While this season's record and once realistic playoff hopes is quickly spiraling downhill with one devastating injury after another, the best news for Redskins fans from this season is the best case, dream scenario: the new stadium being built on the RFK lot. And the timing of this hopeful stadium news that broke over the weekend would seemingly be perfect, then enabling Snyder to part ways with Bruce Allen, who's organizational value in negotiating a stadium deal is probably his biggest asset and why he’s actually still here. And let me say that while I think Allen needs to go, please conduct it with class and appreciation. Take the high road, which is something this organization rarely does well. While it's indisputable that Allen has made many horrible personnel decisions along the way, I’ll make note to say he has actually done some good things as well. I like how he has made efforts to bring back many Redskins legends and keep them connected to the organization, via the "homecoming" game events. I also think Bruce has a level of respect around the league (that Vinny Cerrato never had!) and has overseen some savvy contract negotiations, while mostly keeping the team in good cap positions over the years. Then again, perhaps Eric Schaffer is the bigger factor in the cap stability. But while there have been some good cap-friendly contracts and shrewd negotiations over the years, perhaps the most important one that would impact the franchise for years to come? The "Kurt" Cousins debacle. I remain adamant in my position, that the Redskins needed to keep Cousins, and I believe, made a huge mistake in letting him go. Whether Bruce or perhaps GM Scot McCloughan at the time was indeed most influential for not giving Kirk what he proposed after the 2015 season, Bruce is still most responsible. And while not paying Cousins after 2015 remains a huge mistake that I think will have ripple effects for years, even more catastrophic and gut-wrenching is when I wonder if there could have been a way to figure out how to ensure that Sean McVay didn’t leave the building. A young, rapidly rising- possibly elite head coach. A guy who we had in our organization for 7 years. If only HE could be our head coach of the future- perhaps with Kirk Cousins as his QB. I digress. It’s too painful to ponder.
Yes, the negatives far outweigh the positives, and Allen’s tenure as team President absolutely cannot continue. What is the solution? While I would love for Snyder to somehow be able to identify and land a top-proven (or perhaps young up-and-coming) guy to be new President, who would then bring in a good GM and build from the top down, here is what I think is the most realistic, and perhaps most reasonable solution in the moment: Elevate Doug Williams to President, and Kyle Smith to GM, who oversees all the roster decisions. Perhaps Eric Schaffer as VP, or at least some front-office role higher than currently. Promote guys- good guys, from within. And then what about Jay Gruden? While I have long thought that Jay is an average coach and nothing special, he has amazingly- and unfortunately- had relative "success" (compared to Snyder era norm here!) with a cumulative .500 record since '15. It's a real tough conundrum to evaluate, in particular when the team has been ravaged by key injuries, which I believe is the biggest reason the wheels have fallen off this season. But on the flip side, Gruden has a big hand in why the game performance- against a putrid Giants team without OBJ- was so abysmal. I would hope that even an injured team would play inspired, high-energy football if they were well-coached, vs. that catastrophic performance. Still, the realistic solution may actually be giving Gruden another year (unless an obviously better HC scenario presents itself) to see what he may do with a- hopefully, more healthy roster. Another reason I think it's not only most realistic, but perhaps also most necessary Gruden stays: the QB situation! With reports now that Alex Smith's 2019 season (and perhaps career) is likely in jeopardy, that leaves us with Colt McCoy as the most viable QB option in 2019. Because the Redskins are on the hook for Smith's contract, they obviously can't afford to go out and sign a decent QB on the FA market. So while perhaps a new President and GM hires a new head coach, and then drafts a QB (perhaps a Will Grier?) high in the draft who starts from scratch, the most likely scenario is rolling with the most viable option in house, Colt McCoy. Think about this: how would it seem possible that McCoy could stay and be QB in '19- if not for his biggest supporter, HC Gruden being here as well. I gotta think that Gruden and McCoy are linked together. I don’t think there is any way you can roll with McCoy as QB without Jay Gruden. Yes, I think Gruden probably stays- perhaps out of necessity, and injury excuse asterisk.
But Bruce Allen absolutely needs to be out. Here's hoping Snyder makes the right key decisions, and that the best possible news from this now catastrophic season brings the fans fresh hope of the dream scenario: a new stadium on the RFK grounds.