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Dear Mr. Smith: A letter to Washington Redskins quarterback Alex Smith

By Matthew Valdovinos

BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 30: Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins stretches before the start of a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - AUGUST 30: Alex Smith #11 of the Washington Redskins stretches before the start of a preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium on August 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Dear Mr. Smith,

I’d like to start this off by saying thank you. For your time spent with the Washington Redskins. It was less than a year ago when I sat next to my best friend in a Buffalo Wild Wings, where he told me that if he had to guess, he thought you would be the next quarterback of the Washington Redskins. I told him I wish that could be the case, but the Chiefs would have to be crazy to part ways with you, after the season you were having.

Fast forward to less than a month later, and we were sitting there playing pool when I got the notification. I was ecstatic. Not only had we made the trade, but we also signed you to an extension. For the first time in a while, we had a quarterback that we knew was going to be here for years. Coming off a career year, I knew you were the best option for the team that was one or two games away from making the postseason each of the past two seasons.

I had figured there would be growing pains; it had been nearly six years since we won a season opener. I expected a tough game, but you came out and executed the offense with ease. 1-0. The next four weeks were up and down, but sitting at 3-2 going into a home game against Dallas, I felt confident. Dallas boasted a duo of Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliot that the Redskins had not beaten since the two entered the league. A massive rivalry game, the first NFC East divisional game you had played in, and you put the team in a position to win. 4-2.

The next three weeks were filled with ups and downs but at the end of it all you had led the team to a 6-3 record. With a strong hold on the division. What more could we have asked of you? You put us in a position to win the NFC East for just the third time in my life. It wasn’t fancy, you were always being compared to the gunslinger that succeeded you in Kansas City, and to the biggest free agent in NFL history whom you were succeeding. That wasn’t fair, and for that, I apologize.

“Underrated.” A word that seems tied to your career. Well, for what its worth, what you did for the Washington Redskins was truly inspiring. You fought through adversity against a fan base that, while die hard in nature, can also be over critical. In less than a year, you brought hope to not just me, but all of Redskins nation. For that, I am thankful. We’ve heard the news, and for whatever future fights and struggles you’ll be going through, know that we will always be supporting you.

Thank you, QB1. Thank you, Alex Smith.

Signed, Matthew Valdovinos

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