Overspending proved fatal for Washington

By Connor Byrne  |   Thursday, January 11, 2007  |  Comments( 9 )

Washington Redskins
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Much was made of the Washington Redskins' free-spending ways last offseason. During the NFL's free agency period, Dan Snyder's boys brought in well-known names like Brandon Lloyd, Antwaan Randle El, Andre Carter and Adam Archuleta. They were all signed to big-money deals to help put a team that had gone 10-6 during the 2005 regular season and advanced to the second round of the NFC playoffs over the top.

Unfortunately for Washington, nothing ever seems to work out as it's supposed to. All four of the above names, to various degrees, failed. The Redskins, bogged down by injuries and poor play from their supposed stars, regressed by five games in the standings, finishing 5-11, which was good enough for last place in a competitively mediocre NFC East.

Of the team's four notable signings last offseason, the versatile Randle El was the one who stood out the most. He was an instrumental part of the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl-winning season of '05-'06, averaging 15.9 yards per reception during the year and heaving a game-clinching touchdown pass in the team's victory over the Seattle Seahawks on the grandest of stages in Detroit, Mich.

As a member of the Skins, however, Randle El's magic wore off this past season. Frankly, he was probably overrated as a receiver in the first place. The 27-year-old, who signed a $31 million deal over seven years, ended with career lows in catches (32) and yards (351). The former college quarterback was no gem as a punt returner, either, as he averaged a decent 8.8 yards per attempt on 39 tries.

Randle El wasn't the only culprit, though. Brandon Lloyd was even worse. The former up-and-comer with the San Francisco 49ers contributed a weak 23 catches and zero touchdowns. Serving as some consolation was his terrific 15.9 yards per catch, but that's not enough to satisfy the Redskins disappointed organization or its fans.

Defensively, Archuleta was the team's keynote pickup. Many billed Archuleta -- who was given at the time the richest deal for a safety in league history to sign with the Skins -- as someone who wouldn't pan out. Those skeptics were 100 percent correct. Archuleta neither covered nor tackled well from the strong safety position. The pass-rushing specialist finished with just one quarterback takedown and no interceptions.

Archuleta, a 6-foot, 225-pounder, didn't even start for Washington in its last nine games. Instead, head coach Joe Gibbs and defensive guru Gregg Williams decided to hand the reins to veteran Troy Vincent, a past-his-prime player who was jettisoned by the Buffalo Bills in favor of rookie fourth-round pick Ko Simpson.

Finally, there was Andre Carter. Like Lloyd, he was an ex-49er who came to D.C. as a promising newcomer who was stuck in San Francisco, a place that had recently become pro football purgatory. The 6-4, 265-pound defensive end wasn't terrible for Washington; he certainly wasn't great, though. At least Carter didn't follow the route of Archuleta and lose his starting job.

In 16 starts on the Redskins' highly disappointing defense, Carter racked up a solid 56 tackles and a decent six sacks. Perhaps that's what Washington should have expected. Aside from the 2002 season, when Carter, a six-year, $30 million-plus man, accrued a career-high 12½ sacks, he's hung around the six mark throughout his six-year career. (Six seems somewhat of a theme with Carter, doesn't it?)

When the Redskins hit the free-agent market this upcoming March, they should look back on last year as a time in which lessons were learned. As the team has repeatedly found out since Snyder took the helm in the late '90s, spending colossal amounts of money on various players may not necessarily be the way to go.

Rather, Washington should build through the draft - something it hasn't done in a number of years. It's long overdue, however, and the way great teams are constructed.

Don't believe that? Ask New England and San Diego -- arguably the two best teams in the current NFL -- both of which should give their respective front offices and scouting staffs major pats on the back for sheer brilliance in the league's annual draft.

cbyrne@realfootball365.com.

Get more on the Washington Redskins at RealFootball365.com.
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