"We've Let Everyone Down, Including Ourselves"
Snyder apologetic, somewhat optimistic about Redskins
By MATTHEW STABLEY
Updated 12:59 AM EST, Wed, Nov 4, 2009
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CLINTON, Md. -- Dan Snyder stopped to answer questions after an event at Surrattsville High School Tuesday and was unusually candid -- and apologetic -- about the Redskins' season.
"I think, No. 1, I feel bad for the fans," Snyder said. "I feel sorry for the fans, and we're very appreciative of our great, local fan base and understanding. We just feel terrible. We're disappointing them. We're embarrassed and we hope to get it going soon."
And he almost sounded convincing. We believe he wants to win. We just don't believe he's willing to admit he doesn't know how to do it.
Snyder was in Clinton with a few players -- met by the now unfamiliar sound of cheering and applause -- to announce the formal partnership between the Washington Redskins Charitable Foundation and Prince George's County Public Schools to improve and maintain eight high school football fields -- a program already in place at Central High School.
Afterward, he stopped to answer several questions from NBC4's Lindsay Czarniak, including how this season impacts him.
"It hurts," Snyder said. "I mean it really hurts. We're really trying very, very hard, everyone at Redskins Park -- the coaches, the players. … I think we've got an opportunity the rest of the season to hopefully get it going."
So he's sorry and apologetic and embarrassed but still fronting hope for a strong finish, now that the easy part of the 2-5 team's schedule is in the past.
"To date, we've let everyone down, including ourselves," Snyder said. "We know that, and we're just apologetic. We've blown some games that obviously we think we should have won, and I think the players are still playing hard so we still hope to do well starting this Sunday."
His comments were littered with such one-game-at-a-timeyness -- "The next step is Sunday. It's that simple." -- and Dan the Fan insisted he shares loyal fans' pain.
When Czarniak tried to get more specific, asking about head coach Jim Zorn being stripped of play-calling responsibilities, Danny Boy was saved by the band. The school marching band, which he claimed drowned out the question. He waited a couple minutes for the music to stop but was pulled away before Czarniak could strike again, leaving us wanting.
First Published: Nov 3, 2009 6:05 PM EST
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