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View Full Version : WP: For Gibbs, Luster Is Off the Legend


RedskinsVision
01-02-2005, 01:52 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A41140-2005Jan1.html

the nerve of the guy at FedEx to call out Gibbs like that and hurt the feelings of a man that brought all the glory the Skins' fans have ever known. the Gibbs naysayers should keep to themselves and message boards. We LOVE you Coach and this turbulent year will be made up with a return to glory.

Gibbs views the 2004 season as merely a speed bump en route to what he hopes will be the franchise's -- and his -- fourth Super Bowl title. The parity-heavy NFL is known for teams catapulting from worst to first from one season to the next. Nonetheless, Gibbs, who signed an NFL-record five-year, $28.5 million contract last January, is aware that the euphoria spurred by his return 11 months ago has turned to sharp criticism amid the mounting losses.

On Monday, on Gibbs's weekly radio show on WTEM-980, the first caller accused the Redskins of a lackluster performance during the 13-10 loss to the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium the previous afternoon. The person, who identified himself as John, alluded to losses in both games against Washington's arch rival this season while harshly assessing Gibbs's first year back. "I hesitate to talk to you in these terms," the caller said to Gibbs, "but we have not made progress this year."

"I hear your point," Gibbs replied. "I would disagree from a standpoint of [being] outplayed or outhustled."

Such an exchange seemed improbable as recently as training camp, when newspapers, sports radio and television hailed Gibbs as a savior. Now headlines about the Redskins coach are more likely to have variations of "Ordinary Joe."

Signs of disenchantment were detectable by the middle of the season, when spectators at FedEx Field loudly booed Mark Brunell -- and indirectly the head coach who handpicked the 34-year-old quarterback as his first major player personnel move during the offseason and gave him an $8.6 million bonus.

When Gibbs trudged off the field toward the tunnel at FedEx Field after one loss late this season, a belligerent fan screamed: "Hey, Joe, go back to NASCAR!" The remark was loud and pointed enough to elicit notice and anger from a few Redskins assistants.

Although Gibbs admits being stung, albeit momentarily, by such remarks, the coach believes that he is ultimately in control over such hectoring. "Anybody can imagine what it feels like," Gibbs said at Redskins Park last week. "You have all those emotions: you get your feelings hurt and all that. But I have to put it in the right context: If you don't win football games, every single thing about you gets criticized."

bgforever
01-02-2005, 02:09 AM
I recently talked to a Colts die hard fan. The whole blue thing becomes him. Dabbles in fantasy football to understand league players better and matchups and all.

What he said, made my eyes water with joy and I literally choked up and let the tears fall.


"All we want is to just get to the Superbowl and God willing we'd win"

Won't forget how to get back there at all. But you have to admire the humbleness of a fan and his patience. Maybe we could learn from that.

BIGSEF3
01-02-2005, 11:35 AM
i dont think its so bad to boo gibbs if its ok to boo brunell. personally, i agree with the idea that you can talk crap about your team (the skins) and vent frustrations in forums like this or with your friends. but i am disgusted that anyone would publicly boo gibbs or tell him to go back to nascar. by the same token, i am equally disgusted with how many people booed brunell or chanted ramsey. if you are a fan of a team, you support them publically and let them know that no matter how bad they are, you WANT them to win. you vent your frustrations privately.

redskin_rich
01-02-2005, 11:52 AM
i dont think its so bad to boo gibbs if its ok to boo brunell. personally, i agree with the idea that you can talk crap about your team (the skins) and vent frustrations in forums like this or with your friends. but i am disgusted that anyone would publicly boo gibbs or tell him to go back to nascar. by the same token, i am equally disgusted with how many people booed brunell or chanted ramsey. if you are a fan of a team, you support them publically and let them know that no matter how bad they are, you WANT them to win. you vent your frustrations privately.
This forum isn't private.