Submitted for your approval: a once-great NFC team now running into the ground. A ravenous fanbase that is slowly fleeting to other teams. Sounds crazy, it does, however, this is the reality for Redskins fans. There are several crazy theories that can be formed about this team. Theories affectionately called the Tinfoil Hat Theories: Redskins Edition.
Egotistical Insulation
In this age, information has never been easier to obtain. Within seconds of anything happening, the world can know about it. At one point, Steph Curry could not sneeze without 10k retweets. With that being said why does the Redskins front office not know what the national perception of this team is? Currently ranked 31st out of 32 teams with a toxic culture and numerous holes to fill, the team president continues to stick to his mantra. The mantra stating “We are close.” Also, both the owner and president believe the culture is “damn good.” Dan Snyder has been known for wanting things done his way and only his way. Perhaps that explains why Allen has stayed for 10 years with more power after each failing year. Perhaps this is why they continue to do the same thing year after year. Or perhaps, they don’t care?
Drafting Disaster
The word tanking is taboo in all of sports. No team will ever admit to tanking. All players want to win, owners shell out too much money, and fan perception is important (or is it?). As it stands, there is a three-way tie in terms of record between the Giants, Redskins, and Dolphins. Because the Giants have the softer schedule, they are second in the draft, followed by the Dolphins and Redskins. As fate would have it, the NFC rivals play each other this Sunday for essentially last and third in the division. The top 2 spots can be pivotal in so many ways. A team can get a generational talent, or trade back and get a boatload of picks.
With the third spot you can do the same, but instead of a boat, it would be a carload. With each spot, the compensation gets less and less. Would the Giants go so far as to actively lose this game in the ultimate chess move? Not only would they retain the second overall pick, but the Redskins would win improving to 4-11. Allen has gone 4-12 twice already so the leverage would be on Allen’s side for him staying. The longer Allen stays, the better for the NFC East because they (as well as the league) knows that no team can succeed with him running the show.
Normal Norman
“I’ve been Hollywood… “ Norman once said in an interview. Perhaps the secret to Norman being a top quarterback is drama. Remember back in 2015, Norman was at the top of his game and even recorded 4 interceptions and 2 touchdowns. At the time Norman was also in a feud with one Odell Beckham Jr. During the first year in Washington, they squashed the beef. Enter this version of Josh Norman. Seemingly slow, lost, and uninterested. Granted some of the plays he has given up were not all on him, however, it is enough over years. Norman is now just a normal corner.
Dan vs The Fans
Dan Snyder has owned the team for 20 or so years now. National criticism has not changed over the time of his rule. This season has been a disaster. It hurts particularly more because of the potential that was talked about during the offseason. Now fans are revolting, so much so that they are chanting “Sell the team,” during games.
For a decade, he has retained an incompetent team president and constantly promotes and gives more power to him. Surely Snyder knows the disgruntlement of the fans. Surely Snyder knows his team has had the top 3 worst seasons in franchise history in the last decade. Surely he must know that his team is going nowhere fast. So why? Perhaps the reluctance or downright refusal to do anything is Snyder’s way of sticking it to the fans. Maybe, this is his way of saying “This is my team and I will do what I want.” Perhaps it is truly a case of Dan vs. The Fans.
Of course, these are all just theories. Who is to say what is true or not besides the parties involved? But remember, what is a theory but a hypothesis. Hypotheses are questions based on observations.
