Wed Nov 04, 2009 2:14 pm EST
Maybe it's not fair of me since I've never met the man, but when I think of Redskins owner Daniel Snyder, I think of a Napoleonic power-monger rampaging irrationally through Redskins park like a child denied a new toy. I picture him screaming, breaking things and crying while sitting in a corner and making emotional decrees that have nothing to do with rational, long-term thinking. That's just me. That's how I picture it.
Yesterday, though, Snyder went to a local high school to announce a charitable project to renovate high school football fields in Maryland. After the ceremony, in which he was greeted cheerfully and politely, he stopped to talk to reporters.
Now witness Dan Snyder, live in his natural habitat, seeming like a real person: vulnerable, remorseful, and semi-responsible for his actions. It kind of feels like watching Planet Earth, where they've discovered something rarely seen by humans before.
See, if he was really like the person I envision in my head, when the marching band got close, he would've have turned around and screamed to the band director, "HEY! HEY! PIPE DOWN RIGHT NOW, OR I WILL HAVE EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOUR BRASS INSTRUMENTS MELTED DOWN AND SCULPTED INTO A LIFESIZE STATUE OF JACK KENT COOKE, NUDE, SLOBBERING ON HIMSELF AND WEARING A DIAPER. Ahem. I'm sorry miss, you were saying?"
It was smooth of him to avoid the topic of the ban on signs, but that's easily overlooked in the bigger picture. He was almost like a real human being here. One that's destroying a franchise, sure, but still real, and at least sorry about it. I think that's a big step for him.
Shutdown Corner is an NFL blog edited by Matthew J. Darnell. Email him, and follow him on Twitter.

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30 Comments
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The real culprit, to me, is Vinny Cerrato. It's his job to make the team good. It's Snyder's job to give him the money to do so. One of these men is doing their primary function well. The other needs to be run out of town.
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This owner has to go. We real redskins fans know what it was like to have a great owner in the past. So we have a right to complain about the current ownership anytime we feel like it if our team isn't winning like it should! We don't just find another team and go with it. You're obviously not a real football fan "Darrells" to say just find another team. Redskin fans its in their heart and soul. Redskin fans just don't sit back and hope this gets better! as you comment above. What kind of fan are you!!!. "Darrells, You are not a real Redkins fan from way back in the 60's through today are you? Your comment for us Redskin fans to sit back and hope or find another team is a comment that a non-football fan would say as if its nothing in our hearts to just pick another team. "Get-ata-here-U-phony-fan!!!
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This saddens me.
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Hey Redskins yall stink get use to it.
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PEACE OUT
P.S. You guys up there in D.C. really should change the team nickname, it really is offensive to native americans.
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#13, I'm Native American and have been a Redskins fan my whole life. Most of us agree the nickname is in honor of us not a slander. Get off the coalition bandwagon and don't speak for others when it is not your place.
#7, I agree, what the hell was he trying to say? Sometimes I wish people that don't speak English should at least try. If you are going to come to America at least make an effort to become educated. If you were born here and speak like that, you should be ashamed to show your face in public. Just zip it an we'll all be happy.
Gotta love people who blame the system for giving them something free and then they can't use it!!!
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Next - they need to get the players off these weekly talk shows. Run your mouth on the field and back it up. If you wanna do radio or tv take up a new career. Too many showboats at Redskins Park. Still a Skins fan, but c'mon - Vinnies gotta go.
I can well imagine they will never get a great headcoach in there with the current approach, especially after Zorn's treatment. Maybe Zorn was promoted to head coach after the real canidates gave Vinny and Danny a polite hell-no.
Synder is willing to pay - and I do believe his a loyal fan. He just needs to get rid of that suck butt Vinny, do what he does best (make money) and let the coach be a coach. With his crew - not Vinney and Dannys crew.
To the players - enjoy the money and good times - when they get a real GM / HC (with his crew) the party will end. And hopefully, so will Dan's player pampering.
and BTW - I hate the C-Boys. As far as the nickname goes - americans (not native type) have always been offensive and callous to native americans and screwed them over every which way possible at every opportunity - why change after all these years of malice, hatred and indifference? But that's a different story and much bigger (and uglier) than a football team.
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As for honor, do a little research into the origins of the name. You might think twice about how honorable it is.
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Until he sits in his box and shuts his mouth.. and gets rid of Vinnie The Moron, this team will continue to suck, and he will continue to be compared to such idiots as Matt Millen, Isiah "Thompson", et al.... JKC is spinning in his grave!!!
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