Redskins release safety D.J. Swearinger after postgame comments

Redskins safety D.J. Swearinger was critical of Greg Manusky after the Titans game, and his comments appear to have cost him.

After the Washington Redskins 25-16 loss to the Tennessee Titans in Week 16, which officially knocked them out of the playoff race, D.J. Swearinger spoke to media and lamented at the team’s defensive game plan, asserting that Greg Manusky’s planning led to Blaine Gabbert finding open field in the passing game, when the defense needed stops time and time again in the second half.

Whether Swearinger’s comments come with or without merit is not the issue: Swearinger has repeatedly made his thoughts transparent after losses, perhaps a bit too transparent for the Redskins tastes.

Yesterday, in a press conference, Jay Gruden was noticeably frustrated as Swearinger’s words, and today, per J.P. Finlay of NBC Sports Mid-Atlantic, it was reported that Swearinger was cut by the Redskins. Per local media member Grant Paulsen, Jay Gruden called Swearinger into his office and informed him of his release.

There are two angles to this. Swearinger was obviously playing with fire every time he came out and criticized the coaches. Some of that criticism was merited, but Swearinger may have overstepped his bounds. Late in the season, he did not necessarily provide the play to back up his talk, and the Redskins release of Swearinger shows at least a minute value placed into accountability.

On the other hand, however, Swearinger is a borderline Pro Bowl safety who repeatedly called out coaching, both under the lights and on the practice field, with varying degrees of subtlety. Perhaps it’s not Swearinger who exited his lane, but it is the coaches who responded adversely to being called out. Now, one of the team’s best players is gone, and the Redskins chose their unsatisfactory coaches over him. They weren’t nearly as trigger happy with Reuben Foster. Or Montae Nicholson. But a player speaks ill of coaches who might deserve it, and he’s cut. It’s a telling omen for times to come.

This move could be viewed as a necessary show of muscle from Jay Gruden. But accountability isn’t a temporary obligation. Accountability does not have exceptions. If the Redskins were so upset about Swearinger simply talking, they should have shown the same prohibition when contemplating claiming Reuben Foster, or deciding the fate of their safety, Nicholson. This move reads as the team striking an opponent of the coaches’ clique. An affront on a threat to the blind, toxic front office think tank.

Swearinger could have been disciplined without being released. Perhaps Jay Gruden needed to put the hammer down. Perhaps there were drastic implications in the locker room, with different leaders at odds. Only one thing is certain now: The Redskins have chosen change. But Swearinger’s release is a sign. A sign that no real change is going to happen.