Beginning with a Bang!

Now that's how you win the offseason in a manner that helps you win during the regular season. In the span of 24 hours the Redskins removed two storylines that refused to die in 2010... and the Shanahan era can begin in earnest.

Donovan McNabb's days were numbered the moment he was lifted against Detroit last October... can you believe the Skins were 4-3 (already equalling 2009's win total), 2-0 in the division and had beaten the two teams that would advance to the NFC Championship Game? After that Halloween afternoon- McNabb's conditioning and intelligence were called into question... but his future was secure as a former Redskin. After giving up a 2nd and 3rd/4th rounder (conditional) to get #5, the team receives a #6 and conditional 6th. Talk about depreciation. For whatever reason, McNabb didn't fit in with Kyle Shanahan's offense-- and it's a good thing he's off to an offense more attuned to his skill set and he's not lurking in the shadows around Ashburn.

The McNabb drama was the TV show that you like because you know the lead actor... but somehow never clicks with an audience and gets shuffled around the schedule and cancelled after one season (think REUNION). Meanwhile, the Albert Haynesworth comedy was the program some were wary about from the start... was funny for the wrong reasons and a disaster on many levels... yet somehow avoided cancellation for much longer than it should have (think JOEY). From the "fitness test" to "lying down against the Eagles"... Haynesworth gave the DC area more material than anyone since Dan Quayle. While McNabb represented a missed opportunity for the future, Haynesworth was an exhibit from the past-- and how the team conducted business. The fact he stayed and somewhat played an entire season under a new regime is amazing in and of itself.

Now the offense can take shape with John Beck (still figuring out that one) at the controls... with Jabar Gaffney and Donte Stallworth added to a crowded receiving corps (is there a 7-wideout set that I don't know about?). The defense prepares in earnest as a 3-4 unit with Stephen Bowen and Barry Cofield the newly acquired building blocks (from division rivals, no less) and Josh Wilson an impact corner (4 INT returns for TDs in 3 years).

Bring on the preseason.