Washington Redskins: Back to Their Soul-Buying Ways

As one ESPN analyst said, "They're football's New York Yankees, except, you know, the championships."

The Redskins are doing their usual offseason spending spree, stealing away big-named talent by buying their souls—I mean services—for record contracts, and promises of a cohesive team with rich tradition.

If they wanted tradition, they would have done more to keep Joe Gibbs.

But Dan Snyder is as impatient as an owner gets. His fingers reaching for his wallet, however, not so much.

Over the years, Snyder has wasted no time in prying away aged talent, troubled stars, and injury-riddled vets from the rest of the league.

Up until now, the rest of the league said, "Thank you." Because, unlike the Redskins, they already knew what the key to winning was.

It's about the team game. The great defense meets the good-enough offense, and a special teams unit that shows up in at least half of the games.

Gone are the days of a Randy Moss or Terrell Owens getting you to the playoffs all by themselves, or an MVP quarterback leading you to the Super Bowl.

Just look at the New York Giants, and heck, even this year's Arizona Cardinals. It's about putting together a team of talented players, developing chemistry, and keeping it for as long as possible. And even when you can accomplish that, you have to deal with the guys who are bitter along the way (Edgerrin James, Anquan Boldin).

Every team has potential, talent, and questions.

The signing of Albert Haynesworth and DeAngelo Hall provide a lot of all three.

Can Haynesworth function the same way in a new system?

Did his Tennessee teammates make him look better than he was/is?

Will his new-found wealth keep him from rising even higher?

To all three questions: I don't know.

Really, neither does Snyder, or the rest of the NFL world.

The same goes for Hall. Yes, he's talented, but will he revert to his form with Oakland?

Will his attitude improve?

Is he really the kind of guy you want on your team, even if he is the best corner back in your secondary?

There are a lot of questions surrounding these two signings, as well as Snyder's actions overall in the past, but the biggest question is probably the one that most fans and writers will scoff at.

Can these Redskins win it all?

I know what you're thinking. Really? These Redskins? Yes, these Redskins.

The same Redskins that relied on a healthy Clinton Portis until he couldn't stand, then crumbled when his tired legs couldn't carry them in the second half of the season.

The same Redskins with a "quarterback of the future" that quite honestly, shouldn't even be guaranteed a future in the league. Jason Campbell is at times adequate, but overall is one of the main shortcomings for Washington.

Yes people, the same Redskins that have only one true No. 1 receiver, and have two sophomore receivers battling for the worst No. 2 spot in the league.

Oh, and did I mention they retained Jim Zorn, the rookie coach who did nothing to stop his team's freefall from elite status to division doormat?

Yes, these Redskins.

The reason for all Redskins' fans to be optimistic, to be able to think of their team as the next New York Giants instead of football's New York Yankees, is their two newest additions, and the several elite players they already have.

Now that they have the star defensive tackle, two elite corners, an MVP-caliber running back, and a hopefully rising pass attack, they appear to have all the makings of our newest team to beat in the NFC East.

All they need to do now is stay away from what Dallas did last year, and follow in the foot steps of the Giants and Eagles: good balance, and great chemistry.

Unfortunately for Snyder and the Redskins, chemistry is not something you can buy.