Redskins: A brief history of why Bruce Allen should be on the hot seat
By Matt Hines
Allen’s first year
In 2010, throughout Allen’s first year as GM he had a lot of damage control to take care of following the largely unsuccessful term of Vinny Cerato. The biggest (pun intended) problem the team had at that point was historically priced free agent defensive tackle, Albert Haynsworth. In an attempt offset some of the salary cap hits of Haynesworth and DeAngelo Hall, Allen implemented his “I-4 Off Ramp” strategy.
This was a unique way within a player’s contract to move their bonus money into the current league year. Allen’s decision to use this strategy during the NFL’s uncapped season in 2010 would result in the Redskins facing $36 million in cap penalties over the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
One could make the argument this was Allen’s bold attempt to further his damage control efforts from the previous regimes. The other argument is that all 32 teams were warned by the league not to violate general cap rules in an attempt to create cap space for future years. So when it was all said and done, Allen’s attempt to clean up the Redskins cap situation caused the turmoil to continue for two more years.
Throughout Allen’s first free agency with the Redskins he would add veteran players like Willie Parker, Larry Johnson, Rex Grossman, and Joey Galloway. The Redskins were offered a lesson as a result of these signings, you get what you pay for.
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Later in Allen’s first year as GM, he attempted to fix a problem that has long plagued the Redskins organization, the lack of a franchise quarterback. Allen made the decision to trade a second round pick and a conditional third or fourth round pick for the then 34-year-old Eagles quarterback Donavan McNabb. Jason Campbell had shown flashes over the years but was clearly not the answer and was subsequently traded to the Raiders for a fourth round pick.
On Sunday, November 15, the same day the Redskins were set to play McNabb’s former team on Sunday Night Football, the Redskins offered McNabb on five year $78 million extension, despite the team’s 4-4 record. The Redskins lost to the Eagles that night 59-28. A little less than a month later the Redskins were sitting at 5-8, McNabb was benched in favor of Rex Grossman. McNabb was traded to the Minnesota Vikings after the 2010 season for a sixth round pick after going 5-8 as a starter.
Allen would continue to use trades as a primary weapon in rebuilding the Redskins roster. The team acquired Saints offensive tackle Jammal Brown for a conditional third or fourth round pick. Brown had missed the entire previous season due to injury. After providing 15 serviceable games in 2010, Brown was offered a 5 year $20.25 million contract extension. In 2011, Brown would see his availability diminish to 12 games. Brown was released after spending the entire 2012 season on the PUP list.
During the 2010 draft, Allen swapped fifth round picks with the Rams and in the process acquired defensive linemen Adam Carriker who missed the entire 2009 season due to injury. While this trade cost the Redskins very little in terms of draft picks, they picked up a former first round contract. Carriker played in Washington for three seasons, playing all 16 games in the first two. Carriker’s third season was cut short due to injury after two games. He was later released by the Redskins.
Allen’s first draft class was compiled of six players but only yielded two players of impact, Perry Riley and six-time Pro Bowler Trent Williams. The team finished 6-10 in Allen’s first year, last in the division.