Washington Redskins

DOING IT ALL
Brian Mitchell has gained more combined yards (rushing, receiving and returns) over the last five seasons than any other player over any five-year span in NFL history. In fact, Mitchell has now accounted for the top two totals in this category.
Player, team	Years	Rush Yds.	Rec.yds	Punt-return yds	Kickoff-return yds.	Combined yds.
Brian Mitchell, Redskins	1994-98	1.120	1.590	1.973	6,575	11,258
Brian Mitchell, Redskins	1993-97	1,158	1,441	1,660	5,916	10.175
Barry Sanders, Lions	1994-98	8,480	1,422	0	0	9,902
Emmitt Smith, Cowboys	1991-95	8019	1,723	0	0	9,742
Bruce Harper, Jets	1977-81	1,302	1,748	1,600	5,023	9,673
Glyn Milburn, Broncos/Lions/Bears	1994-98	475	854	1,741	6,554	9,624

Page 4 of the Washington press guide traditionally carries the heading, Redskins Directory. This year the list of front-office personnel has been omitted. Too many heads have been chopped off. The directory is a shambles.

Waving a stack of Fantasy Football guides in one hand and an ax in the other, the new, 34-year-old owner, Daniel Snyder, bought the team in May and came riding into Redskin Park like a berserker in Norse mythology, spreading terror and devastation. First he sent out a letter to all employees telling them that they would be retained. Then he fired more than 20 of them.

Gone is Phyllis Hayes, the public relations secretary with 22 years of loyal service. Gone is the very able p.r. director Mike McCall. He was replaced by John Konoza, a former Redskins p.r. assistant who was working for a local car dealer. He lasted three days at Redskin Park before quitting and going back to the auto business. Gone, too, is the community relations director, Wendy Wilson, who did such a good job getting the players involved in community work. Well, what the hell. When you spend $800 million to buy a team, you can do whatever you please.

General manager Charley Casserly was demoted and given a lesser role as a "consultant," for one season. Someone's got to be around to explain such things as the salary cap to Snyder. Some of Casserly's last significant acts as G.M. were to corral three No. 1 picks in next season's draft and to put together the best collection of talent in Norv Turner's six years as coach. Then the new owner came in, and one of the first things he wanted to do was give up a No. 1 draft pick for the Vikings' 34-year-old guard, Randall McDaniel. (Fortunately for Snyder, it didn't happen.) Then he wanted to mortgage the farm to make a run at Barry Sanders. "His style is to keep everyone worried about his or her job, just like he does at Snyder Communications," says one Redskins employee. "And he still hasn't figured out that if you grab a bunch of big-name players, your salary cap goes blooey."

Turner, of course, is under the gun. Why should he be different from any other employee? At quarterback he'll rely on Brad Johnson, who had some terrific moments in Minnesota but has some lingering trouble with a fractured right leg. Bright and resourceful, Johnson could be the perfect fit for Turner's attack, which relies on precision and timing. "I love this system," says Johnson. "It's like the true West Coast offense I used to watch under Don Coryell and Dan Fouts in San Diego—and Toe Gibbs in Washington, and Norv here and in Dallas. It gives you a little of everything."

Turner's receiving corps once again depends on Michael Westbrook, whose injury-laden career has never afforded him more than 10 starts in a season. Westbrook could be one of those perennial future stars, always on the verge, never quite there—although he says that this season he sees himself in a leadership role: "It's my turn to take control and lead instead of sitting back and letting people who aren't worthy lead the team." Turner, who suspended or benched Westbrook for violating rules three times in the last two years, wouldn't mind.

Everywhere you look on the field there are fresh faces, fresh energy. Seven new starters have been brought in. Andy Heck and a very sturdy rookie, Jon Jansen, are the new offensive tackles. Fullback Larry Centers, the former Cardinal, gives Turner something he's never had in D.C., a potential 100-catch receiver out of the backfield.

Top draft pick Champ Bailey was installed as a starter in the first exhibition game, and he staked his claim on the job by returning an interception 46 yards for a touchdown. Strong safety Sam Shade, a free-agent signee from the Bengals, helps firm up the secondary.

The defense will also benefit from a number of youngsters on the rise, most notably defensive left end Kenard Lang and middle linebacker Derek Smith, shifted from the weak side to make room for Shawn Barber, who team officials say is quicker and more gifted in coverage. At defensive right end, Marco Coleman, who was part of the 1998 league-leading defense in San Diego before coming to Washington, got off to a terrific start in training camp. If tackles Dana Stubblefield and Dan Wilkinson can supply the muscle they were paid big bucks to provide last year, the defense should be in fine shape.

Yes, things seem rosy, but you have to remember the Redskins are coming off a 6-10 season that featured some serious blowouts. Is there enough talent for this team to rise to the playoff level? Snyder says he'll be a hands-on owner, but those are heavy hands indeed. Can front-office turmoil and the possibility of a lame-duck coach throw things out of whack? We'll find out.