Master Performance by Front Office

[HanburgerBum]

Am I the only one who thinks the Skins FO deserves an Oscar nomination for "Best Deception" for its performance leading up to the draft? Within weeks of Apr 24, the FO led us to believe that it was a very close call among Sean Taylor, KWII, trading down, trading up. Then, within days of the draft, stories based upon a "reliable source" surfaced with the Skins going for KWII because HBack is a critical position in the Joe Gibbs offense. I am a Taylor man, and the Skins had me going crazy. By draft morning, I was so depressed I thought about not watching.

It seems evident now that Taylor was all along the Skins' target. As evidence, Coach Joe said in a post-draft interview that he was very worried that Taylor would be picked by some other team in the No. 4 spot. If he were truly torn between Taylor and KWII, why worry? If one is gone, just take the other. As further evidence, the Skins signed HBack Kozlowski, but passed on free agent safety Deion Grant before the draft.

The "reliable source" was apparently planting misinformation to make other teams interested in Taylor to think he would still be available at the No. 6 spot and thus not try to move up to the No. 4 spot to get him. I now think that if Taylor had been picked at No. 4, the Skins would have passed on KWII and traded down for defensive help. A HBack, even a very talented one, is a luxury the Skins can't afford, given their projected good offense/questionable defense situation. Great job, FO.

[tommahawk]

Iv'e got to say If the Redskins intentionally decieved the rest of the NFL by making them think we would draft kw2 so we could get Taylor. My hats off to you thats good thinking.

[PennSkinsFan]

I too believe that Gibbs and staff knew all along who they were going to take. I think if by chance, Taylor would have been snagged in the top four, we would not and have never planned on trading down, and at that point, they would have taken Winslow. I think the whole trading down bit, which I was a proponent of, was a screen as well, and the intention was never there. I think it shows a stark contrast from Gibbs to Spurrier. I think all along the intention was if Williams truly wanted Taylor, it would be Williams pick. I don't think Spurrier would have seen it that way, he would have gone offense aagin. In essence, just liek Gibbs stated, he allowed himself the opportunity to be convinced by Williams that Taylor was the choice, that Taylor was the neeed, and that Taylor was indeed, the very best option. Spurrier I don'tthink was capable of that.

[LadyNRedskinsfan]

remember, sean taylor was about 4 minutes away from being a Cleveland Brown until the giants took a call from SD.

[PA Skins Girl]

I agree with HanburgerBun. If Taylor was not there, they would have passed on KWII. The reason? They had a deal worked out with NO the night before (or earlier) to trade next year's second rounder for NO's 3rd rounder this year so that we could take Cooley.

I'm not sure when they made up their mind, but on draft day, I think they were resolved to take Cooley over KWII.

[GolfFreak]

Never thought about it, but I like the comments and it does show how much Gibbs is different than Steve. I really think the Gints screwed up the drafted by not trading down with Cleveland and then doing the QB swap at #5. Not only would they have still got their man, but all of us Taylor fans would be pissed off.

[Brokenstriker]

don't ya LOVE it! (I do)

[CarMike]

remember, sean taylor was about 4 minutes away from being a Cleveland Brown until the giants took a call from SD.

I agree with both, HB and Lady.

I am so thankful that Eli didn't want to go to the Chargers. Just think...if Eli would have played in SD the Giants would not have took Rivers. So the they would have probably traded with the Browns to move down for extra picks. [since the Raiders took the OL...who is currently not registering with my brain]

I can't see the Giants staying there at the #4 position since they have a lot of holes to fill.

HB....I think you're all over it! The FO had a lot of us worried that we'd take winslow. It wouldn't surprise me if Gibbs did tell him that he'd be our choice. Thats even more evidence that they knew what they were doing....

[RoanokeSkin]

I dont care if we decieved anybody or not, I am just glad we took Taylor. I hate KW2. There are 300 adjectives that I could use to describe that hatred, but I'm just gonna stop there.

[PainterBoy]

HB....I think you're all over it! The FO had a lot of us worried that we'd take winslow. It wouldn't surprise me if Gibbs did tell him that he'd be our choice. Thats even more evidence that they knew what they were doing....

Nah! Then you would be calling Gibbs a liar - and I don't think he would lead someone wrong by stating a bold face lie right to a man's face. He has more credibility than that - IMO.

Now I think he may have hinted to Winslow that they were very impressed and COULD take him but I don't think there were any promises made.

[CarMike]

Nah! Then you would be calling Gibbs a liar - and I don't think he would lead someone wrong by stating a bold face lie right to a man's face. He has more credibility than that - IMO.

Now I think he may have hinted to Winslow that they were very impressed and COULD take him but I don't think there were any promises made.

yeah, PainterBoy I thought about that too.....

But what better way to get the impression out than that? lol

OMT, I don't think Gibbs is as a "Goody Goody" as we think. I can't think of any right now but I read where others have come up with instances where Gibbs has been "cut throat"....

[RedskinsVision]

Master post and Master performance indeed. Winslow and Taylor's personalities are as different as night and day. which of these guys are more like Gibbs' type? the outlandish, outspoken, immature one or the humble, soft-spoken, mature one? even putting aside the greater need.. the greater character won out.. and we all know character is #1 on Gibbs' wish list.

[bigcmr]

remember, sean taylor was about 4 minutes away from being a Cleveland Brown until the giants took a call from SD.
Are you sure Cleveland wanted Taylor? I thought they were trying to get at #4 because the thought we wanted KW11? But its a good thing NYG didn't make there trade with S.D. before the draft. Because SD would make the trade with Cleveland fast. But oh well I am gald we got Taylor. I did not want Kw11 at all.

[HanburgerBum]

BIGCMR, we can probably never be sure whether Cleveland was targetting KWII or Taylor. I myself think that the defense-challenged Browns actually wanted Taylor, but settled for KWII. However, if Butch Davis really preferred KWII, it would confirm my suspicion that he has become a clown. He has done absolutely nothing in Cleveland except to run Carmen Policy and Ron Wolf (two respected football men) out of town. Now, he gives up a fairly high 2nd rounder just to move up one slot to draft a headache like KWII, who is got "Terrel Owens" written all over him. A team like Cleveland with so many needs can not be making a move like this.