Jay Cutler NOT coming to D.C.

The fact that former Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler is NOT coming to Washington, D.C., to play for the Redskins is the news here. Sure, sure. He's going to the Chicago Bears for one of their lamentable quarterbacks and a couple of first rounders. But really, that's not the newsworthy angle to this story. Why? Because whenever there's a "name" on the market, the Skins are in the mix, and you can usually expect the idiotic tandem of owner Dan Snyder and general manager(?) Vinny Cerrato to get their guy. The one player who's going to return the organization to greatness. They've been doing this for more than a decade, and it's failed every year. It's produced a grand total of ONE playoff win. But hey, if it ain't broke, right?

There was a lot of debate about this entire ordeal, though. Was it a good move for the Redskins? Is Jason Campbell, their current quarterback, better or worse than Cutler? Of the quarterbacks, who would give Washington the best chance at winning a Super Bowl title? All legitimate questions, of course. And the back-and-forth, primarily on the Washington Post Redskins Insider blog, was contentious at times. (But I guess that's the price you pay for the anonymity of the Internet.)

Where did I stand on this whole thing? DO NOT trade for Cutler. DO NOT engage in discussions with the Broncos about getting Cutler. DO NOT pick up the phone. DO NOT send a fax. DO NOT fire off an e-mail. DO NOT communicate with the team at all. Stay away. Not because Cutler is a bad player (although he's not nearly as good as he thinks he is) and not because Campbell is the answer for the Redskins. But because the Redskins absolutely have to get away from doing business the way they've been doing it for 10+ years. The idea of the Skins trading for Cutler was (and still is) one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. Sadly, that's exactly why I thought the loser Snyder (I use the word loser not as a judgment of his character but as a judgment of the team's performance since he's become owner) would make it happen. My Skins fandom becomes shaken every time he gleefully pursues the big free agent or trade fodder. If this team were built properly and smartly, played hard and with great intensity, and still came up short at the end of a season, I could deal with that. But when it's pieced together by some Lilliputian fantasy football owner and then fails on the field (to Snyder's surprise), it's more difficult to deal with.

Still, there were some out there who said the Skins should pay two first-round picks (plus Campbell or plus cornerback Carlos Rodgers or even according to one report, plus safety LaRon Landry) for Cutler because he's the guy who will lead the Skins deep into the playoffs (even though Cutler hasn't made the playoffs yet in his career). Why? Because Campbell doesn't work in head coach Jim Zorn's West Coast Offense. Because Campbell holds onto the ball too long. Because Campbell can't come through in the clutch. Because Campbell throws behind his receivers, negating yards after catch, an obvious must in the WCO. Because Campbell stares down his primary receiver and then has trouble checking down. Are all of those legitimate arguments? To some extent, yes. But the bigger picture isn't about Campbell specifically, it's about what the team truly needs to fix to be successful. It's depth and young talent on the offensive line, production from wide receivers not named Santana Moss. It's depth on the defensive line. It's quality linebackers. And you know what? A quarterback, no matter who he is, won't fix all those problems. That's why you build through the draft and add a key free agent piece here and there.

But here are a couple of comments from users of the Redskins Insider blog that left my mouth agape. (I've removed the names to protect the idiots or the ignorant.)

I can't believe I'm reading all the posts saying boycott and blah blah blah...are you kidding me? What has JC done that makes him such a sacred cow, if you can get Cutler and Shanahan and have the stability of Shanahan as your coach for a long time and a 25 year old QB that can be your QB for a decade? give it to me plz. I'm tired of JC and I watched last season where we signed nobody and whiffed on 9 draft picks so I say trade the picks that you'd probably whiff on anyway for a franchise QB.

OK, but see the larger picture. It's really not specifically about Campbell. It's about how the Skins do business and how it hasn't worked in more than a decade. Sure, on paper, Cutler looks great (despite the fact he's a prima donna with an incredibly large ego). But former head coach Joe Gibbs looked good, too, as did former coach Marty Schottenheimer when he took over. But how did that turn out? Gibbs didn't get it done in four years, and Marty was given no chance to turn the team around. This is just Snyder again going for the big splash with no consideration for the ripple effect it leaves behind.

Shanahan hand picked Cutler. Shanahan is an offensive genius that can competently call a game from the sidelines. And has always built a dominant well-schooled Offensive line as a supreme judge of talent. Combine his HC skills and Cutler at QB with the NFL's 4th rated Defense.. and the Skins could be quite formidable next year. On the other hand, keep Campbell and Zorn, who the opposing Defensive Coordinators figured out in the last 8 games of last year (2-6 W-L).. you will have the same if not worst record next year..This is a no brainer if Snyder can pull it off.. If he does..09 would be something to look forward to...

(An aside: There was some talk that the Skins were going to go after former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan.) But this is exactly the kind of thinking under Snyder's tenure that's led to ONE playoff win. You absolutely CANNOT continue to change quarterbacks and coaches on a whim and expect success. Guess what? It's never instant in the NFL. Sometimes it takes two or three years. So patience is required. Take some time, and you'll see results. But when you go the other way and continue to have high turnover throughout the roster, you'll never become a Super Bowl caliber team. And when you continue to bring in free agents, you never establish an identity. There's no "Redskins Way" of doing things because free agents come in with their own set of beliefs and habits. But when you draft guys young and keep them around, you establish a culture. Then, when you bring in one or two key free agents, they fall in line. But when you continually shop, you ruin any chance of having an organizational identity. Snyder is a travesty, and he's the worst thing EVER to happen to the Redskins.

Furthermore, the one thing Vinny has done OK decently is draft. He's found some good depth guys. Not many superstars, but good depth folks. So I'd rather entrust him to make selections in the draft than on the free agent market. But why does getting Cutler make this team better? He's 17-20. Campbell is 16-20. Cutler plays in a MUCH weaker division. He hasn't been to the playoffs. And why would Cutler play well in an offense that can't block pass rushers and can't generate any kind of passing game anyway because the receivers are small and unable (aside from Moss) to get open? Not sure how this is an improvement in any way. It's a lateral move, really, and the Skins would have given up a ton to make no forward progress. (I guess the whole thing could be an analogy for their putrid offense.)

As I said and you quoted, JASON CAMPBELL CAN BE A QB ON A SUPERBOWL WINNING TEAM. But if you're gonna count on him to win it like a Tom Brady or a Peyton Manning, well, **** in one hand and wish in the other cause it ain't happening.

Cutler isn't going to do that, either. But if you keep your draft picks, fill in the glaring holes and let Campbell manage the game (a la, Trent Dilfer), maybe he does become a Super Bowl winning QB. But if you trade away picks and other players to get Cutler, then you have absolutely ZERO CHANCE of winning.

So those are my two (long) cents about this whole thing. Here's a good joke I read on the blog today, and it's a good parting shot.

Q: Who's Dan Snyder's favorite coach and quarterback?

A: The next one.