RGIII

To use the poker vernacular: I'm all in.

My Washington Redskins are going for it. They are giving up their first round picks for the next three years, and a second rounder this year in exchange for the Rams #2 pick in this year's upcoming draft. Unless the Colts do the Okey-doke with their #1 pick, the Skins will pick Heisman Trophy winner QB Robert Griffin III from Baylor. As I told my sports crew in a text (cause I don't Tweet), I'm wi' it. Not I'm with it; i'm wi' it.

For Skins fans, we have seen this movie before. We make a big splash in the off season, whether we sign Albert Hanesworth or Donavan McNabb. The bad part is that the Koolaid always tasted so good at the time only to upset my stomach later.

Having said that, there is something different about this flavor of Koolaid. In the past, most of the decisions to get players were made by owner Dan Snyder. Since December 2009 we have had an actual General Manager (Bruce Allen) who has made our football decisions. His quality picks included OT Trent Williams and Ryan Kerrigan, who are both current starters. The owner has seemed not to get involved in the decision making process.

In fact, this strategy has worked recently. While it was a shotgun trade, the New York Giants gave up their draft picks to get QB Eli Manning who has since won three divisional titles and two Super Bowls in his eight year career. My point is that successful teams usually have (at the least) solid, if not great quarterbacks.

Now I understand that it may take a couple of years before seeing the benefits, but that's ok. We got to start somewhere.

Bountygate

Goodell comin. Doesn't have the same ring as stick-up boy Omar from the Wire, but if you're in the NFL, it might as well be the same. The current league commissioner is about to bring the hammer down to current Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. He is accused of paying his defensive players for big-time hits of opposing players; bigger paydays to those that knock players out the game. Apparently, somebody just spilled the beans (probably from his last team, the Saints) and apparently provided the league "smoking gun" evidence.

To the players, this is nothing new. These so called "bounties" have been around for years. The main reason that it is a issue now is that there is an emphasis by the league on safety. I'm sure that the league was looking for a case to sink their teeth into. Looks like they have found their poster boy in Williams. Unfortunately, in this case, timing is not everything.

Now I actually believe the players when they say that they didn't go out to intentionally hurt or injure opposing players. Skins LB London Fletcher says that such conduct is contrary to the NFL "Brotherhood":"We all play this game. We're trying to make money, support our families. This is our livelihoods. To go out and intentionally hurt someone, that's not the mind set." Having said that, the real question is, "Who can tell?" The nature of the game in it self makes it hard to tell. Using another Wire reference, the game is the game.

Having said that, what should the punishment be? Now it must be said that the Saints were warned earlier and they said they would take care of it. My call would be half the season for Williams, couple of draft picks (including a 1st rounder) and of course cash, both out of his and the teams pocket. Anything else would be uncivilized.