Lord Stan The Man

Update: The Redskins have demoted Donovan McNabb to third-string quarterback for Sunday's game against the Cowboys, behind Rex Grossman and John Beck. You just can't make this stuff up.

There are a lot of bad teams in the National Football League. Some really bad. The road back to contention is going to be long for franchises like Carolina and Denver, and a host of others -- Detroit, Cleveland, Arizona and Buffalo, to name a few -- seem held back by history.

But there’s a difference between “bad” and “dysfunctional.” Cleveland might be classified as “bad,” but the Browns aren’t dysfunctional -- at least not anymore.

Even the Raiders have dropped the “dys” to become somewhat functional. They compete in big games and have a nice list of victories this season, but most importantly the silver and black have a plan for the future. For once, management isn’t operating the team like a kid playing franchise mode in Madden.

There is, however, one team that is particularly horrendous in this regard. They have talent. A coach. Even a quarterback for once. Yet the Washington Redskins are the league’s most dysfunctional team.

History lesson: The 'Skins weren’t always this bad. Quite the contrary. The team has won three Super Bowls, been to five. They’ve had great players over the years, too: Sammy Baugh, Sonny Jurgensen, John Riggins, Art Monk, Darrell Green to name a few.

Today, the team is an absolute abomination to the league and Washington sports (though Washington sports is admittedly an abomination in itself). The Redskins have a proud tradition, but today the franchise is one of the biggest jokes in professional sports.

Everyone knows Dan Snyder is a moron that tries to construct a fantasy team every off-season, with no regard to team chemistry or a team foundation. But this past off-season, Redskins Park finally seemed to become a bit saner. The team brought in well-respected Bruce Allen to be the GM, and hired two-time Super Bowl champion Mike Shanahan to be the coach.

Now the Redskins finally had someone that knew what he was doing. Finally, an era of sanity in the nation’s capital pretty much for the first time in the Dan Snyder Era.

Wait, that’s not what happened. Not at all. I don’t know how many people expected the 'Skins to make the playoffs this year -- probably not too many in that tough division. But I don’t think anyone expected the season to go quite like this.

The Albert Haynesworth saga hanging around for this long? A bit surprising, but understandable considering the plight of the Redskins. But Donovan McNabb’s horrendous play? More interceptions than touchdowns through 13 games? Shanahan benching McNabb in favor of Rex Grossman down late in the game by six against the Lions? A defense loaded with talent giving up huge yards and points?

To quote the man whose name is on the trophy Dan Snyder will never hoist: “What the hell is going on out here?”

Mike Shanahan was supposed to bring sanity to Washington. Instead? Washington has brought insanity to Shanahan. Sure, the Redskins are missing a few key pieces, like receivers and offensive linemen. But I don’t think 'Skins fans consider Shanahan to be the godsend that he originally was.

Washington has a ton of talent. Brian Orakpo, LaRon Landry and London Fletcher are among the best in the league. Donovan McNabb is still a pretty good quarterback too, so that can’t be the excuse anymore.

Typical Redskins loss on Sunday: Washington lost the game by one point. Botched an extra point attempt with seconds remaining on the clock, and missed two chip shot field goals during the game. Anyone surprised?

Fitting that the league’s most dysfunctional franchise resides in the city of the government so many associate with dysfunction.


You can e-mail Stanley at lordstantheman@gmail.com with any comments or questions. Stanley writes a Detroit Lions blog for NFL.com's Blog Blitz powered by SportsFanLive.com.