I think you have adequately summarized my feelings about the Bailey/Portis trade and running backs in general. This also comes in the context of a belief that a successful team needs to have a salary cap allocation program that guides their personnel decisions (e.g. acquisitions and retention).
I do believe that Joe Gibbs is one of the greatest all-time coaches (yes, Ben you got that in writing) as was Bill Walsh (RIP)(no duh). Not to beat a dead horse, but... the league is fundamentally different than when these guys coached. The salary cap and free agency have altered the way a team (read: front office) approaches constructing a team. The bottom line is that you aren't going to be able to spend all you want on player acquisition and/or retention (pssst...don't tell the Danny or his bitch Vinny).
It is imperative that you decide where your money is going to be spent. Two factors seem to be of primary importance here: 1) positions that just don't have enough players who can perform at an elite level 2) positions that are crucial to your system. The primary corralary to this theory is that you have to get some production out of your draft picks. These guys are your freebies, and, if you have a good negotiator and the player is good enough, you might be able to sign them to long term deals that will, over the course of the contract, give you a top notch player at below the market value.
I firmly believe that these are the primary areas in which the Redskins have failed, and they, as well as their fans, are paying the price for it. This is a front office deal. However, the front office is where the foundation for the team is laid. The Skins have good coaches and good players but they have a weak foundation and, as such, year after year the whole thing collapses on them.
Commenting by HaloScan
