The Washington Redskins traded away their R1 pick this year, the #6 overall pick, for the St. Louis Rams' #2 overall pick.  Ostensibly the Skins will be taking Robert Griffin III after the the Colts take Andrew Luck with the #1 overall pick.

The story here is the Rams executed a Brinks heist in broad daylight.  Make no mistake, this was a stickup.  For the ability to "choose" ahead of their peers, the Redskins had to also give the Rams the #39 pick overall this year, which is a very high R2 pick bordering on R1.  They also had to give away their R1 pick in 2013.  They also had to give away their R1 pick in 2014.

This trade is in clear violation of The Rules for Winning in the NFL.  To move up 4 slots in the draft, you give up two first round picks and a high second rounder?  Why can't every other team get that kind of booty?!!!  If the NFL had any sense, they would block the trade for being a violation of the 8th Amendment on a "desperate" franchise.

RGIII can be the next best thing since sliced bread.  He can be a savior to the franchise.  He can be a Hall of Famer.  We get that.  We know what the upside is in a Quarterback-driven league.  But here is what we also "get:"

1) RGIII can also be Ryan Leaf, Tim Couch, Akili Smith or an Alex Smith that takes 6 years to see only two WR routes.

2) RGIII can be injured.  All of your eggs are in one basket.

3) What about the other 4 picks you WOULD HAVE HAD?  A R1 6th overall, a R2 39th overall, another R1, another R1?  That isn't just another player, that is practically an entire TEAM.

4) Freakonomics Football.  We spent a great deal of time analyzing TEN YEARS of Round 1 draft picks from 2000-2009, and the conclusion we were able to OBJECTIVELY draw was that General Managers overpay for the right to pick ahead of their peers.  They get much less in return than they think they are getting.  And this conclusion was even more rigorously defended in a 2005 University of Chicago/Duke University study.

What the Redskins needed and still need is patience.  You miss the carousel on Griffin because he goes in front of you, so you wait and the carousel comes around again.  It always does.  In general the Redskins are busy impatiently trading up, when they should be confidently letting things come to them.  Griffin may be a tremendous QB, but how are you going to surround him with the quality players that collectively build a franchise?  3 other cornerstones to your team are a 100% complete miss because you have given them to the Rams. 

The Rams.  Now there is a team that has a future.  They will be able to build something there.  The Jimmy Johnson/Jerry Jones 1990's were built on the Herschel Walker trade's draft picks.  If the Rams select reasonably well, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

Let's look at some other QB deals.  We are still on record as not liking the Eli deal to move 3 spots and paying a 1, 3 and 5.  The deal has worked because Ernie Accorsi was correct about his assessment, and because he was lucky about Eli being a healthy QB, something no one could forecast.  Compared to the Redskins gifts send to St. Louis, the Giants got off cheap!  We panned the Carson Palmer deal last season, but at least Palmer was a known variable in the NFL.  Even less is known about Griffin by the nature of him being a draft pick and not an NFL player.  The Bears gave up a ton for Jay Cutler, but at least what Cutler could do in the NFL was KNOWN.  As we commented 3 years ago, at least you knew you were getting a Pro Bowl QB who was 25 years old.  And considering what Cutler has done for the Bears, you could see that the reward was a tremendous amount of competitiveness, his health notwithstanding.

This trade for the Redskins does not have to be a death sentence.  Griffin can deliver, and that will make them reasonably competitive.  But IF, big IF.. if Griffin does NOT deliver, the trade will certainly set back the franchise the better part of a decade.  This is a very high stakes gamble which illustrates just how much value that the Redskins franchise has given away to get a QB.

While the Saints Bounty gate and Peyton Manning's release are making arresting headlines, let us talk about the Super Bowl Champions.

The Giants decided to tag punter Steve Weatherford.  With Weatherford handling the punting duties in 2011, the Giants got much needed consistency.  Over the last several seasons, the Giants special teams have not been too special.  Having Weatherford was a breath of fresh air.  And he was splendid in Super Bowl XLVI.  Three of his four punts landed inside the Patriots 10 yard line.  

WR Domenik Hixon was resigned.  This means it is over for Mario Manningham.  Since Victor Cruz has emerged as a top notch receiver, especially in the slot,  Manningham has become expendable.  Having Hixon return also helps the Giants special teams return game.  As a team, the Giants averaged 6.1 yards per punt and 23.3 yards per kickoff return respectively.  Here are links to see how the Giants fared in kickoff and punt returns.  After seeing we are at the bottom of the NFL,  let us hope Hixon can help the Giants improve in these areas.

Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw had some work done on his ankle.  He received an injection to help his ailing foot.  Sheesh!  With multiple surgeries performed on his wheels, it is amazing he has been so productive for the Giants.  Over his NFL career, Bradshaw has had surgery on both his ankles and feet.  Being that feet are a running back's life blood, as an outsider, is Bradshaw's best days behind him?  

Speaking of the running back position, the Giants have RELEASED RB Brandon Jacobs.  This does not come as a surprise.  Once a bruising runner, Jacobs has been limited due to serious injuries.  Over the last two seasons, Jacobs was relegated to a reduced role.  Last season, Jacobs gained a disappointing  571 yards. Since Jacobs publicly expressed an interest in playing with the Jets,  ESPN's Jets reporter Rich Cimini compiled some statitstics on Jacobs.   And Cimini caputured a snap shot of Jacobs' unimpressive 2011 numbers:

1.  Jacobs had one rush for 20 plus yards.

2. For a 265-pound man, Jacobs doesn't break many tackles. His yards-after-contact average last season was 1.66, which ranked 44th in the league. (In fairness, we should point out he brought it up to 2.25 in the NFC playoffs.) 

3. The Giants finished last in rushing and next-to-last in short-yardage rushing, with only a 52-percent conversion rate.

With Eli Manning restructuring his contract and Jacobs being released, the Giants appear to be under the projected salary cap.  So what are their immediate needs?  

Pro Football Focus examines the Giants major areas of need.  Needless to say, after crunching their numbers, the Giants have to revamp the guard, tackle, and slot cornerback positions.  It is evident, the Giants have to address the offensive line.  On Thursday, reliable RT Kareem Mckenzie was told to go shopping.  With no McKenzie, William Beatty recovering from surgery, and Diehl coming off an awful season, the Giants have to retool their offensive line.  

As for the cornerback position, I think the Giants are okay in this area.  Since 2007, Giants GM Jerry Reese has invested a lot of high draft picks in the secondary.  Ross in 2007.  Thomas in 2008.  Prince in 2011.  Reserve Bruce Johnson was resigned.  And they will most likely retain Justin Tryon.  Recall, this guy played with a broken arm against the Dolphins this year. 

As the March 13th free agency signing period inches closer, the Giants have to think about the TE and RB positions.  In Super Bowl XLVI, the Giants lost not one but both of their tight ends.  Right now, the Giants have Bear Pascoe as the only effective TE.  Look for Reese to sign a TE.  And with the news of Jacobs' release and the uncertainty of Bradshaw's injury situation, the Giants have to upgrade the running back position.  Let us not forget RB D.J. Ware has been concussed twice.  He suffered a concussion in 2009 against the Broncos.  And this year, he suffered another one against the Packers.  Without question, Ware could be one hit away from being out of football.   The Giants may have their future starter already on the roster-  Da'Rel Scott could be the Giants next star running back.  In the meantime, Reese has to pick up a veteran running back as insurance.  

To sum up,  Reese will use free agency to shore up the TE and RB positions, while using draft picks to stabilize their offensive line.

Days like today do not happen very often.  The NY Giants are Super Bowl Champions!  Today, we raise a new banner for the blog. 

We keep score with titles.  This is the 4th Super Bowl championship for this franchise.  That is pretty rare air.  We specifically designed the logo to be part of planned obsolescence.  It was part of the plan to make us "work" at another banner.  Go ahead, give us some trouble, make us take this one down too.  And quick!

31 teams lose.  Only one team wins.  These are the memories that we will have for a lifetime.  XLVI gave us some moments that will be savored. Who can forget the drive to beat the Patriots in Week 9?! JPP blocking the FG to beat the Boys?!!  Victor Cruz in Week 16 vs the Jets?!!!  Hakeem Nicks running away from 38 defenders vs the Pack?!!!!  Mario Manningham getting a perfect pass from Eli Manning to midfield in the Super Bowl?!!!!! We'll remember them all.

Eli Manning had an incredible year.  Could the Giants have gotten to the playoffs, let alone won a title without him?  Impossible.  A year like that gets you on the banner forever. 

THE NY GIANTS ARE SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS!   

Considering how long bounties have been used in pro football, is there a double standard in enforcing the NFL rule prohibiting the use of them?

Mark Kriegel of Fox Sports asks a lot of good questions and gives us a lot to think about.  He paints a picture where Tony Dungy and other players (see Joe Horn video in next link) corroborate that bounties have been prevalent for years but (players and coaches) quietly never snitched and ratted out violators.

Then there are the words of John Lynch, the Pro Bowl and future HOF player:

"Over the past few days I've heard a few people, including former players, say that this is a league-wide problem. That's total BS. I played in the NFL for 15 years for two teams and never once was offered money to knock someone out of a game. If I had been offered money, I'd be a really wealthy man today. I even called some of my friends that played to see if they ever had been offered any bounties. None had. Don't get me wrong, we had player-generated incentives within our locker room, like $500 for interceptions or forced fumbles, but never, ever for hurting someone."

But Lynch circles back to the same points that Kriegel makes, the question about hypocrisy with respect to the NFL glorifying hits while simultaneously preaching safety:

".. if player safety is the way the league is going to go, then the first step needs to be for the NFL to admit that the rules have changed."

As everyone knows, football is a contact sport.  What happens when a player is hitting a guy low enough to miss the head, but then the offensive player drops his head and helmet to helmet contact is made?  We've watched more than our fair share of plays recently where some hits are fined incorrectly and other hits that should be flagged/fined go unpunished.

There has to be a way for the NFL to bring in more safety to protect the players and remove the inconsistency/hypocrisy, without compromising the game. Maybe what this means is that ESPN can't go on an endless loop where they keep showing incredible hits, glorifying the punishment being dished out.  Maybe the NFL doles out punishment to the Saints and all others for 2011 only, thereby putting everyone on notice that going forward the enforcement is going to be there.  Antonio Pierce talked on radio about the past and going forward.  Maybe that has to be where the line is drawn, pre-2011 and 2011+.  That will catch the Saints and probably a few others, but will also allow the NFL to move forward and get greater consistency in its priority for player safety.   

The Saints are SINNERS!  Only a few years removed from their first Super Bowl Championship, the New Orleans Saints franchise is in hot water.  After being warned by the NFL about engaging in illegal activity, the recalcitrant Saints organization continued their abhorrent behavior.  According to the NFL's official report, in 2010, the NFL warned Saints owner Tom Benson of their findings.  STOP THIS NONSENSE! 

According to the NFL's clandestine investigation,  when Benson directed Loomis earlier this season to ensure that any bounty program be discontinued immediately, Loomis did not follow Benson's directions. "Similarly, when the initial allegations were discussed with Mr. Loomis in 2010," the report continued, "he denied any knowledge of a bounty program and pledged he would ensure that no such program was in place. There is no evidence that Mr. Loomis took any effective action to stop these practices."

    Subsequently, Benson supposedly gave Saints GM Mickey Loomis a direct command to disband this illegal bounty program.  Apparently, at this point,  Loomis did not carry out Benson's order.  If this is true, the entire Saints organization which includes Loomis, head coach Sean Payton, and former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams have to be held accountable.   Being warned by the NFL to cut out this untoward behavior, then defying the League is plain stupidity.  NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has no choice.  Throw the book at them.  

But the NFL has a problem here too.  Keep in mind, if Loomis carried out Benson's order, this bounty scandal does not see the light of day.  Buried under the rug by the NFL.  This Saints bounty gate gives weight to the numerous lawsuits filed by former players.  Former players have filed suit based on the League concealing information about concussions engendering long term neurological damage.  Late last month, the Duerson family filed a wrongful death suit against the NFL.   

As for the Saints, besides being so damn stupid, the Saints defensive players including former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams circumvented the salary cap.  By having an organized bounty program, players received cash payments.  These cash payments are illegal.  And one can be sure, these "bonuses" were not reported to the IRS. 

Speaking about reporting, the media in New Orleans is totally missing the point.  The main radio station in New Orleans WWL 870AM had former Saint Darren Sharper on as a guest.  Recall, Sharper was a player on the 2009 and 2010 Saints.  Instead of being contrite, Sharper called the firestorm a vendetta.  Sharper and Saints analyst Bobby Hebert are in denial.  They are minimizing the behavior of the Saints organization.  Both whined about someone was out to get the Saints.  This is total bullbleep.  For an objective analysis , LA Times' Sam Farmer wants Saints head coach Sean Payton to suffer consequences for his lack of leadership.  As many analysts in the media, Farmer expects Goodell's punishment to be severe.  Farmer believes Payton could miss up to eight games.  On the other hand, I strongly believe Goodell is going to go to the extreme.  Because Tom Benson does not have the clout of a Robert Kraft, (remember the Patriots and Bill Belichick were fined and lost a number one draft pick), the Saints could expect Payton and Loomis suspended for an entire year.  If this happens, this would fuel speculation on Payton's controversial purchase of a home in Dallas.  Despite signing an extension through 2015, the specifics of his contract were not revealed.  Peyton very well could have an opt out clause.  Who knows?  He could be the Dallas Cowboys coach in 2013.  

In the meantime, the NFL will put down the Saints with suspensions and fines.  Then, most likely, prop them up with playing the Giants on opening night on September 5.  The Super Bowl Champion New York Giants will play the Steve Spagnuolo lead Saints.  Go figure.  Stay tuned.