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Gibbs' gaffe the latest to cripple Redskins

December 3, 2007 12:35 am

LANDOVER, Md.--The Washington Redskins will say their final goodbyes to Sean Taylor today--a day after they effectively laid to rest their playoff hopes.

And as painful as it may be to say, the problem starts at the top.

Joe Gibbs is a wonderful man whose integrity is beyond reproach. He demon-strated his strength and leadership during what had to have been the most difficult week the Redskins have endured in three-quarters of a century.

But in yesterday's confounding 17-16 loss to Buffalo, the Redskins showed early and late why they may be the NFL's most dysfunctional team--quite a feat in a league that includes the Oakland Raiders.

Forget for a moment the noble goal of honoring Taylor with a victory. The Redskins desperately needed a win to snap a three-game slide and maintain a pulse in the pathetic NFC wild-card race.

And Gibbs--who was primarily responsible for many, many Redskins victories during his first tenure as head coach--made a horrible call that could keep them out of the playoffs.

Calling consecutive time-outs is against NFL rules. Doing it to "ice" a kicker who's trying to win a game--as Buffalo's Rian Lindell was doing yesterday--is unsportsmanlike conduct.

"That was a huge decision on my part," Gibbs said later--but only after claiming that he thought an official said the move was legal. "I should know the rule, but it was heated down there. I have nobody to blame but myself. It's not [the official's] fault; it's my fault."

If a Hall of Fame coach hasn't memorized the rule book, he should at least designate someone on the NFL's largest and oldest coaching staff to advise him. Instead, Gibbs turned what would have been a difficult but makable 51-yard kick in the rain by a hot kicker into a 36-yard eventuality.

If that had been Gibbs' only tactical mistake yesterday (or this season), he'd get the benefit of the doubt--especially after the week he's endured. But it wasn't--not by a long shot.

On Washington's first defensive snap, the Redskins sent 10 players onto the field. It was a poignant, fitting tribute to Taylor, who was gunned down at his Miami home on Monday. Assistant Gregg Williams, who has carte blanche to run the defensive side of things, said he came up with the plan Saturday night.

Don't you think the head coach should know about it and sign off, though? Asked about it after the game, Gibbs said: "Gregg said something about it. It's probably better for me and him to talk about it before I really comment on it."

Afterward, Gibbs and Williams huddled, and Williams said the boss was fine with the decision. But in a league of micromanagement, Gibbs' admission was stunning.

But was it unique? Consider the Redskins' consistent clock-management issues since Gibbs returned in 2004. Or his penchant for unsuccessful replay challenges--an option that didn't exist before he retired in 1992. Or his regrettable decision not to kick a field goal last weekend against Tampa Bay, which played a huge role in their loss.

Or the fact that the Redskins have blown leads in five of their seven losses this season. Gibbs' forte during his first tenure as coach was the halftime adjustments he and his staff made. Now, no lead seems safe.

When Gibbs handed the defense to Williams and ceded play-calling to Al Saunders, he effectively became the team's CEO. On game days, the big decisions are his. And lately, they haven't worked out so well.

It's even fair to ask why Taylor, while recovering from a knee injury, went to Florida twice without Gibbs' knowledge. The first time, Taylor--who once refused to return Gibbs' calls for most of an off-season--went to investigate a break-in at his home and informed his coach only after the fact. The second time, Gibbs learned that his most talented player wasn't in town--but was instead in a Miami hospital, clinging to life.

For what it's worth, Gibbs deserves credit for taking the blame yesterday.

"Coach Gibbs is a stand-up guy," veteran linebacker London Fletcher said. "We love playing for him. For him to take the rap is not fair to the 53 players in this locker room. We all need to take accountability for this game."

Or, as Williams put it: "I'm more upset with the pass play down the middle," referring to Josh Reed's 30-yard reception to the Washington 32 with 27 seconds left. "If we take away that play, there's no decision."

Ironically, Reed's catch was a play that Taylor might have prevented. His absence isn't Gibbs' fault, and not all the Redskins' problems are. But Gibbs 2.0 has been fraught with far more avoidable missteps than anyone dreamed possible.

"When things don't work out, it's easy to second-guess," veteran guard Pete Kendall said to reporters. "That's your side of the street. I'll stay on mine."

The view from this side is painful, especially when you're watching a good man make bad decisions. For the first time, Gibbs' coaching is a matter of concern.