http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/...tory?id=4619992

Basically says the team has let everyone down, and that he's apologetic.

He needs to say more than that to get the fans back on his side. And actions speak louder than words--do something about it!

I would appreciate more of an explanation, but I expect nothing more from that D-Bag.

chrisp1055 wrote:

I would appreciate more of an explanation, but I expect nothing more from that D-Bag.

It should be noted that reporters cornered him while he was at a charity event, and he was kind enough to answer questions.

Oh man.  Please don't let the Cowboys be good this year and delude Snyder into thinking he can still do it himself.

I think that although Dan is the greatest culprit, it's fair to say - as he did - that they all (or 'we') let the fans down as well as themselves.

This is the first step, potentially, in Danny's recovery program. Recognizing that transgressions have been made, and that 'he' is a part of the 'we' that committed them.

To his credit, he is not publicly saying we're done this year - even though we all know they are done.

For him to say something like 'we've let you down' and 'trust me, we're going to get it fixed this year and beyond' then the questions about next season would start.

Consider Snyder's 'we let everyone down' versus Cerrato's claim that he gave Zorn a playoff caliber roster and the other nonsense he spewed recently.

I don't think it's a coincidence we haven't heard from Vinnie since and that Danny made Donovan the COO - and obviously the team spokesperson going forward.

Not that Donovan is anything more than that clown spokesperson Hussein had in front of the media telling everyone that the Iraqis were slaughtering the onrushing infidel coalition troops.

The point is Snyder apologized and Cerrato did not.

For the first time, I'm beginning to see that Danny is only now realizing just how badly he has screwed the pooch. And I have to say I'm more confident than ever that Cerrato is going to be canned.

In the words of the Munchkins, 'Ding Dong the Witch is Dead!'

FunBunny wrote: If Danny would have said 'I have let everyone down' then I might have reason for hope. It would have been even better if he would have thrown in an 'I'm going to change my ways'.

"It really hurts," Snyder said. "We are really trying very, very hard, everyone at Redskins Park, the coaches, the players. The organization's quite frankly held together well, and I think we've got an opportunity the rest of the season to hopefully get it going. But to date we've let everyone down, including ourselves, and we know that and we're just apologetic. We've blown some games that obviously we think we should have won."

This is a start in the right direction. I would have expected some sort of input from the owner himself and he's put a foot on the path.

Next is a step.

No Danny boy, it's not just the Redskins that let everyone down, you Danny boy have let everyone down.  This is all your fault.  You are the cause of this.  Lets get that straight.  It all starts and ends with you.  Take some responsibility for your actions.

Also talk is cheap.  If you really are embarrassed all I have to say is what are you going to do about it?  Merely firing Zorn and his staff and wasting a few more millions and draft picks on marginal players isn't going to cut it and quite frankly is unacceptable.  Retaining Vinny the clown or hiring a replacement equal to him is unacceptable.  Your continual meddling and undermining is unacceptable.  The only solutions that are acceptable is either you sell the team or hire a real GM, let him make the decisions and you stay out of the way, sign the checks and STFU.

Vinny is not a real GM.  Can him already. 

Not defending Daniel Snyder, but I can't see much benefit to him in addressing the media.   Whatever he says, we're going to shred to pieces.

We (The Angry Mob) want blood - preferably Vinnie's blood.   And I'm not sure he's ready to give us that.   And, as Terry noted, it would be much in character for him to just go out and buy another version of Vinnie.

I know we'd all like some humble mea culpa from the guy, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it.

He owes us a bigger apology than that.

I didn't expect him to say what he did and what he did say was what he should say.

I think all the fans really wanted was some form of acknowledgement of the situation and if it gets the right press and gets out there, he'll be surprised that a little goes a long way.

I would not expect him to fire Vinny right there on the spot.

Also, his reason reason for being there was a very good thing. I applaud that and hope the Redskins continue to do so.

Good for Snyder.  It's a start.  He also showed a bit of a sense of humor saying that the cheers he received today were a refreshing change.  And to the guy who wants John Cooke to own the team; he was a bigger disaster when he ran things here.

Finally .....

terpfan58 wrote:

 And to the guy who wants John Cooke to own the team; he was a bigger disaster when he ran things here.

I have to disagree the team was bad but the FO wasn't a disaster area and we were never the laughing stock of the league when John ran the team. I think he would have turned things around if he had been able to keep the team. The only thing I didn't like was his stubborn loyalty to Norv Turner.

All Snyder did was let everyone know that he knows what we all know. The Redskins are an embarrassment to the league, from top to bottom.  So what? Does knowing that Dan actually knows this make it any better?  NO.

He can be embarrassed just like the rest of us only there is one huge difference, he is the only one with the power to make changes.  And after 10 years, he is a complete failure at running a football franchise.  Good businessman, but bad football executive.

He acknowledges the frustration, but he hasn't acknowledged that he doesn't get it.  Well, for the fans, trying your best just isn't good enough anymore Dan.

Big Al can post anything he wants. I like to choose not to read his dribble as a matter of policy not to buy into anything an  anonymous insider posts anonymously.  There is no credibility especially when it come with shameless apologizing for the ineptitude of the managment.  I'll apologize for myself, but not others as it carrys no weight.

When a good football game comes on with good football teams, I'll watch it.  But the Redskins are not a good team, and their play on the field is a waste of my precious time.  I would watch them, if only they would at least give a good effort. Up to now, this team has been a fraud this year.

Apologies mean nothing.  What he needs is to take concrete action.  He should:

1. Immediately announce that he is lowering the price of tickets, parking and concessions to break even until he produces a better product on the field.
2. Give the use of his owner’s box to Darrell Greens foundation and let under privileged kids from his foundation who have done well in school enjoy the game with their parents or teachers.
3. Don’t take a helicopter to the game.  Instead drive to the game, deal with the traffic and park and tailgate with the fans.
4. Get rid of the suit and wear a jersey.  Go into the stadium through security and go to a seat in the end zone and watch with the real fans.  If some drunk fan pours beer on him, just laugh about it and buy the guy a replacement.  But I doubt if anyone will hassle him.  If he does #1 & #2 the fans will probably be cheering him.
5. Undo the sign ban and he should bring in his own sign. One that makes fun of himself.
6. Announce that he is going to spend the rest of the season going around the country meeting with the best football minds you can find, other owners, current and retired GM’s, former head coaches and learn how to be a good owner.  While he is at it, he will find out who football people believe are the best potential GM candidates.  Only when he has learned how little he really knows and developed some humility will he be in the position to seek out those who are willing to “speak truth to power.”

Will he do this?  No.  But if he did, he would turn the fan’s perception of him around 180 degrees.  And he would end up having more fun and making more money. He could do it in one week.

All people want is hope.  If he did these things, there would be hope.    

+1

TennesseeCarl wrote:

Not defending Daniel Snyder, but I can't see much benefit to him in addressing the media.   Whatever he says, we're going to shred to pieces.

 

We (The Angry Mob) want blood - preferably Vinnie's blood.   And I'm not sure he's ready to give us that.   And, as Terry noted, it would be much in character for him to just go out and buy another version of Vinnie.

 

I know we'd all like some humble mea culpa from the guy, but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for it.

Oh boy, there we go giving in.   We need to stay the course on this one.  We haven't hurt Snyder yet but we're ready to give in just because he FINALLY spoke to the media.   WOW!!!      If you give in now he can throw another Cerrato at you.  What I’m saying is that he don’t know any better. 

Like Schmev said, "He owes us a bigger apology than that"   Look at all the fall seasons he stole from you just to line his pockets.   He needs to sell the damn team period.   He doesn't know how and what to do with NFL franchises and if we fall over like this because he made a public statement then we are weak just like the teams he put together.  

Dan Snyder speaks, simply fails to get IT

.....

However, Dan Snyder fails to understand that most of the disappointment and embarrassment is directed at him and his management style.  Let's not get confused about the current state of anger in Washington, DC.  It goes to more than the Washington Redskins 2009 season.  It goes to more than a 2-5 record.

This anger has been building for a decade.  The anger resides at they very root of Dan Snyder's ownership.  No NFC East titles.  No NFC titles.  No Superbowl appearances.  Not under Dan Snyder.  The only thing we get are very high priced veterans looking for the big pay day and an easy training camp.  Combine that with poor drafting and it all leads to a team that consistently is 'talented', but fails to play talented football.  A team with 'names' but no character.  A team with 'starts but no depth.  In other words, a decade of hope, a decade of fans overestimating the talents, a decade of mediocrity, on a good season.

The organization itself is sick.  It is dysfunctional.  The way it is run and operated.  The way it was built.  The poor drafting record.  The Snyder involvement in personnel matters.  The signing of huge contracts for players coming just for a pay day.  The overpricing of veterans who simply don't gel or fit into the current scheme.  The failure to build a scheme.  The failure to maintain any sense of stability.  The rotating door on coaches.  The high prices combined with a poor product on the field.  The legal action against season ticket holders.  The stupid tailgating rules.  The awful game day experience.   The atmosphere where some players are too close to ownership and fail to have respect for coaches.  The lack of a professional GM.   And recently the humiliation and lack of respect for a human being, like Jim Zorn.

Need I say more?

....

This is really good news, as it probably means Snyder is feeling the financial pinch.

He could give a ****** about the fans' feelings and disappointment regarding losses and a pathetic showing, but he completely understands the bottom ($$) line.

Dan is apologetic and the fans are apoplectic.

Imagine how bad Danny is going to feel - and how embarassed, to use his words - when they are 2-14, not 2-5.

He's completely delusional if he really believes we've got a shot to turn things around this season. Not that I want him quitting on the team, but if he believes what he said today, he is in for a rude awakening and a relentless fall - from on-field failures to the fallout and fan 'blowback' that is bound to ensue.

It's a fine line to support this incarnation of the Skins while looking ahead to hopeful improvements. We can do that as fans.

I'm guessing the owner and folks on the team (coaches and players) can't approach it that way. They must cling to every last sliver of hope. Boy, I would hate to be them - they have no idea just how badly they are going to feel.

I think 2-14 or 3-13 is absolutely essential to getting Snyder to move Cerrato, Zorn, and other inadequate front office staff, coaches, and players off of the payroll. And I'm confident that is what we're going to be looking at come the New Year's holiday.

RUsknFan wrote:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/...tory?id=4619992

 

Basically says the team has let everyone down, and that he's apologetic.

Come on, people!!

Baby steps. It all starts with Danny acknowledging there is a massive structural failure taking place at Redskin Park.

The next logical step is, how does he propose to fix it??

I have a feeling when it's all said and done, even if Snyder fires Vinny and hires a GM, many won't be able to get past their rabid hatred of Snyder, which will always be greater than their love of the Skins.

Snyder is not a man prone to making apologies. Who is?? To me, this can be seen as nothing else by a great first step.

However, Dan Snyder fails to understand that most of the disappointment and embarrassment is directed at him and his management style.  Let's not get confused about the current state of anger in Washington, DC.  It goes to more than the Washington Redskins 2009 season.  It goes to more than a 2-5 record.

This anger has been building for a decade.  The anger resides at they very root of Dan Snyder's ownership.  No NFC East titles.  No NFC titles.  No Superbowl appearances.  Not under Dan Snyder.  The only thing we get are very high priced veterans looking for the big pay day and an easy training camp.  Combine that with poor drafting and it all leads to a team that consistently is 'talented', but fails to play talented football.  A team with 'names' but no character.  A team with 'starts but no depth.  In other words, a decade of hope, a decade of fans overestimating the talents, a decade of mediocrity, on a good season.

The organization itself is sick.  It is dysfunctional.  The way it is run and operated.  The way it was built.  The poor drafting record.  The Snyder involvement in personnel matters.  The signing of huge contracts for players coming just for a pay day.  The overpricing of veterans who simply don't gel or fit into the current scheme.  The failure to build a scheme.  The failure to maintain any sense of stability.  The rotating door on coaches.  The high prices combined with a poor product on the field.  The legal action against season ticket holders.  The stupid tailgating rules.  The awful game day experience.   The atmosphere where some players are too close to ownership and fail to have respect for coaches.  The lack of a professional GM.   And recently the humiliation and lack of respect for a human being, like Jim Zorn.

Need I say more?

-------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- ---

I think you have said it all.

Having being on some really top notch teams (Army Rangers, Jean Louis Palladin, Cisco Systems) I have learned a few things over the years by working for, and observing, some really great leaders in my various careers.

1. "We" should be used by a member of the team, or if the Leader of a team finds success. i.e. "We worked really hard to earn that victory"

2. The Leader of the team should be liable for any failures or shortcomings and say "I". i.e. "I take full responsibility for our poor performance and loss to our rival at the Homecoming game"

Some will argue that a Manager should never apologize or make amends; that this shows weakness. I disagree. That breeds contempt amongst the team, and the team members will never truly "go the distance" for that type of Manager.

In my opinion, if a Manager uses "we" during a failure or shortcoming then he does not accept his/her full responsibility for the team, even though he/she is the one directing and leading the effort. I have seen this many times in Managers who refuse to believe, or accept, that the shortcoming or failure was fully their responsibility. They will blame people, circumstances, or both, to shift some of the focus away from their vantage. Some will even single out one or more team members to blame when something goes south or not clearly address direct questions in regards to the failure.

I wish we had the former, I believe we have the latter.