Three biggest questions still to answer after the Redskins firing of Jay Gruden

1. How long is Bruce Allen’s leash?

It seems that Jay Gruden is being scapegoated for the troubles of the Redskins. While Gruden was certainly responsible for some of the team’s struggles, he is far from the only issue.

The problems in Washington come from the top down. This is not a secret. Dan Snyder is a meddling owner. Bruce Allen is his yes-man and seems immune to the disastrous results of his decade in the front office. They constantly make it difficult for the Redskins to build a winning culture as their organization is viewed by a circus from all on the outside.

But maybe if the Redskins continue to struggle, Snyder will finally see the error of Allen’s ways. Maybe he will finally see clearly enough to understand that Allen is not the answer for the front office in terms of personnel or management. Simply put, the front office needs a change of pace. And that would require getting rid of Allen.

That said, relying on Snyder to have that revelation seems hopeless. Allen has survived numerous coaching staffs during his time in Washington. He was briefly removed from power during the Scot McCloughan days, but he was ultimately able to maneuver his way back into the personnel department.

And now, it seems that Gruden is taking the fall for an organization-wide failure. And Allen is apparently dodging that criticism internally.

Redskins fans can hope and wonder if Allen will be eventually ousted. But the bigger question right now is, just how long might his leash be? If he isn’t on the hot seat now, it’s fair to wonder if anything will be enough to get the team to move in a different direction.

Buckle up Redskins fans. As long as Allen is in charge, it’s going to be a bumpy ride.