back up, even to standard mediocrity. And the trek is far from over.

It is here, between the dark recesses of NFL purgatory and the shining pedestal at the top, that teams garner the most criticism. Teams in the middle are the most volatile. One week, they may show promise. The next, the concerns underlying their inability to contend rear their ugly heads, and fans remember where Earth is, falling from the stars in meteoric fashion.

Criticism is in healthy supply for teams like the Redskins, now more than ever. And recently, professional sports critic Stephen A. Smith offered a brief and painful diagnosis of the state of affairs in Washington, per Dan Steinberg of the Washington Post. “They’re irrelevant,” he said. “They’re irrelevant, the Redskins. I feel sorry.”

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As fans, we may be quick to challenge that assertion. But opinions do not alter facts. For the Redskins, the facts are inherently hard to accept. But that does not change what they are. Yes, the Redskins have logged winning records over the past two seasons. But have they looked like a contender? There have been moments. Flashes of greatness. But while the Redskins could have all the ingredients of a budding contender, there is one quality that evades them yet: Consistency. And consistency has been adamant in its avoidance of the Redskins.

For now, the Redskins are irrelevant. They’re irrelevant until proven contenders. Their case is yet incomplete. They haven’t accumulated enough evidence to show that they can make the leap and become a truly formidable team. And if their sorry 2017 trend continues, then the evidence will mount in favor of the less favorable conclusion.

Smith didn’t stop at the team alone. He spoke of his thoughts on quarterback Kirk Cousins as well. The 29-year old signal caller has developed into an enigma as of late, and Smith wasn’t shy in criticizing the quarterback’s relative inability to help his team to a win. Here’s what he had to say, per the same Washington Post article mentioned above:

"The Redskins are competitive. And when they’re competitive, some how, some way, even if it’s at a deficit, the ball is usually in Kirk Cousins’s hands to win it. And they just don’t do it. That’s what bothers me about the $24 million he’s getting. Nice guy. Not a scrub. Can quarterback for a lot of teams in the NFL. I’m not saying that. But [$44] million over the last two years? Really? For Kirk Cousins? [$44] million? And just doesn’t get it done. Just doesn’t. The Redskins are coming in last place this year in the NFC East. We all know this. This ain’t rocket science here. I’m just telling you, this is the deal: Kirk Cousins ain’t that dude. He can play, but he’s not that dude. That’s just not how I look at him. And I just think it’s time that we all recognize that."

Next: Redskins: 5 matchups to watch in Week 2 vs. Rams

The early verdict is in for the Redskins and Kirk Cousins, and so far, they’ve done little to incite any faith in their fan base, and beyond. And while some might say they have time to change that, the NFL season is the shortest of all professional sports. January comes fast, and if the Redskins can’t prove they belong in the winner’s circle, then they might belong to a less desirable club in 2018.

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Redskins: Stephen A. Smith’s slight is painful, because it’s true

By Ian Cummings | Sep 15, 2017

Stephen A. Smith makes a living out of saying outrageous things in outrageous ways. But a recent comment of his about the Redskins isn’t hard to agree with.

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