Time and coaching acumen have all caught up to the Baltimore Ravens, and one of its best defenders sits on the sideline with a difficult decision that has just one possible solution.

Ed Reed should retire.

One more interception return for a touchdown, one more game-saving pass deflection, one more emotionally-stirring appearance will not make his Hall of Fame entrance. His bust is all but bronzed, his play all but burned into the styles of so many safeties in today’s game.

So the cost, literally of life and limb, seems not to be worth it. Not for Pittsburgh, not for the playoffs. What else is there to prove beyond what has already been done?

And while there is some strength in leaving on self-defined terms, there’s more to the next part of life than what terms allow. In exchange for a few more downs, a few more chances at glory, a more noticeable limp, a more distinct pain when waking in the morning may be the trade off.

And that’s without mention of the years on his life that he may sacrifice.

He’s already in the discussion, if not the definition, of the greatest safety of all time. What most men aspire to be, he walks around in everyday. And he will do so for the remainder of his days. The Ravens can retool and rebuild, but there’s no real reason to put into further disrepair what glory and blessings helped to build.

Time to go, Ed. Don’t take it personally, just take it and run as fast as you can with it. Just as you always have.

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So, the Redskins would have us believe that because they got a flighty, minority assistant coach to conduct a token interview for a not-yet-vacant head coaching gig , they aren’t a racist organization.

Please.

We’ve had the discussion about what’s in a name, and for all intents and purposes on their end, the Redskins have succeeded in making folks tired of hearing about it. But this is an entirely different method of minority madness; one that speaks to an inherent problem this organization has shouldered since the days of George Preston Marshall.

It’s not that they keep us out, it’s that they don’t treat us well when we’re inside the doors.

To be clear, this isn’t a habit started by Daniel Snyder, but it is certainly one he doesn’t mind propagating throughout his dealings. No, Snyder didn’t stubbornly refuse integration until receiving a mandate from the halls of Congress.  No, he didn’t rename Palmer Park, MD "Raljon," and to my knowledge, he has never publicly endorsed D.C.’s biggest racial stereotype, Chief Zee.

But can you recall a time where an African-American was bandied around for any of Snyder’s bi-annual coaching changes? Of all the teams where there is significant African-American interest and participation, local owners have been progressive about hiring black coaches. Part of Abe Pollin’s legend is a unique dedication to equitable hiring practices of African-American coaches and executives.

The Washington Nationals have had two minority managers since moving to the city and they’ve not been shy about pursuing and signing minority free agents.

And yeah, black players and staff are right up Snyder’s alley. Assistants, coordinators, no problem. But between former Skins’ defensive coordinators Ray Rhodes and Marvin Lewis, and every other prominent black coach or coordinator that has cycled in and out of NFL positions when sparingly allowed, not one has been good enough to at least make the Redskins’ rumor mill?

And how many bad quarterbacks have the Redskins had since 1999? How many of them have had to endure the kind of innuendo and rumors that Jason Campbell has had to endure? They at least got the courtesy of being shipped out. No questions asked, no room for speculative emotions.

Racism is not an easy thing to define or to accept for anyone. We all have it; we all use it to our advantage for one reason or another. But the gracious among us at least are willing to challenge ourselves to better thinking habits when we know it can prohibit professional or personal betterment. We’re smart enough to know that outside of surviving in a foreign place or circumstance, racism will never help you get anywhere.

It seems that Snyder hasn’t learned that lesson well, despite the lineage of ignorant money-wielders that preceded him. And the worst part about it?

He’ll never care enough to refute any of it.

Technorati Tags: Daniel Snyder , Jerry Gray , Washington Redskins

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Specifically, with Jason Campbell’s mastery of the offense ; with no less of an authority on characteristics of success than Malcolm Gladwell.

Everyone always says what an incredible advantage it has been for Peyton Manning to have had the same offensive coordinator and the same offensive system his entire career.

Football offenses are so complex now that they take years to master properly, and having one system in place from thebeginning has allowed Manning to capitalize on every inch of his talent.

On the other hand, someone like Jason Campbell has had a different offensive coordinator in virtually every season of his pro and college career (and I’m guessing he’ll get another this offseason).

I’m not convinced that it’s possible to say, with certainty, that Campbell has less ability than Manning. I’m only sure we can say that Campbell has not been in a situation that has allowed him to exploit his talent the way Manning has. We just don’t know how good he is capable of being—and we may never know.”

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She is seeking $20 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages.

In the custody complaint, Williams says that she and Suggs are “unable to effectively communicate as to the major issues regarding the minor children” due to Suggs’ “irrational and violent tendencies.” She seeks child support, she says Suggs earns over $20 million a year and should be required to pay child support.

Tragic. But I will say it is interesting that no formal police charges have been filed for this incident. That isn’t to say that nothing happened, or that she isn’t entitled to some recourse for this situation, just interesting that police aren’t involved in what seems to be a heinous, violent ordeal.

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“To be honest with you, it was just Lambeau Field,” Rice told Drew Olson of OnMilwaukee.com. “I didn’t see anything special. They put us in the middle of nowhere, and it’s not a real exciting place. Everything about this place is terrible, to be honest with you.”

I actually can respect those comments.

Hallowed history aside, if the place is an old, run-down dump, call a spade a spade.

No one batted an eye when players said Yankee Stadium sucked, or when people criticize First Mariner Arena.

I’m hoping cheeseheads aren’t taking this seriously because if they are, they are more delusional than they were about Brett Favre wanting to play for the Vikings.

Technorati Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Lambeau Field, Ray Rice

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During preseason, he was just as bad as Hauschka, but had far more credibility with his time at Florida State.

I don’t know what grinds my gears more. The fact that the Ravens released him or that the Redskins had the sense to pick him up. At least Gano remains in the DMV corridor, where Ravens fans can cheer for him to aid the hapless ‘Skins.

Technorati Tags: Baltimore Ravens, Graham Gano, Steve Hauschka, and Washington Redskins

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So maybe the Redskins should put this characteristic to good use and put Landry at weak side linebacker. They’re better off with a corner at the position than Landry, and if they coach him up right, he could actually be great as an interior defensive force.

How many Landry-blown games does someone else have to take the blame for until the Redskins wise up and use his talents in a way that doesn’t cost them? This week, Sean Suisham gets to hold Landry’s crap for a missed field goal; which, its true, he should’ve made.

But if Landry doesn’t get outright beat on several routes by Robert Meachem, it’s not that close. The Redskins win going away.

Now I know that’s a lot to say given that a lot of DBs get fooled on deep routes out of the Saints’ offense. But at least once a week, Landry is beat on a deep play. And when he actually judges correctly about where the ball and receiver will be, you can count on him to whiff on the tackle or to create a penalty out of good coverage.

So why not match the guy up with backs and tight ends in pass coverage, and turn him into a blitzing machine off the edge? He has the speed, he has the athleticism, and he has the desire to hurt someone.

If that isn’t a Pro Bowl dog backer, I don’t know what is.

Maybe it’s just wishful thinking, but it seems like one of the Redskins’ biggest problems is putting capable personnel out of the range their own talent range. We saw it last year with Jason Taylor, and saw it slightly with Brian Orakpo a the beginning of the year before Greg Blache and Co. turned him loose.

LaRon Landry can be great, and he can be great at safety. He wants to hit, has good size, and only needs controlled space and responsibility to be a productive member of the Washington defense.

Besides, at 3-9, what do they have to lose with a little experimentation?

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After a heartbreaking loss like the one the Redskins just suffered at the hands of the Saints, you never want to dwell on what went wrong, who missed what, and what owner caused it all. The easy route for a blogger would be to rip Sean Suisham for a missed field goal that would’ve insured a win and a halfway decent highlight for this year’s NFL Films package.

Instead, Suisham is the goat for the second consecutive week, and will probably not be in Washington by next Thursday. Either by being cut by the team or by disappearance into the Potomac.

So we know Suisham can’t make field goals. At least not in Washington. But for the sake of not laughing out loud at down-trodden Redskins fans, why don’t we highlight some of the things Sean Suisham can do.

Sean Suisham can make Redskins haters laugh.

Sean Suisham can make Dallas Cowboys fans believe.

Sean Suisham can make Jim Zorn speak positively.

Sean Suisham can make Mister Irrelevant’s list of ‘Winners and Losers.’

Sean Suisham can make everyone forget that LaRon Landry actually lost the game.

Sean Suisham can make Steve Hauschka feel a lot better .

Sean Suisham can make Vinny Cerrato draft a place kicker in the first round of next year’s NFL Draft.

Sean Suisham can make Ralph Friedgen’s face time in the Washington Post a lot less frequent.

Sean Suisham can make Sherm Lewis blush.

Sean Suisham can make Tom Cruise into a part-time motivational speaker .

Sean Suisham can make the city pay more attention to the Washington Wizards.

Technorati Tags: Sean Suisham , Washington Redskins

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And this is what a lot of folks are calling the Saints-Redskins game today; a trap for the undefeated Saints to fold up against a capable-yet-confused Washington team that has very little to prove beyond being worth the time and remaining energy of rooting interest.

I don’t think anyone outside of the Capital Beltway is rooting for anything close in this contest. The diehard ‘Skins fans will say they want a win, and in their desperation for something positive to amount out of this season, they will mean it. But those lukewarm transients that casually cheer on the burgundy and gold?

They’ll be cheering for the black and gold to light it up.

Seriously, do you really want to see the league’s best offense slowed by a team playing without its true franchise quarterback, it’s true head coach, and with a slew of injured salary cap pirates? Do you really want a possible undefeated Super Bowl match-up between these Saints and the Indianapolis Colts spoiled by a team that has proved little more than an NFC East sideshow?

You might. Squad allegiance is a beautiful thing. But just as attractive is an allegiance to good football, and the Saints will bring plenty of it to Washington.

Technorati Tags: New Orleans Saints , Washington Redskins

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Let’s go over the facts about this gloriously hypothetical scenario. Vinny Cerrato, the GM that can’t do enough to get fired, has Notre Dame ties. Let’s assume for a moment that these ties wouldn’t be enough to put ND alum Weis in line for the ‘Skins gig.

You still have the reality of Daniel Snyder wanting to chase down every new hot name in a sweatshirt and head phones to coach this team.

And Weis has always maintained privately that he had plenty of options, most of which are back in the NFL. We all know that when somebody has options, coach or player, the Redskins are usually the kid in front with their hand up high saying “Ooooh! Ooooh! Pick us! We got lots of money to put in it!”

Why wouldn’t the Redskins at least be intrigued? Weis is a credible offensive coordinator and has as many Super Bowl titles at that position as the Redskins have in franchise history. Of the hot coaching prospects out there, only Mike Holmgren can make the same claim.

Since when are we above putting unorthodox coaching hires above Snyder and Co.? Snyder and Cerrato are crazy enough to hire Weis just to gain additional leverage in the Jimmy Clausen sweepstakes, of which they are the only eager contestant as it stands now.

Most ‘Skins fan may take this as a joke, but hiring Weis as the next head coach of the Washington Redskins is a very real and tangible proposition under this leadership group. And even though it is a hilarious proposition, it’s also one that you couldn’t classify as totally insane from the prospect of improving the team.

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