What Happened to the 2006 Washington Redskins?

When the Washington Redskins reached the 2005/2006 NFL playoffs, the buzz in the D.C. area was tremendous. Head Coach Joe Gibbs seemed to have saved the franchise once again and according to Redskin fans and the mass sports media, the burgundy and gold were destined to be a serious competitor for the Super Bowl this season. However, during the off-season, owner Daniel Snyder and Joe Gibbs made the all too familiar free agent splash by signing big name free agents who could “supposedly” help this team reach the next level. Wide receivers Antwaan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd were signed to add a threat to the passing game alongside pro bowl receiver Santana Moss. Defensive end Andre Carter and Safety Adam Archuleta were added to the defense, an already dominant unit in 2004 and 2005. The biggest addition to the organization may have been the hiring of offensive coordinator Al Saunders who orchestrated one of the top offensive units with the Kansas City Chiefs.

I admit that as a Redskin fan, I was pretty excited of the additions and thought that this team had a legitimate opportunity to compete for a championship title. It’s mid November and the Redskins are out of playoff contention. So how did the Redskins go from an off-season favorite to a total disappointment and a complete eye sore to their fans?

Here are some of the biggest reasons (In my opinion) why the Redskins always manage to dig a grave for themselves: