The Opposite of Michael Vick Against the Redskins

While on the subject of us being right, here's an early DCLS post on why the Skins should have chased Vick 1.5 yrs ago.

Originally posted May 27th, 2009

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As if Snyder Needs Convincing: The Case for Vick on the 'Skins

Listen, I'm no Redskins apologist. I hate Dan Snyder with all but two fibers in my being (the two that realize that he's better than this guy). I hope Vinny Cerrato chokes on a danish, or better yet, is fired. FedEx is Hell on Earth. Also, I love puppies, and the worst harm I'd ever inflict on one would be to boot a really tiny loud one off a bridge.

But the Redskins had better dig their star-horny claws into Michael Vick and never let go. And not just because the jersey sales will correlate to an illogical 45% rise in FedEx concession prices. It will work for the Redskins on the field and if you remember, that's the point. Several reasons:

1.) The Redskins' Offense needs an ATHLETE. 'Skins fans lament the lack of a #1 receiver and it's hard to disagree. And some think JC17 isn't the answer behind center. But what's really lacking is a guy who can simply make tacklers miss. Vick's presence alone means the other team has to account for him, game plan for him, think about him before the game. If you've made D-Coordinators think that much harder, you've improved your offense that much...harder. What position exactly? We'll get to that....

Imagine the Opposite of This

2.) We've yet to see the Zorn Star work magic with a Shiny New Wand. In 2008, Zorn adjusted his westcoast pass-happy offense to suit his personnel, which is the mark of an intelligent coach. The result was a bland running based game, due to bland running based personnel. Enter insane athlete. Now, Zorn has studied the Wildcat diligently this offseason and admitted the 'Skins don't have the personnel to make it happen. Yet. Why? "Cleveland, with [Josh] Cribbs....probably did the best, but he's got a real acceleration." So we need someone with real acceleration, preferably with QB experience? Hmmm....

I'm not saying Vick should become the new 'Skins QB. Far from it; I think his unique skills are best utilized in various roles at various times. Sometimes that might mean some QB snaps. Mostly though, he needs plays designed for him specifically in some quasi-hybrid tailback role, a la 1920s football. There has never been an athlete like Vick in the NFL - why not make up a position that's never existed?

3.) Vick will be cheap. I know I know, the Redskins are salary cap wizards and yes, there might not be a cap after this year...but the 'Skins are still paying Mark Carrier like $4.3 million per and contract terms will be critical. Vick's market value is going to be around Bear Sterns' right about now - which for those of you who don't read the Wall Avenue Journal means Vick will be getting dick for salary, and for one or two years tops. Low risk (cap room wise)/high reward is the idea here.

4.) Vick will be motivated. There are just plain ruthless murderous sociopaths, and there are ruthless murderous sociopaths with 10-figure debt and the whole world watching their every move. True: you have to be collossally stupid to squander what Vick had circa 2006, and I wouldn't be surprised if he, Portis, Haynesworth and Smoot were caught financing an underground squirrel-fighting ring or something. But he has to have learned from this. Maybe not in that moral, soul-saving way...but in a superficial my-job-and-life-is-on-the-line way, which is good enough for me. Maybe he'll still have the urge to strangle a labradoodle at first sight - but I get the feeling he'll resist this time. He's in survival mode at this point.

5.) Despite pleas from fans, the 'Skins are determined to win now and delay a rebuild. To most logical fans, 14 years of consistent mediocrity with an aging roster is a sure sign that the talent has been maxed out. To Vinny Cerrato and Dan Snyder, it's a never-ending indication that the 'Skins are one player away from winning it all. I'm not saying Vick is that guy. I'm saying given the right circumstances, a healthy year on the offensive line, and basic progress from JC17, a well-utilized Vick could help put up enough points to make the offense respectable again. The 'Skins D and running game remain their strong points, and if healthy could do some postseason damage. It's getting there that's the issue. So as long as we're stuck with a front office and owner playing this game, Vick is worth a look.

6.) The offense needs hope. If there was one thing that defined the Redskins offense in the second half of 2008 - other than three-and-outs - it was the look and feeling of hopelessness. Early in the year the group was unstoppable, and they had the swag. As passes starting slipping through hands, Jansen opened the Sack Gates, and Portis' injuries caught up to him finally, they lost it. And what have they done since the disastrous 2008 finale? Precisely dick. Unless you believe in UFOs, you realize that Devin Thomas is a joke and Malcolm Kelly's knees are made of peanut brittle and there's no such thing as an NFL offense with two tight end weapons. The cavalry isn't coming from those three.

But inject Vick into a locker room with stable vets and leaders and it's an instant spark. Suddenly you have a guy turning heads in practice, adding that 'wow' factor, that extra ingredient that Randel El was supposed to provide but can't, since he is 5' 2" in real life and was never that good. Sometimes that's all it takes for a football team to make it over the hump.

Now Vinny, get on the phone with the Falcons and send next year's 1st, 3rd, and 5th into oblivion and make this happen. Even if Gooddell doesn't reinstate, what do we have to lose? They're just draft picks.

***

 So maybe we had the position thing wrong, and maybe Vick couldn't survive in the Redskin player development wasteland, but he was definitely worth a shot. And apologies to dog lovers, but considering their pasts, I have a harder time rooting for McNabb than I do the Vick resurrection story.

(Image courtesy of www.sportsfanlive.com)

Do You Remember April 18, 2006?

You probably don't, and I don't blame you.

So I was sitting in the bar with my buddy from Boston last night watching the Celtics wrap up Game 1 with the Cavs, and this comes out of his mouth in my direction:

"Celts waan, B's waan, Sax waan. Great frickin' day fa Baaaaston spaarts."

Translation:

"The Celtics and Bruins are doin' work in the postseason, the best is yet to come for the Red Sox, and you can go screw yourself."

I was so jealous. The Caps and Wizards are currently working on their short games and, while the Nats have been a pleasant surprise thus far and appear to be on the right track, they aren't exactly championship material.

So I got to thinking: when was the last time the Nats, Wizards, and Caps all won on the same day? Scheduling presents obvious obstacles - barring playoff runs by both hockey and basketball teams, the three would only have a few weeks at the beginning of the baseball season to simultaneously emerge victorious. I did a little research and found the answer.

I guess the title of this post is what you'd call a spoiler, but you got it: April 18, 2006. The winningest day in DC professional sports in the last five years.

Wizards: Gilbert Arenas scored 43 points and added 5 assists and 4 steals as the Wizards beat the Bucks, 116-103, inching closer to clinching that "coveted" 5th seed in the Eastern Conference. Why is coveted in quotes? Because the 4 seed Cleveland Cavaliers were waiting, and we all know how that went. Still, it's funny to read the AP recap's theory at the time: "Fifth is important because no one wants to face one of the top three seeds when Cleveland, returning to the playoffs after an eight-year absence, is an available opponent at No. 4."

Nationals: Ryan Church (OMG, flashback) went 2 for 5 with a HR and 4 RBI, Ryan Zimmerman went 2 for 5 with 3 RBI, and Tony Armas, Jr. (OMG, flashback) pitched 6 solid innings as the Nats beat the Phillies, 10-3. The Nats pulled to 5-9 on the season with the victory and would end the year 71-91.

Capitals: The final game of the season for the Caps was a doozy, beating the playoff bound Tampa Bay Lightning - the defending Stanley Cup Champs, no less - by a score of 4-1. Alex Ovechkin wrapped up his Rookie of the Year campaign with his 54th assist of the season, putting him at 106 points. Also picking up points on the night? A few of these should elicit a chuckle or two: Jeff Halpern, Brian Willsie, Ben Clymer, Nolan Yonkman, Brooks Laich, Steve Eminger, Dainus Zubrus, and Matt Bradley.

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So there you have it. Not quite the greatest day in DC sports history. Nope, not even close. But perhaps the most complete in quite some time.

And finally, to answer the question on all your minds, April 18, 1025, was also the day that Bolesław I Chrobry was crowned in Gniezno, becoming the first King of Poland.

Best Rap Video Ever?

Thank you, MisterIrrelevant, Redskins Blog, and DC Sports Bog. There's no way I wasn't gonna borrow steal this.

Scary Hockey Moment Relived

This article (h/t Olmsteazy), via NHL Fanhouse, is worth a read. An excerpt:

When Steve Downie was checked by Fedor Tyutin and we became entangled along the boards, Downie's leg whipped around and his skate blade cut my nose off. There was a hole in my face. I was on all fours and was bleeding badly. I thought I had lost my eye. Other than that, I don't remember much about the immediate impact of the skate hitting my face...

...Jim Ramsey, the Rangers trainer, came on the ice and got me. He put a towel over my eyes. I could not see a thing from all the blood. 'Rammer' brought me to the Flyers' trainers. Their doctors sewed my nose back on. It took more than 40 stitches. The doctors were alarmed because my left eye was drooping. They told me I could not go back on the ice because I could die. My face was fractured. That was when I realized this was more than just a brutal cut.

Should offer a lot of perspective on the dangers both players and officials face at the rink. These guys are iron tough.

Although it still won't stop me from booing the zebras every chance I get.

10 Reasons (and more) to love Olaf Kolzig

With all the hype surrounding the Washington Capitals net these days, it's easy for some fans stuck in the here-and-now to lose sight of what Olaf Kolzig meant to the Washington Capitals. Godzilla retired yesterday, closing the book on a 17-year career. All but one of those seasons was spent as a member of the Capitals.

(Getty Images, via The Hockey News)

Through times flush and lean, Olie was there between the pipes. There was the time he stopped 62 Pittsburgh Penguins shots one morning in 1996, before he was pierced in the fourth overtime by Peter Nedved. There was also the time he backstopped the Capitals on their thrilling 1998 cup run that transformed the big German from bearded unknown to cult hero in the span of a few weeks.

From Bondra and Oates, to Jagr and Lang, to Ovechkin, Semin, Backstrom and Green, Olie was there.

From Schoenfeld to Wilson, from Cassidy to Hanlon and finally to Boudreau, Olie was there.

From Hunter to Oates, to Konowalchuck and Witt, to Halpern and to Clark, six different Capitals wore the 'C' during Kolzig's tenure, but there was rarely any doubt about who the team's true captain was. Olie was a leader, prone to wearing his heart on his goal stick, just as likely to set the the emotional pitch for the locker room by smashing a twig over the crossbar as he was by making a clutch save.

Kolzig won 301 games as a member of the Capitals organization. Along the way, there were some memorable moments that, by virtue of the fact that Olie never won a Stanley Cup, won't end up being featured on an NHL Network retrospective.

We'd like to take the opportunity to look back at 10 of the moments that defined Olie Kolzig's career with the Capitals.

10. Olie the Romantic

Before Alex Ovechkin rode a zamboni down Broadway, Olie the Goalie had dinner with his "wife." This advertising campaign, which premiered in the early aughts, reflected a new marketing strategy for the Capitals, led by new-media visionary Ted Leonsis. It emphasized the personalities of the players, including at least one of whom spent most of his time here behind a Godzilla facemask. Kolzig -- an affable guy off-ice who cleans up well -- was the most recognizable member of the Caps until he passed the torch to No. 8. How's that working out so far?

9. Kolzig Keeps it Real

Late in the 2006-07 season, things were pretty grim for the Capitals. On their way to a 28-40-14 record under Glen Hanlon, getting smoked by a team like Atlanta, at home, was becoming a regular occurrence. But towards the end of one such encounter, Kolzig reminded all of us what we grew to love most about him: he was a fighter. He was resilient. And most of all, he was fiery. He didn't appreciate Jim Slater running him in the crease, and he let him know it.

8. 1998 Eastern Conference Semifinals vs. Ottawa

(Watch from 1:24)

Before Semyon Varlamov recorded two shutouts against the New York Rangers last spring, no Capitals netminder in recent history had ever dominated a post-season opponent like Olaf Kolzig did the Ottawa Senators in 1998. He allowed seven goals in five games; after the Senators clawed their way back into the series with a 4-3 Game 3 victory, Kolzig posted shutouts in Game 4 and the deciding Game 5. Some of the saves he made along the way weren't too shabby, either.

7. Marathon Shootout Win vs. Edmonton

On January 17, 2008, the Edmonton Oilers came to Verizon Center. After skating to a 4-4 tie through regulation and overtime, the two teams engaged in a shootout for the ages. Dwayne Roloson for the Oilers vs. Olaf Kolzig. For those who say the shootout is meaningless, don't tell that to Kolzig. With questions beginning to surface about Kolzig's game, No. 37 stopped all 11 Oilers shooters before Matt Bradley put Washington ahead.

All that was left was for Kolzig to shut the door on Sheldon Souray.

6. Olie Wins the Vezina

In the 1999-00 season, Kolzig played in 73 games, ever the workhorse that he was. In those games, he went 41-20-11 with a 2.24 GAA, a .917 save percentage, and five shutouts. For his efforts, he was named the league's top goalie, the second Capital to earn that distinction after Jim Carey won in 1995-96.

"Coming into the year, it was going to be a major chore just to make the playoffs; I wasn't too concerned about the Vezina Trophy," Kolzig told Jason La Canfora of the Washington Post. "That's what a lot of teamwork will do and a lot of pride. I was fortunate to play behind the guys I play behind."

5. Olie vs. Byron Dafoe

Just before Thanksgiving 1998, the Capitals and Boston Bruins -- playoff rivals from the year before -- squared off in a game that would result in 12 ejections and 259 penalty minutes. In the midst of this epic fracas, Bruins goalie Byron Dafoe (himself a former Cap) grabbed Caps captain Dale Hunter. From 200 feet away, Kolzig saw this: no effing way, he must have thought to himself. Before long, the two goaltenders were throwing haymakers. Did I mention that Dafoe had months earlier been the Best Man at Kolzig's wedding? The good news is, it didn't affect their long-term relationship. See below.

4. Olie’s All-Stars

For all the impact Kolzig made on the ice in Washington, his quality as a human being is perhaps his greatest legacy. The Olie's All-Stars program was a staple at the MCI/Verizon Center for nearly a decade. But after Kolzig's son, Carson, was discovered to have autism, the goaltender founded Athletes Against Autism, along with Byron Dafoe and Scott Mellanby, to help raise money to fight the disorder. We're not going to try to get all sentimental about it, just watch this...



...and then go here. Kolzig was awarded the King Clancy Memorial Trophy for his humanitarian efforts in 2006. If you asked Kolzig what he's more grateful for in his playing career -- the 303 wins or the King Clancy -- it's tough to say which he'd pick.

3. Diving glove save vs. Pittsburgh

Unless you were at MCI Center on March 4, 2001, or watching on ESPN2 that night, you're going to have to trust us on this one. It was during the final seconds of that game, with the Capitals ahead 4-3 thanks to two third-period goals by Richard Zednik, that Kolzig made one of the most brilliant saves of his career against the Penguins. When it looked as though the Pens were about to tie the game, Kolzig rebuffed them.

Here's how Jason La Canfora described it in the Washington Post:

Kolzig took over from there, saving the game with 17 seconds to play, with Penguins center Jan Hrdina staring at an empty net. Kolzig was manning the far post, his back to the shooter. But the goalie turned, dived and flung his glove at Hridna's shot. Hrdina raised his arms in jubilation and the goal light burned behind Washington's net -- "I thought it was in," Hrdina said -- but the puck had never crossed the line, the victim of an unfathomable save.

"You never think a guy can make a save like that," said Penguins winger Kevin Stevens, who also celebrated the near-goal.

"It was pure desperation, honestly," Kolzig said. "Just throw a body part out there and hope it hits you. I do that a number of times in practice and it doesn't pan out. If he shoots it along the ice it's in the net; maybe it's a reversal of fortune for us."

2. Olie's Swansong


With Cristobal Huet already sharing Kolzig's net, the goaltender's days in Washington were nearing an end. Thanks to a 3-2 victory over the Calgary Flames on March 12, 2008, Kolzig earned his 300th win in Capital red. It was Kolzig's penultimate victory in a Capitals sweater, and his final milestone achievement. By listening to Kolzig's postgame valedictory with Al Koken, he seemed to know it.



1. Olie Outduels the Dominator
(Most critical save in Capitals history occurs at the 6-minute mark)


After dispatching the Bruins and Senators, the Capitals were met with Dominik Hasek and the Buffalo Sabres in the 1998 Eastern Conference Finals. Not only was Buffalo considered a team on the rise, but their all-world goaltender, Dominik Hasek, had won Olympic gold for the Czech Republic in Nagano earlier that year. Suffice it to say, Kolzig was the second-best goalie in this matchup. But he didn't play like it. Kolzig was a battler throughout the hard-fought series. His performance was typified by a number of breathtaking stops, none more critical than the save he made in the opening minutes of overtime. Check out the six-minute mark of the video: if Kolzig's toe doesn't get back to cover the far post, that puck goes in the net, the Sabres tie the series at 3, and the series heads to Washington for Game 7. Luckily, the 6-foot-4 Kolzig has big feet to match his lightning reflexes, and, moments later, Joe Juneau potted the winner.

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The Capitals would go on to be swept by the Detroit Red Wings in the 1998 Stanley Cup Finals. It was the closest Kolzig would ever come to winning Lord Stanley. Now, the franchise whose record books are filled with Kolzig's name is poised for greatness, and while he's no longer on the ice, he's should remain in the consciousness of Caps Nation. Someday, his No. 37 will rightly hang above the Verizon Center ice. It would be nice if he was there to help raise it, along with a Stanley Cup banner, when that day arrives.

Awesome Shirt

I just heard about this t-shirt today, and man is it sweet for those of you old enough to remember the days at Memorial Stadium when we didn't have to be called "Yankee Stadium South". The site sells a lot of other t-shirts that are pretty cool too, but the highlight for us DC folks is this gem. Watch the video too, note the simpler/better time when fans didn't need the scoreboard to start cheering.

(Image courtesy of homageclothing.com)

Cool Video

The Caps Draft Is In Good Hands With the "Vice President of Atmosphere"

Now that, amigos, is what I call a mullet.

Caps GM George McPhee, a.k.a. the former "VP of Atmosphere" of Blue Moon Mexican Cafe restaurants in New York City, a.k.a. DC's longest tenured GM, a.k.a. the man with the plan, a.k.a. The Undertaker, will be directing his 12th draft as the Caps head bossman tonight, 7 PM, and all day Saturday. While his drafting success has been mixed, he has overseen a streamlining and revamping of the organization's scouting system that is finally reaping dividends.

I could drone on and on about McPhee's GM skills, but it's Friday and I don't want to make Vinny Cerrato cry before the weekend even starts. Instead, I'll regale you with tales of McPhee's manliness that earned him the Undertaker moniker. And maybe a tidbit about his GM skills at the end:

• After a pre-season game in Chicago in 1999 in which the Blackhawks dressed goons and played dirty, McPhee took on the entire coaching staff and roster of the 'Hawks BY HIMSELF. Money quote, after receiving a month-long suspension and $20k fine: "I will never regret standing up for the organization or for what I think is right for the league."
• An undersized McPhee beat the shit out of current Tampa Bay Head Coach and convicted bookie Rich Tocchet with a busted hand. Glen Hanlon - back-up goalie at the time - was, um, fired up about it.
• The Tocchet-McPhee rematch is probably a draw. But the dude proves his fearlessness.
• McPhee takes on noted pugilist Bob Nystrom, who has at least a foot on him.
• Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't direct you towards this four part behind-the-scenes look at McPhee during the '06 entry draft (Backstrom, Varlamov, Neuvirth, Osala, Bouchard, Perrault came out of this one). Fascinating stuff. (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4) The highlight, from Part 3: "I just want to make it look like we're doing stuff. Did I ever tell you you look marvelous?"

Well, I feel comfortable with this guy picking our prospects, don't you?

What to expect: The Caps pick 24th tonight, and WaPo beat writer Tarik El-Bashir thinks McPhee is looking long and hard at speedy RW scoring prospect Landon Ferraro, son of former NHLer Ray. Which would be consistent with his recent taste for drafting NHL lineage (Seabrook, Bourque, Bouchard, Perrault, Gustafsson). You're not getting an NHLer right away with the 24th pick, but Mike Green was snagged 29th, Jeff Schultz 27th, and studly blue-chipper John Carlson was last year's 27th pick. A trade or two to acquire a 2nd-line center to replace Fedorov is possible.

What not to expect: McPhee trading the pick for washed up veterans and handing them massive contracts, and then watching as future NHL stars Victor Hedman or John Tavares fall to the 24th slot anyways. Grunfeld and Cerrato have that shit covered.

Amateur Player Rankings and Scouting Reports
Mock Draft 1
Mock Draft 2
Mock Draft 3

NHL Amateur Draft Round 1. 7 PM, Versus Network.

Yes

Found this gem the other day. Nothing like Caps intensity. Nothing.