Redskins: What does it truly take to change a culture?

3 of 4

LANDOVER, MD – DECEMBER 7: Former head coach Joe Gibbs of the Washington Redskins looks on before a game between the Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys at FedExField on December 7, 2015 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

The roots of culture change

I have heard it referred to as an organization doing their homework to bring upstanding citizens, professional role models, and family men into their locker room, and having football people run the football operations.

The truth is, when Gibbs was a coach in his first stint, his and the whole organization’s reputation was staked on bringing in hardworking professionals. Leaders. Gibbs had the whole born again, professional, upstanding family man locker room persona.

For example, here is part of the Wikipedia description on Redskins vital defensive tackle to the 1992 championship team, Tim Johnson:

“In 1992, Johnson joined with former Redskins teammates Art Monk, Charles Mann, and Earnest Byner to found The Good Samaritan Foundation, a philanthropic organization sponsoring various community events in Washington, D.C. inner-city, community centers and homeless shelters.

Johnson epitomizes those Gibbs teams.

Of course, Cooke rarely did the football side; that was Gibbs and Bobby Beathard.

I once heard a story from an alumnus about how the Redskins, in the early ’90s, shared a bus touring with the Dallas Cowboys during the offseason in Texas, playing charity basketball. As the story went, the Cowboys were in the fast lane: Playing cards while staying up all night. The Redskins were polar opposites, more like family, working professionals. More reserved.

You would have to ask a Cowboys or a Redskins alumnus for the accuracy of this story. Were you on those bus trips, Darrell Green? Or Michael Irvin? The relevancy of this story does not matter, except to showcase the culture of the Redskins around Gibbs and Cooke.

“It’s a heck of a task”, writes the Washington Post’s Mike Wise in 2014. ”Not the fixing the roster part. But actually, changing a culture, not just saying a culture is changed.”

So, once again, another rebuild is focused around culture change, and getting to the point. As a die-hard, I lived these teams and have been living the term “culture change” for years. It has morphed into dysfunction. I have heard about these culture changes from rebuild to rebuild. And us fans are sickened.

Seeing the wool? Not yet? Well, maybe they’ve finally changed! Maybe it has been a decade’s worth of hard work in Ashburn! Maybe they know what type of athlete, and what type of character, to bring in.

Why would the Redskins bring in a troubled player — let’s say a Reuben Foster? Allen’s decision? “Changing of the culture”? Maybe they know he would be influenced more than vice versa.

More from Riggo's Rag

Some will argue that there are rotten tomatoes not worth reforming. I believe that anyone can be reformed if given the right environment. I do not call a troubled man anything but that.

The Redskins, from the top to the bottom of their organization, have been doing a lot of good this past decade while they have had this so-called dysfunction moniker. The record on the field stinks. But what about off the field?

If you have been looking for it (The good) as I have been, you may have seen it fly right under the radar of Washington media and fans. Under the cover of night.

Just like John Wall and Bradley Beal have recently won NBA Community Service Man of the Year Awards in separate years nonetheless, the Washington Redskins this decade, through the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation, have been leading the NFL in causes: From Dan Snyder’s own wife’s Breast Cancer Awareness, to doing small everyday events such as Turkey giveaways, playground builds, backpack and school supplies giveaways, et cetera.

For this decade-plus, fans have seen Redskinettes at community events, players participating with kids, and smiles galore! Isn’t that culture change?

The majority of Redskins, I argue, keep out of the headlines. Those who stay in them are the likes of the quarterbacks, the coach, the owner, Allen, and Cerrato. Does anyone really know the personalities of many inside the locker room?

How many interviews did Vernon Davis do on his Foundation? Any updates on Snyder’s Washington Redskins Original American foundation? Alfred Morris — incredibly diligent while here — then onto to Dallas? Ryan Kerrigan has Kerrigan Korner. Ask Kerrigan if he is more concerned with bringing a smile to a children’s hospital patient than… heck, I think I have heard him speak once on his foundation. What’s the name of his foundation, anyhow? Blitz for Better.

We had the best punting season, like, ever this season. Was that football or Australian-rules football Tress Way was playing? His snapper the past three years: Nick Sundberg. And his foundation? Loads of Love.

Getting the point: Ever heard of flying below the radar, Snyder? Pulling a Steinbrenner?

I mean, I was like “wow, how cool Snyder.” The Redskins, with a legacy going back to their first head coach and helmet, starting this Native American foundation. “How great,” if we can change the name, “awesome for minority rights.”

I had spent a summer in Alaska with non-reservation Native Americans, and they were like family. I was so happy to hear this; even in 1998, I worried about my jersey in their circles and was aware of my love for a team with a racist name. They accepted me.’

Well, the Original Americans Foundation was so vilified by this town’s press that Snyder’s “please so I can win the trademark case” foundation is still laughed at. Happy Thanksgiving? Did Snyder add pilgrims? I thought I might have heard pilgrims.

Nowadays, I have seen mysterious posts of alumni head hog George Starke, who has Mohawk ancestry, volunteering with Native Americans. But I cannot seem to divulge anything about the Foundation formed by Snyder, except that it has been around now half a decade. Half a decade of good works?

I interviewed Vernon Davis at training camp in 2017 on if he was involved in the community he came back to as reports were indicating. In that interview, he indicated a coming foundation. Davis, who just retired from the Redskins, soon launched that foundation: The Vernon Davis Foundation. He’s just helping foster kids. Let me repeat that: Foster kids. Way to go, Daddy Warbucks!

The Alumni’s Association is much closer. Heck, the alumni seem to have resurrected Dexter Manley’s livelihood, embracing this once-troubled man.

These are things we have been doing this past decade. I would love to see you, the reader, add your story of players, the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation, the Original American Foundation, or just positive stories of players’ kindness.

I believe we have a strong culture here in Washington. I believe at every position, including quarterback, the players are committed to service. You would have to ask WRCF to confirm who has been where recently.

Home/Commanders News