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FanSided

Redskins Reality Checks: Team has a lot on the line with Texans coming to town

By Tim Payne

TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 11: Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins runs the ball for a nine yard gain during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images)
TAMPA, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 11: Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins runs the ball for a nine yard gain during the fourth quarter against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on November 11, 2018 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Will Vragovic/Getty Images) /
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Redskins
LANDOVER, MD – OCTOBER 29: Cornerback Josh Norman #24 of the Washington Redskins celebrates with free safety D.J. Swearinger #36 of the Washington Redskins after recovering a fumble against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter at FedEx Field on October 29, 2017 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

1. Reality Is, Norman and Swearinger are totally right, and also wrong.

Norman and Swearinger are correct that the atmosphere has been terrible at FedEx Field. They’re right that there are far too few Redskins fans at home games, and that there is far too little buy-in from the fan base this season, given the Redskins’ current record and position in the standings. They’re also right that a higher percentage of Redskins fans at away games are excited and positive than at home games and that being 6-3 and leading the division by two games are reasons for fans to be excited and positive and supportive. In addition, they are correct that the current players can’t be held responsible for the organization’s ineptitude over the last 25-plus years.

However, they are wrong to assume that fans’ reticence to attend FedEx Field is an indication of a lack of passion for the team. The current state of apathy among Redskins fans is something of a learned trait. Redskins fans are extremely loyal and committed to the team. You’d have to be after how badly they have played and poorly they have been managed over the last two decades.

Redskins fans have been conditioned, over the last 25 years, to expect to be let down whenever their excitement is piqued. They’ve been conditioned to prepare for disappointment. They’ve been conditioned to expect a terrible game-day experience at FedEx, including nightmarish crowds on the Metro, horrible traffic, overpriced concessions, and punitive organizational policies. They’ve been conditioned to expect excuses rather than results, transition rather than continuity, arrogance rather than humility. And more than anything, they have been conditioned to expect that when things go badly, the organization will take the lowest possible road from a PR and community/fan-relations standpoint.

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The reason fans on the road seem happier and more supportive, is that many of them haven’t been subjected to as many of the abuses of an arrogant and aloof owner and management team. They’re just glad to get the opportunity to get to see their favorite team play, and in many cases, win. Whereas the fans in the DMV have been treated to countless embarrassing losses piled on top of the overall disappointing game-day experience and overall embarrassment of having to live with the very public shame the organization has seemed to attract to itself through a steady stream of bad decisions on and off the field.

Norman and Swearinger make great points. I don’t blame them for their frustration, but they also need to direct their concerns to the source of the problem…ownership. They have to understand that much of the fan apathy they observe has been earned by the organization over the last two-plus decades. I applaud the fact that the players have backed up their comments by giving away a bunch of tickets this week, attempting to remove the hurdle of ticket cost for a group of fans.

As for the fans, I would also encourage fans to fight through the challenges and go help the players out by making that home field advantage real. There are encouraging signs in the way Brian LaFemina and other new executives have been working to improve the fan experience and the organization’s image…so fans could do well to give the new guys a chance to change your mind and win you back for the live game-day experience. But more than anything, winning isn’t a given. You don’t want to miss out on enjoying the ride of a successful season if that’s what this turns out to be.

Prediction: The environment at FedEx this Sunday will be solid. It will be more similar to the Dallas game than the Falcons game, but many fans likely need a playoff berth to fully get back on the bandwagon.

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