Redskins: Was getting rid of D.J. Swearinger the right move?

Redskins fans set themselves ablaze in outrage on Monday. The release of safety D.J. Swearinger was a shock to many, but was it the right move for the future of the franchise? The short answer is yes, and here is why.

D.J. Swearinger‘s time in D.C. was one always in the spotlight. On the field, he was clearly the best safety this team has had in a number of years. As a defensive captain in 2017, and a Pro Bowl alternate this year, his play on the field was loved by fans. He was far from Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins and the late Redskins legend, Sean Taylor. But he was superior to the number of average safeties that the Washington Redskins have settled for over the past ten years.

Off the field, Swearinger similarly found himself in the spotlight, but not always for the right reasons. Over the past two years, he has found himself in the center of controversies, calling out fans, teammates, and coaches. Last Saturday night’s comments about defensive coordinator Greg Manusky proved to be the last straw for the Redskins, who simply had enough.

The Redskins released Swearinger on Monday. Since then, fans have expressed extremely high levels of displeasure towards the move, and its harsh timing on Christmas Eve. But the fact of the matter is, the team was left with few options.

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We seem to have this fantasy that NFL players should be held to a different standard in their job than the standard that we as people are held to. As a sports writer, can you imagine if I went on to Twitter and continually bashed my co-experts? Let’s just say I was to attack the way my editors wrote and conducted themselves. What if I called out my co-workers or readers?

You can bet that I would swiftly be removed from my position.

Not just because of what I said, but because if I was not removed, my co-experts would be sending a message to other writers that bashing one another publically is acceptable behavior.

(By the way, my co-experts are great people. Just so we are clear. Follow them on Twitter.)

At the end of the day, whether you agree with D.J. Swearinger’s comments or not, the Redskins have to show that turning on one another will not be tolerated. His inability to listen to authority was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It is what led to his ousting in Arizona, Tampa Bay, Houston, and now Washington D.C.

The idea that the Redskins are punishing D.J. Swearinger for “speaking his mind and being honest” is simply not an argument I buy.

Speaking your mind and being honest doesn’t give you a pass for doing it the wrong way. Even if you are correct, there is a more productive way of going about handling frustrations.

Players can speak their mind to one another. Players can speak their mind to coaches and staff to their faces. But going to the media to call your defensive coordinator out is unprofessional. It is as simple as that.

The timing of the move is what made a lot of fans angry. But the timing was done purposefully. It was Jay Gruden’s way of sending a clear message that disrespect of coaches will not be tolerated. Accountability is the only way that a team can work, and unlike the past, it is good to see the Redskins demand accountability from their players.

The front office is another story. Accountability doesn’t seem to be a practiced there.

The big story is the hole left at the safety position as Washington prepares for free agency and the 2019 offseason. A position that seemed to be a strength with the arrival of Ha Ha Clinton-Dix at this past trade deadline is now a complete disaster.

Who knows what it will take to fix. But add it to the shopping list of needs that the Redskins will take with them to the offseason.

Swearinger’s passion that he played with was infectious, and the attitude he brought to the burgundy and gold made him so easy to love. It is awful to see the relationship between the Redskins and himself end in such a bad way.

Next. Five defensive coordinators Washington should consider. dark

But a team is made of 53 men, not one, and only time will tell if the Redskins made the right move.

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