Redskins’ Gibbs racing against a conflict of interest

By Joe Versage  |   Thursday, August 23, 2007  |  Comments( 1 )

Washington Redskins
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His Washington Redskins are just a couple of weeks away from their regular-season opener. He has two years remaining on his contract and has given every indication that he will fulfill that obligation. So why are rumors beginning to swirl about the future of head coach Joe Gibbs?

Last year's 5-11 record and a sputtering offense may have something to do with them. They could be circulating because of an inexperienced quarterback or an overrated defense that was ranked 31st out of 32 teams in 2006. If not, maybe the rumors are being caused by Gibbs' extended family, the one that captured his attention while he was busy conducting training camp at Redskins Park.

Believe it or not, Gibbs does have a life outside of football (a successful one at that).

Since becoming a NASCAR team owner in 1991, his drivers have won three Nextel Cup championships. And on Aug. 14, the man behind it all was back in the spotlight.

It was a big day for Joe Gibbs Racing and the coach took time to praise the signing of talented young driver Kyle Busch. His remarks were brief, but the location for them seemed odd, especially for a coach who does not like interruptions.

Throughout his NFL career, Gibbs has been known for his tireless dedication to the Redskins. But there he was, front and center, talking about auto racing on a football field. For the throngs of journalists covering NASCAR, the comments were candid ones, but for football reporters with deadlines, they served as distractions.

So what should the Redskins and their fans make of all this? They could shrug it off as a one-time occurrence that will not interfere with the team's preparation. Or they may simply forgive Gibbs for being caught up in the moment. But the coach is not fooling everyone, at least not anymore.

His commitment to his race team has become as important to him as his commitment to the Redskins and he appears unwilling to sacrifice one for the other. Unfortunately for Gibbs, the juggling act may need to come to an end.

As coach of the Redskins, Gibbs will always be respected, and deservedly so. His first tenure in the 1980s and early '90s was highlighted by three Super Bowl titles and his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But as he enters the critical stage of his second tour, the 66-year-old continues to endure criticism by those who claim that he is out of touch with the current league.

In the meantime, Gibbs is responsible for overseeing one of the best and most controversial teams in NASCAR. In recent years, he has made an effort to minimize his duties by assigning more responsibility to his son. But J.D. Gibbs can only do so much as the team's president. At the end of the day, Joe Gibbs has the final say.

Take, for example, a recent incident between two of his drivers. Tony Stewart has won two of Gibbs' titles, but his accomplishments are often overshadowed by his famous temper. After colliding with teammate Denny Hamlin at the Pepsi 400, Stewart mercilessly chewed him out. That happened within a week of Redskins training camp, and Gibbs postponed a vacation to clear the air.

According to ESPN.com, the coach was not in a pleasant mood when he addressed the situation. Gibbs said, "I'm going to make sure we're all in on the same page and then I'm going to enjoy my vacation. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to enjoy it."

If anything, the incident showed a lack of leadership at Joe Gibbs Racing. As the person in charge of day-to-day management, J.D. should have resolved the matter. And if the conflict disrupted family plans for the coach, will another one disrupt his duties with the Redskins?

Eventually, Gibbs will be free from his dual responsibilities, but that could come sooner than later. If the Redskins fail to make the playoffs in 2007, he may not see the last season of his five-year contract. And privately, he may be preparing for it.

Gibbs has to know his chances are not very good. Washington has potential, but it needs time to progress, and Gibbs is running out of it. The Skins also have a number of capable assistants on board that could replace him, including former Buffalo Bills head coach Gregg Williams.

And if Gibbs thinks that he has seen the worst of his race team's antics, wait until Busch jumps on board in 2008. In the past, Stewart has criticized the 22-year-old for his immaturity behind the wheel.

"Kyle's the one guy that's probably going to hurt somebody out there,'' said Stewart, after Busch nearly ran him off the track in Las Vegas last year. "He's what we like to call a bird with no feathers."

The last thing Gibbs wants is upheaval in a family business that he built from scratch 16 years ago. Without football, he will have more time to assure that does not happen. And if he is not roaming the sidelines of a gridiron, he will have the chance to lead more celebrations in victory lane.

Get original Washington Redskins coverage at RealFootball365.com
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About Joe Versage

As a native of upstate New York and a life-long fan of the Buffalo Bills, I have witnessed some of the greatest highs and greatest lows an NFL team can endure. But despite a gut-wrenching 4 consecutive Super Bowl defeats, I never lost faith in the Bills and was fortunate to cover them for 3 years...
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