Redskins still make fans smile, but only as a joke

In the past 30 years, the Washington Redskins have seen the best of times—three Super Bowl victories—and the worst of times, one playoff appearance between 1994 and 2004, including a 0-7 start in 1998 and a 0-5 start in 2001.

Never did the players or the fans lose hope. The fans were steadfast in their belief things would improve.

Now, the Redskins occupy dangerous ground. As they prepare to play in Atlanta on Sunday, the Redskins are 2-5.

The players are dazed, confused and questioning the front office and owner.

Redskins fans, some of the most loyal in the NFL, are filling cyberspace with jokes about the team. That is not a good sign.

What do you do in Washington in case of a tornado? Go to FedEx Field. They never have a touchdown there.

This comes two seasons after the Redskins were the best story in the NFL. They overcame the late-November death of starting safety Sean Taylor and won their final four games to make the playoffs.

The 2009 playoffs are all but beyond their reach. The team will be fortunate to suffer no more than 10 losses.

How do you keep the Redskins out of your front yard? Put up goal posts.

The team has to be rebuilt, from the coaching staff to the offensive line to the quarterback.

But if the same pattern is followed—big-name coach hired, then undermined by owner Dan Snyder—nothing will change.

What happens when you’re caught speeding in Washington? Instead of a citation, you’re given two tickets to Redskins games

Tuesday, Snyder said the team is embarrassed and has let everyone down, “including ourselves and we know that and we’re just apologetic.“

He’s going to have to do more than that to gain credibility with fans.

He has several options.

Snyder can sell the team, which would make many Redskins fans deliriously happy.

Even in this poor economy, the Redskins would be a hot property. The 90,000-seat stadium, with loyal fans on the waiting list for tickets, practically makes the team a gold mine.

The Redskins generate an estimated $90 million in operating revenue annually.

Snyder paid $800 million for the team and stadium in 1999. Now, the Redskins’ estimated value is almost twice that.

Should Snyder not want to part with such a valuable asset, he should re-hire Joe Gibbs.

Gibbs would not coach. He would direct football operations.

Gibbs already has nixed this notion.

But Gibbs is the only football man who can dissuade Snyder from some of his more damaging ideas.

And what Gibbs didn’t say was as interesting as what he did say. Gibbs said he was general manager of his racing teams, and that was plenty for him to handle.

He did not say he never would return to the Redskins in any capacity.

And if Snyder offers enough money, or part ownership of the team, Gibbs might reconsider.

NASCAR teams, after all, get more expensive each year. And Joe Gibbs Racing is in pursuit of the dominant Hendrick Motorsports cars.

Gibbs can prevent the Redskins from going over the cliff and becoming a laughingstock of the NFL.

Gibbs’ presence would limit the choices for the next head coach. Such men as Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan and Bill Cowher want no one between them and the owner.

That’s OK. Plenty of excellent coaches are available. They just need to be permitted to coach.

With a Redskins organizational chart that has Gibbs as a buffer between the coach, the front office and the owner, the team has a chance to be successful.

With the current Redskins’ setup, success will happen . . . never.