2009-11-06T20:12:11Z Smart takes from players, coaches, and people in the know about NFL news. tag:views.washingtonpost.com,2009:/theleague/panelists/51 Copyright (c) 2009, WashingtonPost.Newsweek Interactive 2009-11-06T20:12:11Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-06:/theleague/panelists2009/11/john_riggins_dan_snyder_greg_mann.html

Having played with John Riggins in the 80's I can tell you that he is a fabulous self-promoter. What he said about Daniel Snyder on Showtime's "Inside the NFL" about him being a "bad guy" and having a "dark heart" is just that - self promotion. And Riggo will freely admit that. He may be a Hall of Famer but he needs to stay relevant and grow his business, and you can't blame him for...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Charles Mann 2009-11-06T17:30:18Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-06:/theleague/panelists2009/11/john_riggins_dan_snyder_greg_cerrato_steinberg.html

I make my living from burrowing into the slimy little corners of ridiculous local sports soap operas, and even I'm sick of this one. Literally every day there's something new to write about that has absolutely nothing to do with the men in tight clothes who throw around the weirdly shaped ball and then occasionally hug each other. You almost don't need to watch the football games to cover this team. This week's arc went...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Dan Steinberg 2009-11-06T02:32:09Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-06:/theleague/panelists2009/11/john_riggins_dan_snyder_greg_carpenter.html

John Riggins is not going to ruin his legacy by criticizing Redskins Owner Dan Snyder, no matter how personal the attacks become. Snyder's popularity is as low as it has ever been and, the chances are, a great proportion of the team's fanbase consider him to be as evil as Riggins suggests. Riggins has certainly done and said enough outlandish things in the past to destroy his good name dozens of times and people have...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Les Carpenter 2009-11-06T16:26:16Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-06:/theleague/panelists2009/11/john_riggins_dan_snyder_greg_wang.html

A lot has been made about John Riggins's incendiary comments on "Inside the NFL" after the Hall of Famer said Dan Snyder, the owner of the Washington Redskins, was a "bad guy" and his "heart is dark." The question if Riggins crossed the line is pretty much moot, because he left that checkpoint in his rear view mirror years ago. Remember this is the guy who passed out at the National Press Club dinner after...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Gene Wang 2009-11-06T02:00:12Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-06:/theleague/panelists2009/11/john_riggins_dan_snyder_greg_wise.html

This hurts John Riggins' legacy. Oh, sure, the truly rabid will hold him up as the voice of the disenchanted fan. But when Riggo goes into "bad guy" and "this person's heart is dark," and doesn't explain personal, heavy insult like that against Snyder, he runs the risk of alienating the on-the-fence person who always wondered why the most popular player in franchise history seems to be so emotionally wounded. I mean, until he explains...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Mike Wise 2009-11-06T02:12:52Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-06:/theleague/panelists2009/11/john_riggins_dan_snyder_greg_goldberg.html

I don't have to listen to John Riggins to dislike Daniel Snyder. I just have to remember when he bought the Redskins a decade ago and started firing people who had been with the franchise for years. Why? Because he could. So when Riggins says Snyder has a "dark heart,'' I don't think back to Riggo's various transgressions, like his inebriated: "Loosen up, Sandy, baby" to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. I just think...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Dave Goldberg 2009-11-06T17:31:09Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-06:/theleague/panelists2009/11/john_riggins_dan_snyder_greg_kun.html

I have a few comments to make about John Riggins' "Inside the NFL" interview, and only a few. 1) Before we all get too worked up about this, since when does anyone care what John Riggins has to say about anything? And I mean ANYTHING. Oh, that's right, it was when he made drunken and disrespectful comments to Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. I believe his exact quote was, "Loosen up, Sandy, baby." 2)...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Michael Kun 2009-11-06T04:19:54Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-06:/theleague/panelists2009/11/john_riggins_dan_snyder_greg_shapiro.html

Why would anyone be surprised to hear John Riggins rip into Redskins team owner Daniel Snyder on Showtime's weekly NFL anthology show? Do we need to be reminded about all manner of previous verbal Riggo drill classics, as in: "I'm bored, I'm broke and I'm back," after ending a season-long holdout in the early 1980s. "Loosen up Sandy, baby," directed at Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor at a memorable banquet (he may not remember...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Leonard Shapiro 2009-11-07T04:55:36Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-06:/theleague/panelists2009/11/john_riggins_dan_snyder_greg_reader_poll.html

...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Reader Poll 2009-11-04T14:11:05Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-05:/theleague/panelists2009/11/eagles_bengals_cardinals_broncos_playoffs_moroney.html

Time to speculate which current division leaders are most likely to miss the playoffs. Locks: New Orleans: With a current three game lead over Atlanta (who they just beat), Drew Brees and co. have greater expectations than just making the playoffs. Minnesota: The Vikings have a three game lead over Chicago and Green Bay. Even if Favre starts to fall apart after a fast start like last year, Minnesota only needs to win four of...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Sean Moroney 2009-11-05T17:58:01Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-04:/theleague/panelists2009/11/eagles_bengals_cardinals_broncos_playoffs_bessier.html

The defending NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals are the only team above .500 in what is probably the least intimidating division football. The Cardinals are also the current division leader least likely to make the playoffs. Based on 10,001 simulations of the rest of the NFL season conducted by WhatIfSports.com, the Arizona Cardinals will finish 9-7. So will the San Francisco 49ers. However, San Francisco is already 3-0 in the division and is currently favored to...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Paul Bessire 2009-11-04T22:22:00Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-04:/theleague/panelists2009/11/eagles_bengals_cardinals_broncos_playoffs_mccormick.html

Who knew that an errant last-ditch throw by Kyle Orton in his Denver debut would have lasting implications for several franchises? A rogue tipped ball can sway the perception and outcome of a season as much as months, even years of work can. For the Bengals, the Immaculate Deflection to Brandon Stokley that ended with a video game-esque maneuver may very well define the Broncos' destiny. Conversely, it may fatefully define the Bengals' fortunes as...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jim McCormick 2009-11-04T21:31:09Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-04:/theleague/panelists2009/11/eagles_bengals_cardinals_broncos_playoffs_degiorgio.html

With the New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, and Minnesota Vikings all leading their respective divisions, that question of who won't make the playoffs is challenge. Five of these teams played in last year's post season, and one played in the Super Bowl. Will any of these teams even miss the post season? Yes, and you may be surprised who. Beginning in the AFC, you...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Jamie De Giorgio 2009-11-04T16:50:10Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-04:/theleague/panelists2009/11/eagles_bengals_cardinals_broncos_playoffs_stalter.html

Let's all go back to November 23 of last year shall we? That's the day when the New York Jets crushed the then-undefeated Titans 34-13 in Tennessee to conjure up MVP-talk for Brett Favre and Super Bowl visions for the J-E-T-S, Jets, Jets, Jets! After that, I remember getting lambasted by Jets fans on The Scores Report because I had deemed the Jets "pretenders" in my midseason power rankings. (Just in case women and children...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Anthony Stalter 2009-11-04T17:16:41Z tag:washingtonpost.com,2009-11-04:/theleague/panelists2009/11/eagles_bengals_cardinals_broncos_playoffs_farrar.html

The Cincinnati Bengals lead the AFC North at 5-2 with wins over division rivals Pittsburgh and Baltimore, but that particular pedestal is a bit shaky right now. They've lost sackmaster Antwan Odom for the season, the Steelers are rounding into fighting shape with Troy Polamalu back in the lineup, and the Ravens, might be the best 4-3 team we've seen in a while -- they just whacked the previously undefeated Broncos. In past years, the...Please click on the title to continue reading this entry.

Doug Farrar